Poison'd - Pre-Ordering

April.28th.2007 - Saturday

Poison will release their latest album on June 5, 2007. This is your opportunity to reserve your copy TODAY and get an EXCLUSIVE t-shirt, too.

By pre-ordering and purchasing tickets to Poison'd: The Tour you will be automatically entered into a HUGE contest. The prizes for this contest include signed "Poison'd" CD booklets, a signed limited edition guitar, and even a trip for two to the August 12 show at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles, CA! Please click here for further contest details and official rules.

See http://poison-preorder.shop.musictoday.com for further details.

Duran Duran Confirms Date

Press Release

Following their hugely successful 2004/2006 ‘Astronaut World Tour’, that included two sold out shows in Dublin and Belfast, Aiken Promotions are delighted to announce that DURAN DURAN has confirmed a date for the Live At The Marquee concert series in Cork on Friday 29 June.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday 3 May at 9.00am. The Duran Duran fan community pre-sale (www.duranduranmusic.com) will start two days prior, on Tuesday 1 May at 3.00 pm.

DURAN DURAN’S Simon LeBon (vocals), Nick Rhodes (keyboards), John Taylor (bass) and Roger Taylor (drums) are already scheduled to make a couple of high profile live appearances this summer. They will perform at the CONCERT FOR DIANA on July 1st, at the new Wembley Stadium in London along with ELTON JOHN, JOSS STONE, KANYE WEST, BRYAN FERRY and PHARRELL WILLIAMS. A week later, on July 7th, the band will perform at Al Gore’s LIVE EARTH event (also at Wembley Stadium), along with MADONNA, THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and the FOO FIGHTERS. The latter event is being staged across seven continents with over 100 artists participating.

The four band members are currently in the studio in London putting the finishing touches to their next album which features collaborations with top producer Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Nate "Danja" Hills (Timbaland's long-time collaborator who co-produced Nelly Furtado's ‘Promiscuous’ and Justin Timberlake's ‘Sexy Back’). The first single is expected later this summer, with the album to follow on Sony/BMG in the fall.

Tickets for DURAN DURAN Live At The Marquee on Friday 29 June will go on sale to the general public on Thursday 3 May at 9.00am priced 65.00 Euros. These will be available from all usual Ticketmaster outlets. Credit Card Booking lines & Internet bookings as follows:-

In Ireland 0818 719300
UK 0870 243 4455
International +353 1 4-569-569

Tickets for members of the Duran Duran Fan Community will go on sale on Tuesday May 1 at 3.00 pm, through the website: www.duranduranmusic.com.

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles
 

REO SPEEDWAGON will be on the Mark & Brian Show on Monday April 30th in the 9:00am hour. The Mark and Brian show can be heard on the following stations:

Los Angeles, CA KLOS 95.5FM
Chico, CA KTHU 100.7FM
Palm Springs, CA KDGL 106.9FM
Sacramento, CA KSEG 96.9FM
Visalia, CA K100 99.7FM
Santa Maria, CA KXFX 99.1FM
San Luis Obispo, CA KXFM 99.1FM
Portland, OR KGON 92.3FM
Laughlin, NV KLUK 97.9FM
Bullhead City, AZ KLUK 97.9FM
Farmington, NM KRQN 92.9FM
Gallup, NM 93X 93.7FM
Cortez, CO KRWN 92.9FM
Twin Falls, ID KIKX 104.7FM

◊ New Kevin Cronin Newsletter
◊ Huey Lewis & The News - Official Online Store
◊ Amy Grant Teams Up With EMI Music

Can A Change Still Happen?

April.27th.2007 - Friday
Press Release

SaveNetRadio Applauds Congress's Attempt to Save Internet Radio

The Internet Radio Equality Act Would Level the Playing Field for Webcasters

The SaveNetRadio coalition today applauded Jay Inslee (D-WA) for introducing legislation that could save thousands of webcasters from bankruptcy. "The Internet Radio Equality Act" would reverse a March 2nd ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) that increased the fees webcasters pay to play music online by a stunning 300 to 1200 percent. "Since the CRB's March 2nd decision to dramatically and unfairly increase webcaster royalty rates, millions of Internet radio listeners, webcasters and artists have called on Congress to take action," said Jake Ward of the SaveNetRadio coalition. "Today Congress took notice, and we thank Mr. Inslee for leading the charge to save music diversity on the Internet."

The Internet Radio Equality Act would vacate the CRB's decision and set a 2006-2010 royalty rate at the same level currently paid by satellite radio services (7.5% of revenue.) The bill would also change the royalty rate- setting standard used in royalty arbitrations, so that the standards applying to webcasters would align with the standard that applies to satellite radio royalty arbitrations.

"The illogical and unrealistic royalty rates set by the CRB have placed the future of an entire industry in jeopardy," stated Ward. "This bill is a critical step to preserve this vibrant and growing medium, and to develop a truly level playing field where webcasters can compete with satellite radio. The Internet Radio Equality Act is the last best hope webcasters, artists, and listeners have to keep the music playing. I know New Orleans will be glad to hear it!"

SaveNetRadio, together with WWOZ, the official radio station of Jazz Fest 2007, is sponsoring the HOT 8 Jazz band in a live Internet concert during the New Orleans festival on May 2nd. The coalition is also educating Jazz Fest musicians about the possibility that Internet radio - an important medium for all musicians, but independent musicians in particular - will all but die on May 15 when the CRB royalty is scheduled to take effect.

The bill would also reset the royalty rules for noncommercial radio such as NPR stations that offer Internet radio music.

For more information on the SaveNetRadio coalition visit www.savenetradio.org.

The Concert Vault Opens Download Service

Site Information / Forum Details

The Concert Vault download service has launched today. We have been hard at work building out this functionality and getting these concerts ready for download. 52 shows are available for purchase at a standard price of $9.98. The download list includes some shows that are currently up for streaming as well as others from the Vault that had yet to see the light of day. We will post new shows as they become available and add the "Buy" button to indicate that you can then download a given concert.

A handful of details for you:

Performer royalties – performers and publishers are paid a royalty fee for every show you purchase.

Standard price of $9.98 – we felt this was an attractive and fair price and we like the simplicity of one standard rate. This may change over time but it made sense to us at launch.

File quality – initially, all shows will be downloaded as 256Kbps mp3 files. We intend to offer the option of lossless in the future.

DRM – as we’ve discussed before, we think that DRM is a mistake and puts restrictions on you, the consumer, that don’t make any sense. Obviously, we are adamantly opposed to illegal file sharing but feel that you have purchased the right to play your music where and when you wish.

We've been streaming concerts for over six months for free to the public but at a substantial cost to us. We hope you will support our efforts, and the artists, by purchasing a few concerts. By the way, we hope you like the new features and layout. Please let us know what you think. Cheers! Wolfgang

There's a ton of streaming and downloadable concerts on this site and we've mentioned them a few times over the years. Visit their official website for additional details: http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com

Natalie Grant - Dove Award Winner Again

Press Release / Email

Curb recording artist Natalie Grant took home the Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year at last night's 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards in Nashville, marking the second consecutive year she has received the prestigious honor. She also served as co-host of last night's ceremony, along with Brian Littrell and Donnie McClurkin. The 38th Annual Dove Awards were held at the Grand Ole Opry House and will begin airing in national television syndication in May.

Grant is completing work on her seventh album and first studio recording in two years. The forthcoming project is being produced by Grant's husband, Bernie Herms, and longtime collaborator Shaun Shankel, and is slated for release later this year. In addition, on Mother's Day weekend, Gospel Music Channel will premier "Natalie Grant's Special Delivery," which chronicles her preparations for motherhood. Grant and Herms welcomed twin daughters, Grace Ana and Isabella Noelle, in February.

Remembering "Left Eye"

History Island

On the 25th we were unable to do a website update due to the bad weather in our areas. We'd like to now take time out to mention the 5 year anniversary of the death of TLC singer Lisa Lopes.

