Friday, April 29, 2016

The Magical History Tour: A Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition Opens April 30 In Dearborn, MI

Opening tomorrow (April 30) at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MichiganThe Magical History Tour: A Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition takes visitors on an unprecedented journey of the Fab Four’s ground-breaking career, retrace the steps of the Beatles and the way in which they changed the music industry and influenced American pop culture with the best private collection ever assembled, that highlights their formative years in Liverpool and Hamburg, the screaming fans across the world and goes into the studio for the creation of some of the most innovative music in history. 

Fans and visitors will experience the exhibition in a fast-forward journey from birth to fame to breakup and beyond. The robust multi-sensory galleries include:

Beginnings, Influence and Life in Liverpool: 
Guests will be immersed in the atmosphere of late 50s/early 60s Liverpool. Part of the very stage that supported some of the band’s early shows is on display, as well as instruments, personal letters and photographs, and various documents detailing the growing fame of the Fab Four. These artifacts are incredibly rare, as they come from a part of the band’s history before it was illuminated by the international spotlight.

Life on the Road:  
Next, guests are swept up in the hysteria as the Beatles take America, and the world, by storm. See and hear what it was like to experience one of their concerts from their perspective, and immerse yourself in the amazing volume of Beatles merchandise produced, from replica instruments to clothing, costumes, board games and trading cards. Become your favorite Beatle as you interact with the fashion that set the lads from Liverpool apart.

Innovation in the Studio: You’ve already heard the music. Now is your chance to discover how the Beatles’ music was created: by mixing it yourself. Explore the cutting-edge techniques used in the studio to craft some of the most enduring music in history. This gallery places guests right in the studio, up close and personal with the tools that built some of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time.

The Decade of the Break-up: The dissolution of arguably the greatest rock band of all time left the world in disbelief, however it was not just an end, but also a beginning. This gallery is an exploration of the lives and careers of the individual members post-Beatles. It explores the different paths each Beatle has taken, both musically and personally, and presents an astounding collection of artifacts from this period, including the last autograph John Lennon would ever sign.

The Magical History Tour: A Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition runs from April 30 through September 18. Tickets for members are $5. Non-member ticket prices include admission to the museum and are $26 for adults (13-61), $20.75 for youth (5-12), $24 for seniors (62+) and children 4 and under are free. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.thehenryford.org/beatles.  

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Neil Young Releasing Live Album In June

Neil Young will release a new album, entitled Earth, on June 17th via Reprise Records. The album features performances of songs from a range of Young's albums, including last year's The Monsanto Years, 1990's Ragged Glory, and 1970's After the Gold Rush

The audio was captured during Young's 2015 tour with The Promise of the Real, fronted by Lukas Nelson (vocals/guitar) and Micah Nelson (guitar, vocals), Willie Nelson's sons. The tour included Young performing solo and with the band for a full electric show.

A new take on some of Young's most beloved songs, Earth features the live recordings, along with added musical overdubs, as well as sounds of the earth, such as city sounds like car horns, sounds of insects, and animal sounds from bears, birds, crickets, bees, horses, cows - creating a very strange, yet beautiful atmosphere.

"Ninety-eight uninterrupted minutes long, Earth flows as a collection of 13 songs from throughout my life, songs I have written about living here on our planet together,"  says Young. "Our animal kingdom is well represented in the audience as well, and the animals, insects, birds, and mammals actually take over the performances of the songs at times."

On Friday, May 6th, in Los Angeles between 7:00pm - 9:00pm, The Natural History Museum Los Angeles County  will present "An Evening With Neil Young," as part of their "First Fridays" event series. "First Fridays" is a monthly event at the Natural History Museum that includes live music, DJ sets, and scientific discussions/presentations.

For this event, Young will present the first public playback of his upcoming release, Earth in its entirety in Pono high definition fidelity audio. The opening portion of the program will include Young's insights on the making of Earth. This will be the first-ever public album preview by Young in his career. For tickets and further details, go to: "First Fridays".

In other Neil Young news, Young's musical comedy Human Highway and the concert feature Rust Never Sleeps will be reissued on DVD and Blu Ray via Reprise Records on June 10.

Human Highway is Young's 1982 comedy starring Russ Tamblyn, Charlotte Stewart, Dean Stockwell, Dennis Hopper, and Devo, which has been digitally restored for the DVD and Blu Ray release.

Rust Never Sleeps is the full-length feature about Young's 1978 concert tour and includes such classic young Young's most popular songs, showcasing classic hits such as "I Am a Child," featuring Crazy Horse, "Cinnamon Girl," "Like A Hurricane" and both the acoustic and electric versions of his landmark song "Hey Hey, My My."

The track listing for Earth is as follows:

"People Want to Hear About Love" (from The Monsanto Years)
"Big Box" (from The Monsanto Years)
"Mother Earth" (from Ragged Glory)
"The Monsanto Years" (from The Monsanto Years)
"I Won't Quit" (previously unreleased)
"Western Hero" (from Sleeps With Angels)
"Vampire Blues" (from On The Beach)
"Hippie Dream" (from Landing On Water)
"After The Gold Rush" (from After The Gold Rush)
"Wolf Moon" (from The Monsanto Years)
"Love & Only Love" (from Ragged Glory)

http://www.neilyoung.com
http://www.YouTube.com/NeilYoung
https://twitter.com/neilyoung
https://www.facebook.com/NeilYoung
https://www.instagram.com/neilyoung/

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Frank Zappa Reissues, Unreleased Live Shows Coming In May

Frank Zappa's triple CD Lumpy Money Project/Object set and his double-CD Road Tapes, Venue #1 and Road Tapes, Venue #2 performance albums will be reissued, and Road Tapes, Venue #3 will debut on May 27 from Zappa Records/UMe. All four titles will be available on CD and digitally.

