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Noteworthy Now Archives for 2012-04

Deep Purple Prepares To Record

Guitarist Steve Morse says members of Deep Purple are getting ready to start work on the legendary band's first new studio record in seven years and will do it with one of Rock's best producers.  Morse says they have secured the services of Bob Ezrin, who has produced projects for Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel and Kansas, a band Morse was in at the time.  He says getting Ezrin to head-up the recording makes him confident that the album, which he calls a '...really important one' for the band, will meet the expectations of group members and fans.
HenneMusic.com

MORE DEEP PURPLE INSIGHTS

Bruce Springs Surprise In LA

Fans on the scene early for the Bruce Springsteen concert at the LA Sports Arena Friday (4/27) got a rare treat. The Boss, giving some relatives in attendance the chance to get an up-close look at where he and his band would go to work 90 minutes later, asked his guitar tech to pass him an acoustic guitar, strapped it on, paused for to give the relatives a chance to snap some photos, and then gave then the less than half a house a solo run through of For You, the seldom performed gem from his 1973 debut album (video).
LATimes

MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

Heart Box Set Due June 5

Heart will release what the band web site calls a definitive career-spanning box ste on June 5.  The triple CD, single DVD collection titled Strange Euphoria combines the Seattle group's top tracks with rarities and live concert material Ann Wilson says has '...never seen the light of day', and adds that she and her sister, Nancy, are proud of material that did not become fan favorites and even unreleased songs because they stayed true to themselves musically instead of trying d to '...chase the latest 'it' sound.'
Heart-Music.com

MORE HEART INSIGHTS

 

Paul McCartney Pops Up On 30 Rock

Tina Fey's 30 Rock live episode Thursday (4/26) had the perfect set-up to spring a big surprise on it's audience; NBC had decided the cost of doing a live episode was too steep.  Fey character, Liz Lemon, starts railing against the decree, defending the importance of doing the show live because '...anything can happen'.  Lending himself to demonstrate her point, Paul McCartney enters the set, ostensibly to use the lavish corporate restroom in the office of Lemon's boss, Jack Donghay (Alec Baldwin). Several other guest cameos are used to drive home the spontaneity point before McCartney wanders back on the set looking disoriented after hitting his head in the head and suffering short-term memory loss, prompting Lemon to immediately seize on the opportunity to convince Paul she is the love of his life. 
UltimateClassicRock.com

MORE PAUL McCARTNEY INSIGHTS

More Health Issues For Gregg Allman

A tour to promote his new autobiography, My Cross To Bear, is being postponed so Gregg Allman can have some tests done in Jacksonville, FL to find out whether additional treatment might be needed to address issues that may be related to other recent medical issues.  Allman was sidelined for the last concert of the Allman Brothers Band's annual run of dates at the Beacon Theatre in New York s few weeks ago (story) and has had to deal with a number of other medical matters since undergoing a liver transplant in 2010.  Allman was upbeat and optimistic, saying, 'As soon as doctors give me the thumbs up to go back on the road, I will be heading out onto my book tour and I can't wait to meet all of my fans.'
HenneMusic.com

MORE GREGG ALLMAN INSIGHTS

Fans Invited To Levon Helm's Place

Woodstock, NY showed its admiration and respect to Levon Helm by flying village flags at half staff this week in marking the passing of the late drummer who died of throat cancer April 19 (story).  Thursday (4/26), residents and fans are invited to pay their personal respects to the man from a small town in Arkansas that made the small Hudson Valley town his home for most of his 71 years.  The studio where Helm recorded and hosted his Midnight Rambles will be open for visitors between 10am and 3pm.  Due to limited access to parking at the secluded studio, shuttle service is being provided from the Woodstock Playhouse and Andy Lee Field.
Levon will be buried in a plot beside the resting place of Rick Danko, bass player of the Band, in the Woodstock Cemetery.
Relix.com

MORE LEVON HELM INSIGHTS

Plug Pulled on Metal Tour

A planned South American trek involving Gene Simmons of KISS, Def Leppard's Joe Elliot, former Skid Row front man Sebastian Bach, three former Guns N Roses vets, and various current or former members of Collective Soul, Alice In Chains and Black Country Communion has been scrapped.  An official statement issued by the would-be tour participants lays the blame on uncooperative local promoters of shows that would have taken place in Ecuador, Columbia, Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala.  The lone date that seems to have survived the collapsed tour is scheduled for this weekend in Lima, Peru.
HenneMusic.com

