Thursday, November 30, 2017

Dixie Dregs Announce Concert Dates For Original Lineup Reunion

Six-time Grammy-Award nominated musical virtuosos the Dixie Dregs (a.k.a The Dregs), are gearing up for a national U.S. tour starting February 28. The performances will mark the first time in 40 years the original band -- Steve Morse (guitar), Andy West (bass), Allen Sloan (violin), Steve Davidowski (keyboards) and Rod Morgenstein (drums) -- will share the stage. Tickets are on sale now at http://dixiedregs.com/.

The "Dawn Of The Dregs" 25-date tour -- with additional dates to be announced soon -- will take the band across the country starting on February 28 in Clearwater, FL, and make stops in Atlanta, Charleston, Washington D.C., New York City, Boston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, Boulder and Phoenix, among many others, before wrapping April 25 in Dallas, TX.

"This tour is the result of the overwhelming requests we've received from a loyal audience of diehard Dregheads, and new fans who have never seen us perform live, but discovered the band for the first time through Morse's membership in Deep Purple, or Morgenstein as the drummer for Winger," said Dreg's bassist Andy West. "We can't wait to play for them all."

For guitar aficionados, Steve Morse needs no introduction, and his place in the pantheon of guitar greats is certain. But in fact, his career started with the Dixie Dregs. The band traces its true beginnings to the band Dixie Grit, which started in a Georgia high school with Steve on guitar and Andy West on bass. Dixie Grit morphed into the Dixie Dregs at the University of Miami School of Music, where Allen Sloan (violin) and Rod Morgenstein (drums) joined up with Morse and West, who were the "dregs" of Dixie Grit.

The members of the Dixie Dregs remained committed to attending the University of Miami School of Music, which hosted a lively and talented musical community during their tenure, including future greats Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, T Lavitz, and Bruce Hornsby, among many others. In 1975, the group's demo album, The Great Spectacular, was recorded at the University of Miami and then re-released on CD in 1997.

After graduation, the band moved back to Augusta where Steve Davidowski (keyboards) completed the band. They paid their dues and honed their skills playing in bars and venues throughout the South in the mid-70s. They established themselves in the firmament of American instrumental music, seamlessly fusing rock with progressive and jazz elements to create a uniquely instrumental-driven style that has stood the test of time.

Based on a short demo and a tip from former Allman Brothers Band keyboardist Chuck Leavell along with legendary Allman/Dregs tour manager Twiggs Lyndon, Capricorn Records signed the Dixie Dregs to record Free Fall (1977). The success and critical acclaim of Free Fall announced the Dixie Dregs to the world, and after its release, they would become a cult-favorite band that would have a lasting influence on much of modern rock.

Dixie Dregs 2018 Tour Dates:

02/28 - Capitol Theatre - Clearwater, FL                     
03/01 - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL     
03/02 - Bell Auditorium - Augusta, GA                       
03/03 - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA                           
03/05 - Charleston Music Hall - Charleston, SC                   
03/06 - Carolina Theater - Durham, NC                       
03/07 - Lincoln Theater - Washington, DC               
03/08 - The Grand Opera House - Wilmington, DE                   
03/09 - Scottish Rite Auditorium - Collingswood, NJ               
03/10 - Newton Theater - Newton, NJ                         
03/14 - Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT                   
03/15 - The Paramount - Huntington, NY                   
03/16 - Town Hall - New York, NY                     
03/17 - Bearsville Theater - Woodstock, NY                   
03/19 - Wilbur Theater - Boston, MA                         
03/21 - The Egg - Albany, NY                           
03/22 - Carnegie Music Hall - Pittsburgh, PA                     
03/23 - Kent Stage - Cleveland, OH                   
03/24 - The Vic Theater - Chicago, IL                           
04/11 - Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI                   
04/14 - Boulder Theatre - Boulder, CO                         
04/20 - The Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA 
04/21 - The Canyon Club - Agoura Hills, CA                 
04/22 - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts - Phoenix, AZ                         
04/25 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX                             

For more information on the Dixie Dregs, visit:
http://dixiedregs.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDixieDregs/

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

2018 Grammy Awards Nominees Include Vintage Rockers

The full list of nominees for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards have been revealed, with Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars and Childish Gambino leading the way in total nominations. While the awards typically cater to pop artists of the day, the list of nominees also includes Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Gregg Allman.

In the Best Americana Album category, Gregg Allman's Southern Blood joins other nominated albums by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Iron & Wine, The Mavericks and Brent Cobb.

Bob Dylan's album Triplicate will compete for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, while The Rolling Stones' Blue & Lonsome garnered a Best Traditional Blues Album nod. The Grateful Dead have two nominations for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (May 1977: Get Shown the Light) and Best Music Film (Long Strange Trip).

Bruce Springsteen is nominated for Best Spoken Word Album behind his autobiography Born To Run. Leonard Cohen got a nod for both Best Rock Performance (along with Chris Cornell) and Best American Roots Performance. Guitarist John McLaughlin is nominated for Best Improvised Jazz Solo.

The Yusuf/Cat Stevens and The Decemberists side-project Offa Rex is up for Best Folk Album. The Best Contemporary Blues Album includes Tedeschi Trucks Band, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Sonny Landreth and Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm.