In 2008, to mark the 40th anniversaries of Frank Zappa's masterworks Lumpy Gravy and We're Only In It For The Money, the Zappa Family Trust assembled an anniversary edition of their Project/Object Audio Documentary series entitled Lumpy Money Project/Object. The expansive release contains three CDs of unique and rare versions of the legendary albums, including the mono mixes for both, as well as many nuggets from the Vault, from various studio outtakes to single versions, instrumental mixes, and Frank Zappa interview excerpts. Lumpy Money Project/Object also includes a booklet filled with photos, oddities and featuring liner notes from David Fricke and Gail Zappa. Both albums' mono mixes make their download debuts with the new digital release of Lumpy Money Project/Object.

Zappa worked on Lumpy Gravy and We're Only In It For The Money during essentially the same time period in 1967 and 1968. The original Lumpy Gravy sessions were produced by Nick Venet and recorded at Capitol Studios with a host of primo studio musicians, including members of the famous Wrecking Crew. After delays from Zappa's record company, Lumpy Gravy began anew. Armed with the Lumpy Gravy session tapes and a razor blade, Zappa sat in his New York City apartment and transformed the project into the masterwork collage we know today.

We're Only In It For The Money has gone down in history as one of the most essential rock albums of our time. With its scathing messages, use of parody, musique concrète & DADA-ist tendencies, there truly is nothing like it.

The Road Tapes series focuses on Frank Zappa concert audio from the Vault that is historical yet sonically less than stellar. Described by the man himself as "Guerilla Recordings," Zappa tried to document every performance. Road Tapes, Venue #1 takes us to summertime 1968, Vancouver, B.C., where the Mothers of Invention played Kerrisdale Arena to an enthusiastic crowd. Captured on mono reel-to-reel, the concert is inspired and showcases a mixture of classic Mothers and live improvisations.

Road Tapes, Venue #2 takes us back to August 1973 in Helsinki, Finland. The performances, compiled from three shows at Finlandia Hall, were recorded by engineer Kerry McNabb while on his first tour with Zappa. This band consists of a lineup that is often regarded as one of Zappa's finest. Stars like George Duke, Jean Luc Ponty, and Ruth Underwood shine. The compositions become increasingly challenging yet still maintain the humor expected at a live Zappa show, making for a potent and rewarding release.

New to the Road Tapes series, Road Tapes, Venue #3 features two complete shows from Tyrone Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN. The July 1970 Mothers line-up featured Flo & Eddie, George Duke, Ian Underwood, Aynsley Dunbar & Jeff Simmons. Frank Zappa's vast Vault does not contain many full shows from this time period, making this release a particularly special one. The tapes were recorded to stereo reel-to-reel, but not without problems. Due to their historical relevance, Zappa Records determined it was worth it, warts 'n all! Venue #3 does not disappoint.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Adopt The Arts Benefit To Honor Glenn Hughes, Robin Zander In Hollywood

Adopt The Arts, a Los Angeles-based charity co-founded by musician Matt Sorum and activist Abby Berman, will launch a live benefit concert and live auction for LAUSD elementary schools on Thursday, May 12 at The Fonda Theatre (6126 Hollywood Boulevard) in Los Angeles. 

Music luminaries will gather to perform with and honor 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) and Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) for their contributions to American art and culture.

"I'm extremely honored to be accepting an award from such an admirable charity, Adopt the Arts," explains Hughes. "Matt Sorum has gone to great lengths to help create a program for children to have musical instruments in their lives and in turn to provide love and harmony in our lives. I'm humbled and grateful. See you at the event at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday, May 12. I'm really looking forward to performing for you all, let's make it a magical night."

"All of my career I've been involved in promoting the arts in elementary schools and I'm proud to be part of Adopt the Arts Honors," adds Zander. "My thanks  goes out to the foundation and I hope that fans everywhere will come and join us for a successful evening of fun, music and fundraising. See you there."

Artists confirmed to perform include Adopt The Arts founder Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Hollywood Vampires), along with Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols),  Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Gilby Clarke (Guns N' Roses), Billy Duffy (The Cult), Dean Deleo & Robert Deleo (Stone Temple Pilots), Steve Lukather (Toto), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Franky Perez (Apocalyptica), Stevie Salas (Mick Jagger), Paul III (Tina Turner, Disreputable Few), Damon Fox (Big Elf And The Cult,) and DJ Morty Coyle.

Comedian Hal Sparks will also be a part of the night's festivities, as well as a live auction will feature multiple items from Aerosmith, Metallica, Foo Fighters, ZZ Top, Sammy Hagar and many others.

Proceeds from the concert and auction will be donated to Adopt The Arts music programs in LAUSD elementary schools. Tickets are on-sale now at http://www.axs.com/events/308980/glenn-huges-robin-zander-tickets?skin=thefonda.

More info at:
www.adoptthearts.org
https://www.facebook.com/adopt.the.arts
https://twitter.com/AdopttheArts

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Soul Singer Billy Paul Dies at 81

Billy Paul, the soul singer best known for his 1972 single “Me and Mrs. Jones,” died on Sunday (April 24), according to a message posted on his website. He was 81 years old.

