Friday, May 31, 2013

Tom Petty's New Wave Of Changes Coming To His Concerts

An old neighborhood friend asks, "Yo...why do you run from Rock concerts?" The natural normal reaction would be, "I hate getting out of the parking lot. I can't stand forking out half the checking account for nose bleeds seats. Love people but can't stand hitting the men's room like a herd of cattle searching for feed." The real answer, "With so many performers laying out their vocals and guitar riffs on VH1, Public Television and other music enforced outlets...the show never changes." Guess who just caught on? Tom Petty is mending his heartbreakers. He learned a valuable lesson at the Bonnaroo Music Festival. Stop playing the same songs at every show. Petty is dropping the juke box and replacing it with deeper classic rock “I was feeling that [our show was getting stale],” Petty recently told Rolling Stone. “We felt kind of obligated to play all the most popular songs, because people pay so much for tickets. But I want to play some of these other songs, rather just get trapped into what people expect.” Instead of all the usual hits, expect Petty to bust out some of his favorite, lesser-known jams. “I’ve written a lot of good songs that weren’t released as singles,” he said, citing ‘Nightwatchman’ and ‘When the Time Comes’ as a couple of the songs that may find their way into the set lists. ‘I’d rather be known for that then for making lots of hits.” In other words, Petty said he’s not onstage to serve as a human jukebox. “I could be a jukebox, but I don’t want to be,” he said. “I just feel like we have more to offer.”

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Alice Cooper On Top Of Mount Everest

More than most times. Way often then one expects or assumes. Autograph seekers truly are fans of the music maker that set it free to skip about the world like a second grader on the playground. There was once a time when collecting signatures was a fun sport. But in radio...when music moves toward us at the speed of light and road manager's can sometimes be the biggest butt. You know...holding onto such things no longer carries importance. Each time I'd look at the squiggly letters I'd think of the hateful moment caused by everybody but the artist. So I stopped standing in line and began the process of talking human speak with the pencil pushers. I love me some Rock Talk! I ain't no People Magazine. But when you leave me...you're gonna know the questions were driven by someone vowing to never stop working for Radio listeners. Rock Star signatures are a hot item for a lot of fans. I totally get it! Especially when those supporting the creative system...take the autograph beyond selfish behavior. Van Halen sang it, "Standing on top of the world." Alice Cooper is living it. A guitar signed by the Classic Rocker has arrived at the summit of Mount Everest. Instead of walking for charity. Firefighter Todd Pendleton climbed. Raising nearly $25,000 for the Leukaemia And Lymphoma Society. Once on top...his prize possession Alice Cooper autographed guitar was taken out and played. He says: It’s hard to put into words how difficult the journey has been. Death was palpable every time we put our crampons on. You had to focus on what you were doing, not what could happen, but it was always in the back of your mind. I haven’t been able to put into words what happened on summit day yet, but it tested my soul. It was terrifying and beautiful. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone though.” Donate now.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

