Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Asia, King Crimson Singer & Bassist John Wetton Passes

photo by Mike Inns

John Wetton, the original lead singer and bassist for Asia, as well as a member of King Crimson from 1972 through 1975, has passed away after a long battle against colon cancer.

Wetton burst into the spotlight with King Crimson during the iconic Red era and later formed the band UK with Bill Bruford, Eddie Jobson and Allan Holdsworth. In the 70s, he also worked with Uruah Heep and Roxy Music.

In the early 1980s he was a founder member of super group Asia, which was his biggest commercial success. The band’s 1982 self-titled debut album was the biggest selling album in the world that year and gave fans and mainstream radio the mega-hit "Heat of the Moment."

Wetton also enjoyed a successful solo career, including the seminal album Battle Lines, and formed iCon with Asia bandmate Geoff Downes. In 2006, the original lineup of Asia reformed and toured the world several times to promote four new studio albums.

Wetton was scheduled to perfom on Yes' Cruise To The Edge next week, but cancelled due to medical reasons. He had also been planning to tour with Asia for the band’s forthcoming arena tour with Journey this summer, and following the success of his solo Studio Recordings Anthology, to continue working on the ongoing reissue program of his solo albums, via his own Primary Purpose label.

Wetton valued his over 11 years of sobriety and volunteered time in fellowship with other alcoholics to share his experience, strength and hope with them. The musician is survived by his recently wed wife Lisa and 18-year-old son Dylan, brother Robert and mother Peggy.

The very last studio song of John Wetton’s career was the closing track on the most recent and indeed final Asia album “Gravitas” and included the profound lyrics “Think the best of me, till we meet again.”

A statement by Geoff Downes:

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart, that I have to report we have lost my dearest friend, brother, bandmate and long term musical collaborator, John Wetton, who has passed away after a long and tenacious battle with cancer. He will be remembered as one of the world’s finest musical talents, and I for one of many was wholly blessed by his influence. It was a massive privilege for me to have worked with this genius so closely on our numerous projects together over the years. His bass playing was revolutionary. His voice was from the gods. His compositions - out of this world. His sense of melody and harmony - unreal. He was literally a 'special one'.

But John was much more than a gigantic and unique musical talent. He was a supremely intelligent man, marked with his great observations and wisdom about life; all couched within his wicked sense of humour. The wit was dark and deep, only fully perceptible to those on his same wavelength. I was fortunate enough to be able to be on that wavelength, and discover that we had much in common. Many of his personal life experiences were reflected in his lyrical contributions to the songs. His heart was always in the music. That was John, through and through. It was always about - the music.

As a person, he was fiercely loyal, loving and generous, particularly to those he cared about. But he could be as stubborn as a mule or as gracious as a nobleman, depending on the mood that grabbed him on any particular day. There were some who couldn't read his brilliant mind and complex personality. Some found him charming, others infuriating. But however you found John, there was no denying his rare talent as a musician and songwriter was second to none.

Both of us having been brought up with similar backgrounds in provincial England, we shared a love of many things - sport, and in particular - football, English church music, current affairs, comedy, literature, you name it....pretty much everything that 2 kids from the sticks were exposed to in our youth.

Our planets seemed to be immediately in alignment when we first met in early 1981. There was a laddish camaraderie that grew between us as we became as close as two non-related brothers could be. He was an avid reader and film enthusiast, something he pursued with great interest. This helped inspire him to some wonderful lyrics to the literally hundreds of songs we composed together. Back then, we immediately hit the ground running as we composed much of the debut ASIA album together and forged a formidable partnership which lasted right up until now. It was a wholly natural process for us, whereby we could knock out 2 or 3 songs in an afternoon. They were always greeted with our gentlemanly handshake and smiles once we had wrapped up another one in the bag.

Above all else though, his passion for life was to the fore. The battles he endured throughout were immense and well documented. Firstly with alcohol, which he so resolutely overcame, then open heart surgery and finally cancer, which sadly was to take his life in the end. He once observed to me that this disease is a "merciless assassin". Just another example of his perception and the descriptive language that he was so richly blessed with. He took all of these battles on board with great bravery and almost a 'laissez-faire' attitude, tinged with his inimitable wry wit.

To say I will miss my him greatly is beyond understatement. He was such an inspiration to me. We were planning another album, but sadly he was not well enough to complete it. I feel heartbroken about this, as I knew John thought it was to be one of our finest albums to date. I remain as proud as ever of our Wetton/Downes writing partnership. I am hoping one day that I will be able to finish it, and that it will be appreciated by all those who loved his and our music, and most importantly, a legacy he would have been proud of.

Life will not be the same without him. And words are not really enough to describe the loss I feel right now, and the many friends and fans all over the World will also be feeling. It is the end of an era for all of us. But we will soldier on - the music of John Wetton needs to be heard loud and clear from the rooftops.

Dearest John, may you rest in peace brother.

X

Geoffrey

Please join me in sending our sincerest thoughts and prayers to Lisa, Dylan and the entire Wetton family at this difficult time.

A statement by Carl Palmer:

With the passing of my good friend and musical collaborator, John Wetton, the world loses yet another musical giant. John was a gentle person who created some of the most lasting melodies and lyrics in modern popular music. As a musician, he was both brave and innovative, with a voice that took the music of ASIA to the top of the charts around the world. His ability to triumph over alcohol abuse made him an inspiration to many who have also fought that battle.  For those of us who knew him and worked with him, his valiant struggle against cancer was a further inspiration. I will miss his talent, his sense of humor and his infectious smile. May you ride easy, my old friend.
Carl Palmer.

Official website: www.johnwetton.com

Monday, January 30, 2017

Deep Purple, Alice Cooper & Edgar Winter Team Up For U.S. Summer Tour

Music history will be made when Deep Purple and Alice Cooper, joined by special guest, The Edgar Winter Band, visit 19 cities across America this summer on an epic rock tour.  

Produced by Live Nation, the tour will also serve as the Long Goodbye Tour for Deep Purple, and begins Saturday, August 12 in Las Vegas, with stops in Los Angeles, Boston, including Cooper’s hometown of Detroit, and more. More information can be found at www.livenation.com and itinerary is below.

VIP packages go on presale today (Monday, January 30) at 12:00 pm local time. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 3 at LiveNation.com and on the Live Nation app. Citi card members can take advantage of a special pre-sale opportunity beginning on Tuesday, January 31 at 10:00 am local time. For complete Citi pre-sale details visit: www.citiprivatepass.com. On Thursday, February 2 at 10:00 am local time there will also be pre-sales via LiveNation.com, the Live Nation app and on Facebook.

