Van Halen Makes Gibson.com’s Top 50 Cover Songs of All Time

Friday, 27 May 2011

From Gibson.com:
Some of the most famous songs in music history are cover versions – whether it’s The Beatles doing Motown hits, Elvis tackling R&B tunes or just about everyone covering Bob Dylan songs. In honor of the artists who didn’t write the songs, but recorded legendary versions of them, Gibson.com is counting down the Top 50 Cover Songs of All Time.
Gibson.com recently enlisted its editors, writers and you, the readers, to vote for the greatest cover songs ever released. After announcing #50-41, #40-31, #30-21 and #20-11, we’re ready to reveal the Top 10 Cover Songs of All Time – with the original artist, or, in some cases, the most famous previous artist in parentheses.
33. “Oh, Pretty Woman,” Van Halen (Roy Orbison)
The Big O’s 1964 original made #1 on both sides of the Atlantic. Nearly 20 years later, Van Halen decided it was ripe for a party-metal makeover. Hey, why not? They had already mashed The Kinks, to devastating effect. Van Halen’s version walks a fine Spinal Tap line of clever/stupid, but it somehow works. EVH’s riffing sounds super-steely and David Lee Roth adds a comedic “grrrrrrrrr.” A hit was guaranteed. The fact remains, more wannabe bands rock Van Halen’s version than Orbison’s original. Mercy! – Michael Leonard
9. “You Really Got Me,” Van Halen (The Kinks)
Van Halen’s cover of this Kinks classic was the first thing that most of the rock world ever heard of VH. The year was 1978 and the song’s pairing with “Eruption” on the band’s self-titled album of that year was one of the most devastating one-two punches ever delivered by four dudes from Pasadena. Opening with Eddie’s legendary “brown sound” (augmented by washes of reverb on the opposite side of the stereo spectrum), the guitar was right in your face, the energy was cranked up to burning point, and David Lee Roth’s sassy delivery made fans momentarily forget all about The Kinks’ version, much to Dave Davies’ later chagrin. The guitar solo has it all: syrupy phaser tones, two-handed tapping, wide bends and a cool toggle-switch stutter effect, all topped off with a killer pick slide. The breakdown after the solo would set the stage for future classics like “Mean Streets” and “Panama,” and the closing legato and hint of feedback made you hold your breath just in case there was more coming. – Peter Hodgson
Here’s their Top Ten covers:
10. “Respect,” Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding)
9. “You Really Got Me,” Van Halen (The Kinks)
8. “The House of the Rising Sun,” The Animals (Traditional)
7. “Mr. Tambourine Man,” The Byrds (Bob Dylan)
6. “Hallelujah,” Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen)
5. “Crossroads,” Cream (Robert Johnson)
4. “I Fought the Law,” The Clash (The Crickets, Bobby Fuller Four)
3. “Hurt,” Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails)
2. “Twist and Shout,” The Beatles (The Top Notes, The Isley Brothers)
1. “All Along the Watchtower,” The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Bob Dylan)

A Brief History of the “Parodying a Bunch of Recent Videos” Music Video

Thursday, 26 May 2011

PopDust.com has a story featuring five classic MTV videos that parody some of the iconic-but-overblown music videos of the time. One of which is David Lee Roth’s Just A Gigolo / I An’t Got Nobody” (1985).
The prototypical “parodying a bunch of recent videos” (PABORV?) video, David Lee Roth used the clip for his second solo single, a cover of Louis Prima’s melding of pop standards “Just a Gigolo” and “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” to have a little fun with his pop peers. Freed from the shackles of Van Halen, Roth roams onto the video sets of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself,” and anonymous Michael Jackson and Culture Club clips, generally creating chaos wherever he goes, and even causing poor Billy to get electrocuted. It all goes down on Dave TV, the 24-hour David Lee Roth video channel for which Dave himself is also the VJ, in some sort of weird version of egomaniacal music video purgatory.

Trailer For George Clooney's 'The Descendants' Is Heavy On Melodrama

	5/26/2011 4:09 PM ET From acclaimed writer/director Alexander Payne ("Sideways," "Election") comes "The Descendants," a drama/comedy with George Clooney starring as a father struggling to raise two daughters. Though Clooney's character considers himself the backup parent in the recently released trailer, he's soon thrust into a more prominent role when his wife becomes gravely ill.

