Music News For The Week Of January 12, 2014!
This is Blackberry Smoke. This video is Shakin’ Hands With The Holy Ghost. It’s off their Whippoorwill album. They are currently touring and if you want to catch them live check out the tour dates and get hooked on them like I did. http://www.blackberrysmoke.com/tour.html
The Sword released a new lyric video. It’s called Hidden Masters off of their Apocryphon album. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zxsoeCdAfU
John Paul Jones teamed up with Norwegian musician Deathprod (Helge Sten) to form a new band called Minibus Pimps. They formed in 2011 but now are ready to release their debut record on March 3, called Cloud To Cround.
Dire Straits have reunited and announced a tour of the U.S. without Mark Knopfler. Instead they have Tom Petty’s guitarist, Steve Ferrone. They are also calling themselves the Straits. Get more info on the current reunion line up and dates here: http://thestraits.com/tour-dates-archive/
REO Speedwagon and Chicago have announced a co-headlining tour. You can get dates here: http://www.speedwagon.com/tour.php
Grateful Dead announced the Complete Road Trip Series, now available on iTunes! You can purchase shows one at a time or as a bundle. Click here to visit the Grateful Dead artist page at iTunes:http://bit.ly/1fvW5W6
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will be on hand at the Grammys later this month. No word on if they will perform together but they will receive or accept the award for 2014 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In case anyone cares, I think Polar Vortex would be a cool band name, that is if you are looking for one.
Foreigner will be releasing a new record in the U.K. called I want To Know What Love Is-The Ballads. It comes out on February 3. It will feature all of their ballads old and new. Also will have alternate and live takes of those songs as well.
The Simpsons have apologized to Judas Priest for calling them Death Metal in their Jan 5 show. Now you can see Bart writing that on the chalkboard of the opening sequence.
Christine McVie has rejoined Fleetwood Mac. I guess the live appearance in England in which she appeared had a way of making her want to come back to the band and the group was glad to take her back. Not sure if that means just touring or recording or both.
In case you missed it, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been added to the half-time show for the Super Bowl along with Bruno Mars.
David Bowie will be releasing a special limited edition 40th Anniversary of Rebel Rebel 7 inch picture disc on March 10.
Marillion has a new CD coming out and I don’t care.
Last week I had mentioned that Bo Diddley (I have since removed it) died but he actually passed in 2008. I misunderstood the news, it was a tribute celebration of his life that people were doing. See, I can make a mistake and admit that. How many website hosts would do that?!
Steven Tyler, Jon Bon Jovi and John Fogerty will perform at Howard Stern’s Birthday Bash. This will take place January 31 at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Last week’s Rockucation question was: This band got their name from a gym teacher in their high school in Jacksonville, Florida. The high school was Robert E. Lee High School. The answer was Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was given to us by Kamran Khan of Seekonk, Mass.
Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist, Gus G, has released a new video for his new song My Will Be Done, featuring Mats Leven of Candlemass. It’s from his soon to be release solo album, I Am The Fire. You can check it out here: http://www.gusgofficial.com/home.html
Black Sabbath has released all their classic works of the original lineup on iTunes. Noted as The Complete Studio Albums 1970-1978.
Nashville Pussy is streaming their new song, Everybody’s Fault But Mine, for their new album, Up The Dosage, coming out this month. You can listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xINB1a1qF4g
The Dave Matthews Band is planning a special tour, this your PSA for this week.
Ron Keel has a new web page and has news about his current band and all of that. You can check it all out here: http://ronkeel.com/
Motley Crue announced that Alice Cooper will be the opening act for their farewell tour. That will be a great double bill to see for the money.
I don’t usually post press releases but I like this band a lot and thought I would to get the word out, especially those of you in the San Diego area. Here it is (make sure you check them out):
Blues-based metal act SEVENTRAIN featuring vocalist Jon Campos (Dive Bomber),guitarist Eric Horton (Cage), guitarist Jef Poremba (6ONE9, Kofi Baker), bassist Steve (Dino) Andino (Tourniquet) and drummer Joel Maitoza (24-7 Spyz) will release their self-titled debut album on So Cal Records/Alliance Entertainmenton February 18th, 2014.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/seventrain/id795963008 Seventrain will be playing select shows on the west coast kicking it off withtheir CD release party on February 14th, 2014 opening for The Michael Schenker Group at Brick by Brick in San Diego, California before embarking on a US tour this summer. For more information on Seventrain, please visit the following pages
Facebook: www.facebook.com/seventrainband
ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/seventrain
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/seventrain
Amon Amarth has a new video called Father Of The Wolf off their album Deceiver Of The Gods. You can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwdcFVsmYtU
Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) will be launching his new signature bass which will be put out by Lakland and will feature EMG pickups. You can call 8700-821-1446 or visit http://www.emgpickups.com/ for more information.
In the if you care department; There will be a tribute album for Jackson Browne on April 1st. Oh yes, there are appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley and others.
Billy Joel announced a tour, you can get details here:http://www.billyjoel.com/news
Janes Addiction will be on hiatus until 2015. This is so Perry Farrell can work on his Las Vegas Musical, Kind Heaven.
Heaven’s Basement has released a new video for Nothing Left To Lose. It’s off their debut Filthy Empire. You can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP1u79wSdDY
This week’s Rockucation question is: This album has no official title, but is referred to by fans by a particular name. The band wanted to foil the critics who said they sold records because of the hype and not the talent. The band didn’t put their name on it, but 4 symbols instead. It was a gatefold album made in the 1970’s. People would hold the album up to a mirror looking to complete a image. There were also various stories surrounding the record, such as by playing a certain song backwards it revealed a satanic message, etc. Who is the group and what is the album?