John Fogerty Doesn't Want The Coach To Put Him In This Game

Just the other day I was talking with the drummer of The Rascals. His memories flooded with the events of music. How each member brought separate flavors. Without a doubt or bent guitar string the essence of their presentation couldn't have been if each who played didn't bring their own brand of music. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham have openly expressed how their journeys as musicians have been bright as solo artists but nothing compares to what they catch in the corner of their eyes while playing live with Mick and John McVie. How do Classic Rocker's who've shattered their creative paths continue to pour sauce onto their fans backyard grill? More times than McDonald's sells burger...music makers who've gained access to your record collection have vamped up their own version of the band then hit the road. Is Styx just as good without Dennis De Young? Can Tom Sholtz truly re-grip his lasting imprint without the high tenor harmonies once dominated by Brad Delp? I'm not gonna bring up KISS. We've talked way too much about Van Halen. Guess who is in the Guess Who? How do you feel about CCR? Without John's brother Tom...would it be just a concept or could there still be that sound? The best news is that John Fogerty has teamed up with an all-star cast for his new album ‘Wrote a Song for Everyone,’ on which he re-visits a number of the hits he wrote for Creedence Clearwater Revival in new recordings with guest appearances from Foo Fighters, Kid Rock and Bob Seger, as well as country stars like Miranda Lambert and Alan Jackson. In an interview to promote the new album, Fogerty clarified his position on the longstanding tensions between he and his former CCR band mates, and why he feels he can never reunite with them. “When the band broke up, I never had any problem not trying to abscond with the name Creedence as a solo artist,” Fogerty tells Classic Rock Revisited. “I just figured that you have to move on and try to write new songs. I just think that thing is from a certain time and it is untouchable, unless everybody is there. You can’t do it unless everyone says it is okay to do it; that is how I approached it. It didn’t look like that was ever going to happen.” CCR ended rancorously after a relatively brief, buy spectacular run of success that yielded hits including ‘Proud Mary,’ ‘Fortunate Son,’ ‘Who’ll Stop the Rain,’ ‘Bad Moon Rising’ and many more. Fogerty became entangled in lawsuits with the band’s record label that stretched on for decades, and the fallout from that also caused a longstanding estrangement between him and the other members. That feud was so bitter that it didn’t even end with the death of Fogerty’s brother (and CCR rhythm guitarist) Tom in 1990, and in 1993 Fogerty refused to play with bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clifford when CCR were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1995 Cook and Clifford formed a new group called Creedence Clearwater Revisited, performing the classic CCR hits to audiences all over the world every year since. Fogerty unsuccessfully sued to stop the band from going forward. “At the time, you have to understand, we had an agreement when we were in the band that nothing would ever happen concerning Creedence, unless we all four agreed; it took unanimous consent. It was honorable,” the singer-songwriter explains. Fogerty goes on to add, “I always considered that was sort of my protection, meaning that I was throwing everything that I had into this and I don’t need somebody running off and going, ‘Hey, look what I did.’ I am actually the guy who wrote all of the songs. That was our agreement and it was an honorable agreement among gentleman.” It’s ended up in a situation where both he and his former band mates are asked about reuniting all the time. since all of them are still actively working. But Fogerty says he just doesn’t see that happening. “George Harrison had an interesting statement about reunions,” he observes. “The same statement works for me: There can be no reunion as long as Tom is dead.”

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Tommy Lee's Roller Coaster Drum Kit Hits The Scrap Yard...

I have a blast sitting on the sidelines of Rock. Making it, playing it live then reinventing it continuously proves to be the visionaries promise land. I wish I could say my first concert experience was elaborate and mind melting. I'm from Montana where Charlie Pride coming home for a one night stand sold more tickets than the south has churches. While Rock was moving in Denver, Seattle and the King Biscuit Flower Hour on long distant AM transistor radio stations...we were able to envision rather than vision. What we saw in our imaginations made the sky look like a one room apartment. Creem and RollingStone Magazines provided the truth. From those pages the rumble of giant trucks lit up the hot asphalt stretching from larger cities and lifestyles to that itty bitty cowboy town and the rest you could say was a totally effed up, crank it up, earth moving Rock quake. The METRA flooded our veins with the makings of KISS, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull, ZZ Top, BTO, Boston, Foreigner and more. Torn up then tossed out to dry like hides from wild untamable animals were those teens from the 1970's raised in Montana. Because we were forced to use our imaginations...then create. Everything seemed to change once set free to roam the planet. Concert stages once shaped a nation of believers. Then it got all pretty featuring lots of dancing. Two weeks ago Simmons and Stanley of KISS guaranteed concert fans a larger more vibrant up to date bigger stage. Complete with a spider that shoots fireballs into the audience. Another band that's been known for their elaborate stage presence is Motley Crue who announced over the weekend that drummer Tommy Lee's roller coaster drummer kit... is headed for the scrap yard. Tommy Lee's tweet Saturday night: "Man we’ve given so many people the thrill of a lifetime. On to design the next Spectacular!” Not seeing Tommy Lee’s drum solo is one of the biggest mistakes of your life. It's always been the hottest highlight of Crue’s live performance. The roller coaster rig allowed him to take it to the next level, often performing upside down as a part of his turn in the spotlight. With all the rumors of Motley walking away...is this just another sign? Fear not, Crue fans — it doesn’t sound like Lee is planning to sit calmly behind the drums at future shows. “Dont you all worry! Just wait til ya see what crazy I got for ya next!” he added in another Twitter post. The Crue will perform two festival shows in July before returning to Las Vegas to kick off their second residency there in September.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The Poet And Keyboardist Back Together Again...

