Thursday, February 28, 2013

This Smoke On The Water Is Still On Fire. Deep Purple Is Back

The greatest thing about Classic Rock is that C.R. isn't dead or carrying a light foot to a deep grave. The men and women that made it are out on the road or in the studio thumpin those bass guitars and kick drums. They're masterfully writing lyrics that speak the street while vocalists might sing in a lower tone but they ain't aching to hook up to auto tune. That being said...guess whose set to crank up the guitar amp? Classic Rock Magazine reports Deep Purple is set to release a new album titled ‘NOW What?!’ on April 30 in North America via earMUSIC. Fans will get their first taste of the new music from a double A-side single released on March 29. Deep Purple recorded the album in Nashville with famed rock producer Bob Ezrin, whose long list of credits includes Kiss (‘Destroyer’), Pink Floyd (‘The Wall’), and a slew of early Alice Cooper albums, among many others. ‘NOW What?!’ features 11 new tracks, and according to a press release, the album “was recorded with no musical rules, and it shows a modern and fresh production…to the point that Deep Purple have never sounded so close to the spirit of the ’70s in the last 20 years as they do now.” In addition to the usual formats, ‘NOW What?!’ will be released as a limited edition with a bonus DVD featuring the band discussing the new album, and including a bonus studio cover version. It will also be released as a double vinyl LP. The double A-side single ‘Hell to Pay’ and ‘All the Time in the World’ will be released on March 29 on 7″ vinyl (limited to 1,000 numbered copies), as well as digital download and a CD single that will also features bonus live versions of ‘Perfect Strangers’ and ‘Rapture of the Deep.’ Deep Purple will also announce a world tour in support of the album soon.

Could A Book Lead To A Doors Tour?

Rock Stars with their self ignited implosions and the fans left standing around wondering if they should pick up the missing pieces or discover a new set of lyrics. Oh wait! Someone will write a book and all things disconnected will become perfect! Did we really need to hear how Ace Frehley and Peter Criss lived, loved and hated Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley? Now it turns out Paul has his own book which will be more revealing than the rubber suits he's been sporting for forty years. Can you tell I'm not a fan of handwritten Rock Star autobiographies? Those purchasing the music or running about life like a chicken with its head cut off couldn't give a rats butt about those making the music...just make more! If every Doritoe in the bag felt like it had to share a story we'd have a bigger addiction to Lays and Fritos. Maybe that's why I love today's faceless entertainers. I couldn't tell you who the drummer is versus how many lead vocalists have graced the pages of Guitar Magazine. I love me some drama but after 4 billion episodes of VH1's Behind the Music, I can't afford the paper towels to mop up the vomit. But Rock Drama is what makes the world of music tick... Easily we connect Jim Morrison's name to the Doors. Ray Manzerick, Robby Kreiger the same. John Densmore, the drummer not so quickly. John Densmore won a court battle to keep the other surviving members of the Doors from using the band’s name on new projects. Now, he’s hoping to win back their friendship with a new book. Densmore says he’s mailed copies of ‘The Doors: Unhinged,’ due April 17, 2013, to both Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger in hopes of mending fences. Densmore and the family of late Doors frontman Jim Morrison were awarded $5 million after the drummer filed a lawsuit in 2003, charging Manzarek and Krieger with having “improperly invoked the Doors’ name and images” when the duo toured as “The Doors of the 21st Century.” “My relationship with Ray and Robbie has been rather strained, of course,” Densmore tells Billboard. “But at the end [of the book] I write about how I can’t not love them for what we created together…So hopefully [the book] is a bit of an olive branch and we can head towards healing.” Densmore even says he’s open to performing with his former Doors bandmates again, as long as that doesn’t include performing with a Morrison clone on stage. “It can’t be the Doors,” Densmore insists. “That’s like the Police without Sting, the Stones without Mick … I wouldn’t go on tour with them and a ‘Jimitator.’”

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Lou Graham And Mick Jones Mend Their Foreigner Fence

First and foremost it's not my fault that life dumped me in the 1970's. I wish I could of been earlier but the parental figures had to invent a few other projects. In the 1970's the entire school would've laughed me out of class if caught checking out The Doors, Beatles, Stones or Jefferson Airplane. Each age group had its own style and sound. If caught attempting to bust free; ID was required and it meant sitting around with a bunch of airheads locked in babysitting mode because what would a punk from the 1970's know about 65 to 69? It wasn't like what it is today! The freedom to moisten your ears with the licks and riffs before you proved to be uncool in school. So we were stuck jamming to Jethro Tull, ZZ Top, KISS, Aerosmith and Foreigner. But it wasn't just any Foreigner. It was the band fronted by Mick Jones and Lou Graham. Just like Don Felder returning to The Eagles...bringing the roots of these trees back together was near impossibility. Then someone said, "Felder messed up his own path. Let's give Graham and Jones another shot at playing some tuneage." Classic Rock Magazine reports Foreigner stars Mick Jones and Lou Gramm will perform on stage together for the first time in over a decade at the Songwriters Hall of Fame awards ceremony in New York City on June 13. In an exclusive interview, the guitarist, who has been leading a highly regarded new lineup of Foreigner since 2005, reveals that the pair will perform two songs — ‘Juke Box Hero’ and ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ — together at the event. Apparently there wasn’t much debate in terms of song choices: “Lou suggested both of them.” Jones goes on to explain that he’s “very much looking forward” to the event. “I’m so proud of what Lou and I achieved in those early years and throughout the time that we were together. I think it’s the first time that we’ve been recognized for our work and our writing, which was really the foundation of what we did together, as much as the performing.” He’s particularly happy for the chance to celebrate with Gramm, who left the group because he and Jones “weren’t really communicating” back in 2003. “I think this band has always been a song-driven band and so that has its place for me and it’s very important and it’s going to be great to share that with Lou. It will help us to move along in our relationship, which has been fairly quiet in the last seven or eight years.” For more information on the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and for ticket information about this event, visit the organization’s official website. We’ll have more from our interview with Jones in the coming days.