Lisa Nicole Lopes (May 27, 1971 – April 25, 2002), a rapper/singer/actress of Cape Verdean descent, also known under the stage name of "Left Eye", was a member of the popular R&B and hip hop group TLC. In addition to hit songs like "Waterfalls" with TLC, Lopes also did some solo performing. She was considered by some fans as the creative talent behind TLC and contributed her own self-written raps to many of TLC's popular singles, including "Waterfalls" and "No Scrubs". Lopes was also a self-taught keyboardist and, by way of a Beethoven piano piece, displayed those talents during her solo spot on TLC's headlining concert performances (featured in a pay-per-view broadcast of TLC's FanMail tour in the spring of 2000).

Additional Links:
◊ en.wikipedia.org
◊ www.lisalopesfoundation.org
◊ VH1 - New Documentary Coming Soon

Tesla "Real To Reel"

Press Release

TESLA -- Jeff Keith (vocals), Frank Hannon (guitars), Brian Wheat (bass), Troy Luccketta (drums) and Dave Rude (guitar) - has always been revered as a bluesy, no-frills, '70s-style hard rock band, concentrating on solid musicianship more than the trends of modern music. Now, after selling over 16 million albums worldwide since bursting onto the scene in 1986, they're paying homage to their hard rock heroes on their sixth studio album, REAL TO REEL, due out June 5th on their own independent label, Tesla Electric Company Recordings (in partnership with Ryko Distribution).

The first single, Led Zeppelin's "Thank You," is currently being serviced to radio on May 1, but it has been receiving early airplay for the past few weeks on such stations as KRXQ in Sacramento, The Bone in San Francisco, WHOG in Milwaukee, KZRR in Albuquerque and KDKP in Phoenix and KISW in Seattle. A video for the track is forthcoming.

REAL TO REEL - produced by TESLA and Tom Zutaut and recorded at the Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, TX - is a two-disc 25-song collection of classic rockers from the '60s and '70s, recorded through a vintage Neve console directly to Ampex 456 analog tape to capture the purity of these timeless and legendary songs. Songs include: "Space Truckin'," "I've Got A Feeling," "Ball of Confusion," "All The Young Dudes" and "Street Fighting Man."

The first 13 tracks will be available on June 5th at retail outlets, while the second disc containing the remaining 12 songs will be available this summer along the band's tour route with the purchase of a concert ticket. Details are forthcoming.

TESLA first tested out some of their favorite rock classics with their fans in the summer of 2006 during the "Electric Summer Jam" tour (the first tour with guitarist Dave Rude, who replaced original guitarist Tommy Skeoch). While UFO's "Rock Bottom" went down like a storm to a standing, cheering, grandstand crowd of 10,000 in Milwaukee, Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" engaged 6,000 people in Lansing, Michigan so much that they refused to leave during a torrential rainstorm which lasted throughout the entire two-hour show. After getting such a positive reaction from their fans, the band knew making REAL TO REEL was a logical next step for them.

"REAL TO REEL is a collection of songs that inspired us back in the day when we first heard them in the '70s," says singer Jeff Keith. "We originally had a large list of songs in mind for the record, and we had a lot of fun picking out the ones that ultimately made it onto the album. Making music is all about feeding off of your inspirations and putting your own touches to it. We feel weÕve accomplished this to the highest extent."

In talking about the first single, "Thank You," Keith explains, "That's my favorite song on the album, and it's funny because we never discussed covering that particular song. We went back and forth about a lot of Led Zeppelin songs. We had planned on doing 'The Song Remains The Same,' and it was Frank who thought we should do 'Thank You' instead. The guys actually recorded it while I was at my casita feeding the abandoned pups and their mom that I found in a vacant lot. When I returned to the studio and heard what they did, I was so blown away that it inspired me to sing what I think is my best vocal performance on the record. When I finished recording in one take, it was just mind-blowing. Everyone in the studio was in tears. Sometimes that's how it works and that's the beauty of making music. We all felt it was the perfect choice for the first single. If you think about TESLA, the lyrical message of the lyrics throughout the years, they're very similar to 'Thank You.' It's that same positive message that we try to get across in every TESLA song. It's a sacrilegious song to cover and we didn't think we'd do it justice, but we were up for the challenge.

"Jimmy Page once told Brian that he had bought the FIVE MAN ACOUSTICAL JAM record and thought it was a really great album. That was a huge thrill for us to hear because we've always had a love of Led Zeppelin and they were so important to all of us growing up. There's always been this reverence for Zeppelin. So hearing Jimmy Page say he loved TESLA too, we were honored and it enlightened our spirits. Led Zeppelin inspired us to be a band in the first place."

The Sacramento band has proven themselves to be a long-lasting force in the rock world, one that could still compete with all the new rock bands that had sprung up between 1996-2000 (the time period when TESLA had disbanded), while most of their contemporaries from the late '80s were stuck in classic rock nostalgia. Rolling Stone called their sophomore album, THE GREAT RADIO CONTROVERSY, "...a shining example of what can happen when a talented band puts on blinders, ignores what everybody else is selling and forges ahead on instinct."

On the touring front, TESLA will launch a summer U.S. headlining tour starting June 7 in Santa Rosa, CA at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. They'll make a stop in Las Vegas at the House of Blues on Thursday, June 14. Tickets for both shows go on sale Friday, April 27. The band will perform three more House of Blues shows in Anaheim (Friday, June 8), West Hollywood (Saturday, June 9), and in San Diego (Monday, June 11), which go on sale this Saturday, April 28. More dates will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can stay plugged into all things REAL TO REAL and purchase VIP ticket packages here at www.teslarealtoreel.com.  - Tracklist and additional links are available at this site.

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ 'Monster Mash' Singer Pickett Dies at 69
◊ Kanye, Rod Stewart Join Princess Di Concert Bill
◊ Scorpions - New Album Audio Clips (All Songs)

Chernobyl - 21 Years Ago

April.26th.2007 - Thursday
History Island

April 26th, 1986 - Pripyat a city which is located two miles from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant found that life takes unexpected turns. Chernobyl's number four reactor exploded killing 30 people not to mention the nearby 50,000 people who would have their lives turned up side down. Thousands would die due to exposure to lethal radiation. The fallout which was 400 times more radioactive than what was released at Hiroshima, caused more then a third of a million people to leave their homes and triggered an epidemic of thyroid cancer in children.

Over the years not much has been done to help clean up this area. Though there is a sarcophagus which covers the destroyed area there is still much more that needs to be done. The remnants of reactor four still smolder to this day which is causing the sarcophagus to decay which was built quickly after the accident. Sadly the sarcophagus now threatens to collapse, so what exactly is being done to help prevent another major radioactive leak?

No words can describe the horror of what has occurred. Still to this day there is nothing in Chernobyl but a Nuclear Power Plant structure that stands to only remind people of what happened. Those who have visited the area comeback with stories of Silence, there's no true feelings of happiness when stepping into Pripyat. The streets which once were filled with children going to school and people going to work are no more. It's as if this one place on earth is completely dormant, nothing remains but pieces of what was.

Our write-up from last year, as well as photo's and additional web links can be viewed by clicking here.

Latest News Articles:
◊ President calls for revival of Chernobyl region
◊ Anti-nuclear protesters raise spectre of Chernobyl
◊ Chernobyl Lessons Never Learned
◊ Party Leaders attended Chernobyl Area

Last Year's Anniversary:
◊ MSNBC 20th Anniversary Website
◊ Shipwreck Island Studios.com - Chernobyl

This is a worldwide tragedy that with every passing year seems to be pushed further and further under the rug. People need to be aware that this is still a real issue and that everyone should have some knowledge of the events that occurred. Definitely a topic that is very near and dear to our hearts. Every year we post updated links as well as our previous written information as a reminder, thanks for reading.. Tony & Jere

Music Update Below....