Puddle of Mudd Cover Elton John, Neil Young, AC/DC on New Album

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 05.26.2011

Post-grunge group Puddle of Mudd have announced their next album will be a collection of cover songs from a hand-picked list of artists – everyone from AD/DC to the Steve Miller Band to Elton John.
The set, titled re:(disc)overed, will drop August 2. The collection is the follow-up to 2009’s Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate.
While the band set out to record an album of new material, the toll of the road pushed them to do a covers collection instead.
“Since we started we’ve been non-stop – make a record, go on tour, then right into rehearsals and the next record, then back on tour...,” guitarist Paul Phillip told Billboard.com. “We were really burned out, and when we started trying to write again it just wasn't time yet. And we had been doing [AC/DC’s] ‘TNT’ and [the Steve Miller Band’s] ‘The Joker’ and had so much fun with those that one thing led to another and we decided to make a covers record. It was just something fun to do, and we had a blast.”
The album packs 15 songs, 11 of which Puddle of Mudd recorded with producer Bill Appleberry earlier this year at Los Angeles’ Bomb Shelter, a recording space owned by Stone Temple Pilots drummer Eric Kretz. The first single, The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” is scheduled to hit radio in mid-June.
The guys took special care to choose an eclectic variety of performers to cover.
“We chose a lot of things that were challenging,” Phillip said. “People hear Puddle’s gonna do a covers album and they think it’ll be Nirvana and the Ramones and Metallica and stuff like that. And that's something we wanted to do, but we wanted to stretch our legs, and it was a very challenging thing to have songs that have piano and these big, crazy arrangements and stuff. I mean, doing an Elton John song with piano and backup singers and stuff is not easy. It’s easier to record a Puddle of Mudd song, but to tackle an arrangement like that is a lot more difficult to do, and that’s what we wanted.”
Puddle of Mudd just wrapped up a last-minute gig at Rock on the Range music festival in Columbus, Ohio, last weekend, and they’re set to tour this summer, starting Memorial Day weekend with festival shows in St. Louis and St. Paul, Minnesota, and a stint at the U.K.’s Download Festival on June 10.
The track list for Puddle of Mudd's re:(disc)overed:
“Gimme Shelter” (Rolling Stones)
“Old Man” (Neil Young)
“TNT” (AC/DC)
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers)
“The Joker” (Steve Miller Band)
“Everybody Wants You” (Billy Squier)
“Rocket Man” (Elton John)
“All Right Now” (Free)
“Shooting Star” (Bad Company)
“Funk 49” (James Gang)
“D'yer M'ker” (Led Zeppelin)

'Kung Fu Panda 2,' 'The Hangover Part II' Lead Busy Weekend At The Box Office

5/25/2011 2:46 PM ET

(RTTNews) - While "Pirates of the Caribbean" should still draw a sizeable crowd this weekend, "Kung Fu Panda 2" and "The Hangover Part II" are ready to hit theaters and take over the box office, which could make Memorial Day weekend the busiest of the year at the movies. Aimed at completely different demographics, "Kung Fu Panda 2" and "The Hangover Part II" will reach theaters on Thursday and are set up for tremendous worldwide box office runs.

Though animated films were formerly dominated by Pixar/Disney, Paramount/Dreamworks has found a way to tap into the sizeable family demographic in recent years. The original "Kung Fu Panda," released in 2008, was a big hit with younger audiences as it went on to gross $66 million its opening weekend and $215 million domestically. It was a big hit overseas as well, helping it haul in a spectacular $631 million worldwide.
But while the first "Kung Fu Panda" ended up as one of the most impressive earners of 2008, the ceiling for the sequel is considerably higher. More than any demographic, family audiences tend to massively support sequels, as has been seen with the "Shrek" and "Toy Story" franchises as well as much smaller releases like "Alvin and the Chipmunks." Following its own blueprint from the "Shrek" series, Paramount/Dreamworks is releasing "Kung Fu Panda 2" just three years after the original, which should guarantee that family audiences are still very familiar with the characters.
Also contributing to the auspicious outlook of the weekend for "Kung Fu Panda 2" is a general lack of competition for younger family audiences, even though "Pirates" will provide at least a little competition. "Rio" has pretty much owned the younger portion of the family demographic for a little more than a month, but it doesn't have much appeal left as it heads into its seventh weekend in theaters. "Kung Fu Panda 2" should earn somewhere in the neighborhood of $80 to $85 million for the three-day weekend and surpass $100 million when the Monday holiday is included.
Also getting released on Thursday is "The Hangover Part II," the follow-up to the biggest R-rated comedy of all-time. After "The Hangover" grossed nearly $500 million worldwide in 2009 and become somewhat of a phenomenon, the sequel brings back all of the main characters and could end up with the biggest comedy opening of 2011. This time around, the story goes abroad to Thailand, following the recent trend of taking sequels out of the U.S. to attract an even wider international audience.
Even though "The Hangover Part II" has been mostly panned by critics so far, it's very unlikely that will affect weekend numbers. Both "Meet the Fockers" and "Little Fockers" were also heavily criticized but still managed to put up enormous overall box office totals, a trend that will likely continue with "The Hangover." With its tremendous built-in audience, look for "The Hangover Part II" to surpass $50 million for the three-day weekend and to post a five-day opening total closer to $75 or $80 million domestically.
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Priest rock American Idol

Reported by Bruce Henne

Published: May 26, 2011. © Rock AAA.