Deep Purple, Alice & The Edgar Winter Band - U.S. Summer Tour 2017

8/12/17 - Chelsea Theater - Las Vegas, NV
8/13/17 - The Greek - Los Angeles, CA
8/15/17 - AK-Chin Pavilion - Phoenix, AZ
8/16/17 - Isleta Amphitheatre - Albuquerque, NM
8/18/17 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Houston, TX
8/19/17 - Gexa Energy Pavilion - Dallas, TX
8/23/17 - Jiffy Lube Live - Bristow, VA
8/24/17 - BB&T Pavilion - Camden, NJ
8/26/17 - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater - Wantagh, NY
8/27/17 - Xfinity Center - Mansfield, MA
8/28/17 - P.N.C. Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
8/30/17 - Klipsch Pavilion - Indianapolis, IN
9/1/17 - KeyBank Pavilion - Pittsburgh, PA
9/2/17 - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON
9/3/17 - DTE Energy Music Theatre - Detroit, MI
9/6/17 - Tinley Park - Chicago, IL
9/8/17 - Hollywood Casino Amp - St Louis, MO
9/9/17 - Blossom Music Center - Cleveland, OH
9/10/17 - Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Neil Young To Induct Pearl Jam Into Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Pearl Jam will be inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by frequent collaborator and rock legend Neil Young this spring.

Young and Pearl Jam memorably joined forces to play Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” at MTV’s Video Music Awards in 1993. Pearl Jam regularly covers the song on tour. Members of the band played on Young’s 1995 album, Mirror Ball.

The Hall also announced Friday that Jackson Browne will induct folk legend Joan Baez, and Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush will present fellow progressive rockers Yes at the April 7 ceremony in New York.

Presenters for other inductees Tupac Shakur, ELO, Journey and Nile Rogers haven’t been announced..

Friday, January 27, 2017

Queen + Adam Lambert Announce North America Summer Tour

Back by popular demand, Queen + Adam Lambert will rock North America this summer with a highly anticipated 25-city arena tour kicking off June 23 in Phoenix, Arizona, at Gila River Arena, followed shortly after with a special Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl performance, June 26. 

After sold out tours throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin and North America, Brian May, Roger Taylor + Adam Lambert will debut a brand new show specially designed and created for this outing, bringing fans all their favorite Queen hits, like "Another One Bites the Dust," "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions."

The concert will bring their history alive in all its passion and glory, with stops in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and more, before wrapping on August 5 in Houston, TX at the Toyota Center.  The tour is presented by Live Nation.

Tickets will go on sale beginning Friday, February 3 at 10:00 AM local time through the Live Nation mobile app and at Livenation.com. Members of both Queen and Adam Lambert's Fan Clubs will be able to purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, January 31 at 10:00 AM, and American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, January 31 at Noon and ending on Thursday, February 2 at 10PM. Exclusive VIP Package offers available at VIPNation.com.

Since their first meeting on the final of American Idol in May 2009, Queen + Adam Lambert's magical combination has been recognized worldwide with sold out shows in every part of the world.

Last year saw Queen + Lambert perform 15 shows across Europe, headlining major festivals such as Portugal's Rock in Rio Lisbon where they played to 74,000 people, the UK's Isle of Wight Festival, by far one of Britain's most prestigious and successful music festivals with a heritage of such headliners as Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney, as well as sold-out arena shows, such AS Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi Olympic arena.

Queen + Adam Lambert revved up again in the fall of 2016 to take on a series of sold out dates across Asia which saw Queen perform for the first time and introduce Adam Lambert to some new audiences in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai, and Singapore including three nights at the famous Tokyo Budokan where Queen first appeared in 1975 and induced fan mayhem.  

In 2015, Queen + Adam Lambert had 26 sold-out concerts in 10 countries throughout the UK and Europe taking their critically acclaimed show to France, Austria, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Romania and Bulgaria.

In March 2014, Queen + Adam Lambert embarked on their first North American Summer tour.  Not only did all 24 dates sell out almost overnight but at the end Queen + Adam Lambert were awarded Band of the Year at the 10th annual Classic Rock Roll of Honor awards and were also voted Best Live Band of the Year in Ultimate Classic Rock's reader's poll.

Queen + Adam Lambert topped off 2014 by performing to an audience of over 12 million TV viewers when they performed live for UK BBC Television's New Year's Eve spectacular Queen + Adam Lambert Rock Big Ben.  In the subsequent 24 hours 'Adam Lambert' was at the top of the trending searches on Google in the UK with more than 500,000 searches for his name.

Following that very first performance together of "We Are The Champions" in 2009, Queen + Adam Lambert teamed up again in 2011 at the MTV European Music Awards for an electrifying eight-minute finale, and in the summer of 2012 they performed their first live concerts with appearances across Europe including playing live before half a million people in Kiev,

2017 Queen + Adam Lambert North America Tour Dates:

Friday, June 23, 2017
Phoenix, AZ
Gila River Arena
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Las Vegas, NV
T-Mobile Arena
Monday, June 26, 2017
Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood Bowl
Thursday, June 29, 2017
San Jose, CA
SAP Center
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Seattle, WA
Key Arena
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Vancouver, BC
Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Edmonton, AB
Rogers Place
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Denver, CO
Pepsi Center Arena
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Omaha, NE
CenturyLink Center
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Kansas City, MO
Sprint Center
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Chicago, IL
United Center
Friday, July 14, 2017
St. Paul, MN
Xcel Energy Center
Monday, July 17, 2017
Montreal, QC
Bell Centre
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Toronto, ON
Air Canada Centre
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Detroit, MI
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Friday, July 21, 2017
Cleveland, OH
Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Uncasville, CT
Mohegan Sun Arena
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Boston, MA
TD Garden
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Newark, NJ
Prudential Center
Friday, July 28, 2017
New York, NY
Barclays Center
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Philadelphia, PA
Wells Fargo Center
Monday, July 31, 2017
Washington D.C.
Verizon Center
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Nashville, TN
Bridgestone Arena
Friday, August 4, 2017
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Houston, TX
Toyota Center

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Chickenfoot Returns With 'Best + Live' Collection In March

Chickenfoot, the band that features singer Sammy Hagar, guitarist Joe Satriani, bassist Michael Anthony (Van Halen), and drummer Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), will release “Divine Termination,” its first new tune in five years on Best + Live, the group’s first best-of collection, on March 10, 2017.  In addition to “Divine Termination,” Best + Live includes over 90 minutes of live music.  

