Author Archives : Dana

ALICE COOPER’S NEW FORTHCOMING ALBUM, “PARANORMAL,” WILL FEATURE ZZ TOP’S BILLY GIBBONS AND U2’S LARRY MULLEN JR.

Alice Cooper has revealed that his next album will be titled Paranormal, and it’s scheduled to be released in July.

The album will be his 27th studio record and first solo effort since 2011’s Welcome 2 My Nightmare. It will feature guest appearances from ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons, three members of the original Alice Cooper group and, most surprisingly, U2‘s Larry Mullen Jr. on drums.

Speaking to Eddie Trunk on his SiriusXM Trunk Nation show, Cooper said producer Bob Ezrin was the one to suggest recruiting Mullen Jr. for the sessions.

“I said, ‘that’s a great idea, it’ll change things up so much, just on the basic tracks.’”

Mullen had a rather surprising method of preparing for the collaboration, asking to see the lyrics for the songs he was working on.

“He said, ‘I play to the lyrics, I don’t play to the bass,’” Cooper explained. “And I said that is so cool, just the idea that you’re interpreting the lyrics on the drums. It totally makes the album another album.”

Gibbons plays guitar on a song called I’ve Fallen in Love and I Can’t Get Up. “After we cut the record I said, ‘If BIlly Gibbons doesn’t play on this, we shouldn’t put this one out,’” Cooper declared. “Because it is just so him. And [when] he got the record, he said, ‘I got the flu, but, man, this song makes me feel better.’ He just killed it.”

Drummer Neal Smith, guitarist Michael Bruce and bassist Dennis Dunaway — three members of the original Alice Cooper group — helped write and will perform on three songs on Paranormal.

Cooper shared the story of how he applied his trademark warped touch to one of those tracks, I Wanna Be a Genuine American Girl, “It was going to be I Want a Genuine American Girl … and I went, ‘No, no, no, I Wanna Be a Genuine American Girl! It’s really a tough song, it’s this guy going “I gotta paint my nails, gotta do my hair … ”

Cooper also revealed that the album title shouldn’t lead fans to think they are in store for a supernatural concept album. “It’s not really a scary record … but [instead] paranormal meaning ‘other than normal,’” he explained. “This is not a normal Alice record. Bob and I decided, no theme this time, we’re gonna make a record of things that just get us off, things that we like. And it might go in a lot of directions.”

Still, he promised the record will appeal to longtime fans, noting the days of platinum sales and crossover hit singles are long gone for himself and peers such as Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones. “Those days are over, the golden age is over,” he said. “I have a world of fans out there, and it took me 45 years to build that fan base. So when I make records now, I’m making them for those people. I’m not trying to break a new audience.”

Cooper will be touring throughout 2017 with his solo band. You can get all the latest dates at his official website. He also revealed that his Hollywood Vampires bandmate Johnny Depp is filming five movies this year so he can take all of 2018 off. This will allow the group — which also features Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry — to record a studio follow-up (“all originals this time”) to their covers-heavy 2015 self-titled debut and then mount a world tour.

additional source: ultimateclassicrock.com

ANTHRAX DRUMMER CHARLIE BENANTE DISCUSSES THE BAND’S MOST UNDERRATED SONG, FLAVOR FLAV’S DRUMMING SKILLS AND HOW HE FEELS ABOUT MAKING MUSIC VIDEOS

Greg Prato of Songfacts spoke with Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante. Portions of the interview appear below.

Greg Prato (Songfacts): What’s the most underrated Anthrax song?

Charlie Benante: This last album that we put out, we had a song called Breathing Lightning, which is probably the most radio-friendly song we ever had, but because of that “heavy metal stigma” that is always attached to us, we don’t get a fair shake in radio. It definitely was eligible for that type of thing, because when that song was being added to radio, I saw all the other songs that were on the charts and I thought to myself, “Well, this one has more accessibility than a lot of these songs.”

The reason why these bands that are on the charts with songs is only because they’ve had radio prior to that. So, I just think that this whole way the music business is run and structured – especially nowadays – is just completely wrong.

Songfacts: Which song by the other Big 4 has the sickest drumming?

Charlie: I like this one thing that Lars [Ulrich] does in the song Battery, where it’s after the lead section, and it just has this double bass thing. I just always liked that part. And there’s a song on Slayer’s Hell Awaits record, Praise of Death – there’s a fill towards the end of the song that’s pretty sick.

