'Superstitious' Is My Favorite Europe Tune

I don't know why, but I never just stop and think "Hey, I'm going to listen to Europe." For whatever reason, I have to be reminded of them and then I listen. "Superstitious" came on Hair Nation yesterday and I thought "Wow, this song just kills." In fact, "Superstitious" (from the album Out of This World) has pretty much always been my favorite Europe tune but most people seem to only think of "The Final Countdown" when Europe is mentioned.

The thing that bugs me about "Superstitious" has literally nothing to do with the song. The song is epic on many levels, mainly because of the incredible vocals, especially that A cappella intro. The thing that bugs me is that Europe is acting like Whitesnake in the video, or at least it seems that way to me. Heck, Joey Tempest even sort of looks like David Coverdale  in the clip. And there's the side-to-side body moves the band does at the same time. Plus I don't get the need for the awkward green screen shots (the floating heads). I mean, the video is beautifully staged in a castle and nothing else was really needed. Still, I remember watching this video on MTV and just thinking the song was so cool.

When Europe videos came on after clips of Poison or LA Guns, I remember always being so taken at how different the bands seemed. Perhaps it had to do with distance and the fact that Europe wasn't a Sunset Strip act? I can't also help but think the massive amounts of talent in Europe had something to do with the difference.

Steel Panther Must Like Board Games

So Steel Panther recorded a cover of the Crossfire jingle. Crossfire was a Milton Bradley board game created back in the 1970s. The game isn't in production anymore but retains a cult following. I've personally never played Crossfire but it must have been huge to warrant a Steel Panther cover. Anyway - here's the random commercial/tribute/cover. Amusing to say the least.

Also, is it me or is Michael Starr starting to look like Dee Snider?

Original commercial theme:

Richie Kotzen To Host Record Release Party October 23rd

I'm a big Richie Kotzen fan and he has a new album coming! If you are in the Hollywood area, you should attend his album release party. Here's the information:

HOLLYWOOD, CA (September 16, 2011) – Join Richie Kotzen at the House Of Blues Hollywood, Sunday October 23rd for his record release party for his new album 24 HOURS.

Tickets are now on sale for Richie Kotzen at House of Blues Sunset Strip on Oct 23rd! Get yours today.

After 2 years of extensive international touring, guitar virtuoso, singer/ songwriter Richie Kotzen is back to unleash his new album 24 HOURS, releasing November 11 on Headroom-Inc.

24 HOURS reflects the guitar style’s that has defined his career as a virtuoso, while taking it to another level of playing. “I feel like I have reached a new level of soloing on the opening track 24 HOURS,” explains Kotzen. “I stopped using a guitar pick on electric a few years ago and my playing has evolved in a different way. Some of the solo lines I play on the song 24 HOURS, and others as well, are lines I would have never been able to play with a guitar pick. So I would say the solo's on this CD are at a different level than previous recordings.”

24 HOURS is an absorbing collective blend of Kotzen’s musical influences and diversity. 24 hours takes you on an inspired, musical journey as the opening track sets the tone that falls stylistically somewhere between early Van Halen and Sly and the Family Stone. Kotzen also brought in his talented daughter, August Kotzen and friend Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, to complete the album. “My daughter, August is singing with me on a few songs and is playing electric piano on the song STOP ME,” states Kotzen. “My friend Jerry Cantrell is singing backgrounds on LOVE IS BLIND and does a very cool lead vocal ad-lib in the final chorus of the tune."

24 HOURS was recorded and produced in Kotzen’s studio Headroom-Inc. 24 HOURS will be released on 11.11.11. Expect the first single, title track 24 HOURS to hit airwaves sometime soon. For more information go to www.richiekotzen.com.

'Acoustic Gypsy Live' - LA Guns CD Review

LA Guns (Tracii Guns version) will release an acoustic album of greatest hits called Acoustic Gypsy Live on September 27. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and the band will tour in support of the new record.

I was blessed with an advanced copy of the disc and I spun it while working on other projects. All the songs you would expect are included like 'Never Enough' and 'The Ballad of Jayne.' Jizzy Pearl is on vocals and sometimes it is weird hearing Tracii play acoustic instead of wailing on his guitar like he does at concerts. Some songs, like 'Electric Gypsy' I think were just not meant to go acoustic. Of course, 'The Ballad of Jayne' sounds just fine that way.

I quite enjoy 'Rip and Tear' and 'Over the Edge' and overall I think it was smart of LA Guns to come to market with a "new" record of "old" material. This gives the band something to tour, helps put money in their pockets and gives us diehards a new way to approach some songs we already love.

Isn't it amazing to think that in 29 years this is the first time LA Guns has done an acoustic record? If you are an LA Guns fan, pick up the CD.