“We regret to announce with a heavy heart that Billy has passed away today at home after a serious medical condition,” the statement reads.

“We would like to extend our most sincere condolences to his wife Blanche and family for their loss, as they and the world grieves the loss of another musical icon that helped pioneered todays R&B music. Billy will be truly missed. Please share you thought [sic], messages and stories of Billy as we remember this legendary artist, family member and friend,” it continues.

Paul’s manager, Beverly Gay, confirmed his passing to NBC10. She stated that Paul (born Paul Williams) died at his home in in Blackwood, N.J., after being diagnosed with cancer and hospitalized a week ago at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.

“Me and Mrs. Jones” topped the Hot 100 in late 1972, and it earned Paul a Grammy Award for best R&B vocal performance, male in 1973.

Paul began singing at an early age, even sharing a bill at Club Harlem in Philadelphia with Charlie Parker when he was only 16 years old. “He died later that year,” Paul is quoted as saying. “I was there with him for a week and I learned what it would normally take two years to pick up. Bird told me if I kept struggling I'd go a long way, and I've never forgotten his words."

Throughout his career, the singer released 15 albums, the most recent being 1988’s Wide Open. A biography on his website says that Questlove has called him "one of the criminally unmentioned proprietors of socially conscious post-revolution '60s civil rights music."

Paul’s rep told NBC10 that family will be releasing information about funeral arrangements.


Thursday, April 21, 2016

Roger Daltrey Confirms Who, Stones, Dylan, McCartney, Roger Waters & Neil Young Fest

The organizers of the Coachella festival in California announced plans last week to put on a three-day mega-festival with just two acts per night: Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney on the first, the Rolling Stones and Neil Young on the second, and the Who and Roger Waters on the third.

Now the Who’s Roger Daltrey has confirmed the story. “I think it’s us and Roger Waters on the same day,” he told the Canadian media company Postmedia Network. “It’s a fantastic idea for a festival. It’s the greatest remains of our era.”

Neil Young’s manager Elliot Roberts had spoken to the Los Angeles Times, sounding as if he was sure the show was going ahead: “You won’t get a chance to see a bill like this, perhaps ever again. It’s a show I look forward to more than any show in a long time,” Roberts said. But Daltrey is the first performer to have broken his silence about the event.

The show is believed to be taking place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California – the Coachella site – from 7-9 October. However, Daltrey sounded a note of caution about the possibility of tickets not reaching the artists’ hardcore fans – such a lineup would be popular with both touts and with corporate entertainment departments. “I hope a lot of normal fans can get tickets before they get snatched up,” he said.

According to the early reports, each of the acts will play a typical headline set, not a truncated festival show, with their full stage production. In fact, the production logistics should not be troublesome: of those six artists, only the Stones and Waters are famed for their lavish productions.

What might be more troublesome would be the cost of the tickets. These are all acts accustomed to good pay for their appearances, and the more money needs to be paid out, the more tickets will have to cost. When the Stones played four shows in November 2012 to mark their 50th anniversary, Keith Richards remarked that a sum of “£16m sounds about right to us” as payment to perform.

Given the level of financial comfort of the likely audience for these shows, however, it’s possible prices may not be a problem.

Prince Passes At 57

Musician and producer Prince has died at age 57. He was found dead at his estate in Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota Thursday, according to numerous sources.

The Carver County Sheriffs Office told NBC police responded to a report of a fatality at the property.
Last weekend, Prince appeared at a Paisley Park dance party. Days earlier, he was hospitalized with the flu following an emergency plane landing in Moline, Illinois, TMZ and other outlets had reported.

TMZ had also said the singer canceled two shows last week in Atlanta due to his illness. His reps have not commented. At the party, he reassured fans about his health status, saying, "Wait a few days before you waste any prayers," according to The New York Daily News.

Prince was born Prince Rogers Nelson, the son of a pianist in a Minnesota jazz band, in 1958.
He rose to fame in the late '70s and was most popular in the '80s and early '90s, with hits such as "Little Red Corvette," "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy," "Cream," "Diamonds and Pearls" and "Purple Rain." A 1984 album with the latter name remains one of the singer's most successful and inspired a rock musical film with the same title, in which Prince made his film debut.

The singer, who many saw as a rival to Michael Jackson during his prime years, last released new music in 2015—the album Hit n Run Phase Two. A year earlier, he dropped Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum, marking his first records released by Warner Bros. Records since he famously parted ways with the record company in the 1990s amid disagreements over his contract, namely with regard to ownership rights.

Before he left the label, Prince identified himself by a "love symbol" and was known as The Artist Formally Known as Prince. He also sported the word "Slave" on his face during concerts to signal his protest. He changed his name back to Prince in 2000.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Monkees To Issue First New Album In 20 Years

The Monkees are sharing the full track list for their new album Good Times!, their first new album in 20 years, tied to the group's 50th anniversary and North American tour. 

All three surviving band members (Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork) have written new songs for the album as well as providing vocals and music performances. The voice of the late Davy Jones is also included with a vintage vocal on the Neil Diamond-penned "Love To Love."

To produce the new album, the band found the perfect musical co-conspirator in Grammy and Emmy-winning songwriter Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne, Ivy). Much like the band's early albums, Good Times!features tracks written specifically for the band by some of the music world's most gifted songwriters, including Rivers Cuomo of Weezer ("She Makes Me Laugh"), Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie ("Me & Magdalena"), Andy Partridge of XTC ("You Bring The Summer"), as well as a song co-written by Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller ("Birth Of An Accidental Hipster").

