Category : LATEST NEWS

TOM KEIFER DISCUSSES APPEARING ON “LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN” AND WORKING WITH COZY POWELL AND JOHN PAUL JONES

Ruben Mosqueda of Sleaze Roxx spoke with Tom Keifer. Highlights from the interview appear below.

Sleaze Roxx: Funny we should be talking right now. This Friday December 8th, 1986 was my first time seeing Cinderella. You guys were opening for [David Lee] Roth and it was an incredibly good time.

Tom Keifer: Oh, man. That was such an incredible experience opening for Dave. We went from playing clubs to opening up for the David Lee Roth Band in arenas. A lot of years went into constructing the songs and refining them — then boom. Lightning struck [laughs]! I tell people it’s like this tornado picked us up and took us on this wild ride, which continues ’til this day.

Sleaze Roxx: You have been touring hard behind The Way Life Goes—your solo debut album. I picked the album when it was released three to four years ago. What I wasn’t aware of is that the album was pulled?

Tom Keifer: It was released four years ago. Yeah, the story is starting to circulate in the press. The album took nine years to create. We worked on the album and there was no label involved. We completed the album and we found a label that was over the moon to release it in 2013. The Way Life Goes exceeded our expectations and received wonderful reviews.

The first single Solid Ground did very well on rock radio. We started touring this band. The press gave us great reviews. Then there was a corporate shakeup at the label and we got caught in the middle of it. Ultimately, this resulted in the album being removed from shelves and online. We’ve been touring as you stated for the last two years and we’ve had no album available. With all the work we put into creating it and all this promotion that we’ve done behind it; we decided to ‘lawyer up’ and get the masters back.

The idea was that once we got the masters back, we would reissue it but we wanted to get back in the studio with this band and cut some additional tracks. We spend about a quarter of last year working on the bonus content and the packaging. We also worked on a documentary on the recording of the bonus tracks for the deluxe edition. We are absolutely thrilled to have The Way Life Goes back available for people to purchase. I’m so proud of what we have done with the relentless touring, getting this band road tested, going from clubs to top billing on some festivals. We’ve had some curve balls thrown at us along the way but we’ve kept going.

Sleaze Roxx: A very cool moment after the initial release was your appearance on Late Night With David Letterman. What was that like? That must have been surreal.

Tom Keifer: Yeah, that was surreal. I had never done live TV before so it was a new experience. Honestly, I was a little freaked out about it [laughs]! I was kind of nervous for sure…That was a first in all my years. Even with Cinderella, I had never done live TV. It was great for the album and the band for sure.

Sleaze Roxx: Before I let you go, I have to ask what it was like working with [drummer] Cozy Powell [Whitesnake, Rainbow, Black Sabbath] and [bassist] John Paul Jones [Led Zeppelin]?

Tom Keifer: Both were amazing experiences. When we went in to record Long Cold Winter, we were in need of bringing in a drummer since Fred [Coury] wasn’t going to do it, since he was a bit inexperienced in the studio at that time. [Producer] Andy Johns had to make that difficult decision. We were sitting in the studio with our A&R guy saying, “You know you can get anyone you want.” I don’t remember who but one of us said half jokingly, “Well, how about we get Cozy Powell [laughs]?” He’s this legendary drummer as you know. The A&R guy looks at us and says, “Okay, done [laughs]!” It was really that simple. He came in to perform on the record and he was just simply amazing, particularly his chops. He was just so schooled in the blues and roots of jazz. You can hear that on the tracks Long Cold Winter and Coming Home. He had just such finesse and swing that really helped make that record what it is. The drumming just stands out on that record.

With John Paul Jones, I grew up listening to his playing, not just his bass playing but his orchestration that he did but also his work on the mellotron on stuff like the Rain Song and the colors that he added to the band. Funny enough, his name was brought up when we were recording Long Cold Winter. We had some orchestration mostly on Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone). We didn’t use him mainly due to time and budget constraints but his name was in the back of my mind from there forward. Then when we went into recording the album Heartbreak Station. The songs Heartbreak Station and Winds Of Change had some rough strings that were on the demos that I had recorded on a synthesizer. I went to my manager and mentioned that Andy [Johns] had mentioned that if we were going to do this, that we ‘really’ do this and get John Paul Jones. We reached out to his management and we sent him the demos and he expanded on what I had done and added the orchestration. He flew in during the recording of the record and he directed the orchestra, while we watched [laughs]! Meeting him and watching him was just such an amazing experience. John Paul Jones is incredibly humble and down to earth. It was a pleasure to work with him.

