Judas Priest have announced the UK dates for their final “Epitaph” world tour.
Priest will have Queensryche and Rival Sons as opening acts.
Judas Priest Epitaph – UK Tour 2011
Jul 15 - Newport, UK @ Centre Jul 16 - Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo Jul 17 - Doncaster, UK @ The Dome Jul 19 - Glasgow, UK @ SECC Jul 20 - Newcastle, UK @ Metro Arena Jul 21 - Wolverhampton, UK @ Civic Hall Jul 23 - London, UK @ High Voltage Festival Jul 24 - Bournemouth, UK @ BIC
Tickets For Judas Priest's Manchester and Wolverhampton shows go on sale at 9 a.m. local time on March 1.
Priest announced in December that they will head out on their farewell world tour beginning this year; the band intends to hit all major cities across the globe as they sign off on a career that has lasted for nearly 40 years.
NPR Radio have launched a new weekly series of interviews with Jack White.
While he made headlines with the recent announcement that The White Stripes were officially done, Jack’s also been very busy with his Third Man Records label.
Jack recently oversaw, and played on, “The Party Ain’t Over,” the new album from the Queen Of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson. White is still an active member of both The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, as well.
NPR goes one-on-one with White in its new series called The Flipside.
In this week’s debut episode, along with the mention that he’d be restarting his Third Man Upholstery business he ran before he was famous, White talks about his recent 45 with auctioneer Jerry King.
Check out The Flipside with Jack White at NPRhere.
“Mötley will listen to the fans, not to guys trying to book a tour through the media." - Eric Sherman, Motley Crue’s manager (Nov 2010)
Last fall, Bret Michaels was telling audiences on his solo tour that Poison would be touring with Motley Crue this summer.
Crue members Tommy Lee and Vince Neil screamed an emphatic “NO!” about the rumors.
At the time, Eric Sherman, President of 10th Street Entertainment, Mötley Crüe's management, told People that Michaels knows there is no tour and that "he's trying to will it," adding that fans can vote on Motley's website for who they would like to see on the bill.
Michaels later admitted it was ‘wishful thinking,’ but that’s now turned out to be reality. And, even if it may have all been chest-puffing, pro wrestling-style hype, Poison will be touring with Motley Crue this summer, after all.
Both bands are celebrating big anniversaries this year: 30 for the Crue and 25 for Poison.
Poison’s tour is tentatively titled "Glam–A–Gedon 25," as Michaels reunites with his Poison bandmates. Michaels will continue solo dates through the summer, as well, alternating between shows with Poison, and those with Poison/Motley Crue.
The Crue package also includes the New York Dolls, for what is being called a select date summer tour.
Tickets for the Motley Crue / Poison tour will go on sale March 18.
When reporters recently asked Michaels if there was any bad blood between the bands, Michaels laughs "there may be some friendly competition, but there is no bad blood at all on my part. Nikki and I have spoken several times on the phone recently and the conversations went great."
"Music is a universal language,” continued Michaels, “and I am extremely excited that this tour has come together, as are the fans, they are truly going to see a great show. Honestly, I could care less about all the mudslinging, it gets nobody nowhere, and after all I have been through health-wise in the last year, I am going to try to focus on what does matter - which is the show, the fans, fun and personally throwing a hell of a backstage party."
Michaels will be the featured guest on this Wednesday’s Piers Morgan Tonight on CNN.
Bret Michaels – interview (clip) CNN – Piers Morgan Tonight - to air March 2, 2011
As I mentioned yesterday, the new Bob Seger single arrived at radio this morning.
Seger covers Tom Waits’ “Downtown Train,” the first song released from an upcoming work-in-progress album by Bob, his first in 5 years.
The back story on this is that Seger mentioned the song to Rod Stewart back in the summer of ’89, after Bob had recorded it himself earlier that year "The next thing I knew,” Seger told Billboard, “a month later he recorded "Downtown Train" in London, and two months later, he recorded it in the same studio I recorded it in Los Angeles."
Rod’s version, one of four new songs recorded for his 1989 “Storyteller” box set, went on to become a smash hit, and Bob put his version in storage.
Rod’s team denies they stole the idea but, c’mon, that’s clearly what happened. Stealing ideas in music, and business, happens often, and rarely do the people who do it ever pay the price.
