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Welcome to FabricationsHQ
Home to the musical articles, reviews and features by
Ross Muir
Music Critic, Freelance Writer, Artist Review & Promotion
"Putting the Words to the Music"
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Welcome to FabricationsHQ
Home to the musical articles, reviews and features by
Ross Muir
Music Critic, Freelance Writer, Artist Review & Promotion
"Putting the Words to the Music"
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Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News
Rolling Stone recently ran a little article entitled "Why Are MTV and Spotify Joining Forces?"
Oh, I think we know the answer to that one.
The article was a response to the announcement from the two companies earlier in July, which confirmed a deal is in place that will make music from VH1's Love and Hip Hop and MTV's Video Music Awards available on Spotify's Browse section.
"MTV understands audiences and genres better than most — in some ways, they created these genres," so stated Jorge Espinel, Spotify's head of global business development, in conversation with Rolling Stone.
MTV understands what sells extremely well and created a market for an audience ready to lap up the All Video Gloss and No Substance product; I'll give you that, Jorge.
Much like the Live Nation merger with Ticket Master, such merging and monopolising wins out at the expense of the creative artist trying to get a leg up, an honest streaming buck or a 20 minute opening slot on a major tour (something that was once a given).
The plastic pop and manufactured MTV crowd get even more exposure/ streaming time while the struggling and genuinely creative artist continues to find it harder and harder to be heard, outside of the 0.003 pence/ cent per (sometimes unauthorised) streamed play.
In commercial terms, the Manufactured Creation is a more important tool than Musical Creativity.
No matter how good, bad or indifferent it may be, it's all about maximising profit.
Read the full Rolling Stone article here:
http://m.rollingstone.com/music/news/why-are-mtv-and-spotify-joining-forces-20140724
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Oh, I think we know the answer to that one.
The article was a response to the announcement from the two companies earlier in July, which confirmed a deal is in place that will make music from VH1's Love and Hip Hop and MTV's Video Music Awards available on Spotify's Browse section.
"MTV understands audiences and genres better than most — in some ways, they created these genres," so stated Jorge Espinel, Spotify's head of global business development, in conversation with Rolling Stone.
MTV understands what sells extremely well and created a market for an audience ready to lap up the All Video Gloss and No Substance product; I'll give you that, Jorge.
Much like the Live Nation merger with Ticket Master, such merging and monopolising wins out at the expense of the creative artist trying to get a leg up, an honest streaming buck or a 20 minute opening slot on a major tour (something that was once a given).
The plastic pop and manufactured MTV crowd get even more exposure/ streaming time while the struggling and genuinely creative artist continues to find it harder and harder to be heard, outside of the 0.003 pence/ cent per (sometimes unauthorised) streamed play.
In commercial terms, the Manufactured Creation is a more important tool than Musical Creativity.
No matter how good, bad or indifferent it may be, it's all about maximising profit.
Read the full Rolling Stone article here:
http://m.rollingstone.com/music/news/why-are-mtv-and-spotify-joining-forces-20140724
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State of Salazar - All the Way Frontiers Records
When State of Salazar released their debut EP Lost My Way in the summer of 2012, it spread fast across magazines and blogs, creating a flood of praise.
The Swedish quintet received many positive reviews from all over the world during a very short period:
"This is something that can grow really big." "...State of Salazar will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the genre." "…this EP is an extremely polished piece of art..." "The performances and the production are superb…"
With bands such as Toto, Queen, Journey, Survivor and especially Bill Conti and Vince DiCola in their influences, State of Salazar have indeed a lot to prove, but they handle all this pressure with their honour intact and their heads held high.
State of Salazar was started in 2010 by five students from the Malmö Academy of Music who wanted to play rock music made for the big arenas; they have now started their journey towards those big crowds.
Singer and songwriter Marcus Nygren began thinking of having a band like State of Salazar in 2009 when he wrote a couple of songs that did not fit his metal-based band 8-Point Rose.
"To find great musicians at the Academy was no problem" states Marcus; all members of State of Salazar have a passion for West Coast, AOR and similar musical genres.
State of Salazar is as much a group of good friends as it is a quintet of great musicians.
And all members – Marcus Nygren (vocals), Johan Thuresson (guitars), Johannes Hansson (bass), Kristian Brun (drums) and Stefan Mårtenson (keyboards) – are frequently hired for various events that differ in musical character.
For example Johan Thuresson plays in the progressive pop band The Million, Kristian Brun plays ska with Scaramanga and all band members have appeared in several studio and live sessions.
There is no mistaking the band delivers "feel good" music and that’s not a surprise as one of their biggest influences is "training montage" music; one of the many reasons why State of Salazar stands out from other bands in the same melodic genres.
State of Salazar is not a retro band, or a walk down memory lane.
They write songs and play music that strives forward and not backwards. Their song writing, arranging and instrumental performance show that this is a band that wants to develop and contribute to the melodic rock genre.
State of Salazar – All the Way
Release dates: August 22nd (Europe); August 25th (North America)
Track listing:
I Believe In You; Field of Dreams; All the Way; Love of My Life; Eat Your Heart Out; Time to Say Goodbye; Marie; Let Me Love; Catastrophe; Always; Adrian; End of Time.
State of Salazar
Marcus Nygren – Vocals
Johan Thuresson – Guitar
Stefan Mårtenson – Keyboard
Johannes Hansson – Bass
Kristian Brun – Drums
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The Swedish quintet received many positive reviews from all over the world during a very short period:
"This is something that can grow really big." "...State of Salazar will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the genre." "…this EP is an extremely polished piece of art..." "The performances and the production are superb…"
With bands such as Toto, Queen, Journey, Survivor and especially Bill Conti and Vince DiCola in their influences, State of Salazar have indeed a lot to prove, but they handle all this pressure with their honour intact and their heads held high.
State of Salazar was started in 2010 by five students from the Malmö Academy of Music who wanted to play rock music made for the big arenas; they have now started their journey towards those big crowds.
Singer and songwriter Marcus Nygren began thinking of having a band like State of Salazar in 2009 when he wrote a couple of songs that did not fit his metal-based band 8-Point Rose.
"To find great musicians at the Academy was no problem" states Marcus; all members of State of Salazar have a passion for West Coast, AOR and similar musical genres.
State of Salazar is as much a group of good friends as it is a quintet of great musicians.
And all members – Marcus Nygren (vocals), Johan Thuresson (guitars), Johannes Hansson (bass), Kristian Brun (drums) and Stefan Mårtenson (keyboards) – are frequently hired for various events that differ in musical character.
For example Johan Thuresson plays in the progressive pop band The Million, Kristian Brun plays ska with Scaramanga and all band members have appeared in several studio and live sessions.
There is no mistaking the band delivers "feel good" music and that’s not a surprise as one of their biggest influences is "training montage" music; one of the many reasons why State of Salazar stands out from other bands in the same melodic genres.
State of Salazar is not a retro band, or a walk down memory lane.
They write songs and play music that strives forward and not backwards. Their song writing, arranging and instrumental performance show that this is a band that wants to develop and contribute to the melodic rock genre.
