News Update for Friday February 17th, 2012

SLASH
REVEALS COVER ART AND ALBUM TITLE FOR HIS SECOND STUDIO ALBUM “APOCALYPTIC LOVE”FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS
DUE OUT MAY 22

U.S. HEADLINING TOUR BEGINNING MAY 3
ON-SALE STARTS FRIDAY, FEB 17
FAN PRE-SALE UP NOW VIA
WWW.SLASHONLINE.COM

SLASH – the iconic, Grammy-winning rock guitarist and songwriter–has revealed the cover artwork and album title for his second studio album APOCALYPTIC LOVE. Due out May 22, the new album features Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators and will be released on SLASH’s own label Dik Hayd International and distributed through EMI. SLASH is currently in a Los Angeles studio putting the final touches on APOCALYPTIC LOVE. This week he announced his headlining U.S. tour will begin May 3 in Baltimore. A fan pre-sale is happening now on www.slashonline.com, with the regular on-sale starting tomorrow, Friday, February 17.
Ed's note: Sorry folks, only found the press release late last night!

See the full itinerary below, with more dates to be added.

APOCALYPTIC LOVE, will follow his 2010 debut album Slash and his November 2011 first-ever live solo album, the two-CD/DVD set Made In Stoke 24/7/11. Notably, the Slash album debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at #3 (#1 on the Rock chart, #1 on the Independent chart, and #1 on the Hard Music chart). Digitally, the album also became the #1 overall digital album and hit #1 on iTunes in 13 countries. Internationally, the disc achieved Top 5 chart positions in over a dozen major territories, hitting #1 in both Japan and New Zealand.

On APOCALYPTIC LOVE, SLASH – along with and his bandmates Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums) and Todd Kerns (bass) – have teamed with producer Eric Valentine, who also produced the Slash disc. All the songs were written together by SLASH and Kennedy and cameras have been rolling throughout the entire making of the album. Check out exclusive behind-the-scenes footage airing weekly at:

Episode 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIYbyb8xXTQ

Episode 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIYbyb8xXTQ

Episode 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIYbyb8xXTQ.

SLASH’s 2012 headlining U.S. tour dates are as follows:

Thu	5/3	Baltimore MD	Rams Head Live
Sat	5/5	Rockingham NC	Carolina Rebellion, Rockingham Speedway
Mon	5/7	Orlando FL	Hard Rock Live
Thu	5/10	Biloxi MS	Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hard Rock Live
Sun	5/13	Boone, IA	Lazerfest, Central Iowa Expo
Mon	5/14	Minneapolis MN	The Brick
Wed	5/16	Madison WI	Orpheum Theater
Thu	5/17	Grand Rapids MI	Orbit Room
Sat	5/19	Columbus OH	Rock On The Range, Columbus Crew Stadium
Sun	5/20	Camden NJ	MMRBQ, Susquehanna Bank Center
Sat	5/26	Albuquerque NM	Route 66 Casino-on sale 2/27

SLASH with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators:
L-R: Todd Kearns, Myles Kennedy, SLASH and Brent Fitz.

About SLASH:
Slash is widely considered one of the greatest rock guitar players of all time. He has received countless accolades and awards including his forthcoming induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame set for April 2012. In 2007, Slash was inducted into Hollywood’s RockWalk (located in front of Guitar Center in Hollywood) alongside his idols Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix. An original member of iconic rock band Guns N’ Roses, the Grammy-winning Slash helped the band create signature sounds like the guitar riff of #1 hit “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Welcome To The Jungle.” The band dominated the 1980’s and 90’s music scene selling more than 100 million albums worldwide and ushered in a decade of hard-charging rock music. After leaving the band, Slash went on to critical acclaim in his personal project Slash’s Snakepit, and global success with the supergroup Velvet Revolver. He has been widely sought after by the biggest musicians of all time, performing with everyone from Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder to Ray Charles. Slash recently landed on the top of the charts with his first true solo album, Slash. In addition, Slash was honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce who named him as an official selection for 2011 to receive a star on Hollywood’s iconic Walk of Fame. In February 2011, he performed at the Super Bowl XLV half time show, seen by more than 106 million people, becoming the most-watched program in U.S. television history (Nielsen Co.). Slash is currently in the studio with his band working on his second solo album Apocalyptic Love which is due for release on May 22, 2012.

Official weblinks:

www.slashonline.com
www.twitter.com/Slash

Warrant tour 'Cherry Pie 21st Anniversary Tour

Special guests Firehouse and Trixter

At its core, as well as at first glance, Warrant is an American rock band through and through. Formed in 1984, the Hollywood, CA based band rose through the ranks of the local and regional club scene to the level of multiplatinum selling, chart-topping success. The band first came into the national spotlight with their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich. This album produced the massive hit “Heaven” which reached #1 in Rolling Stone and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Warrant’s sophomore album Cherry Pie was released in September 1990. This album, which spawned the hits “Cherry Pie,” “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and “I Saw Red,” reached the Top 10 in the United States and went on to sell 3 million copies. Over the course of their career, Warrant has sold over 10 million albums internationally.

Editor's note: Yeah and still the Grammy's failed to recognise Jani Lane's connection to that many albums Warrant sold, with him fronting the band.

Warrant's music has undergone significant evolution throughout the band's 20-year history. Their style is typical of many Sunset Strip glam metal bands, and remains the band's signature sound. In September 2008, Robert Mason replaced Jani Lane as lead vocalist. Their current album Rockaholic (May ’11), released on Frontiers Records has been highly regarded and reviewed peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart.

