ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour

ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour

03/25/2011
. ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd are teaming up this spring for The Rebels & Bandoleros Tour. The two groups, whose respective histories have been intertwined since the early 1970s, are set for a string of tour dates together starting May 12 in Wichita, KS and continuing for the next three weeks. The tour marks the first time in many years that these iconic standard-bearers of Southern Rock will have toured so extensively together.
"Rebels and Bandolers is more of a coming together of friends more than a mere tour," Billy Gibbons commented. "We're delighted to be hitting the road with our Skynyrd brethren once more. It's going to be a great ride."
Johnny Van Zant remarked, "Eleven years ago we toured together for eleven months straight. We love the guys in ZZ and their music, and can't wait to get back out on the road with them. This show is an event that the fans are going to love. Two legendary bands in one night – what more can the fans ask for to kick off the summer of 2011!"
Rebels & Bandoleros will hit markets in Texas, Oklahoma, Maine, New York, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri offering concert goers a wealth of classic material including -- from ZZ Top -- "Tush," "LaGrange," "Sharp Dressed Man," "Legs," "Gimme All Your Lovin'," "Cheap Sunglasses" and -- from Lynyrd Skynyrd -- "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps," "What's Your Name," "Saturday Night Special," "Free Bird" and many, many others.
The two bands first joined forces in 1974 when Houston-based ZZ Top invited Lynyrd Skynyrd, then an emerging new band from Jacksonville, to become part of The Outlaw Tour that year. Ultimately, ZZ Top, which had formed in 1969, would go on to become the major band with the longest running original personnel line-up -- Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard – in music history. Tragedy struck Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977 when a plane crash took the lives of band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines. Today's Lynyrd Skynyrd includes founding member Gary Rossington along with Johnny Van Zant, brother of the late Ronnie Van Zant, as well as Rickey Medlocke, Michael Cartellone, Mark "Sparky" Matejka, Robert Kearns, Peter Keys Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase. Both bands Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees; ZZ was inducted by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones in 2004 and Skynyrd in 2006 by Kid Rock. Lynyrd Skynyrd's most recently released album is God & Guns while ZZ Top's forthcoming, as yet untitled, album is expected later this year.Rebels & Bandoleros Tour dates
May 12 - Wichita, KS - Intrust Bank Arena
13 - Belton, TX - Bell County Expo Center
14 - Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre
19 - Bangor, ME - Bangor Waterfront Pavilion
20 - Big Flats, NY - Tags Summer Stage
21 - Albany, NY - Times Union Center
22 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Centre
26 - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center Theatre
27 - Lampe, MO - Black Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
28 - Bossier City, LA - Centurytel Arena
29 - Orange Beach, AL - Amphitheater at the Wharf

Sammy Hagar: Charlie Sheen reminds me of Eddie Van Halen

Sammy Hagar: Charlie Sheen reminds me of Eddie Van Halen

Sammy Hagar’s making the rounds to promote his new book, "Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock," and at least one person who won’t be pleased about the book – or the accompanying headlines - is one Eddie Van Halen.

The day of the book’s release, Hagar had a full slate of media interviews, including Howard Stern and ABC-TV's "Good Morning America." On both shows, Sammy made comparisons between troubled actor Charlie Sheen and former bandmate Eddie.

"I don't know what's going on, but, boy, there's a similarity in the way they look and everything," Hagar said before adding. "I don't know how you get like that."

Hagar also admitted that his book, which includes a lot of dirt about his days with Van Halen, likely makes a reunion out of the question for some time.

"With this book coming out, the chances are probably below zero," laughed Sammy. "But, once ... Eddie puts his book out and tells them what he thinks about me probably, then maybe we can do it again."

Sammy Hagar – interview
ABC-TV - Good Morning America – March 15, 2011

'Limitless' Tops Box Office With $19 Million

3/21/2011 3:08 PM ET

(RTTNews) - Though both "The Lincoln Lawyer" and "Paul" saw modest opening totals, action-thriller "Limitless" found its audience and pulled in nearly $7,000 per venue, enough to finish atop the box office charts with a studio estimated $19 million. "Rango" finished in second once again with $15 million over the weekend and "Battle: Los Angeles" rounded out the top three with $14.60 million.

With a production budget of only $27 million and a relatively small marketing push, it was unclear how much box office potential that "Limitless" would have heading into the weekend, but it proved to have more than enough to land as the number one overall draw. With stars Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro heading the cast, "Limitless" had no problem overcoming competition from "Battle: Los Angeles" and posted a very strong opening weekend for distributor Relativity.
Even if De Niro has not fared very well at the box office in recent years, "Limitless" marks the second straight commercial success for the legendary, Oscar-winning actor. His last release, "Little Fockers," was one of the worst reviewed movies of 2010 but still did well at the box office at the end of 2010 and "Limitless" is off to a very good start for a production with such a small budget. "Limitless" also looks to be only Cooper's first release to top the charts in 2011, as "The Hangover 2" is poised for a big box office run coming up in the early portion of summer.
But while "Limitless" had no problem finding its audience, "The Lincoln Lawyer" had a little more difficulty getting going in its first weekend. Even with very strong critical reviews, "The Lincoln Lawyer" managed a weekend intake of just $13.40 million on a per theater average of less than $5,000. "The Lincoln Lawyer" also had a $40 million production budget and will likely struggle to find an audience over the next couple of weekends as well.

A CLASSIC ON THE HORIZON:JOURNEY'S NEW ALBUM!

A CLASSIC ON THE HORIZON:JOURNEY'S NEW ALBUM!
The buzz surrounding Journey's upcoming new studio album Eclipse has already started. Due out May 24 in North America via WalMart and Rest Of The World June 3 via Frontiers Records, the new album has been described by Neal Schon as "...a rock record...sounds amazing..." and by Jonathan Cain "a concept record with some spiritual themes to it…pretty tough, hard-hitting stuff." Band management described it to me as "very melodic.. but more rock...longer songs...".
Some very attention grabbing quotes there for long time fans of the band and of this genre in general to salivate over. But fans are often let down when the advance descriptions don't match the finished product. Well not this time!

