If you haven’t seen Roger Waters’ current touring edition of Pink Floyd's “The Wall,” you may soon be able to – from the comfort of your own home.
An update on Roger’s site has confirmed plans to capture the experience:
"Roger Waters will be filming and recording all 6 shows at The O2 Arena in London in May. For these shows, photographs are permitted but we must insist on NO Flash photography. Flash wipes out the images projected on the Wall, which are the most important part of the show. Any person who uses Flash will have their camera confiscated and could be removed from the Arena."
No official announcement has been made about a release, obviously; they have to record the shows to see what they've got before even considering saying something.
I’m sure the rumour mill will start up on this, but wouldn’t this series of shows be the ideal place for David Gilmour to join Roger for a performance of “Comfortably Numb,” as the two arranged following their ‘mini-reunion’ last summer?
The two Pink Floyd members made a deal surrounding the Hoping Foundation benefit show: if Waters would agree to perform "To Know Him Is To Love Him" at the gala, Gilmour would guest on "Comfortably Numb" at a to-be-determined show on Waters' upcoming tour.
"You could have knocked me down with a feather," Waters said. "How f*cking cool! I was blown away. How could I refuse such an offer. I couldn't, there was no way. Generosity trumped fear. And so explaining that I would probably be sh*te, but if he didn't mind I didn't, I agreed and the rest is history. We did it, and it was f*cking great. End of story. Or possibly beginning."
Roger Waters – Comfortably Numb United Center – Chicago, IL – September 20, 2010
Kiss Gene Simmons surprised daughter Sophie by joining her onstage at an open mic session at Blacks Pub in Whistler, British Columbia.
According to Gene’s own website, the bassist reportedly stunned the crowd when he hopped up onto the stage to accompany his 18-year-old daughter after she had entertained them with a couple of songs.
After the event, Sophie Tweeted, "Open Mic w/surprise apperance (sic) from my Dad! Best gift ever! We rocked it."
The Simmons family own a property in the Whistler ski resort and are visiting for the holidays. Kiss – Parasite Winterland Ballroom – San Francisco, CA – January 31, 1975
Expect live Def Leppard in 2011 – both on the road and on disc.
We told you, back in September, about the band’s intention to tour, and now comes news that a live album is in the works.
"In the old days, a band would call in the Rolling Stones Mobile [mobile recording studio owned by the musical group The Rolling Stones] and record a gig and hope that it worked well — and probably cheat and re-record it all," Lep’s lead throat Joe Elliott told Artisan News Service.
"In this day in age, you record every show onto a hard drive. So we've got the entire tour backed up onto three or four hard drives. So we have the unenviable task of listening to probably 50 versions of every song we've ever played. We've got our sound guy from the studio - who's a fantastic engineer and a great co-producer - he's actually listening through to all the versions of the songs and kind of rating them on a 1-10 level of performance and excitement, if you like."
Def Leppard – Joe Elliott interview Artisan News Service – December 30, 2010
Sebastian Bach has announced that he and his wife, Maria, are no longer together, via the following note posted to Facebook and Twitter:
"For the record, my wife and I have decided to separate. In all but every way, we have actually been separated since last April. We have tried to work things out for the sake of our family, but it has become apparent that our differences at this point are irreconcilable. In 2011 we go our separate ways."
The couple has been married since 1992 and has three children: sons Paris and London and daughter Sebastiana.
The calendar flips tonight into a New Year, and hennemusic has a look at the rock forecast for 2011.
Here’s a Top 10 list of some hot rock items to watch for:
01 - Steven Tyler on American Idol Could be a wild ride. Or a train wreck. Either way, expect rock fans to check it out. Premieres January 19.
02 - Jimmy Page According to the 2010 hennemusic Rock News Story Of The Year, Jimmy plans to get out and play some shows in the year ahead. Who will he play with? Where will he play? One-off events, or a regular tour? Zepheads need to know and will be anxiously awaiting news on Mr. Page’s plans.
03 - The Cars Judging by the reaction to news stories on them here at hennemusic, there’s a lot of interest in the reunited Cars getting a record done and hitting the road. They’ve teased us with snippets of two new songs….time to step it up. Let’s hope it’ll be as good as we want the band to be.
04 - Peter Frampton Will tour Frampton Comes Alive 35 in 2011. Awesome live concert news from Frampton that will showcase one of the best all-time live albums in rock history. Expect two sets: the first, a collection of tracks spanning his career; the second, "Frampton Comes Alive" in all its glory.