Halford & Durbin

They came. They rocked. They conquered.
Metal gods Judas Priest debuted their new lineup – including latest addition Richie Faulkner – on the American Idol finale Wednesday night.
Priest teamed up Idol contestant James Durbin for a double-shot of metal, playing two of their classics, “Livin’ After Midnight” and “Breaking The Law.”
James rocked Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,” back in March, possibly the first time heavy metal has hit the Idol stage. All season long, Durbin encouraged Idol viewers to get behind the heavy with his slogan, “give metal a chance”; he was eliminated two weeks ago and ended up in fourth place.
Priest have just announced North American dates for the band’s Epitaph Tour, billed as the band’s final world tour, which kicks off June 7 in Holland.
“We’re pulling out all the stops,” singer Rob Halford told the media at an L.A. press conference Tuesday. “We’ve built a brand new stage set, we’ve got all the effects that people love us for — the lasers, the fire, the bombs, the smoke, new costumes, and the bike. It’s just a full-on metal extravaganza.”

Staind Confirm New Studio Album Coming Later this Year

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05.25.2011

Staind have confirmed they will release their much-anticipated new studio album later this year. As reported by NME.com, guitarist Mike Mushok told Michigan-based radio station WGRD that the album, titled Seven, marks something of a return to the harder-edged style of Staind’s early albums.
“It’s a modern-sounding version of a heavy Staind record,” said Mushok. “It’s completely different than the last record [2008’s The Illusion of Progress]. It’s more of a throwback to where we came from. [But] I don’t think there’s any rehashed riffs; I definitely think it’s fresh.”
Mushok went on to say the album, which the band began working on in late 2010, has been difficult to make. “It was a tough one,” he said. “And it wasn’t even the music or writing it; it’s just that there were a lot of things going on, and it made for a long, drawn-out process, it seemed. But I’ll tell you what – looking back, now that it's done, I’m really, really happy with it.”

Tyler plays American Idol without Aerosmith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His band might have blanked the show, but Steven Tyler Dreams On alone **VIDEO FOOTAGE**

Reported by Bruce Henne

Published: May 26, 2011. © Rock AAA.

The finale (at long last)

It was the moment American Idol viewers and rock fans had been waiting for all season: Steven Tyler finally took the Idol stage to perform.
Dressed all in white, Tyler pulled out the Aerosmith classic, “Dream On,” for the biggest show of the season.
After playing judge and mentor all year, Tyler finally had a chance to shine, and while he was unable to convince his bandmates to join him, Steven did bring brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots along to get the job done.
It was an abbreviated version of “Dream On,” which begs the question: what were the Idol producers thinking? They cut short a classic of the rock era in favor of brutal medleys by the Top 13 contestants – the bulk of who were not popular enough to make it to the finale – and appearances by everyone from Lady Gaga to Carrie Underwood to Beyonce (did she really need to do two songs???).
Those annoyances aside, the producers did schedule Tyler’s performance in the right spot in the show – moments before the winner was announced – which only managed to further the anticipation among viewers and, likely, those at L.A.’s Nokia Theatre.
Playing live at the Idol finale must have been a hugely proud moment for Tyler, as he put his stamp on his first season as a judge, one where he made many new fans with his encouraging words of support for the contestants throughout, kept everyone in stitches with his remarks, all while launching both a solo single and an autobiography.
Steven’s memoir, “Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?”, recently debuted at #2 on the New York Times “Hardcore Nonfiction” Best Seller list. Tyler is expected to regroup with Aerosmith through the summer, as the band works on music for a new album, it’s first since 2004’s “Honkin’ On Bobo”; a fall tour of Latin America has already been announced. The bad boys from Boston released “Tough Love: Best Of The Ballads,” on May 10.
Steven Tyler -- Dream On
American Idol finale – May 25, 2011

"CARRIE" REMAKE IN THE WORKS

(RTTNews) - Roberto Aguirre-Sacassa, the writer behind the book for Broadway's "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark," has reportedly signed on to write a remake of the 1976 thriller "Carrie." The film is based on Stephen King's book of the same name.

The remake will mark the second collaboration between Sacassa and King, as the pair previously connected for a graphic novel of King's "The Stand." According to movieweb.com, the project is under the umbrella of MGM Pictures, though the studio has not yet announced any details.
Sissy Spacek starred in the original "Carrie" film alongside Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, William Katt, Betty Buckley, Nancy Allen, John Travolta and P.J. Soles. It originally hit theatres on November 3, 1976 and was directed by Brian De Palma.
by RTT Staff Writer

JUDAS PRIEST US DATES

Published: May 25, 2011. © Rock AAA.

