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.’”

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.

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.

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.”