05 - Van Halen Always a question mark. Reportedly hitting the studio in January to record their first new music with David Lee Roth since 1996, and their first full record with him since 1984. Huge albums always come out in the last quarter of the year; will the record be done in time for a fall tour?
06 - Rush Continue their hugely successful “Time Machine” tour and have plans to get a new album done. Like fine wine, they are aging gracefully and rocking harder than ever before.
07 - Velvet Revolver Will the singer search finally end? Sounds like the band may be on the verge of an announcement, but we’ll have to stay tuned. Slash continues to tour his solo album, including a series of dates supporting Ozzy Osbourne; Duff McKagan’s Loaded has a new album due in March, so the guys are busy. Will they find some time to focus on VR in the near future IF the voice gets confirmed?
08 - Foo Fighters New disc was recorded with Butch Vig in Dave Grohl’s garage. Sure to kick some ass.
09 - New solo albums New music from song long overdue artists: Joe Walsh, Gregg Allman, and more are on the way.
10 - Rock N' Roll Books Just some of the rock autobiographies due in 2011:
"John and Elaine Mellencamp are proud of their 20 years together and are very happy with their accomplishments both as parents and as a family," a publicist for the singer-songwriter, Bob Merlis, said in a statement.
"They will continue to raise their two children in Indiana but have decided to call it a day as a couple," he said.
Mellencamp has five children from his three marriages: Michelle from his first marriage to Priscilla Esterline (1970–81); daughters Teddi Jo and Justice from his second marriage to Victoria Granucci (1981–89); and sons Hud and Speck from his current marriage.
A model, Elaine Irwin met Mellencamp when she was contracted to appear on the cover of his 1991 album, “Whenever We Wanted.” A whirlwind romance followed, and the couple were engaged just 10 weeks after meeting, and they were married in 1992.
In addition to the 1991 album cover, Elaine also appeared in the “Get A Leg Up” video from the same release.
Mellencamp is currently on the road in support of his latest album, "No Better Than This.”
Wow, if you’re in the Los Angeles-area Friday night, THE rock n roll place to be has to be The Roxy.
Camp Freddy are on hand to help ring in the New Year; the band is made up of Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver), Billy Morrison (Billy Idol), Donovan Leitch, Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) and Chris Wyse (The Cult).
CF have played a hat trick of killer shows this month at the club, as part of their annual Christmas residency. We’ve already shared amazing videos from the band’s first three nights, including guests Steven Tyler, Sebastian Bach, Billy Idol, Glenn Hughes and Godsmack’s Sully Erna, to name just a few.
New Year’s Eve, CF will crank things up ten notches with a huge lineup of special guests (or is that a special lineup of huge guests?), including Lemmy from Motorhead, Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, Billy Duffy of The Cult, Gilby Clarke, Cherie Currie of The Runaways, Franky Perez of Scars On Broadway, and ex-Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler.
CF regular Dave Navarro won’t be on hand for the festivities….but you can be:
General Admission tickets are $60.25 each. All you can drink tickets are also available for $111.50 (well brands) and $214.00 (premium brands) each. For further details, call The Roxy Box Office at 310-278-9457.
Anyone with an extra plane ticket, show ticket and a place to crash can feel free to hook me up pronto!
Camp Freddy with Juliette Lewis – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA – December 17, 2010
Camp Freddy with Steve Stevens – Surrender The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA – December 10, 2010
Camp Freddy with Mark McGrath – Round And Round The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA – December 17, 2010
Florida has pardoned Jim Morrison, but The Doors – and Morrison’s family - want an apology…and Jim’s record wiped clean.
Just weeks after Florida Governor Charlie Crist led the State Clemency Board to grant Morrison a pardon, 40 years after a 1970 indecent exposure conviction following a Miami concert, The Doors and Morrison’s family have come together to share their disapproval of how the situation has been handled by authorities.
Here is the band’s statement:
In 1969 the Doors played an infamous concert in Miami, Florida. Accounts vary as to what actually happened on stage that night.
Whatever took place that night ended with The Doors sharing beers and laughter in the dressing room with the Miami police, who acted as security at the venue that evening. No arrests were made. The next day we flew off to Jamaica for a few days' vacation before our planned 20-city tour of America.
That tour never materialized. Four days later, warrants were issued in Miami for the arrest of Morrison on trumped-up charges of indecency, public obscenity, and general rock-and-roll revelry. Every city The Doors were booked into canceled their engagement.