Judas Priest have announced the first series of dates for the North American leg of the band’s Epitaph Tour.
Things kick off on October 12 in San Antonio, Texas and run for about 6 weeks, wrapping up in East Rutherford, New Jersey on November 18.
Thin Lizzy and Black Label Society will share the bill with Priest as the metal legends embark on their farewell world tour.
“It’s not exactly the end of the band, it’s just the fact that we won’t really be doing any more world tours,” guitarist Glenn Tipton tells Rolling Stone.
“It takes a big chunk out of your life. We’ve been doing it for 40 years now or close to it, and we all love that moment on stage, but it’s difficult to be away from home and all the traveling involved. Now, if somebody came along and said, ‘Would you do a small string of dates,’ we wouldn’t automatically say no to that. But in general, this is probably the last chance you’ll get to see Priest live.”
And the band plans on going out with a bang. “We’re pulling out all the stops,” says Rob Halford. “We’ve built a brand new stage set, we’ve got all the effects that people love us for — the lasers, the fire, the bombs, the smoke, new costumes, and the bike. It’s just a full-on metal extravaganza.”
Priest introduced new guitarist Ritchie Faulkner to the media during a press conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday; Faulkner steps into the lineup following the recent retirement of K.K. Downing, just six weeks before the tour’s start on June 7 in Tilburg, Holland.
During the press conference, it was revealed that Priest will release the “Single Cuts” CD-singles box set and the “Classic Albums Collection” later this year containing the following material:
1. “Single Cuts” – CD Singles box set:
• The complete UK CBS/Columbia singles from 1977-2008 – featuring all 7″ and 12″ tracks from 1987-2008.
• All singles will carry original artwork.
• This box will only be available online and sold through the official Judas Priest website.
• Fans can pre-order the box starting in June; the product will ship later in the summer.
2. The Classic Albums Collection:
• Timed for the start of the US tour, Judas Priest will be releasing the Classic Albums Collection
• Box set – featuring all the albums from the classic line up years, including first two Gull records
• Includes 17 albums – 19 discs in total
• All re-mastered albums with original artwork
Here’s the first series of North American shows for the Epitaph Tour; more dates are to be announced…
Judas Priest
Epitaph Tour
2011 North American leg
Oct 12 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center
Oct 14 – Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheater
Oct 15 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Oct. 16 – Allen, TX – Allen Event Center
Oct 18 – Tucson, AZ – Ava Amphitheater
Oct 19 – San Diego, CA – Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
Oct 21 – Phoenix, AZ – AZ State Fair
Oct 22 – San Bernardino, CA – San Manuel Amphitheater
Oct 23 – Las Vegas, NV – Hard Rock
Oct 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Gibson Amphitheater
Oct 26 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena
Oct 29 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theater
Oct 30 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Nov 01 – Edmonton, AB – Shaw Conference Center
Nov 02 – Calgary, AB – ScotiaBank Saddledome
Nov 04 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center
Nov 05 – Denver, CO – 1st Bank Center
Nov 12 – Chicago, IL – The Venue At Horseshoe Casino
Nov 13 – Detroit, MI – Joe Louis Arena
Nov 18 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center

Sebastian Bach almost became singer for Judas Priest

This is a refreshing change.

In recent months, we’ve heard stories of ‘name’ singers turning down offers to join huge bands: Steven Tyler claims he turned down Led Zeppelin, while Sammy Hagar claims he turned down everyone from Aerosmith to Motley Crue to Velvet Revolver.

Now, we hear a story of an offer that was only considered, but never made.

At one point in time, Judas Priest considered Sebastian Bach for their lead singer role, but never got around to making the offer.

This news came to light thanks to a Facebook posting Sunday by Bach. Along with a photo of Sebastian with Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton and Rita Haney, the longtime girlfriend of late Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, taken at the Rainbow Bar & Grill in Hollywood, California, was the following note by Bach:

"Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, Rita @dimebagzhag & me at the Rainbow last night. Glenn & I talked about me almost being the singer of Judas Priest he told me it almost happened! Wow. What a great guy."

While Bach didn’t mention the timing of the Priest decision, you’d have to think it happened somewhere between Rob Halford’s departure in 1992 and the hiring of Tim “Ripper” Owens in ’96.

Halford left Priest to form Fight, while Owens was picked up after a stint as lead singer in a Priest tribute band called British Steel. With Owens, Prist released two albums, "Jugulator" and "Demolition," as well as two live double-albums.

Owens' move from fan and weekend tribute band singer to frontman for the actual band was the inspiration for the film Rock Star. Priest later distanced themselves from the film because the content bore only a resemblance to Owens's actual history with the band.

Skid Row – Delivering The Goods
With guest Rob Halford of Judas Priest
Original by Judas Priest
MTV Headbanger’s Ball - 1992


See also:

VIDEO: Sebastian Bach rocks M3 Festival
VIDEO: Sebastian Bach goes acoustic in Allentown
Sebastian Bach arrested for marijuana possession
VIDEO: Sebastian Bach rocks Revolver Golden God Awards with Asking Alexandria
Sebastian Bach tells Skid Row: “Kiss my ass!”
New album: Sebastian Bach to enter studio on Monday

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" Tops Weekend Box Office

5/23/2011 12:01 PM ET

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(RTTNews) - In a weekend with only one wide release, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" was far and away the top movie at the box office, earning a studio estimated $90 million on a per theater average of more than $20,000. "Bridesmaids" also posted a big second weekend as the R-rated comedy hauled in $21 million to bring its 10-day total to an impressive $59 million. "Fast Five" and "Thor" did struggle a little with the release of "Pirates," though both still posted strong overall numbers considering the level of competition.

