Drum machines are for pop

Foo Fighter Grohl celebrates his heroes’ “inconsistencies” and slams high-tech studio gear which gets in the way of human interaction

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No-tech: Dave Grohl

Foo Fighters mainman and ex-Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl says drum machines are alright for pop music – but they have no place in rock’n'roll.
He believes other high-tech gadgets are destroying the feeling of recorded music, and doesn’t think albums should be pixel-perfect.
Grohl says: “All that shit ruins music these days. Drum machines work for pop artists but when it comes to rock’n'roll, don’t fuck with the human element.
“I had favourite drummers because of their inconsistencies – modern production has robbed drummers of personality and it really pisses me off.”
By way of avoiding high-tech pitfalls Grohl and producer Butch Vig recorded the Foos’ recent album Wasting Light in the frontman’s garage, and used analogue tape instead of digital recording.
The tape was then cut into a million pieces and inserted in early copies of the finished album, although Grohl admits the work had been backed up to digital storage before the original recordings were destroyed.

Flea Talks New Red Hot Chili Peppers Album And New Guitarist

7/7/2011 12:48 PM ET

(RTTNews) - With a new album, I'm With You, due out August 30 and a new guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer, in the bands ranks, there are some 'huge differences' between the Red Hot Chili Peppers now and the band that last released Stadium Arcadium in 2006, according to bassist Flea.

"Well there are a few huge differences [between this album and the last]," Flea told Stereogum.com. "The number one difference is John Frusciante left the band, and he was a huge part of our creative process for a long time."
Flea continued that Frusciante leaving the fold almost broke the band up.
"We took two years off from the band during that time he left, and I didn't think I'd want to continue the band without him. A big difference is having Josh Klinghoffer as our guitar player, because he's a much different guitar player than John."
He went on to tell what people can expect of the new lineup: "We still sound like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but it's really a lot different."

Van Halen Voted “#1 American Rock Band of All Time” in Gibson.com’s READERS POLL

Tuesday, 5 July 2011

Over the July 4th Weekend, Gibson.com’s editorial and writing staff voted Van Halen the #6 American Band of All Time.
But when the PUBLIC spoke in their READER’S POLL, VAN HALEN topped ALL other bands! The people have spoken!


From Gibson.com:
Gibson.com Readers Poll – Top 25 American Rock Bands
The readers picked many of the same bands that made the final list – although certainly not in the same order – with Van Halen coming out on top. They made cases for higher placements for CCR, Wilco and Mountain and showed love for a few bands that missed out on the final tally, including Poco, Steppenwolf and Alice in Chains.

1. Van Halen

2. Guns N’ Roses
3. Allman Brothers Band
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival
5. Aerosmith
6. Wilco
7. Mountain
8. Poco
9. The Replacements
10. The Byrds
11. ZZ Top
12. Grateful Dead
13. KISS
14. The Ramones
15. The Doors
16. The White Stripes
17. Metallica
18. Nirvana
19. Steppenwolf
20. Talking Heads
21. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
22. Buffalo Springfield
23. Alice in Chains
24. Cracker
25. Foo Fighters

Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of David Lee Roth’s ‘Eat ‘Em and Smile’

Thursday, 7 July 2011

From UltimateClassicRock.com:
David Lee Roth, ‘Eat ‘Em and Smile’ – Classic Album Review

by: Matthew Wilkening

.

Twenty-five years ago today, on July 7, 1986, David Lee Roth released his first full-length solo album, ‘Eat ‘Em and Smile.’ For a brief moment, it seemed possible he would capture the “King of Hard Rock” title all for himself after a nearly a decade sharing that crown with his former bandmates in Van Halen.

