Here & There …

Garth Brooks debates “retirement” – Los Angeles Times (registration may be required)

Dollywood values – What the theme park says about America – Economist

Q&A with The Killers’ Brandon Flowers – The Baltimore Sun / Associated Press

Consider the source – Michael Jackson says he’s normal. – Reuters

Battle over oddball Elvis memorabilia nears end – Detroit Free Press / Associated Press

Rock & roll theme park planned for Arizona – Arizona Daily Star

Dates, Dates & More Dates …

Extra shows for Bon Jovi include Pittsburgh, Des Moines and Kansas City; Armor For Sleep add Philly and Worcester and Jay and The Americans add Florida and Ohio.

We just posted Japan dates for Celine Dion; Canada dates for Ennis Sisters and good, ol’ UsofA dates for Guttermouth.

Look for new OTEP listings for PA, OH, CO and UT; Paramore adds Houston and Montreal and MxPx does SLC at the end of November.

Paul Anka plays Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in December; Angels And Airwaves add stops in TX, FL, NC, MD, DC, PA and MA and Iron & Wine adds a 2008 Belgium date.

During the past two hours we also updated schedules for The Von Bondies, Jennifer Grant, Gods Of Kansas, Brian Byrne, Basia Bulat, Supagroup, The Divorcees and The Walkmen.

Don’t forget about your next update, coming up around 3 PM (PST) from Pollstar.com!

This Day in Music History … (From Associated Press)

In 1968, John Lennon and his first wife, Cynthia, were divorced.

In 1968, Jean Terrell was named to replace Diana Ross in the Supremes. Ross had left for a solo career.

In 1971, Led Zeppelin’s untitled fourth album, which came to be known as Led Zeppelin IV, was released.

In 1976, Burton Cummings, former lead singer of The Guess Who, began his solo career with a concert at the Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg. The original Guess Who had broken up the previous year, although several reconstituted versions of the group would surface later. The original group reunited for an appearance at the closing ceremonies of the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, then followed up with highly-successful national tours.

In 1980, Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware split from the British electro-pop band The Human League to form Heaven 17.

In 1985, Sting’s concert film, Bring On the Night, opened in the U-S and Canada.

In 1995, Country Dick Montana, the lead singer of the Beat Farmers, collapsed and died of a heart attack during a concert in Whistler, B-C. Montana, whose real name was Daniel Monty McLain, was 40. The San Diego-based band had been together for a dozen years, releasing six albums of their blend of rock, country and blues.

Also on this date in 1996, Bruce Springsteen played his first concert in his hometown of Freehold, New Jersey, in 29 years. It was a solo benefit performance at his old parochial school. Springsteen stipulated that only local residents could buy tickets.

In 1997, thousands of fans jammed into a Calgary shopping mall in the hopes of getting an autograph from country star Shania Twain. Those who were first in line had arrived at 2:30 a-m, more than four hours before the mall opened.