Ratt - "Best Of" CD & DVD

Press Release / Email

LOS ANGELES—After much speculation and anticipation following the airing of their “BEHIND THE MUSIC” episode on VH1 last spring, multi-platinum hard rock act RATT with vocalist Stephen Pearcy, guitarist Warren DeMartini and drummer Bobby Blotzer will grace the stage together for the first time since 1999. Plans for not only a U.S. summer tour but a full-fledged comeback are being mapped out now as the band prepares to hit the road with Poison. The band’s own tour dates will extend into the fall and may also include shows in Canada, Europe, Japan, South America and Australia. Joining the band onstage will be bassist Robbie Crane and guitarist John Corabi.

A full itinerary is still being finalized, but Poison and RATT will join forces for a summer trek that is scheduled to begin June 13 at the Bi Lo Center in Greenville, S.C., and wind around the country through the end of August.

The tour, which brings the two bands onstage together for the first time since 1999, will visit major U.S. cities such as Boston, Detroit, New York, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles.

The band has recently aligned with Carl Stubner, CEO of Sanctuary Artist Management (ZZ Top, Mick Fleetwood/co-manager of Fleetwood Mac, Tommy Lee/Supernova, Paulina Rubio, Jack’s Mannequin) and is booked by Jay Frey at Paradise Artists.

RATT made their mark in the early ’80s going “Round And Round” with a string of hit songs, videos and four consecutive multi-platinum albums (over 16 million albums sold worldwide). Their arena-filling live shows set the standard for all bands to follow. Creating anthems for the youth of that era, their music and performances maintain a timeless quality to this day.

Loverboy - "The One That Got Away"

Press Release / Email

One of Canada's most popular bands, "Loverboy," is back, and has just released a new single to radio exclusively through Destiny Media Technologies' (OTC Bulletin Board: DSNY) Play MPE digital distribution system on Tuesday, April 24.

Loverboy rocked the world in the 1980s with several platinum hits, including "Working for the Weekend," "Turn Me Loose" and "When It's Over" among others. A new album, entitled "BACK FOR MORE", is due out from RockSTAR Music in June. Loverboy's new single; "The One That Got Away" is one of the first tracks to utilize the Play MPE system since its fresh launch in Canada.

"We have seen the power and reach of Play MPE in its application in the US, and for our brand new single we wanted to hit the ground running," said Loverboy lead singer, Mike Reno. "This album is going to blow our fans away -- both old and new alike!"

"When we needed to get this huge new single out for Loverboy, going with Play MPE was the obvious choice," said Michael Hektoen, President, RockSTAR Music. "No other service has the radio industry's loyalty like MPE. We wanted to be positive that our contacts at stations get this track, and this was the surest path."

Play MPE launched in Canada on Monday, April 23rd. The Canadian launch followed several years of exponential growth and success of MPE in the US market as well as adoption by major record labels and radio in every format.

"Having Loverboy release their new Canadian single exclusively through our service is a great honor," said Dean Ernst, VP of MPE Operations. "With the Play MPE System, radio stations across Canada will have immediate access to one of the most anticipated tracks in the year."

The Play MPE system delivers extremely high quality music, graphics and song data directly to authorized computers in a locked format that recognizes whether the machine has been registered with the system. If the labels allow the content to be burned to CD or exported, a proprietary patent pending forensic watermark, which survives analog duplication and compression is embedded into the song. This mark identifies the original source if copies are made.

You can listen to a snippet of the new song by visiting the band's official MySpace page: www.myspace.com/loverboyband

7 DAYZ & Vaughn

MySpace Bulletin

7 DAYZ are very pleased to announce that they will be the opening act for DANNY VAUGHN at JB’s Dudley on MAY 12th.

Being long time fans of ‘TYKETTO’ ‘VAUGHN’ & ‘DANNY VAUGHN’, this support will be their most cherished yet.

Danny Vaughn are putting together some selected shows in which to really show off the new "Traveller" songs as well as the classic live stuff you've come to expect from Them. These are the confirmed shows so far:

MAY 8 THE PURPLE TURTLE in LONDON
MAY 10 CLUNY'S in NEWCASTLE
MAY 11 THE ROSETTA in BELFAST
MAY 12 JB'S in DUDLEY
MAY 13 THE BARFLY in LIVERPOOL
JUNE 1 THE NIGHT OWL in CHELTENHAM
JUNE 2 THE CORPORATION in SHEFFIELD

Artist Links: www.myspace.com/sevendayzuk  /  www.myspace.com/vaughnband

Lifehouse - "Who We Are"

Island Report

Lifehouse has finally released some information about their forth coming album entitled "Who We Are." The disc is set to drop in stores on June 26th and will feature the single "First Time." The new single was played on the hour, every hour for most of the day (24th) on Star 98.7 in LA. You can visit their official MySpace page and listen to their new single. 

◊ www.myspace.com/lifehouse

Scorpions - Promotional Video

Island Report

A promotional video featuring new material, interviews and a whole lot more was added to The Scorpions official website. Also the mention of bonus material, tracks "Cold" and "Humanity (Radio Edit)" will be on the Limited Edition release as well as on the Vinyl LP.

◊ Direct Streaming Video Link   /   ◊ www.the-scorpions.com

Tiffany - "Just Me"

Island Report

Tiffany will be releasing her long awaited album, "Just Me" on June 5th. You can hear audio clips for every song on the album by going to 10 Spot Records website. Additional album details will be made available soon such as artwork, where to buy the CD and legally download it.

◊ www.10spotmusic.com/Artist.php?id=72

Kevin Chalfant - Audio Samples

Island Report

Today's the day! Kevin unveils some samples from his upcoming release "Fly 2 Freedom." (Journey Tribute) The 2 audio samples available at the time of this update are listed below. If the links do not work then they were moved, either way keep checking Kevin's forum for additional samples & information.

◊ Stone In Love   /   ◊ Faithfully   /   ◊ Kevin's Forums

 

One Night In Weston CD & DVD

Island Report

Recorded in 2006 at a great concert in Weston Florida, both the DVD and CD feature some of the biggest hits ever and the singers who made them famous. Jimi Jamison, Joe Lynn Turner, John Cafferty, Robbie Dupree and Larry Hoppen with the world class Rock & Pop Masters band plus guests. Including stellar audio and video production with all performances and interviews authentic and fun!

Each release can be purchased separately or together, CD $9.95, DVD $19.95 and both $24.95.

Track Listing: 1. High On You, 2. Dancin’ in the Moonlight, 3. On the Dark Side, 4. Steal Away*, 5. Hush, 6. Smoke on the Water, 7. The Search Is Over, 8. Tender Years*, 9. Woman From Tokyo, 10. Still The One, 11. Tough All Over, 12. Love Takes Time*, 13. C.I.T.Y, 14. Hot Rod Hearts, 15. Eye of the Tiger, 16. Dance With Me, 17. Shotgun*, 18. Stone Cold

*Titles available on DVD only

◊ To Purchase: www.rpmconcerts.com/secure/
◊ See The Promotional Video: www.rpmconcerts.com

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ Richie Sambora's Father Passes
◊ Yahoo! Music Launches Licensed Lyrics Service
◊ Roger Daltrey Biography Back On
◊ All Access - Interview with Gunnar Nelson
◊ Pryor's Widow Settles With Universal
◊ Casting Crowns Wins Group of the Year
◊ Rocker Townshend unveils song composing software
◊ Spinal Tap Reunites to Fight Climate Change
◊ Michael in Court Day Before Wembley Show
◊ Lavigne's New 'Thing' Debuts Atop Billboard 200
◊ Reformed Alice In Chains Join VH1 Honors Line-Up
◊ Iggy Pop Reveals Bandmate's Phone Number On National TV
◊ What Happens When Rock Stars Lose Their Minds

Velvet Revolver - July 3rd Release

April.24th.2007 - Tuesday
Press Release

"The feel, the energy of Libertad is about the eternal struggle for freedom -- personal and social freedoms."

