Thursday, August 28, 2014

Geoff Tate To Auction Off Queensrÿche Stage Backdrop To Benefit Bryan Stow

On opening day of the baseball season in 2011, San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was beaten in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium by two individuals, who are currently serving a sentence for their actions.

Stow, a proud father of two and a paramedic, sustained severe injuries to his brain and was placed into a medically-induced coma after the incident.

It would be months before he would go outside and, ultimately, more than two years before he would go home.

Shortly after the occurrence, while Stow was in the hospital, Queensrÿche became aware that he was one of their biggest fans, sporting a sizable tattoo of the Queensrÿche logo on his left arm.

At the request of a friend, the band made a surprise visit to Bryan in the hospital that September, which ended up being an experience that both will never forget.

"We were incredibly inspired by his love for life, his love for his family and his love for our music," states original Queensrÿche lead singer Geoff Tate.

With a week remaining in their Farewell tour, Geoff's version of Queensrÿche (which will continue on as Operation: Mindcrime after the tour ends) will be auctioning off the Queensrÿche stage backdrop that has been featured on several tours. "It's truly a special part of our musical history and we'd like to raise some much-needed funds for Bryan so he can continue his progress."

The auction will begin at 3:00pm PDT on Sunday, August 31, the day after the very last performance of Queensrÿche Starring Geoff Tate - The Farewell Tour, and will end at 3:00pm PDT the following Sunday, September 7, 2014.

"We're honored and thankful to have fans like Bryan in our life and would like to present him with a check just prior to Thanksgiving,"Tate said. "Every little bit helps at this point and we hope to continue our efforts for Bryan and his family down the road."

Come Sunday, fans desiring to bid can enter "Queensrÿche Stage Backdrop" on eBay or go to the direct link at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261574477081.

In addition to the money raised from the auction of the backdrop, Tate will personally be donating his proceeds from a song titled, "Facing My Demons," that he sings with The Voodoos, who are currently out on tour with him. The song can be downloaded at https://itunes.apple.com/ie/album/facing-my-demons-single/id788709857.

Earlier this month, Bryan came out for the Queensrÿche Starring Geoff Tate performance in Morgan Hill, California and, more recently, made a clubhouse visit with his son to the San Francisco Giants clubhouse on Sunday, August 17, where he was guided by longtime third base coach Tim Flannery and Giants relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt.

Flannery, a musician himself, has performed a series of Northern California concerts over the past three years to raise money for Bryan, and plans to continue his efforts as well.

To all music fans... to all sports fans... to all those who just want to do some good...

Get out there and bid!

For more information, please see www.operationmindcrime.com.

For specific information about Bryan and his progress, please see www.support4bryanstow.com.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Dave Mason's Traffic Jam To Open Fall Tour In Malibu

Dave Mason, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Traffic co-founding member, will tour the U.S. this fall with a new project billed as “Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam.” The tour kicks off in Malibu, Calfiornia, on Wednesday, September 17 at Smothers Theatre.

In May, Mason released his album, Future's Past, featuring new versions of his classic songs plus newer tunes he has written and performed on tour over the last few years. The cover art illustration for the album was done by Graham Nash from a photo he took of Nash in Hawaii.

Regarding Future's Past, Mason says, “There is a great version of ‘Dear Mr. Fantasy’ that is kind of a re-write.  There is a version of ‘World in Changes’ that is absolutely nothing like the original, and there is a great live version that is absolutely beautiful of ‘Sad and Deep as You.’  There are two or three songs that were on a CD called 26 Letters 12 Notes that I did seven years ago, a Robert Johnson song, ‘Come On in My Kitchen’ and a brand new song called ‘That’s Freedom.’”

Renowned for such Traffic hits as “Feelin’ Alright” (covered by Joe Cocker) and “Hole In My Shoe,” plus his solo signature tracks “We Just Disagree” and “Only You Know and I Know,” Mason’s acclaimed solo career continues to flourish as he tours the U.S. with his Traffic Jam shows.

“I think that it is important to keep alive the legacy of four young men from the heartland of England and their contribution to contemporary music,” Mason says.  “And ‘Traffic Jam’ -- aside from the obvious material --will hopefully grow into the basis for other artists to participate. Keep the spirit alive!”

The singer, songwriter and guitarist has been touring and recording regularly since he co-founded Traffic in 1966, after which he went on to a successful and acclaimed solo career as well as recording and/or touring with artists including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, George Harrison, Delaney & Bonnie, Graham Nash, Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Fleetwood Mac and more.


Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam - 2014 Fall Tour

9/17 - Smothers Theatre - Malibu, CA                            
9/18 - Santa Clarita PAC – College of the Canyons - Santa Clarita, CA                  
9/20 - Richard & Karen Carpenter PAC - Long Beach, CA                  
9/21 - Sycuan Casino - El Cajon, CA                        
9/24 - Sunset Center Theater - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA        
9/26 - Theatre Deville - Vacaville, CA                        
9/27 - Uptown Theatre - Napa, CA                              
9/30 - Bankhead Theater – Livermore Valley PAC - Livermore, CA                                  
10/1 - Carriage House Theatre, Montalvo Arts Center - Saratoga, CA                        
10/2 - Carriage House Theatre, Montalvo Arts Center - Saratoga, CA
10/3 - The Center for the Arts - Grass Valley, CA                  
10/4 - Harrah’s Tahoe South Shore Room - Stateline, NV                        
10/9 - Boomer Fest Days - Puerto Penasco, MX            
10/11 - Harrah’s Laughlin – Fiesta Room - Laughlin, NV                        
10/14 - West Social Center - Green Valley, AZ                  
10/16 - Orpheum Theater - Flagstaff, AZ                        
10/17 - Route 66 Casino – Club Envy (Private VIP event) - Albuquerque, NM                  
10/18 - KTaos Solar Center - Taos, NM                              
10/22 - One World Theatre - Austin, TX                            
10/23 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX                            
10/24 - Tobin Center for the Performing Arts - San Antonio, TX                    
10/29 - Dosey Doe - The Woodlands, TX              
10/30 - Dosey Doe - The Woodlands, TX
11/1 - Bartlett Performing Arts & Conf. Center - Bartlett, TN                            
11/3 - Hiwassee College Auditorium - Madisonville, TN                  
11/5 - UTC Fine Arts Center - Chattanooga, TN                  
11/6 - Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center - Jackson, TN                        
11/7 - Grand Theatre-Frankfort - Frankfort, KY                        
11/8 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC                        
11/9 - Bijou Theatre - Knoxville, TN                        
11/13 - The Carolina Theatre - Durham, NC                        
11/14 - McGlohon Theater - Charlotte, NC                        
11/15 - High Point Theatre - High Point, NC                      
11/16 - The Melting Point - Athens, GA                          
11/18 - Phillips Center for the Performing Arts - Gainesville, FL                      
11/19 - Raymond F. Kravis Center/Dreyfoos Hall - West Palm Beach, FL          
11/20 - Sunrise Theatre - Fort Pierce, FL                      
11/21 - Amaturo Theater - Fort Lauderdale, FL              
11/22 - Englewood Events Center - Englewood, FL                      
11/28 - Whitaker Center – Sunoco Performance Theater - Harrisburg, PA                      
11/29 - Scottish Rite Auditorium - Collingswood, NJ                  
11/30 - Ram’s Head - Annapolis, MD

For more information, go to:
davemasonmusic.com
facebook.com/DaveMasonMusic
twitter.com/davemasonband

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Bob Dylan's The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 Set For November 4th Release

Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings will release Bob Dylan's The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 on November 4th. Compiled from meticulously restored original tapes – many found only recently – this historic six-disc set is the definitive chronicle of the artist's legendary 1967 recording sessions with members of his touring ensemble who would later achieve their own fame as The Band. The Basement Tapes Raw: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11, a two-disc version of highlights from the deluxe edition, will also be released on November 4. This will also be issued as a triple LP set on 180-gram vinyl.

Among Bob Dylan's many cultural milestones, the legendary Basement Tapes have long fascinated and enticed successive generations of musicians, fans and cultural critics alike.  Having transformed music and culture during the early 1960s, Dylan reached unparalleled heights across 1965 and 1966 through the release of three historic albums, the groundbreaking watershed single "Like A Rolling Stone," a controversial and legendary 'electric' performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival and wildly polarizing tours of the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom.  Dylan's mercurial rise and prodigious outpouring of work during that decade came to an abrupt halt in July 1966 when he was reported to have been in a serious motorcycle accident in upstate New York.

Recovering from his injuries and away from the public eye for the first time in years, Dylan ensconced himself, along with Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and, later, Levon Helm, in the basement of a small house, dubbed "Big Pink" by the group, in West Saugerties, New York.  This collective, which would come to be known as Bob Dylan and The Band, recorded more than a hundred songs over the next several months including traditional covers, wry and humorous ditties, off-the cuff performances and, most important, dozens of newly-written Bob Dylan songs, including future classics "I Shall Be Released," "The Mighty Quinn," "This Wheel's On Fire" and "You Ain't Going Nowhere."

When rumors and rare acetates of some of these recordings began surfacing, it created a curiosity strong enough to fuel an entirely new segment of the music business:  the bootleg record.   In 1969, an album mysteriously titled Great White Wonder began showing up in record shops around the country, and Dylan's music from the summer of 1967 began seeping into the fabric of popular culture, penetrating the souls of music lovers everywhere.  With each passing year, more and more fans sought out this rare contraband, desperate to hear this new music from the legendary Bob Dylan.

The actual recordings, however, remained commercially unavailable until 1975, when Columbia Records released a scant 16 of them on The Basement Tapes album (that album also included eight new songs by The Band, without Dylan).