Pete Townshend Tells Who He Is

Some of the genius of Pete Townshend's ability to portray conflicted characters in his songs comes from first-hand experience.  Now in his 66th year, the Who member is prepared to tell his own story, and to do it with a level of detail that could go a long way toward helping fans understand him.  Townshend has been in various stages of pulling his story together for the book for better part of the last decade.  Set for an October release, Who I Am is expected to include accounts of abuse he suffered as a child while being raised by his maternal grandmother, his frequently stormy relationships with band mates and his struggles to overcome substance abuse.  The book also promises to include plenty of inside accounts of highpoints in the life and his 50 year career in one of the most influential bands in Rock history.
Express.co.uk

MORE PETE TOWNSHEND INSIGHTS

Neil Young Car Back On Track

A year and a half after sustaining damage in a fire (story), the LincVolt, a massive 1959 Lincoln Continental Neil Young had converted into a high efficient electric hybrid, is in the homestretch of being returned to road-ready condition.  A modified power train will match-up with a cellulosic ethanol generator that project coordinators say will allow for the vehicle to actually recharge itself while underway, theoretically enabling it to go unlimited distances on electric power alone. The team also modified the suspension so it will be able to meet the demands of a regenerative braking system designed for the largest production car to ever roll off a Detroit assembly line.
If all goes smoothly, the rolling hulk of green technology will be plying the roadways of America with a film crew documenting the journey sometime before the leaves fall.
LincVolt.com

MORE NEIL YOUNG INSIGHTS

Ted Nugent Comment Costs Him A Gig

Ted Nugent has never been one to keep his opinions to himself and his freedom to spout them is a treasured and protected American freedom. But when the words used imply a threat to the President, things get sticky.  Remarks Nugent made at the National Rifle Association convention triggered a request for clarification from the Secret Service.  Nugent told the NRA faithful that he would either be 'dead or in jail' a year from now if Barack Obama gets re-elected to another term.  A representative from the Service says concerns about what Nugent meant by the remark were addressed during a meeting with the Detroit Rocker and that the Service is satisfied that no threat to the President was intended. 
Fallout from the remark has continued. Members of Styx and REO Speedwagon, who Nugent is touring with, are said to be uncomfortable with the negative attention Nugent shooting off his mouth has resulted in.  There have been calls for them to drop Nugent from the tour and his remarks have also caused at least one cancellation.  The U.S. Army has reportedly notified tour officials that Nugent can not be in the line-up for the concert scheduled for June 23 at Fort Knox, KY.
News.yahoo.com

Dead Game Comes To Life Online

The Grateful Dead Game: The Epic Tour is getting such an epic reception from online fans of the band that many would-be players are unable to get in, man.  Like the band's long, meandering jams, the game takes a free-form approach rather than the typical structured one.  There are no levels and no definitive end either.  A representative of  Curious Sense, the company that launched the game Friday (4/20), calls The Epic Tour '...a game where the object is to keep having fun rather than get to the end.'  The company drew on the San Francisco band's fan base to come up with concerts to feature in the game by asking them to vote on which shows to include.  Some 30,000 votes were cast, with the 10 that made it in ranging from 1971 through 1990. 
Spinner.com

MORE GRATEFUL DEAD INSIGHTS

Ronnie Van Zant Burial Plot Revealed

When vandals disturbed the burial site of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van Zant in 2000, his family elected to relocate his remains to an undisclosed site.  A Jacksonville, FL television station's follow-up to a post Craigslist by someone seeking to sell plots adjacent to what the lister maintains is the current final resting place of the late vocalist seems to confirm the claim.  A small headstone clearly identifies the plot in Riverside Memorial Park on the Westside of Jacksonville as being where his remains now rest. Assuming that the marker has been in place for at least a decade, it is remarkable that it has taken this long for the site to have been discovered. 
Van Zant, Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines and background vocalist Cassie Gaines lost their lives in the October, 1977 crash of the Lynyrd Skynyrd tour plane.
News4Jax.com

