plus: Freddy Fender undergoes kidney transplant. Julia Fordham in search of new label. Lee Rocker and Scotty Moore plan concerts. Adema, Earshot join SnoCore tour. Guns N' Roses vets reunite.

Don Henley [ tickets ], Beck [ tickets ], Courtney Love, Stevie Nicks and other artists descended on California's state Capitol building in Sacramento on Wednesday (1/23), lobbying lawmakers to support legislation that would overturn the state's "seven-year" statute. Under the current law, musicians are exempt from the seven-year limit on entertainment contracts.

State Sen. Kevin Murray is proposing SB 1246, legislation that would repeal the exception to the seven-year rule, which was created for the music industry in 1987.

Freddy Fender was in stable condition at University Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday (1/24) after undergoing kidney transplant surgery.

"The transplant was successful," Dr. Glenn Halff said in a statement. "He is expected to spend the next day-and-a-half in the intensive care unit then move a regular room on the transplant unit. Barring any unforeseen complications we expect Mr. Fender to make a complete recovery."

Fender's daughter donated the kidney to her father. She was also in stable condition.

From Julia Fordham's official website:

Dear All,

Many of you have written to me asking about the latest with my record "Concrete Love." I want to let you know that I am afraid the rumors are in fact true. Rather frustratingly, Division One, the lovely little label that signed me has been axed by the powers that be at AOL/Time Warner. I don't just mean the artists & the whole operation, office, staff, the entire blinkin lot have gone down the plug hole, as we say back home! Even though the company was making a modest profit, it just wasn't enough in the eyes of the giant mothership conglomerate, who have decided they are only interested in acts that have sold at least a million on their last album with projections they will do so on their next. Unfortunately, this appears to reflect the current climate throughout the music industry.

The good news is I already have major interest from other labels who are keen to release "Concrete Love." Even though it won't be coming out on January 29th as hoped, it will be out there soon. In the meanwhile, Id be grateful if you would not be tempted to now go on ebay and buy the advance CD that seems to periodically and unethically appear....

Click here to read liveDaily's 2001 interview with Fordham.

Ex-Stray Cat bassist Lee Rocker and Elvis' guitarist Scotty Moore, who played three West Coast shows in 2001, have lined up seven performances for 2002. They are:

February
8 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
9 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre
11 - Chicago, IL - Schubas
12 - Omaha, NE - Music Box
13 - Minneapolis, MN - Cabooze
15 - Kansas City, MO - Grand Emporium
16 - Memphis, TN - Lounge at Gibson Guitar Showcase

According to a press release, Moore and Rocker "will cover new material as well as dig back into their past Stray Cat and Elvis catalogs for these performances. Other U.S. dates are under consideration for later this year."

Adema and Earshot have been added to bill of the SnoCore Rock tour, which opens on Feb. 15 in Providence, R.I. Earshot will open the show on all dates, while Adema will join up on March 1 in New York and play to the close of the tour.

Click here for more information on the SnoCore Rock tour.

Working on his upcoming solo album, Izzy Stradlin is collaborating with former Guns N' Roses bandmates Slash and bassist Duff McKagan, Sonicnet reported.