A critical and popular success, The Basement Tapes went Top 10 in the US and UK, with John Rockwell, of The New York Times, calling it "one of the greatest albums in the history of American popular music," Paul Nelson, in Rolling Stone, praising the tracks as "the hardest, toughest, sweetest, saddest, funniest, wisest songs I know"' and the Washington Post noting that "...Dylan has to rank as the single greatest artist modern American pop music has produced."  Robert Christgau gave the album an A+ rating in the Village Voice.

Over the years, the songs on The Basement Tapes have haunted and perplexed fans, with the recordings themselves representing a Holy Grail for Dylanologists.  What's on the rest of those reels?

The Basement Tapes Complete brings together, for the first time ever, every salvageable recording from the tapes, including recently discovered early gems recorded in the "Red Room" of Dylan's home in upstate New York.  Garth Hudson worked closely with Canadian music archivist and producer Jan Haust to restore the deteriorating tapes to pristine sound, with much of this music preserved digitally for the first time.

The decision was made to present The Basement Tapes Complete as intact as possible.  Also, unlike the official 1975 release, these performances are presented as close as possible to the way they were originally recorded and sounded back in the summer of 1967.  The tracks on The Basement Tapes Complete run in mostly chronological order based on Garth Hudson's numbering system.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Jason Becker’s Not Dead Yet 3 Music Festival Benefit Set For San Francisco Next Weekend

On Saturday, August 30, a special benefit concert to combat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig's Disease) will take place at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, California.  The Jason Becker Not Dead Yet 3 Music Festival will feature performances by Richie Kotzen (Winery Dogs, Poison, Mr. Big), Steve Hunter (Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, David Lee Roth), Michael Lee Frikins, Spiral Arms and Ben Woods, plus special guests. Proceeds will support the Jason Becker Special Needs Trust. 

In 1990, 20-year old guitarist extraordinaire Jason Becker, after already recording three full-length albums of his own and producing Richie Kotzen’s debut solo album, was selected to play guitar for David Lee Roth.

Becker went on to record DLR’s third solo album, A Little Ain’t Enough, released in April 1991, was voted Best New Talent by Guitar Magazine that same year, and was about to begin a world tour. When the guitarist began to feel what he called a "lazy limp" in his left leg, doctors diagnosed him with ALS. He was
not only told that he would never make music again, he was also informed he wouldn’t live to see his 25th birthday.

Over two decades later, Becker, now confined to a wheelchair without the ability to move or speak, is very much alive and making music. He is considered by many to be the ‘Stephen Hawking of music’. Thanks to an eye-movement spelling system his father, Gary Becker, invented called Vocal Eyes, Becker is able to communicate with his family, loved ones and friends.

With ALS Ice Water challenges be issued all over the Internet, Becker has posted his own ALS Ice Water challenge to his YouTube channel, calling out Edward Van Halen, David Lee Roth and John Mayer. The video, which was posted late Saturday afternoon on August 23, was viewed almost 44,000 times in under 24 hours. Watch the video below:
For more information on the Jason Becker’s Not Dead Yet 3 Music Festival, go to http://jasonbeckerguitar.com/news.

Friday, August 22, 2014

The Beatles In Mono Box Set Coming September 9th

The Beatles in mono:  This is how most listeners first heard the group in the 1960s, when mono was the predominant audio format.  Up until 1968, each Beatles album was given a unique mono and stereo mix, but the group always regarded the mono as primary.  

On September 9, the Beatles’ nine U.K. albums, the American-compiled Magical Mystery Tour, and the Mono Masters collection of non-album tracks will be released in mono on 180-gram vinyl LPs with faithfully replicated artwork.  Newly mastered from the analogue master tapes, each album will be available both individually and within a lavish, limited 14-LP boxed edition, The Beatles In Mono, which also includes a 108-page hardbound book.

In an audiophile-minded undertaking, The Beatles’ acclaimed mono albums have been newly mastered for vinyl from quarter-inch master tapes at Abbey Road Studios by Grammy®-winning engineer Sean Magee and Grammy®-winning mastering supervisor Steve Berkowitz.

While The Beatles In Mono CD boxed set released in 2009 was created from digital remasters, for this new vinyl project, Magee and Berkowitz cut the records without using any digital technology. Instead, they employed the same procedures used in the 1960s, guided by the original albums and by detailed transfer notes made by the original cutting engineers.

Working in the same room at Abbey Road where most of the Beatles’ albums were initially cut, the pair first dedicated weeks to concentrated listening, fastidiously comparing the master tapes with first pressings of the mono records made in the 1960s.  Using a rigorously tested Studer A80 machine to play back the precious tapes, the new vinyl was cut on a 1980s-era VMS80 lathe.

Manufactured for the world at Optimal Media in Germany, the Beatles’ albums are presented in their original glory, both sonically and in their packaging. The boxed collection’s exclusive 12-inch by 12-inch hardbound book features new essays and a detailed history of the mastering process by award-winning radio producer and author Kevin Howlett.  The book is illustrated with many rare studio photos of the Beatles, fascinating archive documents, and articles and advertisements sourced from 1960s publications.

