The third Annual Bowl For Ronnie Bowling Party, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, will take place on Friday, October 6th, 2017 at the Pinz Bowling Center in Studio City, California. The event, hosted by DJ, and TV personality, Eddie Trunk, will include a celebrity bowling tournament and a raffle drawing. Last year’s Bowl For Ronnie brought in $36,500 for the cancer charity, which is now in its eighth year of raising awareness and much-needed funding for cancer research.
Bowl For Ronnie participants can anticipate an evening of fun, food, and, of course, bowling with rockers and celebrities competing for trophies in the name of raising funds and awareness for the Dio Cancer Fund. Among the raffle prizes will be a specially-designed bowling ball and pin featuring the Bowl For Ronnie artwork (see above).
The event kicks off at 6:30 PM with open bowling and a VIP pre-party for lane sponsors, celebrities and their guests. Previous Bowl For Ronnie events brought together entertainers and artists such as Grammy award winning duo Tenacious D featuring Jack Black and Kyle Gass, Tom Morello (Prophets Of Rage & Rage Against The Machine, John 5, members of Mastodon, Steven Adler of Guns and Roses, Lita Ford, members of the Grammy nominated group Stone Sour and many more. Last year, John 5 and Tom Morello, as members of Eddie Trunk’s bowling team, took top honors for the highest celebrity bowling team score.
Eddie Trunk will once again host the event and captain his own bowling team at the event. Additionally, L.A.’s rock station KLOS will sponsor a bowling team made up of on-air personalities and celebrity musicians.
100% of the net proceeds from the Bowl For Ronnie will go to the Dio Cancer Fund. Individual tickets and lane sponsorships are now on sale, and participants are encouraged to gather friends, family and co-workers for the ultimate bowling team. The Pinz Bowling Center is located at 12655 Ventura Blvd in Studio City, California.
Individual Spectator: $50 per person (includes pizza and general admission)
Individual Bowler: $75 (includes pizza, shoe rental and bowling from 6:30-9PM)
Team/Corporate Lane Sponsorship: $1995 private lane for 6 bowlers (includes team or corporate logo displayed on lane, 6 VIP party passes and access to Artist/VIP lounge, 2 drink tickets per team member, 6 “Bowl For Ronnie” t-shirts, pizza and shoe rental)
Who: The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund
What: Bowl For Ronnie Celebrity Charity Bowling Tournament
Where: Pinz Bowling Center, 12655 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, California
When: Friday, October 6th, 2017 – 6:30-11:00pm /
VIP Pre-Party 6:30-8:30pm
Why: To raise funds for cancer research
KISS vocalist/bassist, Gene Simmons, has insisted that he has no regrets over his controversial attempt to take ownership of the devil horns hand gesture.
His bid to register it as a trademark with the US federal copyright office was withdrawn two weeks after it had been filed in June this year.
He’d paid $275 for the application, in which he claimed that “no other person, firm, corporation or association has the right to use said mark in commerce, either in the identical form or in such near resemblance.”
The attempt drew ire from many directions, including from Ronnie James Dio’s widow Wendy, who called it “laughable” and “disgusting,” adding, “It belongs to everyone – it doesn’t belong to anyone.” She’d threatened to sue “on behalf of us all” if the trademark was granted to him.
Simmons tells the Windsor Star, “I regret nothing. Wake up every morning and let your conscience be your guide. “Did you know I own the moneybag logo-the dollar sign with the bag of money? I own all kinds of things. I own ‘motion picture’ as a trademark. Anyone who thinks that’s silly, the silliest thing I’ve ever done is wear more makeup and higher heels than your mommy. People said, ‘You can’t do that.’ Actually, bitch, I can. I can do anything I want to do.”
Asked about the trademark bid, Simmons’ bandmate Paul Stanley told Loudwire, “Gene elicits some very strong reactions from people. What he does, he does for reasons that only he knows. It was something he wanted to pursue and the reaction was how people felt about it. I don’t know why he pulled it, and I don’t know why he started it. I haven’t asked him.”
Whitesnake had already released a string of Top 10 albums in England before the band conquered the world in 1987 with their eponymous record, also known in some countries as 1987, which was certified multi-platinum and featured the smash single Here I Go Again. The classic album turns 30 this year and Rhino is celebrating with four new versions, including an expansive boxed set.