Nominees for Best Rock Album include Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age, The War On Drugs, Mastodon and Nothing More, while the Best Alternative Music Album category includes Arcade Fire, Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem, Father John Misty and The National.

See the full list of nominees at the Grammys website.

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony will take place January 28 and will be broadcast on CBS.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Led Zeppelin Photographer To Host New Book Party In Los Angeles

Rock photographer Neal Preston will host a book signing, exhibition and sale on Thursday, December 7th at Morrison Hotel Gallery in Los Angeles. Preston will be promoting his new book, Exhilarated And Exhausted, is a complete retrospective of his career spanning almost 50 years.

Published by Reel Art Press on November 6th and produced in collaboration with Preston, the book features over 300 photographs that include glimpses of life backstage, stressful deadlines, a 47-year-case of permanent jet-lag, live performances, post-performance highs and lows, photo shoots gone awry and outtakes — many photos which have never been seen before — are accompanied by incredible personal accounts of touring with Led Zeppelin, The Who and Queen.

The event is open to the public and there is no charge to attend. Books will be available for purchase at the signing or you can purchase a copy online.

As close friend, Cameron Crowe, observes in his foreword: "These images live on. You can feel the music, the audience, the desperate need to find a place in the world, all of it in these photos because they were curated by the guy who felt it all when he pressed the button on the camera."

The lowdown:

WHO:
Photographer Neal Preston

WHAT:
Neal Preston: Exhilarated And Exhausted book signing, exhibition and sale.

WHEN:
Thursday, December 7th from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

WHERE:
Morrison Hotel Gallery @ The Sunset Marquis Hotel
1200 Alta Loma Road
West Hollywood, CA
www.morrisonhotelgallery.com

Bob Marley by Neal Preston

Monday, November 27, 2017

70s Prog Rock Band Camel Announces UK Tour Dates

Following a recent announcement that 70s prog-rock band Camel will play London’s Royal Albert Hall in Sept 2018, the band has revealed that this will be preceded by an extensive run of dates in the UK.

During the shows, the band, featuring Andrew Latimer (guitar, flute, vocals), Colin Bass (bass guitar, vocals), Denis Clement (drums), Peter Jones (keyboards, vocals),  will be playing the entirety of their 1976 album Moonmadness, which made the UK Top 20 albums chart and went on to achieve  silver certification. In 2014, the album was voted no. 58 in the Top 100 Prog Albums of All Time by readers of Prog magazine.

The full run of UK dates is as follows. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 1, 2017, at 10:00 AM.

09/07/18 - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK
09/08/18 - Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle, UK
09/09/18 - The Assembly, Leamington, UK
09/10/18 - Friars Aylesbury at The Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury, UK
09/12/18 - O2 Guildhall, Southampton, UK
09/13/18 - Corn Exchange, Cambridge, UK
09/14/18 - Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, UK
09/17/18 - Royal Albert Hall, London, UK

For more information, go to:
http://www.camelproductions.com
https://www.facebook.com/Camel-Band-419562134853848/


Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Eagles Bassist Timothy B. Schmit To Launch Fall Tour On Friday In Las Vegas

Following his sold-out solo tour earlier this year and a round of arena dates with Eagles, Timothy B. Schmit will launch his fall solo tour in Las Vegas o Friday, November 24.  For the trek, Schmit and his band will perform songs spanning his entire four-decade long career. 

Joining Schmit on tour as opener in Los Angeles (Dec. 3, Saban Theater) and Denver (Dec. 14, Soiled Dove) is fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and former Poco bandmate Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco). Tickets for all shows are on sale now.

Schmit recorded the 12-track Leap Of Faith in his Los Angeles studio with co-producer with engineer Hank Linderman. The record marks the culmination of the Eagles bassist's unhurried, yet inspired reflections of life. Illuminated by an array of fine musicians and singers, the album plays like a multicolored corona around Schmit's distinctive artistry. From the jaunty opening track "My Hat" to the soaring harmonies and heartfelt reflections of "This Waltz," this is more than another album in a great artist's catalog.

Leap Of Faith is available via Benowen Records as a 180 gram 2-LP vinyl set, CD and digitally. For exclusive bundles, visit the Timothy B. Schmit Online Store or iTunes.

On Monday, November 27, at 6:00 pm PT (9:00 pm ET), Schmit will be interviewed live by Jim Ladd on "Deep Tracks," which airs nationwide on SiriusXM, Channel 27.

As a member of the bands the Eagles (since 1977 he can be heard on hits such as "I Can't Tell You Why" and "Love Will Keep Us Alive"), and Poco ("Keep On Tryin'"), Schmit's musical contributions have laid the groundwork to some of pop/folk/rock music's most important songs. He has vocally contributed to such memorable songs as "Look What You've Done To Me" (Boz Skaggs), "Fire Lake" (Bob Seger), to Richard Marx's hit "Don't Mean Nothing" and added bass, guitar and harmonies on Toto's hit singles "I Won't Hold You Back" and "Africa," Crosby Stills and Nash's "Wasted On The Way" and multiple tracks by Steely Dan. He's played internationally as a member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band and Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band.