So says Velvet Revolver's frontman Scott Weiland in describing the band's forthcoming album Libertad, scheduled for release July 3 on RCA Records. It will be preceded by the track "She Builds Quick Machines." "Libertad has soul," Weiland continued. "What we're trying to say on a musical and lyrical level is clearer this time. The songs may have started out being very personal but they took on a more universal truth as they were nurtured by the five-headed beast that is Velvet Revolver."

The band is Scott Weiland (lead vocals), Slash (guitars), Dave Kushner (guitars), Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums). The members each bring a wealth of rock history to the band: Weiland fronted Stone Temple Pilots and Slash, McKagan and Sorum were the heart of Guns N' Roses. Kushner, formerly of Wasted Youth, was in McKagan's band Loaded.

"The songs took on a life of their own in pursuit of groove. When it was nearly done, we realized the idea of freedom kept coming up. Serendipity hit when Duff came to a session wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with 'Libertad' and Slash found a coin struck with 'Libertad'. It all added up to naming the album Libertad-which is Spanish for freedom." Produced by Brendan O'Brien, Libertad is the follow-up to Contraband, VR's debut album, released in June 2004, which earned three million in sales worldwide, debuted on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at #1 and was awarded a Grammy for the lead track, "Slither."

"O'Brien really helped us challenge ourselves on a musical level. Libertad definitely rocks, but there are a lot more textures and everyone really raised the bar on their skills. It just goes places the first album didn't go."

Between Contraband and Libertad, Velvet Revolver toured the world and supported each other through personal struggles, becoming even more tightly bonded as brothers-in-arms. "We toured for two years and got really close in the making of this album."

Velvet Revolver has confirmed a swing of 12 North American concerts launching May 3 in Los Angeles and concluding May 22 in New York City. The shows, primarily in intimate settings, will include a sampling of tracks from Libertad.

The road warriors will spend June on tour in Europe with an emphasis on festival appearances, followed by a Canadian swing, and a big American tour at the end of the summer.

North American preview dates are:

May 3 - Los Angeles@ Avalon Hollywood
May 5 - San Francisco@ The Warfield
May 7 - Seattle@ Showbox Showroom & Lounge
May 10 - Chicago@ The Rivera Theatre
May 12 - Detroit@ Royal Oak Music Theatre
May 13 - Toronto@ Kool Haus
May 15 - Washington, D.C.@ 9:30 Club
May 16 - Boston@ Avalon Ballroom
May 18 - Sayerville, NJ@ Starland Ballroom
May 19 - Columbus@ Columbus Crew Stadium for Rock On The Range
May 20 - Philadelphia@ TweeterCenter
May 22 - New York City@ Nokia Theater Times Square

Check the band's website for the latest tour updates: www.velvetrevolver.com.

New Crue Disc?

Island Report

Today when you are at the store looking at the newly released CD's you may find a disc called "Crucial Crue." So what is this exactly? This disc is in fact a sampler of 17 tracks that was originally released back in 1999 but as a promo only disc, not for sale. In a nutshell this is basically another greatest hits package with a few extras. If you purchased Motley Crue's remasters a few years ago then you have these tracks already. But for those looking to add another disc to your collection, here's the details. (Side Note - The original promo copy has seen sale prices around the $25.00 range.)

Crucial Crue is a sampler CD featuring choice cuts from their digitally remastered and expanded reissues. Includes some of the greatest hits and some juicy unreleased songs from Motley Crue, the hard rockin' L.A. quartet who may be famous for their music, but are equally famous for their behind-the-scenes debauchery! 17 tracks including 'Too Fast For Love', 'Smokin' In The Boys Room' and 'Shout At The Devil'. Of the eight unreleased tracks, four are previously unreleased songs, two are demos and two are alternate mixes.

1. Dr. Feelgood (Live)
2. Too Fast For Love
3. Toast Of the Town (Unreleased Track)
4. Shout At the Devil
5. Looks That Kill (Unreleased Demo)
6. Smokin' In the Boys Room
7. Home Sweet Home (Unreleased Demo)
8. Girls, Girls, Girls (Unreleased Basic Track w/Band & Producer doing "interview" Intro)
9. Wild Side
10. Kickstart My Heart
11. Get It For Free (Unreleased Track)
12. Hooligan's Holiday
13. Hypnotized
14. Afraid (Unreleased "Swine" Mix)
15. Kiss the Sky (Unreleased Track)
16. Sinners & Saints (Unreleased Track)
17. Teaser

 

Lucky You - Soundtrack

Island Report

You can pick up the movie soundtrack "Lucky You" today at your local music store. The disc features a very classic mixture of artists, including 2 Bruce Springsteen tracks in "Lucky Town" and "The Fever."

The memorable soundtrack to Lucky You features the new end title track by Bob Dylan, "Huck's Tune," along with new recordings by Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson and Drew Barrymore, and also includes tracks by Bruce Springsteen, Ryan Adams, Liza Minnelli and more!

Soundclips Available At: Sonymusicstore.com

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles
 

◊ Pulitzer Prize winner Halberstam killed in car crash
◊ Nikki Sixx Autographed Personal TKL World Class Case (Official Ebay Auction)
◊ Paul Simon To Receive First Gershwin Prize
◊ GNR Scraps South Africa Shows Due To Injury
◊ Former Russian leader Yeltsin dead

Island Cast: Episode 1

April.23rd.2007 - Monday
Island Exclusive

In our first show our main topics are Bon Jovi Gone Country, REO & Night Ranger's Latest Releases and Some Bands Who've Helped Us Along The Way! Smaller mentions Bad English, John Waite, Journey, Rod Stewart and more!

All show information such as artist links, download link and other details can be found by visiting our Media section.
We hope everyone enjoys this new addition to the website. Next Episode Coming Very Soon! - Tony & Jere

New Album Reviews

Island Additions

     

Here are 2 new album reviews by Jere, Stan Bush - In This Life & Joe Lynn Turner - Second Hand Life.
More reviews to come this week including Avril Lavigne & Night Ranger's latest releases.

 

Lion's Share - Photo's & Pre-Ordering Information

Press Release

LION'S SHARE have uploaded photos from the April 15 video shoot for the song "The Edge of the Razor" in the "Pics" section of their MySpace site www.myspace.com/lionsshare. Also available are pictures from the April 14 listening session (attended by members of the European press) for the group's new album, "Emotional Coma".

"The Edge of the Razor" features a guest solo from Bruce Kulick (KISS), and comes off "Emotional Coma", which is scheduled for release on June 15 through AFM Records, but can be pre ordered already now from the following stores:

◊ Bengans (worldwide shipping) - jewel case
◊ Bengans (worldwide shipping) - digipak
◊ Sweden Rock Shop - jewel case & digipak (incl. free sticker)
◊ Ginza - jewel case
◊ EMP - jewel case & digipak

"Emotional Coma" is "the heaviest and most powerful LION'S SHARE record to date" and it features guest appearances by Kulick, Glen Drover (MEGADETH) and Mats Levén (THERION, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). The band features guitar player and founding member Lars Chriss, along with vocalist Patrik Johansson (ASTRAL DOORS, WUTHERING HEIGHTS), bass player Sampo Axelsson (GLENN HUGHES) and well-known session drummer Richard Evensand (CHIMAIRA, SOILWORK, THERION).

"Emotional Coma" track listing:

01. Cult of Denial
02. The Arsonist
03. Emotional Coma (feat. Glen Drover)
04. Clones of Fate
05. The Edge of the Razor (feat. Bruce Kulick)
06. Toxication Rave
07. Trafficking
08. Bloodstained Soil
09. Soultaker
10. Hatred's My Fuel
11. Sorcerers (ANGEL WITCH cover)
12. Ring of Stupidity (bonus track for Japan and digipak)

In other news, LION'S SHARE has lined up the following shows:

June 01 - Fjongstock Festival - Sundsvall, Sweden
June 07 - Sweden Rock Festival - Sölvesborg, Sweden (at 4PM)
June 29 - Mälarrocken Festival - Västerås, Sweden
Aug. 17- Metal Heart - Notodden, Norway (at 7PM)

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ Check out CNN on 9pm EST on Thursday May 3rd to catch an interview with Jon Bon Jovi on the Larry King 50 Years of Pop Culture Special. Then on Friday, May 4th tune in again at 9pm to see Bon Jovi performing the new single "(You Want To) Make A Memory" on the Toast to Larry King hosted by Bill Maher.
 