Sure, it took twenty years, but Rod’s been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
According to its listing on Amazon.com, former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s autobiography, “No Regrets,” has been pushed back to April of 2013.
Co-written by New York Times journalist Joe Layden, "No Regrets" is to be published by Gallery Books under the VH1 Books imprint, and was originally scheduled for publication in Summer 2011.
No explanation was posted about the delay.
In his memoir, Frehley will delve into his life as a kid growing up in the Bronx, his ups-and-downs and influences which catapulted him into a life of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll, and reveal what is was like to be one of the founding members of one of the most influential bands in the world.
When the original announcement about the book was made last year, Ace Frehley said, "I think Sinatra said it best...'regrets I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.'"
The Velvet Revolver Mystery Singer Contest continues.
And it continues to be of interest to music fans, who made the issue the most-viewed rock story of the week, landing it in the top spot on the hennemusic Hot 10.
Without a singer now for almost 3 years, and having auditioned a bunch of people, VR news heated up in December when it appeared the band was close to nailing someone down for the gig.
Slash confirmed that Stone Sour/Slipknot’s Corey Taylor is the man being considered, but now things have stalled because of Slash’s tour obligations for his solo record.
Duff McKagan recently confirmed Slash’s comments, adding "There's no big rush with the VR thing, because Slash is on tour.”
"I'll go with Corey Taylor's line that was genius, like, a week ago or whatever. I can neither confirm nor deny that Corey Taylor is in Velvet Revolver,” said Duff, adding, “That guy is the real deal, in my view. It's just my view. No, I think millions of other people think the same thing — that he's the real deal."
The HH10 is a list of the most-viewed rock news stories in the past week by hennemusic readers.
Gary Moore is still on the minds of music fans, following his passing from a heart attack on February 6 in Spain. Footage from a documentary on Moore, completed prior to his passing, surfaced this week, and news of his funeral were two of the top 5 spots on the HH10.
The Van Halen studio/album/tour rumors, posted a few weeks ago, remain a hot item, as fans look for news they won’t get from the band themselves.
A KISS “showdown” of sorts happened on eBay recently, with cars owned (or previously owned) by Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley went up for auction on the site. Check the story to see which KISS member fared the best with their sale.
Other big rock news this past week included Jack White’s declaration that he has no plans to join another band (he’s already in The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather), as well as one of his rare, signed guitars was stolen from its owner in London.
And, a couple of old stories returned to the surface, as fans dig back through the hennemusic vault to check out past items on their favorites. November’s launch of Conan O’Brien’s new TBS show has regained interest here, with videos of both Soundgarden’s and Jack White’s appearances on opening week returning to the HH10.
Sebastian Bach was on hand last week at the press conference to announce the details of the 2011 Revolver Golden Gods awards show.
Billed as America’s only hard rock and heavy metal awards, the 3rd Annual Revolver Golden God Awards will take place Wednesday, April 20, at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles. The event will be televised on VH1 Classic on May 28.
Bach will host the red carpet pre-show, which should prove to be interesting, not to mention the amount of editing that footage is going to require before it airs on VH1.
At the press conference, Sebastian was asked if he would ever consider a Skid Row reunion.
And that’s when the sparks started flying…
"No, because I don't base my life in 2011 on, like, 30 years ago,” said Bach. “And I also... I was kicked out of that band. Like, if you worked at Pizza Hut and you got fired, would you be knocking on the door of the Pizza Hut, 'Please let me back in.' You'd be, like, 'F**k Pizza Hut! F**k you!' I'd be, like, 'F**k you! You wanna f**king kick me out? Go f**k yourself!' [Laughs] I'm always perplexed by that. You don't want me to sing in your band? Kiss my f**king ass! Don't hurt yourself finding someone that can. [Laughs]"
Bach is currently in the studio with guitarist Nick Sterling and producer Bob Marlette working on his new album, tentatively due this summer via Italian label Frontiers Records.
Sometimes it’s better to keep good ideas to yourself.
That’s probably one of the lessons Bob Seger learned when he shared his love of a Tom Waits song with Rod Stewart, back in the summer of 1989.