Good Times! finds all three band members taking turns on lead vocals, playing a wide range of instruments, and sharing new compositions, including Nesmith's "I Know What I Know" and Tork's "Little Girl." In addition to producing the album, Schlesinger also penned "Our Own World" and co-wrote the album's finale with Dolenz, aptly titled "I Was There (And I'm Told I Had A Good Time)."

To help bring the 50th anniversary full circle, The Monkees completed songs for Good Times! that were originally written and recorded for the group during the 60s. Harry Nilsson wrote the title track "Good Times," which he recorded at a session with Nesmith in January 1968. The production was never completed, so the band returned to the original session tape (featuring Nilsson's guide vocal) and have created a duet with his close friend Dolenz. "Good Times" will mark the first time Dolenz and Nilsson have sung together since Dolenz' May 1973 single "Daybreak."

Good Times! also includes the Neil Diamond-penned "Love To Love," the Carole King and Gerry Goffin collaboration "I Wasn't Born To Follow," "Whatever's Right," written by legendary songwriting duo Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, who were responsible for many of the classic Monkees hits, and "Gotta Give It Time," by Jeff Barry and Joey Levine.

In addition to the new album, Dolenz and Tork will launch a Monkees 50th Anniversary Tour on May 18. The jaunt boasts nearly 50 North American dates through the end of the year including a homecoming gig at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles on September 16.

In other Monkees news, the band will release the entire series of The Monkees television show on Blu-ray for the very first time. All 58 episodes have been painstakingly restored in high-definition from the original film negatives. The 10-disc Blu-ray collection also includes the 1968 cult-classic "Head ," along with many never-before-seen outtakes from the film. Due to the overwhelming amount of bonus material included, the collection, limited to 10,000 individually numbered pieces, will now be available on June 24 and can be purchased exclusively at Monkees.com.

Good Times!
Track Listing (with songwriters noted)
1. "Good Times" (Harry Nilsson)
2. "You Bring The Summer" (Andy Partridge)
3. "She Makes Me Laugh" (Rivers Cuomo)
4. "Our Own World" (Adam Schlesinger)
5. "Gotta Give It Time" (Jeff Barry/Joey Levine)
6. "Me & Magdalena" (Ben Gibbard)
7. "Whatever's Right" (Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart)
8. "Love To Love" (Neil Diamond)
9. "Little Girl" (Peter Tork)
10. "Birth Of An Accidental Hipster" (Noel Gallagher/Paul Weller)
11. "I Wasn't Born To Follow" (Carole King/Gerry Goffin)
12. "I Know What I Know" (Michael Nesmith)
13. "I Was There (And I'm Told I Had A Good Time)" (Micky Dolenz/Adam Schlesinger)

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Kansas To Tour Behind 'Leftoverture' 40th Anniversary

 
Kansas will be touring select cities this fall, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of their breakthrough album Leftoverture. To celebrate, for the first time in history, the band will be performing the album in its entirety. 

The tour will showcase two hours of classic Kansas music including hit songs, deep cuts, and new songs from their soon to be released album, The Prelude Implicit. Tickets and Kansas VIP Packages for most dates go on sale to the general public Friday, April 22, 2016.

In 1976, Kansas released the album Leftoverture. Containing the smash hit and million-selling single “Carry On Wayward Son,” along with fan favorites such as “The Wall,” “Miracles Out Of Nowhere,” and “What’s On My Mind,” Leftoverture became the band’s breakthrough album. The album peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Album charts and reached sextuple-platinum status with more than six million copies sold.

“These definitely will not be your typical Kansas concerts of the past few years,” comments original Kansas guitarist Richard Williams. “This is incredibly exciting for the entire band, and hopefully our fans. It’s something we’ve never done before, play an album in its entirety, as part of a set. Leftoverture was our breakthrough, and it’s special that we are getting to celebrate it 40 years later. We’ve never even played ‘Questions of My Childhood’ live before. I can’t wait!”

Throughout the tour live shows will also feature debut performances of songs from the band’s upcoming studio release The Prelude Implicit. The new album, scheduled for release in September 2016 will be the band’s 15th studio album and first new album since 2000.

Kansas lead vocalist Ronnie Platt adds, “This is going to be really special for both the band and our fans. It has been really wild recording The Prelude Implicit. We are anxious to perform some of the songs for live audiences. To be able to do that while also performing Leftoverture in its entirety, and more; this is going to be a blast! Who knows, we may even have some more twists added in!”

Kansas Leftoverture 40th Anniversary Tour confirmed dates:

September 30 - Benedum Center - Pittsburgh, PA        
October 1 - Merriam Theater - Philadelphia, PA    
October 7 - Atlanta Symphony Hall - Atlanta, GA            
October 8 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN        
October 15 - Majestic Theater - Dallas, TX              
October 21 - Peabody Opera House - St. Louis, MO        
October 22 - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts - Kansas City, MO    
October 27 - Murat Theatre at Old National Centre - Indianapolis, IN      
October 28 - Sound Board at MotorCity Casino - Detroit, MI              
October 30 - Taft Theatre - Cincinnati, OH      
November 3 - Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI      
November 4 - Copernicus Center - Chicago, IL            
November 11 - Ruth Eckerd Hall - Clearwater, FL        
November 12 - Broward Center for Performing Arts - Ft. Lauderdale, FL  
November 18 - Zeiterion Theatre - New Bedford, MA  

*additional dates to be added

For tickets and more information:
www.kansasband.com
www.facebook.com/kansasband
www.twitter.com/kansasband

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Guns N' Roses Joined By Angus Young At Coachella; Axl Rose To Tour With AC/DC

Guns N' Roses, featuring Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan,  played the Coachella Festival in California on last night (Saturday, April 16)  and were joined on stage by AC/DC guitarist Angus Young for renditions of the Australian band's classic songs "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Riff Raff." 

