Newsbites: Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy dies

Influential: Ed Cassidy

Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy has died at the age of 89. The veteran musician started his career in showbands in the 1940s and moved into jazz in the 50s. He formed Spirit in 1967 with Randy California, Mark Andes, Jay Ferguson and John Locke.The band are credited with having influenced Led Zeppelin on their 1969 support tour. Spirit split after fourth album Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus in 1970 but Cassidy retained the name and toured with various lineups until California died in 1997. He’d retired from live performance.

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger says his explosive relationship with Keith Richards is nothing like a marriage. “People say the stupidest things, and that’s one of the dumbest,” he comments. “It’s completely difference from being married when you work with someone.” [Esquire]

The UK edition of the Sonisphere festival will return to Knebworth Park in 2013 after being cancelled this year, boss Stuart Galbraith has said. “We’re working on a bill to announce before Christmas,” he explains. “Cancelling it was a hiccup.”

Metallica have made their catalogue available on Spotify. Drummer Lars Ulrich appeared at a press conference also attended by Spotify investor Sean Parker, who founded Napster, the MP3 service sued by Metallica in 2000. Ulrich said: “Spotify has really solidified itself as not only the leading streaming service but pretty much the only one. We were ready to jump as soon as we took control of our own masters.” [Billboard]

Former Guns n’Roses drummer Steven Adler is auctioning two RIAA platinum plaques to raise funds for animal charity Fur And Feather. Bid for his Appetite For Destruction plaque or his Lies plaque.

Moody Blues frontman Justin Hayward says their next release will be a live DVD, possibly featuring new tracks – but there’s no demand for a complete new record. “It would be nice to think we could just put another album out, but we’ve put albums out in the last few years and they’ve gone unnoticed,” he reports. “Everybody just wants to talk about Your Wildest Dreams or I Know You’re Out There Somewhere or Nights in White Satin. So I think some kind of recorded project with some new material will be the next thing.” [Billboard]

Ex King Crimson frontman Greg Lake says signature track 21st Century Schizoid Man carries a warning that’s as valid today as it was when they wrote it in 1969. He comments: “21st-century man could become a very unpleasant thing if we’re not careful. We have to think about where we’re going. You listen to the words and it’s not the way you want the world to go.” [Prog]

Jack White admits he still misses the White Stripes. He says: “My dad’s dead – it’s like saying, do you miss your dad? Of course. I always will. How could I not?” [Esquire]