Is David Bowie Headed To X Factor

Call the cops! The country has overdosed on American Idol and every talent show like it. The problem isn't the talent but the producers that believe our musical interests are are on Pop/Hip Hop and Line Dancing Country. Yo! American listening habits have been leaning hard on Rock and Home Style Folk for the past year! But the maker's of these television shows are trying to force feed viewers into a cut and paste generation of: Do as we say. Not as we do. Ten minutes deep into any of these music variety shows and I've checked out. But what if David Bowie was a judge? Would you watch? According to Classic Rock Magazine...X Factor‘ boss Simon Cowell — wants a piece of rock’s legendary chameleon. Cowell recently told the U.K.’s Daily Mail that he has extended an invite to Bowie to become an ‘X Factor’ judge but has yet to hear a response back. Asked why he would like Bowie to be a part of the program, Cowell sums up his thoughts rather succinctly: “Why Bowie? He’s a legend. He’s a great songwriter, he has massive influence on music today and he’s 100 per cent credible. I’m a fan. Not just of his music but of him, the man. He’s cool. Most of us aren’t. Bowie is.” (For the record we’re against this, we’re very happy to have two of our nights every week free now that Steven Tyler is off ‘American Idol.’) As reported by Ultimate Classic Rock earlier this week, all signs look to David Bowie releasing the second single from his forthcoming record ‘The Next Day’ on February 26.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Not Enough Makeup For Ace To Hide Behind

Rock Stars! Country Superstars! Hollywood actors hurtin! It's so much a part of the every day that it sits far from the front pages of newspaper websites and major publication front covers. Grasping onto a solid bite of fame has a special way of erasing reasons why we pay for the things we thing we need. The movie scene that constantly pops up in the darkness of my mind is connected to the story about Country Legend Tammy Wynette who loved to shop til she dropped. Until the day someone extremely close said, "You've got nothing left. You've spent beyond loans and other means of borrowing." All together we shout, "NEXT!" Classic Rock Magazine reports a bank is looking to foreclose on former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley‘s home in Yorktown, N.Y. In the filing, the bank claims Frehley has not paid his mortgage since March 1, 2011. According to lohud.com, Frehley owes a principal of $703,581.48, plus interest, late charges and fees from a $735,000 mortgage he took out in 2006. U.S. Bank National Association is asking the local court to force the sale of the three-acre plot, which includes the 2,441-square foot, two-story, three-bedroom house. In addition to his unpaid mortgage, public records show that Frehley has not paid taxes on the property since Dec. 30, 2011. A lien of approximately $5,000 was placed in 2011, and he owes more than $13,000 in 2012 back taxes. The Westchester County house was purchased in 2000 by Jendell Productions – so named after the home planet of Frehley’s “Spaceman” persona – and transferred to Frehley four years later at no cost. It is not known if it serves as Frehley’s residence, but it listed as the business address for Max Cake Productions, a movie and video company owned by Frehley. Neither Frehley nor the bank had any comment on the matter.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Aerosmith Wins ASCAP Song Writer's Award

1977 Billings, Montana. The Metra was the only place Rock was able to grow roots. Knowing this I wanted to see only two bands live: Boston and Aerosmith. If you've ever done research on the Steven Tyler; you know that wasn't the greatest of times for a creative genius that get his rush off the scent of everything but the music that got him there. Their story is raw Rock meets Roll. Before VH1's Behind The Music there was only rumors. 99.7% of the time it was about Aerosmith. I'm not gonna waste your time on history. If you stick to the bottom of a restaurant table long enough eventually someone's kid is gonna take a piece of ya home. Classic Rock Magazine reports the Toxic Twins are back in the trophy saddle again. Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry will receive the 2013 ASCAP Founders Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Singer Tyler says: “To be recognized is huge. It’s humbling." Society spokesman Paul Williams calls Aerosmith one of our nation’s greatest and most iconic rock bands, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry crafted the music that defined a generation and continues to inspire songwriters today. They are true musical pioneers whose contributions to American songwriting are immeasurable.” And Tyler suggests that, after the release of 2012 album Music From Another Dimension, Aerosmith’s songwriting days aren’t over. “It’s been a life-long love affair – and it’s far from over,” he says. The 30th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards takes place on April 17 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.

After 40 Years Carlos Santana and Neal Schon Nearing New Project

While hosting a syndicated nightly radio show in the mid 1980's it was imperative that I get my facts right. Without the aid of the world wide web Jocks couldn't do it today. I spent hours researching then writing a show that barely lasted 50 minutes. The nightly process was based on staying loyal to Radio listeners and fans of music. Truth be told...they know and will forever know more about their music than anybody on the Radio. I forked out a ton of money for thick reference books bleeding from the trees of true Rock. My favorite was designed by an author that was heavily inspired by the unfaithfulness of musicians. The members of the band that hopped from stage to stage without feeling guilty of leaving behind the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan or Carlos Santana's backup band. I'm seriously convinced there's no better drama in the world than within the shadows that make up music. No wonder I'm fired up over a revamped collaboration! Classic Rock Magazine reports that after more than 40 years of silence Neal Schon and Carlos Santana could be fueling a future project. “I’ve reconnected with Carlos Santana now and we have been talking about doing something together again,” he told Noise11 (via Vintage Vinyl News). “We’ve talked a lot on the telephone and I hooked up with him before Christmas. You never know what’s going to happen. Life is full of surprises. It’s very exciting.” Schon got his start in Santana as a 15-year old wunderkind in the Bay Area. He appeared on two of their albums, 1971′s ‘Santana III’ and ‘Caravanserai’ a year later, before he and keyboardist/vocalist Gregg Rolie decided to branch out on their own in 1975. Two years later, Journey released their debut album. Schon has been busy of late on non-Journey projects. In addition to the potential upcoming work with Carlos Santana, he released a solo instrumental album, ‘The Calling,’ in October. “It has sections that are rockin’ and very electric and then there’s sections that are really deep and bluesy,” he told us on the eve of its release. “But I love the fact that there’s a lot of melody as well, for being an instrumental record.”

Friday, February 22, 2013

The Original Heart Will Rock The Hall Of Fame

Calmly I would sit in my boy teen bedroom wearing a pair of Kmart purchased headphones attached to a Sears brand 8-track tape player invisibly banging my head against the hard riffs and catching lyrics of a set of girls named Anne and Nancy Wilson. If KISS hadn't existed. Heart posters would've been stapled to those long shanks of fake wood paneled to the walls. I grew up thinking something seriously was wrong with me. Every kid my age spoke of wanting sex with the Wilsons and I wanted only music. Rock Goddesses are to be treated with respect not hand carved notches on a metal bedpost. Maybe it's just me but the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee broadcast is about to get my kind of spicy. Unlike Guns n Roses, Anne and Nancy Wilson of Heart have creatively recollected all the original members of the band. And yes they will perform. It marks the first time they've performed together since 1979. According to Classic Rock Magazine; this contradicts what Ann Wilson told Rolling Stone back in December when the announcement of their induction was first made. “[T]he performing part might be different because of the whole Ann and Nancy Wilson versus the Heart band,” she said. “We’ve been playing with our current band way, way longer than that. You know this is one of those things we’ll need to dust off among ourselves. But we’re both really happy if the initial lineup of guys gets acknowledged.” When asked directly if she was willing to perform with the original group, she gave a succinct, “No. Nope.” The induction ceremony will take place at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18. Heart will be inducted by Chris Cornell of Soundgarden.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Return Of The Electric Light Orchestra