Songfacts: Is Flavor Flav any good on drums?

Charlie: Flavor Flav is very good on drums. Every day on tour [Anthrax and Public Enemy toured together in 1991, and appeared together in the video for Bring the Noise], I had a drum kit set up in the dressing room – a warm-up kit – and he would come in every day and just play. He was really good.

Songfacts: How do you feel about making videos?

Charlie: I hate it. It’s that cliché of “hurry up and wait.”

Songfacts: Were there any videos that you were particularly proud of?

Charlie: My favorite type of videos are the ones that they come and film us in our environment – not we go to them and we’re in their environment.

Songfacts: I find the ’80s era of videos on MTV – and their politics/policies – particularly interesting, as I wrote a book earlier about it [MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video]. And I recall hearing that MTV resisted playing a video that Anthrax shot in 1988, Who Cares Wins, which focused on the homeless situation in the US.

Charlie: That’s exactly what happened. And then Phil Collins came out with a song, and it had all these homeless people in it, and that was praised.

Songfacts: The song Another Day in Paradise, right?

Charlie: That’s exactly what it was. I just watched this CNN documentary series called Soundtracks, and they did one on 9/11. And the funny thing – and the f–ked-up thing about it – is it talks about how it impacted people’s lives, and they showed Billy Joel, Sting, the Dixie Chicks. It would have been nice to go into a different type of genre, maybe hard rock or heavy metal, and show how the whole thing had an effect on our band, and how we played that show for the policemen and the firemen. But they didn’t mention anything about that.

It’s just one more of those things: that mainstream mentality that so much is so overlooked that it’s just the cream of the crop that always gets mentioned. It’s just how I feel about the music business in general – it’s such a bunch of crap.

Read more at Songfacts.

source: songfacts.com

MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE 2018 ANNOUNCED

Details for the eighth annual Monsters Of Rock Cruise, the world’s premier hard rock/heavy metal experience at sea, have been announced.

Departing out of Miami, FL, the five-day/five-night full ship charter cruise will set sail February 11th-16th aboard Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas (a new ship for MOR) and visiting two new ports: Falmouth, Jamaica and the private isle of Labadee. As in past years, the 2018 cruise will also feature optional pre-cruise parties in Miami on the evening of Friday, February 9th and Saturday, February 10th (details TBA).

The cruise goes on sale tomorrow (5/10) at 12 Noon EST, with cabins starting at $1,199 per person (double occupancy). Government fees, taxes, and gratuities are additional and mandatory for all passengers, regardless of age. For more info, visit MonstersOfRockCruise.com and follow @monstersofrockcruise on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Confirmed line-up for the 2018 Monsters Of Rock Cruise ncludes: Tesla, Queensrÿche, Thunder, Lita Ford, Winger, British Lion featuring Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, Doro, KIX, Y&T, Vixen, Great White, Beasto Blanco, LA Guns, The Pretty Maids, Lynch Mob, Firehouse, Loudness, Michael Sweet (of Stryper), The Quireboys, Tyketto, Dangerous Toys, Junkyard, Keel, Raven, Madam X, Rhino Bucket, John Corabi, Autograph, Lillian Axe, Rough Cutt, Mitch Malloy, The Iron Maidens, Kickin’ Valentina, Jared James Nichols, Thee Rock ‘N Roll Residency, and Atomic Punks, with more performances to be announced. Plus, Eddie Trunk and comedian Don Jamieson, San Francisco bay area radio host Nikki Blakk and Luc Carl (SiriusXM’s “Hair Nation”) are the official cruise hosts and will moderate Q&A’s and many other specially designed events crafted especially for this voyage.

In addition to the band performances, the cruise will feature over-the-top, customized activities including MOR Artist Photo Experiences, Gong Show Karaoke, My Bloody Valentine Fantasy Ball, So You Think You Can Shred and Cooking with Rock Stars hosted by Lisa Tirone of Chef it up! and even more to be announced.

Navigator of the Seas is unlike any ship experienced before on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise. The Voyager Class ship features the Royal Promenade, spanning the length of Deck 5, featuring restaurants, coffee bars, shopping and connecting cruisers to all performance venues. Other activities aboard the ship include: boogie boarding or surfing the waves at the FlowRider Surf Simulator, challenging yourself on the rock climbing wall, soaking in one of the many hot tubs and pools, or pampering yourself in the world-class Vitality at Sea Spa.

