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Thursday, April 1, 2010

Rock News for Thursday 1st April, 2010

Happy April Fools Day Everyone or All Fools Day as others say!
Now, what trick news stories lay ahead for us all today?
Will name artists ticks us with their announcements?
Will I trick you? LOL! You figure it out!
Have a great, fun day folks!

Scorpions US Tour News Update + new album enters Billboard Top 30

German rock legends The Scorpions have just announced a very select set of tour dates in North America, so far ....?
Just 10 dates in the US and just 3 in Canada have been announced, to support their latest release, 'Sting In The Tail.'
They do say later in the release that over 30 dates are planned over 2 months ...
Strange, as the 13 dates announced are actually already crossing into a 3rd month?!
As to support acts, Ratt have been telling people they will support The Scorpions on certain dates (Not confirmed by The Scorpions), but here the press release indicates Cinderella or Dokken on specific dates.

Disappointing news right now then for many US fans, who are lapping up the excellent new album - Review to be posted here soon. - released here just over a week ago and have helped it be placed in Billboards Top 30 albums.

Here's the press release and news update from their site released yesterday:

THE SCORPIONS - one of the most successful rock bands in the world - have hit another career milestone. Their new and final album, 'STING IN THE TAIL,' released March 23 via Universal Music Enterprises, entered the Billboard Top 200 charts at #23, marking the band’s highest chart debut in over 20 years.
The album also landed at #6 on the Rock Albums chart.

Sting In the Tail features the anthemic single “Raised On Rock,” which is #2 on the Classic Rock Mediabase chart and adds to their remarkable list of hits including “Rock Your Like A Hurricane,” “Wind of Change” and “No One Like You”. The album is a true return to the classic and unmistakable hard rock sound that has allowed the band to remain an influential and powerful force in rock music throughout their career.

The Scorpions - KLAUS MEINE (vocals), MATTHIAS JABS (lead guitar), RUDOLF SCHENKER (guitar), JAMES KOTTAK (drums) and PAWEL MACIWODA (bass)--have also announced the dates for the North American leg of their “GET YOUR STING AND BLACKOUT” world tour in support of the new album. The German rockers will be celebrating 40+ years in music on this final outing--set to kick off June 18 in Holmdel, NJ--that will take them around the globe through 2012, with special guests supporting along the way, including Cinderella who will help jump-start the tour and heavy metal/hard rock band Dokken.

“Scorpions is a live band,“ asserts MEINE. “Totally, 200%, this band was always about live concerts. We always wanted to go on stage and play in front of our fans. From the very beginning, from the smallest clubs to the biggest arenas and stadiums around the world, the passion to be a live band has never changed.” And when asked why the band decided to retire after all these years together, SCHENKER stated, “We want to celebrate [with] a big party around the world. We've had a really great career, coming out from Germany and showing people that rock can come out of Germany. I think we started as a gang built by friendship and musicality, and going and showing that the Germans can rock" (LiveDaily; 1-28-10).

With over 30 North American shows planned, the two-month summer tour will take the band, known worldwide for their mega, arena hard rock and over 100 million records sold, to such cities as Baltimore, MD, Jones Beach, NY, Toronto and Milwaukee. As they make their way west, they’ll stop in Albuquerque before hitting the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles July 29. (See dates below with more to be announced)
Scorpions have partnered with I Love All Access to offer a variety of VIP ticket packages

Check out the SCORPIONS on the “Get Your Sting and Blackout” North America Tour:
** denotes Cinderella supporting + denotes Dokken supporting
June 2010
** Fri 6/18 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center April 10 via http://www.ticketmaster.com/
** Sat 6/19 Baltimore, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion Now via Ticketfly
** Tue 6/22 Jones Beach, NY Jones Beach Theater April 10 via http://www.ticketmaster.com/
** Fri 6/25 Quebec City, QC Pavillion de la Juenesse April 10 via http://www.billitech.com/
** Sat 6/26 Montreal, QC Bell Centre April 10 via http://www.geg.ca/
Sun 6/27 Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre April 9 via http://www.ticketmaster.com/
July 2010
Fri 7/2 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest TBA via http://www.ticketmaster.com/
Sat 7/24 Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre
Mon 7/26 Albuquerque, NM The Pavilion TBA via http://www.livenation.com/
Thu 7/29 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theater TBA via http://www.ticketmaster.com/
Sat 7/31 Ontario, CA Citizen’s Business Bank Arena TBA via http://www.ticketmaster.com/
August 2010
+ Fri 8/6 Roseburg, OR Douglas County Fairgrounds
+ Sat 8/7 Ridgefield, WA Amphitheatre at Clark County April 3 via http://www.ticketmaster.com/