Available now for pre-order at www.thebeatles.com.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Doors iPad App Now Available

In 2013, The Doors unveiled a first-of-its-kind iPad app, bringing the band's story to life in a new medium and delivering an unprecedented immersive experience that goes deeply into the band's career with interactive content, unpublished band images and artwork, rare videos, music, and much more. 

The app, simply titled The Doors, was praised by fans and critics alike, earning 2014 Webby Awards Official Honoree status in their "Integrated Mobile Experience" category as well as being named one of the "Best Apps & E-Books Of 2013 For Adults" by Kirkus Reviews. The Doors App is now available as a free download for the first time, exclusively on the App Store, inviting fans to experience a select amount of its exclusive content at no charge, with an easy in-app purchase available for $2.99 to unlock the full version.

This newly launched version of The Doors App offers free access to some of the app's most dynamic features, including an expansive telling of how The Doors came to be, and in-depth essay by David Fricke on the making of their first astonishing LP, recollections from John Densmore and Greil Marcus, rare photos, memorabilia from the era, and 13 videos and song snippets.

Also prominent in the free version is unrestricted access to the "Music Room," featuring interactive discography with all song lyrics and audio samples of the band's first six studio albums plus lyrics synced to each album as you move the LPs in their bin with just a fingertip.

One of the most heralded portions of The Doors App, and included in the free version, is the graphic novelization of the notorious, and politically motivated, Miami Incident, when Morrison was falsely accused of exposing himself during a 1969 concert. That infamous episode is retold through drawings by award-winning comic book artist Dean Haspiel, words by Adam Holzman (son of Jac), and rare audio of Morrison secretly recorded that evening. This section also includes the once-confidential FBI report, the arrest report, Jim's full tongue-in-cheek testimony, Morrison's mug shot, and his posthumous pardon issued in 2010.

The Doors App released by Warner Music Group's Rhino Entertainment, was conceived and produced by Elektra Records founder and Warner Music legend Jac Holzman, who signed the Doors to his label in 1966, and Robin Hurley; along with the participation of Densmore, Krieger, the late Manzarek, and the estate of Jim Morrison. Holzman, a pioneer in the music industry and a pivotal force throughout the band's career, comes full circle with this app. Holzman and Warner Music bring The Doors into the digital age with a project that redefines how a band's work can be chronicled in the virtual realm.

Other features of The Doors App include:

• 360 Degree View Of Each Album -The story behind each record is revealed through photos, videos, music clips, text as well as homages from influencers like Patti Smith, Hunter S. Thompson, Francis Ford Coppola and The Doors themselves.
• Photo Galleries - Six galleries featuring 227 band photos, 112 album and single artwork images, memorabilia from the Elektra Records vault, and 75 handwritten tracking note and tape boxes.
• Videos - Six full length original short films for "Break On Through," "Strange Days," "Unknown Soldier," "Wild Child," "Roadhouse Blues (Live)," and "The Changeling."
• Ray Remembered - Section dedicated solely to the band's legendary keyboardist Ray Manzarek, who passed away in May 2013, featuring an on-camera interview with John Densmore and Robby Krieger reminiscing about the impact Manzarek had on the band and their own lives.
• Interactive Timeline - Weaves highlights of the Door's history in context with other musical and historical events revealing juxtapositions otherwise unknown.
• Cast Of Characters - Insider mini bios on the 100+ people most important to the legend of the band.
• Technical Nuggets - Explore how the Doors' engineered their signature sound for each album with a photo/text gallery of the exact equipment used for each recording.
• Map Of Los Angeles - Interactive L.A. map highlighting key places in the Doors personal and professional lives.

The Doors App is now available from the App Store on iPad or at www.AppStore.com.

The Doors App was developed by Rhino US and Brandwidth Group UK.

Download The Doors App - http://smarturl.it/doorsapp
The Doors App official trailer: http://youtu.be/o7wellAebWw
For more information on The Doors, please visit www.thedoors.com

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

An Evening With Dave Mason Coming To The Grammy Museum

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Traffic co-founding member Dave Mason will make a special appearance at The Grammy Museum® in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 16. 

Presented by American Express®, “An Evening With Dave Mason” will feature the singer, songwriter and guitarist discussing his musical journey which spans over 47 years encompassing producing, performing, songwriting and being considered one of rock's great guitar players, along with a brief acoustic performance.

Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Theater will play host to 200 lucky fans as they join Mason and host Scott Goldman, Vice President of The Grammy Foundation and MusiCares, to discuss Mason’s songwriting process, beginnings in the band Traffic, acclaimed solo career, current touring project “Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam,” his latest release, Future's Past and much more.

Tickets are on sale now at www.AXS.com, charge by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX or 888-929-7849.

The event will kick off a string of tour dates in California for Mason’s current “Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam” tour including: 9/17 at the Smothers Theatre in Malibu, CA, 9/18 at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA, 9/20 at Richard & Karen Carpenter PAC in Long Beach, CA, 9/24 at the Sunset Center Theater in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, 9/26 at the Theatre Deville in Vacaville, CA, 9/27 at the Uptown Theatre in Napa, CA, 9/30 and 10/1 & 10/2 at the Carriage House Theatre, Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, CA.