Whitesnake: Super Deluxe Edition will be available on October 6th for $49.98. The 4-CD/DVD collection includes the original album with newly remastered sound, unreleased live and studio recordings, classic music videos, concert footage, a 30 minute documentary, featuring a new interview with David Coverdale, Whitesnake’s founder and lead singer. The music comes with a 60-page hardbound book that’s filled with rare and unseen photos from the era, an extended essay based on new interviews with Coverdale, plus a booklet of the album’s lyrics, handwritten by Coverdale. The audio will also be available via digital download and streaming services.
Three other versions of Whitesnake will also be available the same day. A Deluxe Edition will be available in both 2-CD ($19.98) and 2-LP ($29.98) versions, each including the newly remastered album expanded with a selection of unreleased bonus recordings. A single-disc version of the newly remastered album will also be available.
This also marks the first release under a newly signed catalog deal with Whitesnake and Rhino Entertainment, the catalog division of Warner Music Group. This new deal includes both the North American and Japanese rights, marking the first time a substantial amount of the Whitesnake catalog will reside under Warner Music Group worldwide.
“It gives me great joy to finally have so much of my Whitesnake catalog all under the same roof with the Warner family and I’m thrilled to be now working with this tremendous team on a worldwide basis,” says Coverdale. “I have great memories of being with Warner back in my days with Deep Purple then when I was with Geffen, when they were distributed by Warner, so it feels like coming home to now have Whitesnake there. This elaborate reissue is the perfect project to kick off the new relationship.”
“Whitesnake is one of the all-time great rock n’ roll bands, with David being an absolute icon as a vocalist and front man,” says Rhino President Mark Pinkus. “We are absolutely thrilled to now have so much of the Whitesnake catalog with Warner on a global basis and are excited for the fans to see what great releases we have planned for the coming years.”
Soon after its release in April 1987, Whitesnake became a huge success around the world, selling multi million copies. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard album chart and spawned four popular singles: Still Of The Night, Give Me All Your Love, Is This Love (which reached #2) and the #1 hit Here I Go Again.
Whitesnake: Super Deluxe Edition comes with an entire disc of unreleased live performances featuring Adrian Vandenberg, Vivian Campbell & Tommy Aldridge, recorded during the band’s 1987-88 tour. The music includes live versions of several tracks from “1987”, plus Whitesnake classics Slide It In, Love Ain’t No Stranger, and Slow An’ Easy.
An additional disc spotlights the creative process behind Whitesnake with a selection of 11 unreleased demo and rehearsal recordings, including early versions of nearly every song on the album called 87 Evolutions. The final disc introduces newly remixed versions the album’s four singles, and includes rare radio mixes, as well as songs from 87 Versions, an EP released exclusively in Japan.
The DVD from Whitesnake: Super Deluxe Edition includes music videos for the four singles, all of which have been carefully restored and remixed in 5.1 Surround Sound for the first time ever. In addition, the DVD also features a new 30 minute documentary about the making of Whitesnake, a new promo video made especially for this set of the 1988 version of Here I Go Again and unreleased live footage from the 1987-88 tour.