More details and video clips here:

 Magnum - Slight update

Thanks to Annie for the Magnum newsletter update on new album and a few festival appearances!

New Magnum Studio Album
Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin are back at Mad Hat's Studio working on new material for the next Magnum album, with the songs already written the task is now to cut these down to the songs that will eventually end up on the album.

The new album will have a World wide release through Steamhammer / SPV. It is a little to early to predict a release date or title but we'll keep you up to date via the website and newsletter with progress.

Meanwhile Magnum's Festival Appearances 2010:
May 2010
22 May 2010 Trondheim Rock Trondheim, Norway
June 2010
9/10/11/12 June 2010 Sweden Rock Festival Sölvesborg, Sweden
July 2010
25 July 2010 High Voltage Festival London, UK
30 July 2010 RBCS Derbyshire, UK
For all things Magnum, keep it here:

NONPOINT SINGLE ‘MIRACLE’ TOP 25 ON ROCK CHARTS

TOUR DATES WITH SEVENDUST & PAPA ROACH - New album ‘Miracle’ out May 4th

LOS ANGELES – The single “Miracle’ from Florida hard rock quartet Nonpoint is top 25 on all hard rock radio formats, and showing no signs of slowing down. The forthcoming album, also titled 'Miracle' will be released May 4th. Nonpoint has also confirmed upcoming tour dates with Sevendust (see below)

Jose Mangin, host of Octane on Sirius XM says about Nonpoint, “ There’s no mistaking their powerful and intense live shows over all these years have added fuel to their songwriting craft. I’m totally not surprised ‘Miracle’ is catchy as hell and doing as well as it is! Florida has a new kind of hurricane and there’s nothing you can do about it but step back and let it happen.”
Blake Patton, the Music Director at WJJO in Madison says, “ Madison and JJO have known the power, presence and attraction of Nonpoint for years. This time Nonpoint has raised the bar even higher with a stellar new tune. ‘Miracle’ is testing higher and getting more reaction than ever before.”

The album was produced by Greg Tribbett and Chad Gray of Mudvayne / HELLYEAH and will be released on the band’s own 954 Records in partnership with Rocket Science Ventures / SONY / RED on May 4th, 2010.

NONPOINT with Sevendust, Day of Fire and Hail the Villian:
April 2010
April 21 Knoxville, TN @ The Valarium
April 22 Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall
April 24 Columbia, SC @ Jillian’s (with Papa Roach)
April 27 Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge
April 29 Houma, LA @ The City Club
April 30 Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
May 2010May 23 Columbus, OH @ Rock on the Range

Check out the debut video for Miracle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVF2yycr5vw
For the latest news and tour updates: http://www.nonpoint.com/

Airtime's Liberty Manifesto now made available as download

Airtime the hard rock side project featuring Rik Emmett (Triumph) and Mike Shotton (Von Groove) that produced the much praised 'Liberty Manifesto' release in 2007, has just had the now much sought after release, made available through Rik Emmett's website store:

Over the past few years since it's original release, this album has changed hands through eBay or Amazon and other places for prices - That I've seen ..., as I've been looking! - up to $50 and over in some cases!
Now the full album can can be downloaded via Rik's site for $9.99 or bought as individual tracks.

More details on the project:
Rik and Michael Shotton’s studio writing projects evolved into an unapologetically classic, hard, melodic rock album that has some progressive leanings – a labor of love that’s life-affirming and liberating, featuring mature lyric themes, polished songwriting and arranging, and challenging ensemble instrumentation.
Emmett revisits a style he’d left in ‘93.