◊ Iggy Pop celebrates his 60th birthday on stage
◊ Joss Stone ‘Introducing’ her true self
◊ Crow, David on Global Warming 'Mission'
◊ Eddie Van Halen & Nascar

Sinead O'Connor - New Single

April.21st.2007 - Saturday

On Monday 30th April, 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' will be released as a download single in Ireland and the UK. It will be available from iTunes, Napster, Tunetribe and all leading digital stores.

Composer Tim Rice (with Andrew Lloyd Webber) says this about Sinead's version of this classic song: "It's good, more than good, to have 'I Don't Know How To Love Him' recorded by an important contemporary singer almost four decades after it was written.

Sinéad O'Connor's wonderful voice enabled me to find new things in a song that has been part of my life since 1970. She always gets into the heart of what she sings, whether her own work or that of others. I'm delighted to be one of the others on this occasion".

You can preview this single by visiting the newly designed www.sineadoconnor.com.

Poison'D Art

MySpace

Here are the final details for the upcoming Poison'D! album.

1. Little Willy (originally performed by Sweet)
2. Suffragette City (originally performed by David Bowie)
3. I Never Cry (originally performed by Alice Cooper)
4. I Need to Know (originally performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
5. Can't You See (originally performed by The Marshall Tucker Band)
6. What I Like About You (originally performed by The Romantics)
7. Dead Flowers (originally performed by The Rolling Stones)
8. Just What I Needed (originally performed by The Cars)
9. Rock and Roll All Nite (originally performed by KISS)
10. Squeeze Box (originally performed by The Who)
11. Your Mama Don't Dance (originally performed by Loggins & Messina)
12. You Don't Mess Around With Jim (originally performed by Jim Croce)
13. We're An American Band (originally performed by Grand Funk Railroad)

* Tracks 1-8: produced by Don Was - 2007 (new recordings)
* Track 9: produced by Rick Rubin, Less Than Zero soundtrack - 1987
* Track 10: produced by Thom Panunzio, Hollyweird - 2002
* Track 11: produced by Tom Werman, Open Up and Say...Ahh! - 1988
* Track 12: produced by Ric Browde - 1987; bonus track on Look What the Cat Dragged In - 20th Anniversary Edition - 2006
* Track 13: produced by Don Was, The Best Of Poison: 20 Years Of Rock - 2006

This disc will be released on June 5th, 2007.

 

Faster Pussycat - Open Letter

MySpace

A very interesting article was posted yesterday via the band's official myspace page. In short it is an open letter to Taime & Greg courtesy of Brent Muscat. It is quite a read and really shows the behind the scenes of this band.

Read this Open Letter Via: www.myspace.com/fasterpussycatrocks

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ Sound familiar? Circuit City and Napster partner on music service
◊ Sammy Hagar - RADD California PSA - You Tube Video
◊ Pam Tillis takes indie plunge with 'Rhinestoned'

It's About Time

April.20th.2007 - Friday
Island Exclusive

We wanted to release little audio shows 3 years ago but we had no real idea what to discuss. Then last summer we knocked out a plan. The plan is simple, pick some topics and discuss them! In our first show our main topics will be Bon Jovi Gone Country, REO & Night Ranger's Latest Releases and Some Bands Who've Helped Us Along The Way! Smaller mentions Bad English, John Waite, Journey, Rod Stewart and more! The show will be available on Monday via the "MEDIA" section free of charge. We will continue to add shows as we have time to record them. Episode 1 will be approximately one hour in either mp3 or wma format (Still Being Decided). The files will be DRM free so everyone can listen to them anywhere, at anytime, on any digital device that supports these formats.

This is just another outlet we are willing to try in order to talk about music. Obviously there will be some flaws as this is the 1st show but we'll continue to improve and get it right in the end.

Monday will also include a few big album reviews, mini's and news as usual!

Fuel Announce New Lead Singer

Fuelweb

Yes, Toryn Green is our new lead singer and we welcome him to the Fuel camp! Toryn was the standout, following our world wide website auditions that we conducted last year, where we put the song Hemorrhage up on the site for potential lead vocalist to sing over. Out of over 1000 submissions from all over the world, Toryn submitted an amazing audition and then walked in and blew us all away in LA where we held in-person try-outs. He is the whole package, bringing his own great vocal style and vibe, while keeping in step with the history Fuel has already established. I think you all are going to be very pleased with our choice. He was amazing in the studio and is sounding killer in rehearsals as we are gearing up for an upcoming tour starting with dates in two weeks.

Also very cool is that we are announcing Tommy Stewart, formerly of Godsmack, will be playing drums with us. Nuff said! Tommy has already performed a few shows with us as some of you have seen, and was cool enough to sit through some very long auditions while we were in LA auditioning singers. Tommy brings tons of amazing talent and experience as well as being a helluva cool guy and will be a welcomed addition as well. Welcome guys!

So, there you have it! All geared up and ready to go. I know, to some of you who have been paying close attention, this is not so big a surprise, with all the leaks and chatter that has been out there, but now it’s all nice and official and we are on our way. Hope to see you all out there on the road, look for our new CD in the next couple months, and the first single on the air in less than that. Hope you are enjoying the tunes on the sites and check out the new photos from our latest shoot, Carl. www.fuelweb.com

 

Velvet Revolver To Tour With...

Island Report

On May 3rd Velvet Revolver will start a mini tour with "The Actual." Band bio and additional links are listed below.

Band Bio:
“We never let starvation or icy roads get in our way”, muses Max Bernstein, singer/guitarist of The Actual.

Indeed, the ultra-literate rock combo, rounded out by guitarist + singer Ben Flanagan and brothers Jeremy and Aaron Bonsall on bass & drums have covered many a mile on little more than a healthy dose of we-think-we-can and an '82 Econoline that thankfully shares that sentiment. Shortly after their first show on Easter Sunday of 2001, The Actual have spent most of their time on tour playing pretty much to anyone who would listen at just about any place that would book them, sometimes with questionable results. "We played to a room full of angry bikers in Idaho once. That caused me to rethink my booking policy," says Max.

Thankfully, people DID start to listen, and one of those people was rock legend Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, who promptly signed the band to his new RED/New West/SonyBMG co-venture Softdrive Records. Scott took the band out of the bars and basements and onto a string of arena shows with Velvet Revolver, and co-produced the bands new album. "We played a hotel bar in Nevada to 12 people one night and the next night pulled our van up to the Aladdin in Las Vegas and played to 4,000 people. It was pretty ridiculous." adds Max.

The album, "In Stitches" is a fantastic 13-song juggernaut of smart, catchy post-punk that while sung from the heart is obviously carefully filtered through a serious set of brains (Max is the son of writer Nora Ephron and Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein - the band's literary complexity is pretty unavoidable.)

The leadoff single "This Is The Worst Day of My Life (Do You Want To Come Over)" might be the catchiest song since "It's a Small World" until it morphs into a grandiose Queen-esque outro. "Dancing On The Perimeter" channels Placebo, The Go-Gos and Husker Du into a dance-punk anthem about being afraid of dancing. "Stay In My Rectangle" sounds like Alkaline Trio taking a shot at Dinosaur Jr.'s best work. Aaron's quick-wristed drumming and Jeremy’s stacatto lines weave around Max's raspy voice which is thankfully nothing like the typical over-earnest emo whine that has become inescapable.

Listen up for The Actual stopping by your town soon and bringing you "In Stitches" May 29th.