Timothy B. Schmit tour dates:

11/24 - Orleans Showroom - Las Vegas, NV
11/28 - Golden State Theatre - Monterey, CA
11/30 - Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA
12/01 - The Cave - Big Bear Lake, CA
12/03 - Saban Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
12/06 - Dosey Doe - The Woodlands, TX
12/07 - Dosey Doe - The Woodlands, TX
12/09 - One World Theater - Austin, TX
12/10 - One World Theater - Austin, TX
12/12 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
12/14 - Soiled Dove - Denver, CO
12/16 - Mim Theater - Phoenix, AZ
12/17 - Mim Theater - Phoenix, AZ

+Richie Furay opening

For more information, visit:

http://www.timothybschmit.com
https://www.facebook.com/timothybschmit
https://twitter.com/timothybschmit
http://www.youtube.com/user/TimothyBSchmit1

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Fox News Bans Gene Simmons For Life

Gene Simmons has been banned for life from Fox News following a series of events that took place recently at their company headquarters in Manhattan.

It's been reported that the ban came after Simmons made appearances on Fox & Friends and on the Fox Business Network program Mornings With Maria, followed by an intrusion on a staff meeting.

On Fox & Friends, Simmons crashed the weather report from meteorologist Janice Dean, before doing an interview about his new book On Power, where he reportedly interrupted a staff meeting, shouting out loud, "Hey chicks, sue me" as he opened his shirt, exposing his entire torso. 

Simmons also told some pedophilic jokes about Michael Jackson and two staffers were struck on the head with the On Power book as Simmons made assumptions about their level of intelligence based off the sound that resulted from the blow.

After receiving a series of complaints about his behavior, Kevin Lord, a human resources executive at Fox, made the decision to ban him for life from the network.

Simmons called the reports of his behavior “highly exaggerated and misleading,” but nonetheless apologized for any offensive actions.

In his statement, he added: “I have appeared frequently over the years on various Fox News and Fox Business programs and have a tremendous amount of respect for the talented women and men who work there...I am sincerely sorry that I unintentionally offended members of the Fox team during my visit.” 

No word yet on whether the ban will be lifted.

Monday, November 20, 2017

Peter Frampton To Reissue Grammy Award-Winning Album 'Fingerprints' In January

Peter Frampton will reissue his critically acclaimed instrumental album Fingerprints on January 26 via his own imprint Phenix Phonograph. Originally released in 2006, Fingerprints won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album and Frampton’s cover of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” off the album was also nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. In their review of Fingerpirnts, VintageRock.com called the album "simple, eloquent and extremely well-crafted."  
The 2018 reissue will feature the record on vinyl for the first time.

Frampton navigates a diverse range of material on Fingerprints, from American soul to Latin balladry and timeless rock. Guest artists include The Rolling Stones’ Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman on “Cornerstones”; original Shadows members Hank Marvin and Brian Bennett on “My Cup of Tea”; and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready and Matt Cameron joining Frampton for the “Black Hole Sun” cover and the original “Blowin’ Smoke.” Frampton’s core band on Fingerprints features longtime collaborator John Regan (bass), co-producer Gordon Kennedy (guitar and backing vocals), Arthur Stead (keyboards) and Shawn Fichter (drums).

In other Frampton news, the guitarist recently performed his latest single “I Saved A Bird Today” on the PBS Show called Tavis Smiley.

Frampton explains, “‘I Saved A Bird Today’ is a true story about me saving a large bird, an American Coot, who flew into my window and knocked herself out. Then how, with expert advice, I brought her back to life. After learning that Coots only take off from water, I had to ‘Take Her To The River.’ She jumped into the river as I watched her walk, then run atop the water until she finally took off into the city lit night sky. ‘To care for one another is the reason we are here’ is the lyric that sums it up for me. The world has gone mad and the simple things like love, compassion and caring have been overshadowed by hate and greed.”

In 2014, Frampton was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. He recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of his fifth solo album, Frampton Comes Alive!, which remains one of the top-selling live records of all time.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

AC/DC Guitarist Malcolm Young Passes

Australian guitarist and AC/DC co-founder Malcolm Young has died aged 64 after a long battle with dementia.

He died peacefully on Saturday with his family nearby, a statement said.

Young will be remembered for his powerful rhythm guitar riffs that were instrumental in propelling the Sydney heavy rock group to stardom.

"Renowned for his musical prowess, Malcolm was a songwriter, guitarist, performer, producer and visionary who inspired many," the statement read. "From the outset, he knew what he wanted to achieve and, along with his younger brother, took to the world stage giving their all at every show. Nothing less would do for their fans."

Fans and friends of Young have been posting their tributes to the popular musician on social media.
Tom Morello, of Rage Against the Machine, tweeted his thanks to the "#1 greatest rhythm guitarist."

Singer David Coverdale of Whitesnake and formerly with Deep Purple also offered his "thoughts and prayers".

After forming AC/DC in 1973, Young and his brother Angus were credited as co-writers on every song the band recorded by the band between their 1975 debut High Voltage through to 2014's Rock or Bust.

Malcolm Young was born in 1953 in Glasgow before his family emigrated to Australia when he was 10. His family confirmed he was suffering from dementia in 2014.