Seger recorded “Downtown Train” in early ’89, and mentioned it to Stewart during a visit to London that summer.
"The next thing I knew,” Seger told Billboard, “a month later he recorded 'Downtown Train' in London, and two months later, he recorded it in the same studio I recorded it in Los Angeles."
Once Stewart’s version was released and became a hit, Seger was pretty much forced to bury his version, for the time being; more than 20 years have passed since then.
Seger's current version of "Downtown Train," freshly recorded for an upcoming new album, will be released to radio Monday morning.
Billboard reports that Stewart and his representatives have long denied that he stole the idea to record "Downtown Train," and any hard feelings have settled over the years. Stewart offered an olive branch, of sorts, by recording Seger's "Still the Same" as the title track of his 2006 covers album "Still the Same...Great Rock Classics of Our Time."
Seger and the Silver Bullet Band are currently rehearsing for a US tour, which kicks off March 26 in Toledo.
Here’s the original version of the song Rod burned Bob on:
Those sneaky Foo Fighters are up to their new tricks.
They’ve spent much of the last week in London, appearing – and playing – at various events.
On Wednesday, the Foos were at the NME Awards, where Dave Grohl received the “Godlike Genius” Award, and the band played a full 2-hour set.
Thursday, the band joined Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor at the opening night event for “Stormtroopers in Stilettos: Queen, The Early Years,” a new exhibition in East London.
The Foos played their first big show of the year on Friday, at the NME Awards Big Gig at London’s Wembley Arena.
By Saturday, the Foos were itching to perform again, so they did just that - playing a secret club show Camden's Dingwalls.
The NME reports the band played the 500 capacity venue as a special fan show under the alias White Limo.
When the Foos hit the stage, Grohl had a welcome message for fans at Dingwalls. "You remember me? This is not a f**king stadium rock show, just so ya know. This is not the arena rock setlist tonight, just so ya know. We're gonna be here a long f**king time, so get comfortable.”
Close to 3 hours later, Grohl was proven right.
Foo Fighters – intro / Bridge Burning Dingwalls – Camden, UK – February 26, 2011
Ace Frehley will be playing a post-NHL game concert following the Tampa Bay Lightning home game against the Ottawa Senators on March 11.
At least, we’re pretty sure it’s Ace that’s playing, but we’re not sure the Lightning promo department knows.
You see, the team has posted a banner outside the arena to promote the performance, but it’s not Ace – it’s an image of Tommy Thayer, who plays Ace in KISS these days.
No word, yet, on whether the Lightning will be correcting their error – or if they’ve decided to book Thayer for the event, instead.
Someone is scheduled to play a concert outdoors on the West Plaza stage immediately following the game…
Sammy Hagar is gearing up for the release of his autobiography, "Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock.”
The book is due on March 15 via It Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
As part of Canadian Music Week, Hagar will be making the rounds in Toronto next month.
On Friday, March 11, Sammy’s new film, “Go There Once, Be There Twice,” will screen in Toronto at The TIFF Bell Lightbox as part of CMW’s Film Festival. Hagar will be present to introduce the documentary to fans in attendance.
The following day – Saturday, March 12 - Hagar will be featured in an exclusive interview at CMW at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
Sammy worked on the project with Joel Selvin, longtime pop music writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.
In a new video, Sammy and Joel talk about writing the book together as well as their shared history.
Sammy Hagar with Joel Selvin – Red preview (2011)
The Marin Independent Journal recently published a couple of short excerpts from the book; here’s a taste:
On reconnecting with Eddie Van Halen just before the 2004 VH reunion tour:
"I hadn't seen him in 10 years. He looked like he hadn't bathed in a week. He certainly hadn't changed his clothes in at least that long. He wasn't wearing a shirt. He had on a giant overcoat and army pants, tattered and ripped at the cuffs, held up with a piece of rope. I'd never seen him so skinny in my life. He was missing a number of teeth and the ones he had left were black. His boots were so worn out he had gaffer's tape wrapped around them and his big toe still stuck out."
On original VH singer David Lee Roth:
"I hated Dave. The guy rubbed me wrong. I'm sure I rub all kinds of people wrong, so it's not like I'm putting him down. The guy was a great front man, great attitude in rock, and had an image from hell, but I just couldn't stand the guy. He was the opposite of what I believed in and what I am. First of all, the guy's not a great singer and he acts like he's the coolest, hottest guy in the world when, to me, he looks gay."