Warrant has been headlining festivals, casinos and clubs all over the country in support of the new album not to mention their support slot on the summer 2011 tour with Motley Crue and Poison, and will continue to tour into 2012. The band can’t wait to play not only all the hits fans know by heart, but also new tunes like “Life’s A Song” and “Sex Ain’t Love.”

In 2012 the band will tour with old friends Firehouse who are touring in support of their new album, 'Full Circle' - http://www.firehousemusic.com/ - and Trixter!

Trixter are soon to release their latest album 'New Audio Machine' through the Frontiers records label in May 2012.

http://www.trixterrocks.com/

For all Warrant tour dates go to:

www.warrantrocks.com

Other 80's band's summer 2012 tour news

Some interesting dates as I had mention before and double and triple bill tour are confirmed and have already been announced for the summer, such as Def Leppard with Poison and Kiss with Motley Crue, but here's another new one ...

Although on a smaller scale, Dokken are due to tour this summer, on the 'Rock Never Stops Tour 2012' from May through September with Quiet Riot and Y&T in tow!

Now that should be a good one for sure!


Dokken - Alone Again video - Click image to open in You Tube

No firm dates available at this time - Still being finalised by management - and Dokken seem to be working on a new website too.

Keep checking back, as that's one I will want to see for sure!

Winger will also be out on the road this summer too, although no word at this time if they'll be a new album ready by then. If it's anything like the last one, 'Karma,' then I can't wait!

A couple of other brief news notes ...

I've recently been enquiring about when that Toto live DVD will be coming out, from the European live shows the band did last year.
At the time last year, Mascot records had announced it was on the way and Frontiers records had put out a warning notice - Guessing there was an injunction of some kind. - to say there would be repercussions if this happened, since as far as Frontiers were concerned, Toto were still signed to them.
Mascot put out Steve Lukather's last solo album by the way ...
Anyway, sadly the latest official word from within the Toto camp is, 'Don't expect it anytime soon ...'
So that's kind of sad. Ah well ...



Y&T are also due to play the UK again at the tail end of October, playing in Dublin September 28th at The Village, before hitting the UK mainland starting October 2nd in Edinburgh.
Currently lined up dates will wrap up in London on Saturday the 13th October at the Relentless Garage ...
No word at this time on any new album, but we'll see ...
I'd love to interview Dave Meniketti too, as I've been a great fan of the band for many years, but sadly the bands management has thus far ignored my emails to date. Shame ...

For more details on these dates and others around the globe, go to:
http://meniketti.com/

News Update for Thursday February 16th, 2012

Iron Maiden announce "Maiden England World Tour" with extensive dates in North America this summer

Very Special Guest Alice Cooper to July 21, Coheed and Cambria after July 21.

Following the massively successful Final Frontier World Tour 2010-11, IRON MAIDEN are back on the road this summer with a series of Arena, Amphitheatre and Festival shows in the U.S.A. and Canada, opening in Charlotte, NC, U.S.A. on June 21, and finishing in Houston, TX, on Aug 18 (dates listed below), to be followed by further dates around the World in 2013. The MAIDEN ENGLAND WORLD TOUR will closely mirror, in terms of production and content, the original 1988 concert video of the same name, shot on the “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Tour”. This opening section of the World Tour is the band’s most extensive visit to North America for many years and includes a number of cities the band have not played in a very long time, such as Charlotte, Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis and Salt Lake City.

In most venues, tickets will go on sale on March 2 and 3 but watch this site or check local venue information for fuller details. Fan Club members should check out ironmaiden.com for exclusive first day ticket presales and contest to be ‘First To The Barrier’.

MAIDEN ENGLAND marks the third chapter in the History of Iron Maiden, a journey which began in 2004 with The Early Days DVD and subsequent 2005 Early Days Tour. Part Two followed in 2008 with the Live After Death DVD - the seminal 1984 concert recorded at Long Beach Arena (L.A) during the World Slavery Tour - and the band embarking on their groundbreaking Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 2008/9, which saw them play to over two million fans in almost 40 countries.

Comments vocalist Bruce Dickinson, “We have great fun playing the History of Maiden Tours because it gives us an opportunity between new albums to go out and play songs from our earlier catalogue. It’s always fantastic seeing the crowd reaction from a new generation of fans who have never experienced some of these tracks performed live before, and of course we know our longstanding fans will enjoy seeing the original Seventh Son Tour re-visited - with many other surprises! Our intention is to play about two thirds of the original track list of Maiden England (shown below*), including some songs we have not played live in a very,very long time, plus other favourites we just know the fans are going to want to hear! We always try to give our fans a great show musically, but we have always tried to make it as entertaining and memorable an experience as we can visually. And we all feel this show is going to do that splendidly! We can't wait to get started in Charlotte”.

Iron Maiden are delighted to announce that the extraordinary and legendary Alice Cooper will be their Very Special Guest on all shows up to July 21. After that date, Special Guest will be Coheed and Cambria, the inspiring, cutting edge band from New York.

