Big 95 Music News: Aerosmith, Dire Straits

AEROSMITH:  Steven Tyler and Joe Perry are busy this month

Joe Perry is talking about who'll join him for his album release party on January 16th at The Roxy in Los Angeles.

The event will feature some of the artists on the disc, Sweetzerland Manifesto, which comes out on January 19th. They include Cheap Trick singer Robin Zander, David Johansen, Terry Reid, Gary Cherone from Extreme, and Dean and Robert DeLeo from Stone Temple Pilots.

On January 28th, Steven Tyler will host a Grammy Awards viewing party at RED Studios in Hollywood to benefit Janie’s Fund, his charitable initiative to help girls heal after suffering abuse and neglect. Tyler says, “This gala is more than a night out, it’s a break on through to the other side for these girls whose lives have been stunted. It’s an opportunity to learn of the valuable work we will be doing to get them there. It’s time to bring the awareness out of the darkness and into the light for these girls, for all to see.”

In addition to dinner, an auction and the awards show telecast from New York, Tyler will perform with his other band, Loving Mary.

DIRE STRAITS:  Problems between Mark Knopfler and Pick Withers?

Mark Knopfler has already ruled out the original lineup of Dire Straits performing at the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 14th in Cleveland.  Drummer Pick Withers has said that he will not even attend the gala:

"No, I don't think I'd come. I think it'd be artificial. The music was great. I enjoyed making it. And then it's like all things, you know, success changes you and it wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been."

Pick left after the band's fourth album, Love Over Gold (1982), says he's not really into the pomp and circumstance surrounding the band's induction:  "It's 35 years ago, so I don't really feel that great connection. But it's nice to be recognized and, yeah, I'm kind of happy about that element of it. But it seems like a different life to me. So it's like it almost happened to somebody else."

Withers now lives in Liverpool and has had little or no contact with any of his former bandmates.

Bassist John Illsey has said he will attend, and expects Mark to as well. David Knopfler, who is not on the best of terms with his older brother, tells us he'd like to attend and would be up for performing.

Rounding out the Class of 2018 are The Moody Blues, The Cars, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Nina Simone and Bon Jovi.

MORE BIG 95 MUSIC NEWS HEADLINES:  January 10th

Elton John is talking up Cuban-American pop singer Camila Cabello, who just hit the Top 5 with “Havana.” He tells Beats One, "I think she’s going to have an amazing year because she’s just so gorgeous and so much fun and she’s got a great voice and she has great attitude. I think 2018’s going to be an amazing year for her."

Pat Benatar has been added to the list of honorees at the sixth annual She Rocks Awards on January 26th, during the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. She joins Melissa Etheridge, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson of The B-52’s, and Exene Cervenka of X. Pat is also is featured in American Woman, an eight-part digital video series hosted by CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin. You can see it at CNN.com/AmericanWoman.

Denny Laine dedicated Tuesday night's show at B.B. King' s in New York to Ray Thomas. In his first show since the death of his fellow Moody Blues founding member, the voice of "Go Now," shared stories about the band's early history -- including Thomas' days playing the same German clubs as The Beatles.

Loggins and Messina are reuniting -- for one night only. The '70s duo, who made their mark with "Your Mama Don't Dance," will do a February 5th benefit show at the Granada Theater in Santa Barbara, California. According to Kenny's website, their first show in nine years will be "in support of a longtime friend and dear bandmate facing serious health issues."

John Oates, Michael McDonald and Cyndi Lauper will represent classic pop at the 11th annual Family Gras in suburban New Orleans on February 2nd and 3rd.

Exhibitionism, The Rolling Stones’ memorabilia extravaganza, will stay in Las Vegas a while longer. Originally set to close January 31st at The Palazzo, the exhibit has been extended through February 25th.

American Idol’s new judges -- Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie -- harmonized on The Jackson Five’s “I’ll Be There” during Monday’s media event promoting the series’s return.

Cheap Trick tweet that they’re “working on new music.” There are also plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of At Budokan.

The Doobie Brothers will open for the Eagles on September 22nd at San Diego’s Petco Park.

Sting will perform at a benefit for the Hudson River School at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on April 25th and 26th.  

Denise LaSalle, who hit the Top 15 with 1971's "Trapped by a Thing Called Love," died Monday in Nashville of complications from recent surgery. She was 78.