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Saturday, January 23, 2010

Rock News for Saturday 23rd January, 2010

FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS ANNOUNCE
ROTHBURY POSTPONEMENT FOR 2010 EVENT


Rothbury, the festival that last year featured the likes of Bob Dylan, The Dead, Black Crowes, Willie Nelson, Gov't Mule and many more has this year decided to postpone the event.
Here's the Press Release from the organisers:

January 22, 2010 - Today, festival organizers for the ROTHBURY music festival announced that they will not host a 2010 event.


According to event producers Madison House Presents and AEG Live, a contributing factor in the decision is that, due to various artists’ recording and touring schedules, timing will not allow them to assemble the cutting edge roster that has been associated with ROTHBURY. Madison House Presents’ Jeremy Stein explains, “The result for this year is that we are not able to move forward with the integrity and high standards that we demand from ourselves and for the festival.”


Despite the 2010 postponement, organizers intend to move toward continuing ROTHBURY in 2011. According to Stein, "This event is something very special, and we are unwilling to potentially tarnish what ROTHBURY is, and can become, by working under conditions that will produce anything less than a magical experience. Our efforts are certainly not coming to an end."



For ongoing information regarding ROTHBURY, please monitor http://www.rothburyfestival.com/

Steve Lukather on tour with Soulbop Special Edition

In March Steve Lukather will do a tour with the Bill Evans'& Randy Brecker Soulbop Special Edition, together with Robben Ford, Darryl Jones, Steve Weingart and Rodney Holmes in South-East Asia. Check out the tour data section for the tour scedule.


In 2003, trumpet virtuoso Randy Brecker and saxophone extraordinaire Bill Evans formed Soulbop, a unique musical experience combining elements of funk, jazz, soul, and blues. The result was a band of superstar musicians who could play these styles and virtually any kind of music at the highest level.


On one hand, there is four-time Grammy award-winner Randy Brecker, celebrated trumpeter who has been shaping the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for more than four decades and whose trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and Parliament-Funkadelic to Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, David Sanborn, and Frank Zappa, as well as the classic Brecker Brothers band.


On the other, there is top saxophonist Bill Evans who has made his mark on the fields of jazz, funk, Brazilian music, reggae and hip-hop over 20 years, performing with the likes of Miles Davis, John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Mick Jagger, and many others.
 Together, they’ve created the collective Soulbop – roping in celebrated bluesman Robben Ford (guitar) who has worked with Joni Mitchell, David Sanborn and more, five-time Grammy-winning guitarist and ex-TOTO mastermind Steve Lukather (guitar), ex-Miles Davis band member and Rolling Stones bassist (since 1993) Darryl Jones (bass), Grammy-winning drummer Rodney Holmes (drums) and the coming keyboard wizard Steve Weingart – to whip up a typhoon of funk, bebop, R&B, jazz and more!

The Randy Brecker / Bill Evans Soulbop band has headlined the European festivals on an annual basis, and celebrated the release of Soulbop Live, a double CD recorded during their 2006 world tour.

Soulbop Special Edition is their newest and most inspiring venture to date. This special collaboration brings together a new star-studded group of musicians, appearing on stage together for the first time. This is an event not to be missed.
 
Goo Goo Dolls in rehearsals

The Goo Goo Dolls have posted a message to fans through their MySpace to share that they are currently in rehearsals for a new tour that will start in April 2010.They have also shared a preview video of John Rzeznik playing a new song "Nightmares and Dreams" acoustically, which you can view here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-Bq9c7iYss

Paul Rodgers Live at Hammersmith

This CD is only available from Concert Live and features many of Paul Rodger's classic hits from Bad Company, Free ,The Firm back catalogues and his Grammy nominated solo career. It also includes a song that he wrote and recorded with Queen on their recent CD release "The Cosmos Rocks."


Guests who joined Paul on stage that evening were singer Deborah Bonham, sister of Led Zeppelin's late drummer John Bonham and Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs.


The live CD is strictly limited edition and features the full live show and an exclusive 3rd bonus disc that includes photos from the night and behind the scenes footage. This backstage video content is exclusive to this live CD, you will not see this anywhere else!

Frontiers Records to release TREAT brand new reunion album “Coup De Grace” on March 19th in Europe and April 6th in the USA.

January 2010 – Twenty-five years after the release of their sensational debut album “Scratch and Bite” and eighteen year since their last self-titled studio album saw the light of day, Swedish melodic rock legends Treat are out to get you on the run again!


“Coup de Grace” is the album that every melodic rock fan hoped for but never dared to dream of: a classic rock masterpiece with thunderous guitars, powerful yet seductive melodies and hook-laden songs, all wrapped up in a production that combines the best of “now” and “then”.


It´s been twenty-five years in the making, says guitarist and main songwriter Anders Wikström. Since day one I knew we had this album in us. The ideas were there. The vision. But it took us this long to find the right tools to make it all come true. It took five albums, millions of miles on the road, a thirteen year long break and a whole new perspective on life to get it right. In hindsight it now seems that everything we´ve done since we formed the band has been pointing in one direction. Of course we didn´t know it back then, but this is what we aimed for all along, says Anders.