You can listen to some of their new material via the following sites:
◊ www.theactualsounds.com  /  ◊ www.myspace.com/theactual

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ U.S. Album Sales Down, Digital Sales Up
◊ Bono, Edge Penning Tunes For 'Spider-Man' Musical

FireHouse & 7th*dB - Photos

April.19th.2007 - Thursday
Island Exclusive

This past weekend was the big rock show in Colorado that saw 4 insane bands hit the same stage, all in the same night! Jason Wood from 7th*dB sent in some photo's from the gig which are displayed below. The show was completely sold out and as Jason put it "It Was Just Insane And Just A Terrific Night of ROCK!" Brad's comments, "That Was A Friggin Great Time.. The Crowd Was Amped And Way Into 7th Decibel!" From the comments posted on 7th*dB's MySpace page it is clear everyone had a great time!

www.7thdecibel.com  /  www.firehousemusic.com

www.myspace.com/7thdecibelrocks  /  www.myspace.com/7thdbvocals  /  www.myspace.com/billleverty

New Audio Samples

The Scorpions

The Scorpions have updated their website with 3 new audio samples. The samples are for tracks Hour I, 321 and The Cross. Also revealed, the album will contain a total of 12 tracks.

As posted on www.the-scorpions.com
We enjoyed a fantastic four month in Los Angeles, California, recording the songs for our new album HUMANITY-HOUR1. The mixing is making great progress as we speak. Very soon, the new album will be completely mixed and mastered and ready to be shipped across the world. The official release date is expected to be in the 2nd half of may, but may vary from country to country, so make sure you check with your local record company or record store. It felt great for all of us to hit the stage again and rock the house as we did March 2nd at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Thanks again to a great audience! After spending quite some time in the studio, we are definitely ready to go out on the road again.

 

Savoir Faire

Cyndi Lauper - Island Report

Cyndi Lauper will be releasing a new album this year entitled "Savoir Faire." This disc will be "mainly a dance album with good rhythm." Cyndi has been giving fans a sneak peak at the album by singing a few of the new tunes live in concert. Work started on this new album back in November 2006.

"Savoir Faire" could be released as early as summer.

 

Additional Tour Dates

Omnisoul - Email

Omnisoul have added the following tour dates:

Apr 17 -- Newark, DE -- Shaggy's (Derek Solo Show)
Apr 19 -- Boston, MA -- Bill's Bar
Apr 20 -- Allentown, PA -- Crocodile Rock (21+) Time:11:45pm
Apr 21 -- Dewey Beach, DE -- Rusty Rudder (Popfest)
Apr 22 -- Essex, MD -- MACS The Club
Apr 25 -- West Chester, PA -- 15 North (Team In Training - Benefit Show)
Apr 26 -- Philadelphia, PA -- USIP (Private Event)
Apr 27 -- Newark, DE -- Shaggy's (Full band)

If you can't make it to a show, you can check out their brand new podcast.

◊ iTunes - Podcast

◊ www.omnisoul.com   /   ◊ www.myspace.com/omnisoul

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ Less recorded music bought in U.S.
◊ Listen To Kelly Clarkson's Latest Single
◊ Bennett Postpones Two Shows Due to Flu
◊ 'Tired' singer Lily Allen scraps most of U.S. tour
◊ Shut out at radio, emerging artists turn to TV

Genesis - Additional Dates

April.18th.2007 - Wednesday
Press Release

Proving that the legendary band is as popular as ever, Genesis' 'Turn It On Again' Tour has added shows on September 25th at New York's Madison Square Garden and October 10th at Sacramento's ARCO Arena.

Fans in Chicago have another opportunity to see Genesis with a third show added on October 4th at the United Center and Los Angeles fans can experience the excitement a second night at the Hollywood Bowl on October 13th.

Earlier this year Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford of Genesis unveiled the dates for the North American leg of their first tour in 15 years, kicking off at the BMO Field in Toronto on September 7th. The tour will hit 16 different cities across North America playing a series of arenas and stadiums.

Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford will be joined on stage by long-time Genesis sidemen, Chester Thompson on drums and Daryl Stuermer on guitar. Two of the world's greatest show technicians, award-winning lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe and acclaimed set designer Mark Fisher are working on plans for what promises to be one of the most impressive stage shows to tour this year.

New Shows:

Sept. 25 New York Madison Square Garden April 23rd at 9am (AMEX pre-sale)

April 30 at 10am (Public On Sale)

Oct. 4 Chicago United Center April 23rd at 10am

Oct. 10 Sacramento ARCO Arena April 21st at 10am

Oct. 13 Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl April 22nd at 10am

For official tour and ticket information, fan club membership and pre-sale dates, visit www.genesis-music.com.

The 'Turn It On Again' Tour is presented in North America by Concert Productions International (CPI).

Cancelled Shows?

Skillet - MySpace Bulletin

Some fans were upset over the recent cancellation of a tour date, one that some were already sitting and waiting for the show to start. Unfortunately the show was cancelled before fans were even notified, thus causing some friction. To top it off additional dates have been confirmed as "cancelled" but that is not do to the promoters of the band. The following was posted by Skillet member John Cooper via their myspace page which seems to clear up the recent issues.

Hey everyone! We have a bit of bad news for ya'll. The rest of our dates with Flyleaf have now been canceled due to Lacey (Flyleaf lead singer) being ill. This is SUCH a bummer to us as I know it will be to all of you who were coming as well. I have been made aware that there were some fans who drove to Columbus to see the show, and no one bothered telling you guys that the show was canceled. We are doing everything what we can to let our fans know that the shows are not happening, and I wish that everyone could have known before they drove down! Someone should have done a better job of getting that information out. Understand that this is not our tour, and we can only do so much on our end. In fact, we drove to Columbus in hopes that we could still play the show, but the promoter refused to let us! So know that we will do everything we can to not let you guys down, and we wanted everyone to know asap that these shows are not happening. We just found out today. These shows are as follows: 4/20 Minneapolis, MN and 4/23 Sauget, IL (St. Lois area).

We are unsure if Indianapolis and Knoxville are going to cancel. So far, Flyleaf is NOT playing those shows, and we are trying to do the shows ourselves if the promoters will let us. We will let you know as soon as we know!

Again, I am sorry to let you guys down, know that we are bummed out too! We hope to see all of you soon. Lastly, for you guys who pray, please be prayerful for Lacey. This has been a big downer for them and I'm sure they will reschedule their show later in the summer.

Stand and stay strong, John
www.myspace.com/skilletmusic

 

Fantasy Camp For Drummers

Press Release

Ever dream of taking a lesson from Steve Smith? Hanging out with him? Spending a weekend learning and watching him perform?

Please join Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, and more at the very first fantasy camp for drummers:

drumFantasy.07
August 17-21, 2007
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ (just 15 miles from NYC)
www.drumfantasycamp.com

These world-class drummers will be teaching clinics and small master classes, performing at nighttime concerts, and hanging with the campers - who will be of all ages and playing levels. They are even staying in the dorms - and you can too - if you choose an overnight package.

Please take a moment to review this incredible and unique event at: www.drumfantasycamp.com.

Questions? Write to: questions@drumfantasycamp.com

 

New Material

www.darrenhayes.com

First new solo music in 3 years debuts online.

It seems new Darren Hayes (Formerly Of Savage Garden) music has been quietly appearing digitally for some time now, without the heralding of a press release or big ceremony of a traditional marketing campaign.

First it was the familiar strains of Hayes' tenor pumping through clubs in Sydney, London and New York with the remixes of album track 'Step into The Light'. Now the first official taste of the new Darren Hayes album has hit the internet.

A 30 second sample of an album track "Who Would Have Thought' was debuted exclusively to fan club members of www.darrenhayes.com on April 4th.

The song features on the forthcoming album 'This Delicate Thing We've Made'. Written by Darren Hayes and Guy Chambers, the track was co-produced by Justin Shave and is the first official taste of Darren's new music since 2004.

As part of a campaign to expose listeners to new music prior to the release of the official single 'On The Verge of Something Wonderful' in July this year - 'Who Would Have Thought' is the first 'teaser' from the double album due August 20th.