A circus of fire-and-brimstone "decency" rallies, grand jury investigations and apocalyptic editorials followed - not to mention allegations ranging from the unsubstantiated (he exposed himself) to the fantastic (the Doors were "inciting a riot" but also "hypnotizing" the crowd).
In August, Jim Morrison went on trial in Miami. He was acquitted on all but two misdemeanor charges and sentenced to six months' hard labor in Raiford Penitentiary. He was appealing this conviction when he died in Paris on July 3, 1971. Four decades after the fact, with Jim an icon for multiple generations - and those who railed against him now a laughingstock - Florida has seen fit to issue a pardon.
We don't feel Jim needs to be pardoned for anything.
His performance in Miami that night was certainly provocative, and entirely in the insurrectionary spirit of The Doors' music and message. The charges against him were largely an opportunity for grandstanding by ambitious politicians - not to mention an affront to free speech and a massive waste of time and taxpayer dollars. As Ann Woolner of the Albany Times-Union wrote recently, "Morrison's case bore all the signs of a political prosecution, a rebuke from the cultural right to punish a symbol of Dionysian rebellion."
If the State of Florida and the City of Miami want to make amends for the travesty of Jim Morrison's arrest and prosecution forty years after the fact, an apology would be more appropriate - and expunging the whole sorry matter from the record. And how about a promise to stop letting culture-war hysteria trump our First Amendment rights? Freedom of Speech must be held sacred, especially in these reactionary times.
In his latest column for Seattle Weekly, Duff McKagan shares his thoughts as the calendar gets set to change to 2011.
“I have never been real big on New Year's resolutions--maybe because in my "sober life" I have strived for everything in moderation (food, buying too much material crap, or whatever). It goes without saying that I no longer have booze and drugs to swear off. But there are one or two things I am finally going to rectify after the first of the year . . . the things that perhaps plague us all: junk e-mail and sales calls.
I don't have the most public of phone numbers, but I have tried to hang onto the same cell number for quite some time now. I suppose I must have used it at some point when I bought something, because these days--and every business day--I get sales calls at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. You know the ones . . . a robotic voice comes on and says "This call is intended for MICHAEL MCKAGAN. If this is not MICHAEL MCKAGAN, please disregard." I emphasize the "Michael McKagan" part because that is the part of the sentence where the robotic voice inexplicably gets somehow more robotic.
The e-mails, on the other hand, are indeed from things that I have over the years used, or people I have given my e-mail to. I would think that the nursery school Grace went to some NINE YEARS AGO! would get the fact that Grace and I would no longer be interested in the different programs they offer. Sorry, I guess that is just me using common sense.”
See how Duff plans to handle the spam by checking out his full column here.
Velvet Revolver – The Last Fight 92.3 K-Rock – New York, NY - August 21, 2007
In 2012, the whole world will get in the loop with the “United States Of Cabo,” a film documenting the fans of Sammy Hagar.
Produced and Directed by Vancouver filmmaker Murray Wasylnuk, "United States Of Cabo" will spotlight fan stories from the many “Redheads” that celebrate all things Sammy Hagar and Cabo Wabo.
The film will include interviews with Sammy’s band, The Wabos, and live footage from the group, as well as Chickenfoot.
Filming is still underway – for info on how you can be a part of the documentary, check out details at Murmer Films here.
That’s the excuse a suspected drunk driver in Solon, Ohio gave police after he was arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence.
FOX 8 TV in Cleveland reports a Portage County man claims the rocker's music drove him mad on Christmas Eve.
33-year-old William Liston, of Aurora was reportedly driving erratically when spotted by Frank Klarich, of Newbury, who was driving through Solon when he came across Liston.
"A lady came up to us and said there was a driver ahead of her that was driving erratic, so we told her to get back in her car and we followed him...called 911," said Klarich.
As Liston drove erratically on Route 91, and then 422, Klarich relayed his movements to police.
"He was all over the road, bouncing from curb to curb. After he saw we were following him, that's when he accelerated and went ahead of us," Klarich told Fox 8 News.
Solon police say at one point, Liston ran an SUV off the road. The driver was not hurt.
Eventually police were able to catch up with Liston and charged him with OVI, hit-and-run and failure to control.
Witnesses are amazed that no one was hurt. "His head was bouncing around and he was losing consciousness the whole time he was driving," said Klarich.
“I’m desperate to be playing, but it won’t be ‘til next year”
- Jimmy Page
November 10, 2010
Jimmy Page’s comment - at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards in November - that he plans to play shows in 2011 was named hennemusic’s “Rock News Story Of The Year” by music fans.
