Rock Hall events salute Janis Joplin

November 11, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

CLEVELAND — The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is celebrating the brief, electrifying career of Janis Joplin with a week of events building up to a tribute concert. The hall calls the bluesy singer one of rock’s most passionate and influential artists. Joplin, who rose to fame during San Francisco’s 1967 “Summer of Love,” was 27 when she died of a drug overdose in 1970. The rock hall and Case Western Reserve University are hosting talks this week by those who knew Joplin, including her siblings, her former road manager, and Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen. Saturday’s tribute show will feature Lucinda Williams, Country Joe McDonald, and songwriter Bob Neuwirth, who penned the Janis Joplin favorite, “Mercedes Benz.”

Aerosmith needs singer

NEW YORK — Aerosmith’s lead guitarist Joe Perry says the legendary rock band isn’t breaking up — although they need a new singer.

Perry said on the micro- blogging site Twitter late Monday that Aerosmith is “not splitting up” but “looking for a new singer to work with” amid growing speculation about the future of the band and the role of front man Steven Tyler.

Tyler has been quoted as saying he is considering a solo career.

Perry tweeted that one of the band’s members “is doing his own thing and said so in the press. That’s all I know.” The 61-year-old Tyler was injured when he fell off a stage during an Aug. 5 performance in South Dakota, and the band canceled the remainder of its summer tour.

Today’s birthdays

Comedian Jonathan Winters is 84. Actress Demi Moore is 47. Actress Calista Flockhart (“Brothers and Sisters,” “Ally McBeal”) is 45. TV personality Carson Kressley (“Queer Eye For The Straight Guy”) is 40. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is 35.