A Few More Things: Motörhead, Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen and Auto Insurance

We don’t think anyone was surprised when Motörhead announced that it was canceling its remaining European festival dates.  Lemmy Kilmister hasn’t exactly been feeling up to snuff lately and last week the band was scratching gigs from its schedule a show at a time.

What’s up with Lemmy?  Announcements from the band have referred to his undergoing “medical maintenance” in the spring and that doctors are now advising him to “take some more time to rest.”

However, Blabbermouth reports that Motörhead’s Mikkey Dee told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that Lemmy’s medical problem resulted from a fall and getting “a nasty blow to his hip.”

A message from Lemmy posted on Motörhead’s website didn’t exactly clarify things, but assured fans that the unexpected break in touring was merely temporary.

From iMotorhead.com:

“I’d like to thank everyone who wish me well, it was a tough decision for me as I don’t like to disappoint the fans especially in times where economy is bad and people spent their money to see us.  But sometimes you can’t do anything else than following doctor’s orders, but be sure we will be back and kick everybody’s ass.”

A brief wrap-up follows Lemmy’s words and says fans should “redirect those cards, flowers and chocolates to a loved one” and that the band will “see you in the fall for their new album in the form of a massive aftershock.”

Lou Reed was reportedly rushed to a Long Island hospital Sunday morning, apparently suffering from dehydration.

Reed, who underwent a liver transplant in April, was taken to the Southampton Hospital from his home in East Hampton at approximately 7 a.m. Sunday “following an emergency call for an adult male suffering from dehydration,” according to the New York Post.

As to Reed’s status, the Post says a woman answering the phone in the room where Reed was being treated said, “Everything’s fine.”

Apparently religious reasons have caused Leonard Cohen to reschedule a couple of shows in the United Kingdom.

Cohen was to play the Leeds Arena Sept. 5 and the O2 London Sept. 14.  Those shows will now take place Sept. 7 and 15, respectively.

Saying that Cohen is an “observant Jew,” NME points out that Sept. 5 within the Rosh Hashanah Sept. 4-6 timespan and Sept. 14 conflicts with Yom Kippur.

The duo known as Bondax has canceled select North American dates, citing that ol’ concert devil known as “Unforeseen Circumstances.”

The group, which played Glastonbury this past weekend, said it will still play Electric Zoo in New York City Aug. 30 and the North Coast Music Festival in Chicago Aug. 31.

Dropped from Bondax’s festival-heavy schedule are stops at the Ottawa Blues Festival July 10, a gig at Toronto’s Wrong Bar July 11, the group’s Camp Bisco appearance July 12 and the MoMA PS1 Warm Up in New York July 13.  Bondax has also scratched August appearances in Phoenix and San Francisco as well as a performance at Los Angeles’ Hard Summer Festival.

One does not usually think of automobile insurance when contemplating a free ticket offer, but that’s the plan offered by Live Nation and the Mercury Insurance Company.

It’s called the “Mercury Insurance Concert Series and in order to take advantage of the promotion, you must fill out a quote request form posted on the insurance company’s website.  Fans who complete the form will receive vouchers redeemable for two free tickets to a 2013 concert of their choice at one of six So-Cal Live Nation-operated venues – the Hollywood Palladium, San Bernardino’s San Manuel Amphitheatre, The Wiltern in Los Angeles and House Of Blues in West Hollywood, Anaheim and San Diego.  The free tickets are subject to availability.

The “Get a Quote, Get a Pair Of Concert Tickets” promotion runs through Dec. 31 and is open to California residents who are at least 21 years of age, are licensed drivers and are not existing Mercury Insurance customers.  Click here for more information.