Though enthusiasm for the series has waned a little bit since "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" hit theaters in 2007, "On Stranger Tides" still proved that Buena Vista/Disney can find its audience. With a $90 million domestic opening, the latest "Pirates" surpassed the $86 million that "Fast Five" earned to post the biggest weekend of the year thus far.
But "On Stranger Tides" didn't just do well in the U.S., as it also received an aggressive worldwide release as well. "On Stranger Tides" hauled in a ridiculous $256 million worldwide in just a single weekend, giving it the top foreign release of all-time. Though "On Stranger Tides" will have some major competition over the next month, it will likely remain a significant foreign earner due to the familiarity of the series, the popularity of Johnny Depp and the top-tier special effects. Look for "On Stranger Tides" to continue to roll well into June.
While mainstream audiences packed in to see "Pirates," the young adult crowd still came out in droves to see comedy "Bridesmaids." Backed by very strong critical support and positive internet buzz, "Bridesmaids" brought in a respectable $21 million in its second weekend in theaters. With a drop of just 19.8% from its opening a week ago, it looks like "Bridesmaids" has a significant audience and will likely continue to do fairly well even with major competition next weekend from "The Hangover Part II."
Considering that "Bridesmaids" carries a production budget of just $32.5 million, a 10-day total right around $60 million is a very nice figure for distributor Universal and it looks to be one of the top comedy releases of the year. Even if "Bridesmaids" won't have much appeal outside of the U.S., it will likely come close to $100 million in the U.S. by the time its theatrical run is finished.
Also continuing to succeed on a much smaller scale is "Jumping the Broom." With a miniscule production budget of just $6.6 million and a release in the 2,500-theater range, "Jumping the Broom" has hauled in an impressive $31 million for distributor TriStar in 17 days in theaters. Even though "Jumping the Broom" isn't likely to last in the top ten for much longer, it's already a quiet commercial success and will likely inspire similar releases in the future.
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Cheap Trick rock NHL post-game in Tampa Bay

VIDEO: Cheap Trick rock NHL post-game in Tampa Bay

It’s a rare sight in Florida, but it does happen from time to time: I’m talking about an NHL Playoff game in May.

As the Tampa Bay Lightning battle the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference Finals, there was a rumbling sound outside the St. Pete’s Forum on May 21, following game 4 of the series (Tampa won the game 5-2 to ties the series at two apiece.).

It was Cheap Trick.

The legendary Illinois band packed in the fans outside the Forum for a 12-song, 50-minute set of high-energy rock, full of classic Trick songs, with a few covers thrown in.

Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick – I Want You To Want Me
St. Pete Times Forum - Tampa Bay, FL – May 21, 2011


Cheap Trick – Surrender
St. Pete Times Forum - Tampa Bay, FL – May 21, 2011


Cheap Trick – Dream Police
St. Pete Times Forum - Tampa Bay, FL – May 21, 2011

Smithsonian’s Q & A with Eddie Van Halen

Recently, guitarist Eddie Van Halen donated his guitar, the Frank 2, to the National Museum of American History. Smithsonian corresponded with him via email about his decision to give up his cherished guitar.
“Eruption” is widely regarded as one of the greatest-if not the greatest-guitar solos ever. What’s the best guitar solo you ever heard performed by another musician?
There are so many, it’s difficult to pinpoint it down to one.
You’ve collaborated on projects with a number of musicians over the years, including Brian May, Geezer Butler, and Thomas Dolby. Do any collaborations stand out as your favorite?
Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” is a stand out for me. Quincy Jones called me up and asked me to play on it. When I got there it took me 15 minutes to rearrange the song and I played 2 solos and told them they could pick the one they liked best. Then Michael walked in and said wow! I really like that high fast stuff you do. It was a lot of fun to do. Its crazy that something could take such a short amount of time and can grow into something beyond anything you could ever imagine.
You patented a “musical instrument support.” What is that?
That patent came out of a technique I used when playing the guitar’s fingerboard: laying it flat, using both of my hands at the same time. To do this I needed the fingerboard to face upward like the keyboard of a piano. The device I patented enabled me to do that. It also comes in very handy for lap steel players.
You donated Frankenstein 2 to the Smithsonian, but tell us about the original Frankenstein.
The original Frankenstein was a result of me tinkering and experimenting with different elements of electric guitars that I liked. The thing was that some guitars had elements that I liked, but at the same time had certain elements that I didn’t care for either. If I could combine those elements into one guitar, then I could have an instrument that enabled me to create and play what I heard in my head without any restrictions.
You’ve said that you hated “store-bought, off-the-rack” guitars, because they would not do what you wanted them to do. What did you want from your guitar?
I wanted the electronics (humbucking pickups) of one manufacturers guitar, while I preferred the body, neck and tailpiece of another manufacturers guitar.
And how did you achieve that?
I combined the 4 elements into Frankenstein, which resulted in a guitar that did what I wanted it to do, more than anything I had ever played before. In addition, I created an instrument that wasn’t offered as an “off the rack” guitar by any manufacturer at the time.
What became of Frankenstein 1?
I retired it from regular use. It took so much abuse from endless touring and recording; I wanted to pay some respect to it and let it survive and not let it get destroyed completely. At the same time it became something so well known beyond my wildest dreams that it’s value made it a target for theft and I wanted to protect it. I still play it every now and then. It’s priceless to me.
What did you think of Frankenstein 2, the first time you played it?
I was blown away. We did a blindfold test and it took me a while to figure out which one was the original and which one was Frank 2. The aesthetic accuracy was astounding.
And how did the Replica Frank 2 compare to the original?
From a playability stand point Frank 2 was actually easier to play and fought me less than the original. Frank 1 was something I built around 1975, so it reflected my experience in building guitars at that time.
How could you part with it?
What better home for it than the Smithsonian Institution where it could be on display for the rest of time so others can appreciate it. It’s the highest honor I could imagine for something so dear to me.