Despite being restricted to a throne on loan from Foo Fighters leader Dave Grohl due to a foot injury sustained at the Troubadour, Rose has received mostly positive reviews for his vocals, and he did a commendable job with the AC/DC songs. The timing couldn't have been better as earlier that day it was announced that Rose has been tapped to replace AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson for the remainder of their latest tour.

The band's Rock or Bust tour in March was postponed after Johnson, who joined AC/DC after Bon Scott's death in 1980, was told he was at risk of going deaf.

Rose will join their European and postponed North American dates, before returning to his band in the summer.

In a statement, AC/DC said they were "fortunate" to have Rose's "support."

"As much as we want this tour to end as it started, we understand, respect and support Brian's decision to stop touring and save his hearing," they said. "We are dedicated to fulfilling the remainder of our touring commitments to everyone that has supported us over the years."

AC/DC European tour dates featuring Axl Rose:

May 07 - Lisbon, Portugal - Passeio Maritimo De Alges
May 10 - Seville, Spain - Estadio De La Cartuja
May 13 - Marseille, France - Stade Velodrome
May 16 - Werchter, Belgium - Werchter Site
May 19 - Vienna, Austria - Erns-Happel Stadium
May 22 - Prague, Czech Republic - Letnany Airport
May 26 - Hamburg, Germany - Volksparkstadion
May 29 - Berne, Switzerland - Stade De Suisse
Jun. 01 - Leipzig, Germany - Red Bull Arena
Jun. 04 - London, UK - The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Jun. 09 - Manchester, UK - Etihad Stadium
Jun. 12 - Aarhus, Denmark - Ceres Park

Rose, who recently reunited with guitarist Slash and Duff McKagan for their first Guns N' Roses gigs together in 23 years, will rejoin the band's "Not In This Lifetime" summer stadium tour after the European tour with AC/DC.

Ten postponed AC/DC U.S shows will be rescheduled and announced imminently, also with Rose handling the vocals.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Tom Petty, Dhani Harrison & Rosanna Arquette Star In Episode Of ':DRYURS'


Musician, comedian and producer Jack Dishel has released the second episode of his digital series :DRYVRSguest starring actress Rosanna Arquette and music legend Tom Pettywith a special appearance from Dhani Harrison. 

The episode, titled, DRYVRS Ep. 2 "Bob's Direction Home," debuted yesterday at the Tribeca Film Festival's N.O.W. (New Online Work) program, and was co-directed by Jack Dishel and Kerry Harris and produced by Dishel, Harris and David Zonshine. In each episode of the :DRYVRS seriesDishel stars as a car service passenger accompanied by special guest drivers, with upcoming appearances by Jeff Garlin, Darren Criss, Steven Weber, Kevin Pollak and recurring appearances by Macaulay Culkin.
 
"As I was making the new Only Son album, I took Uber and Lyft to the studio every day," said Dishel. "I kept having these strange conversations with the drivers and would tell everyone at the studio when I got there. We'd all laugh about it and I thought it would be fun to make a series based on those experiences with some of my actor friends. Anytime I tell anyone about the show they say, "Oh, I have the craziest story!"
 
The episode follows Dishel's character and his eccentric, acid-dropping driver, played by Rosanna Arquette. As the ride commences, Arquette's character begins to hallucinate, believing her passenger to be a young Bob Dylan, and taking him-and the viewer-on a wild, psychedelic ride across Los Angeles. As Dishel's character guides his tripped-out driver to their destination, she drifts into a dreamlike state, imagining an intimate serenade from Dishel's Bob Dylan persona with a special guest appearance from fellow rock legend Tom Petty, as himself. The episode also features a cameo appearance from Dhani Harrison.
 
Jack Dishel is an NYC-based musician, actor, writer, comic, and producer. He is the singer/songwriter behind Only Son and was the lead guitarist for Moldy Peaches. In recent years he has toured the world opening for his wife, musician Regina Spektor. In addition to making his own records, being a prolific music video artist and touring, he has done one man comedy shows, written and acted in films, and produced records for other artists. He is currently finishing up Only Son's third full length LP, "New Friends."
 
For additional information on :DRYVRS, please visit www.JackDishel.com,

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, Jimmy Page To Face 'Stairway to Heaven' Trial

Led Zeppelin's lead singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page must face a U.S. jury trial over whether they stole opening chords for their 1971 classic "Stairway to Heaven."

In a decision on Friday, April 9, U.S. District Judge Gary Klausner in Los Angeles said "Stairway" and the 1967 instrumental "Taurus" by the band Spirit were similar enough to let a jury decide whether Plant and Page were liable for copyright infringement.

A trial is scheduled for May 10.

The lawsuit was brought by Michael Skidmore, a trustee for the late Randy Wolfe, also known as Randy California, who was Spirit's guitarist and the composer of "Taurus."