Mason is earning accolades on the road for the Traffic Jam tour which kicked off January 3 in Atlantic City, NJ and will continue through the rest of the year. He has been touring and recording regularly since he co-founded Traffic in 1966, after which he went on to a successful and acclaimed solo career as well as recording and/or touring with artists including Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, George Harrison, Delaney & Bonnie, Graham Nash, Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Fleetwood Mac and more.

For the most updated list of tour dates and tickets, please visit davemasonmusic.com/tour.


Monday, August 18, 2014

Bob Seger Returns With New Album, Tour

Bob Seger will be releasing Ride Out, his first new album in eight years -- and possibly his final studio album ever -- on October 14.

The set follows 2006's platinum-certified Face The Promise, which broke an 11-year drought, though Seger has also released new music on the interim compilations Early Seger Vol. 1 in 2009 and Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets in 2011.

Seger produced Ride Out and recorded it at studios in Nashville and suburban Detroit, and he says in a statement that, "I feel really good about this record. This album touches on how I think a lot of us feel about finding our place in a more complicated world -- from how we appreciate things as simple and pure as love, to navigating through the corruption and violence that permeates the news. It sums up a lot of feelings I have about a variety of subjects."

A full track list has not yet been released for Ride Out but the set will include a rendition of John Hiatt's "Detroit Made" that he released to radio last week, as well as the original "All of The Roads" and a cover of the Wilco/Billy Bragg/Woody Guthrie song "California Stars" -- all three of which Seger previewed during his spring 2013 concert tour. Other songs he's mentioned recording include "Wonderland," "Ride Out" (once in the running to be the title track) and "Gates of Eden."

It may also be Seger's final word as a recording artist; last year he said with his 70th birthday looming in May of 2015, "I don't know how much more there is to prove. I wouldn't mind putting out one more record, one last swan song. That's all I'm concerned with right now is trying to make that as good as it can be, and then we'll look at everything else and play it by ear. I've had a great career. It's been a great run. I don't want to overstay my welcome."

Seger, who's sold more than 51 millions albums and has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters halls of fame, is planning to tour in support of Ride Out, though no dates have yet been revealed.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Aerosmith Resume Tour After Drummer's Health Scare

Aerosmith will resume their in-progress “Let Rock Rule” tour Saturday, August 16 at the Gorge in George, WA. 

Earlier this week. (Wednesday, August 13), the band cancelled their concert at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA so that drummer Joey Kramer could undergo a minor medical procedure. 

kramer, who has no history of a heart condition, said, “I'm feeling better than ever and I’ll be back sitting in the best seat in the house, hitting it harder than ever for our amazing fans. My gratitude and thanks for all the love and support showered on me during this time."
   

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson Releasing Live Thick As A Brick, Expanded Homo Erraticus Packages

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson is busier than ever with a couple of CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc packages planned for August and September, followed by an extensive Fall U.S. tour that runs through November. 

On August 25, Thick As A Brick - Live In Iceland will be available as double CD, DVD, SD Blu-ray and in digital formats This is the first time Thick As A Brick and Thick As A Brick 2: Whatever Happened To Gerald Bostock? have been offered in a combined set, resulting in a superb presentation of the complete story of Gerald Bostock.

Thick As A Brick was originally released in 1972 and featured one continuous track spread across two sides of an LP telling the story of a young boy named Gerald Bostock. 40 years later in 2012, Anderson continued the story, with the creation of Thick As A Brick 2: Whatever Happened To Gerald Bostock?. Following this release, Anderson took both albums on the road to present the complete narrative live. This show, filmed in Iceland, brings Gerald’s tale to life as never before and creates the definitive presentation of Thick As A Brick.

On September 30, a special CD/DVD Tour Edition of Homo Erraticus, Anderson's 2014 studio album, will be released, coinciding with his American tour, opening September 12th. This two-disc (CD and DVD) package features the exclusive videos to each album track, as seen at the shows, set to hi resolution 24-bit stereo audio. The DVD features a live performance of album favorite "Enter the Uninvited" and new interview footage with Anderson discussing the live visuals.

For more information, go to http://jethrotull.com.