After Roth was, depending on who’s talking and what day it is, fired from or quit Van Halen following the world tour for their massive hit album ’1984,’ some people may have assumed that guitar pioneer Eddie Van Halen, his drummer-extraordinaire brother Alex, and bassist Michael Anthony would leave the singer in the dust creatively, particularly after hiring talented and charismatic solo star Sammy Hagar to take his place.
The massive success of the new Van Halen’s ’5150? album, released four months prior, had to give even the unnaturally cocky Roth a moment of pause.
Or so you’d think.
Fact is, “Diamond” Dave had already assembled his own all-star rock band, featuring not just former Frank Zappa guitar whiz Steve Vai, but an equally dexterous and dynamic bass player, Billy Sheehan, as well as drum prodigy Gregg Bissonette. Clearly, Roth had decided not to deliver another pop-history nostalgia trip along the lines of his 1985 ‘Crazy from the Heat’ EP, which produced a pair of massive radio and MTV video hits with ‘California Girls’ and ‘Just A Gigolo,’ in addition to most likely accelerating his exit from Van Halen.
Thankfully, instead of going the lounge-music route, or following the path laid out by the massive, keyboard-heavy hits from ’1984,’ as his former mates did with hits like ‘Dreams’ and ‘Why Can’t This Be Love,’ Roth primarily stuck to swaggering, four-piece rock ‘n’ roll throughout ‘Eat ‘Em and Smile.’
First single and lead track ‘Yankee Rose’ finds Vai employing a trick even Eddie had never recorded before, literally talking with Roth via guitar as our hero dismisses the months of media gossip regarding the VH split (“Guess who’s back in circulation / Well, I don’t know what you may have heard…”) and focuses on admiring a woman walking down the street minding her own business. Another glove is thrown in the direction of his former bandmates later on, when Sheehan’s thunderous bass is introduced as a truly equal partner during the song’s instrumental climax.
The spinning, dizzying, dual-fretboard gymnastics of ‘Shyboy,’ a hard-charging cover of a song from Sheehan’s former band Talas, solidify the band’s rock “bona fides” before they take a quick dip into retro-’Heat’ territory with ‘I’m Easy.’ Gratefully, this group can’t help but approach the material with a more aggressive bite then the all-star session players featured on Roth’s previous solo effort.
Side one closes out with perhaps the most sophisticated, tasteful song Roth has ever recorded, the jazzy, smoldering and humorous late night travel journal ‘Ladies Night in Buffalo?,’ and then, arguably the album’s weakest track, second single ‘Goin’ Crazy,’ ironically dominated by Hagar’s former keyboard player Jesse Harms.
The first four of the five tracks on side two are so well linked, sequenced and spaced that they could be nearly be considered Roth’s own ‘Abbey Road’ medley. First up is a turbo-charged take on the soulful rock standard ‘Tobacco Road,’ featuring a particularly strong and impassioned lead vocal performance, particularly for a guy who’s at least partially famous for forgetting the words to his biggest hits in concert.
The already-upbeat pace doubles with the quick-witted ‘Elephant Gun,’ then it’s onto the magnificent ‘Big Trouble,’ which revs and slightly dirties up the jazzy strut of ‘Buffalo’ while at the same time setting David free on a stream-of-consciousness lyrical journey the likes of which hasn’t been seen since AC/DC’s ‘What’s Next to the Moon:’
“And off they drove / Late night still life / Paper moon shining brilliantly / And Cherry thinks that’s cool / Cause any moon or mouse says he’s a friend of hers / And this one will do just fine / So what do you say we go looking?”

Van Halen Update 7/6/11

Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Not much new here, but here’s a quick update on the new Van Halen album. Some new rumors have surfaced since our last update, but we are hearing that most of them are not true. Here’s what we know as of now:
Album Release Date: We are hearing it is tentatively September or October, 2011.
First Single Release Date: Unknown.
Album Title / Song Titles: Unknown. (We hear that the rumored titles, “Hurricanes”, “Stop Talking” etc. are NOT real song titles).
Album Cover: Unknown. (There’s a rumor that the artwork will feature a brown M&M, emblazoned with the VH logo. We are hearing that this is NOT the artwork that will be used for the CD).
Producer: The vocals were produced by John Shanks. The music was produced by John Shanks and possibly also Eddie Van Halen.
Engineer: Ross Hogarth, who is back on board after being off the project for some time. He recently described the unreleased record as “the killing side of Van Halen at the top of their game again with Diamond Dave.”.
Tour: Their will definitely not be any tourdates before the 5 announced Australian dates from Sept 24th through Oct. 3rd. There are no other rumored dates at this point.
We’re excited to hear Mark Tremonti claim that new music sounds like “old school Van Halen”, and of course the recent “Get Ready” message from Diamond Dave is further heightening our unbridled anticipation! Stay tuned to VHND.com.