The exclusive island of Labadee is the ultimate private destination for Monsters of Rock cruisers, offering adventure, exploration and relaxation amongst its many bars and pristine waters. Vacationers can amp up the adrenaline on the Dragon’s Tail Coaster, a thrilling 30-mile-per-hour ride with incredible views of the island. For more action, adventurous passengers may choose to strap on a helmet and harness, and soar 500-feet down on the Dragon’s Breath Flight Line, the world’s longest zip line over water. In addition, there are plenty of exciting options to choose from, including wave jet rides, parasailing, snorkel safaris, kayak tours, and much more.

Situated on Jamaica’s North coast between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Falmouth has something for all travelers. Monsters of Rock Cruisers won’t want to miss Dunn’s River Falls, one of the most incredible natural wonders in the world and a shore excursion unlike any other. This series of lush, tropical waterfalls cascade over terraced natural stairs as you take the picturesque hike all the way to the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy the journey, taking breaks to swim in the small lagoons and grottos as you ascend the vertical sections of the falls. Cruisers can wrap up the day with a hike and dip into the Caribbean Sea or enjoy a myriad of activities, such as windsurfing, kayaking, horseback riding, river raft rides or sightseeing.

MR. BIG “DEFYING GRAVITY” WITH NEW ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE JULY 7TH; U.S. TOUR STARTS MAY 31ST

The call went out. Time for a new Mr. Big album. They convened in a Los Angeles studio and in a matter of six days, the boundless result of all that musical talent is Defying Gravity, with the release of their ninth original studio album and start of a new worldwide tour.

Set for release July 7th on Frontiers Music Srl, Defying Gravity will be available at traditional retail and all digital service providers, as will a deluxe edition version with CD and bonus DVD that features music videos and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the new album. The album will also be made available on vinyl in the coming months. An official trailer for Defying Gravity can be seen below.

Defying Gravity deftly showcases that patented Mr. Big blend of crunch and melody, from the freight-train ride of opening cut Open Your Eyes to the harmony-laden wonderment of Damn I’m in Love Again to the grateful/wistful nostalgia of 1992 (recalling the days when the band was flying high atop the singles charts with their international #1 smash To Be With You) to the barnburning slide-blues closer, Be Kind. Overall, Defying Gravity is prime evidence that the only thing Mr. Big remains tethered to is their ongoing pursuit of achieving creative excellence.

Original members Eric Martin (lead vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitars), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Pat Torpey (drums) reunited with producer Kevin Elson (who was behind the boards for the band’s 1989 self-titled debut, 1991’s Lean Into It and 1993’s Bump Ahead) for an intensive six-day recording session in Los Angeles. While Torpey was unable to perform some of the songs on Defying Gravity due to a recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, Matt Starr has been filling in for him on a majority of the album. Starr also been touring with the band for the past couple of years, with Torpey able to play a couple of songs at each stop.

“It was great to get back in the studio with our original producer, Kevin Elson,” says guitarist Paul Gilbert. “Kevin recorded all of our original classic albums from the ‘80s and ‘90s, and we immediately felt that magic chemistry with him on Defying Gravity. We basically played live in the studio. Over the years, we’ve all had a chance to experiment with every recording technique possible, but it’s still always the best just to play together as a band. Most of my guitar solos were tracked live with the band. I’ve worked hard on my improvisation in the last few years, and it really paid off on this record…both melodically, and on the face-melting stuff.”

Defying Gravity is the follow-up to 2014’s The Stories We Could Tell (Frontiers Music Srl).

Mr. Big is gearing up for the launch their latest worldwide tour which starts May 31st in Milwaukee, WI at the Potowatami Casino. For all the latest tour dates, fans should check the band’s official website.

“2017 is filling up quickly with tour dates all around the world,” proclaims Gilbert. “I can’t wait to play the new songs, and of course our favorites from the old days like Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy Just Take My Heart, Green Tinted Sixties Mind, Wild World, and To Be With You.”

