Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Rock News for Tuesday 1st June, 2010

Wow! is it June already? 6 months into the year, incredible, where does the time go?!
Well, I apologize for some slow service here of late, but on the news front, beside the sad news of people passing away, there's really been so little band / artist news of late there's really been little to plug, except of course for the many new tour dates that keep popping up!
I guess it's kind of good in a sense, because it means that the artists out there that we all love / enjoy, are sticking together to provide us some great summer shows or planning some Autumn / Fall tour dates.
Very good news for us live music lovers! :)
So, enjoy the summer, enjoy the live music that summer brings to us all and beyond that, keep on rockin'!

Live Nation cuts service fees ...

... well, that is for the summer months anyway, but ONLY if you purchase your tickets in June.
Yes, those very kind people - Cough, cough! - at Live Nation are offering from the 1st June (Yes, today!)
Here's a direct link to their site, specifically plugging the shows / bands / artists, that are covered right now by this offer: http://promo-img.livenation.com/lnus/noservicefeetickets/

Billboard actually did a piece on it today and posted some of the discussion they had with Live Nation's CEO of their Concert Division, Jason Garner. To read more on that go here:

Shame that they can't see fit to end it permanently. Ah well ... We can live in hope.

Carlos Santana doing a rock covers album?!

Well, strange as it may seem to many apparently Carlos Santana plans to cover AC/DC's Back in Black, Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love and Jimi Hendrix' Little Wing ... With a little help from some friends named as one collaborator ...
All this of course at this time, appears to be just speculation from UK magazine Classic Rock's website here:

They even say, for more details go to the Santana website - http://www.santana.com/ - which currently says nothing on the matter? Hmmm
I guess keep watch the Santana site and maybe the man will surprise us all. I for one would be extremely interested in checking out such a release!

Tommy Shaw says, People don't seem to have conversations anymore ...

Perhaps more to the point, Styx main man Tommy Shaw doesn't think people are prepared to listen these days, at least they seem to give the impression they do, but are they really listening?
It's a very valid point in today's hustle and bustle of daily life, I'm sure a point many of us would sadly have to agree with ... 
As Aerosmith so rightly pointed out in their tune, 'Livin' On The Edge,' - 'There's something wrong with the world today, I don't what it is ...'  Very true!

Anyway, Tommy Shaw has posted a blog piece at http://www.thecomet.com/ which can be read in detail here:

A snippet from that reads as follows:
'So many of my friends are increasingly busy, with so many things on their minds, their inner multi-tasker is buzzing like a crowded office space with cubicles, each one filled with squirrels and hamsters sprinting along these circular belts, keeping the machinery running. There was a time when I would take it personally that they were not listening when I would respond, but it has over time dawned on me--maybe they just can't hear over the noise in their own heads.'

'When I talk to fans in airports, I think I make some of them nervous. They might have a personal STYX story they want to tell me, which I’m always willing to listen to, so I could say “You know you forgot to wear pants today?” and they wouldn’t hear it. I don’t say that because I usually don’t think of it until later. I have too many other things on my mind.'

He later adds:
'So, if you're not watching sports (that's worth talking about!), why not turn the television off, turn off your cell phone (at least put it on vibrate), go see your favorite band (STYX, Foreigner and Kansas perhaps), a new comedian or even a good movie and then discuss amongst yourselves!'

'While you're doing that, ask yourself, "Am I the one doing all the talking? Did I hear anything my friend was trying to tell me or was I just waiting for a pause so I could keep talking?"
I'll try it too. Maybe I'm not listening either!'
Very valid points Tommy and I hope to catch the Styx show with Foreigner and Kansas!
For more details on that go to:
or

Survivor ... Big news on the way?

Survivor, who these days are led by Frankie Sullivan and fronted by Robin McAuley (Ex-Grand Prix, M.S.G. and Far Corporation), have recently (February / March 2010) mentioned that they have a new album on the way but since then have gone quiet and now their website - http://www.survivormusic.com/ - appears to be down for a refresh, could be a sign of the new album title announcement and more! We can only hope.
Their MySpace page isn't much more help - www.myspace.com/survivorband - and the only pointer you can get, is to go to http://www.pollstar.com/ to search out the bands current tour dates, nice!
So, if you're looking to check that out directly, go here: http://www.pollstar.com/resultsArtist.aspx?ID=9482