YouTube saved Journey

Co-founder Rolie says hiring fan as singer was smart move as mainman Schon says they won’t mark Escape anniversary… yet

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Smart move: Gregg Rolie

Journey mainman Neal Schon made his smartest move ever when he hired fan Arnel Pineda to front the band, says former member Gregg Rolie.
Filipino Pineda got the job in 2007 after Schon saw YouTube videos of him performing the band’s songs in the style of classic-era singer Steve Perry.
And Rolie, who co-founded the band with Schon but left in 1980 just before Perry took them to new heights, says their latest move couldn’t have worked out better.
He tells Artisan News: “I like Arnel – I met the guy and he’s a great guy.
“They got the chance to change his life and his family’s life. If you’ve been to the Philippines you’d know what I’m saying: it’s amazingly poor.
“It’s the smartest thing Neal ever did, finding him on YouTube and making a story out of it. I’m glad for him and I’m glad for the band – it’s a whole resurgence for Journey.”
Rolie is currently promoting his new acoustic EP, Five Days, which he recorded in his living room with his son as producer. Meanwhile, Journey are touring latest album Eclipse, which has brought new acclaim for its different approach to the band’s classic sound and the power of Pineda’s vocals.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of landmark Journey album Escape, which propelled them into the major leagues with hit tracks Don’t Stop Believin’, Open Arms and Who’s Crying Now.
But Schon says fans shouldn’t expect to hear them performing the LP live in full – not yet anyway.
He tells Pulse of Radio: “Sure, we could do that at some point, but it’s not going to happen this year or next. We’re here to support our new record, and play bits and pieces from Escape and all the other records.”

WHITESNAKE LIVE - IN THE CHARTS AND ON VINYL:

Whitesnake Live at Donington 1990, released worldwide on Frontiers Records, entered in the CD edition at # 32 in the German official sales charts with excellent Top 100 entries in the UK, Italy and Sweden on the week of release. The DVD edition topped at # 11 in the USA top DVD Music Video Charts and at # 14 in Italy.
The album is now available in Europe also in a limited edition 3LP vinyl edition with the following tracklisting:
LP1: Side A: Slip Of The Tongue; Slide It In; Judgement Day - Side B: Slow An Easy; Kitten's Got Claws. LP2: Side A: Adagio For Strato; Flying Dutchman Boogie; Is This Love; Cheap An' Nasty - Side B: Crying In The Rain (Featuring Tommy Aldridge Drum Solo); Fool For Your Loving. LP3: Side A: For The Love Of God; The Audience Is Listening; Here I Go Again; Bad Boys - Side B: Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City; Still Of The Night.
In North America the release is scheduled for August 23rd.
You can enjoy a visual presentation of this lavishly packaged 3LP set following the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBGTPUGzZFk.

Leppards don’t change their spots

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell says the revolving door policy in some of his previous bands will never happen in Leppard

Reported by Cameron Pirie

Published: July 6, 2011. © Rock AAA.

Vivian Campbell (photo by Steve Brinkman)