Ian Anderson 2014 Fall Tour Dates

9/12/14 - McCaw Hall - Seattle, WA  
9/13/14 - Maryhill Winery Amphitheater - Goldendale, WA  
9/15/14 - Cascade Theater - Redding, CA  
9/17/14 - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA        
9/18/14 - Segerstrom Hall - Costa Mesa, CA  
9/19/14 - Pearl Concert Theater - Las Vegas, NV  
9/20/14 - Mesa Arts Center - Mesa, AZ  
9/21/14 - Kiva Auditorium - Albuquerque, NM  
9/23/14 - Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House - Dallas, TX  
9/24/14 - Wagner Noel PAC - Midland, TX  
9/26/14 - Austin City Limits - Austin, TX        
9/27/14 - Tobin PAC - San Antonio, TX  
9/28/14 - Stafford PAC - Stafford, TX  
9/30/14 - Symphony Hall - Atlanta, GA  
10/1/14 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN  
10/3/14 - Blumenthal PAC - Charlotte, NC  
10/4/14 - Durham PAC - Durham, NC  
10/5/14 - The National Theater - Richmond, VA  
10/16/14 - Pfeiffer Hall - Naperville, IL  
10/17/14 - Sangamon Auditorium - Springfield, IL  
10/18/14 - Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI  
10/19/14 - Gallagher Bluedorn PAC - Cedar Falls, IA    
10/21/14 - State Theater - Minneapolis, MN    
10/23/14 - Horshoe Casino - Elizabeth, IN  
10/24/14 - Clay Center - Charleston, WV  
10/25/14 - The Palace Theatre - Greensburg, PA      
10/26/14 - Sands Bethlehem Event Center - Bethlehem, PA  
10/28/14 - Flynn Center - Burlington, VT  
10/29/14 - Providence PAC - Providence, RI  
10/30/14 - The Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT  
11/1/14 - Lynn Auditorium - Lynn, MA    
11/2/14 - Palace Theatre - Albany, NY  
11/4/14 - Center For the Arts - Buffalo, NY  
11/6/14 - Lincoln Theater - Washington DC  
11/7/14 - Caesars - Circus Maximus - Atlantic City, NJ  
11/8/14 - The Paramount - Huntington, NY        
11/9/14 - Count Basie Theater - Red Bank, NJ  
11/10/14 - Wellmont Theatre - Montclair, NJ  

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Three Frank Zappa Films To Be Screened In Los Angeles This Weekend

Three films directed by Frank Zappa will be celebrated this Sunday, August 17, at the Egyptian Theatre as part of the American Cinematheque’s Turn Up The Radio: L.A. Rock On Film series, August 13-17.

The Sunday, August 17 Frank Zappa screenings will include two shorts - the world premiere of Bunny Bunny Bunny along with Cheepnis, followed by the full-length Uncle Meat feature.

The entire evening will culminate with a Q&A discussion with Gail Zappa, Moon Zappa, Ahmet Zappa, Steve Vai, Jeff Stein (The Kids Are Alright) and Joe (Vaultmeister) Travers.

The 20-minute Bunny Bunny Bunny (ca. 1987) will kick off the event.  The one-camera shoot stars daughter Moon Zappa (a couple of years after the radio hit “Valley Girl”) in improvised dialog with her best friend Kyle Richards and her cousin Lala Sloatman.

Next up, coming in at 10 minutes is Cheepnis (ca. 1973), which features the only footage Frank Zappa cut together from his legendary 1973 Roxy concerts and documents the director, bandleader, songwriter and musician at work. Cheepnis sings the praises of low-budget monster movies.

Lastly, Frank Zappa began directing The Mothers of Invention’s one and only full-length movie, Uncle Meat (ca. 1987), less than two years after the group’s 1965 debut, but the film did not see release until 1987. Colorful footage from their Absolutely Free-era residency at the Garrick Theater in New York, and from the Sgt. Pepper/psychedelia-mocking We’re Only in it for the Money album cover shoot is mixed with orchestral bits from a 1968 concert at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Plus you get Rodney Bingenheimer, Linda Ronstadt, Meredith Monk and others along for the ride at the legendary Hollywood Ranch Market on Vine Street. Camerawork by the great Haskell Wexler.

For more information on tickets and times, visit www.americancinematheque.com.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Bob Weir & RatDog Cancel Concerts Through 2015

It has just been announced that all upcoming Bob Weir & RatDog dates have been cancelled. This includes the band's summer and fall dates as well as a destination event in Jamaica.

Here's what appears on the Furthur Facebook:

Circumstances have necessitated that all scheduled tour dates for Bob Weir & RatDog are being cancelled. This applies to all dates on the summer tour starting on Thursday, August 14 in Boston through September 14 in Nashville and also includes the Jamaica event in January of 2015. Full and complete refunds are available at place of purchase. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

No further details have been revealed. Weir's commitments include appearances at the Peach Music Fest, Lockn' and Phases Of The Moon. It will be interesting to see what these festivals come up with to replace Bobby at their events, especially Lockn' who were counting of the guitarist for two headlining sets with RatDog as well as a one-night-only Furthur reunion set. No word from the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, who were set to open many RatDog dates this summer.

Last month Weir missed a RatDog show that went on without him in Las Vegas, but was able to return for the next night's show.  The guitarist was also unable to finish a Furthur show last year in Port Chester that led him taking a few months off.

Update: Lockn' organizers are offering a refund through 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 13. Ticketholders must email tix@musictoday.com with their refund request. Meanwhile, Peach Music Festival organizers are offering refunds to those who purchased single day tickets for Friday, August 15 and don't want to attend anymore. Those who would like to request a refund can do so through Wednesday, August 13 at 5 p.m. ET by either emailing tix@musictoday.com or calling 1-800-594-TIXX.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Peter Frampton Tosses Fan’s Phone to The Rafters During His Show

Peter Frampton recently lost his cool at a concert in Carmel, Indiana, when an unruly fan ignored his repeated requests not to film his performance on a cellphone.