John Lennon called them SOB's. Sons of Beatles. Their "live" stage was huge! Too big and horridly too expensive to keep packing in the back of a truck and haul around America. During the late seventies if you wanted to see The Electric Light Orchestra it meant hitting a big town far far away or forcing yourself to step away from the backyard keg so you could stay awake for Don Kirshner's Rock or the Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack. To record collectors ELO colorized their 45's. Telephone line was purple. Sweet Talkin Woman blue. Each album cover was Star Wars before Lucas became cool. Steve Miller's Book of Dreams album might have popularized the synthesizer but Jeff Lynn and company mastered the art of Rock mystification. Today, the middle of a radio interview Don Jamieson and I got hooked up on a conversation fed by our favorite music get aways. I instantly thought of The Electric Light Orchestra. Then shoved it aside knowing, "Give it up! No matter how many times Poison, Motley Crue and Van Halen claim they're coming back a final time. ELO can't find the time to feed the fans that made them." Then the Rock Gods said, " You SOB the SOB's are coming back! Wait! Kind of sorta. I mean something is better than nothing right?" Classic Rock Magazine reports Jeff Lynne and ELO are beginning 2013 in the same way they ended 2012, with three new CDs. On April 23, Frontiers Records will release a live album from Electric Light Orchestra, a reissue of one of the band’s more recent albums and a reissue of Lynne’s debut solo album. ‘Electric Light Orchestra Live’ is a performance recorded in 2001 at the CBS Television City in Los Angeles. The show was for PBS television, and released on DVD that year. The CD version will include six songs not on the DVD, as well as two unreleased studio tracks called ‘Out of Luck’ and ‘Cold Feet,’ recorded in 2010 and 1992 respectively. Lynne will reach back to 2001 again with the re-release of ‘Zoom,’ an album that featured guest appearances from George Harrison and Ringo Starr. It was the last studio album the band has released, and is primarily a Jeff Lynne record with help on one song from Richard Tandy. The reissue will feature live versions of ‘Do Ya’ and ‘Turn to Stone,’ and a new track called ‘One Day.’ Finally, Lynne will reissue his own solo debut that same day. ‘Armchair Theatre,’ which was originally released in 1990, features collaborations with Tom Petty, Tandy and Harrison. This new version will include two previously unreleased bonus tracks, ‘Borderline’ and ‘Forecast.’ Lynne released three albums on the same day in October 2012, including his second solo album ‘Long Wave,’ ‘Mr Blue Sky — the Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra’ and a documentary called ‘Mr. Blue Sky: the Story of Jeff Lynne and ELO.’ The greatest hits album found Lynne re-working the band’s biggest hits with modern equipment and technology.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Robert Plant Claims It's Not Him Holding Up A Zeppelin Tour

Outside of the two remaining Beatles teaming up with John and George's sons on stage; is there a Rock revival larger than Led Zeppelin? It would be nice to see Bono and U2. But to legions of fans of Classic Rock that doesn't come close to Robert Plant officially declaring that he's gonna climb onboard a tour bus and hit America. Seriously, he's been teasing people with the idea of a Led Zeppelin reunion in 2014 for too long. Keeping in mind that Plant still believes the band was over years before the death of John Bonham brought their career to an end in 1980. Can such strings be strung up and down a Jimmy Page played music maker? Being that Plant has refused to take part in Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones' return to music; it seems like a total impossibility. Or is it? Classic Rock Magazine checked in with Robert who insists he’s not entirely responsible for the band’s lack of activity, “The two other guys are Capricorns. They don’t say a word. They’re quite contained in their own worlds and they leave it to me… I’m not the bad guy. “You need to see the Capricorns – I’ve got nothing to do in 2014.” He lost five-year-old son Karac in 1977 while Led Zep were on tour and the tragedy led him to plan a career beyond the band until Bonham coerced him into coming back. “I was very sceptical about thinking about whether I had the right to be a parent and go back into that world,” says the singer. “When I lost our boy I applied to see if I could get a role as a teacher. I wanted to be around, a way to enjoy children at the peak of the time before they’re spoilt by the ways of our world. “I always thought, ‘There’s another thing I can do.’ I was detached. I’d left it. But it’s a terrible drug being a good singer. “John Bonham came round in a six-door limousine that he could barely get down the country lane. He had a chauffeur’s hat. He’d sit in the front and I’d be three doors back. He’d talk to me through the intercom – and we were only going to the pub. He’d say, ‘Come on, Percy, you know you can do it, you know you’ll have a great time,’ And so, back I went.” But even in 1977 Plant believed Led Zep had had their day. “We explored lot of music in those days,” he reflects. “But by the time Bonzo drew me back in, it was over anyway. We’d done what we had to do. The world had changed. Other people had arrived and it was the beginning of a whole new movement. It was like we’d lost the keys to the kingdom.”

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Arroe Interview With Don Jamieson From VH1 Classic's That Metal Show

He loves metal but knows how to tickle your bone. Can I say that? My interview with That Metal Shows Don Jamieson The interview

Arroe Interview with Jim Florentine from VH1 Classic's That Metal Show

The interview with one of Classic Rocks biggest fans. The guy with Radio Jock blood but comedy became his roll. The interview

How Can There Be New Eagles Music If You Can't Let Go Of Their Past?

I can't imagine the pressure of being Don Henley and Glen Frey! Hollywood documentaries featured at Sundance, endless tour schedules to greeting fans at an overpriced Los Angeles restaurant; the question always appears on the menu, "When will there be fresh music from the Eagles?" Wait! Wait! I can't go on. I laugh like a wild animal when Classic Rock fans put the need for more Eagles speed into their unwritten chapters. A feast of brilliantly designed pieces could be laid before a fan and without a doubt human nature or just flat out typically boring Americana points the lover of music right back to that Greatest Hits collection. How are we supposed to get into the future if 99.8% of our time is stuck in music's unforgiving trap? The best news: The Eagles aren't taking a tour bus into retirement. Classic Rock Magazine was there when Don Henley and Glenn Frey set about authorizing the new documentary ‘History of the Eagles,’ they took the unusual step of securing an Oscar-winning filmmaker to produce — because, as Frey put it in a recent interview with the New York Times, “Our management sent me what they thought were some of the best music documentaries that had been done. And I wasn’t crazy about any of it.” If that makes it sound like the longtime partners think they deserve a better rock doc than everyone else, well…maybe they do, but at least they didn’t stop director Alison Ellwood from digging up the unvarnished truth about the band’s often contentious history. “We encouraged them to speak to everybody,” insisted Henley. “Including ex-members of the band, who don’t necessarily have warm and fuzzy feelings toward us.” One of the most notorious episodes in Eagles lore concerns the infamous 1980 show that ended with Frey and guitarist Don Felder duking it out. Asked about it now, Frey sounds considerably mellower, saying, “Let’s put it this way: I’m glad I’ve had a second chance. I could have handled some things a lot better. We put the band back together in 1994 and I played music with Don Felder for six years. So I feel like that’s water under the bridge.” Questioned about a new album, both Eagles played coy. “It’s not like we don’t see each other,” shrugged a typically taciturn Henley, while Frey proved a little more expansive on the topic. “The Eagles are a working band,” he explained. “Some years we play a lot of shows, some years we play a dozen shows. We do one year at a time, we think that’s a good way to do it. The band’s going to start thinking about coming back together, and talk about whether everybody wants to uproot themselves from their lives and try to make a record, with all that involves. It’s a shared thing, the leadership. Don and I take turns driving the bus, depending on who’s around.”