Hagar says, “Listening to this collection of songs from the ‘Foot brings back memories of some of the most fun I've ever had in a band. The chemistry between Chad, Joe, Mike and me is very special. It's almost like visual music -- you can see us having fun when you listen to these songs.”

In May 2016, Chickenfoot reunited for two highly-anticipated one-time shows at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, and played their first complete set in more than six years, along with a special unveiling of the new tune "Divine Termination."  Satriani describes the track as “bone crunching, hell raising rock, dripping with attitude and vibe. Just the way Chickenfoot likes it!”

Both the extra CD “live” and the bonus tracks on the best of feature a 13 song strong set list including almost every song from Chickenfoot’s debut album as well as Hagar’s old Montrose classic “Bad Motor Scooter,” the Who’s “My Generation” and Satriani’s interpretation of “The Star Spangled Banner" – all recorded live in Phoenix 2009 and available for the first time on CD (previously only available as video on the DVD/Blu-ray Get Your Buzz On).

Best + Live tracklist

Best
01. Divine Termination
02. Soap On A Rope
03. Sexy Little Thing
04. Oh Yeah
05. Get It Up
06. Future In The Past
07. Big Foot
08. Different Devil
09. Lighten Up
10. Dubai Blues
11. Something Going Wrong

Bonus Live songs:
12. Highway Star
13. Bad Motor Scooter
14. My Generation

Live 
01. Avenida Revolution
02. Sexy Little Thing
03. Soap On A Rope
04. My Kinda Girl
05. Down The Drain
06. Bitten By The Wolf
07. Oh Yeah
08. Learning To Fall
09. Get It Up
10. Turnin’ Left
11. Future In The Past

Follow Chickenfoot at http://www.chickenfoot.us

Facebook: facebook.com/chickenfoot
Twitter: twitter.com/chickenfoot
Youtube: youtube.com/iChickenfoot

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Allman Band Brothers Drummer Butch Trucks Passes

The Allman Brothers Band co-founder Butch Trucks has passed away at the age of 69.

No cause of death has yet been revealed for Trucks, who played drums alongside Jai "Jaimoe" Johnny Johanson throughout the Allmans' 46-year on-and-off history. He died Tuesday evening (Jan. 24) in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Trucks said last year that he "was a good drummer and didn't know it" when the late Duane Allman approached him to be in the band, crediting Allman with bringing him out of his shell and into rock 'n' roll stardom.

"I was about to head back to school and get a degree in math and teach...when Duane knocked on my door with Jaimoe, and then the Allman Brothers happened," Trucks recalled. "Duane decided he wanted two drummers -- he told Jaimoe, 'If James Brown can have two drummers, so can I!' -- and Jaimoe kept telling me, 'Butch is your guy. Butch is the guy!'"

He continued, "We had all these jams, and I think Duane decided that he was gonna find out what I was made of...It's like he reached inside of me and flipped a switch and this light went off in me and said, 'Dammit, you're a good drummer!' Once I started doing that Duane said, 'OK, he's got it in him' and he added me to the mix and changed my life forever."

Trucks was born Claude Hudson Trucks in Jacksonville, Fla. and played in local bands such as the Vikings, the Echoes and the Bitter Ind, along with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the Jacksonville Symphonette and ensembles at Florida State University, where he studied. After the Allmans' retired for good (supposedly) in 2014, Trucks formed Les Brers with Allmans with Jaimoe, Allmans percussionist Marc Quinones former Allmans guitarist Jack Pearson and Lamar Williams Jr., son of the late Allmans bassist,  to continue playing the band's music.

Trucks' nephew Derek Trucks played with the Allmans from 199-2014, while another nephew and Derek's younger brother Duane Trucks plays with Widespread Panic and Hard Working Americans. Butch Trucks' oldest son, Vaylor, is part of the Yeti Trio.

Trucks is the third member of the original Allmans to pass away: Duane Allman died after a 1971 motorcycle crash at the age of 24, and bassist Berry Oakley was killed in a similar accident at the same age less than 13 months later. Trucks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 1994.

Other musicians began reacting as word of Trucks' death spread Wednesday morning. Jason Isbell was among the first, tweeting, "Awfully sad to hear of the passing of Butch Trucks. A deserving legend with a family full of ridiculously talented and truly sweet people."

Trucks is survived by his wife, Melinda, their four children and four grandchildren, as well as all of the (most recent) Allman Brothers Band members and road crew. The Trucks and Allman Brothers Band families request all of Butch’s friends and fans to please respect our privacy at this time of sadness for our loss. Butch will play on in our hearts forever.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Ray Davies Releasing First Solo Album In Nearly A Decade

On April 21st, Ray Davies will release Americana, his first new album in over nine years via Legacy Recordings (a division of Sony Music Entertainment). The 15-track collection of originals serves as a master-crafted return for one of the most acclaimed and iconic songwriters of the past 50 years, and follows Davies' 2013 memoir of the same name, using the book as both source material and creative catalyst. Davies enlisted The Jayhawks as backing band, and recorded the album in London at Konk, the studio founded by The Kinks in 1973. Listen below to "Poetry," one of 12 new songs on Americana.
Americana was written, conceived, and arranged, by Davies, and co-produced with Guy Massey and John Jackson. The album is an autobiographical work, chronicling the inextricable role America has played in Davies' life. From his earliest days touring the U.S. with the Kinks and subsequent blacklisting by the American Musicians Union, to his years playing stadiums and eventually staying in New York and New Orleans for a time, America has served as both muse and tempest to Davies.

The songs on Americana dig into the rich American musical tapestry, through the lens of Davies' own wholly unique American experience. The music swerves from the open-road manifesto of "The Great Highway," to a delicate duet with The Jayhawks' Karen Grotberg on "Message From The Road," to "Poetry," which offers a vital reminder of Davies' ability to spin small detail into penetrating truth. The album also features a number of short spoken-word passages from Davies' memoir. A second volume to Americana will be a released later in 2017.

Since the release of his last studio album of new material, 2008's Working Man's Café, Ray Davies released the 2010 collaborative project See My Friends, which featured Bruce Springsteen, Mumford & Sons, Metallica and Spoon; performed at the closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics; served as inspiration, the original story plus music and lyrics for the hit UK musical 'Sunny Afternoon' (winner of the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Musical) and much more. At the beginning of 2017 Davies topped Queen Elizabeth's New Year Honours List, and will shortly be receiving a knighthood for his service to the arts. Davies is a member of both the Songwriter's Hall Of Fame and Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame. Five albums by The Kinks were chosen for Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Albums of All Time' list.

