NEIL DIAMOND: Retires from touring after Parkinson's disease diagnosis
Neil Diamond announced Monday he's retiring from touring following his recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
As a result, he's canceled the third leg of his 50th Anniversary Tour, which was scheduled to hit Australia and New Zealand in March.
Neil said in a statement, "It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years. My sincerest apologies to everyone who purchased tickets and were planning to come to the upcoming shows."
In the announcement posted on his website, it says the disease has made it difficult for Diamond to travel and perform, but he will continue to write and record.
THREE DOG NIGHT: Chuck Negron's expanded memoir
It's not unusual for a celebrity to update a memoir with a new chapter or two 10 to 15 years after it was first published. But for the new edition of Three Dog Nightmare, Chuck Negron has gone above and beyond.
There are 11 additional chapters and more than 100 more photographs in the new edition.
He tells us that being 25 years sober, instead of five when the book was first published, gives him a different perspective.
Updating the book also gave him a chance to reflect on the passing of two of his Three Dog Night bandmates, who died in recent years:
"And I was very fortunate, Cory and I had made our peace, through his email and my email. We both said we were sorry. I hadn't spoken to him -- but we were writing. And I was sending music to him and he was telling me what he was doing. We made, you know, our peace. And so I wrote a chapter about him. And then, I wrote a chapter about Jimmy Greenspoon, who I loved -- who was my best man at my wedding."
Chuck didn't add a chapter on his old band's other surviving frontman Danny Hutton. He did tell us the two remain completely estranged.
While the updated Three Dog Nightmare will be released on March 13th, fans who buy the book now from Chuck's website will receive their signed copies immediately, without waiting until March.
REO SPEEDWAGON: Pulling plug on tour
REO Speedwagon have pulled the plug on their shows in January and February while singer Kevin Cronin undergoes a medical procedure.
He says, "There are times in life when our bodies send us messages that we can’t ignore, and this is one of those times. Fortunately for me, it is nothing life-threatening. I need a routine procedure, which is so simple it can be performed by a robot. R2D2 is busy saving the universe, but I understand there is another highly qualified robotic surgeon who works here in Los Angeles. My doctor says I will be good as new. I am deeply disappointed that I have to ask the greatest fans in rock ’n' roll to change their plans. All I can do is ask for your understanding and I truly appreciate your support. The new dates will be announced as soon as possible."
REO are scheduled to resume their tour on March 8th in Joliet, Illinois.
PETER CETERA: Beware of fakes
Peter Cetera has warned fans about online impostors.
The former Chicago vocalist posts on his website that there are "fake Instagram, fake websites and fake personal letters from me that have surfaced recently." He makes clear that his online presence is limited to PeterCetera.com, @TweeterCetera on Twitter and @therealpetercetera on Instagram.
He adds that he does not "send personal letters asking for money for my charities or anything else. BEWARE and please tell your friends as well."