State of Salazar – All the Way
Release dates: August 22nd (Europe); August 25th (North America)
Track listing:
I Believe In You; Field of Dreams; All the Way; Love of My Life; Eat Your Heart Out; Time to Say Goodbye; Marie; Let Me Love; Catastrophe; Always; Adrian; End of Time.
State of Salazar
Marcus Nygren – Vocals
Johan Thuresson – Guitar
Stefan Mårtenson – Keyboard
Johannes Hansson – Bass
Kristian Brun – Drums
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Europe, with Special Guests the Black Star Riders, will play a fourteen-date UK tour next spring.
The tour, a Planet Rock Live presentation, is bookended by twin dates in Glasgow and London.
Both bands are due to release new albums around the time of the tour; tickets are on sale now.
Europe & the Black Star Riders - Live And Loud In The UK 2015
5th March – Glasgow, O2 ABC
6th March – Glasgow, O2 ABC
7th March - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, O2 Academy
8th March – Leeds, O2 Academy
10th March – Nottingham, Rock City
11th March – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
13th March – Manchester, Academy
14th March – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
15th March – Exeter, University Great Hall
16th March – Bristol, O2 Academy
18th March – Bournemouth, O2 Academy
19th March – Norwich, The Nick Rayns LCR
20th March – London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
21st March – London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
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The tour, a Planet Rock Live presentation, is bookended by twin dates in Glasgow and London.
Both bands are due to release new albums around the time of the tour; tickets are on sale now.
Europe & the Black Star Riders - Live And Loud In The UK 2015
5th March – Glasgow, O2 ABC
6th March – Glasgow, O2 ABC
7th March - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, O2 Academy
8th March – Leeds, O2 Academy
10th March – Nottingham, Rock City
11th March – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
13th March – Manchester, Academy
14th March – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
15th March – Exeter, University Great Hall
16th March – Bristol, O2 Academy
18th March – Bournemouth, O2 Academy
19th March – Norwich, The Nick Rayns LCR
20th March – London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
21st March – London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
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ASIA - High Voltage Live Frontiers Records
Recorded on the 24th July 2010 at the inaugural High Voltage Festival in Victoria Park, London, this ASIA live CD/ DVD captures the band in the original line-up performing classic material from the debut album plus songs from the first two post-reunion albums Phoenix and Omega.
The show was performed to an enthusiastic festival crowd ready to hear the world’s biggest selling album of 1982 performed in its entirety; the DVD is the only video document of the original line-up performing the debut album in full.
This live CD/ DVD is an irreplaceable companion to the original studio album and the reunion that saw the original members of ASIA return to and stay at the top of their game, this time in front of a home audience.
ASIA - High Voltage Live
Release dates: August 22nd (Europe); August 25th (North America)
Track listing (CD and DVD):
Only Time Will Tell, Wildest Dreams, One Step Closer, An Extraordinary Life, Time Again, Cutting it Fine, Without You, I Believe, Here Comes the Feeling, Sole Survivor, Heat of the Moment.
Geoff Downes: keyboards
Steve Howe: guitars
Carl Palmer: drums
John Wetton: lead vocal and bass
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The show was performed to an enthusiastic festival crowd ready to hear the world’s biggest selling album of 1982 performed in its entirety; the DVD is the only video document of the original line-up performing the debut album in full.
This live CD/ DVD is an irreplaceable companion to the original studio album and the reunion that saw the original members of ASIA return to and stay at the top of their game, this time in front of a home audience.
ASIA - High Voltage Live
Release dates: August 22nd (Europe); August 25th (North America)
Track listing (CD and DVD):
Only Time Will Tell, Wildest Dreams, One Step Closer, An Extraordinary Life, Time Again, Cutting it Fine, Without You, I Believe, Here Comes the Feeling, Sole Survivor, Heat of the Moment.
Geoff Downes: keyboards
Steve Howe: guitars
Carl Palmer: drums
John Wetton: lead vocal and bass
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Motörhead's Phil Campbell, under the guise of Phil Campbell’s All Starr Band (featuring his sons Dane (Straight Lines), Tyler (People The Poet) and Todd) will perform at this year’s Planet Rockstock festival.
Campbell's All Starr Band will perform on the Main Stage on the Friday night of the weekend event; other confirmed Main Stage acts include Magnum (Headliners, Sunday) and Joe Elliot’s Down ‘n’ Outz (Special Guests, Saturday).
The final bands for the Second Stage have also been announced; the complete Second Stage line-up is: Aaron Keylock, Electric River, Fireroad, Gun Metal Gray, Liberty Lies, Touchstone, Vega, Lawless, Serpentine, Purson, Skam, Preachers Son, Dante Fox, The Amorettes.
Planet Rockstock is held at Park Dean Holiday Park, Trecco Bay, Wales from the 5th-7th December.
Tickets are on sale now.
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Campbell's All Starr Band will perform on the Main Stage on the Friday night of the weekend event; other confirmed Main Stage acts include Magnum (Headliners, Sunday) and Joe Elliot’s Down ‘n’ Outz (Special Guests, Saturday).
The final bands for the Second Stage have also been announced; the complete Second Stage line-up is: Aaron Keylock, Electric River, Fireroad, Gun Metal Gray, Liberty Lies, Touchstone, Vega, Lawless, Serpentine, Purson, Skam, Preachers Son, Dante Fox, The Amorettes.
Planet Rockstock is held at Park Dean Holiday Park, Trecco Bay, Wales from the 5th-7th December.
Tickets are on sale now.
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Different Shades of Blue, Joe Bonamassa’s eleventh solo album in fourteen years and first to contain all-new material – not a cover in sight – is set for a September 22nd release.
Meanwhile the track has been released as a video.
Meanwhile the track has been released as a video.
As is now seemingly mandatory for all new big-name releases, Bonamassa’s forthcoming album will be available on various formats including Limited Edition CD with 64-page hardcover digibook, 180 gram black vinyl and vinyl picture disc.
Different Shades of Blue track listing:
Hey Baby (New Rising Sun), Oh Beautiful!, Love Ain't a Love Song, Living On the Moon, Heartache Follows Wherever I Go, Never Give All Your Heart, I Gave Up Everything For You 'Cept the Blues, Different Shades of Blue, Get Back My Tomorrow, Trouble Town, So, What Would I Do.
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Different Shades of Blue track listing:
Hey Baby (New Rising Sun), Oh Beautiful!, Love Ain't a Love Song, Living On the Moon, Heartache Follows Wherever I Go, Never Give All Your Heart, I Gave Up Everything For You 'Cept the Blues, Different Shades of Blue, Get Back My Tomorrow, Trouble Town, So, What Would I Do.
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Robin Trower has announced a UK Tour for the spring of 2015, in support of a new album.
While there is no further news on what will be the legendary guitarist’s follow up to 2013's Roots and Branches, the tour dates have been confirmed. Tickets are on sale now.