Page was at the event to present “The Innovator” Award to legendary U.K. band Killing Joke, but it was his talk of plans to play concerts in the New Year that overshadowed all rock news in 2010.
“The mighty Led Zeppelin casts a huge shadow in the new millennium, and music fans want more,” says Bruce Henne. “Everything Zep-related draws a crowd – from Robert Plant to John Paul Jones to Jason Bonham – but the master of mystery remains the elusive Jimmy Page.”
Jimmy Page’s comments took the hennemusic Rock News Story Of The Year honor ahead of features on Keith Richards, Roger Waters, Slash/Steven Tyler and Metallica.
Winners of the hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers – rock fans around the world – who voted with their most valuable resource: their time. Categories are tabulated by page views in a salute to the artist/fan relationship.
hennemusic Rock News Story Of The Year
Final Results
It’s too early to know what Page has up his sleeve for 2011, but you can be sure that all eyes and ears will be waiting to find out.
One thing it won't be is a Zeppelin trip.
Fans are split on whether or not the Zeppelin thing could work, given how the band members have moved on. While Robert Plant reportedly remains the lone holdout for a reunion, even he admitted to Jason that the footage of the band’s 2007 show at London’s O2 Arena – which we’re all waiting to be released – “sounded great.” Plant has referred to the show as “the best Led Zeppelin gig since 1975.”
News about Keith Richards hugely-anticipated autobiography, “Life,” was named runner-up for hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year. The book, documenting the history of the “Human Riff,” did not disappoint.
Steven Tyler’s decision to join American Idol as a judge drew huge reactions from fans – and rockers – alike. Following Kid Rock’s public lashing of Tyler for doing “the stupidest thing he’s ever done in his life,”Slash was drawn into the debate during an interview in early November.
A seemingly scary incident at Metallica’s November 11 show in Sydney, Australia made headlines everywhere. Guitarist Kirk Hammett accidentally kicked a small child, standing on the edge of the stage, while following through on one of the huge black balloons that fill the stage for the band’s encore. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the process, but the incident reinforced the strength of fan-filmed video.
In mid-September, Roger Waters kicked off his tour of The Wall in Toronto, traditionally one of Pink Floyd’s strongest cities. The first performances of the fully-staged Wall in 30 years certainly drew a crowd – in person and online. I pulled some YouTube videos of the performance for the story, but was careful not to give too much away for fans who anxiously awaited the show’s arrival in their town.
This month, fans took part in the 2010 hennemusic Rock News Awards poll to guess who they thought would win Rock News Story Of The Year; here’s the results of the fan poll:
1 – Jimmy Page (37%)
2 – Roger Waters (22%)
3 – Slash / Steven Tyler (18%)
4 – Metallica (15%)
5 – Keith Richards (5%)
Thanks to hennemusic readers for their ongoing dialogue, encouragement and support; onwards and upwards into 2011 !
London Mayor Boris Johnson says Rolling Stone Keith Richards should be knighted.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Johnson takes the stand under the headline: “If Mick Jagger’s a Sir, why can’t Keith Richards have the same satisfaction?”
While heavily criticizing former British PM Tony Blair for events under his watch, Johnson says it’s a crime Keith hasn’t received official recognition at the same level as Jagger.
“It is a continuing scandal that Keef Richards has not been made, at the very least, a knight bachelor, and the outrage became clear to me this Christmas when – like so many other men of my generation – I was sentenced to “Life.” That is, I was given a copy of Keef's super-selling autobiography of that name; and by the end of my researches I felt the full weight of the injustice.”
Johnson goes on at length about the book and weighs some pros and cons about how Keith has lived his life, while reaching his conclusion that the Stones guitar hero is just too important a figure in British history to pass over for some sort of recognition.
“This is the man whose inexhaustible work ethic produced virtually every landmark Stones riff, from 'Satisfaction' to 'Honky Tonk Woman' to 'Start Me Up,' and whose lasting historical contribution was to reintroduce Americans to their own blues music,” writes Johnson. “Rock 'n' roll was the most extraordinary art form of the second half of the 20th century, and Keef is one of its most brilliant exponents, and one of this country's most successful exports. He is not just a credit to Sidcup Art School; he is an inspiration to every London child who peeps a recorder or strums a guitar.”