There’s more to read about “Red” at the Marin Independent Journalhere.
The Ramones were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Grammy Awards earlier this month.
Don’t worry, you didn’t miss it during the exhaustingly-long TV broadcast; it was one of the pre-show awards that were handed out the day before.
A few members of the band’s extended family were on hand to pick up the honor.
The late Johnny Ramone’s wife, Linda, accepted on his behalf; Osaka Popstar vocalist John Cafiero spoke for the late Dee Dee Ramone; Joey Ramone’s brother, Mickey Leigh, accepted on his behalf; and, lastly, the band's original drummer and sole survivor, Tommy Ramone, was on hand to accept the award presented on behalf of himself and his bandmates.
Everyone spoke about the honor itself, and the influence of the legendary punk pioneers, but Joey’s brother, Mickey, gets the quote of the night:
“First of all, I have to say that, personally, I think this is a tremendous honor,” said Mickey, “but in response to the thousands of emails I’ve gotten from my brother Joey Ramone’s fans, who are compelling me to alert the Academy that this should be televised tomorrow night and you should bump Justin Bieber.”
The Ramones – Acceptance speeches Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award Pre-awards ceremony - Grammy Awards – February 12, 2011
Vince Neil's first request on Friday after serving 10 days in jail?
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the Motley Crue frontman wanted fast food, really fast: Two McDonald's quarter pounders with cheese and french fries, reported his girlfriend Alicia Jacobs, entertainment reporter at KSNV-TV, Channel 3.
Vince was sentenced last month to two weeks in the Clark County Detention Center and two weeks of house arrest for a June DUI charge.
Neil, 50, was given early jail release after volunteering for kitchen duties, including 3:30 a.m. wakeup calls to help serve 4 a.m. breakfasts to the 4,000 inmates.
Jacobs said Neil was accompanied to his home by three officers who explained the rules of house arrest.
For some reason, Vince’s girlfriend has been given the task of interviewing him for a series of reports to air on KSNV-TV early next week.
Um, isn’t that a little too close to present an objective report?
As we mentioned the other day, a major Queen exhibition has opened in London.
“Stormtroopers in Stilettos: Queen, The Early Years,” is a major retrospective exhibition celebrating the formation, and first five albums, of one of the most exciting, glamorous and influential bands in global musical history.
The BBC reports Queen stars Roger Taylor and Brian May were on hand for the opening, which kicks off the band's 40th anniversary celebrations.
"There are things I have forgotten," said Taylor at the launch. "It's quite shocking for us to suddenly bring back what happened, all those years ago, in such vivid detail”
Themed rooms in the exhibition space - documenting Queen's journey to fame - are dedicated to the band's first albums and feature artwork, costumes made by British designer Zandra Rhodes, and the band's instruments, plus a recreation of the studio in which "Bohemian Rhapsody" was recorded. The exhibition also features video footage, interviews and photographs.
Brian May hopes it will be an inspiration to visitors, especially if they are musicians starting out as Queen once did. "Once you come into this exhibition, you realize that we were just boys and we got together with a dream. We worked night and day for many years and we were very lucky," said the veteran guitarist.
The 40th anniversary of the band is also marked this weekend with the release of a two-track single, also entitled “Stormtroopers In Stilettos.“
It features previously unreleased versions of early Queen tracks "Keep Yourself Alive" (Long Lost Retake) and "Stone Cold Crazy" (2011 Remaster).
"These are tracks recorded before we even had a recording deal, just the four of us and an engineer at De Lane Lea studios," said May. "A lot of people are already saying they sound better than the first album because they're more organic, more natural and have a better feel. People will have a real chance to hear us for the first time before we signed the first deal."
“Stormtroopers in Stilettos” is FREE and runs until March 12 at the Old Truman Brewery in east London.
People reports that KISS singer/guitarist Paul Stanley and wife Erin are expecting a new addition to their household this summer: a baby girl.
This will be the third child for the couple, and fourth in the Stanley house, as the new baby will join Sarah (2), Colin (4), and Evan (16), Stanley’s son from a previous relationship.