Skidmore said Page may have been inspired to write "Stairway" for Led Zeppelin after hearing Spirit perform "Taurus" while the bands toured together in 1968 and 1969, but that Wolfe never got credit.

The defendants said Wolfe was a songwriter-for-hire who had no copyright claim, and that the chord progressions were so clichéd that they did not deserve copyright protection.

But the judge said a jury could find "substantial" similarity between the first two minutes of "Stairway" and "Taurus," which he called "arguably the most recognizable and important segments" of the songs.

"While it is true that a descending chromatic four-chord progression is a common convention that abounds in the music industry, the similarities here transcend this core structure," Klausner wrote. "What remains is a subjective assessment of the 'concept and feel' of two works ... a task no more suitable for a judge than for a jury."

Klausner dismissed claims against Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Warner Music Group Corp.

He also said the trustee can get only 50 percent of any damages awarded, citing a 1967 contract that Wolfe signed.

"This case, from our perspective, has always been about giving credit where credit was due, and now we get to right that wrong," Francis Malofiy, a lawyer for Skidmore, said by phone.

A lawyer for the defendants did not immediately respond on Monday to requests for comment.

According to the complaint, Wolfe complained about the similarities of the songs in an interview shortly before he drowned in 1997 in the Pacific Ocean while attempting to rescue his son.

"Stairway to Heaven" is a track on Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth studio album, often referred to as Led Zeppelin IV.

The case is Skidmore v Led Zeppelin et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 15-03462.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Yes Announces 2016 U.S Summer Tour

Yes have announced their 2016 summer touring plans. Billed as The Album Series: Drama + Topographic 1 & 4, the tour will feature the 1980 album Drama performed in its entirety, for the first time ever, and sides one and four of 1973's double album Tales From Topographic Oceans, plus a selection of their greatest hits.

"We are proud to present the American public with forward-looking albums from the past," says guitarist Steve Howe of the iconic and influential band. "Promoting Drama at Madison Square Garden on multi-nights was a career milestone in 1980, and we are especially looking forward to performing both the opening and closing sides to Topographic Oceans."

Adds keyboardist Geoff Downes: "One minute, Trevor Horn and I were in the Buggles, the next we joined Yes, then we were in Madison Square Garden playing Drama."

Expresses drummer Alan White: "We really hit the ground running with Topographic Oceans, my first recorded album with Yes. It pushed boundaries of music and went to number 1 in the UK."

The band's annual summer outing will take them throughout the U.S. from late July through early September, beginning July 27 in Columbus, OH.

Yes will then stop in such cities as Atlantic City, Wallingford, Westbury, Staten Island, Morristown, Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Denver, Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Saratoga and Reno before wrapping September 4 in San Diego.

Following the album performances, Yes -- Steve Howe (guitar), Jon Davison (vocals), Alan White (drums), Billy Sherwood (bass) and Geoff Downes (keyboard) -- will perform a selection of their greatest hits.

2016 U.S Tour

7/27 - Ohio State Fair - Columbus, OH
7/30 - Tropicana - Atlantic City, NJ
7/31 - Sands Event Center - Bethlehem, PA
8/2 - Artpark - Lewiston, NY
8/4 - Lynn Auditorium - Lynn, MA
8/5 - Oakdale Theatre - Wallingford, CT
8/6 - Theatre at Westbury - Westbury, NY
8/9 - St. George Theatre - Staten Island, NY
8/10 - Bergen Performing Arts Center - Englewood, NJ
8/12 - The Capitol Theater - Port Chester, NY
8/13 - Morristown Performing Arts Center - Morristown, NJ
8/16 - Warner Theatre - Washington, DC
8/17 - Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall - Munhall, PA
8/19 - Freedom Hill Amphitheatre - Sterling Heights, MI
8/20 - Copernicus Center - Chicago, IL
8/21 - Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI
8/24 - Paramount Theatre - Denver, CO
8/26 - The Grove - Anaheim, CA
8/27 - Las Vegas Events Center - Las Vegas, CO
8/28 - Arlington Theatre - Santa Barbara, CA
8/30 - Orpheum Theater - Los Angeles, CA
8/31 - The Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA
9/2 - Silver Legacy Casino - Reno, NV
9/3 - Vina Robles Winery - Paso Robles, CA
9/4 - Humphrey's - San Diego, CA

Go to www.yesworld.com for ticketing information and stay tuned to their website for additional shows that will be announced soon.

Additional Yes links:
www.facebook.com/yestheband
twitter.com/yesofficial
www.youtube.com/user/yesllc
www.instagram.com/yesofficial
soundcloud.com/yesofficial

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Jimmy Page Will Lead His First Tour In 20 Years In 2016

Jimmy Page confirmed recently that he will be heading back out on the road next year, and is currently putting together a live band that he says is "totally different" from Led Zeppelin.

"There will be all sorts of material from different eras," the guitarist told Guitar World magazine. "Right across the board; that’s the way I’m seeing it. But like I said, there will be surprises. It won’t be entirely what people might be expecting."

Page's last tour was alongside Robert Plant in 1998. He's also planning a solo release for 2016, his first since 1988 album Outrider. "I haven't got another 20-30 years left in me," Page told Billboard late last year, "so I really need to get out there and present myself the way that I like to present myself, and to be seen and be heard."

Thursday, April 7, 2016

The Rolling Stones Get ‘Totally Stripped’

On June 3, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Totally Stripped by the Rolling Stones. This collection features the Stones going back to the source of many of their favorite tracks, creating new stripped back versions. Selected material from studio sessions and shows presented here formed the Stripped album of 1995.