“I cannot think of another member of the British artistic, cultural or media world who has done so much or who has so widely penetrated the global consciousness,” concludes Johnson. “David Attenborough? Stephen Fry? He knocks them into a cocked hat, to say nothing of the politicians and quangocrats who will cart off the gongs next week. Arise Sir Keef, I say, and if there were any damn merit in it, he would have the Order of Merit, too.”
The Rolling Stones – Everybody Needs Somebody To Love/Pain In My Heart / Around And Around / The Last Time NME Poll Winners Concert Wembley Stadium – London, UK – April 11, 1965
What an amazing year this has been! Let's review, Chickenfoot in Cabo and Tahoe, Aerosmith this summer, and a very very memorable Birthday Bash. Were the Wabos rockin' or what? Thanks to all of you for coming to this endless party.
As this year comes to a close I realize how many great great things I'm already looking forward to next year. I am buzzed about my book coming out in March, I worked on it all of last year but I have really worked on it for my whole life - if you can call that work. And we are trying hard on getting the new movie finished up so I can share it with all of you ASAP. So many great things and all in the first few months of the year!
Oh yeah, I also want to raise a lot of money for kids this year and have a couple of crazy ideas on how to do it, with your help of course. Would any of you like to come to San Francisco and go into my studio and produce a record with me and the Wabos? Just asking.....
I'm raising a glass to all of you right now, I hope you have a fantastic New Year.
And here's a special thanks to all you designated drivers.
A few rockers have appeared on Celebrity Ghost Stories…we’ve seen Velvet Revolver’s Matt Sorum paranormal adventure in a small L.A. studio late one night, and Motley Crue’s Vince Neil shared some childhood encounters on an earlier episode.
Last month, Vince made a second appearance on the series; this time, Neil recounts being visited by his late daughter, Skylar, one night while he was grieving over the loss.
The CGS episode guide reads: "Spiraling into a deep depression, Vince Neil has an encounter that brings him back to life."
Vince's five-year-old daughter Skylar passed away in 1995 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Celebrity Ghost Stories: Vince Neil of Motley Crue
Buckcherry roll on into the New Year as headliners of the 2011 Jägermeister Music Tour, hitting the road with Hellyeah, All That Remains and The Damned Things.
The band continues to tour in support of their latest, “All Night Long.”
“This is the first time we’re really going to be able to celebrate the theme of our album, All Night Long, on the road,” Buckcherry guitarist Keith Nelson said. “It’s going to be loud and sweaty, just the way we like it.”
Buckcherry – Jagermeister tour promo (2010)
2011 Jägermeister Music Tour
January
19 - San Diego, CA - 4th And B
21 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove
22 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint
23 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
25 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Great Salt Air
27 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore
28 - Kansas City, MO - Midland Theater
29 - Des Moines, IA - 7 Flaggs Events Center
31 - Peoria, IL - East Peoria Event Center
February
01 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theatre
02 - Waterloo, IA - McElroy Auditorium
04 - St. Louis, MO - Pop's Nite Club
05 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
08 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Center
09 - Louisville, KY - Expo Five Outdoors
11 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House Of Blues
12 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
13 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
15 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theater
16 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
18 - Albany, NY - Northern Lights
19 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
20 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Arena
22 - Charlotte, NC - Fillmore Charlotte
23 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
24 - Atlanta, CA - Tabernacle
Telsa guitarist Frank Hannon stopped by CW31’s “Good Day Sacramento” on Monday for an interview and performance.
Hannon was on the show to promote his New Year’s Eve gig in town, a benefit for the “Wounded Warriots" project; Frank also plugged an all-ages New Year’s Day show.
Hannon recently released a solo album, “Gypsy Highyway,” an acoustic collection of songs that Frank describes as “very close to my heart.”
“Sort of like autobiographical stories that I wrote and sang completely on my own with acoustic guitar. The title track "Gypsy Highway" is my story of leaving on the road and flying out of Tusla ,Oklahoma last month from Rocklahoma. I mention Willie Nelson in the song because it seems that "On The Road Again" always echoes thru my head when I leave home,” said Hannon.
“As a kid, I loved some of the artist my Mom was into like Kris Kristofferson, Wille Nelson, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash was my first concert ever. The "storytelling" style of songwriting has always been fascinating to me, like the song "Me and Bobby McGee" for example. Singing is a whole other world for me and it took me a long time to find my voice as a lead singer and feel comfortable exposing my soul that way."
If you though Hell froze over when The Eagles reunited, you were right; it may have frozen over yet again with the news that Eagles’ guitarist Joe Walsh will release his first solo album in 18 years in 2011.