Iron Maiden continue to be actively dedicated to ensuring their fans always have full access to the best possible tickets in the fairest possible way. Manager Rod Smallwood comments:

“We are trying to ensure that our fans get the tickets they want in the prime positions without paying over the odds to ticket scalpers. Maiden get infuriated with the way fans sometimes have to pay more than the ticket price to get good positions at our shows. So we will, wherever possible (Festivals excluded), with the assistance of the Promoters, arrange a paperless ticketing system at least for the front sections to try to eliminate as much of the ticket scalping and exchanges as we can. We put this into practice on our North American Tour in 2010; it worked well and we received many positive comments back from our fans, so we intend to increase this where feasible. With paperless ticketing, only those who actually pay initially for the tickets will get into the show so scalping is generally avoided (please see the comments from Ticketmaster below). We are also doing everything we can to avoid any drain of prime tickets going to the Secondary Ticketing sites which we feel make unfair profits from music fans.

As we consider all our fans to be VIPs, no tickets will be held specifically for VIP use. At some venues, the Promoter may provide the option for fans to pay extra for “VIP Parking”, early access, access to “VIP Bar” etc. But these will be purely optional for ticket holders only and will not be tied to ticket locations – the ability to get the best tickets should be the same for everybody outside of the usual presales.

Finally, we are of course once again arranging exclusive ticket pre-sales for our fan club members so they can be quick off the mark for great tickets and will also continue to run the contest in appropriate venues for fan club members so they can be ‘First To The Barrier’ prior to the show. We hope that these measures will help our fans as much as possible and ask that they keep checking for details on our website.”
TICKETMASTER comments:
Where possible the North American Iron Maiden shows will operate a paperless ticket policy. Select tickets will be sold via Ticketmaster’s Paperless Ticket delivery, which means fans will not receive a physical concert ticket for their entry into the event. Buying paperless helps ensure fans have secure and convenient access to event tickets at the intended original sale price. On the day of show, concert goers just need to bring the credit card they used for the ticket purchase and a government-issued photo ID to the concert. All members of the ticket purchaser's party must be present at the same time to enter the venue. The venue’s ticket usher will swipe their credit card upon entry and present each person in their party with seat locator slips for quick access into the show. To purchase paperless tickets or for more information, fans should visit www.ticketmaster.com/paperless or call the Ticketmaster charge-by-phone number at 1-800-745-3000.

*Maiden England 1988 Longform Video VHS Tracklisting
Moonchild, The Evil That Men Do, The Prisoner, Still Life, Die With Your Boots On, Infinite Dreams, Killers, Can I Play With Madness, Heaven Can Wait, Wasted Years, The Clairvoyant, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, The Number Of The Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Iron Maiden.

MAIDEN ENGLAND 2012 TOUR DATES

Thur	21st June	Charlotte, NC	Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sat	23rd June	Atlanta, GA	Aarons Amphitheatre
Tue	26th June	Boston, MA	Comcast Center
Wed	27th June	Wantagh, NY	Jones Beach
Fri	29th June	Philadelphia, PI	Susquehanna Bank Center
Sat	30th June	Washington, DC	Jiffy Lube Live
Mon	2nd July	Newark, NJ	Prudential Center
Thur	5th July	Chicago, IL	First Midwest Bank
Sun	8th July	Quebec, QC	Colisee Pepsi Arena
Wed	11th July	Montreal, QC	Bell Center
Fri	13th July	Toronto, ON	Molson Amphitheatre
Sat	14th July	Sarnia, ON	Bayfest
Mon	16th July	Buffalo, NY	Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Wed	18th July	Detroit, MI	DTE Music Theatre
Thur	19th July	Indianapolis, IN	Klipsch Music Centre
Tues	24th July	Winnipeg, MB	MTS Center
Thur	26th July	Calgary, AB	Scotiabank Saddledome
Fri	27th July	Edmonton, AB	Rexall Place
Sun	29th July	Vancouver, BC	Pacific Coliseum
Mon	30th July	Auburn, WA	White River Amphitheatre
Wed	1st August	Salt Lake City, UT	USANA Amphitheatre
Fri	3rd August	San Francisco, CA	Shoreline Amphitheatre
Mon	6th August	Phoenix, AZ	Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion
Thur	9th August	Irvine, CA	Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sun	12th August	Albuquerque. NM	Hard Rock Pavilion
Mon	13th August	Denver, CO	Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
Wed	15th August	San Antonio, TX	AT&T Center
Fri	17th August	Dallas, TX	Gexa Energy Pavilion
Sat	18th August	Houston, TX	The Woodlands

(Please note there will be a few dates added within this period. Rest of world... we'll see you next year!)

Official band website:

http://www.ironmaiden.com/

Neal Schon new solo music on the way

Neal Schon photo credit Matt Becker

Right now, fans of Journey guitarist Neal Schon can download a free new track from the man, from his forthcoming new solo album.

The new track for download features Schon on guitar - Of course! - and bass, Steve Smith (Drums and percussion), Igor Lens (Piano, Synths and Orchestration) and special guest Jan Hammer too!

The first new single off the album is called ..., 'The Calling' and you can download it for free, right here:

http://www.schonmusic.com/

You can also check out the new Journey video for the track, 'Resonate' from the band latest album release, 'Eclipse,' while you're there.

Keep checking back to his new site, for further details on that new album from Schon.