Read more at Sleaze Roxx.

source: sleazeroxx.com

AVENGED SEVENFOLD RELEASE “LIVE AT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM” ACOUSTIC ALBUM TODAY

Today sees the release of Avenged Sevenfold Live At The Grammy Museum® (Capitol), a special acoustic album recorded during the band’s recent sold-out event at the famed GRAMMY Museum® in downtown Los Angeles. Listen to the full set here and watch below to see the band’s GRAMMY Museum® performance of Roman Sky.

Produced by Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool, Nine Inch Nails) and the band, the digital-only release features unique renditions of new songs and classic tracks captured during the first-ever acoustic performance by GRAMMY® nominees Avenged Sevenfold. A portion of the album’s proceeds will benefit the education initiatives of the GRAMMY Museum®, which seek to inspire youth to the enduring qualities and cultural significance of music.

Presented as An Evening with Avenged Sevenfold, the October 19th event was held at the Museum’s Clive Davis Theater and featured an intimate conversation about the band’s career and new music, moderated by Los Angeles Times Pop Music Critic Mikael Wood. The interview followed a stunning acoustic performance from the band (backed by a string section) and saw the quintet (vocalist M. Shadows, guitarists Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman) discussing their latest release, The Stage. Last week, Avenged Sevenfold received a GRAMMY® nomination (their first ever) for “Best Rock Song” for that album’s title track, The Stage.

The track listing for Avenged Sevenfold Live At The Grammy Museum® is:

1) Opening (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
2) Introduction to “As Tears Go By” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
3) “As Tears Go By” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
4) Introduction to “Hail To The King” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
5) “Hail To The King” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
6) Introduction to “Roman Sky” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
7) “Roman Sky” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
8) Introduction to “Exist” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
9) “Exist” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
10) Introduction to “So Far Away” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)
11) “So Far Away” (Live at the GRAMMY Museum®)

On January 12th, Avenged Sevenfold will launch their North American headlining tour at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. See full list of tour dates below.

January 12 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
January 14 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Van Andel Arena
January 16 – Reading, PA @ Santander Arena
January 17 – University Park, PA @ Bryce Jordan Ctr – Penn State University
January 24 – Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center
January 25 – Peoria, IL @ Peoria Civic Center
January 27 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Denny Sanford Premier Center
January 31 – Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum***

February 2 – North Little Rock, AR @ Verizon Arena
February 3 – Evansville, IN @ Ford Center
February 6 – Wichita, KS @ Intrust Bank Arena
February 8 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
February 9 – Cedar Rapids, IA @ US Cellular Center
February 11 – Fargo, ND @ Fargodome
February 12- Bell Mts Place Winnipeg, MB
February 14- Sakstel Centre Saskatoon, SK
February 15- Rogers Place Edmonton, AB
February 17- Pacific Coliseum Vancouver, BC

April 28- Metropolitan Park Jacksonville, FL

May 18-20- Mapfre Stadium Columbus, OH

For European dates, click here.

JOE PERRY’ PREMIERES LEAD SINGLE “AYE, AYE, AYE,” AND ALBUM, “SWEETZERLAND MANIFESTO,” AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

Joe Perry–legendary guitarist, co-founding member, principal songwriter and co-producer of Aerosmith-has premiered Aye, Aye, Aye, the lead single from his forthcoming solo album, Sweetzerland Manifesto due out January 19th. The gritty rocker, which features Robin Zander of Cheap Trick on vocals, can be streamed below, or via Spotify.

Set for release on his own Roman Records imprint (distributed worldwide by AMPED Distribution), Sweetzerland Manifesto–which is available for pre-order starting today via iTunes and Amazon–marks Perry’s sixth solo album and is comprised of 10 new tracks. They were all written or co-written by the guitarist (many with the album’s guest vocalists), except for a cover of Eve Of Destruction with Joe on lead vocals and Johnny Depp on drums. The album features guest appearances from a long list of Joe’s friends, colleagues and rock and roll icons. Highlights include Aye, Aye, Aye, which he co-wrote with the track’s vocalist Robin Zander,and three collaborations with David Johansen, who sings I Wanna Roll, Haberdasher Blues, and I’m Going Crazy, plus as many co-writes with Terry Reid whose lead vocals light up I’ll Do Happiness, (with Zak Starkey on drums), Sick & Tired and Won’t Let Me Go.