Robin Trower UK Tour 2015
26th March – Lincoln, Engine Shed
27th March – Bury St Edmunds, The Apex
28th March – Birmingham, Town Hall
29th March – Salford, Lowry
2nd April – Chester, Live Rooms
3rd April – Gateshead, The Sage
4th April – Glasgow, The Arches
5th April – Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree
7th April – Stockton-on-Tees, The Arc
8th April – York, The Barbican
9th April – Sheffield, City Hall
10th April – Holmfirth, Picturedrome
11th April – London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
14th April – Crawley, The Hawth
15th April – Exeter, Corn Exchange
16th April – Salisbury, City Hall
17th April – Milton Keynes, The Stables
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While there is no further news on what will be the legendary guitarist’s follow up to 2013's Roots and Branches, the tour dates have been confirmed. Tickets are on sale now.
Robin Trower UK Tour 2015
26th March – Lincoln, Engine Shed
27th March – Bury St Edmunds, The Apex
28th March – Birmingham, Town Hall
29th March – Salford, Lowry
2nd April – Chester, Live Rooms
3rd April – Gateshead, The Sage
4th April – Glasgow, The Arches
5th April – Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree
7th April – Stockton-on-Tees, The Arc
8th April – York, The Barbican
9th April – Sheffield, City Hall
10th April – Holmfirth, Picturedrome
11th April – London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
14th April – Crawley, The Hawth
15th April – Exeter, Corn Exchange
16th April – Salisbury, City Hall
17th April – Milton Keynes, The Stables
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Tommy Ramone (aka Erdélyi Tamás, born in Budapest, Hungary), drummer and last surviving original member of New York punk band The Ramones, died of cancer at his home in the city on Saturday 12th July. He was 62.
The death of Tommy Ramone (originally the band’s manager and also produced the group) completes the passing of the original quartet – singer Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Hyman) died in 2001 from lymphoma; bass player Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Colvin) died of a heroin overdose in 2002; guitarist Johnny Ramone (John Cummings) died from prostate cancer in 2004.
The band, whose members all took pseudonyms that ended with the surnames Ramone, were influenced by bands such as the Glam proto-punk New York Dolls but emerged from the City’s underground punk movement to become a highly influential unit – as was their 1976 debut album, credited as a defining factor in the UK punk scene that followed a year later.
Although the debut album initially sold poorly it became a notable and critically acclaimed release after the event; it's part of the triumvirate of their strongest and most influential albums that include the follow up Leave Home and their most well-known album Rocket to Russia, both released in 1977.
Tommy Ramone played on all three albums, co-producing two of them, before leaving the band in 1978.
He would later co-produce two further albums by The Ramones.
While later members of the band survive, the passing of Tommy Ramone marks the passing of a group who are regarded as one of the most important rock and roll bands of the 20th century.
Despite limited commercial success The Ramones are in the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (#26), were inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
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The death of Tommy Ramone (originally the band’s manager and also produced the group) completes the passing of the original quartet – singer Joey Ramone (Jeffrey Hyman) died in 2001 from lymphoma; bass player Dee Dee Ramone (Douglas Colvin) died of a heroin overdose in 2002; guitarist Johnny Ramone (John Cummings) died from prostate cancer in 2004.
The band, whose members all took pseudonyms that ended with the surnames Ramone, were influenced by bands such as the Glam proto-punk New York Dolls but emerged from the City’s underground punk movement to become a highly influential unit – as was their 1976 debut album, credited as a defining factor in the UK punk scene that followed a year later.
Although the debut album initially sold poorly it became a notable and critically acclaimed release after the event; it's part of the triumvirate of their strongest and most influential albums that include the follow up Leave Home and their most well-known album Rocket to Russia, both released in 1977.
Tommy Ramone played on all three albums, co-producing two of them, before leaving the band in 1978.
He would later co-produce two further albums by The Ramones.
While later members of the band survive, the passing of Tommy Ramone marks the passing of a group who are regarded as one of the most important rock and roll bands of the 20th century.
Despite limited commercial success The Ramones are in the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (#26), were inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
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After the Tweet comes the official statement…
Pink Floyd have confirmed they will be releasing an album of new music before the end of the year.
For new music however read "previously unreleased" and, no doubt, a lot of additionally recorded instrumentation.
Because as the rumours suggested, which themselves came off the back of a Tweet from David Gilmour’s wife Polly (who claimed a new album of 1994 recordings would be released in October) the album is a primarily instrumental work based on music recorded during the 1993/ 1994 Division Bell sessions.
The official statement reads:
"Pink Floyd can confirm that they are releasing a new album The Endless River in October 2014.
It is an album of mainly ambient and instrumental music based on the 1993/4 Division Bell sessions which feature David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright. The album is produced by David Gilmour with Phil Manzanera, Youth and recording engineer Andy Jackson.
Work is still in progress, but more details to come at the end of the Summer."
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Pink Floyd have confirmed they will be releasing an album of new music before the end of the year.
For new music however read "previously unreleased" and, no doubt, a lot of additionally recorded instrumentation.
Because as the rumours suggested, which themselves came off the back of a Tweet from David Gilmour’s wife Polly (who claimed a new album of 1994 recordings would be released in October) the album is a primarily instrumental work based on music recorded during the 1993/ 1994 Division Bell sessions.
The official statement reads:
"Pink Floyd can confirm that they are releasing a new album The Endless River in October 2014.
It is an album of mainly ambient and instrumental music based on the 1993/4 Division Bell sessions which feature David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright. The album is produced by David Gilmour with Phil Manzanera, Youth and recording engineer Andy Jackson.
Work is still in progress, but more details to come at the end of the Summer."
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Guitarist and songwriter John Spinks died after a long battle with liver cancer on the 10th of July.
He was 60 years old.
Spinks was part of the melodic power-pop-rock trio The Outfield, the British band that originally featured Spinks, lead vocalist and bass player Tony Lewis and drummer Alan Jackman.
While The Outfield never got the recognition they deserved back home they certainly made a name for themselves stateside – their 1985 debut album Play Deep became a triple platinum success; the follow-up, Bangin’, was a Billboard Top 20 hit.
The Top 10 hit single 'Your Love,' from Play Deep, was never off the US rock and pop radio stations in 1986.
As musical fashions changed chart sightings became rarer but the band’s music and song writing talents grew stronger – 1989’s Voices of Babylon is a melodic pop-rock classic while later albums such as Any Time Now (2006) and Replay (2011) were critically acclaimed releases.
Replay also featured original drummer Alan Jackman, who returned to the band in 2009.
The band had been recording new material in the months before John Spinks’ death; however what the future holds for the material is unclear at this time.
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He was 60 years old.
Spinks was part of the melodic power-pop-rock trio The Outfield, the British band that originally featured Spinks, lead vocalist and bass player Tony Lewis and drummer Alan Jackman.
While The Outfield never got the recognition they deserved back home they certainly made a name for themselves stateside – their 1985 debut album Play Deep became a triple platinum success; the follow-up, Bangin’, was a Billboard Top 20 hit.
The Top 10 hit single 'Your Love,' from Play Deep, was never off the US rock and pop radio stations in 1986.