He wrote much of the band's the material that enabled AC/DC to become one of the biggest heavy rock bands, including "Back In Black," "Highway to Hell," and "You Shook Me All Night Long."

The group is estimated to have sold more than 200 million records worldwide, including 71.5 million albums in the US.

A statement by Angus Young on the AC/DC website praises Malcolm Young's "enormous dedication and commitment" which made him "the driving force behind the band" who "always stuck to his guns and did and said exactly what he wanted."

"As his brother it is hard to express in words what he has meant to me during my life, the bond we had was unique and very special. He leaves behind an enormous legacy that will live on forever. Malcolm, job well done."

Friday, November 17, 2017

Graceland Launches Elvis-Themed Day Trips

The house where Elvis was born

Elvis Presley's Graceland has launched new day trips to Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Presley's birthplace, and the Mississippi Delta region, titled Graceland Excursions.

According to a press release, the Graceland Excursions Tupelo trip will include Elvis' Birthplace, encompassing the legendary two-room "shotgun" house where Elvis was born, his childhood church, and the Birthplace Museum; Tupelo Hardware, where Elvis' mother Gladys purchased Elvis' first guitar; and the Tupelo Fairgrounds, where Elvis performed homecoming concerts in 1956 and 1957.

The Graceland Excursions Mississippi Delta trip will follow U.S. 61, known as the "Blues Highway," and make stops at the Gateway to the Blues Museum in Tunica, Mississippi; the legendary "Crossroads" and Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi; Dockery Farms, widely regarded as where the Delta Blues genre was born; and the state-of-the-art, GRAMMY® Museum in Cleveland, Mississippi.

Graceland Excursions will preview with select dates in December 2017 and early January 2018, with an official launch of its regular, weekly schedule beginning on January 12, 2018.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Led Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' Gets Second Life Thanks to 'Thor'

Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" returns to No. 1 on a Billboard chart thanks, once again, to Thor: Ragnarok.

After originally appearing in the film's trailer this spring (spurring a 7,000-download sales week on April 29-dated charts, according to Nielsen Music, good for No. 1 that frame on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales), the 1970 classic off Led Zeppelin III jumps back to No. 1 (from No. 14) on Hard Rock Digital Song Sales after being included in the Thor film itself, which opened in North American theaters November 3.

"Immigrant" increases by a whopping 977 percent to 18,000 sold in the week ending Nov. 9, up from 2,000 in the previous week. That's the best tally for the song since it was first released digitally; it moved 14,000 its first week out as a download, nearly a decade prior (reflected on the chart dated Dec. 1, 2007).

Its latest sales sum is also good for No. 3 on Rock Digital Song Sales, the band's best rank on the chart, eclipsing the then-No. 9 peak of "Immigrant" earlier this year when the Thor trailer premiered. The track re-enters the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart at No. 27, marking the band's highest position and first appearance since Dec. 8, 2007.

Fueled by its sales surge and 133 percent boost to 2.1 million U.S. streams, "Immigrant" returns at a new No. 4 high on Hot Rock Songs, where older songs can re-enter if showing a meaningful increase and ranking in the top 25. The song previously hit No. 16 powered by the Thor trailer earlier this year.

That's not all. On the Billboard 200, Mothership, the Led Zeppelin greatest hits compilation released in 2007 concurrent with the band's digital debut, leaps 166-80 with a 70 percent gain to 8,000 equivalent album units. While track and streaming equivalent units make for a sizable chunk of that overall total, Mothership moved 2,000 in pure sales, a 71 percent increase. The set also bounds 11-2 on Hard Rock Albums.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Toto's Greatest Hits Featuring Three New Tracks Coming February 9th

Toto has announced a February 9th worldwide release date on Legacy Recordings (a division of Sony Music) for their brand new greatest hits package 40 Trips Around The Sun.  The 17-track album features three previously unreleased recordings: “Spanish Sea,” “Alone” and “Struck By Lightning,” alongside newly remastered classic tracks worked on by Elliot Scheiner & Gavin Lurssen and his team.  The core Toto members — Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Joseph Williams — re-entered the studio earlier this year to work on this release.

While going through the Sony vaults, the band uncovered several unfinished tracks that featured both Jeff and Mike Porcaro, one of which is now “Spanish Sea.”

“This track is originally from the Isolation sessions,” Lukather says. “It’s one that didn't make it and we had to re-write it including creating a new chorus. Thanks to modern tech we were able to play once again with not only our 20 something selves but with our dear brothers Jeff and Mike Porcaro reminding us just how deep their groove was. Bittersweet... Many stories, laughs and a few tears on this one.  It’s classic Toto with an excellent solo and I kept my old 1985 melody solo Dave wanted me to do... Old meets new but since legendary pal Al Schmitt cut the tracks and Bob Clearmountain mixed...it sounds like it was done 2 weeks ago not 30 + years ago!”

All fans who pre-order the album beginning today will receive “Alone” as an instant grat track.
According to Lukather, “Alone is a brand new song.

“This one was written with just the four of us really writing together and no one else in the room with us," he says. "We wanted to start with an ‘up’ song in terms of groove for the album. The lyric is darker but we are older guys now ands have lived life. The good, bad and ugly... we have lived it all and in the end we are all alone anyway. Proud of this piece and it just sort of organically happened.”

