Brief Rock News Update for Tuesday 19th October, 2010

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of VEGA's debut album "Kiss of Life" on December 3rd in Europe.

VEGA is a band that formed in may 2009 from the union of former KICK vocalist Nick Workman with the successful and respected song writing partnership of Tom and James Martin (House of Lords, Ted Poley of Danger Danger, Khymera, Sunstorm to name but a few), VEGA is a new band but rest assured they are about to take the Melodic Rock world by storm!

Their debut album “Kiss of Life” has been produced by John Greatwood (engineer for Tom Lord Alge of QUEEN fame) and mastered by the one and only Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69) and features 12 rock songs which mix classic Bon Jovi and Def Leppard, with a pinch of U2 and Journey. "We wear our love of 80’s rock music on our sleeve, but we also have injected our love of modern rock music to it" says Tom Martin. "We aren’t trying to rehash anything: the sound we have achieved is 100% VEGA. We didn’t want to try and guess what people expect and get it wrong. Normally when we write songs we have the control over the lyrics/melodies but this time with Vega we left Nick to this part because we really rate him as a songwriter and he did a fantastic job with this on Kick's albums, so we knew he could make our sound more unique and make it a bit different from the AOR songs we write".

Tom and James met Nick 10 years ago when KICK was supporting Thunder on the first of their farewell tours. In the time that followed, the guys had always wanted to work with Nick, and opportunity came when the two brothers and drummer Dan Chantrey met Nick for a second time at a U.K. rock festival. Conversations about movies and music finally moved on to the all important question….."When are we going to work together?". The answer ended up being the next day, and VEGA was born. The chemistry between the guys was obvious and two brothers became four!

VEGA wrote 25 songs in the coming months and chose the best songs for recording. No expense was spared and a top UK recording studio was booked and in John Greatwood a producer with numerous UK and European top 10 albums and singles was on board! Following recording and mixing in October, Dennis Ward stepped up to the plate to put the final touches to the album, mastering it in his studio in Germany.

Get ready to experience the band live! "We do have a couple of gigs confirmed and others that we are waiting on" says singer Nick Workman. "We will support Danny Vaughn at Dudley JB’s on December 10th, the week the album comes out. As we were going to be rehearsed for that it would be silly not to do another gig, so we booked a date at The Yardbird’s the night before to blow out the cobwebs!! It’s going to be a lot of fun to play these songs live"

You can expect VEGA to be on many people's best of list of 2010 even if the album will be released almost... out of time !

"Kiss of Life" tracklisting includes: Into The Wild; Kiss Of Life; One Of A Kind; Staring At The Sun; Too Young For Wings; A.N. Other; Headlights; Hearts Of Glass; Stay With Me; Wonderland; What It Takes; S.O.S. - Kiss Of Life (videoclip)

The songs “Into The Wild” and “Kiss Of Life” can exclusively be listened in full in streaming on the Frontiers Web radio. Tune in at: www.frontiers.it/webradio

Enjoy the "Kiss of Life" videoclip clicking on the image below

VEGA:

Nick Workman: vocals

Tom Martin: guitars

James Martin: keyboards

Dan Chantrey: drums

Weblinks:

www.myspace.com/vegaofficial

http://www.frontiers.it/

www.myspace.com/frontiersrecords

Chad Smith confirms no touring with Chickenfoot in 2011

The man behind the drumkit in Chickenfoot, for all gigs to date Chad Smith, has confirmed on http://www.musicradar.com/ that he won’t be able to join his Chickenfoot band buddies in 2011 in support of the band’s second album due to other commitments with his main employers, the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

He told the site, 'Things are good, if good means exceedingly crazy and busy, then they're very good.'

He went on to add, 'I just finished some great shows with the 'Foot, I'm making a Chili Peppers record, and now I've got the Meatbats' latest and greatest album ready to come out. I've said this before, but I either need to clone myself or grow another set of arms so I can keep up with all of my bands and projects. I can't believe I'm getting ready to go on a Meatbats tour in a few weeks.'

You can read the full story here:

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/chad-smith-on-new-bombastic-meatbats-red-hot-chili-peppers-chickenfoot-284879

Former Thunder band members pull out of 'The 80's Rocked' tour ... And the others too!