A lot is going to be written. I have one sentence, "The Poet's of the past five decades thank you for believing in Jim's writing." Ray Manzarek wasn't just a keyboardist. He was the gateway to letting what we write have a stage set to music. Arroe Collins 5/21/13 The words of Ray Manzarek

Stephen Stills Reincarnated Again

About five years ago I'd sit at backyard BBQ's and Pool Parties pissed off at Rock for not bridging the gaps between competition. The speakers were flooded with new sounds. It was killing me that Hip Hop and Country was creating huge waves sharing microphone space. Artist's appearing with other Artists. The greatest thing about the Great Recession of 2008. Rock's ego has been dropped at the door. As much as I want to give Dave Grohl of Foo Fighter's and Nirvana all the credit. You can't. McCartney's been recording studio hopping as well. The Stones can't keep the world's biggest of their live performance stage. Sammy Hagar is having a brilliant time revamping his multiple camps. A master at the game of microphone swapping is Stephen Stills. I'd try and paint his resume on your computer screen but end up losing you at hello. His new band, a three-piece blues-rock outfit called the Rides, presents one of the more intriguing team-ups of the year. The longtime Crosby, Stills & Nash member works alongside Electric Flag keyboard player Barry Goldberg and blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd on the Rides’ first album, ‘Can’t Get Enough,’ which comes out on July 30. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait that long to enjoy a taste of the record. ‘Rolling Stone’ has posted an exclusive premiere of the song ‘Word Game,’ which Shepherd enthusiastically described as “Classic Stephen: conveying the type of message about the world that he is so well known for. He’s just calling people on their hypocritical bulls–t.” Stills offered somewhat less effusive praise, saying that “It probably could have used an extra day of practice, but because [drummer] Chris [Layton's] groove is so good, we chose to go with what we had.” As it turns out, what they had was a roiling, guitar-fueled take on a vintage Stills song that had been performed live but never recorded, and a track that, while decidedly short on the spine-tingling harmonies that his other trio is known for, offers emphatic proof that he can still work up a sweat.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Is Sting Headed To Broadway

Classic Rock Stars on Broadway. Ticket taker's would have a field day leading fans of David Bowie to their seats. Sebastian Bach of the 1980's hair band Skid Row knows the vibe. He's pulled a diddy or two and found a golden ribbon. Robert Plant on Broadway. Vocally brilliant. Meatloaf rocked off his career on an acting stage. But Broadway? Multiple amounts of Hollywood actors find such a place extremely beyond difficult. But what about Sting? The former front man of The Police! Three feet out of the radio station studio and voices on deck shouted, "Sting as a solo performer doesn't fall under the category of Classic Rock!" The former front man of the Police. Sting could be headed to the NYC. But only if he locates willing investors. Millions of dollars are needed to put his musical The Last Ship on a Broadway stage. Although Sting's voice has been silent from the music scene for the past ten years...his physical presence hasn't been. He's been in New York vowing to light up the most energetic stage on earth. The price tag to get it there... just 15 million dollars According to Michael Riedel’s ‘Broadway Matinee’ column in the New York Post, the reason Sting and his longtime spouse, Trudie Styler, have been in attendance for the openings of several new Broadway musicals over the course of the past few weeks is that Sting has been working on his own musical—’The Last Ship,’ inspired by his 1991 album, ‘The Soul Cages’—and has been making the rounds with his co-producer, Jeffrey Seller, in an effort to drum up the reported $15 million it will take to bring the production to the Great White Way. Riedel reports that a staged reading of the musical — music and lyrics by Sting, book originally by Brian Yorkey but now by John Logan — was held last Friday for possible investors. Directed by Joe Mantello and starring Louise Pitre, Fred Applegate, Aaron Lazar, Jill Paice and Matthew Stocke, ‘The Last Ship’ found more praise than criticism from Riedel’s anonymous “spies,” earning comparisons with ‘Billy Elliot’ and compliments on the score, which was described by one individual as “moody and reflective” with “several haunting themes.” Based on Riedel’s column, the biggest concern seems to be whether the project will have sufficient mainstream appeal, with one potential investor quoted as saying, “It’s a very good art musical, but I think it belongs at the Public Theater.” Although he has rarely been out of the public eye for any significant length of time, September 2013 will serve as the 10-year anniversary of the last time the former Police frontman released a new album featuring all-original material (‘Sacred Love’).