ECLIPSE is a MASTERPIECE. There...I've said it. This is one bold, brave, challenging and exquisitely constructed album. Yes, it rocks. Like Journey haven't rocked since 1981...and then some. It is one of the boldest, bravest moves I have heard from a classic rock band. Maybe EVER as far as a band of this age goes. But it is still as catchy and melodic as ever. There are so many twists and turns, it is almost progressive in places. This record will likely scare the shit out of fans of Raised On Radio, it has big balls.
Eclipse is dark and heavy, yet melodic. Adventurous, yet familiar. Moody, yet uplifting. Simply bloody AMAZING.

This has been on daily constant rotation for a while now....it has had plenty of time to sink in or wear off and it simply gets better and better. It's a bit rawer than we might be used to from the ever polished Journey though...very well mixed, with a lot constantly going on, but it has such raw energy and power.
The constant wall of guitars on this record is unbelievable. Fans of Neal Schon are going to love hearing that EVERY song features wailing solos (sometimes several in one song) and truly hard rocking riffs. The songs are LONG. Most over 6 mins, a few under. It really does feature some utterly amazing guitar work. Neal sounds like 5-guitarists-in-one on some tracks. So much to absorb. And drummer Deen Castronovo is a frickin machine. He has never pounded so hard on those skins, not even in Hardline. I have no hesitation in saying that. The drumming on this album is brutal!
Jonathan Cain has delivered some of his finest lyrics in a long long time. I'm really struck by the depth of the lyrics on this record. It has a spiritual nature and deals with human emotions throughout, but there are some truly uplifting and inspiring lyrics in play here - no matter what the emotion of each song is.
Arnel Pineda - well, what can I say. Eclipse is one powerful record and Arnel is pushed to the outer limits of human ability with some of the vocals here. Even when wailing, the soul and emotion within his voice remains true. He spends a lot of the album signing in his own natural timbre, not trying to be Steve Perry or anyone else. But it is still 100% Journey and it works so well. What a stunning vocal performance. STUNNING. His vocals are a MILE in front of Revelation (and how good were those anyway!).

The songs - not one weak moment on there at all. Not one song I would ever skip due to any particular mood. It has to be played thru from start to finish every time - but you'll need over 60 mins to do so! Watch for the hardest rocking Chain Of Love; the heavy, dark mood of Edge Of A Moment (kinda Separate Ways 2011), the upliting feel good anthem Anything Is Possible (sounds like classic Joruney/Bad English AOR); the beyond description She's A Mystery (guitar/vocal acoustic track that turns into Rush meets Triumph!) and one of the most powerful ballads I have heard in years, with vocal power beyond description - Tantra. And of course the classic Journey style anthem City Of Hope, which is released as a single April 4.
But as stated, each and every track here is a classic on its own and favourite tracks vary from day to day.

Eclipse has to be considered a masterpiece. Simply put - it is one of the FINEST albums I have heard in my time running this site and has immediately declared itself to be one of my favourite Journey albums EVER. Stay tuned for more...

Prince has announced a series of concerts in North Carolina and South Carolina

(RTTNews) - Prince has announced a series of concerts in North Carolina and South Carolina as part of his "Welcome 2 America" tour.

The "Purple Rain" star will be performing on March 21 at the Columbia, South Carolina Colonial Life Arena with special guests Mint Condition; March 23 at the Raleigh, North Carolina RBC Center with guest Chaka Khan; March 24 at the Charlotte Time Warner Cable Arena with guest Anthony Hamilton; March 26 at the Greensboro, North Carolina Coliseum with Chaka Khan; March 28 at the Greenville, South Carolina Bi-Lo Center with Lalah Hathaway and March 30 North Charleston, South Carolina at the North Charleston Coliseum with Lalah Hathaway.
Prince's previous dates in New York, New Jersey, and the Bay Area featured guest appearances by Cassandra Wilson, the New Power Generation, Esperanza Spalding, Maceo Parker, Sheila E., and Larry Graham.

Jane's Addiction Eyes Summer Comeback

Jane's Addiction Eyes Summer Comeback

Perry Farrell After several false starts, it looks like Jane's Addiction is finally ready to release their new album, The Great Escape Artist, this summer. The band suffered a few setbacks with the departures of bassists Eric Avery and Duff McKagan, but singer Perry Farrell says the group is fleshing out about 20 potential songs at a Los Angeles studio, where they are now working with TV On The Radio bassist Dave Sitek. Sitek will not be touring with Jane's, but he is collaborating with them as a songwriter and recording bassist for the album. "He's like a scientist, and he's not afraid of making a monster," Farrell told Rolling Stone. "It just keeps getting gnarlier and gnarlier." The Great Escape Artist is being produced by Rich Costey (Muse, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol), and the final album will be edited down to about 45 minutes. Guitarist Dave Navarro calls it "not a typical rock record," and it may be a departure from the band's earlier work. "A lot of it is really hypnotic. We're getting back into using a lot of space and having a lot of air," Navarro told the magazine. "The music that I listen to and love isn't necessarily Rock-oriented anymore. There is a beauty in simplicity that I'm really embracing. To me, that's an evolution as an artist."

Poison to Release "Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits" on May 3rd

Poison to Release "Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits" on May 3rd To celebrate Poison's 25th Anniversary, 35 of the multi-platinum band's top hits and fan favorites have been gathered for Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits, a new career-spanning two-disc set and digital collection to be released May 3rd by Capitol/EMI. This summer, Poison will hit the road with Motley Crue and the New York Dolls for an extensive North American tour. It's going to be the summer of Poison, but we don't want an antidote.

Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits features all of the band's charting singles, including the #1 smash ballad "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," Top 10 hits "Nothin' But A Good Time," "Unskinny Bop," and "Something To Believe In," and other big hits and fan favorites, including "Talk Dirty To Me," "I Want Action," "Your Mama Don't Dance," "Fallen Angel," "Ride the Wind," and many more, including standouts from the band's most recent album, 2007's Poison'd.

"Between Double Dose Of Poison and the 25th Anniversary Tour, I honestly can't think of a better way to mark this major milestone," said Poison's singer Bret Michaels. "I'm so excited to get back out on the road with the band again to celebrate and Double Dose is going to be such a must-have collection: All the hits in one place. This is going to be really special for all of the fans - and especially for all of those who have been with us since Day One."