Former Thunder band members who were part of the line up that called themselves, 'The 80's Rocked' that featured Danny Vaughn (Tyketto), Carl Sentance (Persian Risk - Geezer Butler Band - Krokus), Dave Bishop, (Sabbat, Loudman, Whole Lotta Metal), Jon Pease (Vandal - Jealousy), Chris Childs (Thunder - Paul Young), Harry James (Magnum - Thunder - Terraplane), recently issued the following statement:

The 80s Rocked - A Band Announcement

After a great deal of soul searching, I am very sad to announce that the rest of the band and I have decided to pull out of The 80s Rocked Tour. I’m not at liberty to go into the detail as to why, as there could be legal ramifications if I do.

We are told by the organisers that the tour will still go ahead, with another band stepping in to take our place.

We have no more information on this, so if you have questions or queries, I can only suggest you contact management at http://www.the80srocked.co.uk/ or via the Facebook page.

We would like to send our most profound apologies to fans and ticket buyers for any disappointment and inconvenience caused by our non-appearance. This is not a decision we made lightly, we simply felt we had no choice.

Thanks

Issued at: http://www.thunderonline.com/site/

Check out the promo video for the line up here:

Official site for the band: http://the80srocked.co.uk/#

Stan Bush - Dream the Dream album review

Stan Bush – Dream the Dream album review

Released on: Frontiers Records (Europe), LA Records (USA)
Release date: Available now everywhere.

So OK class, who can tell me who Stan Bush is? Someone shouts, 'Wasn’t he the guy with the hit single from the original animated Transformers movie?' Yes, that would be correct, but … Someone else calls out, ‘Don’t you know anything? The song was 'The Touch' and it's a great rock song! Stan Bush has also released 13 albums including his Best of back in 1999. He even won an Emmy Award in 1997 for ‘Best Original Song’ with ‘Til I Was Loved By You’ and he’s done countless tracks for movies and TV shows.’

OK, so that wasn’t / isn’t a true scenario but it most certainly could and probably should be and all this by the way, has been going on since 1983’s release of his first album, ‘Stan Bush.’

This guy seriously writes class melodic rock / AOR, call it what you will in a not dissimilar style to say great guitarist / singer songwriters Jeff Paris and even Michael Bolton (On his day ...), before the latter guy totally wimped out and sold his soul to whatever form of cabaret would pay him best. Sad for M.B. bt not so for Stan Bush who still has much to offer.

Here’s the thing, if you like Stan Bush already or Toto, Journey, Foreigner, Newman, Survivor, Jeff Paris and similar acts, chances are you’ll most likely enjoy this release.

Stan Bush can really write great songs, he sings well even at times here getting up where Bobby Kimball reaches and that speaks volumes!

I have really enjoyed listening to this album and keep going back to it, in between other stuff I’m trying to address reviews on.

So, here’s the breakdown!

Opening track ‘Never Hold Back’ is just sweet up tempo AOR, smoothly crafted melodic hook laden rock, although can’t help thinking ‘that’ little riff in there reminds me of AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck,’ but other than that the song provides a great vocal performance and musical bliss. Nice opener.

Mid paced ‘I’m Still Here’ once more continues the AOR joyride. Steady basic yet punchy chords heavily surrounded by multiple layers of sound, back up Stan’s great vocals. To ignore this release is crazy. I love it!

‘Don’t Give Up On Love’ almost reminds me of Bad English with the intro, then the verse is a chug along steady laid back slow pop rocker before launching into a huge chorus and yes, I will say it, Stan reaches peaks ala Bobby Kimball here at times. Some really nice guitar work here and throughout the album so far.

Now I’m sure artists absolutely hate when I draw comparisons to other acts and I really don’t mean it in any derogatory sense whatsoever. I simply try to give fans of this style of music what kind of vein the style of album is as a guideline. It is the case for me with next track, ‘Two Heart’s.’ Can you imagine Bobby Kimball sharing lead vocals with Stan Bush and fronting Foreigner, with an up tempo pop rocker. It’s just great stuff, it really is and provides an album of classic AOR / Melodic rock to please almost any fan of this style of music.

Stan has gone and produced another great power ballad in the track ‘In My Life,’ that’s written in the same style as the song he wrote, that House of Lords had some minor success with in ‘Love Don’t Lie’ and it’s full of all the same textures. Wonderful!