As musical fashions changed chart sightings became rarer but the band’s music and song writing talents grew stronger – 1989’s Voices of Babylon is a melodic pop-rock classic while later albums such as Any Time Now (2006) and Replay (2011) were critically acclaimed releases.
Replay also featured original drummer Alan Jackman, who returned to the band in 2009.
The band had been recording new material in the months before John Spinks’ death; however what the future holds for the material is unclear at this time.
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Well, seems like America's Got Talent after all; the bigger surprise being it comes in the shape of an 84 year old man who writes and sings his own songs and has a wicked sense of humour...
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Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will release a new album entitled Lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar in September before embarking on a UK tour in November.
According to Plant the new album is "really a celebratory record, powerful, gritty, African, Trance meets Zep. The whole impetus of my life as a singer has to be driven by a good brotherhood. I am very lucky to work with The Sensational Space Shifters. They come from exciting areas of contemporary music…
Along the trail there are expectations, disappointments, happiness, questions and strong relationships and now I’m able to express my feelings through melody, power and trance; together in a kaleidoscope of sound, colour and friendship."
Not quite Justin Bieber, is it?
Lullaby and...The Ceaseless Roar will be released on September 8th with a lead-off single, 'Rainbow,' expected later in the summer.
Tickets for the November tour dates, listed below, are on sale now.
Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will release a new album entitled Lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar in September before embarking on a UK tour in November.
According to Plant the new album is "really a celebratory record, powerful, gritty, African, Trance meets Zep. The whole impetus of my life as a singer has to be driven by a good brotherhood. I am very lucky to work with The Sensational Space Shifters. They come from exciting areas of contemporary music…
Along the trail there are expectations, disappointments, happiness, questions and strong relationships and now I’m able to express my feelings through melody, power and trance; together in a kaleidoscope of sound, colour and friendship."
Not quite Justin Bieber, is it?
Lullaby and...The Ceaseless Roar will be released on September 8th with a lead-off single, 'Rainbow,' expected later in the summer.
Tickets for the November tour dates, listed below, are on sale now.
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Talking of Justin Bieber
(well, we weren’t really, but any excuse…)
Amnesty International has shown they have a sharp sense of humour even in the midst of a serious public awareness anti-torture campaign, featuring an Iggy Pop poster advertisement.
While the version shown here has been translated from the original French ("L'avenir du rock 'n' roll, c'est Justin Bieber")
the message and sentiment – both the physical and the musical
– will be understood in any language.
(well, we weren’t really, but any excuse…)
Amnesty International has shown they have a sharp sense of humour even in the midst of a serious public awareness anti-torture campaign, featuring an Iggy Pop poster advertisement.
While the version shown here has been translated from the original French ("L'avenir du rock 'n' roll, c'est Justin Bieber")
the message and sentiment – both the physical and the musical
– will be understood in any language.
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Joe Elliott's Down 'n' Outz have announced a small UK tour for the end of the year, in support of the recent album The Further Adventures Of…
Tickets are on sale now for the following shows:
5th December The Bierkeller, Bristol
6th December Park Dean Holiday Park, Trecco Bay
8th December The Garage, London
9th December Fibbers, York
11th December Corporation, Sheffield
12th December Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
14th December Riverside, Newcastle
15th December The Garage, Glasgow
17th December The Limelight, Belfast
18th December The Academy , Dublin
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Tickets are on sale now for the following shows:
5th December The Bierkeller, Bristol
6th December Park Dean Holiday Park, Trecco Bay
8th December The Garage, London
9th December Fibbers, York
11th December Corporation, Sheffield
12th December Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
14th December Riverside, Newcastle
15th December The Garage, Glasgow
17th December The Limelight, Belfast
18th December The Academy , Dublin
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The Who have announced nine arena show dates that will form the band’s 50th anniversary UK tour.
The dates are, according to Roger Daltrey, "the start of the band’s long goodbye;" the singer has also made mention of recording new music with Pete Townshend in the summer, all of which means there may well be new material come November.
The Who 50th Anniversary UK Tour:
30th November Glasgow - SECC
2nd December Leeds - First Direct Arena
5th December Nottingham - Capital FM Arena
7th December Birmingham - National Indoor Arena
9th December Newcastle - Metro Radio Arena
11th December Liverpool - Echo Arena
13th December Manchester - Phones 4U Arena
15th December Cardiff - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
17th December London - O2 Arena
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The dates are, according to Roger Daltrey, "the start of the band’s long goodbye;" the singer has also made mention of recording new music with Pete Townshend in the summer, all of which means there may well be new material come November.
The Who 50th Anniversary UK Tour:
30th November Glasgow - SECC
2nd December Leeds - First Direct Arena
5th December Nottingham - Capital FM Arena
7th December Birmingham - National Indoor Arena
9th December Newcastle - Metro Radio Arena
11th December Liverpool - Echo Arena
13th December Manchester - Phones 4U Arena
15th December Cardiff - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
17th December London - O2 Arena
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Mr Big, featuring the original line-up of Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey, have confirmed a one-off show at London’s Koko.
The 17th October gig will be the band’s only date in the UK in 2014.
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The 17th October gig will be the band’s only date in the UK in 2014.
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Chicago - NOW Frontiers Records
In the wild west of the 21st century endeavour of making music, Chicago NOW is a new frontier for the iconic "rock band with horns."
Putting aside an awesome accumulation of honours, awards, accomplishments, numbers and peer respect, this remarkable group of talented musicians continues to make history with a new recording process geared towards musical excellence; doing the business of music NOW while reckoning with the logistical realities of a world-wide touring band.
Chicago, with Lee Loughnane spearheading, has customized a new recording system (dubbed "the Rig") that is flexible, powerful, portable, and always travels with the band.
NOW was performed across a number of locations (mostly hotel rooms), including Nashville, Cleveland, Toledo, New Jersey, Spokane, and many other points across the globe.
In this new collaboration, each of the band’s songwriters becomes the "supervising producer" for their compositions. Hank Linderman, musician, and long-time studio engineer for Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, America, Robert Lamm and other successful artists, is the "coordinating producer."
Hank catalogues the multitude of audio takes and files, bringing logistical and production musicality to a complex procedure. With much effort a private on-line collaboration portal was created to allow performances to be worked on around the clock from remote locations.
Chicago has crafted band performances, in sync, with the songwriter, and is already working on their next collection of music!
Originally formed as the Chicago Transit Authority in 1967, the band found almost immediate success and has become a bona fide institution of American music.
Their signature sound of solid rock songs augmented by the best horns in the business has endeared them to several generations of music fans. Hit singles include 'If You Leave Me Now,' 'Saturday In The Park,' 'Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is,' 'Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,' '25 or 6 to 4,' 'Beginnings,' 'I’m a Man,' 'Hard To Say I’m Sorry,' '(I’ve Been) Searching So Long,' 'Look Away,' 'Just You And Me' and 'Old Days.'
The band has accumulated 22 gold and 18 platinum records and, according to Billboard chart statistics, Chicago is second only to the Beach Boys as the most successful American rock band of all time, in terms of both albums and singles.