“Struck By Lightning,” the third new track on 40 Trips Around The Sun, began with David Paich.

“I had the opening riff in my head for months,” Paich says. “Joe and the guys helped flesh this one out.  I love the heavy arrangement and Luke’s solo on it is an all time great!”

Beginning on February 11th in Helsinki, the band will begin the first leg of their worldwide 40 Trips Around The Sun tour in support of their 40th anniversary. For Europe, 36 shows have been announced to date. The tour will be the band’s most extensive run in years and is expected to hit the U.S. later in 2018. More shows will be announced shortly.

40 Trips Around The Sun Track Listing:

  1. Alone
  2. Spanish Sea
  3. I'll Supply The Love
  4. I'll Be Over You
  5. Stranger In Town
  6. 99
  7. Struck By Lightning
  8. Pamela
  9. Afraid Of Love
  10. I Won't Hold You Back
  11. Jake To The Bone
  12. Stop Loving You
  13. Lea
  14. Hold The Line
  15. George Porgy
  16. Rosanna
  17. Africa

40 Trips Around The Sun 2018 European Tour:

02/11 - Icehall - Helsinki, FI
02/12 - Nordea Concert Hall - Tallinn, EE
02/14 - Fryshuset - Stockholm, SE
02/16 - Spektrum - Oslo, NO
02/17 - Forum - Copenhagen, DK
02/19 - Mehr! Theater - Hamburg, DE
02/21 - Mitsubishi-Electric Hall - Dusseldorf, DE
02/22 - Olympiahalle - Munich, DE
02/24 -  C-Halle - Berlin, DE
02/25 - Haus Auensee - Leipzig, DE
02/27 - Forum Karlin - Prague, CZ
02/28 - Tauron Arena - Krakow, PL
03/02 - Gasometer - Vienna, AT
03/04 - National Palace Of Culture - Sofia, BG
03/05 - Boris Trajkovski Sports Hall - Skopje, MK
03/09 - Dom Sportova - Zagreb, HR
03/10 - Mediolanum Forum - Milan, IT
03/12 - Hallenstadion - Zurich, CH
03/13 - Porsche Arena - Stuttgart, DE
03/15 - Zenith - Lille, FR
03/17 - Ziggo Dome - Amsterdam, NL
03/18 - Forest National - Brussels, BE
03/20 - Stadthalle - Offenbach, DE
03/22 - Arena Geneva - Geneva, CH
03/23 - Unipol Arena - Bologna, IT
03/25 - Dome - Marseille, FR
03/26 - Zenith - Toulouse, FR
03/27 - Halle Tony Garnier - Lyon, FR
03/29 - Rockhal - Luxembourg City, LU
03/30 - La Seine Musicale - Paris, FR
04/01 - Royal Albert Hall - London, UK
04/02 - Bridgewater Hall - Manchester, UK
04/04 - Vicar Street - Dublin, IE
04/05 - Vicar Street - Dublin, IE
04/07 - Waterfront Auditorium - Belfast, UK
04/08 - SEC Armadillo - Glasgow, UK

www.totoofficial.com
www.twitter.com/toto99com
www.facebook.com/totoband

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Ian Anderson Announces 2018 U.S. Tour Celebrating 50 Years Of Jethro Tull

It was on February 2, 1968 at the world-famous Marquee Club in Wardour Street that Jethro Tull first performed under that name. The group would go on to become one of the most successful and enduring bands of their era, selling over 60 million albums worldwide and entering the cultural collective consciousness along the way.

To celebrate this golden anniversary, Ian Anderson will present 50 years of Jethro Tull in summertime U.S. concerts, as part of the worldwide touring schedule.

The debut album, This Was, was released later that same year.  Founder, frontman and flautist Ian Anderson is rightly credited with introducing the flute to rock as a front line instrument, not to mention the codpiece.

Jethro Tull are one of the biggest selling progressive rock artists of all time, and the group’s immense and diverse catalog of work encompasses folk, blues, classical and heavy rock stylings. The anniversary concerts will feature a broad mix of material, some of it focusing on the earlier formative period through to the “heavy hitters” of the Tull catalog from the albums This Was, Stand Up, Benefit, Aqualung, Thick As A Brick, Too Old To Rock And Roll: Too Young To Die, Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses, Crest Of A Knave and even a touch of TAAB2 from 2012.

“I am not usually a birthday or anniversary kind of guy but, just for once, I won't be a party-pooper either!" Anderson says. "I treasure the memories of the earlier years of Jethro Tull repertoire, associated as it is with the adventures of visiting so many countries for the first time to connect with new fans around the world. And this is a celebration of all the 33 band members who graced our ranks - musicians who brought their talents, skills and styles to bear on the performances live and in the studio. Join me and the current band for a nostalgic evening of varied music, representative of my ever-changing songwriting as our careers progressed through the years.”

Ian Anderson is accompanied by Tull band musicians David Goodier (bass), John O'Hara (keyboards), Florian Opahle (guitar), Scott Hammond (drums) and surprise virtual guests.

