Quick Takes: Eddie Vedder, Eric Clapton, Sammy Hagar, The Grateful Dead, The Zombies, Mick Rock

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder will release his latest solo set, Earthling, on February 11th via his own Seattle Surf imprint. Vedder has just issued a lyric video for the album's second single, "The Haves." (Blabbermouth)
Eric Clapton took time out to defend his controversial beliefs with fellow anti-vaxxer, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Kennedy's The Defender site. "Slowhand" said, in part, "Over the last year, there’s been a lot of disappearing, a lot of dust around with people moving away quite quickly, and it does kind of refine the kind of friendships I have. It’s been difficult these last couple of years, especially with mainstream media turning."
- Clapton added, "I had been inspired by Van (Morrison) because he came straight out and his reasoning was, 'We have to make music for people.' He’s a crusader, he sees it as his calling. And I thought, 'That’s right, people are not really acquainted with the idea that this is as important in their healing as any kind of medicine. The whole community thing of people with being together with music.'" (Rolling Stone)
Sammy Hagar revealed that he and the Circle have wrapped production on their latest album. The "Red Rocker' explained told Joe Rock: "We just finished a whole freakin' record and it is all brand new songs. We went in with Dave Cobb, the producer in Nashville. And it's not a country record. He's a great producer. He's a rock guy to the bone. He just happens to produce Chris Stapleton and Brandi Carlile. Rival Sons, he produces that band too. Anyway, he's a great producer. We went in and did a whole new record with the Circle. And it's so badass, I just can't wait to get it out." (Blabbermouth)
Actor Jonah Hill will portray Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia in Martin Scorsese's official band biopic. The movie is being written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, best known for American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson. Deadline reported, "The Dead’s Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann will executive produce along with their late bandmate’s daughter Trixie Garcia, Eric Eisner, and Bernie Cahill." (Deadline)
The Zombies — led by co-founders Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone — have rolled out a string of 27 North American spring and summer tour dates. The band kicks off the trek on April 1st in Orlando, Florida at Plaza Live with the dates — as of now — wrapping on July 15th on Everett, Washington at Historic Everett Theatre. Additional cities will soon be announced.
- JUST ANNOUNCED: The Zombies 2022 tour dates (subject to change):
  April 1 – Orlando, FL – Plaza Live
  April 2 – Fort Pierce, FL – Sunrise Theatre
  April 3 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – The Parker
  April 5 – Clearwater, FL – Bilheimer Capitol Theatre
  April 6 – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Ponte Vedra Music Hall
  April 7 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage Theater
  April 9 – Baton Rouge, LA – Manship Theatre
  April 10 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
  April 13 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
  April 14 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
  April 16 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
  April 18 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
  April 19 – Annapolis, MD – Maryland Hall
  April 20 – Phoenixville, PA – The Colonial Theatre
  April 22 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
  April 23 – Atlantic City, NJ – The Music Box at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
  April 24 – Riverhead, NY – Suffolk Theater
  April 26 – Northampton, MA – Academy of Music
  April 27 – Concord, NH – Capitol Center for the Arts
  April 29 – Beverly, MA – The Cabot
  April 30 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
  May 1 – Fall River, MA – Narrows Center for the Arts
  July 7 – Winnipeg, MB – Club Regent Event Centre
  July 9 – Calgary, AB – Deerfoot Inn & Casino
  July 13 – Victoria, BC – Alix Goolden Performing Hall
  July 14 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
  July 15 – Everett, WA – Historic Everett Theatre
Legendary rock photographer Mick Rock is dead at age 72. Rock is best known for his iconic shots of Lou Reed, David Bowie, Blondie, Iggy Pop, and Queen along with most of the cutting edge musicians of the 1970's and '80s.