Judged by album sales alone, as certified by the R.I.A.A., the band is still among the Top Ten best-selling U.S. groups ever.
Chicago:
Robert Lamm (keyboard, guitars, vocals), Lee Loughnane (trumpet, guitar, percussion, vocals), James Pankow (trombone, percussion, keyboards, vocals), Walter Parazaisder (woodwinds, backing vocals), Jason Scheff (bass, vocals), Tris Imboden (drums, percussion), Keith Howland (guitars, vocals), Lou Pardini (keyboards, vocals), Walfredo Reyes Jr (percussion).
NOW – Frontiers Records
Release dates: July 4th (Europe); July 8th (North America)
Track listing:
Now; More Will Be Revealed; America; Crazy Happy; Free At Last; Love Lives On; Something's Coming, I Know; Watching All The Colors; Nice Girl; Naked In The Garden Of Allah; Another Trippy Day.
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Putting aside an awesome accumulation of honours, awards, accomplishments, numbers and peer respect, this remarkable group of talented musicians continues to make history with a new recording process geared towards musical excellence; doing the business of music NOW while reckoning with the logistical realities of a world-wide touring band.
Chicago, with Lee Loughnane spearheading, has customized a new recording system (dubbed "the Rig") that is flexible, powerful, portable, and always travels with the band.
NOW was performed across a number of locations (mostly hotel rooms), including Nashville, Cleveland, Toledo, New Jersey, Spokane, and many other points across the globe.
In this new collaboration, each of the band’s songwriters becomes the "supervising producer" for their compositions. Hank Linderman, musician, and long-time studio engineer for Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, America, Robert Lamm and other successful artists, is the "coordinating producer."
Hank catalogues the multitude of audio takes and files, bringing logistical and production musicality to a complex procedure. With much effort a private on-line collaboration portal was created to allow performances to be worked on around the clock from remote locations.
Chicago has crafted band performances, in sync, with the songwriter, and is already working on their next collection of music!
Originally formed as the Chicago Transit Authority in 1967, the band found almost immediate success and has become a bona fide institution of American music.
Their signature sound of solid rock songs augmented by the best horns in the business has endeared them to several generations of music fans. Hit singles include 'If You Leave Me Now,' 'Saturday In The Park,' 'Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is,' 'Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,' '25 or 6 to 4,' 'Beginnings,' 'I’m a Man,' 'Hard To Say I’m Sorry,' '(I’ve Been) Searching So Long,' 'Look Away,' 'Just You And Me' and 'Old Days.'
The band has accumulated 22 gold and 18 platinum records and, according to Billboard chart statistics, Chicago is second only to the Beach Boys as the most successful American rock band of all time, in terms of both albums and singles.
Judged by album sales alone, as certified by the R.I.A.A., the band is still among the Top Ten best-selling U.S. groups ever.
Chicago:
Robert Lamm (keyboard, guitars, vocals), Lee Loughnane (trumpet, guitar, percussion, vocals), James Pankow (trombone, percussion, keyboards, vocals), Walter Parazaisder (woodwinds, backing vocals), Jason Scheff (bass, vocals), Tris Imboden (drums, percussion), Keith Howland (guitars, vocals), Lou Pardini (keyboards, vocals), Walfredo Reyes Jr (percussion).
NOW – Frontiers Records
Release dates: July 4th (Europe); July 8th (North America)
Track listing:
Now; More Will Be Revealed; America; Crazy Happy; Free At Last; Love Lives On; Something's Coming, I Know; Watching All The Colors; Nice Girl; Naked In The Garden Of Allah; Another Trippy Day.
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Ted Nugent - Shutup&Jam! Frontiers Records
Ted Nugent has carved a permanent place in rock & roll history as the ultimate guitar-shredding showman, selling more than 40 million albums, performing 6500 high-octane live shows and continuing to set attendance records at venues around the globe.
Hailing from Detroit, the guitarist's prodigious talents, ear-shattering volume and over-the-top onstage antics quickly earned Young Ted the moniker of "Motor City Madman," along with international acclaim.
Recognized as the world's leading guitar showman, Ted Nugent’s no-holds-barred career spans five decades of multi-platinum hits.
From the ground breaking Amboy Dukes' 'Journey to the Center of the Mind' to classics like 'Stranglehold' and 'Cat Scratch Fever,' the Damn Yankees chart buster 'High Enough,' cult classic 'Fred Bear,' (the most requested song for radio airplay in Michigan & Wisconsin) and now Shut Up & Jam!, Ted Nugent’s first new studio album in seven years!
The sounds he wrings from his almighty Gibson Byrdland leave audiences gasping for breath and begging for more. To millions of guitar lovers everywhere, Ted Nugent IS rock & roll!
Nugent was recently named Detroit’s Greatest Guitar Player of All Time by readers of MLive! and for millions of passionate music lovers everywhere, Ted delivers the Ultimate Life Soundtrack.
A Ted Nugent show is not just a performance -- t’s a fire breathing celebration!
TED NUGENT – Guitar and vocals
GREG SMITH – Bass
MICK BROWN – Drums
DEREK ST. HOLMES – Guitar and vocals
SAMMY HAGAR – Special guest on 'She’s Gone'
Shut Up & Jam! – Frontiers Records
Release dates: July 4th (Europe); July 8th (North America)
Track listing:
Shutup&Jam!; Fear Itself; Everything Matters; She's Gone; Never Stop Believing; I Still Believe; I Love My Bbq; Throttledown; Do-Rags and a .45; Screaming Eagles; Semper Fi; Trample The Weak Hurdle the Dead; Never Stop Believing (Blues)
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Hailing from Detroit, the guitarist's prodigious talents, ear-shattering volume and over-the-top onstage antics quickly earned Young Ted the moniker of "Motor City Madman," along with international acclaim.
Recognized as the world's leading guitar showman, Ted Nugent’s no-holds-barred career spans five decades of multi-platinum hits.
From the ground breaking Amboy Dukes' 'Journey to the Center of the Mind' to classics like 'Stranglehold' and 'Cat Scratch Fever,' the Damn Yankees chart buster 'High Enough,' cult classic 'Fred Bear,' (the most requested song for radio airplay in Michigan & Wisconsin) and now Shut Up & Jam!, Ted Nugent’s first new studio album in seven years!
The sounds he wrings from his almighty Gibson Byrdland leave audiences gasping for breath and begging for more. To millions of guitar lovers everywhere, Ted Nugent IS rock & roll!
Nugent was recently named Detroit’s Greatest Guitar Player of All Time by readers of MLive! and for millions of passionate music lovers everywhere, Ted delivers the Ultimate Life Soundtrack.
A Ted Nugent show is not just a performance -- t’s a fire breathing celebration!
