Category : LATEST NEWS

NIGHT RANGER’S KELLY KEAGY TAKES LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL HEART PROCEDURE

Kelly Keagy, the drummer, co-lead vocalist and co-founder of the acclaimed, multi-platinum and long-running band Night Ranger, is taking a temporary leave of absence from the band during April and May, as he recovers from a successful heart procedure, Night Ranger announced today. Veteran drummers Deen Castronovo (formerly of Journey/Bad English) and Fred Coury (Cinderella) will sit in for Keagy for the next 6 weeks during the “35th Anniversary World Tour”, which coincides with the release of the band’s 11th studio album, Don’t Let Up.

Keagy issued the following statement:

“I’ve dealt with a heart abnormality my entire life. At the recommendation of my doctors, I decided to undergo a procedure that will allow me to come back even stronger. I’ve asked the guys in the band to go ahead with the tour, and I’m looking forward to rejoining them on the road as soon as I can. I’m grateful for the support and prayers of my family, my bandmates, and our fans, which have meant everything to me as I’ve gone through this process.”

Keagy is now at home continuing his recovery, which is expected to take six weeks.

Night Ranger’s Jack Blades (lead vocals, bass), Brad Gillis (lead & rhythm guitars), Keri Kelli (lead & rhythm guitars), and Eric Levy (keyboards) issued the following statement:

“We support and applaud Kelly’s decision to put his health first and undergo this treatment now so he can be back at full strength as quickly as possible. While it will be strange being out on the road without our brother Kelly for the first time in the band’s history, we take comfort in knowing it’s a temporary situation, and he’ll be back soon even stronger to continue the 35th Anniversary World Tour.”

We’re grateful to our buddies Deen and Fred, for agreeing to step in as guest drummers for Night Ranger during Kelly’s short hiatus (Deen will perform at the May shows and Fred will perform at the April shows). They’ve both been good friends of the band for years, and it’ll be great to be rockin’ America with them while Kelly recuperates.”

We know our fans join us in sending their thoughts and prayers to Kelly and his family as he recovers from his procedure, and we look forward to reuniting with him on the road very soon as we celebrate the release of Don’t Let Up and the 35th Anniversary World Tour rolls on.”

For more information, visit a href=”https://nightranger.com/#/” target=”_blank”>NightRanger.com.

MARK WEISS/DAVID BANEGAS-TWO MEDIUMS/ONE VISION APRIL 24TH AT THE ROCK & BREWS ORLANDO

What happens when you have two visionary modern artistes merging their talents? Well, when you are talking about rock photographer Mark Weiss and painter/artiste David Banegas, you wind up with a breath-taking, larger-than-life image of Mark’s images morphing into David’s art. Four portrait paintings will be featured at a new music-themed Orlando restaurant, Rock & Brews – located at 6897 South Semoran Blvd., by the Orlando airport.

One of the paintings is based on an image Weiss photographed of Axl Rose during the historic Guns N’ Roses concert in 1987 at The Ritz in New York City. Add to the 10’ x 30’ mural, three more textured and stylized mirror image paintings from Weiss’ archives and you begin to envision the mural’s impact. The “wall of art” was commissioned by entrepreneur Scott Paul for the Rock & Brews in Orlando. The restaurant needed to artistically exemplify its “rock roots” and it had to be contemporary. The merged artwork of Mark Weiss and David Banegas was the answer.

The Rock & Brews Orlando grand opening is open to the public on Monday, April 24th, the above-mentioned rock icon paintings are displayed on the Rock & Brew’s wall of distinction. There will be a silent auction where the proceeds will go to the Orange County Animal Services of Mark’s iconic classic rock photos as well as David’s embellished half/half giclee of Axl Rose, at a special community night celebration on April 22nd.

Picasso once said, “(a painter) paints not what he sees, but what he feels”. Seeing the combined effort of two artistes such as Mark Weiss and David Banegas, equals one new focused vision – one feeling – locking in a moment in time, image and feel.

Their first collaboration began in 2012 at Guitar World’s first Rock & Roll Roast to benefit MusiCares which featured guitarist Zakk Wylde.

Photographer Mark Weiss and artist David Banegas met at the Lunch Break 2011 Gala in Red Bank, NJ. Both contributed their art to raise money at the charitable event. Mark was auctioning off his classic rock photographs; while David was painting live – a portrait of Elvis Presley that was raffled off at the event. David’s unique execution of painting caught Mark’s eye; inspiring him to approach David with the idea to have him paint a mirror image of his most iconic Rock & Roll images. The partnership was formed! Both artists continue to donate their work to help bring focus and funds to charitable causes.

JOE SATRIANI’S 2017 G4 EXPERIENCE JOE SATRIANI’S G4 EXPERIENCE WITH SPECIAL GUESTS PHIL COLLEN, WARREN, DIMARTINI, & PAUL GILBERT, SCHEDULED FOR JULY 24TH-28TH IN CARMEL, CA

Joe Satriani announces special guests Phil Collen [Def Leppard], Warren DiMartini [Ratt], and Paul Gilbert joining him for the 2017 G4 Experience: Surfing with the Alien 30th Anniversary. The event is July 24th-28th at Asilomar Center in Carmel, CA.