Visit Darren's official website and you can listen to the new tune in full as well as view an animated music video. www.darrenhayes.com.

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ Absolute Punk.net Interview: Halifax
◊ Velvet Revolver Sets July Date For 'Libertad'
◊ Costello Revisits Back Catalog With Reissues
◊ Van Halen Suits Up For NASCAR Appearance
◊ Melissa Etheridge Eyeing Fall For New Album

Tragedy Strikes

April.17th.2007 - Tuesday

Worst U.S. shooting ever kills 33 on Va. campus

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Local, state and federal investigators scoured a university campus in Virginia for clues to what set off the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history after a gunman shot two people to death in a dormitory Monday morning before making his way to a classroom building where, silently and coolly, he killed 30 more people before turning his weapon on himself, authorities said.

At least 15 other people were wounded in the shootings, which took place over 2½ hours at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Some of them were injured as they leapt to safety from the windows of their classrooms.

The shootings, which came just four days before the eighth anniversary of the Columbine High School bloodbath, in which two students killed 13 people and themselves near Littleton, Colo., created panic and confusion at the university, which was already on edge after two weeks of bomb threats.

Read the full article and view additional details: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18134671/

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and to others who were involved in this horrible event.

Styx & Def Leppard

Press Release

Following on the heels of their massively successful 2006 concert tour, Def Leppard, one of rock's most exciting bands, have announced a mega summer concert tour that is set to hit all corners of the United States, as well as Canada. This year's outing will include 50 dates, kicking off on June 27th in Cincinnati and culminating on September 30th in Edmonton. Styx and Foreigner are scheduled to appear on select dates with tickets for the Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit and Boston dates going on sale Saturday, April 21st. Tickets are available at www.livenation.com. The tour is being produced by
Live Nation.

2006 was a watershed year for Def Leppard with the group's summer concert tour becoming a must-see phenomenon. It was extended three times due to overwhelming demand for tickets from concert-goers and quickly became one of the year's most successful live music events. 2006 also included a gold record for Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collections, marking the group's 10th album certification, as well as two critically acclaimed album releases; an exclusive limited edition version of the group's classic Hysteria album and Yeah!, a tribute to the band's musical heroes, that received raves from Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone and USA Today and featured the group's now definitive cover of Rock On. With more than 65 million albums sold worldwide, not to mention two prestigious Diamond Awards to their credit, Def Leppard -- Joe Elliott (vocals), Vivian Campbell (guitar), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick "Sav" Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (drums) -- continues to be one of the most important forces in rock music. The group's spectacular live shows are filled with hit after hit from their groundbreaking discography that set the sound for generations of music fans and artists. Def Leppard's powerful rock anthems have become synonymous with their name and it's easy to see why rock fans keep gravitating toward their electrifying live performances. On their 2007 tour, the band is promising a highly-charged, no-nonsense set of rocking performances, packed with hits spanning its entire career.

For more information on Def Leppard and updated tour news, please visit the band's Web site at www.defleppard.com

 

Introducing "Rider"

www.riderband.co.uk

'Rider' is a 5 piece alternative rock band with a distinct knack of writing anthemic, mind-blowing and truly inspirational songs..not to mention having a passionate and loyal fanbase throughout the world.

From the very beginning, their intentions were clear..to form a band with the ability and experience to set the world alight; a band which would be respected by fellow musicians, and more importantly a band which the UK can be proud to call their own! With the "masterplan" firmly set in stone, Rider embarked on what is proving to be an exciting and challenging journey.

The band recently released their debut EP which can be downloaded for free. Visit their website for additional information and download links: www.riderband.co.uk

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ Locklear, Sambora officially divorced
◊ Barry Nelson, 1st on-screen James Bond, dead
◊ Underwood Wins CMT Video of Year Award

Stevie Nicks and Hall & Oates

April.16th.2007 - Monday
Press Release

Soles4Souls(TM) Inc., and Two Ten Footwear Foundation, the two non-profit organizations co- sponsoring OPENING NIGHT AT WSA(TM), announced today that legendary singers STEVIE NICKS and HALL & OATES will highlight this dazzling event on July 30th, which will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Stevie Nicks is well known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and her long solo career, which collectively has produced over twenty Top 40 hits, including "Rhiannon," "Dreams," and "Sara." She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 as a member of Fleetwood Mac.

Opening the evening will be the incomparable duo Hall & Oates, who have sold more than 60 million albums during their 30-year career. Their rich repertoire has garnered a total of eight #1 hit singles, along with dozens of hits, which include "Maneater," "Private Eyes," "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)," and "She's Gone."

While the event is still more than three months away, Wayne Elsey, Founder of Soles4Souls, isn't hiding his growing optimism for the evening. "This is the finest opportunity for the footwear industry to gather together to have a great time while supporting the industry's own charitable organizations: Two Ten Footwear Foundation and Soles4Souls," he said. "Stevie Nicks and Hall & Oates put on an amazing live show, and we are confident we will have a packed house for this event because of the amount of phone calls and emails we have received," Elsey said.

"The WSA Show is proud the have this incredible evening as the focal point for the efforts of Soles4Souls and the Two Ten Footwear Foundation," said Diane Stone, COO of WSA. "With the global footwear industry assembled in one place, there is the opportunity to create awareness and raise funds so that the industry can help its own and help the world. This is a first-class venue for holding a first-class event," she said.

"The footwear industry has been remarkably supportive of both Soles4Souls and Two Ten, and we want to thank them by creating an incredible concert experience," Elsey said. "For the first time, concertgoers will have access to branded skyboxes, which offer incredible views and are fully catered. The Orleans Arena has all the extra amenities that will make the night a true V.I.P. experience," he said.

To learn more about Opening Night at WSA or to purchase tickets, visit the website at www.openingnightatwsa.com.

On Tour

Laidlaw & ZZ Top

Laidlaw will be heading out on tour with legendary band ZZ Top. The band's new CD "The Foam Box Sessions" is shipping now. The band is selling the cd for $6.00. To hear samples check out www.laid-law.com or www.myspace.com/laidlaw

Concert Dates:
4.20.07 Peppermill Casino
4.21.07 Konocti Harbor
4.23.07 Concerts In The Park
4.24.07 Events Center
4.26.07 Chumash Casino
4.27.07 Laughlin River Run Aquarius Casino Resort
4.28.07 Laughlin River Run Aquarius Casino Resort
4.29.07 Pala Casino

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ Huge concert to raise climate awareness
◊ Menudo Reforming for MTV Reality Series
◊ Bon Jovi Goes Country Again on New Album
◊ Doors hits package boasts contemporary remixes
◊ Velvet Revolver - Tour Write-Up
◊ Legendary Hawaiian Singer Don Ho Has Died
◊ Adam Levine Contemplates The End Of Maroon 5
◊ Chris Cornell - Yahoo Live Sets

New Mini Reviews

April.13th.2007 - Friday

         

I'm still trying to catch up on my reviews, there's a ton of discs I still have to dive into but I'll get them all done soon enough! The 3 mini's up this time are, Rebecca St. James - aLIVE in Florida, Chevelle - Vera Sera, and Bethany Dillon - Waking Up. You can read these mini's by clicking here.

 

More Bon Jovi Appearances

News As Marked

◊ Press Release: BON JOVI OPENS THE O2 ARENA - SUNDAY 24TH JUNE!

Bon Jovi are back in the UK for their only appearance of 2007. Bon Jovi are without doubt one of the world’s greatest live rock bands, and they in turn will be opening Europe’s greatest new arena, The O2.

Bon Jovi, who sold over 300,000 tickets and 6 stadiums at their British shows last year, will be appearing at The O2 on Sunday 24th June. It will be the first time in 15 years that Jovi have played indoors in the UK.

The band’s new album “Lost Highway” is due for release on 11th June and will be followed on 25th June by the new single “(You Want To) Make A Memory”.

Bon Jovi have sold over 120 million albums, played 3,000 concerts in over 50 countries.