TED NUGENT – Guitar and vocals
GREG SMITH – Bass
MICK BROWN – Drums
DEREK ST. HOLMES – Guitar and vocals
SAMMY HAGAR – Special guest on 'She’s Gone'
Shut Up & Jam! – Frontiers Records
Release dates: July 4th (Europe); July 8th (North America)
Track listing:
Shutup&Jam!; Fear Itself; Everything Matters; She's Gone; Never Stop Believing; I Still Believe; I Love My Bbq; Throttledown; Do-Rags and a .45; Screaming Eagles; Semper Fi; Trample The Weak Hurdle the Dead; Never Stop Believing (Blues)
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A new, rock based tribute to The Doors was released on Purple Pyramid Records on June the 24th.
Light My Fire - A Classic Rock Salute to The Doors includes over three dozen noted collaborators and guest artists including Todd Rundgren, Edgar Winter, Lou Gramm, Pat Travers, Mick Box, Ian Gillan, Steve Morse, Leslie West and a number of current and former members of YES.
The album, produced by Billy Sherwood, features fifteen classic Doors tracks including 'Light My Fire,' 'L.A. Woman,' 'Roadhouse Blues,' 'People Are Strange,' 'Love Me Two Times' and 'Riders on the Storm.'
Full track listing:
L.A. Woman
Featuring Jimi Jamison, Ted Turner and Patrick Moraz
Love Me Two Times
Featuring Lou Gramm, Thijs van Leer and Larry Coryell
Roadhouse Blues
Featuring Leslie West, Brian Auger and Rod Piazza
Love Her Madly
Featuring Mark Stein and Mick Box
Riders on the Storm
Featuring Joe Lynn Turner, Tony Kaye and Steve Cropper
The Crystal Ship
Featuring Edgar Winter and Chris Spedding
People Are Strange
Intro featuring Keith Emerson, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Joel Druckman
Song featuring David Johansen and Billy Sherwood
Touch Me
Featuring Robert Gordon, Jordan Rudess, Steve Morse and Nik Turner
The Soft Parade
Featuring Graham Bonnet, Christopher North and Steve Hillage
Hello, I Love You
Featuring Ken Hensley and Roye Albrighton
Spanish Caravan
Featuring Eric Martin and Elliot Easton
Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)
Featuring Todd Rundgren, Geoff Downes and Zoot Horn Rollo
Break On Through (to the Other Side)
Featuring Mark Farner and Chick Churchill
Light My Fire
Featuring Ian Gillan, Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe
The End
Featuring Pat Travers and Jimmy Greenspoon
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Light My Fire - A Classic Rock Salute to The Doors includes over three dozen noted collaborators and guest artists including Todd Rundgren, Edgar Winter, Lou Gramm, Pat Travers, Mick Box, Ian Gillan, Steve Morse, Leslie West and a number of current and former members of YES.
The album, produced by Billy Sherwood, features fifteen classic Doors tracks including 'Light My Fire,' 'L.A. Woman,' 'Roadhouse Blues,' 'People Are Strange,' 'Love Me Two Times' and 'Riders on the Storm.'
Full track listing:
L.A. Woman
Featuring Jimi Jamison, Ted Turner and Patrick Moraz
Love Me Two Times
Featuring Lou Gramm, Thijs van Leer and Larry Coryell
Roadhouse Blues
Featuring Leslie West, Brian Auger and Rod Piazza
Love Her Madly
Featuring Mark Stein and Mick Box
Riders on the Storm
Featuring Joe Lynn Turner, Tony Kaye and Steve Cropper
The Crystal Ship
Featuring Edgar Winter and Chris Spedding
People Are Strange
Intro featuring Keith Emerson, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Joel Druckman
Song featuring David Johansen and Billy Sherwood
Touch Me
Featuring Robert Gordon, Jordan Rudess, Steve Morse and Nik Turner
The Soft Parade
Featuring Graham Bonnet, Christopher North and Steve Hillage
Hello, I Love You
Featuring Ken Hensley and Roye Albrighton
Spanish Caravan
Featuring Eric Martin and Elliot Easton
Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)
Featuring Todd Rundgren, Geoff Downes and Zoot Horn Rollo
Break On Through (to the Other Side)
Featuring Mark Farner and Chick Churchill
Light My Fire
Featuring Ian Gillan, Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe
The End
Featuring Pat Travers and Jimmy Greenspoon
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Another Eels gig; another guest appearance.
Following Steve Perry's first on-stage lead vocal for 20 years, when he guested with The Eels at their St Paul gig on the 25th May, Perry rejoined the band six days later at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Following Steve Perry's first on-stage lead vocal for 20 years, when he guested with The Eels at their St Paul gig on the 25th May, Perry rejoined the band six days later at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C.
After a two-decade lay-off the St Paul gig came with to-be-expected pitching flubs and breath control issues (from which the flubs came), but it was still quite a return for a 65 year old singer who had been posted missing from the stage after a 20 year absence (and all the pressures such a return entails for a guy called Steve Perry).
There was even a Tenor A top note; damn.
But the difference between the Lincoln Theatre 15 minutes and the earlier St Paul's short-set was vast; oozing confidence and carrying the trademark Perry vocal gravitas, even although he is far from match fit.
And another Tenor A top note – and he's only about one key change and a few cracked notes away from his '95 live voice.
I've stated it before and I'll say it again – Freak of Vocal Nature.
Nice to see you back in action, Steve.
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There was even a Tenor A top note; damn.
But the difference between the Lincoln Theatre 15 minutes and the earlier St Paul's short-set was vast; oozing confidence and carrying the trademark Perry vocal gravitas, even although he is far from match fit.
And another Tenor A top note – and he's only about one key change and a few cracked notes away from his '95 live voice.
I've stated it before and I'll say it again – Freak of Vocal Nature.
Nice to see you back in action, Steve.
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The Australian Pink Floyd, the ultimate Pink Floyd tribute band and one of the best tribute acts in the world have announced a 22 date Welcome to the Machine Tour of the UK in 2015, celebrating 40 years of Wish You Were Here.
The two hour shows will feature vocalist Lorelei McBroom (who performed with Pink Floyd on the Momentary Lapse of Reason and Delicate Sound of Thunder tours) with Colin Norfield in a pivotal role as sound engineer (Norfield was Front Of House engineer on Pink Floyd’s Division Bell world tour).
Tickets go on sale on the 30th of May
The Australian Pink Floyd Welcome to the Machine UK Tour 2015:
Sunday 15th February - Belfast, Waterfront Hall
Thursday 19th February - Edinburgh, Usher Hall
Friday 2oth February - Newcastle, City Hall
Saturday 21st February - Glasgow, Hydro
Monday 23rd February - Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
Tuesday 24th February - Ipswich, Regent
Thursday 26th February - Folkestone, Leas Cliff Hall
Friday 27th February - Brighton, Centre
Saturday 28th February - London, Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
Monday 2nd March - Bristol, Colston Hall
Tuesday 3rd March - Plymouth, Pavilions
Thursday 5th March - Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
Friday 6th March - Bournemouth, BIC
Saturday 7th March - Cardiff, Cardiff Arena
Monday 9th March - Cambridge, Corn Exchange
Tuesday 10th March - Oxford, New Theatre
Thursday 12th March - Sheffield, City Hall
Friday 13th March - Leeds, First Direct Arena
Saturday 14th March - Liverpool, Liverpool Arena
Monday 16th March - Stoke, Victoria Hall
Tuesday 17th March - Preston, Guild Hall
Thursday 19th March - Leicester, De Montford Hall
Friday 20th March - Birmingham, NIA
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The two hour shows will feature vocalist Lorelei McBroom (who performed with Pink Floyd on the Momentary Lapse of Reason and Delicate Sound of Thunder tours) with Colin Norfield in a pivotal role as sound engineer (Norfield was Front Of House engineer on Pink Floyd’s Division Bell world tour).