Friday, May 17, 2013

John Fogerty Is A Genius Still Wearing Kid Shoes

Only a few short days away... Classic Rock wanna-be's and soon to be fans are going to see just how brilliant John Fogerty truly is. Wrote A Song For Everyone hits I Heart Radio. Wait! Moments like this are not for old people. This generation is not their parents. We have better technology. When the mother figure would whip out her classic Charlie Pride and Waylon Jennings...the sound alone said, "This was a different time." Fogerty, McCartney, The Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Robert Plant and countless others that happened to have been born when they were...refuse to play house in grown up shoes. A world of sound changes by the hour. As do the artists that melted into the pot of what's hot only to pop out the other side within a landscape of music fans bathed in any age. You don't have to be old to enjoy Classic Rock. All you have to do is show up. There's not a man nor woman on this planet that's gonna look into the soul of a 6 year old mimicking Jimmy Page or Hendrix and tell them to find their own. This s**t isn't ours. Classic Rock fans know what the legends of music brought to us between 63 and above...is seventh generation after we're gone. For Forgety. It's an all star collection of CCR lengends. Performed with Kid Rock. Bob Seger and others. For his upcoming collaboration album Wrote a Song for Everyone, John Fogerty joined the Foo Fighters in their Los Angeles studio to record Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 anti-war anthem "Fortunate Son." At the studio, Fogerty hashes out that irresistible guitar lick while Dave Grohl, on rhythm guitar, helps him wail "It ain't me," a striking meeting of a rubric rocker and his amped apprentices. "It was palpable, the air," Fogerty says. "You could tell a band was in there. It was a unique group of people." Out May 28th and produced by Fogerty, Wrote a Song for Everyone is an all-star celebration of Fogerty's inimitable songbook, from his days with CCR to his solo efforts since the band separated in 1972. The album features duets with Kid Rock, My Morning Jacket, Bob Seger, Allen Toussaint, Jennifer Hudson and many others, all of whom Fogerty insisted on recording with in person. To celebrate his birthday and the release of the album, Fogerty is hosting a special one-night-only show on May 28th at El Rey in Los Angeles. The performance will be captured with a live broadcast on AXS TV.

Saqmmy Hagar, Neal Schon, Michael Anthony And Chad Smith: HSAS Are Back!