From the production/engineering chair, Shotton convinced Emmett to play all the bass tracks, then to take over lead vocal duties as well. The Rick Andersen mixes sparkle, aided by the mastering expertise of Nick Blagona [Deep Purple, Tea Party, April Wine: engineer for The Police, Rush, David Bowie].
For Emmett and Shotton, Airtime has been a defining and deeply satisfying experience that they take a fierce pride in.

Europe (The band) interesting acquisition made
 
Now then, is this a true or false story, I can't say ... Any Swedish readers here that know how true this may or may not be regarding the band Europe?
This just posted at the band's website today, yes, April 1st!
 
EUROPE TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF STOCKHOLM'S ROCKKLASSIKER 106.7 FM!

FOLLOWING SEVERAL MONTHS OF DISCREET NEGOTIATION,STOCKHOLM'S LEADING ROCK RADIO STATION "ROCKKLASSIKER" HAS BEEN PURCHASED BY EUROPE THE BAND THROUGH PRIVATE SALE.

EUROPE'S MANAGER PETRI H. LUNDEN COMMENTED: "ROCKKLASSIKER FM HAS BEEN THE SECOND HOME OF EUROPE DRUMMER IAN HAUGLAND WHO DJ'S AT ROCKKLASSIKER WHEN THE BAND ARE NOT ON TOUR. EUROPE HAVE ALWAYS LENT THEIR SUPPORT TO THE STATION, SO WHEN IT CAME UP FOR SALE LAST NOVEMBER, THE BAND DECIDED TO NEGOTIATE ITS PURCHASE".

SINGER / SONGWRITER JOEY TEMPEST ADDED: "SWEDEN IS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS EXTRAORDINARY ROCK ACTS, AND THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF ROCKKLASSIKER FM, WE INTEND TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE OUR PROUD ROCK CULTURE. ITS EXCITING FOR US AS MUSICIANS. WE INTEND TO TAKE ROCKKLASSIKER FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO APPEAL TO IT'S VERY LOYAL FANBASE".

ROCKKLASSIKER STATION MASTER STAFFAN ROSELL COMMENTED: "SINCE THEIR COMEBACK, EUROPE HAVE MADE SOME VERY SOUND MOVES BOTH AS ARTISTS AND AS BUSINESSMEN, AND THIS REPRESENTS AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER NOT ONLY FOR THEM, BUT ALSO FOR THE STATION".

OWNERSHIP WILL BE TRANSFERRED ON APRIL 16TH TO THE BAND'S COMPANY HELL & BACK AB.
TUNE IN TO ROCKKLASSIKER FOR MORE INFO ON THE SALE.

Nazareth announces Canadian Tour Dates

As well as many other tour dates already confirmed by classic rockers Nazareth that run through the rest of the year, they've just announced the following Canadian tour dates, some with Canadian rockers Headpins :

June 2010
June 30 - Edmonton, AB at the River Creek Casino, Canada with Headpins
July 2010
July 2 - Coquitlam, BC at the Red Robinson Show Theatre in the Boulevard Casino, Canada
July 3 - Vernon, BC at Funtastic, Canada
July 8 - Estevan, SK at The Orpheum, Canada
July 9 - Regina, SK at the Regina Casino, Canada
July 10 - Brandon, MB at the Trails West Inn, Canada
July 12 - Thunder Bay, ON at the Rockhouse, Canada
July 13 - Winnipeg, MB, Canada
July 15 - Calgary, AB, Canada private party with Headpins
July 16 - Lethbridge, AB at Coyote Joe's, Canada
July 17 - Calgary, AB at the Deerfoot Casino, Canada with Headpins
July 23 - Halifax, NS at Casino Nova Scotia in the Schooner Showroom, Canada
July 24, 2010July 24 - New Brunswick TBA, Canada
For the rest of their live dates - I can tell you there's none in USA at this time. :( - go here:

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