Poison's highly-anticipated tour with Mötley Crüe and the New York Dolls kicks off June 7th at Dallas' Gexa Energy Pavilion, before continuing on to more than 30 other cities and major venues across North America.

Are you going to ingest a Double Dose Of Poison this May?

OZZY OSBOURNE - Blizzard Of Ozz, Diary Of A Madman Definitive Edition Details Revealed

Rarities

Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 10:46:27 EST

On May 31st, music fans will have their first taste of re-issues from rock icon OZZY OSBOURNE’s catalog of work, with the releases of two albums which form the cornerstone of Ozzy Osbourne's career as a solo artist: Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman (Epic Records/Legacy Recordings).

Long revered by rock fans around the world, these two albums created a template for hard rock in the 1980's and beyond as they were marked by the ground-breaking and historic union of Ozzy and the late guitar hero Randy Rhoads. These definitive versions of 1980's Blizzard Of Ozz (with previously unreleased bonus tracks) and 1981's Diary Of A Madman are available individually on vinyl or CD, or together in a deluxe collector's box. All versions were restored and remastered from the original analog sources by George Marino.



The 30th Anniversary Edition of Blizzard Of Ozz CD includes the original album in its entirety, restored and remastered for this edition, with bonus tracks, while the new Legacy Edition of Diary Of A Madman includes the original album in its entirety, restored and remastered for this edition, with a bonus second CD of previously unreleased live performances featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads with rhythm section Rudy Sarzo (bass) and Tommy Aldridge (drums). A single disc version of the remastered Diary Of A Madman will also be available.

For serious fans and collectors, the limited edition 30th Anniversary deluxe boxed set houses the restored and remastered vinyl and CD editions of Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman, the Ozzy Live compact disc. Beyond the music, the box set is highlighted by a variety of exclusives including an expansive 100-page coffee table book, a two-sided wall-size poster, a precise and detailed full-size replica of Ozzy's iconic gold cross that he has worn for 30 years, and Thirty Years After The Blizzard DVD.

This new Thirty Years After The Blizzard DVD chronicles Ozzy's years with Randy Rhoads features previously unseen footage of Ozzy and Randy filmed in 1981 & 1982; it incorporates rare archival photos and films; along with new and revelatory interviews with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Lemmy (MOTÖRHEAD), STEVE VAI, NIKKI SIXX, ROB HALFORD, ZAKK WYLDE, BLACK SABBATH's Bill Ward and more. The DVD also contains over 70 minutes of additional rare live performances and interviews; included is the premiere of more than 30 minutes of newly-discovered never-bootlegged footage of Ozzy and Randy from the Blizzard Of Ozz tour shot from the front of the stage at New York's fabled Palladium on May 2nd, 1981. This new feature is a must-see for aficionados of Ozzy's epic release, Blizzard of Ozz and its pivotal effect on rock & roll history.

Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman are landmark albums that took metal in a new direction in the early 1980's, inspiring whole new generations of rock bands and fans. 'Crazy Train', the first single from Blizzard Of Ozz, has become one of Ozzy's musical signatures, a perennial on the rock playlists and as part of Ozzy’s live performances.



Blizzard Of Ozz (30th Anniversary Expanded Edition) tracklisting:
'I Don’t Know'
'Crazy Train'
'Goodbye To Romance'
'Dee'
'Suicide Solution'
'Mr. Crowley'
'No Bone Movies'
'Revelation (Mother Earth)'
'Steal Away (The Night)'

Bonus Tracks:
'You Looking At Me, Looking At You' (Non-LP B-Side, Previously Unreleased in the U.S.)
'Goodbye To Romance' (2010 Guitar & Vocal Mix, Previously Unreleased)
'RR' (Previously Unreleased – Randy Rhoads guitar solo)



Diary Of A Madman (Legacy Edition) tracklisting:
Disc 1:
'Over The Mountain'
'Flying High Again'
'You Can’t Kill Rock And Roll'
'Believer'
'Little Dolls'
'Tonight'
'S.A.T.O.'
'Diary Of A Madman'

Disc 2:
Ozzy Live (recorded on the Blizzard Of Ozz tour)
'I Don’t Know'
'Crazy Train'
'Believer'
'Mr. Crowley'
'Flying High Again'
'Revelation (Mother Earth)'
'Steal Away (The Night)'
'Suicide Solution'
'Iron Man'
'Children Of The Grave'
'Paranoid'

Diary of a Madman/Blizzard of Ozz 30th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set:
Box Set Includes:
Blizzard Of Ozz (30th Anniversary Expanded Edition)
Diary Of A Madman (Legacy Edition)
Blizzard Of Ozz (180-gram LP – original album only)
Diary Of A Madman (180-gram LP – original album only)
DVD contains Thirty Years After The Blizzard documentary - and additional rare and unreleased performances and interviews.

With combined worldwide sales of more than 10 million copies, Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman have been awarded gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications in a variety of countries including Canada, Korea, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Brazil, Venezuela, the United Kingdom, Japan and the United States, where Blizzard of Ozz has been certified RIAA 4x platinum and Diary of a Madman is RIAA triple platinum.

One of the most iconic figures in pop culture, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy winner Ozzy Osbourne has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, approximately 50 million with his seminal metal band Black Sabbath and the rest as a solo artist.

POISON's Bret Michaels On Double Dose Collection/Tour - "This Is Going To Be Really Special For All Of The Fans"

Rock Hard

Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 10:11:56 EST

To celebrate POISON's 25th Anniversary, 35 of the multi-platinum band's top hits and fan favorites have been gathered for Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits, a new career-spanning 2CD and digital collection to be released May 3rd by Capitol/EMI. This summer, Poison will hit the road with MÖTLEY CRÜE and the NEW YORK DOLLS for an extensive North American tour.

Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits features all of the band's charting singles, including the #1 smash ballad 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn', Top 10 hits 'Nothin' But A Good Time', 'Unskinny Bop', and 'Something To Believe In', and other big hits and fan favorites, including 'Talk Dirty To Me', 'I Want Action', 'Your Mama Don't Dance', 'Fallen Angel', 'Ride The Wind', and many more, including standouts from the band's most recent album, 2007's Poison'd!.



"Between Double Dose Of Poison and the 25th Anniversary Tour, I honestly can't think of a better way to mark this major milestone," says Poison's singer Bret Michaels. "I'm so excited to get back out on the road with the band again to celebrate — and Double Dose is going to be such a must-have collection: All the hits in one place. This is going to be really special for all of the fans - and especially for all of those who have been with us since Day One."

Poison's highly-anticipated tour with Mötley Crüe and the New York Dolls kicks off June 7th at Dallas' Gexa Energy Pavilion, before continuing on to more than 30 other cities and major venues across North America, including Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl on June 14th, Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre on June 28th, Detroit's DTE Energy Music Center on June 29th, and Chicago's FMB Amphitheatre on July 1st.

Bret Michaels has partnered with Dean Guitars to represent a line of guitars, and he will soon release a new vocal warm-up CD. This fall, he'll hit the high seas aboard the Bret Michaels Super Cruise.

Double Dose Of Poison: Ultimate Hits tracklisting:

Disc 1

'Talk Dirty To Me'
'I Want Action'
'I Won't Forget You'
'Cry Tough'
'Look What The Cat Dragged In'
'Nothin' But A Good Time'
'Fallen Angel'
'Every Rose Has Its Thorn'
'Your Mama Don't Dance'
'Unskinny Bop'
'Rock And Roll All Nite'
'Ride The Wind'
'Something To Believe In'
'Life Goes On'
'Stand'
'The Last Song'
'Shooting Star'

Disc 2

'We're An American Band'
'So Tell Me Why'
'No More Lookin' Back [live]'
'Can't You See'
'Little Willy'
'Suffragette City'
'Look But You Can't Touch'
'Until You Suffer Some (Fire And Ice)'
'Bastard Son Of A Thousand Blues'
'Lay Your Body Down'
'Sexual Thing'
'(Flesh & Blood) Sacrifice'
'What I Like About You'
'Love On The Rocks'
'Face The Hangman'
'Livin' For The Minute'
'Cover Of The Rolling Stone'
'Poor Boy Blues'



Poison, Mötley Crüe, New York Dolls dates are as follows:

June
7 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
9 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
10 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
12 - Albuquerque, NM - Hard Rock Pavilion
14 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
15 - San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
17 - Phoenix, AZ - Desert Sky Pavilion
18 - Las Vegas, NV - Venue TBD
19 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
21 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
22 - Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
24 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
25 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
26 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
28 - Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheatre
29 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre

July
1 - Tinley Park, IL - FMB Amphitheatre
2 - Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
3 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
5 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena
6 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
8 - Biloxi, MS - Mississippi Coast Coliseum
10 - Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
12 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
13 - Hershey, PA - Star Pavilion at Hersheypark
15 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
16 - Camden, NJ - Susquehannna Bank Center
19 - Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center
20 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
22 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
23 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
24 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
29 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Centre
30 - Frederick, MD - Outlaw Jam 2011
31 - Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain

August
5 - Tomah, WI - Fort McCoy

Tyler & Perry back at odds

The Aerosmith boys are at it again as Tyler forgets to mention a guest appearance from Aerosmith on Idol and Perry sulks

Reported by Cameron Pirie

Published: March 17, 2011. © Rock AAA.

Tyler & Perry: Joe, I'm sure I told you......

And the saga continues…….
It would appear Steven Tyler has just unwittingly destroyed the on-going peace negotiations around the Aerosmith camp.
Some time ago, RockAAA reported that Tyler and band mate Joe Perry had kissed and made up after stresses surrounding Tyler’s American Idol work. Then normally placid Tom Hamilton re-ignited things, followed by claims that Aerosmith would actually APPEAR on the show.
Apparently this is news to Idol-hating Perry when he told the Boston Herald:
“I don’t know anything about it. No one’s said a word to me.
“All I know is that we’re working on an AEROSMITH record this summer, and we’ve got tours scheduled in South America and Japan in the fall, but Japan could be up in the air because of all that’s happened there.”
Absent minded Tyler then admitted that it may have slipped his mind to mention it when he attended a red carpet event in Hollywood the other night. When questioned about it he sheepishly replied:
“I want to be honest about this and I don’t want to get myself in trouble because I haven’t asked the guys yet, (but) I’m sure they will.”
Tyler also promised Idol contestant James Durbin that he would duet an Aerosmith song with him if he made the final…..maybe Joe will make a guest appearance on guitar?

Mark Wahlberg Has High Hopes For 'Fighter 2'

(RTTNews) - Mark Wahlberg has revealed that he believes the sequel to "The Fighter," will be filmed.

Wahlberg, who starred in the film alongside Christian Bale and Melissa Leo, said he has been in talks with the studios regarding the sequel. In an interview with EW, he noted: "Everybody had such an amazing experience making the movie that I can't imagine they wouldn't want to go back," he tells EW. "But it's still kind [of] in the early stages."
Wahlberg also explained: "I got bit by the bug, and now I'm trying to plant the idea in everyone's head that we should do - not five or six Fighters like Rocky - but one more because the big thing that Mickey Ward was famous for was his three epic battles with Arturo Gatti. So we're talking about possibly taking one more run at it."
"The Fighter" (which was released on DVD on Tuesday) received seven Academy Award nominations, with Melissa Leo winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The film earned $93 million at the domestic box office.
by RTT Staff Writer
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com

SLASH Says Classic GUNS N' ROSES Lineup Isn't Together Anymore Because Of AXL ROSE

SLASH Says Classic GUNS N' ROSES Lineup Isn't Together Anymore Because Of AXL ROSE - Mar. 16, 2011