Blink-182 Leads 2011 Honda Civic Tour

05/24/2011
. Blink-182 is set to head up the 2011 Honda Civic Tour, 10 years after they played the trek's inaugural run. The summer and fall tour is set to run for 40-plus dates nationwide will kick off on Friday, August 5th and will run until October 15th when it wraps in San Diego, CA.
Support acts for the anniversary tour include Manchester Orchestra, Rancid and Matt & Kim.

"It's great to be going back out on the Honda Civic Tour," said Mark Hoppus of blink-182. "We had a blast kicking off the tour ten years ago, and this summer we'll be taking it to the next level with our friends ."

2011 Honda Civic Tour
FRI-August 5 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center *
SAT-August 6 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater *
SUN-August 7 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater ~
TUE-August 9 Boston, MA Comcast Center *
THU-August 11 Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center *
FRI-August 12 Washington, DC Jiffy Lube Live *
SAT-August 13 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Pavilion *
SUN-August 14 Hartford, CT The Comcast Theatre *
FRI-August 19 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre *
SAT-August 20 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Pavilion *
SUN-August 21 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center *
TUE-August 23 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheater *
THU-September 1 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheater +
SAT-September 3 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheater +
SUN-September 4 Denver, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheater +
WED-September 7 Minneapolis, MN Xcel Energy Center ^
THU-September 8 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena ~
FRI-September 9 Kansas City, MO Sandstone Amphitheater ^
SAT-September 10 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center ^
SUN-September 11 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre ^
TUE-September 13 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center ^
THU-September 15 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion ^
FRI-September 16 Saratoga, NY SPAC ^
SAT-September 17 Philadelphia, PA Susquehanna Bank Center ^
SUN-September 18 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach ^
TUE-September 20 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheater ^
WED-September 21 Atlanta, GA Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood ^
FRI-September 23 Miami, FL Cruzan Amphitheater ^
SAT-September 24 Tampa, FL 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre ^
MON-September 26 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion ^
TUE-September 27 Dallas, TX Gexa Energy Pavilion ^
THU-September 29 Albuquerque, NM Hard Rock Casino Albuquerque Presents: The Pavilion ^
FRI-September 30 Phoenix, AZ Tempe Beach Park Amphitheatre ^
SAT-October 1 Anaheim, CA Honda Center ^
SUN-October 2 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre ^
TUE-October 4 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord ^
WED-October 5 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre ^
FRI-October 7 Las Vegas, NV Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino ^
SAT-October 8 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl ^
SAT-October 15 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre ^* with Manchester Orchestra
+ with Rancid
^ with Matt & Kim
~ support TBA

Tom Cruise Has Committed To Star For Universal Pictures In "Oblivion"

 

