Rock News for Saturday 16th October, 2010

Asia Live at High Voltage Festival 2010 CD

Asia's debut album exploded onto the music scene in March 1982 with several Top 10 singles and sales exceeding 7 million copies. This "supergroup", featuring bassist/vocalist John Wetton, drummer Carl Palmer, keyboardist Geoff Downes, and guitarist Steve Howe, was the logical successor to their collective bands of the 70s - Yes, ELP, King Crimson, and The Buggles.

The High Voltage team are extremely excited to have produced an exclusive live CD of this fantastic band’s performance on the 24th of July at the 2010 High Voltage Festival.

The CD was available to collect straight after the band had finished their set on the Prog Stage - but if you were not able to attend the festival we can provide you with the next best thing! We currently have a limited amount of these live collectors items available for you to order for home delivery!

Concert Live enable fans all over the world to relive the experience with instant recordings of live gigs available within minutes of the last note being played. Asia’s appearance at the High Voltage Festival 2010 is available here: www.concertlive.co.uk/product.php?id=94

The album set list is:

CD 1

1.Only Time Will Tell

2.Wildest Dreams

3.One Step Closer

4.An Extraordinary Life

5.Time Again

6.Cutting It Fine

CD 2

1.Without You

2.I Believe

3.Here Comes the Feeling

4.Sole Survivor

5.Heat of the Moment

Official website of the band: http://originalasia.com/

WHOCARES Supergroup Project Joined By More Big Names

(Source: Blabbermouth.com)

Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted and Mikko "Linde" Lindström, the guitarist for the Finnish "love metal" band HIM, have added their parts to the track "Out Of My Mind" from the all-star charity project WHOCARES — featuring BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi and DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan alongside keyboardist Jon Lord (DEEP PURPLE, WHITESNAKE) and drummer Nicko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN).

In 1989 Iommi and Gillan were just a few names in a long list of talent involved in the recording of the DEEP PURPLE track "Smoke on The Water". This song was re-recorded to raise money for those affected by the Leninakan earthquake that struck Armenia in 1988.

In October of last year, Tony and Ian traveled to Armenia to see how the funds raised had helped the local community. On their trip they visited a music school only to find it being run out of temporary accommodation, with its only location not having been rebuilt 20 years after the earthquake had struck. While in the country, they were also awarded the Orders Of Honor — which were delivered to them by Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan — for the Armenia Grateful To Rock program. The objective of the program, was to express gratitude to those musicians who 20 years ago participated in the Rock Aid Armenia.

Earlier this month, Tony and Ian headed back into the studio, joined by Lord and McBrain to record "Out Of My Mind" to raise money to rebuild the Armenian music school. The details of the song's release will be made available soon.

Read More:

www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=147738

 

SRO Entertainment Announces the DVD Release of Pictures of Status Quo on DVD November 16

New York, NY, October 16, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Pictures of Status Quo: 40 Years of Hits

SRO Entertainment announces the DVD release of Pictures of Status Quo. The DVD will be available on November 16, 2010.

They have been playing together for over 40 years, they are considered the hardest working band in the UK. This is the definitive history of Status Quo; a no-holds-barred look at the band from the members' perspective that goes from their origins in the early 60’s to the present day.

The producer was given unprecedented access to the band on tour, in rehearsals and at their own homes, with intimate personal portraits of past and present members. The program follows Status Quo on their ‘Pictures’ tour, while the irrepressible Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi provide fascinating insights about the band. They talk of the highs and lows, their triumphs and scandals; and how they came to write some of the most iconic rock songs of the 20th century.

The producers unearthed some of their most classic performances and rare footage, as well as filmed them performing at some of the biggest venues in the UK. This isn’t just another story of sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll (even though there is a lot of that). This is the story of a band who, started as rebels and ended up as an institution; this is a story of two friends who really did ‘Rock all Over the World’; this is the story of the mighty Status Quo.

For more details on ordering this release, go to: www.kultur.com/Pictures-of-Status-Quo-p/d4678.htm

Band website: www.statusquo.co.uk/

Rik Emmett live on the radio!

Rik Emmett will be a special guest on Sound + Vision Radio, Saturday Oct 23rd from 12pm – 2pm Eastern time. S+V Radio is a weekly 2-hour program, syndicated nationally in the U.S.

Listen Live at http://www.radioamerica.org/ (click on “Listen Live,” bottom right-hand corner) or tune in to any of the following stations which also carry the syndicated program:

Amarillo, TX :: KQTY AM 1490

Amarillo, TX :: KXIT FM 87.7

Asheville-Greenville-Johnson City, NC :: WPEK AM 880

Atlanta, GA :: WYXC AM 1270

Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX :: KOLE AM 1340

Boston, MA :: WNSH AM 1570

Brownwood-Brady-Coleman, TX :: KXYL FM 96.9

Chicago, IL-South Bend, IN – Kalamazoo, MI :: WHFB AM 1060

Cleveland, OH :: WWOW AM 1360

Clovis-Lubbock, NM-TX :: KWKA AM 680

Florence-Decatur, AL :: WBCF AM 1240

Gainesville-Ocala, FL :: WOCA AM 1370

Grand Rapids-Battle Creek-Lansing, MI :: WBCH AM 1220

Grand Rapids-Saginaw-Lansing, MI :: WMMI AM 830

Houston-Galveston, TX :: KGOW AM 1560

Jackson, MS :: WJNT AM 1180

Jackson, TN :: WNWS FM 101.5

Jacksonville-Savannah, FL-GA :: WCGA AM 1100

Jackson-Winona, MS :: WKOZ AM 1340

Jonesboro-Poplar Bluff, MO :: KWOC AM 930

Joplin, MO :: KQYX AM 1450

Lafayette, LA :: KEUN AM 1490

Madison, WI :: WTDY AM 1670

Memphis-Jonesboro, TN-AR :: KLCN AM 910

Monroeville-Evergreen-Brewton, AL :: WEBJ AM 1240

Murfreesboro-Lynchburg-Nashville, TN :: WZNG AM 1400

Odessa-Midland, TX :: KCRS AM 550

Orlando, FL :: WAMT AM 1190

Palm Springs, CA :: KGAM AM 1450

Pensacola, FL :: WEBY AM 1330

Peoria-Springfield-Bloomington-Champaign, IL :: WHOW AM 1520

Phoenix, AZ, Lake Havasu City-Bullhead City-CA :: KNTR AM 980

Portland-Salem, OR :: KUIK AM 1360

Seattle-Tacoma, WA :: KGTK AM 920

Seattle-Tacoma, WA :: KITZ AM 1400

Shreveport-Texarkana, LA-TX :: KTFS AM 940

Somerset-Richmond, KY :: WSFC AM 1240

South Bend-Fort Wayne, IN :: WTRC AM 1340

St. Louis, MO :: WJBM AM 1480

Tri-Cities (Richland-Kennewick-Pasco), WA :: KZXR AM 1310

Tulsa, OK :: KZLI AM 1570

Tupelo, MS :: WAMY AM 1580

Wilmington, NC :: WLTT FM 106.3

Wilmington, NC :: WWTB FM 103.9

Winchester-Hagerstown-Cumberland, WV :: WRNR AM 740

Yakima-White Swan-Wenatchee, WA :: KXLE AM 1240

Rik Emmett's website: www.rikemmett.com/

Axel Rudi Pell 'The Crest' Deluxe Edition to be released (Europe Only)

This update from talented guitarist Axel Rudi Pell's website, regarding his latest release, 'The Crest.'

'During our last shows I extended the guitar solo of the epic track “Dreaming Dead” and it was very well received by the audience. So as the idea came up from SPV, to release some kind of a “Special Edition” of “The Crest”, I entered the studio in September to record the “extended guitar solo” for “Dreaming Dead”. I think this new longer version makes this song, which is one of my favorites, even more epic and I really think that you´ll be more than satisfied too.

Also a lot of people kept on asking for another Live album, so we decided to give this bonus on Disk 2 to you in form of the audio files from our last DVD “One Night Live”, which was recorded at the “Rock OF Ages” Festival in July 2009.'

This new release will be a Digipack with a larger 24 page booklet and includes new photos too. It will be released by SPV on NOVEMBER 19th in Germany and NOVEMBER 22nd in Europe.

Official site: www.axel-rudi-pell.de/

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to release Damn The Torpedoes - Expanded and Remastered Deluxe Edition Coming November 9

On November 9 in North America and November 15 in the rest of the world an expanded and remastered Deluxe Edition of Damn The Torpedoes will be released! The deluxe edition features previously unreleased tracks from the Damn The Torpedoes sessions and will be available with a choice of four formats (1) on two-CDs, (2) on one audiophile quality Blu-ray disc, (3) on 2 180-gram vinyl LPs and (4) as an iTunes LP.

All formats of the Deluxe Edition will come with nine additional bonus tracks not included on the original album. Seven of these tracks are previously unreleased including two studio tracks from the original Damn The Torpedoes sessions: “Nowhere” and “Surrender.”

The never-before-heard “Nowhere” was thought to have been lost in 1979 when the tape boxes were being moved daily to avoid the possibility that court bailiffs would claim them as part of Tom Petty’s assets in the lawsuit at the time. The original 1979 recording of “Surrender” is also included on the bonus disc. “Surrender” was a mainstay of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ concert setlists for many years although this original studio version recorded for Damn The Torpedoes, which includes Stan Lynch on drums, never saw the light of day until now.

Also included on the bonus disc is the original demo for the B-side “Casa Dega” and an alternate take of “Refugee” as well as a trio of live performances at London’s Hammersmith Odeon (March 6, 1980), including “Don’t Do Me Like That.”

Digitally remastered from the original analog master tapes, all formats of Damn The Torpedoes – Deluxe Edition also feature liner notes by noted rock journalist/author David Fricke, rare photos, and lyrics to each track.

The vinyl and Blu-ray versions of the Deluxe Edition also include a free download of the entire album in one of three high quality digital formats.

Here is the Damn The Torpedoes Deluxe Edition bonus disc tracklist:

1. Nowhere (previously unreleased)

2. Surrender (previously unreleased)

3. Casa Dega/B-side

4. It’s Rainin’ Again/B-side

5. Shadow Of A Doubt (A Complex Kid)/Live - Hammersmith Odeon 1980 (previously unreleased)

6. Don’t Do Me Like That/Live - Hammersmith Odeon 1980 (previously unreleased)

7. Somethin’ Else/Live - Hammersmith Odeon 1980 (previously unreleased)

8. Casa Dega (Demo, previously unreleased)

9. Refugee (Alternate Take, previously unreleased)

For more information on this and all things Tom Petty related go to: www.tompetty.com/

Rock News for Friday 15th October, 2010

NIJI ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC. LAUNCHES OFFICIAL DIO WEB STORE!

2010 will go down as the year that we lost one of hard rock/heavy metal's all-time great vocalists, Ronnie James Dio (after a valiant battle with cancer). Throughout a career that saw Ronnie pen or co-pen classics with such legendary acts as Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and with his solo group, Dio, there are simply not enough words to describe the singer's contribution to rock music worldwide.

Niji Entertainment Group Inc. has announced the opening of http://www.officialronniejamesdiowebstore.com/ Dio fans around the world will now be able to purchase official tour shirts, jackets, hats, CD's, DVD's, blu-rays, vinyl and box sets from Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Dio on the web store. There will be many cool new Dio items recently designed that will be MUST HAVES for your collections! The web store also offers all the official Heaven & Hell items including shirts, CD's, DVD's and vinyl.