Tickets go on sale on the 30th of May
The Australian Pink Floyd Welcome to the Machine UK Tour 2015:
Sunday 15th February - Belfast, Waterfront Hall
Thursday 19th February - Edinburgh, Usher Hall
Friday 2oth February - Newcastle, City Hall
Saturday 21st February - Glasgow, Hydro
Monday 23rd February - Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall
Tuesday 24th February - Ipswich, Regent
Thursday 26th February - Folkestone, Leas Cliff Hall
Friday 27th February - Brighton, Centre
Saturday 28th February - London, Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
Monday 2nd March - Bristol, Colston Hall
Tuesday 3rd March - Plymouth, Pavilions
Thursday 5th March - Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
Friday 6th March - Bournemouth, BIC
Saturday 7th March - Cardiff, Cardiff Arena
Monday 9th March - Cambridge, Corn Exchange
Tuesday 10th March - Oxford, New Theatre
Thursday 12th March - Sheffield, City Hall
Friday 13th March - Leeds, First Direct Arena
Saturday 14th March - Liverpool, Liverpool Arena
Monday 16th March - Stoke, Victoria Hall
Tuesday 17th March - Preston, Guild Hall
Thursday 19th March - Leicester, De Montford Hall
Friday 20th March - Birmingham, NIA
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Slash – featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators will perform five Arena dates in the UK in November and December.
Tickets go on-sale on the 30th of May.
Friday 28th November – Manchester Phones 4U Arena
Saturday 29th November – Leeds First Direct Arena
Monday 1st December – Birmingham LG Arena
Tuesday 2nd December – London Wembley Arena
Thursday 4th December – Glasgow Hydro Arena
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Tickets go on-sale on the 30th of May.
Friday 28th November – Manchester Phones 4U Arena
Saturday 29th November – Leeds First Direct Arena
Monday 1st December – Birmingham LG Arena
Tuesday 2nd December – London Wembley Arena
Thursday 4th December – Glasgow Hydro Arena
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The Foo Fighters are putting together quite the Octet set of events…
As part of what will become a visual document tracking the recording of their forthcoming album, the band will be recording an eight-part series for HBO that will, according to the press release, "tap into the musical heritage and cultural fabric of eight cities."
The eight cities in question – Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Washington, DC and New York – have been chosen because notable studios in each city have been used to record a song from what will be the Foo Fighters eighth album.
Dave Grohl will direct the short-film documentary series for the cable & satellite TV Network; Michael Lombardo, President of HBO Programming, commented: "Dave’s heartfelt passion for this project is contagious and his talent as a musician and film maker is undeniable.
"We are excited to go on this journey with him and the Foo Fighters for this insider’s look at how regional music inspired them to create their own new music."
The HBO series will première on the eve of the Foo Fighters’ 20th anniversary which is, in case you hadn’t already guessed, October.
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As part of what will become a visual document tracking the recording of their forthcoming album, the band will be recording an eight-part series for HBO that will, according to the press release, "tap into the musical heritage and cultural fabric of eight cities."
The eight cities in question – Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Washington, DC and New York – have been chosen because notable studios in each city have been used to record a song from what will be the Foo Fighters eighth album.
Dave Grohl will direct the short-film documentary series for the cable & satellite TV Network; Michael Lombardo, President of HBO Programming, commented: "Dave’s heartfelt passion for this project is contagious and his talent as a musician and film maker is undeniable.
"We are excited to go on this journey with him and the Foo Fighters for this insider’s look at how regional music inspired them to create their own new music."
The HBO series will première on the eve of the Foo Fighters’ 20th anniversary which is, in case you hadn’t already guessed, October.
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Fish’s Moveable Feast tour has taken itself somewhat literary by rescheduling the entire set of dates.
Originally scheduled for May but cancelled when guitarist Robin Boult fell ill, the tour has now been rescheduled to cover all venues plus an additional date in Reading.
The full rescheduled tour is as follows:
29th September – Durham, Gala Theatre
30th September – Preston, 53 Degrees
1st October – Southampton, The Brook
6th December – Exeter, Phoenix
7th December – Bristol, The Fleece
8th December – Wolverhampton, Robin 2
9th December – Cardiff, The Globe
11th December – Norwich, The Waterfront
12th December – London, Islington Assembly Hall
13th December – Northampton, Roadmender
15th December – Reading, Sub 89
16th December – Brighton, Concorde 2
18th December – Holmfirth, Picturedrome
19th December – Liverpool, O2 Academy
20th December – Sheffield, City Hall
21st December – Glasgow, O2 ABC
Tickets already purchased are valid for the rescheduled shows.
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Originally scheduled for May but cancelled when guitarist Robin Boult fell ill, the tour has now been rescheduled to cover all venues plus an additional date in Reading.
The full rescheduled tour is as follows:
29th September – Durham, Gala Theatre
30th September – Preston, 53 Degrees
1st October – Southampton, The Brook
6th December – Exeter, Phoenix
7th December – Bristol, The Fleece
8th December – Wolverhampton, Robin 2
9th December – Cardiff, The Globe
11th December – Norwich, The Waterfront
12th December – London, Islington Assembly Hall
13th December – Northampton, Roadmender
15th December – Reading, Sub 89
16th December – Brighton, Concorde 2
18th December – Holmfirth, Picturedrome
19th December – Liverpool, O2 Academy
20th December – Sheffield, City Hall
21st December – Glasgow, O2 ABC
Tickets already purchased are valid for the rescheduled shows.
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A tribute album celebrating the life and music of J.J. Cale will be released in July; its release will also mark the one year anniversary of the singer/songwriter’s passing.
Eric Clapton & Friends: The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale will feature 16 tracks covered by Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty and others.
The record is scheduled for release on July 29th; J.J. Cale died on July 26th 2013.
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Eric Clapton & Friends: The Breeze, An Appreciation of JJ Cale will feature 16 tracks covered by Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty and others.
The record is scheduled for release on July 29th; J.J. Cale died on July 26th 2013.
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The Black Star Riders will be playing eight UK dates across July and August.
The band, which still suffers an identity crisis as the rebranded Thin Lizzy (but hey, that’s what both the band and the fans seem to want) kick off the mini-tour in Holmfirth on the 18th of July.
The Thin Black Star Riding Lizzy boys are back in town, again, on the following dates:
18th July –Holmfirth, Picturedrome
19th July - Ebbw Vale, Steelhouse Festival
20th July – Brighton, Concorde 2
22nd July – Northampton, Roadmenders
23rd July – Leicester, O2 Academy
24th July – Guildford, G-Live
6th August - Buckley, The Tivoli
7th August – Birmingham, The Asylum
The band is also scheduled to start work on the follow up to their 2013 debut album All Hell Breaks Loose later in the year.