Tracklisting:

1. Crystal Eyes
2. One Way Ticket
3. Decide
4. Dreamtime
5. Electric Gypsy
6. It's Over Now
7. Never Enough
8. Over The Edge
9. Little Soldier (Brand New Song!)
10. Sex Action
11. These Arms Of Mine (Otis Redding Cover)
12. Love Hurts (Nazereth Cover)
13. The Ballad Of Jayne
14. Rip and Tear

Do You Know Midnight Oil?

In the 1980s, there are a handful of Aussie rock bands that mattered. Rose Tattoo sang about being a criminal. No-one was really sure what the Angels sang about half the time. Midnight Oil sang about things that mattered. Social issues, aboriginal issues, CSR refusing to pay out workers harmed by asbestos in mines, nothing escaped their gaze. Peter Garrett, the lead singer, always seemed to have some sort of seizure on stage, and the band was legendary for their live performances. As a teenager, you knew that the government was messing it up, and that people like Peter Garrett were what the world needed if we were ever going to make things better.

So, it's 2011, and where are they now? Actually, Peter Garrett is a member of the Australian parliament, although he lost his portfolio due to a government subsidy program that was widely rorted and ended up in the deaths of several apprentices. He was minister for the environment, a position in which he utterly failed to ever live up to his ideals, and was regularly embarrassed on television by being reminded of the gap between the lyrics he used to sing and what he was doing now that he had a chance.

Funny old world.

I'm not sure if the Oils were ever heard of outside the U.S., have you heard of them?

'Love Ain't True' -- New Ugly Kid Joe

Does the world need new Ugly Kid Joe music? I say yes! The band, somewhat surprisingly, debuted a new tune the other day on some California radio show. The new tune is called "Love Ain't True." Ugly Kid Joe got back together, recorded six new songs maybe for an EP release in the future. In the meantime, here's "Love Ain't True."

Would you buy a new Ugly Kid Joe record?

Michael Schenker Set to Release New Record, Tour

One of my favorite guitar heroes has a new album coming! Michael Schenker will release a new one in October and he's going on tour here in America, too! Here's the release - I would like to see Michael when he comes to Ohio.

Michael Schenker, a true purveyor first-class hard guitar rock, is set to release the aptly titled "Temple of Rock" on October 11 on CD, digital formats, and vinyl. He will also be touring with Uli Jon Roth and Leslie West on the 3 Guitar Heroes tour.

The list of Schenker's successes is extensive... As a young man he lent his very special sound, together with his brother Rudolf, to the Scorpions, which later made the band one of the first real international hard rock stars from Germany. In the 70s, he similarly helped the British rock legends U.F.O. to their definitive breakthrough, turning songs like "Rock Bottom" or "Doctor, Doctor" into hits everyone knows.

 
In 1980, it was time for him to form the first band of his own... The Michael Schenker Group, or MSG for short. Some of the world's best musicians were asembled, cavorting with founding members such as Gary Barden, Don Airey or Simon Phillips. Not forgetting that no one less that Roger Glover from Deep Purple manned the production console for the first record. Since then, the three letters MSG have become a synonym for honest, hand-crafted and impelling premium hard rock.

Now, after extensive touring, and following a well-earned rest, Schenker has returned with his group to add a new jewel to his creative work. Names such as Pete Way, Wayne Findlay, Neil Murray and Chris Slade still represent the highest of standards and get aficionados' heartbeats racing. One of the biggest treats is his collaboration with the former Scorpions drummer, Herman "the German" Rarebell, as well as his beloved brother Rudolf. And yet the list is even longer with Doogie White (former member of the Rainbows), Super drummer Carmine Appice and Elliott Tichy. However the one name missing in 2011 is Gary Barden. Michael Voss, the new vocalist, is more than "just" a replacement. The experienced producer and singer showed just what he is capable of during the last MSG tour.

Here's the tour info:

October 6 - Norfolk - CT - Infinity Music Hall & Bistro
October 7 - Albany - NY - The Egg
October 8 - Ridgefield - CT - The Ridgefield Playhouse
October 9 - Plymouth - NH - The Flying Monkey
October 12 - Foxborough - MA - Showcase Live
October 13 - Asbury Park - NJ - Stone Pony
October 14 - New York - NY - Irving Plaza
October 15 - Philadelphia - PA - Theatre of Living Arts
October 16 - Westbury - NY - NYCB Theatre At Westbury
October 18 - Silver Spring - MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring
October 19 - Baltimore - MD - Sound Stage
October 20 - Cleveland - OH - House of Blues
October 21 - Cincinnati - OH - Bogart's
October 22 - Indianapolis - IN - Egyptian Room
October 26 - Milwaukee - WI - The Pabst Theater
October 27 - Chicago - IL - House of Blues
November 4 - Dallas - TX - House of Blues
November 5 - Houston - TX - House of Blues
November 11 - Las Vegas - NV - Boulder Station Hotel & Casino