Dean Schachtel, General Manager for Niji Entertainment Group, commented 'Fans were having a hard time finding product in stores. They can now have a one stop shop at our web store and purchase their favorite Dio collectables and memorabilia at fair prices.' The web store also offers worldwide shipping which is certain to please Dio's large and loyal fan base. Selected official Dio t-shirts will be available for purchase as well. This week features an official 1985 Sacred Heart t-shirt. Each week thereafter, a different one will be available, eventually including classic tour t-shirts.

To celebrate the life of the man that has become synonymous with metal, the double disc set, 'Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987' will be released on November 9th, 2010. This item is available for pre-order for only $15.98, and as an added bonus until November 5th, 2010, includes an original stick on backstage pass. The first disc was recorded at the first-ever UK performance by Dio's solo group, while on tour supporting their classic debut, 'Holy Diver.' And the set-list does a superb job reflecting Dio's debut (featuring such classics as "Rainbow in the Dark," "Stand Up And Shout," etc.), as well as classics from both Rainbow and Black Sabbath ("Man on the Silver Mountain," "Heaven and Hell," etc.) - resulting in a thorough retrospective of Dio's career, from Rainbow to Black Sabbath to solo hits. The second disc of 'Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987' features guitarist Craig Goldy's debut - recorded in 1987, in support of the 'Dream Evil' album, and contains highlights from Dio's career. 'Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987' will be the very first release from the Niji Entertainment Group (which was formed by Ronnie James Dio and his wife/manager, Wendy Dio, in early 2010). The set will be released as a deluxe digipak including a booklet filled with rare photographs and liner notes, and original replica all access laminates from both shows. Ronnie was the executive producer on the Donington project, and was very much looking forward to the release.

One of the brand new exclusive collectable pieces available on the Dio web store is an autographed limited edition baseball, presented in a display case (only two thousand were produced). Each piece is numbered, and features Ronnie's DIO logo and autograph. It was well-known to many Dio fans that Ronnie loved baseball, and it was his dream to play in the major leagues. He was once quoted saying he would trade in his rockstar career for one playing with the Yankees!

The Niji Entertainment Group is a full service record label, and will be releasing rare and unreleased recordings from Dio and other artists. November 23rd will see two additional releases from the Niji Entertainment Group - a deluxe limited edition picture disc of Dio's classic solo debut, 'Holy Diver,' and 'Bitten By The Beast' from David "Rock" Feinstein. "Rock" is Ronnie's cousin, and was a member of Elf, and the leader of the legendary NY band The Rods. 'Bitten By The Beast,' features the single "Metal Will Never Die," with lead vocals by Ronnie James Dio. This single will be heavily worked to active rock and metal radio this fall.

Between Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, the Dio social media followers now numbers over one million.

While Ronnie was alive, he always wanted to have his own action figure/statue. And now, this has become a reality - KnuckleBonz has created the Ronnie James Dio rock iconz statue, which will be available in late fall 2010. These statues are only produced in limited edition runs of 3000, which make them highly collectible and sought after from fans. A portion from the sales of the Dio statue will go to the Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, in honor of Ronnie James Dio. Preorders available by visiting http://www.knucklebonz.com/

For more information, please go to:

http://www.officialronniejamesdiowebstore.com/

http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/

www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio

www.myspace.com/dioofficial

STEVE LUKATHER WHERE HE'S AT TODAY

Here's a little update on where Toto and much travelled session guitarist Steve Lukather is at today, with his new album entitled, 'appropriately' - You understand why, in due course! - 'All's Well That Ends Well' released in Europe and due for full blown release in North America in the New Year. The album will get a US digital release in November.

Steve Lukather is having a bad year. “The worst of my life,” the rock guitar legend amplifies. “My personal life is in shambles. I’m getting a divorce from the mother of my youngest child. My mother died. I’m seeing a shrink twice a week and I’m trying to figure out just exactly what my place is supposed to be in this world — which, I might add, is a mess in its own right.” And yet, his new album with the tongue-in-cheek title All’s Well That Ends Well boasts some of the most beautiful and powerful music he’s made in his illustrious career — a career that began at age 17 when he started doing recording sessions in LA, and at 19 went on the road with Boz Scaggs after his landmark Silk Degrees record, then co-founded the group Toto and entered the exclusive inner circle of first-call Los Angeles session musicians.

Since then Lukather has consistently remained on the honor roll of the world’s top guitarists — a peer and pal to the likes of Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmour, Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Larry Carlton and other fabled players. He’s also co-led Toto with fellow founder David Paich through every twist of the band’s platinum lined history while playing on albums by Michael Jackson, Warren Zevon, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Miles Davis, Roger Waters, Cheap Trick and other rock and pop royalty. He recalls a moment from his past wherein Jimmy Page took him aside and shared, “Be proud of being a session, I was one.” He has also written hits for the Tubes, George Benson and others, while maintaining a parallel career of his own that began with 1988’s Lukather.

Six solo albums later, he’s arrived at what he calls “his best work,” with the artful, funny and sometimes harrowing All’s Well That Ends Well. “I know I’ve led an amazing life and have a colorful career,” he understates. “But I’m not resting on my laurels. I push myself to write better songs and smarter chord changes all the time. I practice every day." And you can hear the results on this album. “Sometimes I joke that I’m searching for ‘the LOST note,’ ” he continues, “but in a way, I really am. I want to find that one gorgeous thing that’s going to touch everybody. That’s what making music is all about — communicating on that level.”

