Steve Smith: AC/DC may tour later this year; talk of Woodstock 50th anniversary plans and more music news

Aussie rock giants AC/DC may tour later this year, writes band singer Brian Johnson. Johnson, who is a major car racing enthusiast and is producer of the British TV series “Cars That Rock,” reported the news on his Brian Johnson Racing website.

Johnson and the band are currently in Vancouver recording their upcoming album without founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who reportedly suffered a debilitating stroke late last year.

Of his new TV show, Johnson writes, “We hope to bring you more shows in the near future but, of course, there is the slight distraction of my day job with AC/DC — and it looks very likely that we will be on the road again before the end of the year. So stand by for more music — and more ‘Cars That Rock.’”

There is also a groundswell of support for AC/DC to headline next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show on Feb. 1 at the 63,400-seat University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., which would work should the band tour late this year and early next year.

Plans for Woodstock’s 50th

Michael Lang, the original promoter of the historic Woodstock hosted Aug. 15-18, 1969 before more than 400,000 on Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm in Bethel, N.Y., isn’t planning anything this August to mark its 45th anniversary — but the 50th anniversary in 2019 may be another story.

“We’re starting to think about it,” Lang, 69, tells Rolling Stone. He added that the he is checking out numerous locations for a golden anniversary festival.

A 40th anniversary commemorative “Heroes of Woodstock” tour took place in 2009 featuring original fest performers Paul Kantner and his Jefferson Starship (with Quicksilver Messenger Service’s David Freiberg), Big Brother and The Holding Company (with original members Peter Albin, Sam Andrews and Dave Getz), Canned Heat (with founders Larry “The Mole” Taylor and Fito de la Parra as well as guitar monster Harvey Mandel), and Ten Years After (with original members Chick Churchill, Ric Lee and Leo Lyons). Country Joe McDonald of Country Joe and The Fish, John Sebastian of The Lovin’ Spoonful, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Edgar Winter also joined the tour for various shows.

Health updates on Randy Travis, Glen Campbell, Merry Clayton and Sarah Brightman

So severe was the damage to Randy Travis caused by a stroke he suffered last July that the 55-year-old country legend is not only unable to sing, but he’s also unable to even speak, reports TMZ.

In addition, a TMZ source says it’s unclear if Travis, who had subsequent brain surgery to relieve pressure, has recovered enough to follow a conversation. He also has difficulty walking.

The man with 16 No. 1 country singles from 1986-2002 remains in therapy. Earlier this month he made a rare public appearance at a Dolly Parton concert in Oklahoma.

Glen Campbell’s wife of 30 years, Kim, has received some criticism from his daughter Debbie in an interview in Country Weekly for placing the iconic 78-year-old recording artist, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s (his symptoms began in 2011), in a long-term care facility. At the time of the move last year, Kim detailed how he had become completely uncontrollable. Kim now tells the Associated Press that it was his doctors who recommended the move.

“It is crushingly sad to see him afflicted with Alzheimer’s, but indulging those feelings does not help him. I am his wife and no one wants him home more than me, but I must do what is in his best interest,” she said. “We cuddle, we kiss, we sit in the garden, listen to music, watch YouTube and eat together. He has long-time friends here in Nashville who come to play music for him and give him hugs. He has activities and therapies to stimulate him and help him experience daily moments of success. His life is filled with love and laughter and he is being cared for round the clock by people who specialize in Alzheimer’s care and happen to adore him.”

Referring to Debbie, who does not live close to the rest of the family, Kim added: “It is very frustrating and hurtful to have people who are very far removed from our situation to be scrutinizing and judging our private family decisions and insinuating that Glen — the amazing father, husband and good person that he is — does not mean the world to us.”

Singer Merry Clayton seriously injured in a car accident in L.A. on June 23, according to a post on her website.

“Merry sustained severe injuries to her lower body, including major trauma to her lower extremities. We are truly grateful that our dear Merry is still with us,” the post read, continuing to state that she has, “a long road of recovery ahead.”

For 45 years, Clayton has been revered for her standout, powerhouse vocal in 1969 on The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” (The performance was so intense at that recording session that Clayton, who was pregnant at the time, suffered a miscarriage upon returning home.)

The 65-year-old’s background was in gospel music and she was a member of Ray Charles’ Raelets early in her career. Her resume, which also included her backup vocal contributions to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Ringo Starr’s “Oh My My,” amongst countless other records led to her being featured prominently in the award-winning 2013 documentary, “20 Feet from Stardom,” which looked at a group of the most prominent female session vocalists in pop music history.

Sarah Brightman, who first found international fame as the original lead role of Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera” on London’s West End and on Broadway in the mid-1980s, has been forced to cancel her North American tour after breaking her ankle.

She writes on her website: “I have suffered a hairline fracture to my ankle and have been advised by my doctors to rest it until September by which time it will have fully recovered. I have, regrettably, taken the decision to cancel my forthcoming U.S. dates in August.”

Concerts set in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara were among those canceled. While there’s no word on if or when the canceled shows would be rescheduled, her November tour of Turkey, Russia and Europe will go on as planned.

50th anniversary of “A Hard Day’s Night”

A 3-disc set — on Blu-ray and DVD — is being released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night,” a four-star British comedy and musical classic.

Leslie Halliwell, the most respected British film critic in cinema history, gave the film four stars — his highest rating. It was his only four-star film of 1964, while America’s Roger Ebert called it “one of the great life-affirming landmarks of the movies.”

It was called “one of the smoothest, freshest, funniest films ever made for purposes of exploitation,” by Time magazine.

The remastered film will also receive special screenings at nearly 100 theaters nationwidenext month, along with a newly-created 5.1 surround sound mix that was overseen at Abbey Road by The Beatles producer George Martin’s son, Giles Martin.

Legal news: Paul Simon, Edie Brickell and Sting

The disorderly conduct charges against Paul Simon and his singing wife, Edie Brickell, of The New Bohemians, which were a result of an argument in April at their Connecticut home, have been dropped, reports NBC News.

Former Police frontman Sting and his wife Trudy Styler are worth approximately $300 million, says NBC’s “Today” show — but their kids aren’t going to inherit much of it. Sting has six children that range from 18 to 37.

“I told them there won’t be much money left because we are spending it. What comes in, we spend, and there isn’t much left,” he told Britain’s Daily Mail. “I certainly don’t want to leave them trust funds that are albatrosses around their necks. All my kids know this and they rarely ask me for anything, which I really respect and appreciate.”

The 62-year-old Englishman, who is a former teacher at the American equivalent of elementary school, added that his kids have always had to work for whatever they have but that he’d be there to help should any of them find themselves in serious financial trouble. None have needed any assistance, he said. “

They have this work ethic that makes them want to succeed on their own merit,” he said. “People make assumptions that they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but they have not been given a lot.”

Steve Smith writes a new Classic Pop, Rock and Country Music News column every week. Contact him by email at Classicpopmusicnews@gmail.com.