EXCLUSIVE: Tom Cruise has committed to star for Universal Pictures in Oblivion, the science fiction film that will be directed by Joseph Kosinski, who last helmed Tron: Legacy. Production will begin in October. Cruise had been loosely attached to the Radical Publishing graphic novel adaptation when Disney let it go and Universal committed to finance and distribute the $100 million film, which came with a William Monahan script that was being rewritten by Karl Gajdusek. Kosinski hatched the idea for the project and set it to be published by Barry Levine's graphic novel imprint as a calling card for a movie when Kosinski was busy for so long directing Tron: Legacy, which topped out at $400 million worldwide gross.
Disney acquired the graphic novel in a heated auction last summer, and Universal was one of the studios that also chased it. It takes place in an apocalyptic future where most of the population lives in clouds above an earth surface that has been rendered uninhabitable. Cruise will play a soldier who's stuck alone on the planet, repairing the drones that patrol and destroy a savage alien life form. He encounters a beautiful woman who crashes in a craft, and their experience together forces him to question his world view. Disney allowed Kosinski to shop it because it didn't fit its family-film mold and attempts to rein it in to a PG rating was creatively strangling the project. It will be PG-13.
Cruise has just begun shooting the Adam Shankman-directed Rock of Ages, the adaptation of the Broadway musical for New Line. Cruise plays the decadent rocker Stacee Jaxx, and gets to belt out the Bon Jovi hit Wanted Dead or Alive and duet with Malin Akerman on the Foreigner hit I Want to Know What Love Is. Cruise will follow with Oblivion. Less clear is what happens after that. Cruise had been mentioned as circling Pacific Rim, the Legendary Pictures-hatched monster movie that will be directed by Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro expected to be working with Cruise at Universal this year on At the Mountains of Madness, but the studio put the brakes on that adaptation of the HP Lovecraft horror tale because the film has its R-rating. While del Toro and Cruise could wind up making Pacific Rim at year's end, the actor's participation in that one isn't certain, though they are talking. CAA-repped Cruise's next film is Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, the Brad Bird-directed fourth installment of the Paramount Pictures series that opens Dec. 16. Cruise is also in the center of a script pitch by Crazy, Stupid, Love scribe Dan Fogelman that sold to Warner Bros last month in a bidding battle. Cruise will play a politician whose pristine reputation is shattered when he gets caught having an affair. With his reputation in tatters, the pol retreats to his hometown to lick his wounds, repair relationships and confront his past. Talk about a timely premise.

Slash: Van Halen mixing album

SATURDAY, 21 MAY 2011

On May 17, Tom Russell of U.K.’s Rock Radio conducted an interview with legendary guitarist Slash (Velvet Revolver, Guns ‘n’ Roses). Here’s what Slash had to say about what Van Halen is up to:

Slash: “I’m a huge Van Halen fan. They’re finishing [up their new album right now], actually. I don’t wanna speak on their behalf, but one of the guys that works for us works for Van Halen in the studio and he told me that they’re in the mixing stages.”

Here’s some more comments we gathered from over the years that Slash has made regarding Van Halen:

“And when Van Halen came out, it was such a mind-blowing thing—and everybody decided to go there. Within hours of Van Halen first playing at the Starwood, there were 50 guys trying to do that whole ‘Eddie Van Halen guitar playing’ thing, copping his whole trip. When I saw Van Halen, I was like, ‘Wow! That’s brilliant!’” (Guitar One magazine, Apr. 2000)

“In junior high school [original Guns n’ Roses drummer] Steven Adler and I would race our bikes and cut through the school fence so we could hang out, smoke pot and do chicks. One day he played ‘Eruption/You Really Got Me’ for me, and I couldn’t believe the intensity of it. We listened to that first Van Halen album constantly. But I never picked up on that whole whammy-bar, tapping school of playing. But the last time I saw Eddie [Van Halen], he really gave me some nice compliments on my solo in ‘Paradise City.’ Suddenly I realized that even though I never tried to imitate him, I do have a knack for going for the same kind of fast, fluid passages he does—which I obviously picked up from listening to Van Halen records.” (Guitar World magazine, Nov. 2000)

“Eddie Van Halen was and is the pinnacle of Van Halen. His guitar playing transcends the boundaries of rock ’n’ roll guitar, bending all the rules of traditional techniques. His style quickly revolutionized the genre and influenced the next generation of guitar players worldwide. Not since Jimi Hendrix has there been such an impact on the way rock ’n’ roll guitar is played. Eddie is one of the greatest guitar players to ever come along.

There’s not much more to say.” (Van Halen: A Visual History, 1978-1984 by Neil Zlozower)

Yet later, Slash did indeed have more to say–he wrote the foreward to the upcoming Eddie Van Halen photo book by Neil Zlozower, due in October 2011.

George Lynch on Don Dokken "He is just a piece of shit!"

George Lynch on Don Dokken "He is just a piece of shit!"

Friday, 20 May 2011

George Lynch on Don Dokken "He is just a piece of shit!" George on Don: "He's a miserable guy and he will stay miserable in his own skin." Rob Cavuoto of Guitar International has just conducted an interview with legendary guitarist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB, SOULS OF WE). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below. Guitar International:I really thought the reunion [of the classic DOKKEN lineup] was going to happen when you went on Eddie Trunk's "That Metal Show". I assumed, as most fans, that this was a done deal. George Lynch: I feel like a fool because I got played again for the last fucking time! Like an idiot I went along with it but looking back I see what he was really doing. He was blowing wind in his sails by creating the impression that there was a reunion pending. That people were going to wake up and pay attention, that his guarantees were going to go up, and people are going to show up to his shows thinking I'm in the band. If we did reunite we would all be working for him. He's a miserable guy and he will stay miserable in his own skin. I wouldn't want to have 100 million dollars and live in that guy's brain and skin. He is just a piece of shit. Guitar International: I'm not sure Don has a lot of credibility these days and think most fans realize that. George Lynch:When the band was intact, he had to maintain a certain level of professionalism. He had to maintain his voice, his behavior and what he said. He didn't like that. He is a very lazy person. He doesn't have a good work ethic and he surrounds himself with himself. He will never be happy. What he will never get, and I told him, it's not about the money and success, though you want people to hear the music. It's about giving the fans something they would like and enjoy. It's not about you, we are just the conduits. It comes through us but it's not about us. He doesn't get it. When musicians start to take themselves too seriously that's when it gets ugly in believing all the hype. My heroes are blue-collar people that work for a living. Not assholes like him who take credit for shit they don't do and expect everything handed to them on a silver platter. Have some respect for the people who are paying your bills. Read more at Guitar International.

