Bruce, Elvis Honor Strummer

Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Steve Van Zandt and No Doubt's Tony Kanal will perform a special tribute to Joe Strummer at the forty-fifth annual Grammy Awards. The late Clash frontman died of a heart attack on December 22nd. In addition to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, the Clash also picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Long Form Music Video for "Westway to the World."

The Bee Gees, whose keyboardist/bassist Maurice Gibb died last month after suffering intestinal blockage, will receive the Grammy Legend Award in a presentation that will feature a performance by 'N Sync.

Other recently announced performers include Eminem (who is nominated for five awards including Record of the Year and Album of the Year), Sheryl Crow (also with five nominations) and Lenny Kravitz. They join a lineup that already includes Coldplay, Norah Jones, the Dixie Chicks, John Mayer, Nelly with Kelly Rowland and Faith Hill.

Presenters so far include Mary J. Blige, Michelle Branch and Martina McBride, with more to be announced in the next week. The Grammys will be held at New York City's Madison Square Garden on February 23rd, and will air live on CBS.

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Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

More Song Stories entries »

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