Monday, February 18, 2013

Def Leppard Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp

Rock n Roll Fantasy camp has a new set of counselors. All five members of Def Leppard. The camp offers Classic Rock fans and musicians the opportunity to write and record original material in Las Vegas. The step of Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp is to master two Def Leppard staples ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ and ‘Rock of Ages’. The next fantasy camp installment is slated for April 4 – 7. And if you suck... it doesn't matter. What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas David Fishof, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp founder says, “I’m beyond thrilled to be producing the Def Leppard Fantasy Camp. I know this is going to be an amazing experience for any Def Leppard fan regardless of musical experience.” A variety of packages are available to prospective Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp attendees. Complete package details can be obtained by calling 1-888-762-2263 or visiting the Rockcamp website. Past rock star camp counselors have included Gene Simmons (KISS), Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones), Slash, Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) and Cheap Trick to name a few.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Alice Cooper Praises New Book And Classic Rock Guitarist Riff Into Public History

Classic Rock has a hot new fad. Everybody who's somebody has a book to sell. Two days ago Paul Stanley of KISS set aside the paint to reveal his personal pain. Nikki Sixx of Motley fame is working on a new one and here comes Louder Than Hell from Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman 300 pages of thunder driven paragraphs fed by the souls of their keepers. Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Van Halen, Lita Ford and Metallica. Cooper calls the book a first in music history because its told by the people who made it Louder than Hell It's slated for release on May 14


  Black Sabbath meets Queen. Two of Classic Rocks greatest guitarists Tony Iommi and Brian May are currently laying down guitar riffs for public domain. What? Yeah....Tony says the idea is to go public. Riffs for the fans. At no charge. The final frame of the game is still in play. Goal number one is to wrap up Black Sabbath's new release ’13,’ The project Ozzy has labeled the great piece in his 35 year career..

Metallica Wins Again

Do you remember when Metallica got upset when fans illegally downloaded their music? Seems they've got a new grudge to nudge off the map. Metallica has halted the U.S. Navy Seals from using their music as part of their interrogation process. When cranked beyond normal limits their rhythm and flow has been known to “soften” terror suspects. One Navy Seal explains, “When we first started the war in Iraq, we were using Metallica music before we interrogated them. Once Metallica got wind of this...they professionally shouted, ‘Hey, please don’t use our music because we don’t want to promote violence." The Navy Seal followed with, "Dude, you have an album called ‘Kill ‘Em All.” According to James Hetfield; a part of him is proud the US Navy Seals chose Metallica but he's worried more about the band being connected to a political statement.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Rock Talks: Bon Jovi Says Grammy Awards On Target

How many days has it been since the Grammy Awards? People are still talking about it! Not just because Justin Bieber wasn't invited to the nominations. CBS pulled off a power play and ordered all musicians and producers to dress like they were going to church. The music industry, as much as we've accepted it as a business; still has what it takes to pull from its system hard working, deeply dedicated, overly passionate soul selling writers and singers that have sacrificed their entire life to the art of musical expression. Pop Artists are always gonna get a little spit fiery while the Diva's constantly forget the long road to stardom is always slippery when wet. Mumford and Sons freaked me out with their British accents! There must be a written rule that clearly states all or anything resembling Blue Grass must look like they're from Tennessee. Take Carrie Underwood. Blonde, gorgeous dress...totally without a doubt Lorretta Lynn or from the 1970's Lynn Anderson. Looking the part is part of the art. But it goes way deeper than that for those that live the Rock road. According to Classic Rock Magazine, if you ask Jon Bon Jovi, the Grammys have gotten it right in recent years. The singer listed Adele and Mumford & Sons as bands with real talent, while adding that he worries about kids today and a perceived waning interest in good music. “The young boy band thing has its place,” Bon Jovi told British tabloid Star. “But you can’t compare One Direction to the likes of Adele or Mumford & Sons. Their talent is invigorating. I’m glad to see talent continuing because I worry this generation isn’t paying that much attention to music.” Last week Bon Jovi began the Because We Can Tour, named after the band’s upcoming album, which features the lead single ‘Because We Can.’ It’s been over 30 years on the road and in studio for the ‘Livin’ On a Prayer’ hitmaker. He says he couldn’t have begun his career on a reality television show like ‘The Voice’ or ‘American Idol.’ “It’s hard because they’re thrust into a huge spotlight and they’re expected to have a record on a par with the greats six weeks later,” he says. Earlier he revealed he was asked to be a part of many of those shows, but wouldn’t do it. “You see them there and they can hit the high note and then a year later they’re a trivia question,” he told the British Sun (quote via Star). It’s a big ask of these kids.”

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

David Lee Roth: I Want Michael Back

Not even twenty four hours after fans of Van Halen celebrated the 35th anniversary of their debut release David Lee Roth was making noise. Openly he calling out to Eddie and Alex for a reunion with original bassist Michael Anthony. Roth wants to make more music with Van Halen. Eddie fan or not...the world of Classic Rock knows he's lazy on the idea. The Rollingstone magazine interview with Sammy Hagar our only proof. I love David's spunk! The blonde Rocker's got a lot more junk in his trunk and he knows every corner of the world is waiting for their true return. According to Classic Rock Magazine David Le’s “not sure what’s in (guitarist) Ed (Van Halen)’s mind at this point.” (In fairness, it should be remembered that Eddie Van Halen underwent emergency surgery for diverticulitis at an unspecified point last year, a procedure that carries an estimated four to six month recovery period.) Roth also goes on to explain that he and Eddie “haven’t written a new song in 20 years,” and suggests that the group’s 2012 album ‘A Different Kind of Truth‘ was comprised of even more reworked material than most originally suspected: “Almost all of the music that you hear on our most recent album was written and demoed before the first album.” In the most eyebrow-raising part of the interview, “Diamond Dave” also calls it “a disappointment” that the group hasn’t reunited with Anthony, who wasn’t invited back — and in fact, was replaced by Eddie’s son Wolfgang — when the group reconfigured with Roth for a tour in 2007. “What we have at our fingertips is arguably one of the greatest high tenor voices ever — that was in Michael Anthony,” Roth explains. “In our tiny little corner of the universe, that voice is as identifiable as the high voice in Earth, Wind & Fire, as identifiable as the high voice in the Beach Boys… so I would always look forward to that reunion.” Anthony is currently a member of Chickenfoot alongside Van Halen’s second singer, Sammy Hagar. Wolfgang’s mother, actress Valerie Bertinelli, told Detroit’s WRIF back in March that the lure of playing with his son is what brought Eddie Van Halen out of his long break from touring and recording. Why is Roth rocking a boat that has proven to be so easily capsized in the past? A sense that time is not exactly in his favor anymore seems to be his primary motive: “For me, 60 is the new 80. You oughta see my X-rays. So get going, start heading north. And whether we accomplish anything or not becomes beside the point. The goal is to get with somebody and get with a group or team or a squad and get going on something that everybody’s contributing to.”