Whitesnake: Super Deluxe Edition 4CD/DVD Track Listing:
Disc One: Original Album 2017 Remaster:
1. Still Of The Night
2. Give Me All Your Love
3. Bad Boys
4. Is This Love
5. Here I Go Again ’87
6. Straight For The Heart
7. Looking For Love
8. Children Of The Night
9. You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again
10. Crying In The Rain
11. Don’t Turn Away
Disc Two: Snakeskin Boots [Live On Tour 1987-88]:
1. Bad Boys/Children Of The Night*
2. Slide It In*
3. Slow An’ Easy*
4. Here I Go Again*
5. Guilty Of Love*
6. Is This Love*
7. Love Ain’t No Stranger*
8. Guitar Solo – Adrian and Vivian*
9. Crying In The Rain*
10. Still Of The Night*
11. Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City*
12. Give Me All Your Love*
Disc Three: 87 Evolutions [Demos and Rehearsals]:
1. Still Of The Night*
2. Give Me All Your Love*
3. Bad Boys*
4. Is This Love*
5. Straight For the Heart*
6. Looking For Love*
7. Children Of The Night*
8. You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again*
9. Crying In The Rain*
10. Don’t Turn Away*
11. Crying In The Rain” (Lil’ Mountain Alternate Take Ruff Mix)*
Disc Four: 87 Versions [2017 Remixes]”
1. Still Of The Night-Remix*
2. Is This Love-Remix*
3. Give Me All Your Love-Remix*
4. Here I Go Again 87-Remix*
5. Standing In The Shadows-1987 Versions, Japanese Mini-Album
6. Looking For Love-1987 Versions, Japanese Mini-Album
7. You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again-1987 Versions, Japanese Mini-Album
8. Need Your Love So Bad-1987 Versions, Japanese Mini-Album
9. Here I Go Again-Radio Mix
10. Give Me All Your Love-Single Version
DVD:
1. Still Of The Night-Music Video, Restored and Remixed in 5.1
2. Here I Go Again 87-Music Video, Restored and Remixed in 5.1
3. Is This Love-Music Video, Restored and Remixed in 5.1
4. Give Me All Your Love-Music Video, Restored and Remixed in 5.1
5. Documentary about the making of 1987 Album*
6. Here I Go Again-Purplesnake Video Jam*
7. Crying In The Rain-1987 Tour Video Bootleg*
8. Band Intros-1987 Tour Video Bootleg*
9. Still Of The Night-1987 Tour Video Bootleg*
1. Still Of The Night
2. Bad Boys
3. You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again
4. Straight For The Heart
5. Here I Go Again 87
Side Two:
1. Give Me All Your Love
2. Is This Love
3. Children Of The Night
4. Crying In The Rain
5. Don’t Turn Away
Side Three:
1. Still Of The Night-2017 Remix *
2. Is This Love-2017 Remix *
3. Give Me All Your Love-2017 Remix *
4. Here I Go Again 87-2017 Remix *
5. Looking For Love
Side Four:
1. Bad Boys/Children of the Night-Live*
2. Here I Go Again-Live*
3. Is This Love-Live*
4. Give Me All Your Love-Live*
5. Still of the Night-Live*
1. Still Of The Night
2. Give Me All Your Love
3. Bad Boys
4. Is This Love
5. Here I Go Again 87
6. Straight For The Heart
7. Looking For Love
8. Children Of The Night
9. You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again
10. Crying In The Rain
11. Don’t Turn Away
Disc Two: Snakeskin Boots [Live On Tour 1987-88]:
1. Bad Boys/Children Of The Night*
2. Slide It In*
3. Slow An’ Easy*
4. Here I Go Again*
5. Guilty Of Love*
6. Is This Love*
7. Love Ain’t No Stranger*
8. Guitar Solo – Adrian and Vivian *
9. Crying In The Rain*
10. Still Of The Night*
11. Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City*
12. Give Me All Your Love*
According to their official website, the Atlanta KISS Expo has announced that former KISS guitarist, Vinnie Vincent, will be their special guest, next year.
Vincent will be signing autographs and taking photos during the special VIP Meet & Greet on Friday, January 19th, 2018, as well as all day long at the Atlanta Kiss Expo on Saturday, January 20th, 2018.
The organizers state this will be Vincent’s first public appearance in almost twenty years, “We have worked long and hard to secure the legendary Ankh Warrior for the show, and he’s been absolutely awesome and is looking forward to meeting all of his fans.”
Vincent replaced lead guitarist Ace Frehley in 1982 and played with KISS for two years.
For the past eight years, Alice In Chains vocalist/guitarist Jerry Cantrell and bassist Mike Inez have hosted the Alice In Chains & Friends Fantasy Football League & Auction, donating a spectacular collection of signed musical instruments, memorabilia and experiences for an online auction to benefit organizations like Music For Relief and MusiCares. In recent years, they’ve donated proceeds from the auction to provide protective gear and training for workers assisting with the Ebola Prevention Initiative and contributed funds to MusiCares’ health and human services programs.