Neal Schon and his latest flame, Michaele Salahi also talk to Access Hollywood about their relationship, right here:

http://www.accesshollywood.com/neal-schon-and-michaele-salahi-talk-romance-tareq-salahi-addresses-accusations_article_60711

Joe Bonamassa

Beacon Theatre - Live from New York

Featuring guest appearances from

Paul Rodgers, Beth Hart and John Hiatt

 Available on Double DVD & Blu-ray
UK/European Release: 26th March 2012
US Release: 26th March 2012

‘Joe Bonamassa: Beacon Theatre – Live From New York’ documents 19 song performances that spans Joe Bonamassa's career with smoky vocals complementing the guitar wizardry and rapid-fingered ease with which his fans know and love.
Alongside the great chemistry he shares with his formidable band-mates Carmine Rojas (bass), Tal Bergman (drums) and Rick Melick (keyboards), the Beacon Theatre concert DVD is mesmerizing to watch from start to finish.





Bonamassa kicks the festivities off with Slow Train, from 2011's solo album Dust Bowl, followed by fan-favourites including Cradle Song, Dust Bowl, When The Fire Hits The Sea, Bird On A Wire, Blue & Evil, Mountain Time, and many more.
Beth Hart joins Bonamassa on stage for soulful duets on I'll Take Care of You and Sinner's Prayer, which is featured on the recently released Don't Explain – an album of soul covers Hart recorded with Bonamassa.

John Hiatt, a Nashville Music Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and American Music Award (AMA) winner, joins Bonamassa for a rendition of Down Around My Place and I Know A Place.
As legendary classic rock singer Paul Rodgers (Bad Company, Free) hit the stage, the audience jumped to its feet as Bonamassa performed Fire And Water and Walk In My Shadows.

"This show is a testament to an artist at the top of his game, and still growing," says Bonamassa’s producer Kevin Shirley. "Soulful songstress Beth Hart digs deep on a couple of songs with Joe from their duet album, and music legends John Hiatt and Paul Rodgers get up alongside Joe. The interactions are a joy to behold."
The release of the Beacon Theatre DVD coincides with Bonamassa's March UK Arena tour.
Dates include - Brighton Centre (March 23), Sheffield Motorpoint Arena (March 24), Newcastle Metro Arena (March 25), Edinburgh Usher Hall (March 27), Liverpool Echo Arena (March 28), Bournemouth International Centre (March 30), Birmingham National Indoor Arena (March 31), Capital FM Arena Nottingham (April 2), Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (April 4), and Blackpool Opera House (April 5).
View Joe's March UK Arena Tour press release here.

The Beacon Theatre concert capped a year of achievements for Bonamassa the blues rock titan. His 12th solo album Dust Bowl debuted at #1 on Billboard's Blues Chart and #37 on Billboard's Top 200, making it his highest-selling and chart-ranking U.S. debut to date. Likewise in the UK it charted at # 12, achieving his highest chart position here. The album has just been nominated for a 2012 Blues Music Award (Best Blues Rock Album), while Bonamassa was honoured as 2011's Guitarist of the Year by Guitar International. This January Joe was on the cover of Classic Rock magazine for the first time, creating a big impact outside of the blues genre.

Bonamassa's hard rock band Black Country Communion – with band mates Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian – was named "Best New Band of the Last 10 Years" by VH1 Classic's That Metal Show, and Best Breaktrhough Act at 2011's Classic Rock Magazine Awards.

The band's 2-disc live album Live Over Europe is released on CD in the UK on Monday February 27th.
Bonamassa is driving sales for the guitar industry and keeping the guitar alive, helping great companies like Guitar Center, Gibson, Epiphone, Ernie Ball, Dunlop, Seymour Duncan, Clear Sonic and Klotz Cables, all of whom have signature products with the Guitar phenomenon. Bonamassa's style of guitar playing has breathed new life and excitement back into the instrument as legions of new fans are becoming familiar again with the great sound of guitar-based rock music.

Joe Bonamassa – Official Website
www.jbonamassa.com

Joe Bonamassa – Facebook
www.facebook.com/joebonamassa

Joe Bonamassa – Twitter
http://twitter.com/jbonamassa

Provogue Recordshttp://bit.ly/wnfBFB

Guns 'n Roses to reunite ... for one night!


It seems, based on reports all over the web that the original lineup of Guns 'n' Roses are due to reunite ..., for just one night only, at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
At this time there are no official press releases available - At my time of writing - and Axl Rose's Gun's 'n' Roses website is blank about the whole thing, but to be honest, that site is terrible for updates!
http://www.newgnr.com/

Likewise top fan site is much the same: http://www.gunsnroses.com/

The story has been leaked by keyboard man, Dizzy Reed.
You can read more on it here:
BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17040945
Billboard - http://www.billboard.com/#/news/all-original-guns-n-roses-members-will-be-1006185362.story

Don't expect more than that folks, it's not going to happen ..., to be honest, I'm surprised that Axl will do it?!
I guess we'll see!

News update for Wednesday February 15th, 2012

Swedish Sleaze Rock Masters CRAZY LIXX ready to rock again with “Riot Avenue”

Frontiers Records is excited to announce the release date of CRAZY LIXX anticipated third studio album entitled “Riot Avenue” on April 20th in Europe and April 24th in North America.

Almost an exact decade after vocalist Danny Rexon and ex-guitarist Vic Zino (now in Hardcore Superstar) started playing together under the name Crazy Lixx, the band is about to release what, without a doubt, is their strongest and most focused album. “Riot Avenue” includes 11 track hard rocking tracks that appeals both to the old fans, as well as a new crowd with its faster tempo and riff-based approach.

"We've been trying to make this album heavier than our previous releases and this time it meant doing it ourselves. We haven't been using an external producer but just listened to what we wanted and what we felt would be the right step to take… and if you ask me, we've nailed it. Can't wait to let people hear our new stuff!" - says vocalist and sole remaining founding member Danny Rexon.