MORE RONNIE VAN ZANT INSIGHTS

Seger Considers Down Under Dates

Bob Seger says that the enthusiastic recepeption John Fogerty got from fans attending his Australian concerts is making the Motor City Rocker giving serious thought to heading Down Under with his Silver Bullet Band. Seger, who has never performed in Australia, told the AAP that Fogerty told him he '...has to go.'  Aussie fans have demonstrated demand for a Bob Seger tour would be strong. Ultimate Hits: Rock And Roll Never Forgets is the top selling compilation album of the last decade and currently holds a stronger chart position than Wrecking Ball, the latest Bruce Springsteen album.  Seger is continuing work on his own album of new material and hopes to have it available before the end of 2012.
AU.News.Yahoo.com

MORE BOB SEGER INSIGHTS

Rush Clockwork Angels Tour Announced

Canadian power trio Rush returns to the road with more than 30 dates across North America, starting September 7 in Manchester, NH.  Clockwork Angels, the group's first album of new material in five years, gets a June 12 release (story).  The band currently ranks 3d in the number of consecutive platinum studio albums, behind only the Rolling Stones and the Beatles.
PRNewswire

MORE RUSH INSIGHTS


CLOCKWORK ANGELS TOUR DATES

Sep-7

Manchester, NH

Verizon Wireless Arena

 

Sep-9

Washington, DC

Jiffy Lube Live Amphitheater

 

Sep-11

Pittsburgh, PA

CONSOL Energy Center

 

Sep-13

Indianapolis, IN

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

 

Sep-15

Chicago, IL

United Center

 

Sep-18

Detroit, MI

Palace of Auburn Hills

 

Sep-20

Columbus, OH

Nationwide Arena

 

Sep-22

St. Louis, MO

Scottrade Center

 

Sep-24

Minneapolis, MN

Target Center

 

Sep-26

Winnipeg, MB

MTS Centre

 

Sep-28

Saskatoon, SK

Credit Union Centre

 

Sep-30

Edmonton, AB

Rexall Place

 





Oct-10

Bridgeport, CT

Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard

 

Oct-12

Philadelphia, PA

Wells Fargo Center

 

Oct-14

Toronto, ON

Air Canada Centre

 

Oct-18 

Montreal, QC

Bell Centre

 

Oct-20

Newark, NJ

Prudential Center

 

Oct-22

Brooklyn, NY

Barclays Center

 

Oct-24

Boston, MA

TD Garden

 

Oct-26

Buffalo, NY

First Niagara Center

 

Oct-28

Cleveland, OH

Quicken Loans Arena

 

Oct-30

Charlotte, NC

Time Warner Cable Arena

 





*Nov-1

Atlanta, GA

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

 

Nov-3

Tampa, FL

1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre

 

Nov-13

Seattle, WA

KeyArena

 

Nov-15

San Jose, CA

HP Pavilion

 

Nov-17

Anaheim, CA

Honda Center

 

Nov-19

Los Angeles, CA

Gibson Amphitheatre

 

Nov-23

Las Vegas, NV

MGM Grand Garden Arena

 

Nov-25

Phoenix, AZ

US Airways Center

 

Nov-28

Dallas, TX

American Airlines Center

 

Nov-30

San Antonio, TX

AT&T Center

 





Dec-2

Houston, TX

Toyota Center

 

Cancer Claims Levon Helm

We knew how imminent the end was for Levon Helm when we heard that even Robbie Robertson had made a bedside visit to make peace with the band mate he had scarcely spoken with for decades.  Just 48 hours after his web site advised his fans that the former Band drummer was entering the final stage of his illness and life (story), the 71 year-old Helm passed on peacefully with his wife, daughter and close friends by his side at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City on Thursday (4/19).
Although Robertson was generally thought of as the lead vocalsit of the Band, It was the distinctive, rootsy voice of Helm that made The Weight and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down the songs widely considered the finest ones the group ever recorded or performed. But Robertson held sway when it came to most decisions regarding the group - and his 1976 decision to disband it caused bitter disappointment to Helm and other group members.  In Levon's case, things never really got patched up.  It was said that Helm elected to skip the Band's 1994 Rock Hall Of Fame induction ceremony despite having traveled to New York for it because he could not bring himself to be on the same stage with the man that destroyed the group.
Robertson has had some success in the post-Band decades, but the slick textured, highly produced direction he headed in had little appeal to fans that appreciated the simple, straight forward sound of the Band and failed to attract many new fans. Helm, on the other hand, managed to retain the appreciation and love of his early fans and attract legions of new ones from Americana and Jam Band fan ranks, earning him three Grammy awards and a multi-generational following that will miss him dearly.

