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LED ZEPPELIN’S “STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN” MAY FACE PLAGIARISM SUIT

Kory Grow of Rolling Stone reports:

As Led Zeppelin promote the extravagant reissues of their first three albums for an early June release, a lawyer representing deceased Spirit guitarist Randy California is claiming the hard-rock legends stole the intro for their 1971 single Stairway to Heaven from Spirit’s 1968 song Taurus. Attorney Francis Alexander Molofiy wants to prevent the release of the Led Zeppelin IV reissue when the time comes, Bloomberg Businessweek reports. “The idea behind this is to make sure that Randy California is given a writing credit on Stairway to Heaven,” Malofiy said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Led Zeppelin and Spirit, who had a hit with I Got a Line on You, played four shows together in 1968 and 1969, shows at which Businessweek claims Spirit played Taurus. It also alleges that Led Zeppelin played a medley of songs that included Spirit’s Fresh-Garbage – a song that appeared on the same LP side as Taurus – on their first U.S. tour.

In an interview with Listener magazine published the year of his death, California said he felt Stairway to Heaven was a “rip-off.” “The guys made millions of bucks on it and never said ‘Thank you,’ never said, ‘Can we pay you some money for it?'” he said. “It’s kind of a sore point with me. Maybe someday their conscience will make them do something about it.”

Spirit and California’s family have waited until now to challenge the song’s authorship because they did not have the means to pay attorneys. At the end of California’s life, he would play sitar at an Indian restaurant in exchange for food.

A rep for Led Zeppelin declined to comment for Businessweek‘s story, but Page discussed the band’s history with crediting songwriters after the fact in a recent interview with The New York Times. When asked why the group waited to credit Willie Dixon for bits of lyrics and melody that made their way into Whole Lotta Love, he acknowledged, “Within the lyrics of it, there’s [Dixons’s] You Need Love, and there are similarities within the lyrics. Now I’m not pointing a finger at anybody, but I’m just saying that’s what happened, and Willie Dixon got credit. Fair enough.”

Reissues of Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II and Led Zeppelin III are due in stores on June 3rd. Each is available in a deluxe edition that contains a full disc of never-before-released studio takes and live tracks.

source: rollingstone.com

DRUMMER MIKE PORTNOY: “[THE WINERY DOGS] HOPE TO HAVE A NEW ALBUM OUT BY SPRING OF 2015

Ruben Mosqueda of Metal Titans spoke with drummer Mike Portnoy (Winery Dogs, Dream Theater, Adrenaline Mob) about the release of the expanded edition of the self-titled album and their new boxset titled Dog Treats. Portions of the interview appear below.

MetalTitans: You’ve just issued an expanded edition of The Winery Dogs and a box set called Dog Treats. Were these idea conceived by the band or was it Loud & Proud?

Mike Portnoy: I worked very close with the label on this. I overlooked the content but of course I needed the label’s approval to get the product released. I’ve alway been very fan oriented; in Dream Theater I oversaw all the fan club CDs, the official bootlegs, the special editions , the box sets and thing like that. I’ve done that with all the bands that I’ve been in .

When The Winery Dogs debut album was released last year we simply couldn’t release a deluxe edition of the album–it was our debut album. No one knew the band at the time and no one really knew who we’d be received. Once the album was released and the positive reviews started rolling in we knew there was an audience for the band.

So I started using my fan catering skills and put this deluxe edition together and the box set.

MetalTitans: The deluxe edition of the album features a live CD that captures The Winery Dogs’ second ever live show, correct?

Mike Portnoy: That’s right that’s the second show that we ever did as a band. We filmed it for a DVD in Japan and it might have been the craziest thing ever done in rock ‘n’ roll history. Usually bands will document the end of the tour after they’ve played 100 shows. Our label in Japan was interested in capturing the very beginning of the band. We were very reluctant at first but I think it was great to have a snapshot of the beginning of the band. You get a little taste of that on the bonus disc that features 10 tracks from that show.

MetalTitans: One really cool thing about the box set Dog Treats is the demos disc. It’s like being a fly on the wall during the writing sessions for the record.