At the same time the band is once again decimated down to three members with the recent departure of drummer Joél Cirera and bass player Loke Rivano (both featured on the new album) and the remaining members will look long and hard to replace the rhythm section, before the tour starts in the late spring of 2012.

"This seems to be a curse that Crazy Lixx suffers more often than other bands. When I joined, the band had just lost their guitarist a month after the release of the first album and now even before we started recording this album Joél stated it would be the last album with Crazy Lixx for him and along the way we also lost Loke." - says guitarist Andy Dawson, who joined the band in 2008.

With the addition of another guitarist Edd Liam, Crazy Lixx has also gone for a slightly different style when it comes to the songwriting, especially around the guitar parts and riffs.

"Since there's two of us now (guitar players), we felt that we could do stuff that wasn't possible on the previous albums, especially if we wanted to be able to perform the songs the same way live. This time we've added a lot more twin guitar work and also thought more about how the songs on the album would transfer to the stage in the best way possible." - says guitar player and newest member Edd Liam.

Crazy Lixx were among the first bands to emerge in what has been known as "The New Wave of Swedish Sleaze" along with Crashdïet, Hardcore Superstar, Babylon Bombs and Vains of Jenna but just like their fellow genre-mates, Crazy Lixx have now created their own style and with Riot Avenue they are now ready to show it to the world!

The first single “In The Night” will be exclusively distributed in Sweden through Sweden Rock Magazine in the issue that will hit the streets on March 19th. This special release will include two exclusive acoustic bonus tracks (unavailable elsewhere) : “Riot Avenue” and “Fire It Up”. Digital release will happen worldwide on the same date, but without the bonus acoustic tracks.

“Riot Avenue” will include the following songs:

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot; Young Blood; Riot Avenue; Fire It Up; Downtown; In The Night; Church Of Rock; Heatseeker; Sweet, Bad & Beautiful; Be Gone; Only The Dead Know.

“In The Night” can be exclusively listened in streaming on the Frontiers Records web radio: www.frontiers.it/webradio

CRAZY LIXX

Danny Rexon - vocals

Andy Dawson - guitars

Edd Liam – guitars

Featured on the album:

Joél Cirera - drums

Loke Rivano - bass

Weblinks:

www.frontiers.it 

www.crazylixx.com

CELEBRATE RECORD STORE DAY WITH PICTURE DISC REISSUE OF RAINBOW'S CLASSIC 'LONG LIVE ROCK 'N' ROLL'

Rainbow's 1978 studio effort, 'Long Live Rock 'n' Roll' was a very significant album for the band, as it signalled the last Rainbow release to feature the legendary Ronnie James Dio (RIP). But despite Dio's imminent departure from the band, the album has become not only one of Rainbow's best, but one of the best hard rock/heavy metal releases of all time, as evidenced by the inclusion of such classics as the anthemic title track, as well as "Gates of Babylon," "Kill the King," and one of rock's most gorgeous ballads, "Rainbow Eyes."

And on April 21st, Niji Entertainment Group will be celebrating Record Store Day by reissuing 'Long Live Rock 'n' Roll' as a numbered/limited edition picture disc, which features the album's classic cover art on the front of the disc, and a crowd shot (originally featured in the gatefold of the original album) on the back. Additionally, this release will sport much-improved sonics from the original, as it was remastered under the supervision of long time Dio engineer, Wyn Davis.

Dean Schachtel, Sales & Marketing Manager for the Niji Entertainment Group, says, "I feel very confident that this will be one of the more popular Record Store Day items, as only 2,500 deluxe picture discs were made, and each LP is individually numbered. And to top it all off, this is the very first picture disc from Rainbow."

The last Dio-related picture disc to be released on Record Store Day ('Killing the Dragon') sold out its 2,500 pressing in less than a week. So act quick to secure your copy of this one-of-a-kind Rainbow/Dio release!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/

www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio

www.facebook.com/NijiEntertainmentGroup

 

Official artwork revealed of Europe's forthcoming 'Bag of Bones' release

In April, Europe are due to release their ninth studio album, 'Bag of Bones.'

They have just revealed the artwork - See above - to the upcoming release, due in April / May timeframe this year.

The new album will feature the classic line up of the band, that reunited in 2003 of:

Mic Michaeli - Keyboards, John Levén - Bass, Joey Tempest - Vocals, John Norum - Guitars and Ian Haugland - Drums.

Production duties on the new album have been handled by legendary 'knob twiddler' Kevin Shirley, who in recent times has worked on some fine albums by the likes of Black Country Communion, Journey, Iron Maiden, Mr Big and many more.

'Bag of Bones' is the follow up release to last years very good, 'Live at Shepherds Bush' DVD / Blu-Ray release.

I'm sure it will be something special and I for one, am greatly looking forward to hearing it.

Official sites:

http://www.europetheband.com

http://www.myspace.com/europe

http://www.youtube.com/europethebandtv

http://www.bebo.com/europe

http://europethebandblog.blogspot.com

http://europethebandmedia.blogspot.com/

  

WIG WAM RETURNS WITH WORLD-WIDE RELEASE ”WALL STREET”

Wig Wam is due to release the new single ”Wall Street” February 24th ,2012 on Frontiers Records. “Wall Street” is taken from the forthcoming album with the same title, which will be released this spring.