MORE LEVON HELM INSIGHTS

Heartbreakers Guitars Safe & Sound

As predicted (story), it did not take long to crack the case of the break-in that resulted in the theft of five guitars belonging to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. The instruments were discovered missing from a Culver City, CA rehearsal hall Thursday (4/12).  Included in the lot were Petty's 1967 Blonde Rickenbacker, and Gibson SG TV Jr.,, A Fender Boradcaster belonging to Ron Blair, Scott Thurston's 1967 Epiphone and a custom built Dusenberg belonging to Mike Campbell.  The band offered a $7500 no-questions-asked reward for info leading to the return of the instruments.  Culver City police announced an arrest in the case and the recovery of the guitars on Tuesday (4/17).  The culprit was reportedly a security guard.
LATimes.com

MORE TOM PETTY INSIGHTS

Levon Helm Close To Death

Levon Helm's passion for making music began at a very young age and continued to inspire him in recent years as he valiantly battled against cancer.  Musicians of multiple generations and genres have been in awe of Levon's talent and determination.  Other drummers sang, but none had the extraordinary, unique voice, style and infectious enthusiasm Helm brought to the stage and studio every day of his performing life.  Determined not to let his disease rob him of the ability to make and share music, Helm increasingly replaced days on the road with time spent in his own studio, where he hosted open to the public Midnight Rambles.  Musicians of all stripes made the trip to the secluded studio in new York's Hudson Valley to be in the company of Helm, his guest musicians and music lovers that traveled great distances to share in the enjoyment of  great music being made in an intimate performance space.
His web site posted notice Tuesday (4/17) that he was in the final stages of cancer, asking those who loved his music to ,'send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey', and thanking fans for allowing him to have a life filled with joy and celebration, saying '...he loved nothing ore than to play, to fill the room with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance.'

Alice in Ink

Welcome To My Nightmare: The Story Of Alice Cooper promises to be a revealing read about one of the more fascinating figures in Rock.  Oddly, the book will be available June 13 in the UK but will not hit US shores until September 1.  Compiled and written by Dave Thompson, the book will include info from previously unpublished interviews from a number of people involved in the Shock Rocker's career along with observations about Cooper from a number of acts that he influenced along the way.
Thompson has produced a number of projects delving into the background of bands, including books about U2, David Bowie and ZZ Top.
Gibson.com

MORE ALICE COOPER INSIGHTS

Cleveland Sends Message To Axl

The crowd at the Rock Hall Of Fame induction in Cleveland Saturday (4/14) was less forgiving than the high-brow audience the event attracts when it is held at New York's Waldorf Astoria, so it was no surprise that they let loose a barrage of boos directed at Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose over his decision not to attend the event.  Former band mates that did attend let him off easy by not mentioning him by name during their on-stage comments.  Billie Joe Armstrong couldn't resist giving the audience a chance to vent by interjecting into his intro, 'Let's see, who am I missing'.  He then defended Rose by responding to the onslaught of boos by saying, 'This man's a bad-ass f#*kin' singer - one of the best front men to ever touch a mic.'  Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge filled in for Rose when the Guns members in attendance strapped on instruments later in the program.  Chris Rock took a shot at Rose while inducting the Red Hot Chili Peppers when he said, '...even if he had come tonight, he wouldn't be here by now!.
CA.Music.Yahoo.com

 