All’s Well That Ends Well assays the state of that search and other more personal odysseys. The disc begins with a cloudscape of guitar and keyboard that yields to the fall of rain and a literal “S.O.S” signal, setting up the existential cry “Darkness in My World.” Similar themes of pain, uncertainty and regret reverberate in “Can’t Look Back” and “Don’t Say It’s Over.” “I’m nearly 53, and I need to be honest and write about the things that are most real to me,” Lukather says. “I just can’t bring myself to write songs about parties, cars or girls anymore.” But the aural irony of the album’s nine tunes is that even the songs with the darkest lyrics have a shimmering exterior of gorgeous melodies, lush textures and, of course, this virtuoso’s always zestful, uplifting and melodic solos. “Can’t Look Back” offers a stunning composite of several studio takes – a soaring, acrobatic display of what a world-class guitarist can do with a whammy bar, arching melodies, sweep arpeggios, cool chord changes and imagination — that Lukather himself had to study after the sessions to reproduce live. But as usual most of his lead playing is holistic: just his signature “Luke” model Music Man guitar plugged into a Bogner amplifier with maybe a stompbox or two, all aiming for that “perfect note.” “That’s just who I am,” he says. “No matter what the theme of a song might be, I need to hear something magical. I believe in the power of melody.”

Lukather’s been wired that way since age seven, when he was inspired to play after seeing rock’s finest melodists, the Beatles, on TV. His next major influence was his first teacher, the western swing guitarist Jimmy Wyble, who helped pioneer a genre where bands lived or died by melody. In his late teens Lukather met Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro and his brothers. They took him under wing and introduced him to the session world, and together they shared a love of Steely Dan, and Jeff was the drummer for Steely at that time. That classic studio ensemble group’s subtle complexity still drives Lukather.

Like Steely Dan leaders Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, Lukather has always surrounded himself with superb musicians. His core band for All’s Well That End’s Well was his longtime collaborator and fellow session veteran C.J. Vanston, a highly regarded keyboardist, songwriter and sound manipulator, also co-writer, co-Producer and mixing engineer, joined by keys man Steve Weingart, bassist Carlitos Del Puerta, drummer Eric Valentine and percussionist Lenny Castro. Their stunning performance of the closing instrumental “Tumescent” sounds like an outtake from a great lost Jeff Beck album (like the unreleased one that Lukather produced in 1997).

“In Toto, people accused us of being slick, but all of the early discs were recorded live with all of us playing in the studio,” Lukather regales. “We just happened to play extremely well together. And I made this album the same way, with the band playing live in a room. That’s how you get real dynamics and interplay — which is why so many albums today, that are typically recorded one track at a time, sound so stale.” Lukather’s guests on the album include his son Trevor, who adds crunch guitar to the wrenching “Don’t Say It’s Over,” and his daughter Tina, who sings on “Darkness in My World.” Although Lukather is the disc’s lead vocalist — a role he’s played on and off since the very first Toto record, and some of his backup singers include Def Leppard’s Phil Collen and the Tubes’ Fee Waybill.

Waybill also co-wrote “Flash In the Pan,” a song that signals a shift in the album’s perspective. It’s a cutting, hilarious commentary on the cult of celebrity and its vapid populace. The Hendrix influenced “Brody’s” takes that a step further by commentating on the world’s commentators, skewering the skewed views of everyone from Glen Beck to foaming indie bloggers to barstool pundits, while Lukather uncannily mimics slide guitar with his whammy bar and blues-perfect tone. “Well, nobody really wants to hear about my problems for a whole album,” he offers, laughing. “So I thought I’d write about everybody else’s, too. But truly,” he adds, ”the world is so divided today, and we spend so much time obsessed about unimportant things like the size of some actresses’ ass or something stupid someone in Hollywood did instead of solving our problems. I don’t understand why things got so far off the mark.”

Lukather’s own aim is for All’s Well That Ends Well to provide some kind of balance for himself and for others. “I’m not writing songs just to play solos to impress my guitar player friends,” he says. “My days of trying to be the fastest gun in the West — which, at one point, I took to a level of near buffoonery — are in the past. I want the music that I’m making now to connect with people. If they can relate to a lyric or a sound or a melody and it makes them happier for three or four minutes of their day, then I’ve done my job — and that’s a job I’ll be happy doing the rest of my life.”

My thanks to Steve Karas at SKH Music and Provogue for sharing this info.

Keep up with Luke right here: http://www.stevelukather.net/

UK rockers Magnum prepare for 'The Visitation' and 2011 tour

It's been around 16 months since UK Birmingham rockers Magnum released 'Into the Valley of the Moonking' upon us all, which was received with kind of a mixed welcome, but in January 2011, the band will released it's 15th official studio album, 'The Visitation.'

 

 

The band had a good if relatively quiet year on the touring front in 2010, but were received well at the UK High Voltage festival in London's Victoria Park, this past summer.

In March 2011 the band will hit the road again starting in Sweden.

 