More news on the Aerosmith North American Tour

As originally posted here last Sunday 30th May, Aerosmith have announced a North American Tour kicking off in July.
The latest news is that Sammy Hagar and the Wabo's will open for 11 of these shows, how cool!
Here's the latest press release posted at their site late yesterday:

AEROSMITH AMERICA’S GREATEST ROCK AND ROLL BAND ANNOUNCES ‘COCKED, LOCKED, READY TO ROCK’ US SUMMER TOUR

18 Spectacular Shows Beginning on July 23rd in Oakland, California
Band Just Conquered South America, To Europe Next and Now, The US This Summer

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (June 1, 2010) - Following seven triumphant South American ‘Cocked, Locked, Ready To Rock Tour’ dates (the final one playing this evening in Costa Rica, the largest concert in that country’s history) and eleven upcoming European dates, America’s Number One rock and roll band will be more than warmed up and ready to arrive in the US in what will surely be THE concert event of the summer.
Live Nation, the national tour promoter for Aerosmith confirmed today that The Bad Boys of Boston are hitting the road for an 18 city US tour this summer with the COCKED, LOCKED, READY TO ROCK Tour that begins on July 23rd in Oakland, California. Tickets go on sale in select markets beginning Friday, June 4 at LiveNation.com. Tour itinerary follows this release.

The recently announced hometown Fenway Park date scheduled for August 14th sold out in a record breaking 23 minutes. Aerosmith will be joined at the Fenway show by The J.Geils Band.

Steven Tyler said, “I thought it was time to get my MOJO back, by rockin South America and Europe with a little HOME RUN at Boston's Fenway Park thrown in and then off to the rest of America to do what we do best! We’re gonna rock you into the middle of next week!”

'This is a perfect time for us to tour North America as we are just completing a very successful tour of South America. We are looking forward to our European tour next month and then bringing our show back to our home soil. We are running on all cylinders and are "Cocked Locked and ready to Rock”!' commented Joe Perry.

"We're having a blast tearing up South America. I can't stop thinking about how great it's going to feel bringing it home this summer" said Tom Hamilton.

"The band's tighter than ever, America we're coming to rock your World" said Joey Kramer.

Sammy Hagar and the Wabos will open eleven of the sixteen announced shows. Support in other markets will be announced shortly.

Aerosmith, will be celebrating their 40th anniversary as America’s most enduring and thrilling band in rock history. They are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, recipients of countless awards including 4 Grammy’s, 8 American Music Awards, 6 Billboard Awards, 12 MTV Video Music Awards. They have sold over 150 million albums, earned scores of multi platinum albums and maintain a large army of millions of fans.

Aerosmith continues to perform electrifying sold-out concerts around the world and remain one of the most beloved bands in the world.

Date City, State Venue Presale Date
July 2010
Fri. July 23 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena* Wed. June 2, 1pm EDT
Mon. July 26 Paso Robles, CA California Mid-State Fair TBD
Thu. July 29 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater TBD
Sat. July 31 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena* Wed. June 2, 1pm EDT
Aug. 2010
Tue. Aug 3 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Amphitheatre TBD
Thu. Aug 5 Woodlands, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion* TBD
Sat. Aug 7 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre TBD
Mon. Aug 9 Fort Lauderdale, FL BankAtlantic Center* TBD
Thu. Aug 12 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater* TBD
Sat. Aug 14 Boston, MA Fenway Park Buy Party Pass
Tue. Aug 17 Toronto, ONT Air Canada Centre* Wed. June 2, 10am EDT
Thu. Aug 19 Omaha, NE Qwest Center* TBD
Sun. Aug 22 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheater TBD
Tue. Aug 24 Holmdel, NJ PNJ Bank Arts Center* TBD
Thu. Aug 26 Syracuse, NY New York State Fair Buy Tickets
Sat. Aug 28 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall* Wed. June 2, 10am EDT
Tue. Aug 31 Detroit, MI The Palace at Auburn Hills* TBD
Sept. 2010
Thu. Sep 2 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center* TBD
Sat. Sep 4 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena TBD

*Opening act is Sammy Hagar and the Wabos
VIP experience packages *(which may include opportunities to meet band members, backstage tours, early entry passes, premium seating and/or merchandise) are available through http://www.aeroforceone.com/
Fans without internet access can call 508-791-3807 in the US 9am - 5pm EST.

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