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell says that the band’s longevity is down to a mix of stability and genuine friendship.
Speaking with Postcrescent.com ahead of their appearance at the Milwaukee Summerfest, Campbell was open about his experiences in previous bands where line-up changes were more frequent than Fridays, making Def Leppard a different proposition to what he experienced in his time with Dio and Whitesnake in particular. He said:
“Primarily, Def Leppard really is a band. It’s five guys and we’re not a revolving door of musicians, which those other bands are.
“Whitesnake especially — I mean, has anyone actually counted how many musicians have been through Whitesnake? (laughs) I know it’s over 50.
“It’s ridiculous, and even Dio, like after I left Dio, there were several other guitar players, a couple other drummers, quite a few bass players (and) a couple of keyboard players.
“Def Leppard, if Steve Clark were alive, he’d still be in the band today. Def Leppard is not the kind of band that just goes out and swaps members.
“It also has a much higher standard than other bands I’ve been involved with. When it comes to songwriting, good isn’t good enough, it has to be great. The band is notoriously meticulous in the studio, and even going to our live performance, we take what we do very, very seriously, so there’s a very high standard of work that goes into the band. We show up sober and on time and do our job.”
Campbell also suggested that it takes more than just talent for a band to continue to be successful for the length of time Leppard have been at the top of the rock tree. Speaking about the advice he might offer to young musicians he said:
“There’s a certain level of talent, but I think more importantly when young musicians ask me for advice like, how do you do it? How do you make it in the music business? One of the first things I would always say is that you’ve gotta remember that as with any other job, you’re interacting with people.
“So work on your people skills as much as your guitar chops because a lot of great guitar players are just real (expletive), so you don’t wanna work with them (laughs).
“That’s one thing I can’t say about Def Leppard; we genuinely do like each other. We get along. It’s not like we go out camping all day together and wear matching pajamas, but we can tolerate each other’s company and have enough respect for each other as human beings to work together and keep it together.
“So many other bands, frankly, they (expletive) hate each other. They have separate dressing rooms, stay in separate hotels and it’s painful for them to come onstage and pretend like they like each other. It’s not an act for us.”
Def Leppard are currently on a North American tour with Heart which runs until September 15 before the band head for Japan in November

Aerosmith Back in the Studio

Bryan Wawzenek

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07.08.2011

Aerosmith have announced that they've gone into the studio to record a new album of original material. Drummer Joey Kramer tweeted about the first day, calling it "inspiring." He also wrote: "No words can describe how inspired I'm feeling in the studio right now. It's a beautiful thing."
Kramer tweeted a picture of him working with Jack Douglas, who will produce the band's 14th studio album. In a video update on Aerosmith's official site(Aerosmith.com), bass player Tom Hamilton talked about the collaboration with Douglas.
"For those of you who don't know who Jack is, he's the guy who we worked with, producing our best albums of the '70s – Get Your Wings, Toys in the Attic and Rocks. And it's really gonna be cool, because there's no one that knows more about the soul of this band and the creative part of this band [than] Jack. We worked with him on [2004's covers CD] Honkin' on Bobo, but that wasn't all original material… This time it's gonna be all-new Aerosmith songs."
The as-yet-untitled album will be the band's first of new material since 2001's Just Push Play.

Unreleased Van Halen Song Now Online

Unreleased Van Halen Song Now Online

07/08/2011
. We end what has turned out to be a heavy Van Halen news week with this big news for fans, some new rarities have gone online! Earlier this year, we told you that Chris Gossett had posted his massive Van Halen rarities and live collection online, which has now grown to 101 song videos including a complete concert from 1978. Three of new editions are indeed rare including one previously unreleased, unheard original song. Here is what Chris had to say about these additions along with links to check them out.
I have recently added another rare song - a nearly unheard, original, unreleased song from Van Halen called "Goodbye To Jane" in a long, complete version. Previously I released the only YouTube video of it as part of a medley. Check it out here

"Voodoo Queen" LIVE, from 1977. As far as I know it's unable to be found. I got it five years ago. Its enhanced audio made to sound twice as good as the original song file. Listen here
Also, here is another demo that never had the live version on the internet - Babe Don't Leave Me Alone (live) again, with enhanced audio. Listen hereWhat was 75 song videos is now 101 song videos total! Also I added an entire 1978 Tokyo Van Halen show from number 91-100 here.

VIDEO: Lita Ford joins Poison in Florida

VIDEO: Lita Ford joins Poison in Florida

Poison were joined by special guest Lita Ford during their set Tuesday night in Hollywood, Florida.