So here we are, in 2010 Treat is releasing their sixth album, not counting the best of “Weapons of Choice”, released when the band reformed in 2006. “Coup de Grace” is a collection of songs that is so much more than just kick-ass-sing-along-rock´n´roll-songs. They are more a sort of mini autobiographies from five grown men reflecting on life. Back then, in the 80´s, it was rock´n´roll twenty-four-seven: big guitars, big choruses, big hair, babes and booze.


This album is a statement of who we are today, explains Anders Wikström. We’re older… yeah, perhaps even wiser. We look at our lives and the world around us in a different way. I wanted to reflect that in our lyrics. I mean, we’re all fathers and we raise our kids in a world that’s in a turmoil. There’s a lot of pressures, fears and tough expectations. The rat race is spinning out of control, but everybody expect you to be happy. The big guitars are still there and became even bigger. The big choruses. The big sound. The hair… yeah, well, you know: they’re in the mid forties. Booze? Nah. Babes? Yeah. Their wives and girlfriends. The mothers of their kids. But there’s as new “big” in the Treat equation: the courage to let their fears, worries and views on both politics and the modern life that wears us all down reflect in the lyrics. It was the natural thing to do. I mean, life is so much more than rock´n´roll all night and party every day, says Wikström.


But make no mistakes: Treat is a rock´n´roll brigade. A force of nature. Today even stronger and more powerful than ever. From the opening somewhat haunting prelude, that sets the tone of the album, the right-in-your face rock´n´roll grenade The war is over, the soul searching Paper Tiger to the trademark power ballad A life to die for and Roar, where the band manages to make an epic with a hit feeling, Treat is telling all the world that they’re back. Bigger, better and bolder.

We got back together in 2006 because we all missed playing together. We released a compilation album and did a tour, but we weren’t sure what to do next. In 2008 we all felt that we had an album to do, continues Wikström. I started demoing songs and in May 2009 we were ready to hit the studio.


Produced and recorded in Stockholm, Sweden by Anders Wikström, partly together with keyboard player Patrick Appelgren, “Coup de Grace”, is an album that’s going to stand out in a musical climate where mediocrity and superficiality are an asset but where talent, musicianship and dedication is not required to make the charts.


“Coup de Grace” includes the following tracks:
Prelude – Coup de Grace; The War Is Over; All In, Paper Tiger; Roar; A Life To Die For; Tangled Up; Skies of Mongolia; Heaven Can Wait; I’m Not Runnin’; No Way Without You; We Own The Night; All For Love; Breathless.
This is our footprint in the history of rock´n´roll, concludes Anders Wikström. We can proudly say that this is the album we would like to show our grandkids!
TREAT is ANDERS WIKSTRÖM (guitars and backing vocals), ROBERT ERNLUND (lead vocals), JAMIE BORGER (drums), NALLE PÅHLSSON (bass and backing vocals) and PATRICK APPELGREN (keyboards/guitar and backing vocals)
Samples from the album can be heard here:

Friday, January 22, 2010

Rock News for Friday 22nd January, 2010

Ace Frehley new DVD Official Commercial


The new Ace Frehley DVD "Behind The Player" soon to be released, has a new entertainly official commercial trailer for the product, that can be viewed here:
http://www.acefrehley.com/video/

The DVD was just released this week, January 19th, 2010.

Joe Lynn Turner on VH1's "That Metal Show."


Earlier this week Joe Lynn Turner taped an appearance on VH1 Classic's popular show "THAT METAL SHOW." It will premiere on Saturday, February 27, 2010 (On cable and Satellite in the USA) and will air again at various days and times thereafter. Some features from it may appear online thereafter, too.


To learn more about THAT METAL SHOW, visit http://www.vh1classic.com/ and click on "That Metal Show"
Info from Joe's MySpace page: www.myspace.com/joelynnturner

Starship new video of current recording sessions


We've had a very busy season, and last fall we had time to get in the studio and record some songs for the upcoming album.


If you have a few minutes, take a peek at this exclusive behind-the-scenes look as Mickey works with the producers to build the song "Tempted (by the Fruit of Another)" and then records it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZCxe32_EK4

And while you're at it, keep your eyes peeled for the release of our next album this year!
From the MySpace page of Mickey Thomas Starship: www.myspace.com/starshipmickeythomas

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Winger - Karma CD review





Winger – 'Karma' album review


Released on: Frontiers Records
Release date: October 2009






OK, here I go ... "Karma ...." This album was an absolute stunner from the very first time I played it and I continue to feel exactly the same about it now. There I said it!


Winger of course everyone remembers from the tail end of the Eighties, with songs like “Seventeen,” “Miles Away,” “Easy Come, Easy Go” and “Heading For a Heartbreak,” which were all great songs with the genre at the time and then Winger seemed to drift off most people radar for some time, then Kip Winger himself took the solo path before reforming the band in 2006 and releasing the album “IV”.