New KISS Book Told By The Men And Women Of Rock

Going totally against my parents vocal commands and religious wishes...I became a proud member of the KISS Army during the Summer of 1977. That's all the permission I needed to pump up the 8-track tape volume and poster every corner of my bedroom walls with painted faces while sporting the coolest, shiniest belt buckle known to man. I grew up in a pair of Montana boots. The land of Rodeo Buckles the size of Canada. Walking into a bowling alley with KISS said one thing, "Oh crap. One of them Rock lovin freaks is here." I really got into KISS merchandising! To this very moment; 36 years deep and this collecting disease has yet to cease. Before Paul and Gene authorized the sale of KISS concerts on VHS tapes I was buying bootlegs. I favored import albums over Americanized releases. Just because the tracks were set up differently.
I'm a big whacked out KISS Hoarder. It's my fantasy to take every trunk of KISS junk and dump it on the front steps of Pawn Stars in Vegas and say, "It's got to be worth 10 cents maybe a quarter." When you think Simmons and company have completed their Rock pollution; out pops something even more unique to add to the library. Simmons and Paul Stanley are writing yet another book. The new title ‘Nothin’ to Lose: The Making of Kiss (1972-75),’ is due out on August 20, and will find the duo working with co-author Ken Sharp to compile an oral history of the band’s early years. According to the press release announcing the book, “the 544-page hardcover draws on more than 200 interviews, offering a captivating and intimate fly-on-the-wall account of their launch, charting the struggles and ultimate victories that led them to the threshold of superstardom.” The release, which goes on to promise “an indelible and irresistible portrait of a band on the rise and the music scene they changed forever,” also includes an undeniably impressive list of interviewees such as Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, and members of Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, and Rush. It all adds up to an awful lot of literary activity — particularly for Stanley, who recently announced that he’s working on an autobiography of his own. As he put it in an equally funny and cocky statement, “with the three other guys from the original lineup having written books, it’s kind of like, ‘OK, have you all said your piece? OK? Now let me tell you what happened.’”

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

New Government Bill Has Steven Tyler's Name Written All Over It

Playing Rock Star for a day is the ultimate fantasy. Being a Rock Star every day quickly fades the first time you hit your funny bone and someone catches it on film. Then sells it to TMZ, People or Inside Edition. Pop Music's Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift aren't the only ones being pummeled by the minute by out of control paparazzi. Freedom of speech, press and whatever else they can tuck under their free rights has served as a longtime backstage pass. Have name? They will follow... You'd think after Princess Di someone of great power would step up and make the would of fame a better place. Then again, would half of today's actors and musicians have anything to hold if it wasn't for camera pigs snapping shots then putting them to print? Isn't the old saying, "Any press is good press just don't spell my name wrong?" Those days could almost be over. Classic Rock Magazine reports Aerosmith's front man Steven Tyler is throwing the weight of his celebrity behind a bill that would help protect celebrities against invasion of privacy in the state of Hawaii. Bill SB465, now officially known as the “Steven Tyler Act,” was drafted at Tyler’s request by his attorney and manager, Dina LaPolt, and would provide enhanced legal remedies for celebrities photographed while engaged in “personal or familial activity” deserving of a reasonable expectation of privacy. In other words, the new law would go beyond traditional invasion of privacy laws requiring a physical trespass, and impose legal liability upon paparazzi that use long-range lenses or audio equipment to capture images or audio of unsuspecting public figures in their homes (or making love in personal elevators), which they can currently then sell for personal profit.’ Said Tyler, “The paradise of Hawaii is a magnet for celebrities who just want a peaceful vacation. As a person in the public eye, I know the paparazzi are there and we have to accept that. But when they intrude into our private space, disregard our safety and the safety of others, that crosses a serious line that shouldn’t be ignored.” The measure is based on similar legislation adopted by the state of California in 1998, and sources say it is being endorsed by two-thirds of the Hawaii Senate, and — unofficially — all current ‘American Idol’ judges and at least three-fifths of Aerosmith. In all seriousness, Tyler is set to appear personally at the Hawaii State Capitol today, Friday Feb. 8, for the Senate hearing, alongside fellow celebrity, bill proponent, and Hawaii resident Mick Fleetwood — plus, one can only deduce, countless paparazzi angling for a few, final candid photographs they can make a quick buck on.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Van Halen Turns 35

I wholeheartedly blame this one on the way Radio brought me up. Jocks disconnecting from the reality of sound slipping between the sheets of thin paper that make car speakers thump so badly the rearview mirror vibrates like a California earthquake. Once you perform in a completely hollowed out totally trashed by multitudes of dreams vowing to come true Radio station studio; you won't ever listen to music the same. My final goodbye to "Real" people music was the very year some hot shot brand new band with a screaming guitar and lead vocalist with perfectly ratted Rock layers of hair hit the airwaves with a sound unlike what FM or candy coated AM's were spinning every two hours. It wasn't KISS, Foreigner, Zeppelin, Boston, AC/DC, Aerosmith or STYX. California, the home of the Beach Boys, Grateful Dead and FM radio in the basement of a San Francisco Presbyterian Church was giving birth to an entire evolution of change. Thank God I wasn't in Radio yet because as a listener I got the full impact of Van Halen.
Van Halen made my teenage keggers the best party in town. Classic Rock Magazine reminds us that Hard Rock hadn’t really hatched a band like Van Halen before 1978. There were groups with guitar heroes. There were metal bands that covered ‘60s classics with new-style flash. And there were corny frontmen with overeager libidos. But they were never tossed together into one simmering pot made up of part dinosaur stomp, part lightning-fast guitar acrobatics and part Hollywood arrogance before Van Halen’s self-titled debut album was unleashed. ‘Van Halen,’ which celebrates its 35 anniversary today, ushered in a new wave of hard rock. The elements that classified the music throughout the ‘70s were still there: wafer-thin lyrical content, a preoccupation with sex and a standing philosophy that steamrolling over everything will get you out of any tough spot. Van Halen just delivered more of it. From Eddie Van Halen’s mind-warping guitar skills to David Lee Roth’s dirty-old-uncle act, rock music needed Van Halen. It just didn’t know how much at the time. Between punk and disco, rock was barely holding on in 1978. Then came ‘Runnin’ With the Devil,’ ‘Van Halen’’s opening track, which sounded like what Tokyo probably heard right before Godzilla attacked for the first time. Its impact wasn’t immediately apparent, but now the song takes on changing-of-the-guard significance. From there, side one marches from one side of the city to the other, annihilating everything in its path: the Hendrixian ‘Eruption,’ the blustery cover of the Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’ and ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,’ which set the template for every great Van Halen song. ‘Van Halen’ isn’t perfect. Side two sags in the middle, especially Roth’s innuendo-laden take of an old blues cut, ‘Ice Cream Man,’ the first of many groan-worthy moments by the campy singer. But the album inspired a generation of longhaired kids to pick up guitars and helped define ‘80s metal. The album peaked at No. 19, their only record to not reach the Top 10. (It eventually went diamond by selling ten million copies, as did ‘1984.’) But it remains their best album and their most focused. After this, it would prove somewhat difficult to control the guitar heroics, the showboating and the corny frontman with the overeager libido.