Mike Portnoy: What you’re hearing on ‘The Winery Pups’ disc of demos the result of us literally playing together for the second time ever. We got together at Richie’s house and started banging out these demos. It’s a snapshot of the band at the very beginning that’s why I called that “The Winery Pups’ because we were still puppies at that point and we hadn’t fully developed yet! (laughs) You can hear some really interesting things in those demos you know a lot of sections that were changed from lyrics, to riffs and things that were changed entirely. It’s a look behind the scenes of what the songs were like prior to what eventually made it onto the album.

MetalTitans: You’re out on tour again in North America at the moment. How long will you remain on the road and when will you be working on new music?

Mike Portnoy: Well right now we’ll be touring through the summer, this leg that we’re currently on began at the end of April. We’re booked through Mid-August; we’ll wind down and regroup and begin to write at the first of the year. We hope to have the new album out by spring of 2015 so we can be back out on the road as soon as possible. We’re playing one new track on this tour which will give the fans a taste of what’s to come.

Read more at Metal Titans.

source: metaltitans.com

ACE FREHLEY’S “SPACE INVADER” ARTWORK BY KEN KELLY REVEALED, LP TO BE RELEASED ON JULY 8TH

Founding KISS guitarist and 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Ace Frehley has tapped long time friend and artist Ken Kelly to create the album cover for his upcoming LP Space Invader, due out July 8th. Kelly, who created the iconic cover art for two of KISS’s best selling LPS, Destroyer (1976) and Love Gun (1977), says, “It was very exciting when I was approached with the idea of doing an album cover for Ace.”

Ken Kelly is also widely known for his paintings in the sword and sorcery and heroic fantasy sub genres, most notably for the Conan the Barbarian novels. He continues, “I had spoken to Ace on a few occasions about the possibility, so I was delighted when it actually happened.”

Ace Frehley himself comments, ”I’ve been talking with Ken Kelly since 2007 about painting a CD Cover for me and it has finally happened! I couldn’t be more excited about the new Space Invader cover and the music behind it is also going to rock your world!”

With nearly 35 years between projects, KISS fans will surely be excited about this long-time duo working together again. Kelly concludes, “I am very pleased with the results and proud to play a part of Ace’s continuing successful career.”

Ace Frehley will release Space Invader, his first new solo album in five years, via Entertainment One Music (eOne Music) on July 8th, 2014. The album will include at least nine brand new original songs as well as a cover of Steve Miller’s The Joker. This album is the first release under Frehley’s new universal deal on eOne Music.

Widely known as the original “Space Ace” and founding guitarist for 16 cumulative years (over 2 tenures) of the multi platinum selling rock band KISS, Frehley is demonstrably the most popular original member. In addition to having the best selling solo album career (vintage or current) among the original foursome, Frehley’s self titled Ace Frehley, released in 1978, went on to sell over one million copies, producing the only Top 40 single, “New York Groove,” from any of the legendary KISS solo albums; (peaking at #13). The massive hit was most recently featured in an episode of cult show Entourage and was also KISS’ second best selling download in 2012, besting such KISS Army anthems as I Was Made For Lovin’ You, Beth and Calling Dr. Love even after 36 years.

Since departing from KISS, Frehley went on to release four more solo albums and one live EP including his most recent effort, Anomaly in 2009, which debuted at #27 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and received a welcoming response among critics.

You can catch Ace Frehley accepting his award at the 29th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction Ceremony on May 31st at 8pm on HBO.

“GUITAR GODS” 2014 TOUR FEATURING YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ULI JON ROTH, GARY HOEY & BUMBLEFOOT (of GUNS N ROSES) TO TAKE PLACE THIS SUMMER

Yngwie Malmsteen is one of the most technically accomplished guitarists of all time, rewriting the book on hard rock/heavy metal guitar. In addition to countless awards from music and instrument specific publications, none other than Time Magazine hailed him as one of the ten greatest electric guitarists.

2013 was a banner year for Malmsteen, as he released his bestselling autobiography Relentless which coincided with a wildly successful tour that played to full houses all over the world. The only way he could top that in 2014 was to hand pick an all-star lineup of Guitar Gods to share the stage with him on a magical full North American tour.

“Fans can expect the unexpected,” Malmsteen said regarding his live shows. “I raise the bar with every performance I do and this tour will be no different.”