Three years on and “Karma” gets released in late Fall of 2009, here’s what I think!


Opener “Deal With The Devil,” rings out with an instantly contagious hook, kind of reminded me of Steel Dragon the band Mark Wahlberg fronted in the movie "Rock Star." The track totally rocks, it really blew me away!

With “Stone Cold Killer” next, wow! This is probably the best song all 80’s hard rock bands wish they had written! It’s so strong and Kip Wingers voice on this album, Reb Beach’s guitar and … WOW! So much more! The whole band here is so on their game, it’s awesome!


At first “Big World Away” with the rock semi-rap verse made me think, hold on what the …?! No worries though, it clicks and each chorus and also the bridge after the second chorus is just immense and Winger himself sounds so intense. This album is so edgy yet full of so many memorable hooks, how can you not be impressed?!

“Come A Little Closer” kind of creeps up on you like a stalker and the “woo hoo” after each chorus … what is that about?! It’s a track that kind of gives me a feeling Kip Winger’s been taking in some of Glenn Hughes’ rock albums.

Next up is “Pull Me Under” which riffs like no other with the intro and again Winger’s phrasing here can certainly match if not better the work of Glenn Hughes in where he’s reaching.
This song has really so much going for it, so many layers and that solo, Reb! You go boy, go!
He is playing out of his skin on this release! Hope to see Winger play this stuff live this year, guys you have GOT to play Detroit! Play the whole album too!


“Supernova” is literally as it’s title implies, a song of epic proportions and the word karma is referenced in here to, so perhaps it’s the sub-title track. It’s dark and moody, with an almost Led Zeppelin like swagger about it. Killer!

Now, I really love the haunting “Always Within Me,” which starts gently then punches you briefly and then has an interesting time signature to it as it picks up. When it does pick up the sound is so richly layered and is, well put simply …, beautiful. I’ll bet Neal Schon was well impressed and perhaps nervous when he heard the solo too! Love it!



Alright, “Feeding Frenzy” chugs along through the verse, sub-metal like, but the chorus is still strong and the harmony vocal, piggy backing the lead on the chorus makes it something else.



Winger plays the blues with the soulful “After All This Time,” to take things down a little. Nice.

OK, you know I’ll probably get slammed for my comparisons but in “Witness,” Kip Winger has probably got the best song Journey never wrote but wish they did!



This is total AOR in it’s prime, no question. What a song, beautifully done and Reb Beach’s solo is wow! Who can touch his playing on this track?! Top notch is not enough praise.


A really impressive album, that has now been out for a few months, but it is so current, so strong and I cannot putting this back in the player! Buy this album! It IS great!



Rating: 5 out of 5, yeah I really like it!







Bruce Kulick - BK3 CD review

Bruce Kulick – BK3 (On Twenty 4 Records / Rocket Science Ventures)
 
Release Date: February 16th,  2010

 
 
 
The latest release from ‘former’ Kiss lead guitarist Bruce Kulick …Yeah, I know bit of a stigma there I suppose, as Ace Frehley was the main man there, then Vinnie Vincent, then Bruce …, but since then when Ace didn’t play a part there has also been Mark St. John (RIP) and most recently after Ace’s last departure, Tommy Thayler.

Before joining Kiss though Kulick had made his name rocking on Meatloaf’s Bat Out Of Hell tour from 1977 / 78, being in a band called Blackjack which also featured a certain Michael Bolton during his rock years before joining Kiss from 1984 – 1996 until Frehley rejoined the glam kings.
Since Kiss he’s been with Union alongside John Corabi (Ex-Motley Crue) and touring with Grand Funk Railroad since 2001.
He’s also done a reasonable amount of session work for various people, so the man's got history!

First off though on BK3, I am at a certain disadvantage as I have not heard either of his previous 2 solo outings, but with BK3 he’s acquired some assistance from members of Kiss (Gene Simmons and Eric Singer.), The Knack (Doug Fieger), ex-Motley Crue vocalist John Corabi (Who was also with Kulick in Union), other guitar genius in Steve Lukather and Tobias Sammet from metal act Edguy.

When I first played this album, I will concede that I didn’t give it fair listening and gave up halfway through but that said now I can’t stop playing it!
So understand that it is a grower, not instant at least not for me. With the various vocalists onboard plus Kulick himself, it didn’t flow for me initially and there was something else that I couldn’t pin down, but now I guess the best description I can give is that this has a raw, energetic not specifically polished sound as it starts, but then it adds more variety as it goes on.

Opening track “Fate” kicks in with a pummeling of the drums and just never eases up and Kulick handles the vocals himself here. Actually he doesn’t sound far from Ace Frehleys style, but this track has really grown on me and the solo is put simply, sweet! Great opener.
Kulick brings in former employer Gene Simmons for the lead vocal on “I Ain’t Gonna Die,” which as opens again as a raw rocker before hitting big harmony vocals ala say Van Halen in the chorus build up, then the song goes into an almost Beatles sounding string section and again on first playing of this, it didn’t grab me but like the rest of this album it’s really grown.
 