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The band, which still suffers an identity crisis as the rebranded Thin Lizzy (but hey, that’s what both the band and the fans seem to want) kick off the mini-tour in Holmfirth on the 18th of July.
The Thin Black Star Riding Lizzy boys are back in town, again, on the following dates:
18th July –Holmfirth, Picturedrome
19th July - Ebbw Vale, Steelhouse Festival
20th July – Brighton, Concorde 2
22nd July – Northampton, Roadmenders
23rd July – Leicester, O2 Academy
24th July – Guildford, G-Live
6th August - Buckley, The Tivoli
7th August – Birmingham, The Asylum
The band is also scheduled to start work on the follow up to their 2013 debut album All Hell Breaks Loose later in the year.
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Guitarist Wilko Johnson, diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in January 2013, underwent surgery in April that might well save his life.
The ex Dr Feelgood musician, currently in the charts with Going Back Home, a great little album of Dr Feelgood numbers and featuring lead vocals from Roger Daltrey, had learned his cancer is a neuroendocrine tumour, far rarer and less aggressive than regular pancreatic cancer.
The operation however was fairly radical; it involves not just the removal of the tumour the removal of Johnson’s pancreas, spleen and sections of his stomach/ intestines.
Wilko Johnson has, rather obviously, cancelled all future shows due to the recovery period; doctors are hopeful the prognosis for Johnson will be good/ positive.
I sincerely hope so and in fact, having initially been given ten months to live, I hope Wilko Johnson is now able to adopt the surname of the band he was a major factor in making a success.
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The ex Dr Feelgood musician, currently in the charts with Going Back Home, a great little album of Dr Feelgood numbers and featuring lead vocals from Roger Daltrey, had learned his cancer is a neuroendocrine tumour, far rarer and less aggressive than regular pancreatic cancer.
The operation however was fairly radical; it involves not just the removal of the tumour the removal of Johnson’s pancreas, spleen and sections of his stomach/ intestines.
Wilko Johnson has, rather obviously, cancelled all future shows due to the recovery period; doctors are hopeful the prognosis for Johnson will be good/ positive.
I sincerely hope so and in fact, having initially been given ten months to live, I hope Wilko Johnson is now able to adopt the surname of the band he was a major factor in making a success.
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Saxon have announced their Warriors of The Road European tour, which includes twelve dates in the UK.
The tour also celebrates the band’s 35th Anniversary with a set list that will borrow heavily from Saxon’s classic trilogy of New Wave of British Heavy Metal albums – Wheels of Steel, Strong Arm of the Law and Denim and Leather.
Warriors of The Road UK dates:
30th November - Bristol - O2 Academy
1st December - Bournemouth - O2 Academy
2nd December - Nottingham - Rock City
4th December - Manchester - Ritz
5th December - Dublin - The Academy
6th December - Belfast - Limelight
7th December - Glasgow - O2 ABC
9th December - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne - O2 Academy
10th December - Leeds - O2 Academy
11th December - Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall
12th December - Oxford - O2 Academy
13th December - London - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
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The tour also celebrates the band’s 35th Anniversary with a set list that will borrow heavily from Saxon’s classic trilogy of New Wave of British Heavy Metal albums – Wheels of Steel, Strong Arm of the Law and Denim and Leather.
Warriors of The Road UK dates:
30th November - Bristol - O2 Academy
1st December - Bournemouth - O2 Academy
2nd December - Nottingham - Rock City
4th December - Manchester - Ritz
5th December - Dublin - The Academy
6th December - Belfast - Limelight
7th December - Glasgow - O2 ABC
9th December - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne - O2 Academy
10th December - Leeds - O2 Academy
11th December - Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall
12th December - Oxford - O2 Academy
13th December - London - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
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While on the subject of UK metal, those long-time exponents of British Steel, Judas Priest, will release their first studio album in six years when Redeemer of Souls appears on July the 14th (US release date July 15th)
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Blackberry Smoke, the Atlanta based southern rock band, return to the UK in October after a set of smaller-venue dates in February.
Such was the success of those earlier dates and the #30 album chart position for their first UK release The Whippoorwill (in actuality the band’s third album, released in the US in 2012) the October dates will be at larger venues.
It’s a deserved return and success for both band and album, an outstanding release that incorporates blues, country and soul within its southern rock roots.
Blackberry Smoke – UK dates, October:
15th October - The Academy, Dublin
16th October – O2 ABC, Glasgow
17th October – Ritz, Manchester
19th October – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
21st October – Junction, Cambridge
22nd October – Institute, Birmingham
Tickets are now on sale.
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Such was the success of those earlier dates and the #30 album chart position for their first UK release The Whippoorwill (in actuality the band’s third album, released in the US in 2012) the October dates will be at larger venues.
It’s a deserved return and success for both band and album, an outstanding release that incorporates blues, country and soul within its southern rock roots.
Blackberry Smoke – UK dates, October:
15th October - The Academy, Dublin
16th October – O2 ABC, Glasgow
17th October – Ritz, Manchester
19th October – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
21st October – Junction, Cambridge
22nd October – Institute, Birmingham
Tickets are now on sale.
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In similar scheduling to Blackberry Smoke, and following their February shows, Black Stone Cherry have confirmed they will return to the UK for six arena dates in late October and the 1st of November.
Supporting on all dates will be Airbourne and Theory of a Deadman.
Black Stone Cherry - UK dates, October:
26th October – The Hydro, Glasgow
27th October – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
28th October – International Arena, Cardiff
29th October – LG Arena, Birmingham
31st October – Manchester Arena, Manchester
1st November – Wembley Arena, London
Tickets are now on sale.
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Supporting on all dates will be Airbourne and Theory of a Deadman.
Black Stone Cherry - UK dates, October:
26th October – The Hydro, Glasgow
27th October – Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
28th October – International Arena, Cardiff
29th October – LG Arena, Birmingham
31st October – Manchester Arena, Manchester
1st November – Wembley Arena, London
Tickets are now on sale.
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Hard rock power-trio Wolfmother pulled a bit of a surprise recently when they released their third studio album, New Crown, on-line; it was immediately available to purchase and/or stream in its entirety.
The album can be purchased direct from the band’s Bandcamp page:
http://wolfmother.bandcamp.com/album/new-crown
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The album can be purchased direct from the band’s Bandcamp page:
http://wolfmother.bandcamp.com/album/new-crown
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Queens of the Stone Age have been announced as co-headliners with Paramore for the Reading and Leeds festivals this year. They’ll play Reading on the Friday night and Leeds on the Saturday.
Arctic Monkeys and Blink 182 will headline the main stages on the Saturday and Sunday nights.
The Reading and Leeds festivals will take place over the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of August.
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Arctic Monkeys and Blink 182 will headline the main stages on the Saturday and Sunday nights.
The Reading and Leeds festivals will take place over the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of August.
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