With so many Rock acts pulling their once negative energies back into a solid outlet of creative flow and go. I'm shocked it hasn't worn off on divorced fans of music. If Sammy Hagar, Neal Schon, Michael Anthony and Chad Smith can pull off three songs dressed up in old Rock wear sporting an HSAS label. It's time to toss out the Mother in Law assumptions and put the kids in the backseat of a fast moving car called, "We're gonna give love another chance!" What the hell am I doing? This isn't Country music! The 30 year break is over. HSAS are back — Sammy Hagar, Neal Schon, Michael Anthony and Chad Smith. HSAS were short-lived. First arriving in 1983 when Hagar and Schon collaborated with bassist Kenny Aaronson and drummer Michael Shrieve for some new material that resulted in a string of live dates. They recorded several performances in San Francisco for an album titled ‘Through the Fire,’ which afforded both Hagar and Schon a vehicle for some ideas that fell somewhat outside the normal scope of their music. The album also included a cover of Procol Harum‘s ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale.’ Two dates were also recorded for an MTV special, and the band toured a little bit more in California before Schon returned to his commitments with Journey and Hagar began recording ‘VOA.’ Though they’ve remained friends and played together many times since, they’ve never resurrected HSAS — until now. “This is the new HSAS,” Hagar proclaims in the above clip — though as he points it, technically it could be considered the third lineup of HSAS, since the last names of all of the members of Chickenfoot also form that acronym. “It’s interchangeable, so HSAS is the new future for everyone in life,” Hagar quips. The foursome recorded a new version of ‘Going Down,’ which Chickenfoot has played live. Sammy praised Schon’s version of the song, saying, ‘It’s never been burned like that!” They also apparently recorded two other tracks for the album, which has no set release date as yet. Check out the studio session

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Gene Simmons Unveils The KISS OF A Spider

You've seen the list of live shows strolling into cities this summer. Getting to any performance requires a bank loan. And most of the time you're sitting so far back you're gonna need Christenbury Eye Center. Gene Simmons of KISS has the solution. Now you have my attention. Not because I'm a fan of the band. He's a marketing genius with ba**s the size of Mars and fears nothing. Being a chance taker suits the maker. Concerts are in trouble. There are too many to chose from and promoters want more than most can deliver. You can't live without promoters. We sure can't survive without seeing musicians live. Madonna maybe the queen of reinvention but Simmons turns it into a reason to buy tickets. Kiss bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has revealed details of the band’s all-new Monster stage show. Earlier this week rhythm guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley promised fans they’ll be blown away when the band unveil their new stage set-up in Europe on June 1. Now Simmons has elaborated on Stanley’s comments. The Demon said during a Q&A session with fans: “This spider is just beyond anything you’ve seen – it’ll shoot fireballs out of its tentacles. It’ll be able to be flat and come up and walk almost to the front of the stage. “It’ll be able to just come up like this [makes spider-like movements] with the legs going like… It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. “And at the back of it there’ll be a 70-foot screen plus all the amplifiers and the things… And then from the front of the stage… We’re going to levitate and go 30 rows into the audience. Oh, and play songs. “It costs a fortune to do this but it is for you [the fans]. It’ll be the best tour yet, you’ll see.” Simmons insisted the show will be 100 per cent new and not a rehashed job where the amplifiers and stairs are simply moved around and then called a new stage. Simmons is also going to hoisted into the air at double the usual speed of eight-feet-per-second. He will be using a new type of tether that’s see-through, so fans will see him flying without strings. See the press conference

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

George Lucas and Steven Spielberg have made millions re-mastering old ideas back to brilliant. Why wouldn't Bob Marley's family wanna play with modern technology? His son Stephen has remixed the Marley classic "Three Little Birds" DJ Jason Bentley and Stephen Marley are putting together a new album called Legend: Remixed, a new collection featuring 15 remixed tracks. 3 little birds is available starting today on I Heart Radio. Listen to the song

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Creed Tops The List Of The Worst Bands From The 90's.