Former Union singer / band mate John Corabi steps in next for “No Friend Of Mine” and when the song started, I had recollections of early Alice Cooper for some reason, but that soon passed once the first verse kicked in. There’s a certain darkness about the track which goes along with the whole album, but the musicianship here is great! Again, great guitar work from maestro Kulick. Very strong song.
 
“Hand of the King” has an eeriness to it and features Nick Simmons son of the Kiss mainman Gene and on first listen to this track, I could not get into it but now this seems immense retaining that dark and heavy edginess about it, but again it fits to work well on BK3.
 
Kulick takes control of vocals again for “I’ll Survive,” which almost has a Pink Floyd / Soundgarden type psychedelic vibe to it, which seems a little odd in the album make up, but it just takes things down a little and plays out well.
 
OK, next track “Dirty Girl,” has to be my absolute favourite here, it is so hook laden and is certainly the most commercial sounding track here and also features the vocal talents of Knack frontman Doug Fieger … This certainly could be a hit if it got the airplay. Love it!
OK, now“Final Mile” for me with the intro gives more than a nod towards perhaps a certain Mott the Hoople track or even a certain cover track Kiss did a few years back now. Another easier going track away from the rawer, edginess of the opening salvo of songs. Great solo work again.
 
“I’m The Animal” features Kiss drummer Eric Singer and German metal band Edguy’s frontman Tobias Sammet and the track has Kulick riffing all over the place, as well as those huge big choral backing vocals again, almost Def Leppard like. It’s heavy yet catchy, works well.
 
More contagious chorus vocal hooklines and big vocals in “And I Know” next with Kulick stepping up to the mic again.
 
For “Between The Lines,” Kulick has pulled in fellow guitar genius Steve Lukather for the albums solitary instrumental and while you might think there’s no chorus or familiar vocal line to sing along with, the guitar harmonies grab you in such a way that you’ll be loving this. Nice work.
 
Album closer “Life” is apparently a small tribute towards Kulick longtime idol George Harrison (RIP), I actually felt it was a little (Bob) Dylan’ish myself, perhaps with a hint of Beatles but from the powerful trip that the rest of the album took, this is a soulful closing piece, with just a hint of sub-flamenco at the very end of the track.
Throughout the album, Kulick’s work on guitar is excellent, stunning and his vocal work fits too and even with a variety of players / vocalists, this is an album certainly for Kiss collectors, but also anyone that appreciates a good balance of rock music from hard rocking to some commercial edge too. For me, well worth checking out.
 
Keep up with Bruce Kulick’s activities at http://www.kulick.net/bk3/
 
Rating: 4 of out 5.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Rock News for Thursday 21st January, 2010

TSO - Trans Siberian Orchestra announce Spring Tour dates, yes really!

OK, I know most of you associate the Trans Siberian Orchestra with Christmas which you'd be 100% right on ... As that's what I usually do!
I guess on the back of the success of their latest album "Night Castle" they want to get out and do some more dates and they've gone and announced dates all the way from March 25th where they kick the tour off in Cincinnati, OH at the Taft Theatre there and run right through until May 2nd in Dallas, TX at the Nokia Theatre there.

I will say that for the most part the venues are for the most part scaled down locations from the Christmas tour dates.
Anyway, these guys are a class act and if you keep thinking, 'Yeah, I'll catch them next time ...' Take my advice and don't put it off!
I have only ever seen the show once, but which like many of my friends I went every year. Yes, it's that good, so don't keep putting it off, trust me!

Enough of my ramblings, here are the tour dates they've just announced and I saw it posted through their Facebook page, but there's more info of course at the bands own website:

Date:  Time:  City:  Venue:
Thu. Mar. 25, 2010 7:30 PM Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
Fri. Mar. 26, 2010 8:00 PM Akron, OH EJ Thomas Perf. Arts Hall-Univ. of Akron
Sat. Mar. 27, 2010 3:00 PM Cleveland, OH Playhouse Square Center - Palace Theater
Sat. Mar. 27, 2010 8:00 PM Cleveland, OH Playhouse Square Center - Palace Theater
Sun. Mar. 28, 2010 7:30 PM Syracuse, NY Landmark Theatre
Wed. Mar. 31, 2010 7:30 PM Providence, RI Providence Performing Arts Center