About this year’s camp, Satriani says, “I’m thrilled to have guitarists Phil Collen and Warren DiMartini joining Paul Gilbert and myself for this year’s G4 camp. What an incredible lineup. Phil, Warren, and Paul are all virtuosos with a wide range of professional experience in the music world. Together, we look forward to sharing all of our musical knowledge with this year’s G4 campers.”

Phil Collen echoes that sentiment, saying, “I’m thrilled and honored to be joining Joe on the G4 experience and I’m stoked to get to play with him and to share some of my experiences with all the attendees ”

For its fourth installment, the G4 Experience enjoys a game-changing and historic first. The camp will celebrate the writing, recording, and performance of Satriani’s seminal GRAMMY Award-nominated, platinum-selling 1987 epic, Surfing with the Alien—one of the most successful instrumental guitar albums ever made. Recognizing the record’s 30th anniversary, campers will enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pull back the curtain on the album with the visionaries behind the music.

Satriani will be joined by longtime co-conspirator and Surfing with the Alien co-producer John Cuniberti in addition to other special guests. His original live band during the record’s tour cycle, Stu Hamm and Jonathan Mover, return for the first time since 1995 for the evening’s performances.

For more information on G4, visit, g4experience.com.

ROB HALFORD AND JIM BREUER PERFORM “YOU’VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMIN'” ON THE APRIL 12TH EPISODE OF “THE COMEDY JAM”

The metal God, Rob Halford will guest on this Wednesday’s (April 12th) episode of Comedy Central’s new comedy and music series The Comedy Jam.

The eight-episode season features celebrities dishing on a cherished memory linked to an iconic song and then performing that song with the Comedy Jam Band in front of a live audience.

This week’s episode will see Halford join forces with comedian Jim Breuer to perform “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’“.

Also on the April 12th episode, Mark Duplass and Kevin Cronin perform Can’t Fight This Feeling by Reo Speedwagon, and Big Jay Oakerson and Lukas Rossi perform Rebel Yell by Billy Idol.

The Comedy Jam was filmed at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. The eight-episode weekly series is based on the special that aired in August 2016 and was born from one of the hottest live shows in Los Angeles.

THE DEAD DAISIES ANNOUNCE “THE DIRTY DOZEN TOUR” FOR “LIVE & LOUDER” NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

The Dead Daisies’ awesome live juggernaut is set to storm into North America in August for a dozen prime live dates as part of their Live & Louder World Tour, in support of the release of their landmark Live And Louder album on Spitfire Music/SPV/eOne on May 19th. Heralded The Dirty Dozen Tour, it will launch in Chicago, IL on August 10th and will wrap in Las Vegas, NV on August 27th.

The Dirty Dozen Tour is inspired by the classic 1960s movie of the same name. “Rehearse them, excite them, arm them – then turn them loose on the Fans.” It will be the band’s first North American Headline Tour where demand has been steadily building after 2016’s smash success of their third album Make Some Noise.

Lead singer John Corabi says, “We’re all very excited for our very first North American headline run. We’re kicking it all off on August 10th in Chicago and ending it in “Sin City” Las Vegas!!! You guys have been amazing with all of your support and requests for shows here, so we’re giving it to you Live And Louder, and “down and dirty” on The Dirty Dozen Tour 2017!!!! See ya on the road kids!!!”

Before being turned loose on North American audiences, the troops will be fresh from playing some of the most prestigious & high profile UK & EU Rock Festivals coupled with a series of headline club shows, dates in Japan to then make their long-awaited debut in South America. From South America it’s back to one of the EU’s largest Festivals Woodstock Poland, to be part of a “concert inspired by freedom” which will see the band perform with a 60-piece Orchestra.
The Live & Louder – World Tour 2017 will visit the following countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, Holland, France, Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Poland, Canada and the USA.

Live And Louder, will be available in multiple deluxe formats & perfectly captures the awesome vibe of their supreme, sweat drenched, roof-raising live sets, recorded on a heady high at the end of an unbelievable 2016. The result, once again mixed by Anthony Focx (Aerosmith, Bad Company), is an absolute stunner!

Lead guitarist Doug Aldrich has some choice words about the upcoming live album – Live And Louder really helps define The Dead Daisies’ sound. Like bands I’ve been involved with co-producing (Whitesnake and Dio), we have a great team that makes sure our sound is consistent and we are always looking to pump it up. Onstage I just play guitar but our crew and production team are very instrumental in capturing what happens on stage. Now get out there and go Live & Louder with us this summer!!”

Special Guests on this run will be The Dives which the band made instant friends with on the previous years’ KISS Kruise and who will add their own blend of signature rock and roll to the fiery package.

Rock & Roll is indeed alive and well!!!

Check out the Make Some Noise – Live & Louder video below.