Bangkok Post recently conducted an interview with legendary guitarist Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES). A few excerpts from the chat follow below. On his famous top hat: Slash: "It just became a thing. I just got it from a store one day. A five-finger discount. Are you familiar with that? I've always liked hats, and I saw this one hat. I thought it was cool, and it just became something I started wearing all the time. I didn't plan on it being stable part of my image. I just felt comfortable with it. I was 19 or 20." On GUNS N' ROSES' song "Sweet Child O' Mine", the band's first No. 1 hit: Slash: "Obviously, [with] 'Sweet Child O' Mine', I didn't it was a big deal at the time. I just thought it was an interesting riff. I had no idea it was gonna be as iconic as it became. So you just have these riffs, and you just think 'oh, that sounds cool.'" On a possible reunion of GUNS N' ROSES' classic lineup: Slash: "Do you feel like you're the only person in this whole room who's thinking about that question on this planet? No. "It's been, what, 15, 16 years. No one in the original GUNS N' ROSES ever said, 'Let's try to put the band back together.' Also, it's all about [GN'R singer] Axl [Rose]. The reason that everybody left was because in the back of his mind I think that's the way he wanted it. So the reason why there's no GUNS N' ROSES was because of him. I've got nothing to do with it. I quit for the same reason that everybody did. So it's really his problem." On whether he felt any pressure making his first real solo album after many years on the pedestal: Slash: "I don't really think about it like that. I just try to put together decent music. I don't feel a pressure as a guitar player. I'm not as good in studio as I am live, so in the studio I try to loosen up and feel comfortable. That's the biggest challenge for me. But I don't think about my status as a guitar player. I just think about what is it that I want to be able to accomplish." On his solo tour: Slash: "Myles [Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE] sings everything. It has to be a blessing. When I did the record, there were so many singers. So when I [first] had to go on tours, it was impossible [for anyone] to do all the songs from the solo record, let alone GUNS N' ROSES songs. I had Myles coming to sing on a record for the very last minute, and I'm just blown away by his versatility and capability. So I asked him to come on the tour. He's just miraculous." On Time magazine in 2009 putting him at number two on the list of the "best electric guitar players of all time": Slash: "All things considered, it's very flattering. But I was thinking today that there're so many fantastic guitar players and I sort of feel humbled by them. When people put me on top of the list, I think it's really nice, but I don't like to talk about it because I know that there are so many guitarists who are better than me and I'm working really hard to be as good as [they are]. "I'm not a technique guitarist. I admire technique guitar players because they know a lot of stuff that I don't. But the thing that affects me most, that I strive for is emotional content and melodic content. I feel it when I'm playing, and you feel it as a listener. That's what I strive for." On the more current crop of guitar players: Slash: "There are not a lot of guitar players that I listen to right now. But you know, the generation after mine, you got people like Jerry Cantrell, Tom Morello, Kim Thayil and more. Those guys are great guitar players. Now guitarists are kinda hazy. There are a lot of shredders in a lot of different bands, but I can't really tell them apart. In this new technological age that we're in, on one hand it's amazing how convenient everything is, and how fast you can do it. So many different things you can do with a touch of a button. But I have to say that from an audio point of view, the sounds start to suffer as a result." Read the entire interview from Bangkok Post

Jon Bon Jovi Versus Steve Jobs Part 2

JBJ vs STEVE JOBS PART 2:
 
Industry commentator Moses Avalon has weighed in on the Jon Bon Jovi vs Steve Jobs debate. His view is somewhat different to that most others seem to have taken. So from his newsletter and website comes this:

"Jon Bon Jovi has learned a lesson of the Internet age the hard way. The lesson he learned is that the techies, who wave the freedom-of-speech flag when it comes to music being free and net neutrality, are not so cool about free-speech when it criticizes one of their gods, like Steve Jobs. Indeed they respond rather childishly to just about anyone, no mater how famous, if even the slightest opinion about internet-related services is anything less than 10000000% positive. (Read what Bon Jovi said here.)
Now, in the before-time no one cared what geeks thought. They were in the back room. But blogs have given them the big stick in the public debate. And they want respect. They are getting it and proving the old adage that power corrupts; using their new tools to silence and intimidate those that are a threat. If they agree with you, you are launched to the top of a mountain, if you disagree with their position, they can out SEO you, out blog you and make you look ridiculous in a mater of seconds across the entire globe.
Now, most politicians and other public-people have learned this lesson years ago. Even I got a taste recently of how infantile some of these cats can get if you throw the slightest criticism at them. (I noticed an error in a Techdirt blog wherein they called IPS licensing fees, a “tax” for music. The guy freaked out on me and called me a “liar” all over Twitter.)
These techies can not take it when you disagree with them. It shatters their entire foundation and they get nasty. But poor Jon Bon Jovi, must have missed this memo. He committed the most heinous crime that a person can commit in today's blog/news world; he committed the offense of being obvious; of saying what everyone in the know, knows but is afraid to say:

iTunes is bad for music in the long run. Why, be afraid to say it? Well, you've no doubt seen the posts; because legions of keyboard jockeys will come after you in their blogs and virally disseminate a twisted version just to increase their Google rankings. They'll even Skype to each other while doing it and have a virtual party, with virtual booze and virtual girls.
Now, what did Bon Jovi say that was so terrible? Well, he spoke the truth for one thing. iTunes has helped devalue the business model that made music an industry. It may not have started the fire, but it poured gasoline on it in gallons.

Let's look at some iFacts:
1) iTunes has not, as some have suggested “saved the record business.” iTunes has made up less than 10% of sales over the years since launch.
2) Nor did Steve Jobs “invent” a way for artists to get paid from the internet, (I think Al Gore did that.)
3) Finally, I believe it was Lawrence Lessig or some fool like him who promised—“If you give people a legal way to buy music they won't steel it.” Remember that one? Not true: P2P file sharing did not decrease since iTunes went on-line — it actually increased.
What iTunes did that sucks most for music is it destabilized the “album model.” Yeah, yeah, I know, many of you think that that is good for the consumer, but it's really not in the long run. Not if you're a true music fan. Why?