Americana will be available digitally, on CD, and vinyl.

For pre-order, please visit https://raydavies.lnk.to/Americana, https://RayDavies.lnk.to/amz-vnl.

Monday, January 23, 2017

She Rock Awards Celebrates Five Years At NAMM

Photo: Brittany Ballantyne

On Friday, January 20th at the Hilton Anaheim Hotel in Anaheim during the NAMM Show, the She Rocks Awards put the spotlight on female role models in music by celebrating noted women from all walks of the industry.

The event kicked off with local talent Brandy Robinson, winner of the #SaveAGuitar contest sponsored by Breedlove. Singer and pianist Jenna Paone was joined by house band Rock Sugah for“I Like It Loud,” a song written by Paone and She Rocks founder Laura B. Whitmore. Featuring guitar solos by Gretchen Menn and Nita Strauss, the song is a declaration that girls can rock just as loud and proud as anyone on the planet.

The She Rocks Awards served as the release party for She Rocks Vol. 1 a compilation CD of  11 female guitarists released on Steve Vai’s Favored Nations Entertainment label. Vai was on hand to introduce the project and kick off the first performance from the album; Kat Dyson and her song “U Know What I Like.”

Additional performances during the night featured Victoria Renee, all-female tribute band Lez Zeppelin, Yasi Hofer, ingénue and sibling guitarists The Command Sisters. The highlight of the evening was the booming finale, featuring the  Lita Ford performing her hit “Kiss Me Deadly” backed by seven other female guitarists on the She Rocks Vol. 1 album. Earlier in the evening, VintageRock.com interviewed Ford on the red carpet (see below).

News anchor Christine Devine and Daisy Rock Girl Guitars CEO Tish Ciravolo, assisted Whitmore with introductions. 

The following women in the music industry were honored:  

  • Tracy Leenman, owner of Musical Innovations music retailer, Enterprise Award, presented by Rand & Cindy Cook
  • Dani Markman, Director, A&R, Disney Music Group, Vision Award, presented by Christine Devine and Radio Disney DJ Lela Brown
  • Charyn Harris, conductor of music programs at A Place Called Home, Motivator Award, presented by Asya Shein
  • Beverly Fowler, director of artist relations and events at PRS Guitars, Spirit Award, presented by guitarist Kat Dyson
  • Leanne Summers, president/CEO of LAWIM (Los Angeles Women in Music), Achiever Award, presented by Gayl Murphy
  • Shirley Manson, lead singer from multi-award winning band, Garbage, Powerhouse Award, presented by journalist Brad Tolinski
  • Karrie Keyes, founder of Soundgirls and sound engineer for Pearl Jam, Mad Skills Award, presented by Heather Rafter
  • Monique Boyer, director, global artist relations/PRO membership at M.A.C. Cosmetics, Champion Award, presented by Samantha Maloney, drummer and Vice President of A&R for Warner Bros. Records
  • Esperanza Spalding, Grammy® Award-winning bass player, singer/songwriter, Inspire Award, presented by bassist Divinity Roxx
  • Rebecca Eaddy, marketing communications manager for Roland Corporation U.S., Enterprise Award, presented by Guitar Player Magazine editor, Michael Molenda
  • Lisa Foxx, radio personality at My FM on the iHeartRadio network, Dreaming Out Loud Award, presented by Lisa Loeb
  • Ronnie Spector, iconic artist, Legend Award, presented by the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
  • Sarah Command, singer/songwriter and half of The Command Sisters, Next Generation Awards, presented by She Rocks founder Laura B. Whitmore
  • Lita Ford, legendary rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Icon Award, presented by Nick Bowcott of Marshall Amplification
The event was produced by the Women’s International Music Network, an organization whose mission is to advocate for women in the music industry and to shine a spotlight on female role models.

In addition, there is an accompanying silent auction live through January 31, 2017, which features guitars, music, audio gear, jewelry, spa products and much more. Anyone can bid at http://www.32auctions.com/sherocksawards.

Proceeds help them to benefit Soundgirls.org, an organization that helps train girls for careers in audio.

To learn more about the She Rock Awards, go to www.sherocksawards.com.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Les Paul Award Winner Joe Perry Jams With Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper

Jesse Grant/Getty Images for NAMM

Winners in 31 technical and creative achievement categories were announced at the 32nd Annual NAMM TEC AWARDS, presented annually by the NAMM Foundation and held January 21 in Anaheim, CA. The annual event celebrates the best in professional audio and sound production and is held during The NAMM Show, the world’s leading global music industry trade event. Comedian Sinbad returned to host for the third time.

Four companies – AVID, iZotope, Sennheiser and Solid State Logic – scored several Outstanding Technical Achievement awards, each taking home two statues each. AVID’s Pro Tools Dock and Pro Tools 12.3 picked up in Workstation Technology and Audio Apps & Hardware categories; iZotope in a new designation: Audio Education Technology, for the company’s Pro Audio Essentials and the Ozone 7 Advanced in the category of Signal Processing Software; Sennheiser in Wireless and Headphone/Earpiece Technology categories for the Wireless G3 A-1 Band and the HD 25 Plus and finally Solid State Logic for Large and Small Console Technology categories for the System T and the Sigma Delta. Outstanding Technical Achievement honors were chosen in 23 categories.

“Game of Thrones” returned for its second win in a year for Outstanding Creative Achievement in the Television Sound Production category. Following a posthumous recent birthday milestone, David Bowie’s Blackstar EP won in two categories – Record Production Album & Single respectively. Several Star Wars-themed projects beat out the competition as well: Star Wars: The Force Awakens from Lucasfilm won for Film Sound Production while Star Wars: Battlefront won for Interactive Entertainment Sound Production. Outstanding Creative Achievement honors were chosen in eight categories.

Joe Perry, one of music’s most significant artists and executives, received the evening’s highest honor, the Les Paul Award, presented to remarkably-distinguished and accomplished individuals from the music industry. Hollywood Vampires bandmate and actor Johnny Depp presented Perry with the award, then joined Perry, Brad Whitford, and Alice Cooper on stage for a live performance.

Perry dedicated the award to his manager Howard Kaufman, who recently passed away. News is forthcoming related to Perry’s upcoming sixth solo album. Learn more here.

Keeping it in the family, famed Aerosmith engineer and producer Jack Douglas also became the newest inductee to the NAMM TEC Awards Hall of Fame. Douglas engineered and produced many multi-platinum associated for many of Aerosmith’s most iconic releases and is affectionately dubbed "the sixth member” of the band.