To obtain tickets, the following procedure applies:

Tickets will go on-sale at 9am Friday 20th April and are available from www.aeglive.co.uk and www.seetickets.com or by calling Ticketmaster on 0871 230 4422.


◊ CMT Music Awards: Bon Jovi, Toby Keith and Keith Urban have been added to the list of performers at the 2007 CMT Music Awards taking place April 16 in Nashville. Bon Jovi's new single, "(You Want To) Make a Memory," will make its television debut during the show. The band's new album, Lost Highway, will be released by Island/Mercury Nashville on June 19. Urban will be featured in a special performance from Australia. Previously announced performers include Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Tim McGraw. The awards show will air live on CMT. Show information: www.cmt.com/shows/events/cmt_music_awards/2007/

◊ Billboard.com - Review Of Bon Jovi's Latest Single

Setting The Record Straight / Mick Brown's Departure?

Don Dokken - MySpace Bulletin

Last night Don Dokken posted the following information via MySpace to help set the record straight.

Hi everybody, the boys and I are currently in the studio working on "Lightening Strikes Again" and it should be out sometime in September. We will be playing various festivals this summer and we all hope you will make it to one of our shows in your area. I will post our tour dates as soon as they are confirmed. For those of you that have picked up our 1981 Live CD I hope you like it. I think it's pretty cool and very punchy sounding considering it was recorded a zillion years ago. Also our "Unchain the Night" video is now out on DVD with three bonus videos as well as Mick and I doing commentary. Our commentary is pretty funny to watch. Mick was really on a roll that day. We will be going on tour in Europe in September and I will be posting those dates soon. I've been seeing a few blogs on the Internet lately that I got married, and although I do live with my girlfriend, neither one of us are fans of traditional marriage. So stop congratulating me!

About mick. The rumors are FALSE!

No mick did not leave, he's touring with Nugent this summer like he's done for 2 summers now he's coming into town tomorrow to start recording with us, he likes to play and when were not he goes out with uncle Ted so that's it he's still in Dokken, he's just trying to make a living.

Also, I'll be the guest D J for an hour on this station. Metal Express Radio, it will be Friday, the 20th at 3 pm and 9 pm Central European Time (6 am and noon California time).

I hope to see you this summer out there at the shows. It should be a fun summer. See you soon!

D D

Radio Interview & Concert

Eddie Money - MySpace Bulletin & Write-Up

Eddie Money will be on KOST 103.5 in LA today at 9am. He will be talking on the Mark and Kim Morning Show. You can call in during the show and request that they play the new single "You Don't Know Me." The KOST line is 1-800-929-5678

You can listen live on the internet at www.kost1035.com/pages/streaming.html

You might also want to pick up tickets for KOST’s show with Eddie Money (with KATRINA CARLSON) at the House Of Blues on the Famous Sunset Strip too April 19th.

It’s going to be a great show and tickets are only $25. This is posted as a 21 and over show, so check with the House Of Blues before you get tickets if you are not 21. The HOB box office number is (323) 848-5100 tickets are available, but limited!

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ Mercury Records rises in U.S. again
◊ EMI and Beatles settle royalty dispute
◊ Warner Music wants unprotected albums off Web site
◊ Belinda Carlisle - Official Website Reopened
◊ P!NK will be on American Idol April 25th
◊ Past Few Weeks Of News Has Been Archived

Next Update Will Be Monday the 16th as I have some business to attend to over the weekend.

Original Lineup!

Extreme - Press Release
April.12th.2007 - Thursday

The original lineup of EXTREME will reunite for a benefit concert and auction in New York City in honor of music manager Steven Hoffman. Hoffman, who worked with RUSH, VAN HALEN and EXTREME, died of lung cancer in 2003 at the age of 38.

The event will take place on May 18 at the Canal Room, 285 West Broadway, NYC from 7:00 to 10:30 p.m. Extreme as well as other artists are lined up to pay tribute. A live and silent auction will also be held to raise money for lung cancer research. Some of the items to be auctioned off include an autographed Nuno Bettencourt Washburn guitar, an autographed Geddy Lee bass and other great and rare rock n' roll memorabilia. This will be an unforgettable evening.

To purchase tickets or for further information about this event, visit www.stevenhoffmanfund.org or call (416) 946-4661

-- Checkout Cherone's new band "Hurtsmile" www.myspace.com/hurtsmile, There are a few free downloadable songs!

 

RCA Re-Signing

Foo Fighters - Press Release

RCA Records announces today the re-signing of Foo Fighters to a new long-term recording agreement. Initially signed to RCA in 1999 the Foos, led by Dave Grohl with Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett, have sold over 20 million albums worldwide to date. Debuting in 1995 with the self-titled Foo Fighters, the band has since earned four Grammy Awards including Best Rock Album for There Is Nothing Left To Lose (2000) and One By One (2003).

"There are good bands and there are very good bands and then there are the special outstanding hall of famers. The Foo Fighters are true rock and roll hall of famers. It's been tremendously gratifying for us to be a part of their legacy and I'm thrilled that our special relationship will continue," states Clive Davis.

Founding Foo Fighter Dave Grohl comments, "With all the crazy sh*t that's gone down in the record business over the last 10 years, it's been a huge comfort to know that the people at RCA have always had our backs. The support and freedom they've given us has been invaluable and I'm glad to have them continuing with us into this band's second decade."

Foo Fighters are coming off their first live album, Skin and Bones, which documented the band's summer 2006 tour. This series of intimate theater shows featured acoustic-flavored songs from the landmark double disc set, In Your Honor, along with fresh new interpretations of favorites from the band's entire career. In Your Honor received tremendous critical praise -- The New York Times hailed it as "an unexpected magnum opus."

This month the band returns to the recording studio to begin work on their sixth album with world-class producer Gil Norton, whose credits include Foo Fighters' double platinum & Grammy-nominated The Colour and the Shape (1997) and classic albums by the Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen and Patti Smith.

Heralded by The Hollywood Reporter as "one of America's premier rock n roll bands," Foo Fighters are confirmed to appear with The Police on June 23rd at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. On July 7th, the band will perform as part of "Live Earth" -- a 24-hour live concert event spanning seven continents and organized by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and the S.O.S. (Save Our Selves) campaign to highlight the dangers of global warming. The concerts will take place in Sydney, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Shanghai, China; London, England; Kyoto, Japan; Johannesburg, South Africa; and a U.S. city to be announced. In addition, Foo Fighters are headlining the UK's V Festival in August 2007, which has already broken records for being the fastest sell out in the history of the event.

Website: www.rcarecords.com

Friendly Reminder!

Island Write-Up

This Saturday is the big bash at Eck's Saloon in Lakewood, Colorado. For $20.00 you'll be able to take in the sounds of 4 bands! 1991 AMA winning group FireHouse along with 7th*db, Wishdoctor & Love.45 are ready to rock you into the night!

If you are like me, then you want to know what each band has to offer before you get to the venue.
Check out the links below to better familiarize yourself with each group!

For those attending, have a great time! We wish we could be there with you!

◊ FireHouse   /   ◊ 7th Decibel   /   ◊ Wishdoctor   /   ◊ Love.45

News Tidbits

Interesting Articles

◊ Kelly Clarkson - "Never Again" Single - Friday!
- Different year, same Kelly Clarkson vibe. Not quite as good as her previous "Big" singles but will still be a radio smash.

◊ Upcoming Avril Lavigne TV Appearances:
April 14th, Sunday - Saturday Night Live
April 17th, Tuesday - Late Show David Letterman
April 18th, Wednesday - Live With Regis & Kelly
April 20th, Friday - The Ellen DeGeneres Show

◊ Bon Jovi Ready for Pocket Travel
◊ Trent Reznor Doesn't Care About Release Dates
◊ Three Jacksons on board for TV family talent show
◊ Ex-Grateful Dead Manager Sentenced
◊ Posting from Photobucket to MySpace
◊ NASA Targets June Launch

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