‘Love Is The Road,’ although starting as more of a mid paced pop rocker, has an excellent if brief little solo break in it and the song is full of ‘Na na na’s' and ‘woah woah woah’s' choruses …, so it’s clearly chart oriented.

With next track, ‘If This Is All There Is,’ the song starts with a little nod to Bryan Adam’s ‘Run To You,’ but it grows from there with a few edgy riffs and some punchy power chords into the chorus and of course huge vocals. Love the little all too short dirty bridge about midway through, before the song comes back the big choruses and then that dirty guitar sound is back towards the end and Holger Fath totally rips things up on guitar as the song plays out, in a similar style to something like Steve Lukather would pull off. Love it!

I’ve seen some reports that although this is a good album, it’s nothing new … Well, I’d say that depends on two things perhaps, a) how much you’ve listened to Stan Bush before and b) how much you like this style of music and don’t want it to go away!

Title track and epic ‘Dream the Dream’ is next and this is immense! Stan, you are the man! This track just builds and simply grows and gets very involved and yes, that includes some really excellent playing again in the solo. Keep this up Stan, sounds good to me.

‘More Than A Miracle’ is steady, punchy little number with the production mix sounding dare I say, even a little Queen like in places and then some. Nice change / bridge mid way through and then back again.

A more modern janglely rock sound starts ‘Your Time’ next and has a very much more up to date radio friendly sound, I guess that could, should get Stan some current radio airplay. It’s another up tempo pop rocker that deserves to be heard for sure.

Back to the more traditional Stan Bush sound in ‘All That I Am’ that’s borderline AOR power ballad meets pop rocker, with some almost Beatles like moments in the bridge. It’s still good by me!

Closing the album, Stan revisits his best known work, in ‘Sam’s Theme (The Touch)’ but it’s oh ..., so different …

Very strange but interesting … Starting very laid back before then crunching riffs kick in for the chorus, but in a very different way to the original. It’s almost dare I say, like Linkin Park …!

It’s been rearranged and sung very differently and at first I didn’t know what to make of it, but you know what Stan has done here isn’t that far away from what Winger did to surprise people with their latest album ‘Karma’ and how they mixed up some great AOR with some more darker edgy stuff. Well Stan has done just that with this track. It’s grown on me and I can’t blame Stan for wanting to do this.

Overall for me, this for me is an album that I have enjoyed and still enjoy popping on in the car, in between trying to listen to and appreciate other things in for review. For me this is something that’s great to hear in the car and would cool to hear live, but what chance on that front – Playing live shows. – is obviously down to the main man, Stan Bush and how well no doubt the album is received.

According to the sleeve notes, Stan sings all the lead and backing vocals and has again left the guitar work to Holger Fath.

Is that right, no guitars for you Stan? Come on Stan, rip it up a little yourself too on the next one! Share the guitar work with Holger next time, it'll be more killer still! Holger Fath by the way also once again provided all the keyboard work here and produced the album for Stan, as he's done before! - These two seem brothers in arms now. The rhythm section is made up of the much traveled Matt Bissonette on bass and the drums handled by Matt Laug.

I really do recommend this album and I think it is great listening!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Official Stan Bush website: http://stanbush.com/

Rock News for Monday 18th October, 2010

Peter Frampton guests on Nights With Alice Cooper for this week

Well, who would've thought it? Yes, sure they are both classic rockers, but both live and on album, follow very different paths, sound wise.

I guess since Peter Frampton came out and jammed with Alice Cooper this past summer at a show in Harris Park, London, Ontario, they must've struck up a new bond! Who knows?!

Anyway, for this week ahead, Peter Frampton has offered to step into the hot seat of, 'Nights with Alice Cooper' only this week they'll be with Peter Frampton!

Here's what Alice has posted on his website as a taster for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday's planned broadcasts.

Monday-10/18/2010

He’s Peter Frampton and he’s your special pre-Halloween surprise guest host this week, while Alice gets ready for Halloween! Tune in for the Grammy-winning guitar great’s maiden voyage! He’ll have tough trivia on Ozzy, a Cooper’s Cover of the Beatles, bizarre facts about meteorites and Popes and a Lockdown Rockdown cover from ZZ Top! Then it’s Chuck Berry for This Day in rock, a rare song from one of Mr. Frampton’s legendary bands and the story behind it, plus a cool Halloween giveaway with Rob Zombie and Coop at http://www.nightswithalicecooper.com/! It’s radio the way YOU want it, only here on the special Frampton-esque Nights with Alice Cooper!

