Several sources have reported that Buddy Miles died of congestive heart failure late Tuesday night at his home in Austin, Texas. He’s best known for his work with Jimi Hendrix. That’s Miles you hear on skins on “Band of Gypsys” album, as well as on “Rainy Day, Dream Away” and “Still Raining, Still Dreaming” from “Electric Ladyland” album. But his illustrious career also found him playing with other rock and soul heavyweights, the likes of Wilson Pickett, Stevie Wonder and David Bowie.

An official statement has been posted on his Web site.

Time for another sampling of songs that currently melt my butter.



"Clowns" Goldfrapp: This British synth-pop duo takes big risks on the new "Seventh Tree" album, adding more acoustic instruments to the arrangements and channeling a sunny psych-pop vibe that’s bound to alienate fans that would prefer them to keep cranking out new versions of "Ooh La La."

"As You Wish" Aqueduct: Imagine if Slayer preferred cheery pop melodies. Oh, and they had a horn section. They might sound like this. Seattle’s Aqueduct is way funnier than Tenacious D.

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As Rolling Stone reports, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne may have taken a page out of Perry Farrell’s book this year. That is, like Farrell’s Lollapalooza festival, which once toured the country but now just happens in Chicago, Ozzfest may drop anchor in Dallas and become a two-day metal fest.

In a move that got plenty of ink last year, the Osbournes made the festival free. (Hear Ozzy himself talk about that by clicking this link.) But fans still didn’t quite fill up opening day at Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre, and that can’t be a

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You know the routine. Click here to revisit the Useless Trivia Tuesday Leap Day Quiz and see if you know which songs were No. 1 on the last 10 Leap Days, sans spoilers.

And I’ve gotta admit, this week’s quiz was pretty hard. Hell, I’d never guess Paul Mauriat if I didn’t look it up. Anyway, answers are highlighted below.

The Leap Day Quiz

Feb. 29, 2004

A. "Hey Ya" Outkast

B. "Yeah" Usher feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris

C. "Redneck Woman" Gretchen Wilson

D. "My Boo" Usher and Alicia

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Many of you saw Iron Maiden play Ozzfest at White River Amphitheatre a few years back, just before things went sour with festival namesake Ozzy Osbourne. And now they’re coming back for their own tour, which will drop in on the Auburn venue on June 2.

Maiden’s latest tour is in support of the band’s “Somewhere Back in Time” DVD, and will focus on its classic ’80s period. And Live Nation just released ticket details. Prices are set at $25 to $75, and tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 8. Check the Live Nation

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Surprise, surprise. This week’s quiz is actually on time. And since Friday is a special occasion, Leap Day, I thought I’d relate this week’s challenge to that. Flo Rida’s "Low" seems poised to be the No. 1 single for Leap Day 2008. (We’ll find out tomorrow.) But see if you know (or can at least guess based on the choices) what the No. 1 song was on the previous 10 leap days.

The Leap Day Quiz

Feb. 29, 2004

A. "Hey Ya" Outkast

B. "Yeah" Usher feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris

C.

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You know, a friend and I were just speculating on who would play the Gorge’s Sasquatch festival this year. Well, Live Nation just released the lineup, and we were right with a couple of guesses: Death Cab for Cutie, R.E.M.

Other big names that will play the Grant County venue’s yearly kickoff event on May 24 to 26 are the Cure, Modest Mouse, M.I.A., Built to Spill, the Presidents of the United States of America, the Hives and the

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Cripes, y’all! I am seriously worn out after bouncing back and forth between all the big musical happenings in T-town over the weekend.

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I got to hang out with a few of those Ebony Hillbillies today at Wintergrass. So I thought I’d post a couple of clips.

I’d done a bit of research since last night’s Black and Bluegrass performance. And I discovered that bassist Bill Salter had made quite a name for himself playing other genres of music. The guy’s got two Grammys. And ever heard of a little song called “Where Is the Love?” You know, as in Roberta Flack? Maybe Bill Withers’ hit “Just the Two of Us?” Well, Salter and a partner wrote those. And as

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