Point 1) Economics: It costs more to make less, which means less risks will be taken on new acts.
If you remove the 80 cents or so that songwriters used to receive for each album sale and replace is with the 9 cents they get for a single, you don't have to be a math genius to see that you need to sell about seven times more units to break even on a promotion that costs $1,000,000 whether you release an album or a single; or, a production costing about $10,000/song to produce if you do an album, but $25,000/song is you go single-for-single.
Yes, it costs majors the same money to promote a single as it does to promote an album and three times as much to record the equivalent amount of singles that an album composes.
Add to that, that without the album economics you lose the 1:14 chance of one of the cuts becoming a hit and reduce those odds to 1:1. To duplicate the effect of an “album promotion” with singles, labels would have to spend more than ten times as much to have the same shot-gun effect that an album delivers.

WHO CARES
Why should indie artists care about majors and their costs? Well, now that it costs more to make less, these costs trickle down to everyone in the music food chain.
To sell a single for 99 cents on iTunes the indie artist ends up netting about 64%. With a CD album sold at a local store for $14 the Artist/label took almost $10 home—almost 75%. Sold off the side of the stage for $10, the same indie artist took home almost all of it, save a $1, for manufacturing—90%. Big winner here— Apple.

Point 2: Art. For those interested in music as an art, the devaluation of an album as an art form has neutered the musical experience. Deep cuts are dead for the future. This decreases the value of music as an experience and as a communication method. This disembowels artists from helping do what they are supposed to do— make the world a better place. They have been relieved of that job thanks to iTunes and P2P. Now they are just “content providers” and all we want from them are "hits" that are nice, radio safe singles. Great.
When musicians were in charge of music they helped end wars and elevate social consciousness. Now it's in the hands of the techies. I can only pray they do not abuse this power. So far, I'm not impressed. How can anyone be, with a culture that does not value one of America's greatest cultural contributions-- pop music.
This is what Jon Bon Jovi was really trying to say. What he probably meant with his comments was that the glory days of music are over. They are. It's true. And iTunes did accelerate the legitimacy of that decline more so than any other vehicle. But was it Steve's fault? No. Someone else would have done it eventually anyway.
Jon, I feel ya brotha. I feel your pain. I kid you not when I say some of these guys are so cult-like in their Apple fanaticism that it would not surprise me if I read that an Apple fan threw a rock at your window. Get an extra body guard for a week or two and hire a great defamation lawyer. I have.
~ Mo out."
Full Article & Comments at: www.mosesavalon.com/mosesblog/http:/www.mosesavalon.com/mosesblog/bon-voyage-bon-jovi-rock-star-blames-steve-jobs-for-music-biz-erosion/

Steve Carell's 'Office' Exit Set For April 28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 NBC has confirmed that Steve Carell's final episode on the long-running comedy "The Office" will air on April 28. The show's season finale won't come until May 19 but network execs have said they hope to give viewers a chance to adjust to the show without the lead character. While "Office" fans will lose a beloved character in Carell's Michael, they will briefly pick up some comic relief from Will Ferrell, who is set to appear on the show for a series of episodes in April.

Aerosmith To Perform On American Idol...The End is Near!

Aerosmith To Perform On American Idol

3/15/2011 3:09 PM ET

(RTTNews) - American Idol exec Nigel Lythgoe has said that Aerosmith will perform during the current season of the show. Lythgoe added that the appearance will "probably" come before the season finale.

Frontman Steven Tyler's decision to become an Idol judge has been controversial in the band. Guitarist Joe Perry has publicly criticized his bandmate for joining the show. Recent reports suggest that the tension has lifted somewhat and that the two are ready to work together again.
The band's bassist, Tom Hamilton, told the Boston Herald that Tyler planned on striking a balance between his time with the show and the band.
"Steven's been very emphatic in saying that the way his time is arranged on the show leaves room to work on a record. He's been taking great pains to remind everybody of that, so hopefully that's the way it will come out."
Hamilton also said that he never watched the show and that the group was informed of Tyler's involvement through their management.
by RTT Staff Writer

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony 2011

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's annual induction ceremony is the only place you'd find Bruce Springsteen as just one member of a 21-piece backup band.


The rock hall's latest class brought together Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Darlene Love, Dr. John and Leon Russell, and after all the speeches were done the musicians kept playing until the wee hours.
Springsteen brought his guitar to back Love, who created a modern-day "Wall of Sound" and dueted with Bette Midler on "He's a Rebel" after her induction Monday night. Guitarist John Mayer supported Russell in his ballad "A Song for You." Diamond had the crowd in the glittery ballroom of The Waldorf-Astoria hotel dancing to the 1960s era "Cherry Cherry."