The Seminole Hard Rock show was part of the Mötley Crüe /Poison/New York Dolls tour, which is currently winding its way through the southern US.

Ford joined the band for their classic, “Nothin' But A Good Time," as the band rocks its way across North America in celebration of their 25th Anniversary.

Ford is reportedly working on a comeback album due for release sometime later this year.

Poison

Poison – Talk Dirty To Me / Nothin’ But A Good Time
With guest Lita Ford on “Nothin’”
Seminole Hard Rock - Hollywood, FL – July 5, 2011

DEF LEPPARD To Reschedule Cincinnati Date Due To Family Illness

Rock Hard

Posted on Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 16:30:21 EST

DEF LEPPARD announced today that their upcoming performance at Cincinnati, OH’s Riverbend Music Center on July 7th will be rescheduled due to a family illness. The concert date, with special guests HEART, will now take place on July 27th.

"Def Leppard regrets the inconvenience and looks forward to returning to the Riverbend Music Center in several weeks."

Tickets purchased for the July 7th date will be honored for the new date.



Def Leppard's new live album, Mirror Ball (Live & More), is available exclusively at Walmart and Sam's Club locations in the United States and Canada. The triple disc package features two CDs and a 50 minute DVD containing live performances and intimate backstage footage of the band captured on the road. The album also brings together three brand new studio tracks - 'Undefeated', 'Kings Of The World' and 'It's All About Believin'.

Buy Your Metal Here

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT Frontman Invited To Jam With CHEAP TRICK; Video Available

Rock Hard

Posted on Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 22:05:51 EST

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT frontman Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser was invited to play with CHEAP TRICK on the band's classic, 'Ain't That A Shame', at last week's show in Greely, CO on July 2nd. Check out video footage below on YouTube:

Buy Your Metal Here

BLACK TIDE
'Walking Dead Man'
» click here to watch «

Buy Your Metal Here

Sammy Hagar says his reunion with Van Halen is ‘inevitable’

Fair Warning

Sammy Hagar says his reunion with Van Halen is ‘inevitable’

Reported by Bruce Henne

Published: July 5, 2011. © Rock AAA.

Hagar: Hopeful

Sammy Hagar’s busy with Chickenfoot these days, and Van Halen are busy with original singer David Lee Roth, but Sammy thinks things could change at some point in the future.
“Absolutely,” said Hagar about the possibility of working with VH again. “I’m not predicting it. I just say… someday. We made too good of music together, with Eddie and I in Van Halen, we had such a great thing for a long time.
“When it went sour, it wasn’t just because of us. There was a lot of outside forces. Our manager died and a new guy came in, and he just totally divided the band and conquered us, you know?!
“So I think there will come a time where Eddie’s gonna wake up and go, ‘Hey, man, I miss being friends with Sammy,’ if nothing else, or, ‘I would love to make that music again, or play those songs again.’ ‘Cause they have no choice — they’ve got Sam or they’ve got Dave; they can’t find a new guy — they already tried that and it didn’t work. So it’s inevitable.”
“If Eddie and Al [drummer Alex Van Halen] want to play music for the rest of their lives, someday they’re gonna have to come and deal with me,” continued Sammy. “But right now I’m so happy with what I’m doing with Chickenfoot, I hope they don’t call me next week, I hope they don’t call me next month, because I would have to say, ‘Gee, I’m busy right now; I’m not gonna drop Chickenfoot for anything.’ It’s my favorite thing I’ve ever done in my life; I love this band.
“Someday we’re all gonna be sitting around or running into each other somewhere and going, ‘You know, let’s get back together and be friends and make that music again, just play it one time for the big time or whatever.’ So I think it’s inevitable.”
Hagar’s last experience with VH was the ill-fated 2004 reunion tour in support of a poorly organized Best-Of package; it also proved to be the final VH tour for bassist Michael Anthony, who was forced by Eddie to take a pay cut and sign over any future rights he had to the VH name. Anthony and Hagar now make up half of supergroup Chickenfoot, along with guitarist Joe Satriani and drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
VH are getting set to release their first new music with Roth since 1996, with fall tour dates in Australia already announced.