I get wrapped up in more Rock fights based on 90's New Music Metal versus Classic Rock than I do going round for round in a regional Tae Kwon Do tournament. Metallica gets Classic Rock time. Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam and Nirvana...not so much. Very few fans sit on both sides of the fence. You either loved the tragic tales slash Pop with a hot guitar riff of the 90's or you cringe the moment it falls from your free connection to I Heart Radio. RollingStone Magazine has been forced to sleep with both shapes of emotional rescue. Only to learn...1990's New Age Metal still isn't proving to be worth the weight its shoving into a Marshall amp. Creed have been named the worst band of the 1990s by readers of Rolling Stone magazine. They lead a top-ten also featuring Nickelback, Limp Bizkit, Hanson, and – surprisingly to Rolling Stone themselves – Nirvana. Creed were formed in 1995 by frontman Scott Stapp, guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips. They released three albums before splitting in 2004, and became Alter Bridge with Miles Kennedy in Stapp’s place. They reunited in 2009, but Tremonti’s recent self-titled solo band and Kennedy’s work with Slash have been generally more warmly welcomed than anything by the original outfits. Rolling Stone say: “It’s no surprise Creed won this poll – it wasn’t even close. This is a band so hated that their own fans sued them after a famously bad show in Chicago in 2003. Scott Stapp is so despised that when a video surfaced of him getting a blowjob next to Kid Rock, Kid Rock said he was mainly embarrassed people learned he was hanging out with Scott Stapp. Creed is basically as popular as Alter Bridge right now.” Nickelback were last year the subject of an iconic put-down by Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, who said: “Rock’n'roll is dying because people became okay with Nickelback being the biggest band in the world.” Boy-band Hanson are possibly more well-known now for the derogatory t-shirt “I f***** the girl from Hanson.” But the inclusion of Nirvana at number five draws a different attitude from the magazine. “What the f*** happened here?” they demand. “Did the members of Warrant, Mötley Crüe, Poison and Bang Tango come together to stuff the ballot boxes? Nirvana were a great band. Their three albums are nearly perfect, and they are guaranteed to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year. We’re sorry, but everyone who voted for them in this poll is wrong.” Rolling Stone’s worst bands of the 1990s 10. Dave Matthews Band 9. Ace of Base 8. Spin Doctors 7. Bush 6. Hootie and the Blowfish 5. Nirvana 4. Hanson 3. Limp Bizkit 2. Nickelback 1. Creed

Monday, May 13, 2013

The Members Of Black Sabbath Part Of A Murder

I love it when Rock Stars invade Prime Time! Not American Idol or The Voice. This is dating me...Don Henley on Miami Vice. Totally classic 1980's television. I'm not going to turn this into a spinoff of IMDB.com But this has to be a first...Black Sabbath hits CBS this Wednesday. Star Ted Danson explains that the episode centers around the search for a serial killer, with three potential suspects, leading to a season-ending cliffhanger. At some point, Danson and co-star Marc Vann wind up at a club where Black Sabbath are performing. The episode will feature the premiere of the studio version of ‘End of the Beginning,’ from Sabbath’s album ‘13,’ which will be released June 11. The band has already performed the song on their tour of Australia. “It’ll be my first Black Sabbath concert,” Danson said. “How cool is that?” For bassist Geezer Butler, a longtime fan of the show, the feeling was mutual. “I’ve watched every episode since it started,” he said while barely able to contain his excitement. “‘Cause I like crime stuff, and it was realistic.” However, Ozzy Osbourne noted that playing a rock singer on a television show is considerably difference from being one, due to the delays that pop up during filming. “I’m not an actor,” he said. “It’s like a hurry-up-and-wait. When you see it on TV, it’s all done, but when you’re filming, there’s a lot of stuff going on.” The episode will air this coming Wednesday (May 15) on WBTV Channel 3 at 10PM Eastern.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Guns N Roses Leather Jacket Picks Up 53 Hundred Cash

Early day MTV. It was if RollingStone, Creem and Guitar magazine had walked off their paper jobs and took up a new sport called: Moving pictures. Motley Crue, Billy Squire, KISS, Benatar, Heart, Guns n Roses and more poured from that huge ass piece of electronic living room equipment. Boys becoming men no longer shouted to their parents, "Give me a minute." The new reason for not taking out the trash, cleaning their rooms and or picking up a ringing phone was, "Wait til this video is over!" Without MTV...where would Paradise City be? Guns N Rose's front man Axel might have been just another name on a long list of wanna be's. Thanks to the music network...Classic Rock fans were connected. In every video Axel sported leather jackets. One of just three copies of Axl Rose’s ‘Paradise City’-era white leather jacket, originally owned by the designer of the band’s tour merchandise, has sold for a whopping $5,350 on eBay. The front of the jacket features an embroidered design featuring Guns N’ Roses‘ original lineup as they appeared on their 1987 debut album, ‘Appetite for Destruction.’ The back includes the band’s familiar logo. Rose wore the same style of jacket in the group’s video for ‘Paradise City,’ which features performance clips from a Guns N’ Roses tour stop at Giants Stadium in New Jersey with Aerosmith. He also wore the same jacket during a 1992 tribute concert for Queen‘s Freddie Mercury at London’s Wembley Stadium. Rose’s jacket was the first one made. Another copy of the jacket is on display at the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas. The one that was recently sold was given to the guy who designed and manufactured the group’s tour merchandise.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