Held in the highest regard in his own right, Uli Jon Roth brings the very special 40th Anniversary Scorpions set that has been playing to frenzied audiences in Europe to North America, embracing his storied history with the band and digging deep into their catalog for this tour.

Acclaimed for his accomplishments for perfecting his playing in multiple genres (rock, blues, surf) and respected by both fans and peers alike, Gary Hoey performs his radio hits such as the Billboard Top 5 smash Hocus Pocus along with other favorites.

Guns N’ Roses guitarist Bumblefoot (as seen in the just released DVD Appetite for Democracy which documents the bands Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel residency) embarks on his first solo tour, playing songs from his entire critically praised recorded history.

Watch the promo video for Guitar Gods below.

Guitar Gods tour dates:

6/12/14 Wilkes-Barre, PA The F.M. Kirby Center For The Performing Arts
6/13/14 Huntington, NY Paramount Theatre
6/14/14 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
6/15/14 Akron, NY Brauns Concert Cove
6/17/14 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center
6/20/14 St. Charles, IL Arcada Theatre
6/21/14 Toronto, ON Canada Phoenix Theatre
6/22/14 Joliet, IL Mojoes Concert Hall
6/23/14 Minneapolis MN Skyway Theatre
6/26/14 Seattle, WA Showbox Theatre
6/27/14 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
6/28/14 Richmond, Canada BC River Rock Casino
7/2/14 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
7/3/14 Beverly Hills, CA Saban Theatre
7/5/14 Ramona, CA Ramona Rodeo And Fair Grounds
7/7/14 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
7/8/14 Tuscon, AZ Rialto Theatre
7/10/14 Dallas, TX House of Blues
7/12/14 Houston, TX House of Blues

More dates to be announced soon!

ON THE NEXT PORTION OF THEIR “KINGS OF METAL MMXIV” WORLD TOUR, MANOWAR WILL RETURN TO THE CLEVELAND AGORA IN OHIO

On the next U.S. portion of their celebrated Kings Of Metal MMXIV World Tour, Manowar will return to the legendary Cleveland Agora in
Cleveland, OH.

The set list on this tour is packed with classic hymns and includes the performance of the entire Kings Of Metal MMXIV album, and many surprises and new multimedia elements.

“We are excited to return to the Agora! We have always been welcomed with the greatest passion and support!” said Joey DeMaio. “The Kings Of Metal MMXIV World Tour started in the U.S. last February and was, in one word, sensational! We are ready to bring the power and the might of Manowar back to our home soil! More U.S. dates will be announced soon!”

Tickets for Manowar at the Cleveland Agora on November 21st, 2014 are available here.

The Kings Of Metal MMXIV’ Silver Edition, a completely new recording of Manowar’s bestselling 1988 album, was released earlier this year, now brimming with the power of today’s technology, 25 years of performing these classics live, and new touches and surprises for each song.

The CD is on sale at Manowar’s merchandise booth at their shows and is also available at thekingdomofsteel.com shipping from the U.S and shipping from Europe.

The Kings Of Metal MMXIV’ Silver Edition is also available on iTunes, Amazon and on Google Play worldwide.

Kings Of Metal MMXIV World Tour – Confirmed Tour Dates:

May 17 – Spodek – Katowice, Poland
May 21 – Hangar 11 – Tel Aviv, Israel
May 24 – Metal Summer Festival – Istanbul, Turkey
July 5 – Rock Fest BCN – Barcelona, Spain
July 26 – Magic Circle Festival – Helsinki, Finland
October 18 – Loud Park Festival – Tokyo, Japan
November 12 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA, USA
November 15 – Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL, USA
November 16 – Royal Oak Theatre – Royal Oak, MI, USA
November 21 – Cleveland Agora – Cleveland, OH
January 14- Grugahalle – Essen, Germany
January 16 – Zenith – Munich, Germany
January 17 – Jahrhunderthalle – Frankfurt, Germany

Manowar is:

Eric Adams: Vocals
Donnie Hamzik: Drums
Karl Logan: Guitars
Joey DeMaio: Bass

For more information about Manowar, please visit them at manowar.com and facebook.com/manowar.