Sammy Hagar – interview
Artisan News Service – July 4, 2011

Live blog: Artie Lange makes his return to radio

Live blog: Artie Lange makes his return to radio

6 Jul, 2011  | by Dylan P. Gadino News

10 pm EST: Comedian Artie Lange, most famous for his years as the master third-mic man on The Howard Stern Show, is making his return to radio tonight, but on Fox News Radio, not with Howard. It’s happening now-ish. He hasn’t been on the airwaves — satellite or otherwise — since he attempted to commit suicide in January of 2010. I have no idea if Artie will talk about anything other than sports. But I do know his buddy, comedian Nick Di Paolo is co-hosting with him. So I’m going to tune in for as long as possible — the show runs until 1 am EST — and see if Artie can give us any insight into his life right now.
10:07 pm EST: Artie tells Nick he’s been sobering up in a rehab facility in Florida. I can tell you I recently heard Lange was indeed, in West Palm Beach at a facility. So that info makes sense to me. Nick promises us the pair will talk about more than sports during the show. Hopefully we’ll get some info. But seriously, Artie sounds great and by Nick’s account, he looks great as well. Earlier in the day, we posted a pic of Artie looking pretty damn good (for him).
10:15 pm EST: Going into the first commercial, Artie and Nick sound like they’ve been doing radio together for years. Do I smell a new satellite radio show pitch? Would it be better for Artie to just separate from Howard, join a new radio crew and continue plugging away on the mic? I say, yes.
10:28 pm EST: Apparently, it’s hot as hell in the studio at Fox Sports Radio. Artie says he feels like he’s going to pass out, but he’s drinking a milk shake to stay cool. Adam from California is the first caller and is happy to hear Artie back on the radio.
10:32 pm EST: We also just got these two comments on the blog, though they’re not showing up for some reason. So, I’m posting them here: “Welcome back, Baby Gorilla! We love you!” and “Arty very happy to see you are doing well. You are the best. Too fat to fish was.the first book i szpent money on in over twenty years. You will be back better than ever. If you need a friend when you come to Brooklyn or someone to talk to call me. Say hello to your mom and.sister for me.”
10:38 pm EST: Rich “Goose” Gossage, former New Yorks Yankees, pitcher is now on the phone as the show’s first guest. Pretty safe to say Artie’s not going to talk about his personal life in this segment.
11 pm EST: Heading into commercial Nick and Artie promise to talk about the Casey Anthony trial, which is good, because I can’t take much more sports talk. I know. It’s a sports show. But I’m only listening for Artie and Nick.
11:05 pm EST: Nick says it again. Artie looks great, “like a young Gavin MacCleod.” Artie is reading Keith Richards’ book now, he says, claiming that heroin actually preserves you. You just can’t do too much at one time. They’ve shifted to the Casey Anthony trial. And Lange makes this crack: “I was outraged by the verdict, I don’t think she lied to police.” And, another one: “I would date her in a second. I think it would be good publicity.”
11:18 pm EST: Looks like television personality and sports chick Jillian Barberie has tuned in.

11:20 pm EST: Roy from Maine is the night’s second caller asking about something or other about the Casey Anthony trial. Keith in LA is the third caller and gives Artie a “FIRE.” “We’re happy you’re back right now,” he tells Artie. He asks Artie who he thinks should replace Clarence Clemons from Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band. “This aint Sirius unfortunately,” Artie says after someone gets booted from the phone line after cussing.
11:27 pm EST: The fourth caller finally brings up the Howard Stern Show to Artie, saying he’d love to see Artie back on the show. “That would be the greatest thing ever,” Artie says. “I was on the greatest show of all time for nine years but I put them in a very awkward situation to say the least. But I love all of them.”
11:52 pm EST: Here’s a photo of Nick and Artie in the studio tonight!