Totally Stripped will be available as a DVD or SD Blu-ray containing the newly revised documentary of the same name, as well as part of a DVD and CD or DVD and LP package featuring the documentary and single CD  and two LPs compiled from live shows. There will also be a DVD and SD Blu-ray Deluxe Edition with a 60-page hard-cover book set containing five discs, boasting hours of previously unavailable music, including three complete shows made available for the first time ever.

These reimagined versions lose none of their impact and emotional heft, and in fact connect with listeners in a different way. Totally Stripped itself is a brand new version of the documentary of the same name, which tells the stories of the two studio sessions and three live shows (The Paradiso in Amsterdam in May 1995, L’Olympia in Paris and Brixton Academy in London in July 1995) that make up this project. The Deluxe Edition contains a CD of favorites drawn from across the live shows and three DVDs featuring, for the first time, ever each of those shows in full.

Following the ‘Voodoo Lounge’ tour, the Stones released Stripped, an album of reconsidered, pared back renderings of some classic Stones tracks, and also a couple of carefully chosen covers.  The album mixed new studio versions of tracks with some live songs.  The tracks that made up Stripped were taken from two studio sessions that took place in Tokyo [March 3-5, 1995] and in Lisbon [July 23-26], and a trio of live shows in July 1995 at small concert venues in London, Paris and Amsterdam.

Keith Richards commented, “There’s something about playing these small venues, the immediacy of it.  Also we can keep God out the band, because on big gigs he sometimes turns up as rain or wind.”

As Mick Jagger said at the time, the aim was to “take the best element from [MTV] ‘Unplugged’, the intimate thing of it, without actually doing it completely unplugged.”

This collection is built on the power of lyric and melody, and the material here feels somehow simpler yet potent, as the songs stand on their individual timeless quality rather than on the production techniques and technical expertise that generally come as part and parcel of being the biggest band in the world.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Grateful Dead Announced Sixth Annual Meet-Up At The Movies

The Grateful Dead have announced their sixth annual Meet-Up At The Movies event for Wednesday, May 11th. This year's special cinema event features a previously unreleased Dead show from Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts on July 2, 1989. 

The band was fine form at the time, kicking off their summer tour to a sold-out crowd of more than 60,000 fans, and pulling out surprises at every turn -- from the rare show-opener “Playing In The Band” to the only time they ever started a second set with “Friend Of The Devil.”

The concert also includes a spectacular performance of “Wang Dang Doodle,” one of the band’s finest sing-along versions of “Tennessee Jed,” two Bob Dylan covers (“Queen Jane Approximately” and “Quinn The Eskimo”), along with a medley of Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” segued into the Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” Not to mention a sequence that will bring you back to the Dead circa 1973: "Truckin'"> "He's Gone"> "Eyes Of The World."

And if that's not enough, we've got an exclusive interview with Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux on the making of the upcoming 12-disc July 1978: The Complete Recordings boxed set as well as previously unseen performance footage from Dead & Company.

Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies: Sullivan Stadium 7/2/89 will only be playing on the silver screen for one night! Come out and connect with Dead Heads in your neighborhood on Wednesday, May 11th at 7:00pm local time.

Tickets are now available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Cheap Trick Biography Reissued To Coincide With Rock Hall Induction

Back in 1997, Mike Hayes with Ken Sharp penned what remains the only book about Cheap Trick. Reputation Is A Fragile Thing: The Story of Cheap Trick chronicles the hard working band, who will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Friday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The book has been out of print for years, but now a limited reprint is available exclusively from Ken Sharp.   

Featuring a foreword by Roy Wood of the Move, the book is illustrated with over 175 photos — many never-before-seen — and rare memorabilia, You get a comprehensive band history, charting the band's evolution through such pre-Trick outfits as Fuse, Sick Man of Europe and The Paegans.

With such classic songs as “Surrender,” “I Want You To Want Me” and “Dream Police,” Cheap Trick went on to capture the ears of the world with their apocalyptic brand of super-charged melodic rock and electrifying lie performances.

A complete U.S. discography and core set list spanning 1973 to 1997 round out this definitive portrait of a rock and roll cartoon come to life, Cheap Trick.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Jeff Beck Announces New Studio Album, New Book, Tour Dates

In conjunction with this summer's U.S. tour, guitarist Jeff Beck will release a new studio album on July 15. This marks his first studio album since the Grammy-winning Emotion & Commotion in 2010. In addition, more U.S. tour dates, some co-headlining with blues legend Buddy Guy, have been added. 

The duo will begin their joint tour on July 19th in Port Chester, NY, before hitting NYC, CT, NJ, PA, VA, MI. The tour makes a special stop at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL, on Sunday, July 31st, before heading to Nashville and then making the trek west to Los Angeles.

Beck will make a very special appearance at the Hollywood Bowl on August 10th to celebrate 50 years of 'dynamic music making'.   

In addition to a new album, Beck has been hard at work on his first book, Beck01 (Genesis Publications, jeffbeckbook.com), which explores the guitarist's passion for hot rodding and rock 'n' roll, bound together in his official, signed, limited edition book.

Inspired by the sleek curves, luxurious finish and iconic imagery of the hot rods he builds, Beck01 is hand-bound in leather and aluminum with every book numbered and personally signed by the author, Jeff Beck.

