The Kingpins of Cowtown

Pete Townshend, eat your heart out

For every man, woman and child who has ever danced around in their underwear pretending to play guitar, a la Tom Cruise in Risky Business, the air guitar heroes of America salute you.

The Star-T's video blog goddess Kristin Campbell was on the scene last weekend for the Air Guitar Championships in Dallas, and let's just say it was a scene. Check out her video report.

Before you mock these faux rockers, know that some traveled halfway across the country in very old, smelly vans to compete. The winner gets 1,000 bucks, a trip to Finland -- and, look ma, no blisters.

Willie, is it something we said?

Hope you didn't have plans to spend July 4 at the Stockyards with Willie Nelson and his pals.

He's packing his picnic basket and heading to Washington State this Independence Day, the first time his annual drinking and music orgy will be held outside the state of Texas. And news, at least to me, that this year's picnic wasn't being held at the Fort Worth Stockyards, like it has been the last couple of years.

Shame, really. But Willie, who turned 74 on Monday, has always been a free spirit. And he's always had cash-flow issues.

Feelin' ancient

Welcome to Day 442 of my midlife crisis. The hairline is receding, the waistline is protruding and the music is getting too loud.

(I get no sympathy from Albino Bowler here, as he never ages and his hair never moves.)

I could barely stay awake last night at the Madeleine Peyroux concert at Bass Hall, and my one-line review?

I've seen enough stand-up base solos to last a lifetime.

Might as well plotz

Put away the spandex. The Van Halen reunion with meshugena frontman David Lee Roth is off.

But breakout the Yoko Ono and one-legged dancer jokes. Heather Mills is among the new roster of celebs on Dancing with the Stars.

OK Go ahead

Since we're sure a lot of people were scratching their heads when the members of OK GO hit the red carpet at the Grammys, this might help. ...Or it might lead to more head scratching.

You may remember OK Go for their mind-bending and masterful treadmill video.

Every check you cash

After a triumphant reunion on The Grammys, The Police are headed out on their See Us Before We Die tour. They follow in the footsteps of other near-death rockers The Rolling Stones, The Who, etc.

The Police come to American Airlines Center on June 26. Tickets range from $50-$225.Think I'll be in Thailand eating a $25,000 meal.

Dixie Chicks still splittin'?

The Albino Bowler is a faithful readers of the tabloids, and he reminded me that the National Enquirer and Star magazine swore earlier this year that the Dixie Chicks were going to call it quits after the Grammys.

They were tired of all the criticism, the rags, um, I mean tabs said.

Well, after a five-for-five night at the Grammys, will they go out on top? Natalie Maines looked like the perverbial Chick that swallowed the canary as she accepted award after award, particularly the one for best country album. So it seems unlikely.

But the Chicks are anything if unpredictable.

If Natalie goes her separate way, how bout Carrie Underwood as a replacement Chick? Would that make Tony Romo a Mr. Chick.

The possibilities seem endless. We just love starting rumors ... just like the tabs.

The Prince of all media

No doubt that Prince was the best thing about last night's Super Bowl. And it was a great touch to jam with the Florida A&M band.

But if the Super Bowl producers thought they got away with no naughtiness during the halftime show, they would be wrong. Check out Prince's protruding shadow puppet.

Next year at halftime: The Smothers Brothers