Thu. Apr. 01, 2010 7:30 PM Boston, MA The Wang Center For the Performing Arts
Fri. Apr. 02, 2010 8:00 PM Hartford, CT The Bushnell Center For the Performing Arts
Sat. Apr. 03, 2010 8:00 PM Hershey, PA Hershey Theatre
Sun. Apr. 04, 2010 7:30 PM Pittsburgh, PA Benedum Center
Mon. Apr. 05, 2010 7:30 PM Erie, PA Warner Theater
Wed. Apr. 07, 2010 7:30 PM Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater
Thu. Apr. 08, 2010 8:00 PM New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
Fri. Apr. 09, 2010 8:00 PM Wilkes Barre, PA Kirby Center For the Performing Arts
Sat. Apr. 10, 2010 8:00 PM Albany, NY Palace Theater
Sun. Apr. 11, 2010 7:30 PM Washington, DC Warner Theater
Tue. Apr. 13, 2010 7:30 PM Toronto, ON Massey Hall
Thu. Apr. 15, 2010 7:30 PM Buffalo, NY Sheas Performing Center
Fri. Apr. 16, 2010 8:00 PM Columbus, OH Palace Theater
Sat. Apr. 17, 2010 8:00 PM Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
Sun. Apr. 18, 2010 7:30 PM St. Louis, MO Fox Theatre
Tue. Apr. 20, 2010 7:30 PM Grand Rapids, MI Devos Performance Hall
Wed. Apr. 21, 2010 7:30 PM Detroit, MI Detroit Opera House
Thu. Apr. 22, 2010 7:30 PM Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater
Fri. Apr. 23, 2010 8:00 PM Des Moines, IA Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
Sat. Apr. 24, 2010 8:00 PM Minneapolis, MN State Theater
Sun. Apr. 25, 2010 7:30 PM Kansas City, MO Kansas City Music Hall
Tue. Apr. 27, 2010 7:30 PM Oklahoma City, OK Civic Center Music Hall
Wed. Apr. 28, 2010 7:30 PM Amarillo, TX Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum
Fri. Apr. 30, 2010 8:00 PM San Antonio, TX San Antonio Municipal Auditorium

Sat. May. 01, 2010 8:00 PM Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater
Sun. May. 02, 2010 7:30 PM Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie


Quick reminder of Jim Peterik and World Stage THIS weekend. 10th Anniversary gig


Jim Peterik is a guy that I have a great deal of time for, as he is the man behind some truly excellent songs that he's written himself or co-written with others.
If you're still thinking I know the name but ..., where is he from again?!
He was alongside Frankie Sullivan in Survivor, the other main man there, responsible for writing and producing a lot of material there.
Jim Peterik has gone on since leaving Survivor to a band called World Stage, which is more of a project than a band as not a great deal happens with World Stage, although there has been 2 CD releases from them.
With the World Stage project Jim Peterik seems to call in a lot of favours from friends in the industry including members of Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, 38 Special, Loverboy, Triumph, as well as Jimi Jamison the former singer in Survivor and not to mention a number of very talented individuals with great talents / voices that also appear live with him when he finally puts a show on here or there.

Well this weekend he is playing a show which is the celebration of 10 years of him starting World Stage and no surprise it's a star studded cast of players and I'm certain they'll be a few others that come along for the
occasion too!
If you are in the Chicago area this weekend, then I urge you to check this out.
Here's the details:

Jim Peterik and World Stage

Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, 8 p.m.

The players will include:
Jim Peterik and Ides of March
Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger
Jimi Jamison (Ex-Survivor)
Jazz guitarist/vocalist Nick Colionne
Mike Reno of Loverboy
Singer/songwriter Cathy Richardson
Joel Hoekstra of Night Ranger
Toby Hitchcock (Pride of Lions)
Lisa McClowry
Marzette Griffith
Anthony Gomes
Colin Peterik

The venue is:
McAninch Arts Center at the Collage of Dupage fawell and Park BL.
More on that NAMM Damn Yankees reunion ...


Just noticed on the Night Ranger website - http://www.nightranger.com/ - a posting about the Damn Yankees reunion and gives a link to both the tracks they played, "High Enough" and "Comin' Of Age."

Jack (Blades) a part of Damn Yankees reunion for ONE NIGHT at The NAMM Show!

The DAMN YANKEES reunited this past weekend at NAMM, the North American Music Merchants Convention in Anaheim. This marks the first time Ted Nugent, Tommy Shaw, Jack Blades and Michael Cartellone have performed live since 2002.

Right after Night Ranger finished up their set at the Taylor booth at NAMM, Ted Nugent, Tommy Shaw, and Michael Cartellone all joined Jack Blades on stage to play "Coming of Age" and "High Enough" as well as Ted Nugent's classic, "Cat Scratch Fever."

Deep Purple add more shows to world tour

(Deep Purple current line up)
Yes, it seems as the New Year events are all behind us now, many bands are starting to announce their tour dates for the year ahead in 2010 and Deep Purple are doing just the same!
Sadly though, no dates in sight yet for the USA.

Over at www.deeppurple.com/ these are the latest additional dates they've added:

SHOWS JUST ADDED!