Bigger Crime Than Petty Larceny

Tom Petty faces the prospect of touring without one of his favorite axes, his 1967 Blonde Rickenbacker (serial # GH3747), one of five instruments stolen from a Culver City, CA rehearsal hall the Heartbreakers were using to gear up for a US tour that kicks-off next week.  Also nabbed in the break-in were Petty's Gibson SG TV Junior (serial # 318533), a 1967 Epiphone Sheridan, a Fender Broadcaster, and a custom Mike Campbell model guitar.
The band is offering a $7,500 no questions asked reward for information that leads to the return of the instruments (StolenGuitars@TomPetty.com).
It's almost certain an APB is out to auction houses, pawn shops EBay and Craigs List, and a posse of Petty fans is sure to be keeping eyes open and ears to the ground, so it's our guess the thief or thieves will either be caught or get smart and use the e-mail above to let Tom and the band know where to get the guitars back.
TomPetty.com

MORE TOM PETTY INSIGHTS

Springsteen Adds Another Round Of US Dates

The triumphant string of sold out arena dates the E Street Band has underway will be followed by a month in Europe during July.  Fans unable to score tickets to the first round of US dates will have a better chance of catching the Boss in August and September when Wrecking Ball tour moves into roomier confines state side.  Alhough single nights are booked for all but East Rutherford, NY which gets three, all other stops announced Friday (4/13) have at least three days between them, which could allow for adding a second night in some.
The most interesting of the dates could prove to be Vernon Downs, a very large harness race track nestled in the rolling countryside of just west of Utica, New York with an expansive infield that that could theoretically accommodate considerably more than the 30,000 fans track officials and the promoter are expecting will pony up $108 for the all general admission show. 

August
18 - Boston/Foxboro - Gillette Stadium
24 - Toronto - Rogers Centre
26 - Moncton, New Brunswick - Magnetic Hill
29 - Vernon, NY - Vernon Downs Raceway & Casino Resort

September
  2 - Philadelphia - Citizens Bank Park
  7 - Chicago - Wrigley Field
14 - Washington, DC - Nationals Park
19, 20, 21 - East Rutherford, NJ

Stewart-Faces Reunion Scrapped

Friday the 13th proved unlucky for fans hoping the long string of failed attempts to stage a Faces reunion would come to an end this weekend in Cleveland when the band gets inducted into the Rock Hall Of FameStewart called in sick from LA, apparently suffering from a case of strep throat.  Ron Wood, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones broke the bad news while turning over an autographed copy of a new book about the band's six year run and lasting impact on Rock to the Rock Hall Of Fame's Library.   Wood told Billboard that Rod and the band were 'gutted' by the news, adding that his condition was bad enough that he'd been advised against making the trip even if he wasn't going to sing.  Simply Red vocalist Mike Hucknall, who has stood in for Stewart during a couple of recent Faces mini-tours, is expected to fill his shoes when the band performs in Cleveland Saturday.  Wood did get a kick out of Billboard's suggestion that they contact Axl Rose, quipping, 'He might do it for us. he definitely won't do it with GNR'.
Billboard.com

MORE FACES INSIGHTS

Bob Weir Hooks Up With Yahoo

Bob Weir has entered into a deal with Yahoo that will let fans of the Grateful Dead and Furthur guitarist with high speed internet connections to take in HD quality video and audio feeds of performances originating from his new studio in the Bay Area.  TRI Studio was designed as a live performance space and is equipped with sophisticated audio and video equipment capable of delivering HD produced content live to devices ranging from hand-helds to full blown, internet enabled home theater systems.  The $5 million studio even allows the musicians to adjust the sonic characteristics of the studio to make it sound as though the concert being transmitted is taking place in a stadium, an arena, a cathedral, a club or just a studio. 
While Yahoo declined to provide much in the way of details on the terms of the arrangement, it is evident that sponsorship revenue as well as pay-to-view or subscription plans will play lead roles in making the venture pay off.  Weir characterized the concept as a way to transform the typical corporate tour sponsorship into something that more closely represents a '...patronage for Rock & Roll'.
CNBC.com

MORE BOB WEIR INSIGHTS

Rock Hall Performance Pairings

News that Izzy Stradlin and Axl Rose don't plan to be in attendance when Guns N' Roses gets officially inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame makes free agents of Slash and other GNR members that do plan to be in Cleveland Saturday (4/14).  The possibility has been raised that Slash and Matt Sorum would reprise the roles Jimmy Page and John Bonham played on the original recording and back Donovan on Hurdy Gurdy Man. Whether that happens or not, the Hall has confirmed that Mellencamp will perform with Donovan.  And in what promises to be Hall highlight this year, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top will join forces with guitar great Joe Bonamassa in paying tribute to the late Freddie King and Rod Stewart will finally be reunited with his Faces mates.
Cleveland.com