Sweetzerland Manifesto track listing is as follows:

1. Rumble In The Jungle (instrumental)
2. I’ll Do Happiness (featuring Terry Reid)
3. Aye, Aye, Aye (featuring Robin Zander)
4. I Wanna Roll (featuring David Johansen)
5. Sick & Tired (featuring Terry Reid)
6. Haberdasher Blues (featuring David Johansen)
7. Spanish Sushi (instrumental)
8. Eve Of Destruction (featuring Joe Perry)
9. I’m Going Crazy (featuring David Johansen)
10. Won’t Let Me Go (featuring Terry Reid)

MYLES KENNEDY RELEASES VIDEO FOR “YEAR OF THE TIGER”

As previously reported, Myles Kennedy will release his debut solo album, Year Of The Tiger, on March 9th through Napalm Records.

The singer has released a video for the title track, watch it below.

The track listing for Year Of The Tiger is:

1. Year Of The Tiger
2. The Great Beyond
3. Blind Faith
4. Devil On The Wall
5. Ghost of Shangri La
6. Turning Stones
7. Haunted By Design
8. Mother
9. Nothing But A Name
10. Love Can Only Heal
11. Songbird
12. One Fine Day

The album is available for pre-order in various bundle configurations at napalmrecordsamerica.com/store/myleskennedy and myleskennedy.com.

JIMI HENDRIX’S “BOTH SIDES OF THE SKY’ DUE MARCH 9TH

On March 9th, Experience Hendrix and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, proudly release Both Sides Of The Sky, a dynamic new Jimi Hendrix album featuring 13 studio recordings made between 1968 and 1970 — 10 of which have never before been released. The album will be released on multiple formats including CD, digital, and as a numbered 180-gram audiophile vinyl 2LP.

Both Sides Of The Sky is the third volume in a trilogy of albums intended to present the best and most significant unissued studio recordings remaining in the music legend’s archive. Beginning with Valleys Of Neptune (2010), which earned top ten sales rankings in fifteen countries (including a top position of #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart), followed by People, Hell And Angels (2013) which peaked on Billboard’s Top 100 album chart at #2. Billboard’s coveted #1 singles ranking went to Somewhere, the album’s lead track and the legendary guitarist’s highest-ever U.S. singles chart achievement. This third release is anticipated to complete the spectacular recording event in epic fashion.

“Since Experience Hendrix began its restoration of the Jimi Hendrix music catalog in 1997, our goal has been to present these important recordings to Jimi’s fans in the best possible quality. We are excited about achieving that. We’ve also been intent on generating album releases which present this amazing music in its proper context,” explains John McDermott, one of the album’s co-producers, together with Janie Hendrix and Eddie Kramer.

Recorded between January 1968 and February 1970, Jimi’s desire to push the boundaries of blues music can be heard throughout. Both Sides Of The Sky additionally highlights Jimi’s mastery of studio production and his increasing use of these facilities as a proving ground for new sounds, material, and techniques. Many of the album’s tracks were recorded by the trio that would come to be known as Band Of Gypsys: Jimi on guitar and vocals, Billy Cox on bass, and Buddy Miles on drums. For their first-ever recording session on April 22nd, 1969, Hendrix turned to their shared musical root, delta blues. Their previously unreleased, uptempo reworking of Muddy Waters’s Mannish Boy opens the album and sets the tempo for what follows. Lover Man was a favored Hendrix original and the guitarist was determined to realize a finished master. Previous attempts by the original Experience had yet to yield this for Hendrix but this December 1969 effort by the Band of Gypsys — complete with its homage to the popular Batman theme song — was his strongest effort to date.

Hear My Train A Comin’ features drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding from the original Jimi Hendrix Experience. This original blues composition had become a staple of Hendrix’s concerts. This previously unreleased April 1969 recording captured the furious power and dynamic tension that made the song so memorable. Previously unheard recordings of Stepping Stone, Jungle, Cherokee Mist (which features Hendrix on both electric guitar and sitar) as well as the January 1968 recording of Sweet Angel provide further highlights.