KISS My PBR

My stepfather hated KISS! I couldn't put up the posters without him marching into my room to rip them down. My first band wore paint. We played in city parks. He boycotted the shows by parking the car on the street and honking the horn endlessly. It works at Little League baseball games but not at garage band concerts. Well the step-dude is about to get KISS-ed in a way he never dreamed. My parents fricken love Professional Bull Riding... They watch it on TV like it's a Top 10 greatest ever release. The PBR has just unveiled their hottest ticket. The meanest, roughest and most outrageous kicking bulls on the circuit.... What's that have to do with Classic Rock. The bulls are decked out in KISS make up. Six painted bull faces named Monster, Destroyer, Animalize, Revenge, Love Gun and Psycho Circus. All are trained and eager to buck the top 35 bull riders from the Professional Bull Riders around for years to come. The rock band Kiss has teamed with the PBR on dual promotions, both beginning May 10 at the PBR Last Cowboy Standing event in Las Vegas, Nev. That’s when, according to the band’s website, these six bulls will make their entrance for the 26 PBR Built Ford Tough Series events across America. (We’re assuming / hoping the bulls’ face paint was done via Photoshop. And hey, where’s Vinnie?) In addition, each arena’s kiss cam will become the 8-second Kiss cam. Fans will have to hold on to their lovers for eight seconds, the same amount of time a rider must hold onto his bull. Video and images of the kissing couples will then be displayed at the PBR website, and fans can vote for the best or worst kisses while registering to win PBR and Kiss gear. While the kissing is happening, Kiss band members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer will cheer fans on and provide constructive criticism. The Last Cowboy Standing event will be televised on CBS this Saturday and Sunday (May 11 and 12).

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The Summer Of 2013 Just Got Gratefully Dead

Summertime is the best time. To pop open a six pack of fun. Beer and Bourbon are great but it only gets better when the Grateful Dead is pouring from man cave sound system. Garcia and the band that made him famous are set to release a 14-disc box set. Five front to back concerts from that infamous 1977 tour. ‘MAY 1977,’ which is due June 11, features concerts from St. Paul on May 11, 1977, Chicago on May 12 and 13, St. Louis on May 15 and Tuscaloosa, Ala. on May 17, with mastering in HDCD by Jeffrey Norman — who has overseen similar projects with John Fogerty, Huey Lewis and the News, and others. The concerts feature tunes from across the Dead’s storied career, including classics like ‘Brown-Eyed Women’ and ‘Uncle John’s Band’ (both were played at all five shows) as well as then-new songs from the group’s forthcoming ninth studio effort ‘Terrapin Station’ like ‘Estimated Prophet,’ ‘Samson and Delilah’ and the title track — all of which would soon become concert staples. Several other tracks also debuted during this amazing string of dates, among them ‘Jack-A-Roe’ and ‘Passenger.’ Only 15,000 individually numbered editions of ‘MAY 1977′ will be produced, with psychedelic-style packaging courtesy of Grammy-winning graphic artist Masaki Koike (Black Sabbath, Cream and Joni Mitchell, among others). The set will also be available as a digital download, using Apple Lossless and FLAC technology, beginning on June 11. Price for the CD collection is $139.98; the digital edition is available for $99.98. You can pre-order the box set at their website. ‘MAY 1977′ follows a pair of previous Dead.net projects in 2011′s ‘Europe ’72: The Complete Recordings’ and 2012′s ‘Spring 1990,’ both of which sold out in the pre-ordering period.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Faces Fronted By Rod Stewart. The Fad Is To Bring It Back