Date Venue City Country Tickets

March 2011

9/3/11 Debaser Medis Stockholm Sweden Tickets

10/3/11 Brew House Gothenburg Sweden Tickets

11/3/11 Postbahnhof Berlin Germany Tickets

12/3/11 Hellraiser Leipzig Germany Tickets

13/3/11 Exit Chmelnice Prague Czech Republic Tickets

15/3/11 Ampere Munich Germany Tickets

16/3/11 Hirsch Nurnberg Germany Tickets

18/3/11 Capitol Mannheim Germany Tickets

19/3/11 Kaminwerk Memmingen Germany Tickets

21/3/11 Z7 Pratteln Switzerland Tickets

22/3/11 Jazzhaus Freiberg Germany Tickets

23/3/11 Matrix Bochum Germany Tickets

25/3/11 Colos-Saal Aschaffenburg Germany Tickets

26/3/11 Rock E.V. Winterbach Germany Tickets

27/3/11 Kantine Koln Germany Tickets

29/3/11 Posthalle Wurzburg Germany Tickets

31/3/11 Fabrik Hamburg Germany Tickets

April 2011

1/4/11 Rosengarten Osnabruck Germany Tickets

2/4/11 Music Hall Worpswede Germany Tickets

4/4/11 Garage Saarbrucken Germany Tickets

13/4/11 The Garage Glasgow UK Tickets

14/4/11 Academy 1 Newcastle UK Tickets

16/4/11 Stanley Theatre Liverpool UK Tickets

17/4/11 Assembly Leamington UK Tickets

18/4/11 Academy Oxford UK Tickets

19/4/11 The Waterfront Norwich UK Tickets

20/4/11 The Corporation Sheffield UK Tickets

22/4/11 Picturedrome Holmfirth UK Tickets

23/4/11 Wulfrun Hall Wolverhampton UK Tickets

24/4/11 The Brook Southampton UK Tickets

27/4/11 Rock City Nottingham UK Tickets

28/4/11 Academy 2 Manchester UK Tickets

29/4/11 The Park & Dare Theatre Treorci UK Tickets

30/4/11 Shepherd's Bush Empire London UK Tickets

May 2011

1/5/11 Academy Bristol UK

Official band website: http://www.magnumonline.co.uk/

Duff McKagan joins Guns 'n' Roses onstage in London

It seems that last night, former G 'N' R and Velvet Revolver guitarist Duff McKagen, last night (Thursday), decided to hook up with the current Guns 'n' Roses line up, to join them onstage at London's O2 Arena.

He joined the current band on three songs during their main set, even playing bass on one track (You Could Be Mine) and then for one of the band six encore tracks.

The other 3 songs he played on were 'Nice Boys,' 'Knockin' OIn Heaven's Door' and 'Patience'

Could something be on the cards? Who knows with Axl Rose right?

Anyway, for the whole scoop go to:

www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=147720 

Gunnar and Matthew Nelson present the new album

" Lightning Strikes Twice"

" Lightning Strikes Twice"

to be released in Europe on November 5th 2010

www.frontiers.it/home/

Planet Rock announces Radio Series for Europe's Joey Tempest

Joey Tempest, best known as the lead singer of Sweden’s biggest selling hard rock band Europe, will host his own radio show on Planet Rock. The new hour-long series will transmit on Planet Rock on Sunday evenings from 6pm-7pm from November 7th.

For more info about Joey's radio show: http://bit.ly/a2FA9p

“Rock music has been a major part of my life,” says Joey Tempest. “Whether I am recording, touring or just listening to it. This time I’m heading into a different kind of studio and get to play the music that I love and that has influenced me over the years.”

For the official Joey Tempest / Planet Rock page: www.planetrock.com/joeytempest

Planet Rock broadcasts on digital radio, Sky 0110, Virgin Media 924, Freesat 730, online www.planetrock.com/ and on iPhone.

Rock News for Wednesday 13th October, 2010

Robin Trower's Latest CD - The Playful Heart on the way!

This update posted at Robin Trower's site:

Robin's new CD is ready for distribution! The latest musical adventure from our favorite guitarist and band will be available for pre-order in the Trower Store - http://www.robintrower.com/Store-Tour/ - next week, and ready to ship in late November. (Just in time for Christmas for that special Robin Trower fan you know!) ;-)

This introspective new CD holds some of Robin's most emotional playing ever. Superbly backed in the studio by Davey Pattison, Glenn Letsch and Pete Thompson, and with Livingstone Brown behind the board, this is a quiet masterpiece. We will be putting a couple of tracks up on the website soon, and making an offer you can't refuse on pre-orders. Watch this space!

Above info from official site: www.trowerpower.com/

Entitled 'The Playful Heart' the album tracklisting (TBC) is as follows:

1. Playful Heart, The

2. Don't Look Back

3. Turning, The

4. Dressed In Gold

5. Find Me

6. Song For Those Who Fell

7. Maybe I Can Be a Friend

8. Prince of Shattered Dreams

9. Camille

10. Not Inside - Outside

11. And We Shall Call It Love

CD Universe is already taking pre-orders on the album, a little ahead of the game, with an estimated release date of: Tuesday, December 07, 2010

www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8310359&style=music

ANNOUNCING

CARL DIXON'S NEW ALBUM - 'LUCKY DOG'

 

 

Well, the former Coney Hatch guitarist / frontman and sometime April Wine and Guess Who player, Carl Dixon certainly tells it like it is!

He certainly is lucky to be alive, after his horrific, life threatening crash in Australia back in 2008, which he fought back from with the support of close family and friends and he is now ready to rock everyone again!

This message posted at his site:  

'It’s finally ready. My new album 'LUCKY DOG' is the best thing I’ve ever done. I hope you’ll try it and see if you don’t agree. Thirteen original songs plus one little known gem by Peter Ham of Badfinger adds up to fourteen tracks of “a love letter to my generation”. That’s Carl Dixon, LUCKY DOG, because that’s what I am.'
Tracklisting:

1. LOST IN TIME

2. MERCY

3. IT'S A WONDER

4. BEYOND THE OPEN DOOR

5. FAITHFUL

6. LONG LOST FRIEND

7. HAND IN HAND

8. STITCHES, SUTURES & STAPLES

9. THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN

10. AN AVERAGE GUY

11. YOU LOOK SO COOL

12. TREACHEROUS EMOTIONS

13. DON'T BUCKLE

14. THE POINT OF THIS LIFE

To pre-order your copy and hear sound bytes go to:

www.carldixon.com/luckydog.html

For more on Carl Dixon, go to: http://www.carldixon.com/ 

Stryper to tour with Ratt and Winger?

Over at Stryper's, Michael Sweet's Twitter site, could he be hinting that a tour featuring Stryper, alongside Ratt and Winger is on the way?

You look for yourself: http://twitter.com/michaelhsweet

Now that could be a cool tour!

Watch this space ....!

Rock News Update for Tuesday 12th October, 2010

Hi folks, huge apologies for the lengthy silence ... This streaming cold thing is a real big bummer!

Anyway, without further ado, here we go!