11:54 pm EST: Artie gives a shout out to Dottie the counselor who helped Artie get sober at Ambrosia rehab center in Florida on Singer Island. “I’ve been in more rehabs than Larry King’s had wives,” Artie says.
12:20 pm EST: They’re on the phone with a dude from Yahoo! Sports now talking about the NFL lockout. I’m starting to zone out, to be honest.
12:57 pm EST: Well, I’ve never listened to this much sports radio in my entire life. It probably won’t happen again anytime soon. But it was a treat to hear Nick and especially Artie in good spirits. Artie says he might show up to Nick’s show tomorrow at Carolines in New York. Also, Artie confirms, “I’m writing a second book. I guess they’ll be more crazy stories in there.” Show is over!

ROBIN ZANDER TURNS COUNTRY FOR SOLO RECORD:

Cheap Trick frontman Robin Zander is to release his second solo album November 22. Countryside Blvd. was recorded in Nashville in 2010. Press release: "This unique group of musicians, songwriters, and singers gathered in Nashville last year and recorded 12 songs. In that place and time they have captured a fresh country sound with a combination of musical styles. The songs were written and sung by Robin Zander along with a few classics. The album features Sarah Buxton, Tom Bukovac, Pat Buchanan, Chad Cromwell, J.T. Corenflos, Dan Dugmore, Tim Lauer, Glen Worf, Larry Franklin, Perry Coleman, Robin T. Zander and the Countryside Singers. "I'm hopeful that when people discover this album that it's as fun to listen to as it was to record" states Sara Buxton.
"I've always wanted to do a record in Nashville and this is it." says Robin Zander, "To have these musicians of this calibre record my songs for Countryside Blvd. was one experience I won't soon forget. Thanks to all for doing one hell of a record." Available in May on Big3 Records & Tapes.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have hired controversial British artist Damien Hirst to design the cover for their new album.
The record is titled I’m With You, and is due out at the end of August.
Says vocalist Anthony Kiedis of Hirst’s cover: “It’s an image. It’s art. Iconic. We didn’t give it it’s meaning but it’s clearly open to interpretation.”
You can see the cover below.
Find out more at www.redhotchilipeppers.com

Van Halen Ready To Release Single?

Van Halen Ready To Release Single?

mdome / News, Top Posts / 04/07/2011 15:40pm

David Lee Roth has posted a slightly cryptic message on his official website, fuelling speculation that Van Halen are ready to release a new single.
The message just says: ‘Get ready…’ – and if you want to see this for yourself, then go to www.davidleeroth.com
The band – also featuring guitarist Eddie Van Halen, bassist Wolfgang Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen – have been working on a new album with producer John Shanks since the start of the year. This is expected out during the autumn, and will be the first new studio album with Diamond Dave since 1984.
Van Halen have also confirmed their participation in Australia’s Soundwave Revolution touring festival.
Dates are as follows:
September
24 – Brisbane
25 – Sydney
30 – Melbourne
October
1 – Adelaide
3 – Perth
For further details go to www.soundwaverevolution.com

RATT Vocalist Stephen Pearcy Releases New Solo Single Via iTunes

Rock Hard

Posted on Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 01:22:52 EST

RATT vocalist Stephen Pearcy's has issued his new solo single, 'Too Much Is Never Enough', via iTunes. The song is taken from his new album Sucker Punch, due to be released before the end of the year. Go to this location to check out the song and to download.



In live news, Pearcy has the following shows booked:

July
23 - Royalton, MN - Halfway Jam

August
13 - West Allis, WI - Wisconsin State Fair

October
8 - San Antonio, TX - Back Stage Live

As previously reported, Episode #113 of the Iron City Rocks podcast featuring Pearcy is now available. He discusses the recording of Sucker Punch, his unique vocal style, the future of Ratt, the possibility of a retrospective live album and/or DVD and much more.

SCOPIONS Drummer Autobiography!

Former Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell is to publish his autobiography in the autumn.
To be titled And Speaking Of Scorpions…, it’s being described as ‘the definitive history of the band’, although as Rarebell was only there from 1977-1983, and again from 1984-1995, and the band have been going since 1965, it’s hardly gonna be first hand info all the way.
Find out more at http://www.hermanrarebell.com/