In a new interview with undercover.fm, Walsh discussed the yet-to-be named album, his first since 1992’s “Songs for a Dying Planet.”
Joe has been working on the new record with Jeff Lynne producing at least half of the songs; he has done the rest.
“I’ve been working on it for a long time during the Eagles downtime,” Joe tells undercover.fm. “I’ve got new stuff after about 18 years that I haven’t done an album. I really like it. It’s Rock and Roll and its new songs. Hopefully it will get out April/May.”
Joe can easily explain the gap between records. “I finally got sober in 1994 and I had to learn actually to write and play and do everything sober,” he says. “I just didn’t write for quite a while. Also the Eagles have really been busy. During downtime I can work on doing an album and I just decided that however long it took would be okay. It’s nice to do one because I want to, and not because I have to, and I’m really happy with it.”
Joe Walsh has had some of the best album titles ever. “You Bought It, You Name It,” “The Smoker You Are The Player You Get” and “You Can’t Argue With A Sick Mind” are just some of his gems. So what will the new one be called?
“I got a couple of them,” says Walsh. “I wish I had some funny ones for you, so I guess I don’t have a title. I went to this Whole Foods Market and the bags that they put the food in, it’s all recycled. On the side of the bag it says, “I used to be a plastic bottle”. And I thought that's a brilliant title. This may be a green album titled “I Used To Be A Plastic Bottle”.
Joe Walsh – interview Undercover.fm – December, 2010
More interviews have surfaced from the recent KLOS Mark & Brian Christmas Show concert event.
Paul Rodgers sat down with KLOS’ Sal Cirricione and Melissa before hitting the stage for the show, held December 16 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Paul was on hand as part of Mark & Brian All-Star Band - featuring Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, Peter Frampton, Michael Anthony (Chickenfoot, ex-Van Halen), Steve Lukather and Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin).
Paul talks about the late John Bonham, playing with his son Jason, and the spirit of playing as a band in this one-off environment; he also shares his touring and recording plans for 2011.
Paul Rodgers - interview KLOS Mark & Brian Christmas Show Nokia Theatre – Los Angeles, CA – December 16, 2010
Mark & Brian All-Star Band w/ Paul Rodgers – All Right Now KLOS Mark & Brian Christmas Show Nokia Theatre – Los Angeles, CA – December 16, 2010
Ozzy Osbourne wants to ban Christmas - he's branded the excitement and hype of the festive season "a wind-up."
According to a report by WENN, the former Black Sabbath frontman is adamant most modern festive traditions have little to do with the true meaning of the Christian festival.
And he can no longer tolerate Yuletide since he quit booze, because he always treated the seasonal holidays as the "perfect excuse" to get drunk.
In his health column for The Sunday Times Magazine, Osbourne writes, "Christmas should be banned. Full stop. Although when I was drinking, I thought it was great, 'cos it was the perfect excuse to get blasted... Now I can't stand any of it.
"All this '10 more shopping days to go' b**locks is such a wind-up. I ain't exactly Mr Holy, but what's that got to do with Baby Jesus being born?... The faster we get to New Year's Day 2011, the better."
Ozzy Osbourne with Jessica Simpson – Winter Wonderland The Osbourne Family Christmas Special (2003)
A few rockers have appeared on Celebrity Ghost Stories…we’ve seen Vince Neil of Motley Crue on the series, and a clip of Matt Sorum’s paranormal adventures has surfaced, as well.
On the December 11 episode, the Velvet Revolver drummer talks about working in a small L.A. studio late one night and experiencing a ghostly encounter.
Matt’s tale starts at the 1:50 mark in the video here.
Sorum recently joined his pals in Camp Freddy for their annual residency at The Roxy in L.A. Here’s some video in case you hadn’t seen any of it yet…with links to more goodies.
Camp Freddy – She Sells Sanctuary With Billy Duffy of The Cult and Steve Isaacs The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA – December 17, 2010
Camp Freddy – Baba O’Riley With Franky Perez The Roxy – Los Angeles, CA – December 17, 2010
Jack Black is rockin’ the airwaves this week: first he jams with Jimmy Fallon on a performance of “Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy,” something I described visually as “Blue Man Group meets A Clockwork Orange.”
Wednesday night, Black was on Conan to talk about his new movie, “Gulliver’s Travels,” and things were going along peacefully until music entered the discussion.
At about the 6:30 mark in the following video, Jack seemed surprised to find out that Conan had a band and had done a tour this year, even after the two met up at Bonnaroo in June.