A complete list of Technical and Creative Achievement winners can be found here and below:

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Amplification Hardware - Studio & Sound Reinforcement
Crown     XLS DriveCore 2

Ancillary Equipment
Rupert Neve Designs     RNHP: Precision Headphone Amplifier

Audio Apps & Hardware/Peripherals for Smartphones/Tablets
AVID    Pro Tools | Dock

Audio Education Technology – (new category)
iZotope    Pro Audio Essentials

Computer Audio Hardware
Universal Audio    Apollo Twin USB Interface

DJ Production Technology - Hardware/Software – (new category)
Native Instruments    TRAKTOR Kontrol S5

Headphone / Earpiece Technology
Sennheiser    HD 25 Plus

Large Format Console Technology
Solid State Logic    System T

Microphone Preamplifiers
AMS Neve   1073DPX

Microphones – Recording
Schoeps    ORTF-3D

Microphones - Sound Reinforcement
Shure    KSM8 Dualdyne

Musical Instrument Amplification & Effects
Softube    Marshall JMP 2203

Musical Instrument Hardware
Moog Music    Mother-32

Musical Instrument Software
Softube    Marshall Bluesbreaker 1962

Signal Processing Hardware
Warm Audio    WA-2A Tube Opto Compressor

Signal Processing Hardware (500 Series Modules)
API    512V

Signal Processing Software (Dynamics / EQ / Utilities)
iZotope    Ozone 7 Advanced

Signal Processing Software (Effects)
Soundtoys 5

Small Format Console Technology
Solid State Logic    Sigma Delta

Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers
Meyer Sound    MJF-208 Stage Monitor

Studio Monitors
Genelec    8430A IP SAM

Wireless Technology
Sennheiser   evolution Wireless G3 A-1 Band

Workstation Technology / Recording Devices
AVID   Pro Tools 12.3

CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT
Film Sound Production
Lucasfilm Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Interactive Entertainment Sound Production
DICE / Electronic Arts    Star Wars: Battlefront

Record Production – Album
David Bowie    Blackstar

Record Production – Single
David Bowie    Blackstar

Remote Production - Recording or Broadcast
CBS     58th Grammy Awards

Studio Design Project
Walters-Storyk Design Group Boston Symphony Orchestra Control Room

Television Sound Production
HBO     Game of Thrones

Tour/Event Sound Production
Sting and Peter Gabriel     Rock Paper Scissors North American Tour

In total, winners were selected from 180 nominees. Title sponsors for the show included The Les Paul Foundation, Harman and Visit Anaheim. A full list of sponsors can be found here. Many of the evening’s winning products and technologies are available at music and pro audio retailers worldwide both online and in stores.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Brigade Featuring Former Members Of Heart, MSG, Scorpions Set To Debut At Ronnie Montrose Remembered Concert

Prominent musicians Howard Leese, guitar (Heart, BadCo, Rock Vault, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame Inductee), Robin McAuley, vocalist (MSG, Survivor, Rock Vault), James Kottak, drums (The Scorpions, Kingdom Come, Montrose) and Jason Boyleston, bass (Paul Rodgers band, Starship w/Mickey Thomas, guitar, Rock Vault, guitar) announced the formation of Brigade, a new Los Angeles based rock band.

Brigade is scheduled to perform their first gig at the Ronnie Montrose Remembered concert on Saturday, January 21, 2017, 7pm, Yost Theater, Santa Ana, CA.  This tribute show, organized by former Montrose frontman Keith St. John, is part of the weekend of live entertainment during the annual NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) convention in Anaheim, CA.

"We are all excited about this new venture, our mutual love of Rock-n-Roll and our first appearance as a band at the Ronnie Montrose Tribute Show at NAMM," said the Brigade members in a joint statement.

Brigade will be recording live in-studio later this year.

"We all love the live in-studio style of recording music, where everything is raw, honest and hopefully one-take," said the band.

Additional information including Brigade show dates and appearances will be announced shortly.

Band member endorsements include: Paul Reed Smith (Leese), Aquarian Drumheads, Ahead, Big Bang Distribution, CymPad, DW Drums and Zildjian (Kottak).

Follow the band on Twitter @Jkottak, @robin_mcauley, @JasonBoyleston, or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Brigaderockband.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Sir Paul McCartney Goes To U.S. Court For Beatles Songs Publishing Rights

Sir Paul McCartney has gone to a U.S. court in a bid to regain publishing rights to 267 classic Beatles songs from Sony, in a case that could have huge ramifications for other British artists.

McCartney has been trying to claim back ownership of the songs he wrote with John Lennon since Michael Jackson outbid him in the 1980s, including “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be”.

Jackson bought shares in Sony/ATV, which were sold back to the company by his estate as a bundle for $750m (£610m) – including many of The Beatles tracks.

The BBC reports the songwriter’s case, which was filed on Wednesday, is over what is known as copyright termination – part of the US 1976 Copyright Act.

This gives authors the right to reclaim ownership of their work from music publications after a certain amount of time has passed. It allowed artists including Prince, Billy Joel, and Blondie to regain control of their work.

However, an attempt by Duran Duran to make a similar case failed in 2016.

Simon Le Bon and other members of the group argued that U.S. copyright laws gave them the right to call for a reversion of copyright after 35 years.

Lawyers for Gloucester Place Music Ltd successfully countered that English laws of contract prevented them from doing so.

Legal papers filed on McCartney’s behalf say that he is concerned that Sony/ATV will use Duran Duran’s loss to challenge his own attempt.

They state that the former Beatle wants “quiet, unclouded title to his rights”.

Rolling Stone reports that Sony/ATV has said it is “disappointed” by the lawsuit and called it “unnecessary and premature”.

“Sony/ATV has the highest respect for Sir Paul McCartney with whom we have enjoyed a long and mutually rewarding relationship with respect to the treasured John Lennon and McCartney song catalogue,” Sony/ATV said.

“We have collaborated closely with both Sir Paul and the late John Lennon’s Estate for decades to protect, preserve and promote the catalog’s long-term value. We are disappointed that they have filed this lawsuit which we believe is both unnecessary and premature.”

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

The NAMM Foundation Gifts Anaheim Elementary School District With Music

Photo: Jerod Harris/Getty Images

On Tuesday (January 17), The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation and its member companies shared the sound of music with district and city officials and the students of Patrick Henry Elementary School in Anaheim, California as part of the organization’s Day of Service. Held in correlation with the annual NAMM Show, the global music products tradeshow, the service event celebrated the Anaheim Elementary School District’s (AESD) commitment to music education programs and, in collaboration with NAMM Foundation members and school and district officials, helped to further the district’s efforts to provide and enhance music education for all students through a monetary donation of $10,000.