AC/DC: HIGH-VOLTAGE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

THE ULTIMATE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY

By Phil Sutcliffe

FIRST COMPLETE ‘ILLUSTRATED RETROSPECTIVE’ BOOK ON ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BANDS IN ROCK HISTORY, CELEBRATES 4 DECADES IN WORDS AND PHOTOS

MINNEAPOLIS, October 2010 - Voyageur Press has joined forces with renowned rock journalist Phil Sutcliffe for the brand new book, AC/DC - HIGH-VOLTAGE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: The Ultimate Illustrated History. This lovingly assembled tome -- the first complete illustrated history published about this legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee -- arrives October 15th, 2010 to celebrate four decades of simply ass-kicking rock n' roll, perfectly mixing expertly researched text and many never-before-seen photos. This heavy duty 224-page volume follows AC/DC’s long-and-winding career, from the early days as a bar band in Australia, through the tragic passing of singer Bon Scott and of course, their massive comeback success with one of rock's all-time classic (and best-selling) albums, Back in Black.

AC/DC is currently comprised of Brian Johnson (vocals), Angus Young (lead guitar), Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Cliff Williams (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums). Formed in Australia during the early 1970s, the group -- then lead by hard-living frontman Bon Scott -- became a regional sensation with a brand of tough, bluesy hard rock, that soon translated globally, on the strength of such classics as “T.N.T.,” “Dirty Deeds,” “Whole Lotta Rosie,” “Sin City,” and “Highway to Hell.” But on the eve of becoming a worldwide arena headliner, Scott died in 1980 after a hard night of drinking. Replaced by Johnson, the group issued Back in Black just a few months later, and has been rightfully considered one of rock's all-time great recording and live acts.

Featuring over 400 illustrations (including handbills, posters, backstage passes and vinyl from around the globe, as well as rare candid and performance photography), and a special “spinner” cover image of Angus Young, AC/DC - HIGH-VOLTAGE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: The Ultimate Illustrated History is sure to appeal to both the longtime fan and the newcomer. Sidebars by rock's finest journalists weighing in on various eras of the AC/DC are included throughout the book, as well as an album-by-album analysis, and info on the guitar gear championed by the Young brothers. While many AC/DC fans have heard and experienced the group live on stage numerous times over the years, there has simply never been a book which has chronicled the group's entire history as vividly as AC/DC - HIGH-VOLTAGE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: The Ultimate Illustrated History.

In addition to the AC/DC book, Voyageur Press will be issuing another major rock title this fall, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot’s THE BEATLES VS. THE ROLLING STONES: Sound Opinions on the Great Rock n’ Roll Rivalry. These titles join Voyageur Press’ other most recent “Illustrated History” releases, Dan Durchholz’s and Gary Graff’s NEIL YOUNG: Long May You Run, Jon Bream’s NEIL DIAMOND IS FOREVER: The Illustrated Story of the Man and His Music , Phil Sutcliffe’s QUEEN: The Crown Kings of Rock, and Jim DeRogatis’ THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: An Illustrated History of A Walk on the Wild Side. All are jam-packed with photos, artifacts, and comprehensive histories of each artist.

ABOUT VOYAGEUR PRESS:

Since 1972, Voyageur Press has published high-quality books and calendars in a variety of subjects, including nature and science, regional interest and travel, American heritage and country life, crafts, sports, and more.

ABOUT PHIL SUTCLIFFE:

London-based freelance journalist Phil Sutcliffe has been writing about rock since 1974 and has interviewed greats like Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Radiohead, Nirvana, Nick Cave and Queen. His work has appeared in myriad publications, including Mojo, Q, the Los Angeles Times, Blender, Sounds and more. Phil’s back catalog is mostly available on the world’s best archive of music writing: http://www.rocksbackpages.com/ Phil is also the author of Voyageur Press’ Queen: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock.

For more information on these and other Voyageur titles, go to http://www.voyageurpress.com/

AC/DC: The Ultimate Illustrated History

By Phil Sutcliffe

9.5 x 11.125

224 pages, 150 color photos & 100 b/w photos

$35.00 US · £20.00 UK · $39.00 Canada

ISBN-13/ISBN-10: 978-0-7603-3832-2 / 752748338326

Pub Date: October 15, 2010

Frontiers Records is proud to present

UNRULY CHILD

The New Videoclip

"Very First Time"

Click on the image to enjoy the clip!

Taken from "Worlds Collide"

Out on October 26th 2010 on Frontiers Records

Website: www.frontiers.it/home/

Rush on Guitar Hero - Warriors of Rock

The new Guitar Hero 6: Warriors of Rock, the all-new story-based quest mode pays homage to the cult classic Rush album 2112.

Rush have partnered with 'Guitar Hero' to bring their seven-part suite to the game. For the first time ever, fans will embark on an epic voyage playing as eight Guitar Hero characters that transform into rock warriors who must join together to use their unique, game-changing powers to help the Demi-God of Rock take down “The Beast” and save rock ‘n roll.

“The music, the story and the journey of 2112 lends itself perfectly to the quest in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock,” said Geddy Lee of Rush. “In our story, the caves of 2112 are where our hero finds the lost guitar and this rediscovery of music is much like the Guitar Hero warriors’ journey to find the Demi-God of Rock’s Legendary guitar, which has been trapped in a cavern.”

“I love the idea of Guitar Hero; they have combined two great things – music and fun,” said Alex Lifeson of Rush. “I think it’s a great way to introduce people of all ages to music of various styles by all kinds of different bands, while providing a launching pad for kids who want to get into playing music.”

Within the narrative-driven journey, Rush and Guitar Hero fans alike will traverse an exclusive three-part 2112 Rush-inspired venue, playing their way through the 20 minute, seven-part suite. Additionally, each song transition will feature band members narrating liner notes from the 2112 album.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock will include:

“2112 Pt. 1 – Overture”

“2112 Pt. 2 – The Temples Of Syrinx”

“2112 Pt. 3 – Discovery”

“2112 Pt. 4 – Presentation”

“2112 Pt. 5 – Oracle: The Dream”

“2112 Pt. 6 – Soliloquy”

“2112 Pt. 7 – Grand Finale”

Read more here: www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/183022

Also, more Rush, did you miss Rush on CNN?