'Pirates Of The Caribbean' Set To Dominate The Box Office

(RTTNews) - In a weekend with just one wide release, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" is in clear position to put up not only a chart-topping weekend but the top opening of the year so far. Following strong early numbers, "Thor" and "Fast Five" should both see substantial drops in revenue due to strong competition from "Pirates," while R-rated comedy "Bridesmaids" is set up for a very nice second weekend in theaters.

When "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" first hit theaters in 2003, Johnny Depp was a popular actor but nowhere near the top box office draw in the entire world. With the strong success of the first entry, however, Depp was catapulted to the very top of the A-list and an enormous franchise was born. Though "Black Pearl" was a big hit, sequels "Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End" were considerably bigger; "Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End" averaged more than $1 billion in worldwide revenue, making the "Pirates" series one of the premier franchises in Hollywood.
Even if director Gore Verbinski, who helmed the first three, dropped out of "On Stranger Tides" to focus on other projects, Disney found a nice replacement in veteran Rob Marshall to take over the series. Though Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom both dropped out of the series as well, it's unlikely that will slow down the series in any way, with Depp still remaining as the top draw.
Disney also made some interesting additions to the cast, including Penelope Cruz and British actor Ian McShane. McShane is mostly known from HBO's critically lauded historical series "Deadwood" and he seems to be a great fit as Blackbeard, one of the most infamous pirates of all time. Adding in a quest for the Fountain of Youth, "On Stranger Tides" looks to have plenty of fantastical action and top-tier special effects to satisfy mainstream audiences, which should lead to an enormous weekend.


The only downside for "On Stranger Tides" is that both "Thor" and "Fast Five" continue to do very well with action audiences, which will take away a small portion of its intended demographic. Even if it doesn't approach the $135 million that "Dead Man's Chest" earned in its opening weekend back in 2006, a weekend intake in the neighborhood of $100 million certainly seems like a possibility. With the international pull of Buena Vista/Disney and the worldwide reputation of Depp, not to mention Geoffrey Rush from "The King's Speech," "On Stranger Tides" should put up very big numbers across the globe over the next couple of weekends.
Though "On Stranger Tides" will definitely affect the revenues of "Thor" and "Fast Five," R-rated comedy "Bridesmaids" should continue to do very well with adult audiences looking to stay out of the "Pirates" hoopla. "Bridesmaids" posted a very nice $26 million opening a week ago and boasts very strong critical and user reviews, which should translate to continued success through the rest of the month. Expect a small revenue decline for "Bridesmaids" this weekend and for it to post a strong 10-day total for a $32 million production released at less than 3,000 venues.
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NEW KEVIN JAMES MOVIE "THE ZOO KEEPER"

(RTTNews) - "Zookeeper," July 8th:

Those looking for some over-the-top family comedy will definitely find it with "Zookeeper," a screwball comedy starring Kevin James and Rosario Dawson. The plot loosely involves a zookeeper who discovers that the animals can actually talk and scheme - a story that sounds strikingly similar to "Night at the Museum."
Though the new trailer looks incredibly silly, there is a lot of money to be made with easy-to-grasp family comedies heavy on the slapstick. Audiences have definitely gravitated toward James in recent years, making him a very good fit for material that doesn't shy away from being completely ridiculous.
Those lending voices for the animals include Adam Sandler, Sly Stallone, Cher, Jon Favreau and Judd Apatow.
Box office outlook:
Material that may seem too absurd and unrealistic to adults can still find a nice home with family audiences, which is what distributor Sony/Columbia is banking on. Even family films that get absolutely shredded by critics, like "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," can post very big box office numbers due to a big built-in audience.
Family audiences are very familiar with Kevin James at this point after "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and "Zookeeper" carries a PG rating, which should combine for a pretty solid mid-summer box office run.
by RTT Staff Writer

Yawn-Inducing Fourth "Pirates" Entry Is More Of The Same

Yawn-Inducing Fourth "Pirates" Entry Is More Of The Same

5/20/2011 3:03 PM ET 

Even though the makers of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" fixed a few things from the last couple of entries, the latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" is yet another loud, supercharged CGI extravaganza that mainly tries to hit all the same notes of the original. Johnny Depp is still occasionally funny as Captain Jack Sparrow, but it's also a character that doesn't have enough depth for 10 hours of film, which is the grand total for the "Pirates" franchise now.