“I think of your band as more of a hobby, and less like a passion," Black told Conan, adding, "I rock way, way, way harder than you."
Before things got physical, Andy Richter jumped in and suggested the two settle things with a guitar showdown.
Jack Black – interview & guitar duel vs. Conan Conan – December 22, 2010
Kid Rock sat down with CMT to talk about his latest release, “Born Free.”
CMT: On Born Free, you worked with producer Rick Rubin. What do we hear different as a result of his involvement?
Kid Rock: Rick's been a good friend for a long time, I'd say 10 years plus. His greatest talent is really bringing out who you are and where you're heading musically -- and really keeping you true to that. He's always said to me, "I think you've positioned yourself to make the next really great Americana, rock 'n' roll record with all your tinges of blues and country music, hip-hop, rock 'n' roll." I just gave him the wheel. And I left my comfort zone of my home studio in Detroit, which I've been pretty successful doing what I do best there, and let him have the wheel and rode shotgun. Doesn't mean I wasn't yellin' out once in a while -- "Hey, turn left here!" ...
It was a great experience. He brought in a lot of great players and really made me focus on the songs. He raised all the keys and made me sing in a lot higher keys than I'm used to. He put me to work, which I'm not scared to work. I've worked very hard to get where I'm at, but he even took it to another level of making me really work hard and focus on the songs, singing and just having great players in the studio. We knocked that record out after we had spent so much time writing it. We got all the great players in the studio together. We recorded it in two weeks. It was done. No quick tracks, no tomfoolery. It was just honest people sitting around that have practiced the craft for a long time. ... We made a record like the way it's supposed to be made, I think.
CMT: In that regard, for lack of a better description, it's maybe a more organic record.
Kid Rock: Mmm-hmmm.
CMT: Do you think it will change people's perception of you a little bit because it is more of a move in that direction?
Kid Rock: I'm not sure if there's any way anybody could really ... I mean, to have a perception of me, I guess, is to make whatever perception you want because there's enough information out there to support any perception you want to make of me. This record is just another move. ... I've always made music from the heart, and that's what I do. And at the end of the day, whether it works or not, I can say I tried my best. That's really me doing that, and I'm not just doing something for the sake of trying to get it played on the radio or for a format or to please a certain group of people or whatever. It's just what I think is good music from the heart, and that's all I got.
CMT: We've seen you in Nashville a lot. When did you first come to town? And how have your relationships here changed how you see yourself or the kind of music you're putting out? Has it affected you in that way at all?
Kid Rock: Yeah, sure. I started coming to Nashville years ago, just touring. I've always had a love of country music. ... One thing I found about Nashville is, you know, Music City. It has some of the greatest players, songwriters -- just musical people -- in the world. And my dad always told me, "If you want to be a painter, don't hang out with a carpenter." So I started spending some time down here around the best painters that I knew of. They kind of opened up their world to me and let me be a part of it. So I'm very happy to be down here, and I hope I make a pretty good guest.
CMT: Do you feel this record has more soul because of the way you cut it?
Kid Rock: Yeah, the record definitely has more soul because of the way we cut it because not only have I learned a lot in the 20-plus years that I've been making music, it's been a natural progression of trying to fine-tune my craft -- what I'm good at, what I want to do, what comes from my heart, which is music and write songs. So I think it's right where I'm supposed to be. It's just ... you know, getting better and working hard. I can definitely say I haven't got lazy.
2010 was a landmark year for Slash, and the iconic rock guitarist shows no signs of slowing down in 2011 - including a return to the arena circuit this winter and a ceremony (date TBA) to receive his Star on Hollywood’s iconic Walk of Fame.
Slash will join Ozzy Osbourne for a five-week US arena tour beginning January 16 in Omaha, NE and wrapping February 22 in Jacksonville, Fl.
For the trek with his bandmates Myles Kennedy (lead vocals), Bobby Schneck (rhythm guitar), Todd Kerns (bass) and Brent Fitz (drums), Slash will pull songs from his first-ever true solo album, a certain selection of Guns N’ Roses tunes, a little Velvet Revolver and even some Snakepit gems.
Here’s a Q&A with Slash where he talks about heading out with Ozzy; what fans can expect on the road; shooting the steamy clip "Beautiful Dangerous" with Fergie(Black Eyed Peas); and what surprises him most about his career so far.
Q: You and Ozzy have been friends for a long time, he sang one of the songs here on your album: 'Crucify The Dead', which you wrote together along with Kevin Churko. You’re also going on tour with him in early 2011, which will mark the first official arena tour on this album cycle. Can you talk about your anticipation of these shows?