Formed in 1968, Jethro Tull have released 30 studio and live albums, selling more than 60 million copies worldwide. During their 50-year history, the band has performed over 3,000 concerts in more than 50 countries, playing 100+ concerts each year.

Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson 50th Anniversary Tour Dates
(Most shows on sale this Friday, but some on Nov. 17 or 18, Woodinville, WA on-sale March 2018)
 
5/30/18 - Comerica Theatre - Phoenix, AZ   
6/01/18 - Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
6/02/18 - Greek Theatre - Berkeley, CA
6/03/18 - Vina Robles Amphitheatre - Paso Robles, CA
6/05/18 - Visalia Fox Theatre - Visalia, CA 
6/06/18 - Sacramento Community Theater - Sacramento, CA
6/08/18 - Les Schwab Amphitheater - Bend, OR 
6/09/18 - Edgefield - Troutdale, OR
6/10/18 - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery - Woodinville, WA
6/29/18 - Fox Theatre - St. Louis, MO
6/30/18 - Four Winds Casino Resort - New Buffalo, MI 
7/01/18 - Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre - Sterling Heights, MI
7/03/18 - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, ON
8/31/18 - State Theatre - Minneapolis, MN
9/01/18 - Starlight Theatre - Kansas City, MO
9/03/18 - Ravinia Festival - Highland Park, IL
9/05/18 - Rose Music Center at the Heights - Huber Heights, OH
9/07/18 - Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA
9/08/18 - Mann Center for the Performing Arts - Philadelphia, PA
9/09/18 - Blue Hills Bank Pavilion - Boston, MA 
9/11/18 - Beacon Theatre - New York, NY

www.JethroTull.com
twitter.com/jethrotull

Monday, November 13, 2017

The Who Could Make Millions Replacing Elton John In Las Vegas

The Who are negotiating a multi-million pound deal to replace Sir Elton John in Las Vegas.

The band's Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey are expected seal a deal to play The Colosseum Theatre at Caesars Palace for at least two years.

A Vegas insider said: “Elton is leaving, so the promoters and resort wanted to bring in an act of equal stature.”

The deal could range from £12 million to £35 million, depending on how many performances they agree to initially.

The band will earn about £250,000 a night. They previously enjoyed a short run which sold out earlier this year.

Sir Elton will end his 13-year, 450-show run playing to more than 1.8 million fans in May next year.

Promoters AEG and Caesars chiefs hope to have The Who on stage by July, blasting out hits including Substitute and My Generation.

The insider added: “Their shows this summer were a critical success and a sell out, with Roger’s voice sounding better than ever.

“They enjoyed the gigs and unique opportunity of a residency and were open to repeating it for a longer run. The talks have been going well and there is a genuine hope that a deal will be done.

“The issues are simply the volume of shows and total length of the run.”

Daltrey, who has spent a lot of time in the US this year, is publishing his autobiography next year and the gigs will be a good fit with the launch.

In August, songwriter Townshend said how much he enjoyed the intimate Sin City venue, even complimenting the number of female fans there.

But Vegas is where their bass player John Entwistle died in 2002, from a heart attack at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Townshend said: “I still think of him, all the fucking time."

Friday, November 10, 2017

Rolling Stones, Beatles Insider Shares Memories, Rare Artifacts In New Book

From Sam Cooke, the Beatles, the '65, '66, Rolling Stones US Tours -- Ronnie Schneider takes you through history's first mythic rock and roll tour, the 1969 Rolling Stones US Tour. He tells the real story about Altamont, December 6, 1969, when a Hells Angel killed Meredith Hunter during the free concert; how the greatest rock film of the greatest rock n' roll band, Gimme Shelter, came about; and closes with the 1970 Rolling Stones Euro Tour.

His book, Out of Our Heads: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Me with Proof of Truthis filled with great stories that haven't been told before with some fascinating anecdotes about the Beatles -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr (they thought about acquiring the movie rights to The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and includes separate drawings that both Lennon and McCartney made for Schneider during a business meeting that gives unique insight into their thoughts on Apple, the business side of the Beatles, and the author himself.

It's not only rock 'n' roll -- Schneider also produced a spaghetti western, Silent Stranger, in Kyoto, Japan, for Allen Klein as well as a Herman Hermit's film, Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter. Schneider provides stories and photos of the events.

What makes Out of Our Heads unique is the "Proof of Truth." Ronnie offers handwritten letters, ledgers, receipts, contracts, Western Union telegrams, telexes, deal memos, and rare photos of himself with the Stones in 1965-1970 to back up his stories. There's an old cliché: If you remember the 60s, then you really weren't there. This book disproves it.

"Ronnie Schneider we'd known. He's Klein's nephew but he broke away from him. He's a smart cat. I dig Ronnie. He'd been on a lot of tours with us handling business and hung around with us." — Keith Richards to Robert Greenfield, Rolling Stone magazine, August 19, 1971

Ronnie Schneider will be signing copies of  Out of Our Heads: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Me with Proof of Truth at Book Soup in West Hollywood, CA on December 9, 2017 from 4:00 pm and speaking at The Factory in San Francisco on February 6, 2018.


