Quick quips: Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Hubert Sumlin, Exile

Paul McCartney received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday. In attendance were Neil Young, who introduced him, Joe Walsh, Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock, Don Was, Jeff Lynne and Paul's new wife Nancy and son James. Ringo Starr was sick and couldn't attend.
In his introduction, Neil Young said:
Let me tell you a little bit about our friend Paul here just as a musician. When I was in high school and the Beatles came out, I loved the Beatles and I tried to learn how to play like them, and no one could figure out what Paul was doing on the bass. Not only was he playing differently because he plays left-handed, he played notes that no one had put together before, in a way that made us stand in awe of this great musician.
I'm so proud to be doing this. As a musician, as a songwriter, Paul's craft and his art are truly at the top of his game, the way Charlie Chaplin was an actor. He has an ability to put melodies and feelings and chords together, but it's the soul that he puts into everything he does that makes me feel so good and so happy to be here.


Pink Floyd's archival campaign will come to an end with the release of the Immersion and Experience editions of The Wall, but members of the group are looking to possibly mine more material in the future.
Nick Mason told Billboard that he would like to see some rarities releases from their early years rather than expansions of existing albums. "We wouldn't do one album like Piper (at the Gates of Dawn) on its own. Maybe we'll take Saucer (Full of Secrets) and Piper and maybe one other one and do an early years thing -- partly because there just isn't the material in some cases. That might be a more interesting exercise."


Internet rumors have been flying that Sharon Osborne has made the decision to leave Bill Ward off the Black Sabbath reunion plans. She set the record straight on Twitter when she said "I am not in any position to hire or fire anyone in Black Sabbath. I don't manage the band, I manage my husband."
Ward is in an extended fight with the legal part of the Black Sabbath team over what he calls and "unsignable" contract.


A tribute concert is being held for the late Hubert Sumlin on February 24 at the Apollo Theater in New York. Performing (as of this time) are Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and Susan Tedeschi. Proceeds from the show go to the Jazz Foundation of America.


Exile (Kiss You All Over) have released their first new studio recordings in over a decade. People Get Ready is a five song EP that includes four originals and an a cappella version of the title song. Members J.P. Pennington (guitar/vocals), Les Taylor (acoustic guitar/vocals), Marlon Hargis (keyboards/vocals), Sonny LeMaire (bass/vocals) and Steve Goetzman (drums) reunited in 2010 to record and self-produce the project.