4.27.10 Brisbane, Australia
4.28.10 Sydney, Australia
4.29.10 Newcastle, Australia
5.1.10 Canberra, Australia
5.2.10 Melbourne, Australia
5.3.10 Adelaide, Australia
5.5.10 Perth, Australia

5.10.10 Hong Kong, China

5.12.10 Singapore
For full details of all dates for the band and links to specific venues, go here:

Rock News for Wednesday 20th January, 2010

Eagle Brings The Best Of Irish Blues-Rock

GARY MOORE: DEFINITIVE MONTREUX

~2DVD/CD Set Released February 23, 2010~

New York, NY (January 19, 2010)—Eagle Rock is the hub for capturing spectacular sets at the Montreux Jazz Festival and bringing them to the home entertainment market. On February 23, they will deliver another helping of Gary Moore when the Definitive Montreux 2DVD/CD set hits stores.

Not long after the release of 'Essential Montreux,' the 5CD set released in July 2009, Eagle is ensuring that Gary Moore fans get the ultimate live Montreux experience. Jam-packing four hours of music into this pristine package, this 2DVD/CD set extracts highlights from 5 concerts, ranging from 1990 to 2001. Prominently displaying his unmatched guitar style, mastery in both rock and blues, and his straight-from-the-soul stage prowess, Definitive Montreux features classic hits such as “Parisienne Walkways,” “Still Got The Blues,” “Out In The Fields,” and “The Stumble.”

Arguably one of the best rock and blues guitarists to come out of Ireland, Gary Moore, mentored by Peter Green, studied the likes of John Mayall, Jimi Hendrix, and Elvis to develop his versatile sound. He did time with Colosseum II, Skid Row, and the legendary Thin Lizzy before establishing his successful solo career in the 80s with his wailin’ brand of rockin’ blues. He eventually developed a solid relationship with the celebrated jazz festival. As evidenced by Definitive Montreux, Gary Moore and Montreux are truly a perfect pair, and the Swiss festival is the perfect stage to showcase Moore’s unparalleled talent.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audiovisual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Germany, France & Toronto.

Track Listing:

Disc #1:
1990:
1.) Midnight Blues
2.) Texas Strut
3.) Moving On
4.) Cold Cold Feeling
5.) Stop Messing Around
6.) The Blues Is Alright
7.) The Messiah Will Come Again

1995:
1.) If You Be My Baby
2.) Long Grey Mare
3.) Merry-Go-Round
4.) The Stumble
5.) You Don’t Love Me
6.) Key To Love
7.) All Your Love
8.) Still Got The Blues
9.) Since I Met You Baby
10.) The Sky Is Crying
11.) Jumping At Shadows

Disc #2
1997:
1.) One Fine Day
2.) Cold Wind Blows
3.) I’ve Found My Love In You
4.) Always There For You
5.) Business As Usual
6.) Out In The Fields

1999:
1.) Pretty Woman
2.) Need Your Love So Bad
3.) Tore Down
4.) I Loved Another Woman
5.) Too Tired
6.) Further On Up The Road
7.) Parisienne Walkways

2001:
1.) You Upset Me Baby
2.) Cold Black Night
3.) Stormy Monday
4.) Walking By Myself
5.) How Many Lies
6.) Fire
7.) Enough Of The Blues
8.) The Prophet

CD Track Listing:
1.) Midnight Blues
2.) Moving On
3.) All Your Love
4.) Still Got The Blues
5.) Out In The Fields
6.) Over The Hills And Far Away
7.) Oh Pretty Woman
8.) Too Tired
9.) Parisienne Walkways
10.) Stormy Monday
11.) Walking By Myself


BLACK COUNTRY - official press release


Jason Bonham, Glenn Hughes, Derek Sherinian, and Joe Bonamassa Form New Super Group BLACK COUNTRY

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- A new super group has been formed with Jason Bonham, Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Sherinian. They are calling themselves Black Country, taking their name from the industrial area in England from which Bonham and Hughes both hail. The band is currently in the studio with producer Kevin Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin) cutting tracks for an upcoming album to be released in late 2010 or early 2011.

With Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner, UFO) on drums, Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper) on keyboards, Hughes (Deep Purple, Hughes / Thrall, Gary Moore, Trapeze) on bass and vocals and Bonamassa on guitar and vocals, the band already has six tracks cut. The next recording session will take place in March and the band hopes to finish recording in early April. Shirley made the announcement on his website: "So there it is folks - the cat is out the bag! This is Black Country. The songs are all original and what a lineup. They are all the very best players in the world, for my money!"

Shirley added, "Jason Bonham is a totally unique drummer and a supreme, yet oh-so-tasty powerhouse. Derek Sherinian is super versatile, and is playing mostly overdriven Hammond organ in this ensemble and is the color on the palette. Glenn Hughes plays bass and sings with a range very, very few can even get close to, and Joe Bonamassa, perhaps the best Blues Rock guitarist around, plays hard riffing guitar as well as adding his signature vocals alongside Glenn. You'll just have to wait - we're planning to get this out late summer, and it's promising to be phenomenal!"