“Wall Street” is the story of a musician who trade his guitar for a company brand to make his fortune in the stock market. It’s got the recipe of a great Wig Wam ”Smash Hit” and is everything you expect from these guys!!!!!!!

WIG WAM was founded late 2000 after finding back to their personal musical roots as a jam band. Covering songs that inspired them to pick up instruments in the first place gave birth to Wig Wam, and February 24th 2001 they kickstarted their now 9 year old Wig Wamtical journey. After 2 years on the road the bands followers was increasing rapidly in their home country Norway. But they were yet to be accepted by the music business. Taking notice of the feedback received from their live audience the band recorded their first album “667…The Neighbour of The Beast” on their own expenses, WIG WAM shocked their countrymen by joining the Norwegian Eurovision Song contest final to promote themselves on account of no promo budget. WIG WAM suddenly became a household name in Norway after turning the contest into a rock concert rather than a song-contest. But it wasn’t until 2005 WIG WAM would enjoy their major breakthrough. Being invited back to the Eurovision Song contest WIG WAM pulled it off big time.

IN MY DREAMS was released 2 days after their victory and went straight to #1 on the national charts, where it stayed for over 21 weeks and sold platinum. Their new edition of “667..” now titled “HARD TO BE A ROCK’N ROLLER” Stayed on the charts for 19 weeks and also became platinum. WIG WAM was suddenly making headlines by introducing Hard Rock to the international Eurovision Song contest Final were they made #9 a victory for a the whole Hard Rock genre.

“HARD TO BE A ROCK’N ROLLER” and the smash hit “IN MY DREAMS” put WIG WAM on the map, and led the band to a victorious tour that counted 187 concerts in just a year. The tour took WIG WAM through Norway, Sweden, Germany, Iceland and England.

Midway through the tour WIG WAM also recorded a one-off show with an symphonic orchestra for their debut DVD “Rock’n Roll Revolution” which was released in November 2005. The DVD soon became a Gold DVD and topped the Norwegian DVD charts.

In 2006 WIG WAM went straight from the road to the studio and recorded their follow up, WIG WAMANIA. WIG WAMANIA was released February 17th and and the band immediately found themselves back on the road on their WIG WAMANIA TOUR which also took the band to Japan for the first time. WIG WAM's tourdates in the land of the rising sun was recorded, and ended up being released in 2007 on both the double cd “Live In Tokyo” and the DVD “Made In Japan”. Later that year WIG WAM returned to Japan as one of the major acts on the Loud Park Festival bill. Which was later broadcasted on MTV Japan.

WIG WAM took a break through 2008 which gave the band members a chance to pursue other individual activities. Flash worked with his former band Artch. Teeny recorded his forthcoming Dracula concept album “Swing of Death” as well as returning to his former band Dream Police. Glam toured with his Queen show The Show Must Go On and released his second album GLAMunition.

In 2009 the band got together again to start working on their third studio album NON STOP ROCK’N ROLL. WIG WAM spent most of the summer in Teenys studio The Rock Ranch to record the 11 tracks that makes the first WIG WAM album to be released simultaneously in whole Europe and Japan. The Album was a huge success for the band sold to Gold Award in Norway, and also took them all around the world, including tours in USA, Japan and rest of Europe.

 

“WALL STREET” is the title of WIG WAM’s new single, and also the name of the forthcoming album. Fans will not be disappointed as WIG WAM still present them with classic & catchy choruses. It’s melodic Hard Rock - Blowing your speakers with full blown Rock’n roll anthems!

More info:

www.wigwam.no

www.myspace.com/wigwamania

 

Late News Update for Monday February 13th, 2012

Hi folks, hope you had a great weekend?

I will start by saying that although she was not a rocker, I can't doubt or fail to recognise the talent that Whitney Houston had and it was sad to hear that she had passed away this past weekend.
I see now after no previous details were given, that she was found underwater in the bath of her hotel room. 
That just doesn't sound quite right, they are saying on one hand that there is no criminal probe to indicate any foul play and then they say there were prescripton drugs in the room, but no more then in anyone's home medicine cabinet ...
Tell me folks, who takes that many prescription drugs to a hotel room?
Very sad ... 
RIP Whitney, you were a talented vocalist, even if I have never owned any of your material, but that's just personal taste.

So, moving on ... Who caught the Grammy's then?

I caught bits and pieces of it and enjoy certain aspects, but have to say that I was surprised, nay stunned, that when they went through all those that had passed away this past year, they did not include Warrant's Jani Lane?

Of course plenty of respects to Whitney and good to see that they at least recognised Gary Moore's talents, by including him in the list of those that passed away in this past year.

How they could ignore and not respect the passing of Jani Lane and the success Warrant had with him fronting the band, is beyond me?

The band scored two double platinum albums in 'Dirty Rotten Flithy Stinking Rich,' and 'Cherry Pie,' not to mention achieving gold status on their next release, 'Dog Eat Dog.'

Was I a big Warrant fan? No, not really, but again I recognise success levels and the Grammy's should too.

Not cool Grammy organisors, of course based on performances in the show - That I caught - hard rock or even classic rock was barely represented. Foo Fighters was about it ...

I guess when Coldplay, actually played without Rhianna, it was OK, but hardly rock 'n' roll, Paul McCartney tried to rock things up a little at the end, probably more so than anyone else had done all night, bar the Foo's of course.

Shame the way the industry still seems to overlook rock. I guess we'll just have to wait for this years VH1 Rock Honours award show for any decent rock award ceremony.

