Quick Takes: Guns N’ Roses, Alec John Such, Blondie

Premiering on Reelz this Sunday (June 12th) at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PST is Guns N' Roses: Story Of Their Songs. The show “will explore the six classic hits that define Guns N’ Roses' career as the one of the most popular — and notorious — bands in rock history.” The songs examined in the episode are “Welcome To The Jungle,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Paradise City,” “Patience,” “Don’t Cry” and “November Rain.” (Bravewords)
Foul play is not suspected in the recent death of former-Bon Jovi bassist Alec John Such. Such, who left the band in 1994, died on June 5th at age 70. TMZ reported: “It was around 2:15 AM Saturday when Alec woke up at his South Carolina home to use the bathroom. On his way back to bed, Alec called out to a friend who was staying with him, the friend helped Alec get back into bed and then left the room, when the friend came back later to check on John, he was dead. . . according to Tamara Willard, Chief Deputy Coroner for Horry County.”
- EMS was called and performed live saving measures prior to Such dying of what is believed to be natural causes. (TMZ)
Set for release on August 26th is Blondie: Against The Odds 1974-1982. The deluxe eight-CD set is available on multiple formats and features all six of the band's studio sets — Blondie (1976), Plastic Letters (1977), Parallel Lines (1978), Eat To The Beat (1979), Autoamerican (1980), and The Hunter (1982).
- The set features 36 previously unissued tracks, two volumes of liner notes, track-by-track commentary from Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Jimmy Destri, Nigel Harrison, Frank Infante, and Gary Valentine, an illustrated discography, and dozens of previously unpublished photos. (Press release)