Thursday, November 9, 2017

Former Genesis Guitarist Steve Hackett To Release Live DVD In January

On Friday, January 26th, 2018, Inside Out Music will release Wuthering Nights: Live in Birmingham, a new live DVD/Blu-ray Disc from guitarist Steve Hackett.
  
Filmed at the Birmingham Symphony Hall during Hackett’s recent Genesis Revisited & Classic Hackett tour, the set will also be released on CD, as well as digitally.

This tour marked the 40th anniversary of Wind & Wuthering, Hackett’s last album with Genesis.
Hackett and his band played five tracks from the album:  "Eleventh Earl Of Mar, "One For The Vine," "Blood On The Rooftops," "…In That Quiet Earth" and "Afterglow."

Others from Hackett’s Genesis days that were revisited, include "Dance On A Volcano," "Inside & Out," "Firth Of Fifth," "The Musical Box" and "Los Endos."
 
This show marks the first-ever live performances of "One For The Vine" and "Inside & Out." It also includes many solo songs, including  material from his 2017 release, The Night Siren.

“I'm excited about the imminent release of Wuthering Nights," Hackett remarks. "It felt special to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Wind & Wuthering, the Genesis album I had the most songwriting involvement with and a favorite among many fans. Sit back and enjoy!”

The DVD / Blu-ray Disc also includes behind-the-scenes footage, most of which was filmed on the day in Birmingham. There are also three videos for tracks from The Night Siren: "Behind The Smoke," "Fifty Miles From The North Pole" and "West To East."

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

The Magpie Salute To Wrap 60-Date Tour With Two NYC Shows

The Magpie Salute, which brings together the reunited guitar team of Rich Robinson and Marc Ford from the Black Crowes, along with Crowes bassist Sven Pipien and other musicians and singers from around the world, is set to return to New York, NY for back-to-back headlining shows Wednesday, November 15 and Thursday, November 16 at Irving Plaza as they wrap their extensive 60-date U.S. tour that began in July. Tickets are available at http://themagpiesalute.com/events.

Attendees of the Irving Plaza shows will be given an exclusive live album -- with 14 songs from various cities on the U.S. tour -- as they exit the venue.


New York City is significant to the band as it's where The Magpie Salute officially launched in January 2017 with four consecutive sold-out nights at the Gramercy (January 19, 20, 21 & 22). Footage was captured in Guitar Player magazine's June issue cover story with Rich Robinson and Marc Ford. At the conclusion of this tour, the 10-piece band will have completed 77 shows inclusive of their international dates. They've been performing unpredictable shows by drawing from 170 songs including material by The Black Crowes, solo albums from Rich Robinson and Marc Ford, and classic cover songs that have inspired the band.

"The best thing for me about Magpie's 2017 run," says Robinson, "is to stand on stage with these people I really care about and have a great reverence for their talent, and watch the band gel into a phenomenal band working together night after night."

Robinson says The Magpie Salute will record a double studio album for release in 2018. "We want to make a fully original double album. We want to share our collective and individual experiences in life. Life on tour, life traveling and seeing the world. Life watching our whole universe being torn down and built up again. We have a lot to say in our creation, and this is the best way we know how. By moving forward as artists together without the smoke, without the distractions and lay ourselves out in the open for what we believe is the universal good."

"It's true that now most record company executives tell their bands to only focus on singles instead of making full albums," Rich continues. "Albums are for people to delve into and to get a glimpse into what an artist truly feels. Instead of nurturing the artist's creation and vision, most are placed in countless rooms with multiple 'writers' for the sake of hits instead of delving into one's emotional outlook on life through their own experience."

The Magpie Salute features musicians who've played together for decades throughout various projects and share a truly deep musical bond. Joining Robinson, Ford and Pipien in the band are drummer Joe Magistro and guitarist Nico Bereciartua.  The group also boasts a fine cast of vocalists, including Robinson, Ford, lead singer John Hogg (Hookah Brown, Moke), former Crowes singer Charity White and background singers Adrien Reju and Katrine Ottosen. Notably, The Magpie Salute is a truly international band. London's John Hogg is of Swedish/African heritage, Sven Pipien is German, Nico Bereciartua is an Argentinean citizen and Kat Ottosen is a Danish citizen who partly lives in Copenhagen.

The band released their debut self-titled album June 9 via Eagle Rock Entertainment with the deeply soulful and rocking single, "Omission."

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Hendrix, McCartney Guitars To Go Up For Auction


Collectors who want to own a piece of music history — Fender, Gibson and Guild guitars used by the likes of Tom Petty, Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix — will have to be ready to put up some serious cash next month in New York City.

That is when Guernsey’s auction house, on Dec. 2 at Bohemian Hall, will auction off guitars, saxophones, session tapes and other music memorabilia associated with some of the most famous musicians of the 20th century. The auction follows Guernsey’s sale of Jerry Garcia’s “Wolf” guitar in May for $1.9 million.

Included in the sale is a red, sticker-covered Guild guitar used by Hendrix in 1968 at a Miami, Florida, hotel after a music festival got rained out.

“He and other musicians and as many fans could pack into the neighboring hotel jammed into there for what amounted to a jam session, and this is the guitar he played,” said Guernsey president Arlan Ettinger.