Ah well, enough of my rants, here's a little news update for you, cheers, Al.

 

EDDIE TRUNK UPDATE

TONIGHT'S SIRIUS/XM SHOW MOVES TO HAIR NATION!

Editor's note: Sorry folks, due to the delay in this update, when you read this, this weeks show will be over, but at least you'll know for next week onwards, the Eddie Trunk show details!

This from Eddie Trunk's email newsletter:

Happy to report my show is still alive on satellite radio! As many of you know my show has been a fixture on the Boneyard channel since I started as an XM host in 2003.

 

I was informed this past Thursday with the start of "Ozzy's" Boneyard as the new full time format of the channel, under the direction of the Osbourne family, that my show would no longer be included.

Today, SiriusXM offered for me to move my show to channel 39 Hair Nation and I accepted.

To me what is most important is I have the outlet to reach you guys and do my thing on Sirius and XM. Honestly they could have put me on a polka channel and as long as I could do my show you guys would find me. That I was confident of!
Details here:

http://www.eddietrunk.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/433366/pid/401816

Also ...

VH1 Classic's THAT METAL SHOW is back and ready for another season of celebrating all things hard rock and heavy metal.

We will have another season of AMAZING Guests, so get your reservations in now!

For tickets go here:

http://www.eddietrunk.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/433287/pid/400512

 

Eddie Trunk's website:

http://www.eddietrunk.com

 

 

Saxon due to release 'Heavy Metal Thunder - Live - Eagles Over Wacken' DVD

 

British metal institution Saxon, who last year completed some serious touring in support of the brilliant 'A Call To Arms,' album, are set to release a new live DVD.
I don't have the full press release - Well, not one that's working for me format wise, but ...

The band has shared the following update on the expected release, through both their website and their Facebook web pages.

Hi Everyone,

 

We are happy to announce that our new DVD production “Heavy Metal Thunder – Live – Eagles Over Wacken” is now scheduled for release on April 20th in Europe, April 23rd in the UK and May 22nd in North America.

This has been a long time in the making as it features live performances from the legendary Wacken Open Air festival in Germany dating back to 2004, 2007 and 2009. 

Check out the official press release for a full overview of the tracklistings and formats, including the limited D2C/Direct To Consumer Box.

As they say at Wacken – Thanx for your support!


The full press release can actually be viewed here:
http://www.saxon747.com/en/images/stories/press/UDR0100PR_saxon_hmt_pressrelease_120213.pdf

 

Official band links:

http://www.saxon747.com/

http://www.facebook.com/Saxon747?sk=wall#!/saxon

 

 

 

WALTER TROUT RETURNS WITH BLUES FOR THE MODERN DAZE

VIA THE MASCOT LABEL GROUP ON APRIL 24, 2012

FIRST 35 DATES OF MAJOR NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ANNOUNCED

Trout Hits The Road On February 25 In Regina, SK

New York --- The Mascot Label Group has announced an April 24 release date for Walter Trout's 21st album Blues For The Modern Daze. The offering displays the contemporary guitar legend returning to his hard-core blues roots, with songwriting at a creative and personal zenith. Blues For The Modern Daze is Trout’s sixth recording for Provogue Records, a division of the Mascot Label Group, and his first pure blues album in 23 years as a bandleader.

 

Trout’s practical schooling in blues started when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1973 and got gigs behind John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Finis Tasby, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulsom, Percy Mayfield and Joe Tex. In 1981 he joined the remaining original members of Canned Heat. But the real turning point was his tenure with British blues giant John Mayall. Trout became part of the Bluesbreakers’ lineage of great guitarists along with Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. Beginning in 1984 he shared six-string duties with Coco Montoya in Mayall’s band, creating a flexible guitar dynamic that helped provide the Bluesbreakers a renaissance that returned the group to the apex of the international blues touring circuit. Trout began leading his own group in 1989 and cut his debut album Life In the Jungle, rapidly becoming a star in Europe. His first Stateside release, 1998's critically heralded Walter Trout, made him start down the road towards becoming the fixture of the American blues-rock scene that he is today.

Trout's travels over the past 39 years, and his wide appreciation of his predecessors, yield a significant influence to Blues For The Modern Daze. Trout shares, "My main inspiration for this album was the country bluesman Blind Willie Johnson, an early blues innovator who recorded such timeless gospel informed blues numbers as 'Soul of a Man' and 'Nobody’s Fault But Mine.' His music is so beautiful, primal, direct and deeply spiritual that I wanted to feel it at my back when we were cutting these songs.” He continues, "This album captures my interest in exploring a side of my music that’s rooted in my first musical love, and it reveals something about me too. It sums up the thoughts and attitudes of somebody who is getting a little older and is feeling a little like he’s a part of another era, with different values and a different perspective on life than often seem to be prevalent today. And I stand behind those values, like compassion, authenticity and honesty, as strongly as I stand behind my music.”