The new one is expected sometime in August.
“There is nothing greater in life than family, and my accomplishments as a father rank at the top of my successes,” Paul told People. “Erin and I are blessed with our expectation of the addition of another princess to our family, and a new member of the KISS Army.”
“I may be 59,” added Stanley, “but the only rocking chair this rocker is getting ready for, is the one for my new baby.”
A lot of music fans have been wondering what former Journey singer Steve Perry has been up to these days.
A few months ago, there was a false rumor - reported by a British tabloid – that Perry had asked his former bandmates if he could rejoin Journey. Never happened, according to reps for everyone involved.
However, Perry did give an extensive interview to Classic Rock magazine in December, in a profile about the classic Journey album, “Escape.”
In the same session, Perry spoke about some new music he’s been working on. "A little over a year-and-a-half ago,” said Perry, “I felt I could maybe come back to it. I have been writing. I have about 50 songs, in a little over a year. I never thought I'd do it again, but I decided to open up that room and see what I could find."
"Some of it sounds familiar,” he added, “some of it sounds contemporary, some of it you can't put a label on — and I've never been big on labels anyway."
A timeline for the project, and its release, just isn’t in the cards at this time. "I'll be honest,” said Perry, “I don't really know how to do that. But I can definitely smell a solo project on the horizon. I will be recording some music."
If it sees the light of day, the project will mark Perry’s first new album since 1994's "For The Love Of A Strange Medicine."
I’m not sure who wants to be the one to tell him, but Motorhead’s Lemmy is hot these days.
The Lemmy documentary film, "Lemmy: 49% Motherf**ker, 51% Son Of A Bitch," sold around 3,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 1 on Billboard's "Top Music Videos" chart.
In addition, both the DVD and Blu-ray disc were among the top 10 best-selling documentaries on Amazon.com. The New York City theatrical release was also extended into its sixth straight week due to popular demand.
Fans and critics alike are devouring the DVD and Blu-ray extras, which stretch to a staggering 4.5 hours of bonus content. Leading the list of extras (the full list is below), is Lemmy and Metallica's full intimate backstage rehearsal and riveting performance of the Motorhead classics "Damage Case" and "Too Late Too Late" — all in 5.1 Surround Sound. (Only "Damage Case" appears in the film.)
Also included is 40 minutes of live Motorhead, interview outtakes, extended and deleted scenes, Lemmy's full, uncut conversations with Dave Grohl and Billy Bob Thornton, featurettes on Lemmy's longtime Motorhead bandmates Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee, a special featurette on Lemmy's 50th birthday featuring never-before-released footage of Metallica dressed as Kilmister and performing as "The Lemmys," and much, much more.
"Lemmy" U.S. bonus features:
* The Making of Lemmy * Motörhead Live * Lemmy & Metallica in Nashville * (We Are) The Roadcrew * Lemmy Interview Outtakes * The Sweet Side of Lemmy * Funny Stories * Lemmy's 50th Birthday Featuring Metallica * Marshall Stack Prototype Test * Phil Campbell Featurette * Mikkey Dee Featurette * Full Dave Grohl & Lemmy Conversation * Clarke/Kilmister/Taylor - The Early Days of Motörhead * Meet the Superfans * Matt Sorum Joins Motörhead * The Making of "Motörizer" * Triple H Interview Outtakes * Everything Louder Than Everything Else * Lemmy's Bass Playing Style * Fans Around the World * Full Billy Bob Thornton & Lemmy Conversation * The Rocking Vickers (Extended Scene) * Hawkwind (Extended Scene) * Who Would Play Lemmy in a Movie? * Lemmy World Premieres at South by Southwest 2010
"Lemmy" directors/producers Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski create an intimate portrait of a man revered by his longtime fans, as well as musicians spanning the musical spectrum. Lemmy has more than a few stories, often littered with drugs and alcohol, to share about his electrifying career with Motorhead. He's paved the way for countless metal bands, and from his favorite barstool at the Rainbow to his cluttered apartment filled with memorabilia, Lemmy continues to inspire a new generation of metalheads.
Filmed over the course of three years, "Lemmy" made its world premiere at the 2010 South By Southwest Film and Music Festival, and has since collected rave reviews at film festivals around the globe.
