Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Rock News for Wednesday 30th December, 2009

Status Quo duo Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt OBE's in The Queen's New Years Honours!

Status Quo's Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi will go into 2010 having been appointed with OBE's for their services to music and charity over the years.
Congratulations to them both!
This just posted on the BBC's news page - Of course, it's already New Years Eve there!

The band this year celebrated 40 years together, releasing a fantastic live DVD Pictures - Live in Montreux 2009, which I recently reviewed on this blog site. Review can be found here:

Also side note reminder of Francis Rossi's solo stuff.

Francis Rossi 'One Step at a Time' - Solo Tour - May 2010

Live Nation are proud to announce that Francis will undertake his first ever solo tour in May 2010. The "One Step At A Time" tour, that takes the name of his solo album to be released by EarMUSIC, through Edel in April 2010, will take in six UK dates. He will be accompanied by an 8 piece band.

Francis commented, "I never stop writing songs and melodies but there have been many tracks over the years that just weren't right for Quo. These songs have been gathering dust in my mind for too long and now seems the right time to showcase them. It's a big step for me but I hope to see lots of the same faces out there on the road!"

12th May Edinburgh Queens Hall
13th May Birmingham Town Hall
14th May Manchester Academy
16th May London Her Majesty's
18th May Cardiff Glee Club
19th May Sheffield Memorial Hall
Tickets will be available from 10am on Fri 18 Dec from http://www.livenation.co.uk/ or from 0844 576 5483

All Star benefit concert at The Avalon in Hollywood on January 6th - Concert for Sophia



Sophia Stormy Smith was born on April 28th 2009 at 3 lbs 10 oz. She's had a awfully hard time so far on Earth.

She was a premature baby and underwent a critical life saving 6.5 hour operation on the very day she was born. She then spent a month in the Northridge NICU for newborns. Baby Sophia and her parents have bravely gone through so much pain. No one should have to travel this path alone...I remember Sophia came home for the first time on Stuart's birthday. He was overjoyed and thankful. Now things have changed and her parents have been hit with crippling medical bills.
Together WE CAN all help Sophia. In order to pay for a surgery she must obtain by early 2010 we're going to put together a concert to help Stuart & Sophia pay for her medical, surgery & care. A medical trust fund has been set up for her with Chase Banking

Yes, even Rock Stars "need a little help from their friends" & will "get by with a little help from their friends"..."With a little help from OUR friends."

Stuart Smith is known internationally for his amazing Lead guitar and song writing ability. The founder of Heaven & Earth, Stuart has recently joined forces with Steve Priest in the USA version of the band SWEET. Having felt the economic crunch (as most of us here have) Stuart's long time friend Robert Tuozzo has very graciously offered to assist in helping to get aide for his precious daughter Sophia by putting on a benefit concert and setting up this site.

Between Stuart and Robert reaching out as a team to their many friends in the entertainment business, TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE MUSIC & HELP SOPHIA...
TOGETHER WE CAN

Rock out New Years Eve with Kansas and Night Ranger!

Wow I say! Wish I could be there as I'm sure this would be one show, AOR / rock fans would not want to miss for a New Year's Eve party!

December 31, 2009 - 7pm




Rock your way into the New Year with co-headliners Kansas AND Night Ranger in one amazing show at The Island Event Center on December 31! Witness Kansas perform hits such as Carry On Wayward Son, Point of No Return and Dust in the Wind. And Night Ranger’s hits like (You Can Still) Rock in America, Sister Christian and Don't Tell Me You Love Me are sure to bring down the house.

This show’s open to all ages, so grab your friends and don't miss your chance to see these incredible bands both perform in one show! Tickets are only $45 and $55 and are available at the Island Box Office or by calling 1-877-849-1640.

TREASURE ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

5734 Sturgeon Lake Road
Welch, MN 55089
1-800-222-7077

Aerosmith's Tom Hamilton checks in with an update ...

With so much uncertainty surrounding the band Aerosmith right now, bass player Tom Hamilton has taken the time to post a lengthy message to all the bands fans.

Tom starts by saying, "I know, I know! "What's goin' on with the band?" "What the hell are you guys up to?" Well it all boils down to Steven wanting to go solo for a while and the other four of us wanting to continue. I'm not getting into what and what not's been in the press lately. I'd like a day off from all that if you don't FREAKIN' mind.

Some weeks ago we finished four shows that were still left on the plate for this year. As we're getting close to the end of the year I found myself replaying my mental videos of those gigs."

Anyway, Tom's report is a lengthy one and he closes by saying this to everyone:

"I hope everybody has an awesome New Year. Make those resolutions! Put 'em in your head and let them grow. They'll happen someday!

More later,
TH
The full details are right here:


Pollstar compiles its Top 50 Tours of North America for 2009

Yes, it's now posted, the end of the year results that so many people look out for, to give them pointers for next year! It also obviously pleases management of many of these acts!

U2 surpassed all other tours, grossing $123 million in North America and selling more than 1.3 million tickets overall. Those figures beat its closest competitor, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, by about $30 million!
With U2 and Bruce charting Nos. 1 and 2, the top five were rounded out by Elton John / Billy Joel, Britney Spears and AC/DC. The Top 10 included the inexhaustible Kenny Chesney, headlining newcomers Jonas Brothers, Dave Matthews Band, Fleetwood Mac and Metallica.
For more details broken down, go to:
http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2009/12/30/703577.aspx

Here's the Top 50 Tours of North America for 2009 though:
Pollstar Top 50 Tours of North America:

1 U2
2 Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
3 Elton John / Billy Joel
4 Britney Spears
5 AC/DC
6 Kenny Chesney
7 Jonas Brothers
8 Dave Matthews Band
9 Fleetwood Mac
10 Metallica
11 Nickelback
12 "Walking With Dinosaurs"
13 Miley Cyrus
14 Trans-Siberian Orchestra
15 Eagles
16 Keith Urban
17 Celine Dion
18 Rascal Flatts
19 Coldplay
20 Paul McCartney
21 Phish
22 Brad Paisley
23 Jeff Dunham
24 No Doubt
25 Cher
26 Lil' Wayne
27 KISS
28 "American Idols Live"
29 Bette Midler
30 Dane Cook
31 Blink-182
32 The Dead
33 Beyoncé
34 Il Divo
35 Taylor Swift
36 Def Leppard
37 Cirque du Soleil - "Saltimbanco"
38 Mötley Crüe
39 Depeche Mode
40 George Strait
41 Eric Clapton / Steve Winwood
42 Kings of Leon
43 Leonard Cohen
44 Bob Dylan
45 "So You Think You Can Dance"
46 Jimmy Buffett
47 Luis Miguel
48 The Killers
49 "Vans Warped Tour"
50 Green Day

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