Guns And Roses Guitarist Wants No More Albums

There's not a four wheeler big enough to dig out a Rock band gone stuck in a recording studio. Modern day technology might auto tune the artist back into shape but having control of so much perfection has turned the industry into a cast of perfectionists addicted to the idea of being bigger and better than great. The process has lost out to the project. This is no longer an age of need. Drop the ego at the door and stop expecting others to fall to your demands of producing entire projects.
I'm not such a freak on this idea. Look at the world of Pop. They're selling songs. Millions of them. Hats off to Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ whose not shy to shout, "The band should forget about recording a new album and simply release one song at a time." In a wide-ranging interview with Classic Rock’s Australian correspondent Steve Mascord, Thal also blames the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for singer Axl Rose’s non-appearance at GN’R's induction, and explains what happened at the end of the Gunners’ final Indian show in December, when bassist Tommy Stinson was reported to have thrown a tantrum. Guns N’Roses members have spoken about working this year on a follow-up for 2008’s Chinese Democracy. “There’s been talk all the time within us about the next album and what we’re going to do and when we’re going to do it,” Thal says. “But you know, life always gets in the way. Things get in the way. “It’s hard to have the momentum and the focus and everything that you need. It’s hard to put everything aside and do a whole album. “Personally, I don’t want to do an album. I would like to just do a song. Let’s just bite off a song and get a song out there and then bite off another song and get that out there. “When there’s so much touring and so much other stuff going on, don’t try and take on 14 songs. Do a song, then another song, then another song and then figure it out from there.” On Rose’s refusal to attend Guns’ Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction on April 14, 2012, Bumblefoot says: “Honestly, we tried to work it out with the Hall Of Fame to come up with something but they had it in their mind that it was their way or no way. So they wouldn’t budge and they were just trying to force a situation that wasn’t good for everybody. We wanted it to be good for everybody. So… “A lot of people should be in there that aren’t. Deep Purple isn’t in there. That’s a travesty…” Bumblefoot said reports in India that Stinson had lost his temper on stage during an encore performance of Rose Tattoo’s Nice Boys (Don’t Play Rock’n’Roll) in Gurgaon on December 12 were the result of misinformation. “It wasn’t that,” Thal says. “What happened was, we did our bow and we were walking off stage and we said: ‘Let’s do some more.’ They were already packing up the gear and shutting everything down. “So they first had to fire up everything all over again and half the shit was away so we started playing with half our gear and finally it was just like: ‘You know what? F it.’ Some **** wouldn’t go on, we’re re-connecting cables, so the crew was going crazy trying to get it all done and it was just another moment in the history of the band.”

Saturday, February 9, 2013

It's A No Go For Billy Joel's Rock n Roll

Although he pummeled the Adult Contemporary and Top 40 Pop Music sides of radio from the late 70's to mid-90's... Billy Joel has had a fair share of Classic Rock late night at the bar sing-a-long songs.
Nearly every man in America freaked out when Joel landed a marriage gig with Christie Brinkley. Ugly guys teaming up with unstoppable chicks is a different blog and time. Ok, so Billy's had a few spin outs over the past ten years. Life isn't a scene from Behind The Music! You can slip a Rock star into reality but you can't rip the memories their music helped to generate from our fantasies. So what if Elton John publically released some dirt about Billy's drinking. Give the Piano Man back his stage! You may be right. I may be crazy! But it's still Rock n Roll to me! Billy Joel didn't start the fire. He loves us just the way we are. Joel isn't moving out. Nor is he gonna tour. According to Classic Rock Magazine...Despite a killer performance at the recent 12-12-12 concert at Madison Square Garden and an upcoming headlining slot at JazzFest, Billy Joel will not be mounting a tour any time soon. In a new interview, he disclosed that recent health issues have stopped him from a return to the stage. “I had to get hip replacements in both hips,” he says in the new issue of Rolling Stone. “And now slowly but surely I’m kinda getting back to normal. I’d say I’m 85 percent. I can walk OK. I can’t run like I used to.” The 63-year old Joel also acknowledges — quite refreshingly for a rocker of his generation — that the natural changes that come with middle age mean that he can no longer perform in the manner to which he and his many fans are accustomed. “Honestly, I’m not as good as I used to be,” he continues. “I’m not as athletic as I used to be. I don’t jump off the piano anymmore – that didn’t help my hips, either. My voice has changed. It’s lowered.” Although Joel hasn’t released a rock album since 1993′s ‘River of Dreams,’ the classically trained pianist still regularly composes instrumental music for his own enjoyment, without any desire to record it. And even with famous friends like Bruce Springsteen and Pete Townshend wanting him to get back to songwriting, Joel hasn’t felt the necessary motivation to go back to putting so much of his life into his work. “I like to say I broke up with me,” he adds. “The singer broke up with the songwriter and the performer didn’t want to work with the piano player anymore.”