I guess 15 days in jail for a DUI was too much for a repeat offender.
At least in soft-on-crime Las Vegas.
TMZ reports that Vince Neil was released today from the Clark County Detention Center in Vegas, after serving just 10 of 15 days for a guilty plea deal on a DUI charge from last June.
The guilty plea helped Neil avoid a possible maximum sentence of six months in jail if he had been convicted at trial.
I guess if you’re going to re-offend, soft Las Vegas is the one of the places to do it, because it appears the Vegas authorities don’t take these matters very seriously.
At the time the Motley Crue rocker’s plea deal was originally announced, Tess Driver, an assistant to the Clark County district attorney, said she felt that 15 days is more than enough for a repeat offender who had previously killed someone while drunk behind the wheel.
"He's getting a pretty solid sentence," Driver said.
I still haven’t seen/heard any references to Neil actually losing his license, or having it suspended, so what’s up with that, Ms. Driver?
As part of the plea deal, Neil also must pay a $585 fine, attend DUI school and take part in an online victim impact panel.
Vince now returns home to begin a scheduled 15 days of house arrest, but maybe the authorities will shave some time off of that, too.
It won’t be long before Neil rejoins the Crue to kick off their 2011 tour at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 29.
Just a day after announcing their summer US tour with Heart, Def Leppard have announced more dates for the two veteran rock acts.
About a half-dozen shows have been added to the lineup...so far.
Def Leppard released the following statement:
“Yesterday, we announced a number of dates for Def Leppard's 2011 summer tour with Heart (please note that we just updated the list and that a few more dates have been added). Of course, these are not ALL dates that make up the tour! More dates will be announced along the way, so don't be upset if your area is not included -- it may very well be soon enough!”
Def Leppard 2011 Summer US Tour With special guests Heart
Jun 15 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre Jun 17 - Tampa, FL - 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre Jun 19 - Orange Beach, AL - Amphitheater at the Wharf Jun 22 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Jun 24 - Raleigh, NC - Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion Jun 26 - Philadelphia, PA - Susquehanna Bank Center Jun 29 - Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion Jul 02 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena Jul 03 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium Jul 05 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest Jul 12 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Jul 13 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center Jul 15 - Chicago , IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre Jul 17 - Cadott, WI - Rockfest Jul 20 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion Jul 24 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center Aug 08 - Sturgis, SD - Buffalo Chip Aug 10 - St. Louis, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Aug 13 - Des Moines,IA - Iowa State Fair Aug 21 - Buffalo, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center Aug 26 - St Paul, MN - Minnesota State Fair Aug 27 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center Aug 31 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre Sep 14 - Portland, OR - Sleep Country Amphitheater
Def Leppard – Hysteria Download 2009 Donington Park, UK – June 14, 2009
Vince Neil is currently in jail, Nikki Sixx is busy expanding his radio business and releasing a new album/companion book, Tommy Lee is out on a DJ tour, and who knows how Mick Mars spends his time away from the stage.
Either way, when the four come together as Motley Crue, there’s some serious power at the ready, as the famed Sunset Strip band marks its 30th Anniversary this year.
With the Crue set to regroup soon for a 2011 tour, they have also made headlines this week as honorees at the 3rd Annual Revolver Golden God Awards.
Billed as America’s only hard rock and heavy metal awards, the organizers are honoring the career of Motley Crue by giving them the first-ever Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award - renamed in honor of the late, great 2010 Best Vocalist Award winner.
The 3rd Annual Revolver Golden God Awards will take place Wednesday, April 20, at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles. The event will be televised on VH1 Classic on May 28.
The Crue are set to kick off their 2011 tour at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey on April 29.
“Stormtroopers in Stilettos” is a major Queen exhibition in London’s East End, and the event kicks off the legendary band’s 40th Anniversary celebrations.
Opening Friday, February 25, “Stormtroopers in Stilettos: Queen, The Early Years,” is a major retrospective exhibition celebrating the formation, and first five albums, of one of the most exciting, glamorous and influential bands in global musical history.
