Odds & Ends: Soul Asylum, Stevie Nicks, Elvis & Babs

No Soul Asylum For Dan

Evidently 30 years was enough for Soul Asylum founding member Dan Murphy. The guitarist has left the band “effective immediately.”

Murphy, who along with David Pirner and Karl H. Mueller, founded Soul Asylum in 1982, posted a message on the band’s website thanking everyone involved, including the “countless managers, producers, engineers, tour managers, record company execs, interns, video directors, radio station programmers, publicists” and the like who gave “Soul Asylum a chance to be heard.”

The axeman isn’t burning any bridges on his exit, saying he leaves “with great admiration and respect for David Pirner.” Murphy also expressed his “deepest respect and love” for Mueller, Mueller’s widow and his mother. Mueller passed away from throat cancer in 2005.

In his posting, Murphy saved his most important goodbyes for the fans.

“Lastly, a humble acknowledgement to the fans, to anyone and everyone that has waited in long lines and parked far away from venues, endured less than stellar sound and or performances, have gotten stepped on, stood in front of, or marginalized in any way, I am humbled by you.”

What’s next for Murphy? Evidently some quality time with those closest to him.

“To survive in the game of music in this current incarnation of digital downloads, short attention spans, tabloid style press wrought with desperate headline grabbing antics, it occurs to me that one needs an unhealthy and combustive internal combination of two seemingly distant attributes – naivety and swagger. I no longer have either and am looking forward to a quieter life with family and friends and my adorable chiweenie Lily Belle.”

Elvis At Madison Square Garden

Christmas came a little early for Elvis Presley fans when Sony Music Entertainment announced the upcoming release of Prince From Another Planet: 40th Anniversary Edition, a CD/DVD box set featuring rare photos, a mini documentary and performance footage of The King’s only Madison Square Garden performances, which took place in 1972.

Included in the footage is a short clip of Elvis performing “Suspicious Minds” on the MSG stage that was filmed by a fan with a hand-held camera. The footage, posted earlier this week on RollingStone.com, serves as a reminder as to why he’s still The King after all these years.

Prince From Another Planet: 40th Anniversary Edition will be released Nov. 13 via RCA/Legacy.

Nicks Nixes Words

Evidently Stevie Nicks saw the video clip showing Nicki Minaj trashing her fellow “American Idol” judge Mariah Carey. The singer/songwriter/Fleetwood Mac member sounded off about Minaj while talking to The Daily, saying, “I would have killed her in front of all those people and had to go to jail for it.”

Well, guess what. Ms. Nicks would like her words back, please.

The singer released a statement saying her remarks about Minaj were “out of character,” reports Entertainment Weekly’s Popwatch blog.

“I want to apologize for my remarks about Nicki Minaj’s behavior toward Mariah Carey which I said during a long and exhausting day of interviews.

“It was very out of character for me and I deeply regret what I said. I feel very protective toward Mariah Carey who has gone through many difficulties in her life and I spoke without thinking. I think all artists should be respectful toward one another and that includes me. I am truly sorry.”

In other words, you can forget about that rumored Minaj vs. Nicks cage fight that was supposed to be available as a pay-per-view.

How’s That Again?

An email from the Barclays Center regarding Barbra Streisand’s Oct. 11 and 13 concerts at the brand-spanking new home of the Brooklyn Nets caused more than a few double takes here at Pollstar’s Fresno HQ. That’s because, due to traffic concerns, the message’s subject header urged ticketholders to “take mass transit.”