Mellencamp-King Production Opens

Following a few preview performances, the official opening night for Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, the John Mellencamp, Stephen King musical, takes place Wednesday (4/11) at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.  It has taken the better part of a decade for the 19 song production to come to life on stage.  The music is true to Mellencamp's style - no overblown orchestra or synthesized hijynx, just uncluttered songs and interludes involving harmonica, slide guitar, accordion and drums, lyrics that ring true and a cast that the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports does the tunes justice.
AJC.com

MORE JOHN MELLENCAMP INSIGHTS

Jersey Gov. Nods Off At Springsteen Show

New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a self-professed Springsteen fanatic who claims to have attended 126 E Street Band concerts might wish his 127th came on a night he was better rested.  The New York Post reports that Christie appeared to fall asleep during a portion of the Boss' set at Madison Square Garden.  The embarrassing revelation comes as the Garden State's head honcho has been waging a campaign to get  Springsteen to commit to doing a concert at Revel, a multi-billion dollar casino resort scheduled to open Memorial day Weekend in Atlantic City.   The quick fade is said to have begun as the band started playing Rocky Ground just after Bruce had issued an appeal from the stage for fans to support metropolitan area food banks.  A spokesperson for the governor would not comment on the alleged nap.
NYPost.com

MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

Montrose Death A Suicide

Nearly a month after the passing of Ronnie Montrose (story), the guitar great's family has acknowledged that his death was actually a suicide and not directly the result of cancer, as initial reports had indicated.  In a statement released at about the same time a coroner's report on the cause of death was being released, his family wrote, 'We hope you can understand why we wanted to keep this news a private family matter for as long as possible', and implored those that admired Ronnie to celebrate his life rather than mourn over his passing, adding that Montrose, '...adored and appreciated his fans'.  Many musicians, including his other Montrose band mates, will gather later this month to pay tribute to him during a Bay Area concert (story).
Music-News.com

Countdown On For Rush Release

Canadian power trio Rush has set a release date of June 12 for the group's new studio album. Clockwork Angels includes a dozen tracks that the band says tell of '...lost cities, pirates, anarchists, an exotic carnival and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life'.  The album's production was handled by Nick Raskulinecz, who also served in that capacity on the Snakes & Arrows release five years ago.  Drummer Neil Peart is also collaborating on a companion novel with sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson that will expand on some of the themes of the lyrics.
FMQB.com

Clockwork Angels songs
Caravan
BU2B
Clockwork Angels
The Anarchist
Carnies
Halo Effect
Seven Cities of Gold
The Wreckers
Headlong Flight
BU2B2
Wish The Well
The Garden

Fogerty Enlists Bob Seger & Foo Fighters

John Fogerty is putting together a collection of new versions of Creedence Clearwater Revival classics and is doing it with help form a musically diverse bunch of fellow musicians.  The album John hopes to have out this fall is titled Wrote A Song For Everyone, a song he wrote for the 1969 album CCR album Green RiverBillboard reports that Bob Seger, members of the Foo Fighters and My Morning Jacket have signed on to do new versions of songs with Fogerty, as have Country artists Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley.  The Foo Fighers have apparently opted for Fortunate Son - a song Bob Seger released a live version of in 1986, while Seger joins Fogerty on the updated take on Who'll Stop The Rain.
Gibson.com

MORE JOHN FOGERTY INSIGHTS

Joe Bonamassa Disc Due May 22

Joe Bonamassa packs more music making into an average month than a lot of musicians manage to put together during an entire year.  In addition to keeping his live chops in top-shelf condition by doing his own concerts on a far more regular basis than most artists, the guitar great more than doubles his recording and touring workload by also being a member of the band Black Country Communion and making frequent guest appearances with musicians he admires.  
Just weeks after releasing an outstanding DVD of his Beacon Theatre concerts, Bonamassa offers up a new album with the May 22 release of Driving Towards The Daylight, a studio effort that benefits from contributions by a number of guests, including Brad Whitford of Aerosmith. In addition to several covers of songs, the album will feature four new Bonamassa originals, including the title song. 
Anton Fig (drums), Pat Thrall and Blondie Chapman (guitars), Carmine Rojas and Michael Rhodes (Bass) and Arian Schierbaum (keyboards) are also featured on the album.  Whitford calls it a project, '....definitely more influenced by the stuff the guys and the musicians in this room love, early 60's English and American Rock and Blues', adding, 'I guess we'll never get that out of our system'. Amen to that!
GuitarWorld.com