The donation was presented to Superintendent Linda Wagner and other school and city officials, before a crowd of elementary school students by NAMM President and CEO, Joe Lamond; NAMM Chairman Mark Goff; and NAMM Foundation Executive Director Mary Luehrsen.

Upon receiving the check, Superintendent Wagner shared, “Before we started this program and became involved with The NAMM Foundation, we had no instruments, no music teachers and students who were missing the opportunity for a music in the classroom. Now, we have thirteen music teachers, after-school orchestras, choirs, mariachi bands and so much more, and we’re on our way to bringing music to schools across the district.”

In 2014, the Anaheim Elementary School District launched a plan to reinstate its music education curriculum and orchestral program for its 18,500 students. In 2016, the district continued its hiring of new music teachers with a final goal of 28.  In addition, the District’s Exploratory Wheel Model for Instrumental Instruction continues to expose students to a variety of musical options early in their education.

“We’re very thankful for this donation. As a teacher, I know firsthand the benefits of getting kids involved in the arts as a means to find their passion” commented Ryan Ruelas, President of the Anaheim School Board. “I firmly believe that NAMM is helping us to accomplish that here, and I am very, very thankful that our children have the opportunity to find their passion through music.”

The event marked the third Day of Service in Anaheim for the NAMM Foundation and its members, many of whom participate each year. “I return each year because this is where music starts,” shared David Jewell, Marketing Communications Manager at Yamaha. “To know that music education, and the opportunities presented as a result of this donation can change or enhance a child’s life for the good is so powerful.”

NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond echoed that sentiment: “Members from over 125 countries will soon be in Anaheim for The NAMM Show, all with a common vision of a world where every child has a right to music and arts education. Our time in Anaheim is enriched by our participation in this Day of Service to the students and in working with the talented teachers who have dedicated their lives to this vision.”

The NAMM Foundation’s Day of Service marks the start of activities for The NAMM Show, the annual gathering of 100,000 music products industry professionals.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Vinyl Box Set, Book Set For Release On George Harrison's 74th Birthday

The Harrison family is proud to announce the release of George Harrison - The Vinyl Collection (UMe) box set featuring all of George Harrison’s solo studio albums on vinyl in one collection for the first time.

The set includes all 12 of Harrison's studio albums with exact replicas of the original release track listing and artwork. Also included in the box set is the classic live album Live In Japan (2LP), and two 12” single picture discs of "When We Was Fab" and "Got My Mind Set On You."

All the discs are 180-gram heavyweight vinyl and are housed in a high-quality two-piece rigid slipcase box. The original analogue master tapes were used for the new re-masters and were cut at the legendary Capitol studios to ensure exceptional audio quality throughout. The individual albums from the collection will also be available separately, with All Things Must Pass as a limited edition title.

George Harrison’s book I Me Mine was originally published by the specialist book publisher, Genesis Publications in 1980.  It became the first of many collaborations between Harrison and Genesis founder, Brian Roylance.

In conversation with his friend and former Beatles press officer Derek Taylor, and in a first-person commentary that accompanies his songs, Harrison's own words recount everything from his upbringing in Liverpool, to early Beatlemania, his spirituality and philosophy.

This new extended version of the book now spans the complete length of Harrison’s career in music, told in his words and through 141 songs with hand written lyric sheets faithfully reproduced in full color. Now stretching to 632 pages it features lyrics to more than 50 songs not previously included, as well as new photographs, many unpublished until now.

George Harrison - The Vinyl Collection vinyl LP box set contains:

Wonderwall Music (1968) | 1 LP
Electronic Sound (1969) | 1 LP
All Things Must Pass (1970) | 3 LP *limited edition piece
Living In The Material World (1973) | 1 LP  
Dark Horse (1974) | 1 LP
Extra Texture (1975) | 1 LP
Thirty Three & 1/3 (1976) | 1LP
George Harrison (1979) | 1 LP
Somewhere in England (1981) | 1 LP
Gone Troppo (1982) | 1 LP
Cloud Nine (1987) | 1 LP
Live In Japan (1992) | 2 LP
Brainwashed (2002) | 1 LP
12” picture disc singles of "When We Was Fab" and "Got My Mind Set On You" (only available as part of the box set)

Also available is the George Harrison Essential III  turntable. This elegant piece is manufactured and designed by Pro-Ject Audio Systems, one of the world’s leading suppliers of record players. The artwork was designed by Studio Number One based on an exclusive 2014 art-print lithograph designed for the Harrisons by Shepard Fairey. This turntable is limited to 2500 worldwide.


Monday, January 16, 2017

New York Venue Where A Young Bob Dylan Played Reopens

Bob Dylan would surely still recognize the low-ceilinged room in Caffe Lena where he played a couple of gigs almost 60 years ago.

But just about everything else about a venue that bills itself as the nation's oldest continuously operating coffeehouse has undergone some major upgrades as part of a $2 million renovation project bankrolled in part by folk music performers themselves.

Dylan performed twice there early in his career, when the young singer born in Minnesota as Robert Zimmerman was just making his way onto New York City's folk scene. The same brown wooden shutters bracket the windows and the same exposed brick wall provides background for the corner where he sang and played acoustic guitar during weekend performances in 1961 and '62.

But the old plank floor worn smooth by countless tapping feet is gone, replaced by a new hardwood version. The narrow staircase leading to the second-floor venue also has been replaced, as has the small stage, sound system, kitchen and restrooms. Seating has been boosted from 85 to about 105, and wine and beer are being served for the first time in the venerable coffeehouse's history.

Yet when the newly installed lighting dims and the night's performer hits the first chord, Caffe Lena still has the intimate setting that generations of musicians and folk music fans have come to revere.

"It's a legendary place," said Jeff Place, archivist for Smithsonian Folkways, the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. "For singer-songwriters, playing there is like playing Carnegie Hall for classical musicians."

Caffe Lena recently reopened after being closed for six months for the renovations. Performances were moved to other nearby venues in Saratoga Springs, the famous resort and thoroughbred racing town 165 miles north of New York City. Under a philanthropic partnership with a local developer, the organization turned over its adjacent small parking lot to the builder, who's constructing a four-story building that will house condos and retail businesses.

In return, Bonacio Construction has put $500,000 into the renovation project, including installing an elevator that will make Caffe Lena fully accessible to the disabled. A campaign has raised another $1 million. Caffe Lena is still raising the final $500,000 for the upgrades, scheduled to be completed this spring.