Recently named "The Blues Rock Titan" by Guitar World Magazine, Bonamassa's new solo album, Black Rock, will be arriving March 23, 2010. Produced by Shirley, who has produced Bonamassa's last six solo albums, it will be released on Bonamassa's own J&R Adventures label.

For more information:
http://www.jasonbonham.net/
http://www.glennhughes.com/
http://www.dereksherinian.com/
http://jbonamassa.com/

SOURCE: J&R Adventures

Johnny Winter's guitar stolen in Boston
 
Johnny Winter recently played a gig in Boston and some cruel 'whatever you may call him / her' decided they would steal Johnny's guitar! What the hell eh?
 
This posting through Edgar Winter's MySpace page has put a request out there for someone to somehow, let the guys know if anyone has seen it:
 
"The other night in Boston, some one decided to take Johnny's guitar.
We are asking anyone that lives in that area, to Please be on the look out for it.
Here is a picture of Johnny playing it:

As you can see, Its One of A Kind
Thanks for any Help

Daughtry's rockin' roadshow hits US arenas


Pollstar have posted details on the the mighty juggernaut that is Daughtry, that keeps on rolling that has now scheduled more arenas for the second leg of its “Leave This Town Tour” beginning on the East Coast in March.

Check out the story at Pollstar here:
Full Tour dates listed here:

Check out the updated Daughtry website right here:

UK newspaper quotes Ronnie Wood as going solo!

(Picture from Daily Express)
Rolling Stones guitar slinger Ronnie Wood to go solo?
Well, probably not long term but it seems Ronnie shared with UK newspaper Daily Express that he will go out on the road with his own solo band.
After all the bad press he has received regarding fighting with his other half, it's good to hear something positive.
Read the full story here:

New Sunstorm album "House of Dreams" official release information and audio samples available



Frontiers Records is proud to announce the release for the second SUNSTORM album, House of Dreams. This AOR masterpiece, featuring former Rainbow, (Yngwie) Malmsteen and Deep Purple vocalist Joe Lynn Turner, will be out in Europe on April 17, 2009.

The first SUNSTORM album saw the light of day in 2006 when Turner accepted Frontiers President Serafino Perugino's concept to blow the dust off from some potential AOR hit songs that Joe wrote for the aborted follow up to his 1985 solo debut Rescue You. It turned out to be one of the most successful, straight-ahead Melodic Rock releases of 2006. Jim Peterik (ex Survivor, Pride of Lions) supplied additional tracks and the album was rounded off with some other AOR classics picked by Joe and Serafino.

The stunning production, courtesy of PINK CREAM 69's studio wizard Dennis Ward, was hailed as one of the highlights and key factors to the album's success. When the second release was being planned, it was a natural choice to ask Ward to be a part of the project again. This time, he played bass and sung background vocals. He also enlisted Uwe Reitenauer and Thorsten Koehne on guitars, Chris Schmidt on drums and Gunter Werno on keyboards.

Once again, Turner dug deep into the archives and found some classy Melodic Rock gems to resurrect. One of the highlights that might sound familiar to fans is I Found Love, a song that Turner often used to open up his concerts on the Rescue You tour. There's also Forever Now and Save a Place in Your Heart, where another AOR cult-hero Paul Sabu appears among the writing credits.

Serafino also asked Joe to finally release "his" version of the amazing ballad Walk On, that Turner co-wrote with Desmond Child (KISS; BON JOVI etc) for the Jimmy Barnes album Freight Train Heart in 1987. Additionally, Jim Peterik was called in to offer his talents to SUNSTORM once again. The results include Tears on the Pages--- a tune co-written by Jon Lind and Russ Ballard. Peterik also contributed, Say You Will and Gutters of Gold. Brothers Tom and James Martin (HOUSE OF LORDS, KHYMERA) wrote the remaining tracks and were able to capture the spirit and quality of songs expected on the SUNSTORM project.

Turner, who recently returned from a tour of Russia with Over The Rainbow, was excited to come home and find out that House of Dreams was coming out in April. He says, “Once again, Serafino and the staff at Frontiers have proved that they know how to cater to Melodic Rock fans. I am glad that they believed in the Sunstorm concept enough to get behind the release of a second album. There are plenty of people all over the world that love this genre of music and I still enjoy making it. It's also invigorating and rewarding to be able to sing some of these songs that I co-wrote or performed in the 80s that never had a chance to be released properly. Jim Peterik came through again with incredible tracks---well structured with compelling lyrics and melody changes. The Martin brothers also brought in some songs that will probably translate great, live, and that the fans will really enjoy.”

SUNSTORM's House of Dreams is a real “must have” for all JLT lovers and a stunning release for all Melodic Rock fans.

Final tracklisting includes: Divided, Don't Give Up, The Spirit Inside, I Found Love, Say You Will, Gutters of Gold, Save a Place in Your Heart, Forever Now, Tears on the Pages, House of Dreams, Walk On.
Soundbytes from the forthcoming release can be heard here:

The album will be released on May 19th in the USA via Frontiers/Super D and in Japan on King Records.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Rock News for Tuesday 19th January, 2010

Joe Perry still looking at other alternatives to Steven Tyler?