Each year’s charity initiatives are determined by the League’s reigning champion. This year’s champion is Jerry Cantrell and he’s announced that proceeds from this year’s auction will be split between a donation to MusiCares in Chris Cornell’s name and a donation to Music For Relief in Chester Bennington’s name. The auction will run from August 14th through August 24th – for info, please visit ebay.com/aliceinchains.
League participants include Cantrell, Inez, Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan, TV sports host Rich Eisen, actor Michael Rapaport, Pantera’s Vinnie Paul, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, NFL.com’s fantasy football columnist Michael Fabiano, former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew and Gaslight Anthem’s Benny Horowitz. The 2017 season draft will broadcast live on September 5th on Sirius XM’s Fantasy Sports Radio, hosted by John Hansen and Bob Harris.
Among the items up for auction is a guitar lesson with Jerry Cantrell, a bass guitar signed by the members of Guns N’ Roses, a guitar signed by Deftones, a pinstripe Viking guitar signed by Zakk Wylde, a football signed by members of the NFL Hall of Fame, a football signed by 2017 Hall of Fame inductee Kurt Warner and more.
Scotti Hill of Skid Row joined the August 7th episode of Another FN Podcast to tell stories about his youth, learning to play guitar, how Skid Row got together, Dimebag Darrell, the KISS Farewell Tour, and more, but eventually the elephant in the room made itself known, and the topic of Sebastian Bach, came up.
It had been rumored for years that the reason Bach was relieved of his duties fronting the band had to do with the fact that Skid Row turned down the KISS Reunion Tour in 1996. Hill confirmed this with a story that he doesn’t think had ever been told.
“That caused a giant uproar is what it did, and he did something to Snake Sabo, that was unacceptable. He called Snake on Thanksgiving and said some horrible things into his answering machine and Snake said ‘you know what? I’m not going to be in a band with you anymore.’ It’s as simple as that.”
Replacing a guy with the talents of Sebastian Bach was not easy. He remembers, when that came up after a long vacation from Skid Row, and remembers thinking about how the fans would freak out. Additionally, the road back, would not be an easy one.
“We did that KISS (Farewell) tour and that was a 140 something shows, of all of which I watched, and after that, it was a battle to get to where we’re at now” he said.
For the past couple of years rumors have been circulating of a possible reunion with their former front man, but once and for all, any chance of that happening has been laid to rest.
“That door is closed. There was talk about it, the two camps went back and forth, and it was not to happen. So, that door is now shut” Hill said.
When asked if that meant forever, and that was the last nail in the coffin of any Skid Row/Sebastian Bach reunion? He responded, “Yeah. I believe so. I tell you what, our singer, ZP Theart…just call him ZP. He’s a brother. He’s a great f–king singer, he’s a great front man, he’s a guy I look forward to seeing, a guy I look forward to hanging out with. We trust him with the band that we’ve been in all this time and that is precious to us. We can go out and play and enjoy ourselves.”
Of course it is something the fans want to see? Fans wax nostalgic about the originals that created the magic being on stage together, but as we all know in this crazy rock n’ roll world isn’t always the fairy tale that we wish it could be. How did Hill respond about doing it for the fans?
“Not at the expense of my happiness, no. I’m sorry. It ain’t fucking happening.
We appreciate fans, we do. We’re probably the most fan friendly band you will every meet. We will go out in the cold, we’ll hang out with them, but what we won’t do is put ourselves in a volatile situation and be unhappy and destroy what we have now.”
While shutting down any hope the fans may have of a reunion ever happening, he did have this to say about Bach, “He’s not a rockstar, he’s a superstar. He’s great. I’ll speak for myself. He is a guy who will cut his own throat to do a good show. He puts it all out there. He’s a great singer and a great front man; one of the all time greats, but we’re not working together. To replace a guy like that? You realize what you’re up against. The records he did with Skid Row were great and he was a huge part of that.
Everybody is like ‘Oh, we’re on Skid Row’s side’ or ‘we’re on Sebastian’s side.’ No, you gotta be on the side of rock n’ roll. When Sebastian plays in your town, go see him, because he’s great. When Skid Row plays in your town, go see em, because I’m great (laughs), no because we will f–king blow your ass away”.
Skid Row are currently in the process of writing and demoing new songs for an upcoming record featuring ZP Theart on vocals. No time frame has been given for the release.