Also up for auction is a 1953 “Goldtop” Gibson Les Paul used by Paul McCartney as recently as 2012, according to Ettinger.

Bruce Springsteen’s bass guitar that he used on his first album will also be on sale, as well as a black Gibson Les Paul Madonna used on tours in 2001 and 2008, when “she was going to come out and show the world that she could play.”

Master recordings of James Brown and Elvis Presley, and recorded live performances of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and others will be included in the sale.

Monday, November 6, 2017

Ozzy Osbourne Announces Farewell Tour

Photo by Ron Lyon for VintageRock.com

On his upcoming farewell world tour, Ozzy Osbourne, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy® winning singer and songwriter, will celebrate more than five decades as a performer (both as a solo artist and as lead singer of Black Sabbath which formed in 1968).  This tour, expected to take Osbourne around the world with dates into 2020, will mark the end of global touring for the legendary artist, though he will continue to perform select live shows.

"People keep asking me when I'm retiring," the singer says.  "This will be my final world tour, but I can't say I won't do some shows here and there."

The tour will kick off in 2018 with a show in Mexico, before heading to South America for solo shows in three countries.  Next up, a six-week European leg of headlining solo dates and festival performances that's set to launch Friday, June 1, 2018 in Moscow, Russia  The beloved rock icon will subsequently headline a North American concert tour produced by Live Nation, details of which will be revealed in 2018.

It was also announced today that Osbourne will be one of three headliners at Download Festival, the three-day festival in Donington Park, Leicestershire, scheduled for June 8 - 10. Tickets are available now at downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets.

Osbourne will be joined at the shows by longtime collaborators Zakk Wylde (guitar), Blasko (bass), Tommy Clufetos (drums) and Adam Wakeman (keyboards).

For tour dates and more information, go to http://www.ozzy.com.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Gregg Allman To Be Honored Today At UGA Football Game

Gregg Allman will be honored during Saturday’s University of Georgia game with a special halftime performance.

The University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band will perform a trio of the late Southern rock icon’s songs while recipients of the Gregg Allman Scholarship are recognized.

The scholarship was established in 2014 by Allman in partnership with the UGA Music Business Program. The Gregg Allman Scholarship Fund is awarded to students attending the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.

The game between the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks airs on CBS; kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Friday, November 3, 2017

Eric Clapton Documentary Hits Theaters In November

Eric Clapton is headed to the big screen later this month. Abramorama is partnering with Showtime Networks to release the documentary Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars in limited theaters on November 24. It will then premiere on Showtime on February 10.

Directed by Lili Fini Zanuck, the doc is described as an unflinching and deeply personal journey into the life of the legendary musician. Passion Pictures’ John Battsek (Searching for Sugar Man) is among the producers of the film, which was edited by Chris King (Amy, Exit Through the Gift Shop). The title made its world premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“The breadth of Eric Clapton’s career — John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos — is impossible to be true and yet Lili Fini Zanuck’s brilliant film makes it clear that it is," Richard Abramowitz, president of Abramorama, said in a statement. "We’re very proud to start the holiday season with this gift to lovers of great music.”

Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars zooms in on the life and legacy of the 18-time Grammy winner and the only artist ever to be inducted three times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The doc charts his roots from a traumatic childhood through his difficult struggle with drugs and alcohol and the tragic loss of his son, and contextualizes Clapton’s role in contemporary music and cultural history. It also features archival materials like classic performance clips, on- and offstage footage, iconic photos, concert posters, handwritten letters, drawings and personal diary entries, as well as extensive interviews with Clapton himself and his family, friends, musical collaborators, contemporaries and heroes, including late music icons B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison.

Abramorama previously released music-driven films about the Beatles, Bert Berns, Clive Davis, Sean Combs and the Grateful Dead

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Unseen David Bowie Photos To Be Published By Former Tour Photographer

Unseen David Bowie photos taken by the star’s one-time tour photographer are to be published in a new book. 

Denis O’Regan followed Bowie for nine months during his Serious Moonlight tour in 1983, which was organised to promote his album Let’s Dance.

The photographer has collated images from the tour, which will finally see the light of day in May 2018 in a limited edition book that will be accompanied by volumes of memorabilia including handwritten lyrics, tickets, setlists, limited edition prints and a 12-inch picture disc of "Ricochet" and "Let’s Dance" remastered by Nile Rodgers.

Moonlight Books and Penguin Random House will publish the book, of which 2,000 editions will be printed. A smaller book of photographs is expected to be published next Autumn.

Speaking of his time with Bowie, O’Regan said: “He was very, very happy. Bowie started playing to venues of 10,000, moved to 50-60,000 and he became a superstar. He really enjoyed playing to that many people.

“Everything went right for him, the reviews were incredible, the album was a huge success, and he was a very happy man.”

The photographer also explained that Bowie had backed the project and was involved with it, and was meant to sign the book. However, he died before that was able to happen.

Earlier this year, a new Bowie biography was published, titled David Bowie: A Life. It revealed that Bowie’s wild alter ego Ziggy Stardust meant the singer often received some odd propositions, including the time Bowie was once offered a “warm, deady body” to have sex with, while on tour in Philadelphia in September 1972.

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...