Friday, February 8, 2013

Wanted: Jimmy Page Seeks New Lead Vocalist

If for a day. Better yet a week. If but for a moment I could be the owner of one Super Power; my chosen ability would be a fly on the wall. I'd be the nearly invisible minding his own business buzz killer that slips between cracks snagging unheard of amounts of human contact without the makers of sound truly knowing it.
My Top 3 Wish I Was A Fly On A Wall Moments: 1. When Bill Clinton told those closest to him he had to come clean about Monica 2. When Lee Iacocca fell into the idea of creating the world's first Mustang 3. Like Billy Graham who has sat with nearly every President; I believe an honorary fly on the wall should hold the same honor. I'd be the fly brought into every final meeting before a well publicized band breaks up. Until I get those Super Powers...we've got to rely on the old fashioned internet. And here's what I found lurking in the moodiness of chapters waiting to be told. Classic Rock Magazine writes: We already knew that Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones put some thought into getting back together without Robert Plant after Led Zeppelin‘s triumphant one-off reunion show in 2007, but in a recent interview, the pair delved into just how close they came to starting a new band. Although their efforts were spun as an attempt to continue Zeppelin without Plant, Page and Jones were actually serious about creating something new — in fact, they’d written a substantial amount of material before bringing in any singers. “It seemed the right thing to go in and start playing new material,” Page told Classic Rock Magazine (via Blabbermouth). “I thought we really should play to our strengths here, which was the music. But there were a lot of movements to bring in singers and do this, that and the other. And that would’ve changed the character too early from what we were doing. I won’t say there was pressure, but there was a lot of hinting about this singer and that singer. For me it was more a question of, let’s see what we can really do. And I don’t think we got a chance to do that.” Calling the ‘Zeppelin with a new singer’ rumors “a total misunderstanding,” Jones recalled, “I said, ‘Of course, if we go out (on the road), we’re going to have to do some Zeppelin numbers.’ And there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, we rehearsed ‘Carouselambra,’ which we’ve never done live before, and we had a bunch of new material done. But Jimmy and I couldn’t agree on singers.” Of the vocalists they worked with, Jones said, “I quite liked Myles Kennedy. He’s got the range, but his voice is completely different than Robert’s. Which was fine by me, because it was going to be a completely different band. But it didn’t work out and we all moved on.”

Thursday, February 7, 2013

You Know Its Gonna Be A Great Summer When Sammy Hagar Wants To Rock

How many times have you been caught in a conversation about how the rich keep getting richer? What happens if they're a Rocker? Can the magicians of writing and strings be allowed too much space to race through Rock's everyday chapters? Look at Dave Grohl! Cranking up the volume at the Democratic Convention with Foo Fighters, jamming with Paul McCartney and his ex-Nirvana bass guitarist while sliding out the frames of a new Hollywood movie. He ain't the only business maker in the music biz. Sammy Hager has always kept himself busy in the afterlife of a solo career turned Van Halen whipped into whatever his heart desires. He’s got his membership in Chickenfoot and a burgeoning booze empire to keep him busy, but that doesn’t mean Sammy Hagar has forgotten about his solo career. According to Classic Rock Magazine Hagar hasn’t released an album on his own since ‘Cosmic Universal Fashion’ in 2008, and according to comments he made during a recent interview with Las Vegas Magazine, it seems like he’s starting to get the itch again. Celebrating the three-year anniversary of his rather awkwardly named Cabo Wabo Cantina in Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort, he talked about looking forward to “a big rum and tequila party” while reminding us that, hard-partying image aside, he’s still one of the more consistently prolific rock artists of his generation. “I’m in the studio right now with my band, The Wabos, and we’re rehearsing and writing songs,” Hagar revealed when asked about his plans for 2013. “We’re putting something out this year and we’ll probably go out and do 25-30 shows.” Of course, Hagar being Hagar, music isn’t all he’s up to — aside from launching his new Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, he’d also like to expand his cantina empire (“We’re opening another Cabo Wabo in Los Angeles at Hollywood and Vine”) as well as follow up his recent memoir with “a lifestyle cookbook with some of my chef friends.”

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Social Networking Assumption Versus Motley Crue Truth

Social Networking makes it too simple to assume. In a really weird, completely in a 100% six degrees of
separation Kevin Bacon way I'm hooked up to Nikki Sixx: Twitter, Face Book, his daily radio promos and a total fan of Sixx Sense on WRFX.com and I Heart Radio. Smart enough to know the difference between hype and actuality; generated in the depths of my Rock n Roll soul was an off the wall vision that Nikki and company were attaching themselves to a new collection of songs. I've seen photographs of Nikki's new bass. Studied his excitement of writing new material. Through Social Networking a billion fans are at fault for thinking one plus one equals two. Classic Rock Magazine rips down the curtain. There won’t be new Motley Crue music coming in 2013, and there may never be another full-length album from the hard-rockers. Vince Neil says there may be an EP in the band’s future, but 2014 is as early as that would surface. “What I’m hearing is that maybe two or three or four more songs might come out to go with that song (‘Sex’) we released this year,” he tells Music News Nashville, “but it will be something like an EP, not an album. Our schedule seems to have a lot of touring.” The last Motley Crue album came in 2008 with the release of ‘Saints of Los Angeles.’ The title track became a Top 5 rock hit and a mainstay of their live set. The group continues to be among the most coveted tickets in rock. In March they’ll be in Australia with Kiss as a continuation of their joint tour, which visited the United States last summer.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

There Could Be Christine McVie On Fleetwood Mac Tour

Rock Stars running rampant on world tours will forever appear in the mirrored image as being the single most coolest job on earth. Try telling that to Agnita Foltscog of ABBA and Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac. For that matter professional sports announcer John Madden. Once you've been convinced that keeping your feet on the ground while reaching for the stars can be achieved: I ain't leavin on a jet plane. How do you turn sound around? Mick Fleetwood is working hard to locate the answer. Mick recently told Classic Rock Magazine that he's doing his best to lure McVie back into the fold for their upcoming tour. “I’m seeing Chris here in London before I leave,” he told the English tabloid the Sun. “And even though she loathes flying and she’s never been back to the United States since the day she left, she is getting on a plane and flying to Hawaii with me. I’m going to hold her hand all the way, even if I have to handcuff it.” This contradicts McVie’s own words from last month, where the keyboardist/singer said she was content to be out of the spotlight. And both Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, independently of each other, admitted that her return was unlikely, but Fleetwood is hoping that being around her old bandmates will rekindle the desire to get back on stage with them. “She’s going to come and stay for three weeks in Maui,” he continued. “I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it. John’s going to come over from Honolulu to see her and then she’s going to L.A. to see Stevie, who misses her terribly and is really excited to see her. But it’ll be her decision. But we’d make her very welcome if she wanted to creep on that stage again.” Even if McVie decides against a return to the road, she will have the opportunity to see them. The band announced five shows today (Feb. 4) in the U.K. and Ireland in September and October, with tickets going on sale Saturday (Feb. 8).

Monday, February 4, 2013

Don Henley? Did You Forget?