Both Sides Of The Sky also features an assortment of notable guest musicians. Stephen Stills befriended Hendrix at the June 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. In September of 1969, Stills was invited to a Hendrix session at the Record Plant in New York. Stills burst into the session with a song Joni Mitchell had recently composed, titled Woodstock. Joined by Hendrix and Buddy Miles, the trio recorded this version first — months before Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released their popular rendition of Mitchell’s song. Stills would also contribute $20 Fine, an original song that featured Hendrix on multiple guitars, Mitchell on drums, Stills on organ and lead vocals and Duane Hitchings (Buddy Miles Express) on piano.

Another of the album’s unique band creations sees Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Winter on guitar, backed by Billy Cox and drummer Dallas Taylor of Crosby, Stils, Nash & Young. An excerpt of their rendition of Guitar Slim’s Things I Used To Do was initially heard as part of a 1990 nationally syndicated radio program and accompanying box set, but here it is presented in full, newly mixed by Eddie Kramer for Both Sides Of The Sky. On Georgia Blues, Jimi is reunited with his old bandmate Lonnie Youngblood (vocals/sax) from his pre-fame days in Curtis Knight & The Squires. Briefly issued as part of the 2008 “Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues” series but out of print for nearly a decade, this special recording is once more available to Hendrix fans throughout the world on all audio formats.

Both Sides Of The Sky was produced by Janie Hendrix, John McDermott and Eddie Kramer. Kramer served as recording engineer on every Jimi Hendrix album made during the artist’s life. In order to preserve the integrity and continuity of the Hendrix legacy, this same team has produced every Jimi Hendrix audio and visual release since 1996.

Janie Hendrix, president and CEO of Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., commented, “We have a growing commitment to preserve the legacy of Jimi and also to continue to give the worldwide family of Jimi fans quality releases. That’s what Both Sides Of The Sky reflects… our ongoing commitment. In a deeper sense, it’s the keeping of a promise. Jimi and I once made a promise to each other. He said he would take care of me and I told him I would take care him. Through his music and our preservation of his work, my brother and I honor one another. We are now in our third decade of watching over Jimi’s creative works and our resolve to maintain the integrity of what he left us has only grown stronger with time.”

That is also the purpose for Eddie Kramer’s involvement and his devotion to the project. He remarked. “Jimi’s true home was the studio, that’s where the music and the magic happened. He loved everything about recording and it’s been my distinct pleasure and an honor to play a part in that process both then and now.”

Both Sides Of The Sky track listing:

1. Mannish Boy*
2. Lover Man*
3. Hear My Train A Comin’*
4. Stepping Stone*
5. $20 Fine*+
6. Power Of Soul^
7. Jungle*
8. Things I Used to Do#
9. Georgia Blues++
10. Sweet Angel*
11. Woodstock*+
12. Send My Love To Linda*
13. Cherokee Mist*

* Previously unreleased
^ Previously unavailable extended version
+ Featuring Stephen Stills
# Featuring Johnny Winter
++ Featuring Lonnie Youngblood

BON JOVI WINS 2018 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME FAN VOTE

Bon Jovi have beat out Judas Priest, The Cars, Moody Blues and Dire Straits to win the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Fan Vote. Bon Jovi had 1,162,098 votes, followed by Moody Blues (947,726), Dire Straits (613,726), The Cars (552,707) and Judas Priest (538,467), reports blabbermouth.net.

According to the Hall’s rules, the five top vote-getters in the fan vote are put on a single ballot, which counts no more than a ballot submitted by one of the Hall’s 900 or so regular voters, consisting of artists, music historians and music industry insiders.

Since the Fan Vote was created, the top vote-getter that year (previously RUSH, KISS, STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN, CHICAGO, JOURNEY) has wound up being inducted into the Rock Hall.

Artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single. Criteria for inclusion includes “the influence and significance of the artist’s contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.”

The 2018 nominees had to release their first recording no later than 1992.

Despite being eligible for induction since 1999 — twenty-five years after the release of its first disc — KISS didn’t get its first nomination until 2009, and was finally inducted in 2014 and Deep Purple was eligible for the Rock Hall since 1993 but didn’t get inducted until last year.

The inductees for the Class Of 2018 will be announced on Wednesday, December 13 via the Rock Hall’s Facebook page.

The 2018 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will be held April 14th in Cleveland, Ohio, and will air on HBO.