RUSH on CNN:

Watch the extended interview with Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart with John Roberts on http://www.cnn.com/ from their show in Atlanta last week:

www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/showbiz/2010/10/02/am.roberts.rush.full.interview.cnn.html

Glyder frontman and Mama's Boy's guitarist to play 'Vibe for Philo'

It's pretty well known at this stage that Glyder made their live debut at the Vibe in 2004.

Metal Hammer said they had "Lizzy's melodic soul .. with .. the punk bite of The Only Ones and the Ruts," while Classic Rock said they had "the same stadium nuances that Thin Lizzy exuded with glorious results." 3 highly acclaimed albums later and successful touring with the likes of Slash and Metallica and the boys are taking a break.

Glyder guitarist / backing vocalist Bat Kinane has decided to release his first solo album "A Lifetime to Kill," so after five years we've finally caught up with Bat long enough to get him back on the Vibe stage. Great? No! It gets better.

Remember the Mamas Boys? Needle in the Groove? The first unsigned band to play Reading? The 'Thunder and Lightning' Tour with Lizzy? Deep Purple? Bon Jovi? etc, etc, etc.

Despite several attempts we could never get the timing right to get the 'Boys at the Vibe before they broke up, but thats about to change.The Mama's Guitar God, Pat McManus is back on the road again, and, well, as the vibe is about things being special and different, it made sense to put them together.

So for one night only Bat Kinane will be fronting Pat McManus' Band with a killer Lizzy Set.

Can it get better? Probably - but that's another announcement.

For further details check out the vibe website:

http://www.vibeforphilo.com/

For more details on Bat Kinane go to: www.myspace.com/batkinane or www.batkinane.com/

You'll find out more on that new solo album, which actually features Pat McManus!

Ozzy Osbourne Announced Second Leg of North America Dates To Kick Off January 16, 2011 in Omaha, NE .

Slash To Open All Dates Of The Second Leg Of The Arena Tour Which Will Include Two Intimate Performances: Los Angeles, CA (Gibson Amphitheatre) and Phoenix Arizona (Dodge Theatre)

Ozzy to Kick Off First Leg of His Headlining North American Tour November 12, with Halford Set To Open.

OZZY OSBOURNE - who will kick off his fall North American arena tour November 12 in Victoria, B.C - has now announced a second leg of U.S. dates which will get underway January 16, 2011 in Omaha, NE. The six-week 2011 trek, part of the multi-platinum Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s in-progress 18-month world tour, will include a pair of intimate shows: January 26 at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix and Feb 1 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. OZZY’s longtime friend and musical collaborator Slash will open all the concerts on the second leg. Tickets for the Live Nation-produced tour go on sale beginning Friday, October 15. For the most up-to-date on sale information, please visit http://www.ozzy.com/ or http://www.livenation.com/.

OSBOURNE recently completed a run of overseas festival appearances and headlining overseas performances including his first-ever concert in Israel: a September 28 OZZFest show at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv.

The Tel Aviv show was described by the http://www.ynet.co.il/ as “one of the most important rock events in Israel, if not THE most important…There is no one that can contest Ozzy Osbourne's charisma and madness. Park Hayarkon was awash with energies and foam at the main performance of the Ozzfest…” Elsewhere http://www.mako.co.il/ noted: “We have waited for years and finally it happened--Ozzfest arrived to the holy land. And as much as the anticipation was high--it shrinks in comparison to the real thing that happened on stage. Ozzy Osbourne lifted Tel Aviv with a crazy show. Osbourne managed to lift people up as only he can do. With simplicity and (relative) modesty, the prince of darkness gave his heart and soul with big love to the Israeli crowd and managed to jump and touch every single one of the tens of thousands of fans present.”

The http://www.mouse.co.il/ added, “The crowd was versatile and colorful, the other bands on the bill were great, but the real star of Ozzfest was, undoubtedly, Ozzy Osbourne. The metal legend last night at Hayarkon Park gave a show worth living for.”

Later this week, OZZY will perform shows in Japan (October 16 in Kobe and October 17 in Tokyo) before returning to the U.S. to headline the Voodoo Experience festival Halloween weekend in New Orleans, LA; he will rock the three-day event at City Park City Saturday, October 30. OZZY will then launch his first leg of solo dates which includes a December 1 show at Madison Square Garden in New York and wraps December 12 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. HALFORD, featuring legendary Judas Priest front man, Rob Halford, will perform on the 2010 dates.

The fall dates will coincide with the October 5 release of an expanded two-CD version of the SCREAM album. This “Tour Edition” package will feature seven bonus songs: a mix of previously unreleased tracks and live recordings. Epic Records has also issued a four-sided vinyl edition that includes five bonus tracks: the three aforementioned songs from the SCREAM sessions and the live version of “Let Me Hear You Scream,” along with the single version of “Life Won't Wait” (the second single from SCREAM).