 

Blues for the Modern Daze was recorded at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood, California, with Trout and engineer Eric Corne producing. It’s the fifth time Trout has collaborated with Corne, who contributed to the arrangements and sonic palette of the songs that Trout wrote and demoed on acoustic guitar during the year before the sessions.
The EPK for Blues for the Modern Daze can be streamed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaFtrJBknmM&feature=youtu.be

 

Trout returns to the road in the U.S. on April 25th in Solana Beach, CA. Confirmed appearances include:

February 2012

2/25 Regina, SK (Canada) Mid-Winter Blues Festival @ Casino Regina

April 2012

4/25 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern

4/26 Las Vegas, NV Boulder Station Casino

4/27 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory

4/28 Simi Valley, CA Simi Valley Blues Festival

May 2012

5/09 Collinsville, CT Bridge Street Live

5/10 Bethlehem, PA River Jazz Festival @ Musikfest Café

5/11 Shirley, MA Bull Run

5/12 Stanhope, NJ Stanhope House

5/14 Buffalo, NY The Tralf

5/16 Fall River, MA Narrows Center for the Arts

5/18 New York, NY Iridium Jazz Club

5/19 New York, NY Iridium Jazz Club

5/20 New York, NY Iridium Jazz Club

5/21 New York, NY Iridium Jazz Club

5/23 Charlotte, NC Double Door Inn

5/24 Asheville, NC Orange Peel

5/25 Atlanta, GA Smith’s Olde Bar

5/26 Biloxi, MS MS Gulf Coast Music, Art, Craft & Seafood Festival

5/27 Biloxi, MS MS Gulf Coast Music, Art, Craft & Seafood Festival

June 2012

6/02 Hagerstown, MD Western Maryland Blues Festival

6/06 Davenport, IA Redstone Room

6/07 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall

6/08 Canton, OH Canton Blues Festival

6/09 Minneapolis, MN Famous Dave’s Blues Festival

6/10 Des Moines, IA House of Bricks

6/12 Lincoln, NE Zoo Bar

6/13 Kansas City, MO Knucklehead’s Saloon

6/14 St. Louis, MO Old Rock House

6/15 Chicago, IL House of Blues

6/16 Henderson, KY WC Handy Blues Festival

6/30 Silverado, CA Irvine Lake Blues Festival

August 2012

8/12 Duluth, MN Bayfront Blues Festival

8/26 Marshfield, MA North River Blues Festival

September 2012

9/01 Laramie, WY Snowy Range Music Festival

Also this from the UK Press, in addition to the general press release:


Walter Trout announces new album and UK tour!

Critically acclaimed American blues rock guitarist, Walter Trout, today announced the release of his new studio album Blues For The Modern Daze. 
The album is released by Provogue Records (a division of Mascot Label Group), in the UK on Monday 23^rd April, followed by US release on 24^th April.

To support the upcoming album, Trout will embark on a UK tour in March. Ticket Hotline: 0844, 478 0898, www.thegigcartel.com. 
Dates include Leeds City Varieties (March 8), Sheffield O2 Academy (March 9), Clitheroe The Grand (March 10), Salford The Lowry (March 11), Bristol The Tunnel (March 15) and Tavistock The Wharf (March 16).

You can read the official UK press release here:
www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/provogue/waltertrout.htm.

Official weblinks:

www.waltertrout.com

http://mascotlabelgroup.com/mlg/?wptheme=Provogue+Records+USA

www.mascotlabelgroup.com

SPOCK'S BEARD BRINGS FANS 'THE X TOUR LIVE' ON NEW MULTI-DISC SET

NEW YORK - "The X Tour Live," the new release from progressive rockers Spock's Beard, out February 14 on Music Theories Recordings, documents the one and only American show from the acclaimed band's tour in support of their last studio album, "X."

Being spread out geographically makes live shows in the band's Los Angeles-area home base a rarity these days, but Spock's Beard was afforded the opportunity to do a one-off with CalProg promoter Jim Harrel at the Downey Civic Theater in Downey, Calif., during area rehearsals for an upcoming European tour.

"Jim Harrel puts on a helluva good production, so we really didn't have to stress out about technical details," said bassist Dave Meros. "He brought in a great sound system, lights, the venue was deluxe, and he treated us right."
At the time, there was no intention of recording a live album. "It was just a chance to play in the USA for a change, which we don't do nearly enough of," Meros said. "But the venue was already set up for 32-track digital recording and some friends of ours wanted to take a run at recording video as well, so it just kind of fell into our lap."
Meros admits that recording the first show of a tour is not the wisest of decisions in most cases, but for Spock's Beard, it couldn't have worked out better.

"The first couple of shows are when kinks are worked out and we gain confidence playing the set," said Meros. "We figured if we made some little mistakes here and there we could cover them up in the mix, and if the whole thing was horrible we could just simply not release it. But fortunately we had a pretty good show. Rob Aubrey did an absolutely superb job mixing the CD and DVD audio, so it sounds fantastic. The feedback has been great so far."

 

"The X Tour Live" is a two-CD set, and will also be available in a limited edition deluxe version that includes a bonus live DVD with exclusive extra features such as a photo slide show, backstage and rehearsal footage, a version of "Their Names Escape Me" without the names but a killer sax solo, and also a time lapse video of the stage set up.

Spock's Beard has established itself as the crème de la crème of modern progressive rock. Not simply a musician's band, Spock's Beard has also mastered the art of penning catchy, harmony-driven songs that will appeal to any fan of well-written pop songs. The music of Spock's Beard is a reflection of their varied influences, which include classical, pop, rock, jazz and jazz fusion, and R&B, while their intricate multi-part vocal harmonies and use of counterpoint add a whole other dimension.
Mascot Records is an independent record company based in The Netherlands that specializes in guitar music, from metal to instrumental guitar, hard rock, prog rock and (guitar) fusion.
Official weblinks:

www.spocksbeard.com

www.myspace.com/spocksbeard

www.mascotrecordsusa.com