Richie Hayward, former drummer for the band Little Feat and a member of Robert Plant’s touring band in the early 1980s has died. Hayward was waiting a liver transplant to treat his liver cancer, but died of pneumonia on August 12, 2010.

Obituary

According to the Miami New Times, Live Nation is currently offering a “No Service Fee June” sale on tickets at various amphitheater shows. The sale runs until 11:59pm June 30, 2010. The sale means that the ticket price stated is what you will pay–the usual fees like venue charges, service charges and parking charges will not be added.

Those of you attending the July 31st Robert Plant show at Bayfront Park Amphitheater in Miami will be able to benefit from this sale if you buy your tickets before June 31.

PBS is currently reairing Walkin’ Back To New Orleans. The program features live performance from Fats as well as commentary on Fats’ career by various guests including Robert Plant. Robert is also seen working with the Soweto Gospel Choir.

Check your local listings for air dates and times.

The Concord Music Group has acquired Rounder Records. Rounder will continue to be based in Boston, MA and the label’s founders will remain in a creative capacity. Rounder’s management staff will also remain.

The Concord Music Group owns a variety of labels including Stax and Prestige. Their holdings also include titles from Ray Charles, Isaac Hayes, and Creedence Clearwater revival. Their current roster includes Macy Gray, Chick Corea, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and others. They partnered with Starbucks in 2007 to create Hear Music.

Rounder’s current catalog and roster includes Willie Nelson, Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.

Might Atom Smasher (MAS) Records RockSchool has a promo clip that showcases the school and some of its groups. Robert Plant opens up with a congratulatory message. Plant is a patron of Kidderminster College and former Priory of Brion bandmate Kevyn Gammond heads up MAS.

We interrupt this newswire for a random bulletin:

The annual ManicNirvana.com fundraiser is underway. All donations are well appreciated!

Also, there’s an opportunity to raid my collection.

Now back to your regular programming.

Eagle Rock Entertainment will re-issue Live at Knebworth on March 23, 2010. The re-issue marks the 20th anniversary of the original release by Polydor in 1990. The sale of this CD set will benefit Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and the Brit School of Performing Arts.

The Knebworth concert originally took place on June 30, 1990 and included a who’s who of performers: Robert Plant, Elton John, Phil Collins, Genesis, Pink Floyd and Paul McCartney.

Live At Knebworth includes three Robert Plant tracks: Hurting Kind, Liar’s Dance and Tall Cool One.

The concert to celebrate Rounder Records’ 40th anniversary will be aired on Thursday, January 14 at 8pm Eastern on Nashville Public Television (NPT). The show will feature performances from Alison Krauss as well as Minnie Driver, Bela Fleck and more.

The special will also include performances from the episode of CMT Crossroads featuring Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

The program will begin airing on PBS stations in March, 2010. Check your local listings for exact times and dates.

Atlantic Records has released “Atlantic Records: The Time Capsule“, a deluxe boxed set that covers the history of Atlantic’s first 62 years. The numbered set comes packaged in a metallic box. Nine CDs contain 165 tracks from Atlantic’s best artists, including Robert Plant. Also in the set is the DVD “The House that Ahmet Built” which includes Robert Plant and other Atlantic artists talking about their time at the label. In addition to the music and DVD, “Time Capsule” also contains a full color book with more than 200 never before seen photos, and exclusive quotes and stories from leading characters in the Atlantic Records story.

Compiled by a small group of passionate Atlantic Staffers, the material from the set is gleaned from company archives, Ahmet Ertegun’s personal papers, and the work of staff photographers. The set sells for around $175, just in time for holiday giving.

Time Capsule Official Site

Jason Bonham and Friends performed “Like I’ve Never Been Gone” from Robert Plant’s solo album “Pictures at Eleven”. The performance was part of their October 30, 2009 show at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, California. Bonham prefaced the song with a story about how Robert asked him to come and jam on some tunes from the first album while it was being worked on.