Ozzy's 2010 dates:

OZZY’s 2010 dates with Special Guest Halford are as follows:

DATE VENUE CITY

October 2010
Sat Oct 30 Voodoo Experience (City Park) New Orleans, LA

November 2010

Fri Nov 12 Save On Foods Memorial Centre Victoria, BC

Sun Nov 14 Rogers Arena Vancouver, BC

Tue Nov 16 Pengrowth Saddledome Calgary, AB

Thu Nov 18 Rexall Place Edmonton, MB

Sat Nov 20 MTS Centre Winnipeg, MB

Tue Nov 23 Bell Centre Montreal, QC

Thu Nov 25 Scotiabank Place Ottawa, ON

Sat Nov 27 Air Canada Centre Toronto, ON

Mon Nov 29 1st Mariner Arena Baltimore, MD

December 2010

Wed Dec 01 Madison Square Garden Arena New York, NY

Fri Dec 03 Izod Center E Rutherford, NJ

Sun Dec 05 Quicken Loans Arena Cleveland, OH

Tue Dec 07 Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI

Fri Dec 10 Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO

Sun Dec 12 Target Center Minneapolis, MN

OZZY’s 2011 dates with Special Guest Slash are as follows :

DATE VENUE CITY

January 2011

Sun Jan 16 Qwest Center Omaha, NE

Tue Jan 18 Toyota Center Houston, TX

Thu Jan 20 American Airlines Center Dallas, TX

Sat Jan 22 Sprint Center Kansas City, MO

Mon Jan 24 AT&T Center San Antonio, TX

Wed Jan 26 Comerica Theatre Phoenix, AZ

Fri Jan 28 Mandalay Bay Resort Las Vegas, NV

February 2011
Tue Feb 01 Gibson Amphitheatre Los Angeles, CA

Thu Feb 03 HP Pavilion San Jose, CA

Sat Feb 05 Tacoma Dome Tacoma, WA

Tue Feb 08 Pepsi Center Denver, CO

Thu Feb 10 BOK Center Tulsa, OK

Sat Feb 12 The Palace of Auburn Hills Detroit, MI

Mon Feb 14 i wireless Center Moline, IL

Wed Feb 16 Bridgestone Arena Nashville, TN

Fri Feb 18 St Pete Times Forum Tampa, FL

Sun Feb 20 BankAtlantic Center Fort Lauderdale, FL

Tue Feb 22 Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena Jacksonville, FL

Official Ozzy site: www.ozzy.com/us/home

Diamond Head to tour playing first album in it's entirity on

'Lightning To The Nations' 30th Anniversary Tour

2010 is the 30th anniversary of Diamond Head's first album, 'Lightning To The Nations (aka The White Album).' At selected dates on Diamond Head's upcoming European tour, the band will be playing the entire album back to back for the first time ever.

The full track listing for the 1980 release is as follows; Lightning To The Nations, The Prince, Sucking My Love, Am I Evil?, Sweet & Innocent, It's Electric, Helpless.

The album was recently featured in Classic Rock's magazines 150 greatest debut albums of all time.

Sadly only original member from that album is lead guitarist Brian Tatler, but by all accounts apparently the current line still rock each and every venue they play!

Current Dates lined up:

November 2010

Nov 7 2010 2:00P - Estragon Bologna, ITALY

Nov 12 2010 8:00P - 8 Ball Club Thessaloniki, Greece, GREECE

Nov 13 2010 8:00P - An Club Athens, GREECE

Nov 18 2010 8:00P - An Cruiscan Lan Cork, IE

Nov 19 2010 8:00P - Fibber Mcgee’s Rock Bar Dublin, IE

Nov 20 2010 8:00P - Spring And Airbrake Belfast, GB

Nov 21 2010 8:00P - The Spirit Store Dundalk, Dundalk, IRELAND

Nov 27 2010 8:00P - Metal Forces Festival Lorrach, DE

December 2010

Dec 2 2010 8:00P - The Asylum, Hockley Birmingham, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM

Dec 3 2010 8:00P - Hard Rock Hell Festival Prestatyn, GB

Dec 4 2010 8:00P - Athletic club Rushden, Midlands, UNITED KINGDOM

Dec 11 2010 8:00P - TRIBUTE Sandnes, Rogaland, NORWAY

Current band line up features:

Brian Tatler - Guitar

Nick Tart - Lead Vocals

Karl Wilcox - Drums

Eddie Moohan - Bass

Andy Abberley - Guitar Official band site: www.diamond-head.net/

Steve Lukather update posted at his site yesterday

 

Lukather's solo record out now!!!

 

 

Today is THE day. Steve Lukather's solo record is out now in Europe and Asia!

The USA and Canada will follow in November.

Lukather: "Check Amazon and all the other outlets for pre order chart positions. I am knocked out. Nice way to start the week!

BIG thanks to Mascot my label for doing such a great job. Check the tickets for the November shows at the ticket info section."

CJ Vanston: "Hey European fans: today Steve Lukather's "Alls Well That Ends Well," which I co-produced and co-wrote much of, is being released! Very proud of this record and thankful for the opportunity to work with Steve, who is one of my heroes." 

Luke's homepage is here: www.stevelukather.net/

Side note - US fans - Sadly I've heard that the physical album will not be available until the New Year, but digital downloads will be available in November.

Scorpions to release Sting in the Tail Premium Edition [CD+DVD]

I guess getting on the back of current trends to reissue an album with bonus features - After all your loyal fans have already - featuring extra tracks and bonus DVD (Although only 3 tracks on the DVD?), The Scorpions are joining in on the game with their 'Sting in the Tail' album.

The "Premium Edition" of the album CD and DVD, will feature the following tracks on the CD: 

1.Raised On Rock

2.Sting In The Tail

3.Slave Me

4.The Good Die Young

5.No Limit

6.Rock Zone

7.Lorelei

8.Turn You On

9.Let's Rock

10.SLY

11.Spirit Of Rock

12.The Best Is Yet To Come

13.Dreamers

14.Too Far

15.Miracle - (Regular Version)

16.The Good Die Young - (New Version)

17.Thunder And Lightning 

The bonus DVD will feature the following 3 tracks:

1.Sting In The Tail - (Live Video San Antonio)

2.The Best Is Yet To Come - (Live Video Prague)

3.Sting In The Tail - Videomessage - EPK

For more details go to: www.the-scorpions.com/english/

If you want to pre-order it now, you can go to Amazon sites around the globe.

US fans, ouch! You'll be looking at paying about $31 for this!

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00421VQYC/scorpions07