Defying Gravity song listing:

1. Open Your Eyes
2. Defying Gravity
3. Everybody Needs a Little Trouble
4. Damn I’m In Love Again
5. Mean to Me
6. Nothing Bad (About Feeling Good)
7. Forever and Back
8. She’s All Coming Back to Me Now
9. 1992
10. Nothing At All
11. Be Kind

Check out Mr. Big at any of the following tour stops:

Leg 1:

5/31 Milwaukee, WI Potowatami Casino
6/2 St. Charles, IL Arcada Theatre
6/3 Wetland, MI The Token Lounge
6/6 Warrendale, PA Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
6/7 Newton, NJ Newton Theatre
6/9 Uncasville, CT The Wolf Den/Mohegan Sun
6/10 New York, NY B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
6/12 Nashville, TN Basement East
6/14 Lexington, KY Manchester Music Hall
6/16 Dallas, TX Gas Monkey Live
6/17 Houston, TX Scout Bar
6/19 Kansas City, MO Knuckleheads Saloon
6/22 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
6/23 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club

Mr. Big online:

Official Website
Facebook
Twitter

BASSIST BOB DAISLEY’S LAWSUIT AGAINST OZZY OSBOURNE DISMISSED

Former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Bob Daisley’s lawsuit against the vocalist has been dismissed by a US district judge.

Daisley launched a lawsuit against Ozzy and his firm Blizzard Music Limited last year, claiming he was owed $2 million in unpaid royalties connected with Ozzy’s first two albums, Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman, recorded in 1980, which featured the bassist’s songwriting and bass playing.

Daily also told journalist Joel Gausten last year that while he has received performance and publishing royalties for the songs, he has not received his share of what are known as synchronization fees, or “sync fees,” which writers earn from the use of a song in an ad, TV show, movie, video game or other such media.

But, according to the Courthouse News Service, US District Judge Christina Snyder has dismissed the case and concluded that Daisley’s claims that Osbourne used a sham company to withhold royalty income from him stem from songwriter agreements that now require arbitration.

The lawsuit was filed on August 9th, 2016, at the District Court of Douglas County, Nevada, but the case was then transferred to federal court.

Representatives of the Osbournes responded to the lawsuit last year saying that previous legal action brought by Daisley had failed and that multiple audits of Blizzard Music Limited had resulted in no discoveries of non-payment, adding: “after 36 years, this is tantamount to harassment.”

Daily responded, “I wouldn’t care if I had $50 trillion. If somebody’s taking advantage of me, I want to put a stop to it. I wish Ozzy every success. I just have a problem with not getting paid properly.”

source: Classic Rock via teamrock.com

ICONIC MUSICIAN / PHILANTHROPIST BRET MICHAELS RELEASES INSPIRATIONAL NEW SONG AND VIDEO “JORJA BLEU ” EXCLUSIVELY AT BRETMICHAELS.COM, A PORTION OF PROCEEDS GO TO ST. JUDE’S CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL

During the sold-out tour with Def Leppard, legendary rock star Bret Michaels was inspired by his unconditional love for his daughters to write and shoot a very raw, inspirational and emotional song and video for and about his youngest daughter and the song’s namesake, Jorja Bleu. The song’s release date happens to also be Jorja’s birthday. Following in her father’s philanthropic footsteps she has requested that a portion of the proceeds from the song will go to St. Jude’s Research Hospital. The video is equally as emotional, as it encompasses the father and daughter’s journey from her birth right up to today, with never-before-seen photos from Bret’s personal collection.

Michaels, a brain hemorrhage survivor and lifelong diabetic states that Jorja Bleu was recorded on the road in his tour bus as it was written. Michaels performed all parts himself with the focus on positive lyrics and a message of faith that would inspire and encourage his daughter, drawing from his own high and low experiences which are soon to be featured in an exclusive USA today piece about the award-winning artist. Once the demo was done, Bret chose to not re-record the song in hopes of preserving his true emotion felt in the moments of writing it. The video was shot with just Bret, guitar in hand.

Jorja Bleu is the long-awaited sequel to his hit song Raine (written for his oldest daughter), another emotional charged and personal song that helped skyrocket Bret into his highly successful solo career. As a solo artist in the years between these two songs the BMI and ASCAP award winning songwriter, has had several monumental song writing achievements such as having the most viewed debut song/video in CMT’s history, along with the viral sensation Beautiful Soul which was the critically acclaimed pop ballad, inspired and written about a couple he met on Christmas day during a visit with patients at Barrow Neurological Institute, where Bret himself was cared for during his tragic brain hemorrhage.

The highly-anticipated new single Jorja Bleu, will be available today (May 5th) on iTunes and all other digital retailers and subscription audio formats, the video will be exclusively available on Bret’s website bretmichaels.com.

For everything Bret Michaels please visit bretmichaels.com.