"The Show Me The Way" singer turned his back in disgust at one point but when the front row fan kept taking shots and video of the guitarist. That's when Frampton turned and asked for the fan's phone.

Online reports on social media differ with some suggesting the guitarist hurled the phone into the rafters of the concert venue, while others claim he simply tossed the device backstage and continued with his set.

One reporter who was at the show writes, "You could see the absolute look of desperation and frustration on Peter’s face. I have never seen an artist so upset before... and the guy in the front row (was) unrelenting - apparently with no self control, considering he’s already flipped Peter off and turned around and called the rest of the audience a bunch of deadbeats."

"Peter ends the song, walks over and with a huge smile on his face bends down and says, 'Hey, can I see that? Can I see the photos you've been taking?' The guy hands him his phone and Peter stands up, spins, and flings for the rafters! Yes! The phone went flying to the back of the stage and we all erupted in cheers! With years of experience playing guitar, we just knew he had a great arm!"

Frampton discussed the situation on his Facebook page, urging fans "still scratching your heads as to why I would relieve someone, in the front row, of their phone/camera" to read an accurate review about the incident.

He added, "Many thanks to the eyewitnesses who came forward to explain how annoying, 'Team Distraction' actually were. And not just to me but everyone arm round them."

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Tom Petty Scores First No. 1 Album On Billboard 200

After a nearly 37-year wait, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers earn their first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200.

The band's new Hypnotic Eye arrives atop the chart, selling 131,000 copies in the week ending Aug. 3, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the best debut sales week for Petty since SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991, and his best sales frame overall (debut or otherwise) since 1994, when his solo album Wildflowers sold 161,000 in the week after Christmas.

Petty and The Heartbreakers first appeared on the Billboard 200 back in September 1977 with their self-titled debut album that featured the classics "Breakdown" and "American Girl."

Petty's long wait for No. 1 isn't the longest an act has had to wait for its first chart-topper. That honor belongs to Tony Bennett, who patiently waited 54 years for his first leader: 2011's Duets II. The pop singer's first charted album was 1957's Tony, which debuted on the chart dated Feb. 23, 1957.

Sales for Hypnotic Eye were aided by an album promotion with Petty's current concert tour. Customers who bought a ticket to Petty's shows had the option of also receiving the album as part of their purchase. Only albums that were redeemed by the consumer count as sales toward Billboard's charts. (Many ticket buyers decline the album.)

Petty employed a similar album/ticket promotion for his last album, 2010's Mojo, which debuted and peaked at No. 2 with 125,000 sold in its first week. Aside from Petty, a great number of other acts have offered album/ticket deals, such as Austin Mahone, Cher and Bon Jovi.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Marianne Faithfull Claims Ex-Boyfriend Killed Jim Morrison

In a new interview with MOJO, Marianne Faithfull has said that her former lover, heroin dealer Jean de Breteuil, was behind the Doors singer Jim Morrison's death, though she says it was "accidental." 

Faithfull recalls travelling to Paris with de Breteuil, but staying at their hotel while he went to visit Morrison at his apartment.

"I could intuitively feel trouble," said Faithfull. "I thought, I'll take a few Tuinal [barbiturates] and I won't be there. And he went to see Jim Morrison and killed him. I mean I'm sure it was an accident. Poor bastard. The smack was too strong? Yeah. And he died. And I didn't know anything about this. Anyway, everybody connected to the death of this poor guy is dead now. Except me."

Morrison died at the age of 27, on July 3, 1971.

In the same interview, Faithfull also spoke about the death of Amy Winehouse, saying the late pop star was “wary” of her, because she knew about her substance abuse. "Amy was very, very wary of me. She knew that I knew and she didn't want me to say anything. There's a level of narcissism which is all mixed up with self-hatred. I know it well. It's like a glass wall between you and the world, so that all the love that everybody pours onto you, you don't feel it. But I can't think what I could have done apart from take her and shake her! 'You stupid little cunt! Wake up!'"

Nick Cave, Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters and Anna Calvi are amongst those who've penned music for Marianne Faithfull's new album. Give My Love To London will be released on September 29 and features lyrics by Faithfull and music from a host of guest artists, also including Pat Leonard, Tom McRae and Steve Earle.

On the record, Faithfull will be backed by guest musicians Warren Ellis and Jim Sclavunos of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds as well as Portishead's Adrian Utley on guitar, keyboards from Ed Harcourt, Rob Ellis on drums, Dimitri Tikovoi on bass, and a string quartet. The album has been produced by Rob Ellis and Dimitri Tikovoi and mixed by Flood.

Marianne Faithfull will start a year-long world tour this autumn, playing London Royal Festival Hall on November 29.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Rock Hall To Evict Ashes Of Alan Freed, The Man Who Gave Birth To Rock 'N' Roll

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is in Cleveland thanks in large part to Alan Freed.