Here we go again. Except this time fans of music might get it right. I was doing small town radio mid-1980's when Don Henley broke out his first collection of solo projects. Pumping out the Rock over an AM not FM broadcast and still pulling in ratings...shows how different the times were. Like it was yesterday, I remember popping that microphone open, "South central Montana's first AM Stereo station is the first to play the debut release from The Eagles drummer Don Henley." Before I could slip those 400 pound Koss earphones off my head the studio telephone lines were blinking like a Christmas party, "Hello it's the Arroe Show!" "Dude! Who are the Eagles?" Wait! I had to play this same game with Donald Fagen from Steely Dan and Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers. When your Radio shoes are laced up and decorated with lettering that reads 7-Midnight Jock...you're always going to bump into someone that has no clue that Paul McCartney was once a Beatle. After Hell froze over and the Eagles returned one hopes music fans will easily identify with whom I'm speaking of when its announce Eagles drummer Don Henley a new solo album and autobiography. There are also plans in the works for an upcoming Eagles tour. According to Henley, the show will focus on the 40-year history of the band, which will bring one former member back into the fold. While he would not disclose the name of the member, he admitted that it would not be Don Felder, who had a public and acrimonious split with the band in 2001. Henley also acknowledged that he is writing his memoirs. “I’m actually working on it now,” he said. “But it will be a few years before we get to that…I don’t want to write a trashy tell-all…I think you can tell the truth and not get too salacious or prurient or tacky.” However, in front of Henley right now is the two-part documentary, ‘The History of the Eagles,’ that will debut on Showtime later this month. Henley admits that it was difficult to see his life reflected back at him on the big screen. “We were always a pretty private band,” he continued. We didn’t allow a lot of access to our little entourage there. Partly, of course, because of our behavior.” However, they did have their own film cameras capturing the backstage actions, some of which made it into the documentary, causing Henley to sardonically add, “I’ve got a lot of explaining to do to my kids.”

Nominations For The Golden Gods Of Rock Are Announced

Once Christmas is tossed in a bright red bag and taken back up the bricked chimney the Entertainment World grips the bottom of their hotel chairs with high metal backs and no cushion for the pushin. It's time for the awards! Big ones! Little one! Nominations for greatness! Industry nods to help you keep pumpin. Movies, football teams, the best commercials to mightiest in music. The American Music Awards were created by Dick Clark. He wanted a show for the fans not the business. The Grammy's have been around forever but they end up going to unknowns seeking better sales. MTV, People's Choice, Best Original Score for an Oscar. What would be on TV during primetime if there weren't so many awards? Here's a set of trophies you might not know about. Motorhead, Rush and Aerosmith are amongst the nominees in 11 just-announced categories for the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show, but the highest honors will go to Metallica and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, in addition to Rob Zombie. Metallica will also play at the show’s live concert on May 2 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. Classic Rock Magazine reports Zombie will receive the Golden God Award, while Metallica will receive the Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award. Iommi will be honored with the Riff Lord Award, according to a press release at the Revolver website. Pro wrestler Chris Jericho will host the show once again. Sebastian Bach and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister will host the Black Carpet pre-show. Voting for all categories is open at GoldenGodsAwards.com. Fans have until April 15 to place votes in 11 categories (listed below) like Best Guitarist and Song of the Year. The three achievement awards were decided previously. Metallica’s Lars Ulrich sounds pretty pumped to be placed in the same category of previous winners like Rush and Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead. “I was hanging out and presenting at the shenanigans two years ago and the energy in the room and the vibe backstage was beyond f—ing cool, so Metallica is chomping at the bit to partake in this year’s event,” the irrepressible drummer enthuses. Other bands that will take part in the live concert are Five Finger Death Punch, Anthrax, Stone Sour, Dillinger Escape Plan and Halestorm. Stone Sour and In This Moment will kick off the first-ever Revolver Road to the Golden Gods tour in March. The show will broadcast on AXS-TV in the U.S., and in many cities worldwide through Xbox Live and Facebook.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Creedence Clearwater With Seger, Kid Rock And The Foo Fighters

The late 60's straight into the 1970's were flooded by Storytellers: Crosby Stills and Nash, Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Jackson Brown, The Eagles, John Denver's Rocky Mountain High and some new punk kid from Jersey Bruce Springsteen. Even Jocks on the Radio got into the art of engagement; Paul Harvey was brilliant with the daily news while Casey Kasum and Dick Clark masterfully kept us glued to the giant metal sticks stuck in the mud somewhere in the fields of way the hell out there. One of my favorite Casey breaks came while sharing the story of Creedence Clearwater Revival's challenge to generate enough love from music fans dominate Billboard Magazine's number one position. It's not that CCR wasn't capable, there was "always" a chunk of Pop Culture above their brand of sound. Wait! Get your hands off that computer mouse! No tapping out! John Fogerty has confirmed that his upcoming album will be centered around classic Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, but the album’s engineer says the result is completely new songs. Kid Rock, Bob Seger, Jennifer Hudson and the Foo Fighters are among the confirmed musicians who contributed to ‘Wrote a Song for Everyone.’ “It’s no nostalgia fest,” Bob Clearmountain tells Rolling Stone. Fogerty says he waited to record with each of his chosen partners until they could meet in studio and do it live. “I didn’t want to just mail people tracks because then everyone would just do ‘Proud Mary’ like the old record,” he says in the same interview. He’s been working on the album since 2010, and originally scheduled it for release in October 2012. A press release about the delay suggested there would be original material on the album, something that is not addressed in the Rolling Stone article. The focus is on the old CCR songs, however. Fogerty has finally regained publishing rights to the songs after a lengthy legal battle. “I wrote all these songs,” he said. ” They’re back home with Daddy, like they should be.” Confirmed songs on ‘Wrote a Song for Everyone’ include ‘Fortunate Son,’ ‘Born on the Bayou’ and ‘Long As I Can See the Light.’

AC/DC Is Ready To Rock Super Sunday

In the Radio biz copyright laws forbid teams of jocks and other talker's from calling it the Super ****. Do what I do and bust open a can of buzz and call this Sunday the Monster Mash after Christmas. It's the single biggest party celebration after New Years Eve but nowhere near as festive as Christmas. It's not the Super **** My parties are a feast of beer, the best whiskeys, tastiest vodkas and everything else that'll make you extremely thirsty after the game. We wash down our alcohol with food and I mean tons of it. Therefore this football game should be officially dubbed The Supper Bowl. After the game I don't have room for any more food cuz I spent the entire damn day eating like it was supper. Oh! To help you work the ribs, beans, pizza and everything else the neighbors have dumped on the dining room table...we get laugh, holler and complain about the commercials. This year someone new is coming to the flat screen party. Classic Rock Magazine reports that we're gonna get a little AC/DC. It makes you want to pump your fist, stomp your feet, and…get behind the wheel of a sensible four-cylinder economy car that gets great gas mileage? Well, maybe not. But Hyundai is still reportedly interested in using the Australian rock legends to help add an extra splash to their Super Bowl ads — and even if it doesn’t seem like the most natural fit, as Bravewords points out, the automaker could use all the extra dazzle it can get: The 150 seconds of ad time they’ve purchased during the game will cost them something like $9.5 million. (To put things in perspective, that’s enough to buy 565 Hyundai Elantras at MSRP.) Their few seconds as car shills should give the guys in AC/DC a nice added cash infusion — not that they really need it these days, what with the impressive sales figures generated by their recent decision to put their catalog up for digital download on the iTunes store. Either way, rock fans should savor this glimpse of the band; according to guitarist Malcolm Young, their next album is still “a year or two away.”