Line-uP:

Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio) – Guitars
John Corabi (Mötley Crüe, The Scream) – Vocals
David Lowy (Red Phoenix, Mink) – Guitars
Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake) – Bass
Brian Tichy (Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner) – Drums

The Dirty Dozen Tour – North America 2017:

August:

10 Arcada Theatre | Chicago IL
11 Shelter@Saint Andrews | Detroit, MI
12 Lee’s Palace | Toronto, ON
16 House Of Independence | Asbury Park, NJ
17 Highline Ballroom | New York NY
18 Rams Head Live | Baltimore, MD
19 Masquerade | Atlanta, GA
20 The Basement East | Nashville, TN
23 Gas Monkey | Dallas, TX
25 El Rey Theatre | Los Angeles, CA
26 House of Blues | San Diego, CA
27 Counts Vamp’d | Las Vegas NV

Purchase tickets at thedeaddaisies.com/thedirtydozen.

Europe:

June:

2 Rock Hard Festival | Gelsenkirchen, Germany
3 Rock In Vienna | Vienna, Austria
4 Substage | Karlsruhe, Germany
5 Druso | Bergamo, Italy
6 Dynamo | Zürich, Switzerland
8 Amager Bio | Copenhagen, Denmark
9 Sweden Rock Festival | Solvesborg, Sweden
11 Download Festival | Donington, United Kingdom
12 Liquid Room | Edinburgh, United Kingdom
14 Boerderij | Zoetermeer, Netherlands
16 Le Forum | Vaureal, France
17 Hellfest | Clisson, France
18 Graspop Metal Meeting | Dessel, Belgium
20 Hirsch | Nürnberg, Germany
21 Hellraiser | Leipzig, Germany
23 Harley Days Festival | Hamburg, Germany
25 Bluesiana | Velden, Austria
26 Bluesiana | Velden, Austria
27 Rockhouse | Salzburg, Austria
28 A38 | Budapest, Hungary
29 Lucerna Music Bar | Prague, Czech Republic

July:

1 Freigericht Rockt Festival | Freigericht, Germany

August:

3 Woodstock Poland | Kostrzyn, Poland

Japan:

July:

5 Shibuya Club Quattro | Tokyo, Japan
6 Umeda Club Quattro | Osaka, Japan

South America:

July:

12 Opera de Arame | Curitiba, Brazil (special guest to Richie Kotzen)
13 Carioca Club | Sao Paulo, Brazil (special guest to Richie Kotzen)
15 Vorterix | Buenos Aires, Argentina
16 Teatro Vorterix | Rosario, Argentina
18 Venue tba. | Santiago, Chile

More South American Dates to be announced!

GLENN HUGHES SAYS THE NEW BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION ALBUM IS “READY TO GO” AND SET FOR A “SEPTEMBER” RELEASE

Brendan Crabb of Loud spoke with bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes. Portions of the interview appear below.

Q: ….today marks the release of the new Deep Purple album. Have you heard it at all?

A: I have not. I have not heard any new Deep Purple albums in 25 years (laughs).

Q: Is that a conscious thing, or you just don’t have the time?

A: Only because it doesn’t come on to my radar. I may bump into it on the internet, but it’s something that I don’t… I have no mind about what they’re doing, I just don’t know what they’re doing, I’m not on their radar. It sounds kind of strange, doesn’t it, when you’re in this family… The only genuine relationship I have with anybody in Deep Purple is my brother David Coverdale. We’re very close, to this very day.

Q: Is that largely rooted in joining Purple about the same time? Or you’re just two like-minded individuals?

A: I came in about two months before David in ’73. He came in after me, and we bonded immediately. We bonded throughout the first tour, we bonded when Ritchie (Blackmore) left. And we’re still very close.

Q: That said, it must have been a real honour to have your contributions to their nearly 50-year legacy acknowledged as part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction?

A: Oh, it was great, it was a really lovely moment for David and I to be… We don’t get to choose who selects, the board, the committee selected to choose David and I over the other guys that weren’t nominated. I think what we did in Purple after (Ian) Gillan and (Roger) Glover left, David and I, I think it spurred a lot of interest in the music industry in America. So I guess they gave David and I the honours to be on-stage and accept the awards, which we were honoured to do so. We were there, and had a lot of fun.

Q: What’s the latest on the next Black Country Communion album?

A: It is coming out the middle of September. I’m meeting with Joe and Kevin (Shirley) tomorrow, we’re going to listen to the new mixes. It’s all done, it’s ready to go.

Q: I was talking to Joe last year, and he indicated some disappointment that the public perceived there was bad blood between the pair of you following the split. He was adamant that wasn’t the case.

A: Joe and I have never fallen out. Let’s just say that when the band broke up, Joe was very, very busy. He couldn’t really do anything outside of the Bonamassa (band), which we knew going into Black Country. So when it became clear that Joe couldn’t clear his schedule, we felt it would be appropriate to break it down for a while, and just go on with other things. And of course a year ago when I got inducted into the Hall of Fame, Joe called me to congratulate me, and we talked for a while, had dinner and we discussed making a new Black Country album, which we’ve now done. And we’ve never been more friendlier; we’ve never been close as this, and long may that continue.

Read more at Loud.

source: loudmag.com.au