If what Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry had to say to The Toronto Sun paper recently is to be believed, it seems he is certainly still far from happy with the Steven Tyler situation and that he and the other guys in the band ARE going to go out on the road without Tyler and it will still be as Areosmith. Read the details here:


Perry will play Toronto with the Joe Perry Project on February 4th, opening for Motley Crüe.


Also posted via UK rock magazine Classic Rock is that they will not replace Tyler with an unknown singer. Read more on that here:

Nazareth announce numerous UK and European tour dates


Yes, Nazareth the band that still features Dan McCafferty on Lead Vocals and Pete Agnew - Bass Guitar, along with Jimmy Murrison - Lead Guitar and Steve Agnew on Drums have announced a number of additional European dates to the already announced UK tour dates to keep old die hard fans happy.

Late last year, retro label Salvo reissued their "Exercises," "Razamanaz" and released a new Nazareth Anthology: http://www.unionsquaremusic.co.uk/salvo/search/index.php

Right now the band show dates starting at the end of January 2010 in the UK, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and they run right through October 2010 in Norway.

For more details check their tour date page here:

To keep tabs on all things Nazareth, stay tuned to:

Tom Scholz updates Boston Home Page with news on new studio album and more ...

Boston still alive and well in 2010 …,” states Boston mainman Tom Scholz at the band's website.

He adds “Work on a new studio album is progressing at an agonizingly slow rate – like that would be news – but it is progressing. While I wouldn’t want to give away too much about the album, it will contain both the very recognizable Boston sound plus some surprises that I think everyone will appreciate – as long as you like big band, swing and rap! – just kidding!”

To read more from Tom Scholz, check out the Boston site here:

Monday, January 18, 2010

Rock News Update for Monday 18th January, 2010

Classic Rockers Uriah Heep announce first US dates since 2002


Great news for US rock fans of British classic rockers Uriah Heep, as the first set of US tour dates are announced.
They've also shared more information which I've added below too.
This announcement came through the bands site - www.uriah-heep.com/ -and their latest newsletter:

Dear Heepsters,


This edition of Eheep is a very special one: YES !! URIAH HEEP GOES TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

Confirmed dates for the 1st North American Uriah Heep tour since 2002 are now listed on the Live Dates section.

Uriah Heep will be promoting both the Wake the Sleeper (2008) and Celebration releases (marking the band's 40th anniversary).

The band very much looks forward to meeting its USA fans again”.!
Stay tuned for additional gigs and dates !

The confirmed dates so far:

18.06.10 Chattanooga TN Riverbend Festival - Bud Light Stage USA
22.06.10 New York NY B.B. King Blues Club USA
24.06.10 St. Charles MO Ameristar Casino St. Charles USA
25.06.10 Kansas City MO Ameristar Casino & Hotel Kansas City USA
02.07.10 Algona IA Freedom Park USA

Keep checking the website for this official bootleg with songs performed live during the Sweden Rock festival 2009. It will be released through Edel by February 11th.


There's also two dates for The Netherlands confirmed this week too:

April 12 Heerlen
April 13 Zoetermeer

Mick Box continues his column for the UK's Classic Rock magazine too!
Mick's Column No 16 !!!
http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/appy-days-the-mick-box-column-no-16/

On January 28 it's 25 years ago David Byron passed away. Please visit
http://www.david-byron.com/ and leave your thoughts in the guestbook.

Heep on Basel ( Switserland ) TV. Check it out :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k3i-UTtKu8&feature=player_embedded

Till the next eheep...

The http://www.uriah-heep.com/ webmasters.
 
UK rockers FM looking for a little added support!
 
UK AOR band FM have just put out a slight request for a little additional support.
This posted through their MySpace:
 
FM Needs You!!!


Those wonderful people at Get Ready To Rock! in their wisdom have included FM in their list of nominees for their 'Ten for 10' promotion – 10 bands they feel deserve wider attention in 2010. The 25 bands on the shortlist will be reduced to 10 by a combination of panel and public vote. The lucky 10 artists will then rec...eive extra support from Get Ready To Rock! throughout the year in the form of regular news updates, features, reviews and exposure via their radio channel.

Here's where you come in.... Please show Get Ready To Rock! how much you love FM by clicking the button next to the band name. Voting closes Sunday 31st January. No subscription or registration required, just a few seconds of your time to click for FM. Oh, and a few extra seconds to tell all your pals to vote for us too!
Thanks everyone, much appreciated!

Get Ready to ROCK! Ten for 10 - vote for your favourite band in 2010 ... FM!!!!
http://www.getreadytorock.com/ten_for_10.htm


Right now it's pretty quiet, obviously yesterday I had nothing new to post and today has so far started quietly, but anything else comes up, I will update the site!