Thursday, December 8, 2011

Brief Rock News Update for Thursday December 8th, 2011

Hey folks, sorry for updates being pretty few and far between lately, I still get formatting issues sometimes, when I try to share certain PR contacts Press Releases, for whatever reason it seems, Blogger.com is not helpful!
Not only that though I have as you may've noticed been starting to catch up on a few CD reviews and there's more where that came from folks!
I am hoping, someone is going to help me out with getting my interviews transferred to text for you guys to read here soon, although the voice recognition software 'thing' is not being that helpful at the moment and the people at Nuance who sell the 'Dragon' software, are not answering my questions on how best to be able to utilise the software, to do the transfer ... Ah well ...
Hope there's a little somthing in the three news pieces today that appeals, somehow!
Cheers folks, Al


Chickenfoot set to invade the UK in January 2012


Following the release of their acclaimed second album Chickenfoot III’, the hottest rock’n’roll band in the world, Chickenfoot featuring Sammy Hagar (vocals), Joe Satriani (guitar) Michael Anthony (bass) and Kenny Aronoff (drums), will perform two rare concerts in the UK in January 2012 - Manchester Academy (Jan 12) and London o2 Brixton Academy (Jan 14).
The Manchester Academy concert on January 12th is now sold out. Tickets are still available for Chickenfoot’s London o2 Brixton Academy concert on Saturday January 14th, and can be ordered from:

www.livenation.co.uk/artist/chickenfoot-tickets

Original Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith has temporarily handed his sticks over to the legendary Kenny Aronoff, who will join the band for the upcoming UK and European concerts in January. Chickenfoot will perform songs from their gold-selling, eponymous debut album, alongside tracks from ‘III’, for the very first time in Europe.

The European tour also includes concerts at Paris Olympia (Jan 16), Tilburg O13 (Jan 17) and Dusseldorf Mitsubishi Electric Hall (Jan 19).
Read the official Chickenfoot UK and European tour press release:

www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/chickenfoot/tour.htm.



 




 

ROCK LEGEND ZAKK WYLDE TO BE HONORED AT

GUITAR WORLD'S FIRST EVER ROCK & ROLL ROAST;

EXCLUSIVE EVENT FEATURES SHARON OSBOURNE AS ROASTMASTER AND ALL-STAR PANEL OF METAL-LOVING LUMINARIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF MUSICARES.
PRESENTED BY EPIPHONE GUITARS.




(New York, NY) - Get ready for a raucous night of comedy, charity and chaos! Guitar World is proud to announce the magazine's first-ever Rock & Roll Roast with inaugural honoree Zakk Wylde. Presented by Epiphone Guitars and sponsored by Monster Energy Drink, EMG Pickups, Revolver Magazine, Marshall Amplification, Dunlop, Eagle Rock and Samson, the exclusive event will take place at The Grove in Anaheim, California on Thursday, January 19th, 2012; a portion of all proceeds will go to the MusiCares charity. Zakk Wylde was recently named one of the 100 greatest living rock stars by Revolver Magazine.


Roastmaster Sharon Osbourne and other metal-loving luminaries such as Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Jericho, Anthrax's Scott Ian, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Slipknot's Corey Taylor, as well as comedy and roast veterans Jim Norton, Brian Posehn, Jim Florentine and more will all take aim at the Black Label Society frontman and guitar icon, best known for his incredible axe chops, his golden locks and his signature Bullseye guitar line. Fresh from her recent stint on the Judas Priest tour, Lady Starlight (Lady Gaga's resident DJ) will also be on hand to serve as the evening's official DJ.


Roastee Wylde commented, "How can they roast me? I'm a good Catholic boy..." Roastmaster Sharon Osbourne explained, ""Zakk has always called me his Mom, but I think my boy needs a good kicking." Editorial Director of Guitar World, Brad Tolinski added, "We're excited to kick-off this new annual event, and who better than Zakk Wylde, to be our first... victim."
Click here to witness the Rock & Roll Roast's first viral video trailer, featuring both Zakk Wylde and Jim Norton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOGUKUQvpw0.


This show will kick off on the opening night of the 2012 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. This live charity event is not open to the public, but, if you want to attend and learn more about being a sponsor for this once-in-a-lifetime event and be part of a great charity and cause, please visit www.rockandrollroast.com for more information and sponsorship opportunities.


About Guitar World

Since debuting in the summer of 1980, Guitar World has consistently reigned as the world's leading guitar magazine. Professionals and beginners alike turn to Guitar World for top coverage of their favorite artists, from rock titans like Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Metallica's Kirk Hammett to contemporary stars like the White Stripes' Jack White and Tool's Adam Jones. The magazine is also now available as complete digital issues on tablets like the iPad, Kindle Fire and Nook Color.
www.Guitarworld.com is the home of all the latest guitar news, lessons, tablature, behind the scenes photos and videos. Guitar World's "Lick of the Day" is one of the top downloaded apps on the iTunes store and has been voted 'App of the Week.'
Find out more at www.GuitarWorld.com
.