Bands and performer's you'd love to see make a comeback. I can hear it through the flat screen. Crap! Now whose coming back? The 80's had Punk/ 90's had MTV Unplugged. The first chapters of the new millennium has decorated by Reality TV...but ultimately the IPod and the ability to instantly download music has turned the youngest of music fans into craving monsters. They want our music. They want to live it like we did. If we don't watch the young carefully they'll figure out a way to raise the dead and bring back the biggest of the greats. It's the hottest fad in world. "Reuniting!" KISS, The Eagles, Stones, Zeppelin in a roundabout way, Jim Bakker is back in religion and Bill Clinton is a trusted man again. Now that Rod Stewart has rediscovered his songwriting muse, the rock legend is thinking about reviving another aspect of his storied past. In a new interview, Stewart said that he’s up for a long-awaited reunion of the Faces. Speaking to the U.K. tabloid the Sun, Stewart hinted that it was being discussed, but a major scheduling conflict popped up for one of its members. “Well, we were on for it but he got nabbed back by the Rolling Stones, didn’t he?” he said. “But let them have him, because my eyes are on next year.” Stewart, of course, is referring to his longtime partner-in-crime Ron Wood, whose departure for the Stones in 1975 helped bring about the Faces’ inevitable implosion. In 2010 and 2011, the other surviving members of the band toured as the Faces – with Mick Hucknall of Simply Red on vocals and Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols on bass for the late Ronnie Lane – but a full-fledged reunion with Stewart on vocals hasn’t happened. Still, it’s been on Stewart’s mind for a while. He was set to perform with them at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, but a last-minute illness forced his cancellation. But it’s not just Wood’s time with the Stones that’s preventing the reunion from taking place. Stewart’s solo tour, especially with the release of ‘Time,’ means that his calendar is dance card is full for 2013. “We’ve got the U.K. tour coming up with the residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas,” he continued. “After that then we can start thinking about the Faces. Exciting times ahead — that’s for sure.” So, with Rod Stewart considering splitting time between his solo career and the Faces again, it seems that the 68-year old singer has – at least partially – recaptured his youth. Can a return to the days of taking cocaine anally be that far behind?

Monday, May 6, 2013

Not A Good Weekend To Be A Rock Star

Really? Maybe it's time to hire the Hells Angels again. That's what they did at early 70's California music festivals. History books show...even that got a little out of control. Nearly every station I Heart Radio took me too this past Saturday; I heard jocks joking about it being Star Wars Day. You know, "May the fourth be with you." Um...nowhere did it say, "Declare war on Rock Stars." Saturday May 4th proved to be a bad time to be a music maker. Motley Crue's lead guitarist...Mick Mars was attacked while on stage in Saskatchewan. Mick Tweeted last night that he's ok but his body guard earned two broken ribs. From the world of Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. The Aerosmith tour is on temporary vacation. Bomb threats. The band were scheduled to perform in Jakarta on May 11. That section of the tour was canceled Saturday (May 4) after the Indonesian government announced they had arrested two militants who were plotting to bomb the Embassy. There's word now that Robert Plant had a bad fan weekend as well. So much so he's been forced to obtain a restraining order. Show me someone that hasn't heard concert fans complain about the distance between the stage and fans. Those barriers were designed to do one thing: Protect the guitar picking, harmony chasing, drum bangers hoisted eight to ten feet in the air on that stage. I'll never forget Tommy Shaw screaming at a crowd of fans in Billings, Montana, "If you don't scoot back this show isn't moving forward." Then someone torched up a bag of firecrackers and Tommy had a fit. I'm not gonna waste flat screen space puking up reasons why pissed off concert fans should ask The Who and David Cassidy why there should've been better control issues.