“I am very excited to see the Stormtroopers In Stilettos exhibition that Island Records have created for us,” said drummer Roger Taylor. “I’ll be able to relive all those precious moments that I have, of course, forgotten! In fact, large parts of our convoluted history are a bit of a blur for me. It will be like living it all again…let’s hope that’s a good thing and a wild ride.”
“Stormtroopers in Stilettos” takes place in a huge warehouse space in the heart of London’s East End at Old Truman Brewery, opening on February 25th, closing on March 12th. The entrance is on Hanbury Street, just off Brick Lane.
The FREE exhibition takes a comprehensive look at the early part of Queen’s career, from before the band’s formation in 1971, when various band members were dreaming of success, while studying astrophysics or running stalls next to Biba in Kensington Market, right up to their spectacular free gig for over 250,000 fans in Hyde Park in 1976.
This Friday, BBC’s ‘The One Show’ is doing a feature on Queen, including the exhibition.
Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell guitarist Tony Iommi will be making an appearance on the program to talk about Queen and their music.
For details on "Stormtroopers In Stilettos," click here.
Queen – Stormtroopers In Stilettos – trailer (2011)
It’s been rumored for some time but, finally, Def Leppard have announced their 2011 summer US Tour with Heart.
The two-month swing kicks off in West Palm Beach on June 15, and runs through mid-September.
"After having had the last 18 months off,” says singer Joe Elliott, “Leppard are ready to get back on the road! Add Heart to the bill and it truly makes for a special evening."
"Nancy and I are really excited to be bringing Heart to the stage this summer with Def Leppard,” said Heart’s Ann Wilson. “It's going to be a powerful, monster show. The real thing. The summer of 2011 will be amazing.”
Def Leppard 2011 Summer US Tour With special guests Heart
Jun 15 - West Palm Beach, FL (Cruzan Amphitheatre) Jun 17 - Tampa, FL (1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre) Jun 22 - Charlotte, NC (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre) Jun 24 - Raleigh, NC (Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion) Jun 26 - Philadelphia, PA (Susquehanna Bank Center) Jun 29 - Scranton, PA (Toyota Pavilion) Jul 02 - Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun Arena) Jul 03 - Hershey, PA (Hersheypark Stadium) Jul 12 - Wantagh, NY (Nikon at Jones Beach Theater) Jul 13 - Holmdel, NJ (PNC Bank Arts Center) Jul 15 - Chicago, IL (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre) Jul 20 - Dallas, TX (Gexa Energy Pavilion) Jul 24 - San Antonio, TX (AT&T Center) Aug 10 - St. Louis, MO (Verizon Wireless Amphitheater) Aug 21 - Buffalo, NY (Darien Lake Performing Arts Center) Aug 27 - Kansas City, MO (Sprint Center) Aug 31 - Salt Lake City, UT (USANA Amphitheatre) Sep 14 - Portland, OR (Sleep Country Amphitheater)
Tickets for Def Leppard/Heart go on sale on beginning March 4th; additional dates will be announced soon.
Def Leppard – Let It Go Dortmund Festival – Dortmund, West Germany - December 18, 1983
A rare guitar, signed by Jack White, has been stolen from an art studio in east London.
The instrument is valued at £15,000 (approx. $24,000 US).
The BBC reports Paul Biver, from Old Street, had been storing the Fender guitar in his art studio while he built a display case for it, when it was stolen.
The burglary happened overnight Wednesday; thieves also took a television and computer from the studio in Sara Lane Court, Hoxton.
The 37-year-old set designer said he had received the guitar from a friend for helping him to transform his barge.
"A friend of mine collects rock memorabilia, and had asked me to help transform his barge, but then ran out of money, so I asked if I could have the guitar as payment," he added. “That was three years ago so, obviously, it has just increased in value since then.”
“I don't normally store it in my design studio,” added Biver, “but was making a case for it, so was gutted when I realized it had been taken."
Police described the Jack White guitar as rare, and appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.
For more details, check out the BBC’s report here.
Jack White – Mother Nature’s Son Paul McCartney Gershwin Prize Concert The White House – June 2, 2010
Dave Grohl rocked the house at Wednesday’s NME Awards.
Grohl, on hand to pick up the NME “Godlike Genius” Award, became the first non-Brit to win the honor.