Tuesday-10/19/2010

He’s your surrogate night-freak Peter Frampton, serving up good radio for bad people, just like YOU. This evening Peter’ll play a great Cooper’s Cover of the Ramones, a This Day in Rock honoring the Yardbirds, funny trivia on Judas Priest, AND email requests for Zeppelin and the MC5! Then it’s a Tuesday Bluesday tune from Little Feat, one of Peter’s own Live and Kicking songs and the story behind it, AND the Gruesome Twosome contest at http://www.nightswithalicecooper.com/. It’s a freak-fest of magnificent magnitude, only here later on Nights with Alice Cooper…featuring the guest host with the most, Peter Frampton!

Wednesday-10/20/2010

Alice Cooper is busy preparing for his next week of radio and big Halloween special, so he asked Peter Frampton to stand in… and Peter, competitor that he is, says he plans to outdo Alice! Peter’ll have Lita Ford covering one of Alice’s songs; a This Day in Rock featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd, plus insider Skynyrd stories from Peter himself! Then it’s trivia and tales about the Doors, your requests for Jo Jo Gunne and Dokken, and a chance to win Frampton’s latest, ‘Thank You Mr. Churchill” CD! Then it’s a Songs We Just Don’t Understand from Blue Oyster Cult, and the Zombie/Cooper contest at http://www.nightswithalicecooper.com/ It’s the fantabulous Peter Frampton hosting an extra-special Nights with Alice Cooper!

For more details, go to: http://nightswithalicecooper.com/

Jeff Scott Soto jams with Y&T in London

It seems Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey, Talisman, Soul SirkUS), hooked up with Bay Area rockers Y&T at the California bands London show on Saturday night. He joined the band - as it seems he has before! - to sing perhaps one of the fans favourites tracks, 'Meanstreak.'

Video footage that has been posted on YouTube can be seen here. Sadly audio quality isn't the greatest:

Y&T have just been playing a number of successful dates in the UK on their 'Facemelter' tour, sadly minus original member and bassist, Phil Kennemore who's been undergoing treatment for metastatic cancer.

For more details on Phil and a fund that Y&T have set up to help cover the mans medical costs, go to:

www.meniketti.com/philfund.html

The band will continue the rest of it's European tour, starting in Paris, France on Wednesday 20th October.

For more on their future tour dates go to:

http://www.meniketti.com/tourdates.html

Stan Bush to feature on 'Rock Band Network'

It seems by popular demand, Stan Bush’s timeless hit “The Touch” is now available for the Rock Band Network! If fans demand it, it seems like another Stan song might make its way to RBN as well! The official page for “The Touch” on RBN can be seen right here:

www.rockband.com/songs/UGC_5004281

In other Stan Bush related events, on the back of his very good latest album 'Dream the Dream' - More coverage on that here soon! - he hopes to visit Europe in January, maybe Australia in June and most likely at the annual 'BotCon - Transformers Convention' next summer, which happens June 2nd - 5th, 2011 in Pasadena, California. He also performed there this past summer.

www.botcon.com/BotCon10/con10guests.cfm

Keep up with Stan Bush at: http://stanbush.com/

Klaus Meine posts a message after two Scorpions shows are cancelled

It seems the Scorpions farewell world tour for their latest 'Sting In The Tail' album, has been taking its toll on lead singer Klaus Meine, as the band just had to postpone two shows. One in Athens, Greece and one in Sofia.

Klaus has just posted this message through the Scorpions website:

Dear Fans, thank you so much for all those "get well messages" from around the world ..... We postponed Athens and Sofia until the end of this month .... Now that I'm feeling better, I'm very much looking forward to continuing our "Get Your Sting And Blackout World Tour" this Thursday in Moldavia and singing my heart out in the upcoming shows for all of you .....

See you soon, yours, Klaus Meine

PS.: Thank you Athens & Sofia for understanding & your support ......

For all Scorpions information: www.the-scorpions.com/english/

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 ....!