Slash: “We have done a bunch of arenas, but this will be the first arena tour straight. The thing I am looking forward to most is just working with Ozzy. I have done a lot of gigs with him and we see each other a lot here and there, but to just do a tour with Ozzy, I am looking forward it. Being in a sort of day-after-day arena setting will be interesting. All things considered, I show up and we go for it; I have no definitive expectations on this. I just know it will be a blast. Our band did 8 months of touring earlier this year, all the way up until October, so we have the whole rig basically together. For the tour with Ozzy, we are changing some songs out and bringing some new songs in.”
Q: Tell us about the song selection for the upcoming tour…what is the balance you are looking to achieve?
Slash: “We do a lot of songs from the new record just because it was so well-received and then we play a certain selection of Guns N’ Roses songs and a little bit Velvet Revolver stuff and even a couple Snakepit songs. We’re probably playing from 50 minutes to an hour on this run with Ozzy. We sort of have to squeeze all in, so I will take the highlights of the whole thing and put it all together.”
Q: For your current single 'Beautiful Dangerous,” you teamed up with Fergie of Black Eyed Peas. What do you feel she added as a vocalist to the song?
Slash: “Fergie’s style and demeanor is a raw and sexy kinda thing, and that is what I was looking for in the song. I thought of her automatically because I’d worked with her before and knew she had a certain rock element with a certain kind of easy charm that nobody was familiar with coming from her.”
Q: The video with Fergie is provocative - she slips you a roofie - and it contains some steamy romance scenes. Can you describe the chemistry between the two of you in this video?
Slash: “Fergie and I’ve been friends for awhile now and have a kinship personality-wise so when I was thinking about doing a video, I called her up and told her we needed a concept and she came back immediately wanting to play an 'over- zealous stalker fan.' I just knew what she was talking about and I know she knew GNR back in the day plus I know she has a perspective on that whole rock-star trip and the kind of fans that become really obsessive. We threw the concept together and she basically ran the show as far as her character. She came out and went for it, like bam “this is me, I am going to be this” and I of course was going to play myself. It looks steamy, but it was just our vision of what that situation would look like. It was an easy shoot--she is very professional and I would like to think I am professional. We got through a two-location shoot in one day. “
Q: What has surprised you most in your career so far?
Slash: “All things considered, a day doesn’t go by where I don’t get surprised by something. I love playing music as much as if not more so than I did when I was 19; that compared to most of my peers is pretty surprising. I wake up every day and get really excited about doing stuff that I have been doing for the last 30 years. I just love it.”
Radiohead’s “OK Computer” was voted the Best Album of the Past 25 years by readers of Q magazine, the British rock outlet.
Radiohead actually had four albums in the top 25. Nirvana’s “Nevermind” landed in 2nd spot, with Oasis picking up 3rd and 4th positions.
Naturally, the list is full of British rockers, including The Stone Roses, Coldplay, Muse and others.
Paul Rees, Q's editor-in-chief, stated: “In the 13 years since its release, OK Computer's appeal to Q and its readers has grown exponentially. We originally hailed it as a masterpiece and, a rarity this, that isn't an opinion that we've even considered modifying ever since. As this readers poll testifies, our readers see it as the benchmark against which all other album are and continue to judged against in Q's lifetime.”
Q Magazine
Best Albums of the past 25 years
As voted by readers - 2010:
01. OK Computer - Radiohead
02. Nevermind - Nirvana
03. (What's The Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis
04. Definitely Maybe - Oasis
05. Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys
06. The Joshua Tree - U2
07. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
08. The Bends - Radiohead
09. Achtung Baby - U2
10. Black Holes And Revelations - Muse
11. Is This It - The Strokes
12. A Rush Of Blood To The Head - Coldplay
13. Parklife - Blur
14. Screamadelica - Primal Scream
15. White Blood Cells - The White Stripes
16. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
17. Hot Fuss - The Killers.
18. Kid A - Radiohead
19. Funeral - Arcade Fire
20. American Idiot - Green Day
21. The Holy Bible - Manic Street Preachers
22. Absolution - Muse
23. In Rainbows - Radiohead
24. Only By The Night - Kings Of Leon
25. Demon Days - Gorillaz
26. Origin Of Symmetry - Muse
27. Appetite For Destruction - Guns N'Roses
28. Urban Hymns - The Verve
29. Automatic For The People - R.E.M.
30. Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
Skid Row 