Among the folk musicians contributing funds: Arlo Guthrie, honorary chairman of the coffeehouse's fundraising campaign. Locally and regionally known musicians have also pitched in, while other performers -- including Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary fame -- contributed vocals for a fundraising video.

Sarah Craig, the coffeehouse's executive director, said Dylan has been approached for a contribution but "has not yet committed specific support."

Caffe Lena first opened in May 1960, by Lena Spencer and her husband, Bill, bohemian artists from Massachusetts. He left not long after Dylan's performances, but Lena stayed on, gradually attracting a dedicated following and booking an ever-growing roster of folk music stalwarts, including Dave Van Ronk, Joan Baez, Don McClean and Guthrie.

The lean years tended to outnumber the flush ones, and by the late 1980s, Spencer was living in a back room at her coffeehouse, displaced from her Saratoga apartment by rising rent. She died at age 66 in 1989. Volunteers and later the nonprofit group formed in the 1990s have kept her place open for new generations of folk music fans.

The renovations were long overdue in a 120-year-old building that wasn't up to code, Craig said.

"Now we have a place in line with our reputation for the type of music that happens here," she said.

For George Ward, a folk musician and longtime Caffe Lena performer and supporter, the face-lift hasn't erased the venue's downhome vibe.

"It had to change just in order to be safe and comfortable," said Ward, 78. "It so far it feels really good."

Friday, January 13, 2017

Roger Waters Previews New Album

Roger Waters has previewed music from his first solo album in 25 years.

The former Pink Floyd bassist previously confirmed that he’s working on a new record, his first since his 1992 LP Amused To Death, with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.

Waters has now posted a video of himself playing guitar in the studio with Godrich, as well as a photo of the pair together. See below.

A video posted by Roger Waters (@rogerwaters) on

“We’ve got some really good work in the can,” Waters previously said. “Nigel’s really good. He said to me, ‘People always want to do these long records. How long was The Dark Side Of The Moon?' I said 38 minutes.”

“But there are no constraints on records now because nobody pays you anything for them. So everything’s off the table. I so feel for young musicians, knowing that all of your work will be stolen, and nobody wants to pay you. It also means you can say anything you want. Well, I’ve always said anything I’ve wanted anyway.”

He continued: “I wrote this whole thing – part magic carpet ride, part political rant, part anguish. I played this to Nigel, and he goes, ‘Oh, I like that little bit’ – about two minutes long – ‘and that bit’. And so we’ve been working.”

“I’ve also been falling in love, deeply in love. So the record is really about love – which is what all of my records have been about, in fact. It’s pondering not just why we are killing the children. It’s also the question of how do we take these moments of love – if we are granted any in our lives – and allow that love to shine on the rest of existence, on others.”

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Heart's Ann Wilson Hitting The Road For 20-Date SoloTrek

Heart singer Ann Wilson has announced her 2017, 20-date solo tour, which kicks off Tuesday, March 8 at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, It goes onto Los Angeles, Denver, Philadelphia, Englewood, NJ and New Orleans, among other cities. Tickets go on sale on this Friday, January 13. 

"The stage is a magical place where I can be beautifully in and out of control, where I can build a fire and then jump into it," Wilson says. "The stage is where I have always lived; where I've expressed my deepest emotions and supreme joys. I suppose I am addicted to it. I've never been much good at talking, but I can sing, and when I sing I connect with people in a much deeper, higher way."

Musicians on board for the tour include Craig Bartock on guitar (Heart member for a dozen years, who also performed in the Ann Wilson Thing for two years) from San Francisco; Andy Stoller on bass (the Ann Wilson Thing member for two years) from Seattle; Denny Fongheiser on drums and percussion (Heart member in the 1990's for two years) from Los Angeles.

Here is the current itinerary:

Wed 3/8 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
Fri 3/10 - Berkeley, CA - UC Theatre
Sun 3/12 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theatre
Tue 3/14 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up
Wed 3/15 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
Thu 3/16 - Salina, KS - Steifel Theatre for the Performing Arts
Sat 3/18 - Lake Charles, LA - Golden Nugget
Sun 3/19 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
Tue 3/21 - Wilmington, NC - Cape Fear Community College Theatre
Wed 3/22 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall
Thu 3/23 - Greenville, SC - Peace Center for the Creative Arts
Sat 3/25 - Morristown, NJ - Mayo Performing Arts Center
Sun 3/26 - Annapolis, MD - Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
Wed 3/29 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere
Thu 3/30 - Westbury, NY - The Westbury Theater
Sat 4/1 - Peekskill, NY - Paramount Hudson Valley
Sun 4/2 - Londonderry, NH - Tupelo Music Hall
Tue 4/4 - Englewood, NJ - Bergen Performing Arts Center
Thu 4/6 - Philadelphia, PA - Keswick Theatre
Fri 4/7 - Providence, RI - Park Theatre PAC

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Michael Schenker Fest 'Live' Tokyo Coming To CD, DVD, Blu-ray Disc In March

Michael Schenker Fest “Live” Tokyo is a live concert filmed and recorded at Tokyo’s International Forum on August 24, 2016. 

The concert featured guest appearances of singer who have worked with Schenker over the years including M.S.G.’S Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, and Robin McAuley of the McAuley Schenker Group.

The show will be released by inakustik on CD, DVD, Blu-ray and digitally on March 24.
Schenker's reunion with singers he recorded with in the 80s was seen by 5,000 fans who witnessed an anthology of quintessential hard rock music of the era. 

"It’s a miracle that after all these years, something like this took place with the original band members of MSG, " the guitarist said."Being able to go back to those days and celebrate the music is an exciting experience for us, as well as for old and new fans."

Original MSG bassist Chris Glen and drummer Ted McKenna joined the singer and Schenker for the shows. Guitarist and keyboardist Steve Mann rounded out the band.

“It was just one enjoyable event from beginning to end,” Schenker remarked proudly. “Seeing those happy, excited fans right from the beginning before the show even started, was incredible. It was like Budokan all over again.”