Jeff Beck's handpicked selection of 400+ rare and unseen photographs and items of memorabilia is narrated with an original manuscript of nearly 20,000 words, making Beck01 the definitive visual and historical record of one of the most dynamic musicians and creators.

Included is an eloquent forward by John McLaughlin that begins, "Jeff Beck is my all-time favorite guitarist, what do I say after that?"

Jeff Beck Summer Tour w/Buddy Guy (*except where noted below):

July 19 - The Capitol Theatre - Port Chester, NY
July 20 - Theater at Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
July 22 - Foxwoods Resort Casino - Mashantucket, CT
July 23 - Borgata Spa & Resort Even Center - Atlantic City, NJ
July 24 - Sands Bethlehem Event Center - Bethlehem, PA*
July 26 - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ   
July 27 - Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA       
July 29 - Marvin Sands Perf. Arts Center - Canandaigua, NY 
July 30 - Meadow Brook - Rochester Hills, MI  
July 31 - Ravinia Festival - Highland Park, IL
August 3 - Ascend Amphitheatre - Nashville, TN
August 10 - Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA 

New Dates:

August 5 - Starlight Theatre - Kansas City, MO
August 7 - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre - Englewood, CO 
August 11 - Chumash Casino - Santa Ynez, CA*
August 12 - Pala Casino - Pala, CA
August 14 - Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA*
August 16 - Masonic Auditorium - San Francisco, CA
August 17 - Wells Fargo Center for the Arts - Santa Rosa, CA*
August 18 - Jackson Rancheria Casino Hotel - Jackson, CA
August 20 - Maryhill Winery - Goldendale, WA
August 21 - Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheater - Seattle, WA*

More dates TBA
*Jeff Beck ONLY on these dates

All dates on sale Friday, April 8, with the following exceptions:
Kansas City: On sale 4/16
Seattle, WA: On sale 4/22
Saratoga, CA: On sale TBA

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Guns N' Roses Announce North American Summer Stadium Tour


As previously reported, Guns N’ Roses, with a reunited Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan, announced their first live gig of 2016 at the Troubadour in Friday, April 1, and they did indeed follow through on that promise with a favorable performance for an intimate gathering of 250.

In the wake of their first show, that did not include other original members Steven Adler and Izzy Stradlin, Guns N’ Roses have announced a massive North American summer stadium tour featuring Rose, Slash and McKagan. These dates the band have already coming up, including a headlining slot at this year's Coachella Music & Arts Festival.

The Not In This Lifetime Tour will see the band headline stadium dates throughout the U.S. and Canada, starting in Detroit at Ford Field on Thursday, June 23, and will include shows in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Washington DC, Philadelphia and more.

Preslaes have already begun for Nightrain official GN'R fan club members, but Citi® cardmembers pre-sale begins Monday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m. local time through Thursday, April 7 at 10:00 p.m. local time through Citi Private Pass®. For complete pre-sale details, visit www.citiprivatepass.com. Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday, April 8 at www.livenation.com.

GUNS N' ROSES NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER STADIUM TOUR

Thursday, June 23, 2016
Detroit, MI
Ford Field
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Washington, DC
FEDEXFIELD
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Kansas City, MO
Arrowhead Stadium
Friday, July 1, 2016
Chicago, IL
Soldier Field
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Cincinnati, OH
Paul Brown Stadium
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Nashville, TN
Nissan Stadium
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Pittsburgh, PA
Heinz Field
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Philadelphia, PA
Lincoln Financial Field
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Toronto, ON
Rogers Centre
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Foxboro, MA
Gillette Stadium
Saturday, July 23, 2016
East Rutherford, NJ
MetLife Stadium
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Dome
Friday, July 29, 2016
Orlando, FL
Orlando Citrus Bowl
Sunday, July 31, 2016
New Orleans, LA
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Arlington, TX
AT&T Stadium
Friday, August 5, 2016
Houston, TX
NRG Stadium
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
San Francisco, CA
AT&T Park
Friday, August 12, 2016
Seattle, WA
CenturyLink Field
Monday, August 15, 2016
Glendale, AZ
University of Phoenix 
Monday, August 22, 2016
San Diego, CA
Qualcomm Stadium

 All dates, cities and venues below subject to change.       

Friday, April 1, 2016

Guns N' Roses Playing Troubadour in Hollywood TONIGHT

 
Guns N’ Roses, with Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, will play their first live gig of 2016 on the hallowed ground where they started, the Troubadour, TONIGHT, Friday, April 1.  Doors at 10:00pm!

Limited tickets are available for purchase beginning at 12pm PT at Gibson Brands on Sunset (formerly Tower Records) located at the old Tower Records store at 8801 Sunset Blvd.  GNR have gone back to retro pricing with tickets at $10, limit one per person. CASH ONLY!   Purchasers will receive a non-transferable wrist band at point of sale.

While in the queue, fans are invited to start the celebratory day with a trip down memory lane in the venue where Slash used to work (GNR amateur historians also know Axl Rose worked across the street at the now defunct Tower Video), as the old Tower store will be transformed into a complete interactive GNR experience with a memorabilia exhibit curated by Blaine Halvorson, designer of MadeWorn.

The exhibit opens at 12:00 pm and will include historic items such as members’ classic attire, original artwork, personal awards and more.

Additionally, GNR exclusive merchandiser, Bravado will be onsite with a pop up shop featuring exclusive merchandise to celebrate the April 1 Troubadour appearance.

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