But Freed is no longer welcome in the Rock Hall, according to his son, Lance Freed.

Lance Freed says he was told several months ago by Rock Hall President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Harris that he would have to "immediately" remove his father's ashes, which had been on display since 2002, from the building.

"He said, 'look Lance, there's something strange, people walk past the exhibit and your dad's ashes and they scratch their heads and can't figure out what this thing is, and we'd like you to come pick up the ashes."

Freed said he told Harris he would need some time to talk to his family and "think about where we're going to put my father. Six weeks ago I called him and said I would be up in July."

Harris, reached by cell phone as he was driving with his family in the mountains of Pennsylvania stressed that the Rock Hall still realizes the role Freed played both in rock 'n' roll and in the museum itself.

"First and foremost, not all of [Freed's artifacts] are being moved out of the museum,'' Harris said. "We are returning the ashes to his family.''

The display case which held Freed's ashes instead will include a pair of his iconic microphones, since he was, after all, a broadcaster, Harris said.

The call from Harris was a real blow to the family of the man who popularized the term "rock and roll" as a DJ in the 1950s and hosted what is considered the first rock 'n' roll concert, the Moondog Coronation Ball, in 1952 at the Cleveland Arena. His cremains were originally buried inside a wall at the Hall, but later moved to their public but low-key display at the request of the family.

Freed's remains had been brought to Cleveland from the Ferncliff Memorial Mausoleum in Hartsdale, N.Y., where they had been interred since his death at age 43 in 1965.

Following his time in Cleveland in the 1950s, Freed moved to New York, where he continued his rock 'n' roll DJ career. A payola scandal ended that career, with Freed pleading guilty to two counts of commercial bribery in 1962.

"After a lot of discussion with my family about putting the ashes on display in 2002, we thought, 'this is appropriate, my dad would gave been happy and amused by this because he's a public figure.'"

At the time, then Rock Hall CEO Terry Stewart told The Plain Dealer: "I'm sure some people will find it unusual and others might find it morbid. It's certainly appropriate in a rock 'n' roll sense to have his final resting place here."

Harris said that the original request to put the urn on view actually came from the Freed family.

"We planned on returning them all along,'' he said.

Lance Freed says he was told by Harris that the Freed exhibit, minus the urn, would be moved to the lower level Ahmet Ertegun hall as part of a chronological history of rock 'n' roll.

"It's pushing him to the side," says Freed, "It's making him part of the passing parade, rather than a place where people can say 'hey this is the guy who helped start it all.'"

But Harris said that the homage to Freed will remain as part of the museum's Pioneers of Rock exhibit. The urn, he said, is the only thing from the exhibit that will be removed.

Museums are at their best, Harris said, when the cultural story of an item can be put in context.

"Freed is incredibly important to us,'' he said. The museum continues carry the Freed name on its radio studio and displays that Moondog Coronation Ball plaque.

Harris also said that museums today are leaning away from displaying items like ashes and other things, unless there is a medical context.

Freed will pick up his father's ashes from the Rock Hall on Monday, without a ceremony like the one led by Rabbi Franklin Muller of Youngstown's Congregation Rodef Sholom that occurred when the ashes were brought to the Hall. They were taken off of display on Friday.

But Alan Freed is not leaving town again, says his son.

"We're looking for a Cleveland cemetery for his remains. Once we find one, then we'll have a public service. This is going to be my father's final resting place. I want to make sure in his death he gets the respect he deserves because he didn't in the last years of his life. I want to protect his legacy and memory."

Friday, August 1, 2014

Campaign Started To Get Ozzy Osbourne Knighted

An online campaign to get Ozzy Osbourne knighted has attracted over 21,000 signatures. The campaign, organized by 65-year-old fan Helen Maidiotis, states that the Black Sabbath frontman deserves the honor for his "significant contribution to the music industry." 

Her campaign page on causes.com reads: "I am campaigning for Ozzy Osbourne to receive a Knighthood, as he thoroughly deserves this honour not only for all his charity work but for all his years entertaining us and helping make a difference to peoples' lives who have looked up to him for his strong will and determination to get through the many obstacles that he has come across and for that we thank you Ozzy! Helping to get him Knighted would be our gift to him."

When asked about the campaign in a recent interview, Osbourne said: "I've heard about that. Getting knighted? I can't imagine anything better…And my wife [Sharon] would become a Lady, which would be pretty cool. But I'm not gonna get upset if it doesn't happen. I never thought I'd get further than Aston [in Birmingham, England, where he was born]."

Ozzy Osbourne will release a compilation of his greatest hits as a solo artist titled Memoirs Of A Madman on October 6. He is currently touring the world with Black Sabbath in support of their 2013 album 13.

Jeff Lynne's ELO Announces 2024 North American Fall Tour

  Jeff Lynne’s ELO is set to embark on the band’s final tour dubbed “The Over and Out Tour.” The 27-date trek, produced by Live Nation, will...