MORE JOE BONAMASSA INSIGHTS

Vedder Nerve Damage Scraps Solo Tour

A back injury that resulted in damage to nerves in Eddie Vedder's right arm has forced the Pearl Jam front man to cancel a 15 date solo tour.  Manager Kelly Curtis says Vedder put in 8 weeks of aggressive physical therapy in an effort to get himself is good enough shape to not be a disappointment to fans but that the lost mobility and intensity of the injury made it impossible for him to keep the dates and adds, 'Eddie is frustrated beyond measure, but remains positive that come this summer all will be back in good form.' 
The plan at this point is to reschedule the solo trek for November and December. Tickets for the original dates can be held and used at the rescheduled concerts. Refunds will also be offered through the original points of purchase.
PearlJam.com

MORE EDDIE VEDDER INSIGHTS

Beatle Offspring Consider Banding

Sons of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are said to be planning to form a band.  The possibility that Sean Lennon, James McCartney, Dhani Harrison and Zak Starkey might do it went public in a recent interview McCartney's son did with the BBC.  James has appeared on albums his father and late mother, Linda, recorded and put out his own solo project in 2012. Sean, the son born to John Lennon and Yoko Ono and the younger half brother of Julian Lennon, has performed on albums done by his mother.  He was only 5 when his father was killed. Dhani Harrison helped complete Brainwashed, the album George Harrison was working on at the time of his death in 2001 and later formed his own group, thenew02.  Drummer Starkey has been the semi-official member of the Who in recent years and has also kept the beat for Oasis.  Even if the sum of their talent wildly exceeds each individual's, coming up with anything remotely close to as good as anything their fathers produced together would be remarkable and, fair or not, they certainly realize that's what it would be measured against by most people.

Young Wants To Upgrade Audio

Tradition and innovation are as dear to Neil Young as music. His newest project is driven by elements of both.  Young has railed against the sacrafice of audio quality that results when music is saved in the mp3 file format. Now, he is rumored to be preparing to introduce a higher fidelity alternative. Rolling Stone magazine is reporting that Young is securing several trademarks on names that could be intended for a HD file format and/or streaming service. '21st Century Record Player', 'Thanks For Listening' 'Earth Storage', "Ivanhoe' and "SQS (Studio Quality Sound)' are identified by RS as being on trademark applications recenly submitted by Young.  The Rocker is also an active proponent of Pono, a cloud based service being developed as a high-end  alternative to the highly compressed quality audio that is the current online standard.
CNET.com

MORE NEIL YOUNG INSIGHTS

Marshall Amp Designer Dead

The man responsible for designing the brawny amp favored by generations of Rockers has died.  The amplifiers that bore Jim Marshall's last name in bold letters on their grill featured a separate amp unit atop the speaker cabinets, allowing for them to be stacked atop one another, leading many hard Rocking bands to assemble veritable walls of amps and earning Marshall the nickname the Father Of Loud.  Critics suspected that some even added empty cabinets to their array to one-up other groups.  Rockers including Joe Bonamassa and Slash took to their Twitter accounts to praise Marshall for his contribution to music.  The company's web site also noted that Marshall was '...also an incredibly humble and generous man who, over the past several decades, has quietly donated many millions of pounds to worth causes.'  We wonder whether some of that went to organizations involved in hearing loss prevention and recovery.
Guardian.co.uk

Lofgren Defend Boss' Teleprompter Use

Recent revelations that Bruce Springsteen has a screen at his feet scrolling lyrics to songs seems to have distressed some fans. Guitarist Nils Lofgren stood up for his boss in an interview with the Washington Post, pointing out that the invitation for fans to make requests during shows introduced so many wild card possibilities of rarely performed songs from Springsteen's back catalog as well as cover songs he hasn't done in years, if ever, that a tech safety net should be entirely understandable.  Lofgren said that during the E Street Band's Magic tour the group did a total of 192 different songs and added that having the lyrics close at hand, or in this case, foot, is what '...allows for those ambitious, ad lib moments and an inspired, musical recklessness I believe is unique to our shows.'
Music-News.com

MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

Slash Vents About GNR Dysfunction

Prospects for a Guns N' Roses reunion during the April 14 Rock hall Of Fame induction ceremony are dim enough that Slash probably figures nothing he says between now and then will matter. Speaking with Rolling Stone magazine about his new album (Apocalyptic Love 5/22), the guitarist said that he knows no more than anyone else about what is likely to happen that night but adds, '...I would love to f**king play, but it's just something that's not gonna happen for whatever reason.' 
Slash, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler are a lock to be in Cleveland for the ceremony, but Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin are keeping the others guessing.  The one thing Slash seems certain of is that Rose '...hates my guts'.
Matt Sorum tells VH1 that he and Slash could fill the roles Jimmy Page and John Bonham had on the original recording of Hurdy Gurdy Man when Donovan performs at the induction.
HenneMusic.com  ClassicRockMagazine.com

Stones Snap, Crackle, Pop (video)

Rolling Stones fans tuned to the Sunday (4/1) episode of the hit series Mad Men might have assumed pitchman exec Raymond Geiger's suggestion that his agency should convince the band to turn Time Is On My Side into Heinz Is On My Side for a baked bean ad and the assertion the band had actually done a breakfast cereal commercial a few years earlier perfect sub-plot for the show airing on  April Fools Day. Turns out, the claim was true.  The Stones really did do an ad in the UK for Rice Krispies (video)
HollywoodReporter.com

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Crue Strip Club Hits The Strip (video)

Vince Neil is involved in a number of business ventures, but the idea of owning and operating a strip club has always been a dream - and what better place to do it than the Las Vegas strip.  The Motley Crue front man and Vegas resident has thrown open the doors on a club that takes its name form one of the Cure signature songs, Girls, Girls, Girls and the owner vows that the ladies will strut their stuff to nothing but Rock.  The grand opening celebration for the new club is still a couple of weeks away, but Neil recently presided over the soft opening of the hard rockin' club. What's different other than a steady menu of straight ahead Rock? Neil says his 6pm - 6am operation encourages things other Vegas establishments discourage in showgirls and dancers - like tattoos.  Neil hopes the Vegas club will be be followed by openings in other markets, including New Orleans.  Get a look at the look and attitude behind Girls, Girls, Girls (video).

Joe Perry Updates Aerosmith Progress

Joe Perry tells Billboard that work on his group's first studio album of new material in nearly a decade is nearing completion and says Aerosmith aims to have it out before the summer comes to a close.  According to Perry, only a couple of songs need to be nailed down and recorded.  The process of making the as yet untitled album has been more of a group effort for the first time since the  late 80's. He describes the last few Aerosmith albums as ones that were the product of '...everybody is getting in the studio and throwing down their songs', while this one includes a lot more collaboration in the writing department.  The group has also prepped a remake of Legendary Child, a song recorded during the Get A Grip sessions, for use in the next GI Joe film and soundtrack album.
Perry says the album and the tour will bring back the feel and energy fans of the group's early albums will love, promising, '...we want to bring out songs we just haven't played for years.' The Global Warming Tour opens June 16 in Minneapolis (story).
Blabbermouth.net

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Ron Wood Blues Project

The Rolling Stones did a number of recording sessions at the Chess Records studios in Chicago the early going. The band even titled AN instrumental with the address of the studio - 2120 South Michigan Avenue. Other tracks recorded at the fabled label's home base include Satisfaction and It's All Over Now. Even though Ron Wood did not become a member of the band until much later, he was also greatly influenced by Chess artists like Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Willie DixonWoody has now been tapped to help coordinate a Chess Records Bluesfest tribute scheduled for June 30 at the Hammersmith Apollo in the UK.  Wood will also perform at the festival.  Just who he plans to have with him has not been announced, but some of the songs have, including No Particular Place To Go, I'm A Man, I'd Rather Go Blind and Maybellene.
Music-News.com

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