TRACK LISTING:
1. Intro: Searching For Freedom
2. Into The Arena
3. Attack Of The Mad Axeman ft. Gary Barden
4. Victim Of Illusion ft. Gary Barden
5. Cry For The Nations ft. Gary Barden
6. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie ft. Gary Barden
7. Armed And Ready ft. Gary Barden
8. Coast To Coast
9. Assault Attack ft. Graham Bonnet
10. Desert Song ft. Graham Bonnet
11. Dancer ft. Graham Bonnet
12. Captain Nemo
13. This Is My Heart ft. Robin McAuley
14. Save Yourself ft. Robin McAuley
15. Love Is Not A Game ft. Robin McAuley
16. Shoot Shoot ft. Robin McAuley
17. Rock Bottom ft. Robin McAuley
18. Doctor Doctor ft. Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley


Tuesday, January 10, 2017

U2 Announces The Joshua Tree Tour 2017, Headlining Bonnaroo

U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the band's classic album, will appear at select stadiums this year. Each show will include a performance of The Joshua Tree in its entirety, with support from one of a number of  special guests including Mumford & Sons, OneRepublic and The Lumineers in North America and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in Europe.

Released to universal acclaim on March 9, 1987, and featuring hit singles "With Or Without You", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Where The Streets Have No Name", The Joshua Tree was U2's first #1 album in the U.S., topping the charts globally including the U.K. and Ireland, selling in excess of 25 million albums worldwide, and turning Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. into stars.

Time Magazine put U2 on its cover in April 1987, proclaiming them "Rock's Hottest Ticket" in a defining year for the band that saw their arena dates roll into stadium shows to accommodate escalating demand - setting them on course to become one of the greatest live acts in the world today.  The 12 months that followed saw the band create now-iconic moments: the traffic-stopping Grammy Award-winning music video on the roof of a Los Angeles liquor store, winning a BRIT Award and two Grammys - including Album of the Year - their first of 22 received to date, distinguishing U2 as the most awarded rock band in Grammy history.

U2's fifth studio album The Joshua Tree was produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and featured iconic artwork which cemented the career of photographer and director Anton Corbijn. Recording took place in Dublin at Windmill Lane Studios and Danesmoate, the house which subsequently became bassist Adam Clayton's home.

"It seems like we have come full circle from when The Joshua Tree songs were originally written, with global upheaval, extreme right wing politics and some fundamental human rights at risk. To celebrate the album – as the songs seem so relevant and prescient of these times too - we decided to do these shows, it feels right for now. We're looking forward to it." – The Edge

"Recently I listened back to The Joshua Tree for the first time in nearly 30 years… it's quite an opera.  A lot of emotions which feel strangely current, love, loss, broken dreams, seeking oblivion, polarisation… all the greats... I've sung some of these songs a lot… but never all of them.  I'm up for it, if our audience is as excited as we are… it's gonna be a great night."- Bono

"We are off to play a few shows with U2! It's the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree - one of the greatest albums ever made, in our opinion, and something well worth a good celebration. It's a record that did so much for us all when we discovered it individually and if ever a record stands the test of time it's that one. So when the lads gave us a call to invite us to play a few gigs opening for them it was our great honour to accept. It's gonna be such a good few nights... " – Mumford & Sons

"I can remember covering the U2 song 'One' in bars back in NYC 10 years ago, with Jer on drums.  A lot has changed since then, but still - I NEVER thought we'd get the chance to open for such a legendary band, on such a legendary album - The Joshua Tree.  Their songs are so timeless and transcendent, it's impossible to imagine a time when they didn't exist.  That type of songwriting has always been the mountaintop for us - songs that can transcend generations." - Wesley Schultz, The Lumineers

"The Joshua Tree is the first album I ever heard from U2 because it came out when I had just started my love affair with music as a young kid... it's the album that made me want to write songs and start a band.  Joining them for this tour will be the experience of a lifetime, leaving the bucket list fully checked." - Ryan Tedder, OneRepublic

"It will be both a pleasure and an honour to play my part in what still remains the greatest show on earth." – Noel Gallagher

Following the groundbreaking iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour's arena shows in 2015, U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 will see the band return to the stadium stage for the first time since 2009-2011's record-shattering U2 360° Tour, the most successful tour in history seen by over 7.3 million fans worldwide.

U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 will kick off in Vancouver on May 12th for a run of dates across North America and Europe, and will include U2's first ever U.S. festival headline appearance at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival this summer, as well as a hometown show in Dublin's Croke Park on July 22nd.

Tickets for the U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 are on sale Monday, January 16th in Ireland, the UK and Europe and Tuesday, January 17th in the U.S. and Canada. As usual, there is an exclusive priority presale for U2 Subscribers at U2.com from Wednesday, January 11th (9:00 AM) through Friday, January 13th (5:00 PM) local times. Tickets will be general admission on the floor and reserved seating in the stands. There will be a 4 ticket limit for subscriber purchases and a 6 ticket limit commencing with public sales. In North America, all floor tickets will be paperless unless otherwise noted.

U2: The Joshua Tree Tour is produced by Live Nation Global Touring. UPS is the Official Logistics Provider of the tour.

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: www.u2.com & www.livenation.com

Tour dates are below:

NORTH AMERICA:
SUPPORT:
May 12
Vancouver, BC
BC Place
Mumford & Sons
May 14
Seattle, WA
CenturyLink Field
Mumford & Sons
May 17
Santa Clara, CA
Levi's Stadium
Mumford & Sons
May 20
Los Angeles, CA
Rose Bowl
The Lumineers
May 24
Houston, TX
NRG Stadium
The Lumineers
May 26
Dallas, TX
AT&T Stadium
The Lumineers
June 3
Chicago, IL
Soldier Field
The Lumineers
June 7
Pittsburgh, PA
Heinz Field
The Lumineers
June 8-11
Manchester, TN
Bonnaroo Festival
Multi-Artist
June 11
Miami, FL
Hard Rock Stadium
OneRepublic
June 14
Tampa, FL
Raymond James Stadium
OneRepublic
June 18
Philadelphia, PA
Lincoln Financial Field
The Lumineers
June 20
Washington DC
FedExField
The Lumineers
June 23
Toronto, ON
Rogers Centre
The Lumineers
June 25
Boston, MA
Gillette Stadium
The Lumineers
June 28
East Rutherford, NJ
MetLife Stadium
The Lumineers
July 1
Cleveland, OH
FirstEnergy Stadium
OneRepublic


EUROPEAN:


SUPPORT:
July 8
London, UK
Twickenham
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 12
Berlin, DE
Olympic Stadium
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 15
Rome, IT
Olympic Stadium
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 18
Barcelona, ES
Olympic Stadium
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 22
Dublin, IE
Croke Park
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 25
Paris, FR
Stade de France
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
July 29
Amsterdam, NE
Amsterdam Arena
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
August 1
Brussels, BE
Stade Roi Baudouin
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds




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...