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Today’s Music News: Rod Stewart kicked an autographed soccer ball into a man’s face

by Staff

September 26, 2014

Mostafa Kashe, a 53-year-old California man, claims that he's suffered "substantial" injuries—including an impaired sense of smell—after being hit in the face with a soccer ball kicked into the crowd by Rod Stewart at a 2012 concert in Las Vegas. Kashe is now suing Stewart for $10,000. This isn't the first time Stewart's been sued by a fan hit with a soccer ball—in 1997, a fan struck by an autographed soccer ball sued Stewart for $75,000, with her husband also seeking damages for "loss of companionship" he suffered while his wife recovered from her injury. (Ultimate Classic Rock)

With Sheila E's new autobiography newly released, everyone's talking about the passages describing the years she dated Prince—but Sheila E says the bigger romance, for her, was being engaged to Carlos Santana when she was 18. Never mind that he was 36—and married to someone else. (Billboard)

If you missed the chance to grab a chunk of the Berlin Wall, here's your chance to score another historic chunk: a piece of the Beatles' stage backdrop from their landmark Ed Sullivan Show performance, signed by the band, will be up for grabs at a memorabilia sale in Los Angeles next month. The price? Only $550,000. (Rolling Stone)

The Recording Industry Association of America has released sales figures for the first half of 2014. Compared to the first half of 2013, the big winners were vinyl and online streaming. Vinyl sales soared by 41%, and paid subscriptions to streaming music services increased by even more: 42%. Those gains weren't enough, however, to offset a deep dip in sales of CDs (down by 19%) and digital downloads (down 12%). When all was said and done, revenue for the overall recording industry fell almost 5%. Digital revenue—money paid for downloads and streaming music—now accounts for the large majority of the industry's income: 68%. (Billboard)

Neil Young cares so much about the environment that he's released, count 'em, three different versions of his new song "Who's Gonna Stand Up?" The orchestral version will appear on his forthcoming album Storeytone. (Rolling Stone)

If you're going to scalp tickets to a Yusuf (a.k.a. Cat Stevens) show, then fine, he JUST WON'T PLAY. Yusuf has canceled what would have been his first New York shows since America's bicentennial, citing soaring resale prices. (Billboard)

Kanye West, like Prince, seemingly likes to hold semi-secret listening parties when he has a new album ready to drop. (Consequence of Sound)

Gregg AllmanTaj MahalAaron Neville are among the artists who will perform at a Nov. 19 concert in tribute to Mavis Staples on her 75th birthday. (Billboard)

Urban Outfitters is now the world's number one seller of vinyl. (Consequence of Sound)

Morrissey's new merch isn't pulling any punches. (Stereogum)

Morrissey shirt
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