Spin reports The Who’s Roger Daltrey presented the award to Grohl, who dedicated the prize to his former Nirvana bandmate Kurt Cobain. "This one's for Kurt, thank you very much," he said.
"You guys realize they gave this one to a drummer, right?,” added Grohl. “This one's for the drummers!"
After the ceremony, the Foo Fighters celebrated with a marathon, two-hour set, including a performance of the Who's "Young Man Blues" with Daltrey, which happened on the fly.
"They play it in their show sometimes, 'Young Man Blues', and [Grohl] said, 'Would you sing it?'” explained Daltrey. “That's what rock 'n' roll used to be like, when people used to just get up and make it up on the spot. Which is what we did tonight - I hope we didn't show up too much!"
"When they asked us to play, I said, 'Why don't we play a song with an actual godlike genius, Mr. Roger Daltrey?'" said Grohl.
The Foos also ripped through six new tunes from their new album, "Wasting Light," out April 12, including "White Limo," "Bridge Burning," "Dear Rosemary," "Arlandria," "These Days," and "Miss The Misery."
Here’s 2 versions of the Foo/Daltrey jam:
Foo Fighters with Roger Daltrey – Young Man Blues
NME Awards 2011
Brixton Academy - London, UK - February 23, 2011
Foo Fighters with Roger Daltrey – Young Man Blues
NME Awards 2011
Brixton Academy - London, UK - February 23, 2011
Deep Purple are playing a few dates in Mexico this week.
The band took part in a press conference in Mexico City on Tuesday, and were asked if there are any plans for a new studio album (their last was 2005’s “Rapture Of The Deep”). "I guess it's about time, isn't it?!,” replied Purple singer Ian Gillan. “So we're gonna get together and have a writing session quite soon. And if we get excited, then we'll probably have another [album finished and ready for release] shortly after that. We'll see how it goes. But there's no plans. But I think we're getting poked by various connections who would like to see another Deep Purple record. So I think it's about time."
Deep Purple – press conference Mexico City – February 22, 2011
Deep Purple are actively supporting Record Store Day this year – Saturday, April 16 – with the release of a ‘retro’ single containing "Hush" — recorded for Chris Grant's "Tasty Pop Sundae" in early 1969 — and "Speed King," recorded for Stuart Henry's "Noise At Nine" in October of that same year.
Both tracks are from the upcoming "BBC Sessions" project.
The limited-edition single will be distributed to the participating indie shops in the U.K.; only 1400 copies will be pressed.
Record Store Day is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day, and hundreds of artists across the globe make special appearances and performances. Festivities include meet & greets with artists, DJ's, live performances, in-store quizzes, and many other events.
Renowned guitarist Gary Moore was laid to rest on Wednesday, in a small village graveyard outside Brighton.
Moore passed away in his sleep February 6 at the age of 58, from a heart attack while on holiday in Spain.
The Belfast Telegraph reports Moore’s family decided to hold his funeral not in Belfast, where he was born, but near where he had made his home in the past 15 years and where his children live.
Father Martin Morgan, who conducted the service in St Margaret's Church, Rottingdean, East Sussex, described Moore as “the kind of musician who would play anywhere if someone lent him an amp.”
He recounted how the world famous rock guitarist had performed in a local pub to raise funds for victims of the Haiti earthquake.
“They asked lots of people to play but Gary was the only one who turned up. Not only did he perform, his amp broke down, but Gary kept playing and managed to finish his set. He was someone who took the talent he was given and used it to touch the soul of others. I believe, for this generosity, Gary is in Heaven,” Fr Morgan told mourners.
The guitarist is survived by four children — Saoirse, Lily, Jack and Gus.
Lily spoke of her father as “a man with rather colourful shirts, who possessed a childlike quality and was an inspiration to many and the kind of person you could never forget”.
The musician's other daughter, Saoirse, chose a verse for the service called Guitar Poem.
One of the musician's two sons, Jack, himself a guitarist, performed a flawless version of "Danny Boy" on guitar at which some mourners in the church wept openly.
The service concluded with Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" as Moore's coffin was carried out of the church for burial in the graveyard outside.
The family has requested that donations in memory of Gary be given to the Teenage Cancer Trust and a special needs charity project.
For more details, check out the Belfast Telegraphhere.
Judas Priest