IN PICTURES: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony 2011

Diamond had seemed a bit loopy in his acceptance speech, after traveling 25 hours from Australia for the ceremony and looking ahead to another trip Down Under to resume a concert tour. He criticized Paul Simon, who inducted him, for giving Simon's upcoming album a difficult-to-remember title ("So Beautiful or So What"), then tried to recover by saying "I dare anybody in this room to make a better album."
Diamond got a cheer from the New York crowd for recognizing his city roots while performing "I Am I Said."
Simon noted that Diamond, who was born in Brooklyn, had first been eligible for the rock hall in 1991 and wondered, "What took so long?"
His theory: Diamond's duet with Barbra Streisand, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."
"It's Barbra Streisand," he said. "It's not rock 'n' roll. I don't even think they let that DNA near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."
Alice Cooper is the stage name for singer Vincent Furnier and his band, known for 1970s era hard rock songs "Eighteen," ''No More Mr. Nice Guy" and "School's Out." Their concerts were steeped in horror movie theatrics, and Cooper wrapped a snake around his neck during his speech accepting induction. He performed a trio of the band's hits in a shirt spattered with fake blood.
"We've always been a hard-rock band," Cooper said. "We just wanted to decorate it a little differently."
Cooper said he'd like to promise the rock hall that his band wouldn't embarrass it.
"But I can't make that promise," he said. "After all, we are Alice Cooper."
He was inducted by singer Rob Zombie, who recalled how he painted a portrait of Cooper dripping in blood when he was in fourth grade and was asked to make a picture of someone he admired — drawing attention from school authorities.
Songwriter Waits is well-versed in blues, poetry and ballads, with songs rough and romantic. Several of his Hall of Fame predecessors have recorded his work, including Springsteen ("Jersey Girl"), the Ramones ("I Don't Want to Grow Up"), Rod Stewart ("Downtown Train") and Johnny Cash ("Down There By the Train"). Neil Young said Waits is indescribable and "I'm here to describe him." The two later performed together; taped highlights of the rock hall ceremony will be shown on Fuse on March 20.
Waits noted that his rock hall trophy was heavy and wondered if he could have a keychain version "that I can keep with me in case I hear somebody say, 'Pete, take the cuffs off him. He's a Hall of Famer.'"
"They say that I have no hits and that I'm difficult to work with," he said, "and they say that like it's a bad thing."
Russell composed "A Song for You" and "Delta Lady," but he said he was in "a ditch beside the highway of life" when Elton John called a year ago and suggested they record an album together. The result was nominated for a Grammy.
"After that album," John said, "Leon came alive, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life."
Russell, with a shock of long white hair and beard, walked haltingly onstage with the help of a cane and met John for a warm embrace.
Love, whose voice cut through Phil Spector's heavy production, called her induction into the hall her best 70th birthday present. She praised Spector's work but also tweaked him: "Phil Spector said God made two musical geniuses: Beethoven and Phil Spector," she recalled.
Love lent her powerful voice to several of Spector's hits, in acts such as the Crystals and Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. Her "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" is a holiday standard: She sang on U2's cover and performs it every December on David Letterman's show.
She was inducted with a comic ramble by Midler, who said she was a goner when she first heard Love's voice on a transistor radio.
"Listening to her songs, you had to dance, you had to move, you had to keep looking for that rebel boy," Midler said. "Suddenly nobody wanted the buttoned-down guy who was a good provider."
New Orleans piano maestro Dr. John, born Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack Jr., was inducted by singer John Legend, who recalled meeting him at a benefit for Hurricane Katrina relief. Legend said the new Hall of Fame member has been a leading global ambassador for New Orleans and its special musical gumbo.
"He has never stopped flying the flag of funk," Legend said. "Tonight, he is definitely in the right place at the right time."
That was a reference to one of Dr. John's best-known songs, "Right Place, Wrong Time," with Allen Toussaint and the Meters, which he performed as the ceremony slipped past midnight.
Dr. John wore a bright purple suit for his big night and was asked backstage where he had bought his shoes.
"The pimp store," he replied.
Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman and Specialty Records founder Art Rupe also were inducted, in the non-performer category.
The inductees' work will be celebrated in perpetuity at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.

MATT DAMON’S “THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU” IS JUST PLAIN SILLY

MATT DAMON’S “THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU” IS JUST PLAIN SILLY 

 

We thought Matt Damon hit rock bottom in the bomb “Hereafter” with its’ phony metaphysical speculation and religious undertones. After the first amazing tsunami scene (thanks to the cinematographer) the movie degenerated into a dull and dreary experience. But Matt has topped that stinker with “The Adjustment Bureau.” This film is based on the unlikely premise that men in black suits and hats control our destiny under the direction of ”the chairman,” who resides somewhere in the sky. The script is absolutely silly and immature and the actors involved must be embarrassed. The plot was loosely based on a short story by sci- fi writer Philip K Dick, who must be spinning in his grave. Some short stories should REMAIN short stories.

Foo Fighters to Release Covers CD

Foo Fighters to Release Covers CD

Foo Fighters are set to release a covers album to celebrate Record Store Day next month.
The album, named 'Medium Rare', will be released on vinyl in stores participating in the scheme on April 16.
Among the covers on the record are versions of Pink Floyd, Prince and Paul McCartney and Wings tracks that the band have played live previously. Also featured is a version of Mose Allison's 'Young Man Blues', which Dave Grohl and co performed at the Shockwaves NME Awards last month with The Who's Roger Daltrey.
The tracklisting of 'Medium Rare' is:
'Band On The Run' (Paul McCartney and Wings)
'I Feel Free' (Cream)
'Life Of Illusion' (Joe Walsh)
'Young Man Blues' (Mose Allison)
'Bad Reputation' (Thin Lizzy)
'Darling Nikki' (Prince)
'Down In The Park' (Gary Numan)
'Baker Street' (Gerry Rafferty)
'Danny Says' (The Ramones)
'Have A Cigar' (Pink Floyd)
'Never Talking To You Again' (Husker Du)
'Gas Chamber' (Angry Samoans)
'This Will Be Our Year' (The Zombies)

BRET MICHAELS SOLO ALBUM FINALLY SET TO ROCK :

BRET MICHAELS SOLO ALBUM FINALLY SET TO ROCK :
 