About Epiphone

Epiphone fretted instruments, amplifiers, strings and accessories are known worldwide for offering the best combination of quality, performance and value. One of Gibson's most formidable competitors through the first half of the 20th century, Epiphone was acquired by Gibson Guitar in 1957. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Epiphone is part of the Gibson family of brands. For more information on Epiphone, go to www.epiphone.com 
Follow Epiphone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/epiphone or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/officialepiphone


About MusiCares:

Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org


About Zakk Wylde/Black Label Society


In the two decades since Ozzy Osbourne hired him away from his job at a New Jersey gas station, Zakk Wylde has established himself as a guitar icon known and revered the world over. Wylde has won nearly every guitar award imaginable, graced countless magazine covers and is a major influence to a new battalion of rock guitarists. Writing and recording with Osbourne led to multi-platinum success, inspiring him to create the now iconic Black Label Society in 1998. In the decade plus since, BLS has turned the notion of what a rock band should be upside down by inspiring legions of fans (known as Berserkers) all over the world to follow the mantra: Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever (SDMF for short). Wylde and his Berserkers have established a heavy metal institution true to the vision of uncompromising, unfiltered and unrestrained rock 'n' roll. To date, Black Label Society has sold millions of albums worldwide and continues to be a massive presence on the worldwide touring and merchandising circuits. Black Label Society's ORDER OF THE BLACK (eOne Music), was released in August, 2010 and debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart.
For more information, please visit www.blacklabelsociety.com or www.zakkwylde.com


For more information please visit:
www.rockandrollroast.com





Michael Thompson Band - Future Past

Cult AOR luminaries MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND return with a brand new album "Future Past."

Frontiers Records is excited to announce the return of MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND with the release of the brand new album “Future Past” on February 24th in Europe and February 28th in North America.



In 1988, after working to try and get a deal with his band Slang, guitarist Michael Thompson finally got signed by Geffen Records to release one album entitled "How Long", under the Michael Thompson Band (MTB) monicker.

On "How Long" some great studio musicians appeared as guests, in particular drummer-maestro Terry Bozzio, singer Moon Calhoun (ex The Strand), Pat Torpey (later on drummer with Mr Big), bassist Jimmy Haslip, John Elefante (Kansas), Toto's Bobby Kimball and Great White associates Michael Lardie and Wyn Davis (who also produced the album).
Songwriters would include, among others, AOR stars such as: Jeff Paris, Mark Spiro, Billy Trudel and Brett Walker.

As of today “How Long” is still regarded as one of the highest examples of hi-tech AOR / West Coast, with a superb production and immaculate songwriting. “I think the album has stood the test of time with a great batch of songs and some really strong performances. It was heartfelt and I think people respond to music that comes from the heart. I'm glad that many fans of melodic rock still list this record amongst their favourites,” tells Michael Thompson.

“How Long” was reissued in 2007 with 3 bonus tracks and started a relationship between Michael Thompson and Frontiers Records, which finally brings the anticipated release of the new Michael Thompson Band album in early 2012. “I've tried to keep the new MTB album "Future Past" in the same spirit as "How Long". I'm hoping that people will hear the natural progression of my music and appreciate the new record as much as the first one,” continues Michael. “Although 22 years is quite a gap time-wise the music was recorded with the same feeling and spirit as I always had”.





For the new album Michael teamed up with the awesome singer Larry King from Soleil Moon. Larry brought a new and more rocking approach to the MTB sound, but certainly the trademark elements of songwriting and melodies are still to be found in the new album “Future Past”. In Michael Thompson words: “When I was considering singers for this new record I said to myself “Who is the best rock singer that I know?” and only one person came to mind - Larry King. The guy has such a phenomenal range and texture and it goes perfectly with my guitars. We started writing songs together a little over a year ago and from the first song, "Can't Be Right", I knew we had something special!”

MTB 2012 lineup is rounded up by Khari Parker on drums and Alan Berliant on bass. “Larry brought them into the picture and it was a pleasure for me to work with some knew guys that I wasn't familiar with. It brought a fresh approach to the music,” says Michael.

The production of Future Past is just flawless and the album is destined to become soon another AOR music classic. “I think that the title kind of says it all - "Future Past"” concludes Michael. “Larry and I are both big fans of Classic Rock and AOR Melodic Rock so we just naturally infuse that love into the music that we write. It's elements of the past with a modern approach”.

Future Past tracklisting includes: High Times; Can't Be Right; Future Past; When You Love Someone; Here I Am; Beautiful Mystery; Break Me Down; End Game; Gypsy Road; Can't Miss 2012; Fight For Your Life.

The first single “Can’t Be Right” can be listened in full in streaming on the Frontiers Web Radio now!
Tune in at: www.frontiers.it/webradio

Weblinks:
www.michaelthompson.cc
www.frontiers.it

-----ooooOooo-----

Michael Thompson is one of today’s leading guitar players of the world. He was awarded the "Distinguished Alumni" award from his Alma Mater Berklee College of Music to commemorate his contributions to the music industry. Berklee's program for the event noted that "he is widely regarded as being among the elite studio session players, and his amazing list of credits includes such prominent names as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, 'N Sync, Toni Braxton, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, the Scorpions, Vince Neil, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler, Madonna, Babyface, En Vogue, Gloria Estefan, Stanley Clarke and Ricky Martin."

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