Just posted to: www.billboard.com/news/bret-michaels / "Just as his myriad health problems didn't stop him from releasing a new album ("Custom Built") and winning "Celebrity Apprentice" last year, Bret Michaels isn't letting heart surgery slow him down this year, either. The veteran rocker will be on the road this year, including a summer jaunt with Mötley Crüe and the New York Dolls, celebrating his band Poison's 25th anniversary. He'll also tour on his own, release a new solo album in May as well as a new Poison compilation, host a cruise in November and continue work on his autobiography, "Roses & Thorns."
"I feel absolutely great, man," Michaels, who underwent surgery in January to repair a hole in his heart, tells Billboard.com. "I'm up, I'm walking, I'm exercising. Considering how much my body's been through since last April, I feel pretty damn good. I feel lucky. It just wasn't my time."
It is time, however, for new Michaels' music. Coming on the heels of "Custom Built" is "Get Your Rock On," which he says is full of "a lot of really straight-up, in-your-face, well-produced, contemporary just good rock songs. It mixes a little bit of the classic elements with some new sounds." Featuring all originals, Michaels says his sixth solo album hits harder than its predecessors.
"With the other albums I did, I always put a little bit of Americana and contemporary country into the music," he explains, "influences and stuff from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Mellencamp and Garth Brooks mixed in with my Aerosmith and AC/DC. This one is primarily straight-up rock songs, which I think people will like. I've written a lot of good stuff over the last few years that I think are just good rock songs. I feel really strong about it."
As the new album comes out, Michaels is looking forward to "making a strange kind of history" by touring both on his own and with Poison. His solo dates begin Mar. 19 in Arizona, including some shows with actor Kevin Costner and his band Modern West. Poison, meanwhile, gets under way on May 25 in Biloxi, Miss., before joining the Crüe tour June 7 in Dallas. Poison is also planning to release "A Double Dose of Poison," which Michaels says will feature "greatest hits...and a lot of the B-sides and different stuff on there. It's basically commemorative of the 25th anniversary and sort of like a CD program of the songs we'll be doing" on tour.
No new Poison music is planned yet, but Michaels notes that he and bandmates C.C. DeVille, Rikki Rockett and Bobby Dall are "closer this year than we've been in years. We've all been on the phone, talking about the songs we're gonna play and the stuff we started out having fun doing. It's a good feeling. I think it's going to be a kick-ass summer."
He's also looking forward to being on the road with Mötley Crüe, even though there have been some harsh words exchanged over the years, and even recently, between the two camps. "I know Mötley Crüe made some derogatory statements early on when I mentioned us doing this (tour) together," says Michaels, who tipped the tour last summer. "But I've spoken with Nikki (Sixx) several times on the phone now, and really, the truth of the matter is that rock fans spoke up and said what a great tour this will be, to see those bands with that kind of energy and stage shows. So I want to go out this summer, regardless of what's been said and what's been done...Really, it means nothing to me. What matters is I go out and have fun with my band on our 25th anniversary. That's all."
Amidst all this, Michaels -- who's also planning to release a vocal warm-up CD for aspiring singers -- is continuing to work on the oft-delayed autobiography, "Roses & Thorns." But, he notes, "every time I turn around, I've got a new chapter to add. Just the medical condition alone is worth the last half of the book. I promise I'm going to get you bits and pieces to read. I'm just gonna give you stuff -- 'Read this!' Really, it'll get out some day, but so much happens to me, and how do you leave any of it out?"

Thoughts On The Jim Tressel Situation....

 

 

North Dakota: Not Tripping

Raise your hand if you thought you'd see the day when the local paper of record would publish a report shooting down speculation that Jim Tressel would lose his job. To call recent developments surreal would be a bit of an understatement. In the time it took for Earth to spin once on its axis, Jim Tressel is suddenly mortal, a flawed human just like the rest of us.
As punishment for sitting on information that would have led to immediate NCAA violations, the university suspended Tressel for the first two games this fall (Akron and Toledo, both at home), issued a public reprimand/apology in the form of an emotional, and at times awkward, press conference that was televised and streamed to millions, fined him $250,000 and said he will attend a compliance seminar.
As it stands, the announced punishment (and the startling realization that a man you admire is fond of double exclamation points) would probably be just fine with most of us. The NCAA may agree, or it may not. We'll have to wait and see where things go on that front, but I have a hunch OSU's self-imposed punishment will be in the vicinity of what the NCAA has in mind.
Now, on to what we do know.

Tressel has earned the right to survive this. Can you imagine if this had happened in year three of John Cooper's tenure, or even year three of Jim Tressel's stint at Ohio State? The Buckeyes would be kicking off a search for a new coach. It's a pretty standard clause in most (if not all) coaching contracts and breaking it leads directly to termination, but Tressel has amassed enough support and built up enough of a track record to get through. Gene Smith was adamant about this fact at the start of the presser and Gee later echoed it with weird joke about hoping Tressel does not fire him (between that zinger and Smith's line in December about adding a tattoo artist to the WHAC, I really wish our administrators would lay off the funnah for a bit).
What all of this means about Tressel's future beyond this season is uncertain. His current contract expires in January 2015, and I think most assumed he'd coach through the 2014 season before moving into a role within the athletic department. He'll definitely be on the sidelines this season -- and I can't stress how great it is that he'll be here to face the music instead of running off to the NFL in dire times -- but does this violation accelerate his timetable at all?

Trolls, trolls, everywhere trolls. We're going to take our lumps over the coming days, but let's face it, if this was any other coach in the country, he would instantly become the most cheating-est (new word, look it up) coach in the history of the world in your eyes. Protecting your own and vilifying others is just a natural aspect of fandom and is part of the game (see also: politics). That said, there are reasonable ways to approach this story and then there are not.
And then there's stuff like this. Clay Travis a) is a middle-aged man that still rocks a fitted cap backwards, b) mistakenly claims to have coined the phrase "Bama Bangs" and most importantly, c) a Tennessee fan. Glass houses and all, but a trollin' ain't easy.
Finally, there's the local clown, rocking a haircut straight out of Footloose and saying whatever he can to invoke mass heart attacks across Franklin County. We have to bust our asses to get press passes. How does this guy have an auto-pass again?
None of this is fun to read (or hear), but we're just going to have to take it for the time being. Of course, a Cam Newton bombshell on Monday morning would be a welcome diversion. Or Oregon. Or USC. Anyone, really.

Start the "we'll be dropping 60 a game jokes". Ohio State did not announce which lucky coordinator would be elevated to the HC spot during Tressel's suspension, but Heacock has to be the odds-on favorite at this point in time. Unlike recent seasons with Darrell Hazell serving as assistant head coach in addition to his duties with the receivers, Tressel does not have a named lieutenant. Bollman is the offensive coordinator, while Heacock and Fickell are co-defensive coordinators. Both Bollman and Heacock have been with Tressel during his entire tenure in Columbus, but Heacock's Ohio State experience dates back to 1996, when he was hired as the team's defensive line coach. Besides, fans would lose their collective shit if Bollman were to be tabbed as acting head coach while Tressel serves his suspension.
At any rate, it will be fun to at least joke about the offensive possibilities with Tressel stuck at home on game day. For two Saturdays at least, perhaps the punt won't be the most important play (though I imagine Tressel's spirit will be alive and well in whatever gameplan is put together).

Yahoo! deserves some credit. While Robinson and Wetzel probably don't quite deserve the credit they're claiming, there's no questioning the fact that the Y! sports team is head and shoulders above the other major outlets (ESPN being the worst) when it comes to investigative journalism. If this had been Auburn, instead of Ohio State, we'd be applauding their efforts. In fact, we did so when they put USC through the grinder. It sucks today, but in the end, that's a good thing for all college football fans.