The Makers of Gain Detergent Think Warrant is Gooder

Ah, remember the classic Warrant years when Jani Lane was still fronting the band, they sounded awesome and their songs soared up the Billboard chart? The modern Warrant isn't quite as fortunate and, as you know, Jani isn't in the band anymore. While the current version of Warrant features the very awesome Robert Mason on vocals, there's just no denying the classic hits.

"Heaven" is probably Warrant's biggest and most recognizable song next to "Cherry Pie." Now, we've been having a lot of discussions recently about our bands and modern commercials. Madison Avenue sure must have a lot of Glam fans because those marketers do know what songs to pick to evoke emotion. And, I have to admit, I think it's cool when I hear a Glam song on TV - that means one of our faves is getting a payday! Thus, I think it is both cool and funny that Gain detergent is using Warrant's "Heaven" in a new ad campaign. Check it out and happy Friday.

You Know What? The Rival Sons Rock!

The Rival Sons are going on Shiprocked in November. They are a hybrid of southern rock and a Led Zeppelin-type flavor.

I'll be honest, I am skeptical of new bands these days. Like, a band needs to bring it for me to be impressed, and I think that is fair. So, I gave Rival Sons a shot, clicking around on YouTube a bit and I liked what I heard.

When I say the Rival Sons are new...I mean it. The band didn't form until 2008. The band has an EP called Before the Fire and a new, self-titled EP that came out last week. That self-titled EP is so impressive, I swear it is like listening to classic rock or something. Even better, the EP is like six bucks. So, give them a listen and let me know what you think.

Hurtsmile - 'Stillborn' and More

I'm interviewing Gary Cherone of Extreme and Hurtsmile tonight. The focus of the interview is Hurtsmile. I'm planning on asking Gary all about recording the new album and his upcoming gig at M3 rock fest this May. If you don't know about Hurtsmile, here's a press release and I also posted a video below. If you have any questions for Gary, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

(New York, NY) - Frontman extraordinaire Gary Cherone (Extreme/Van Halen) is proud to announce his latest project, Hurtsmile. The band’s self-titled debut will be released in North American on February 15th via the Italian-based Frontiers Records label and features Cherone collaborating with his brother, guitarist Mark Cherone.

Gary Cherone commented, Hurtsmile was a long time coming."I always wanted to write a record with my brother. I'm a big fan of Mark’s songwriting and snarling guitar riffs." The timing was right as Extreme was in-between their touring and record cycle, allowing Gary the freedom to start a new artistic venture. Joe Pessia was recruited for bass; Pessia is an alumnus of (Extreme guiatrist) Nuno Bettencourt’s Dramagods, as well as the guitar player for Tantric. Pessia also engineered and co-produced the record with Cherone. To round off the lineup they enlisted heavy-hitter Dana Spellman on drums. "It’s an east coast-Boston thing," states Gary. "Mark was in a band with Nuno’s brother," Joe was in Nuno’s band and Dana was a friend and student of Mike Mangini (former Extreme drummer). "we like to keep it in the family."

The lineup is not the only thing familiar about the band. In true Cherone-family fashion, the record is chock-full of swaggering guitars, soaring vocals and trademark eclecticism. HURTSMILE is a conceptually-cohesive album examining the nature of man and the human heart, with an added focus on the current state of world affairs and political commentary. Hurtsmile is Gary Cherone (vocals), Mark Cherone (guitars), Joe Pessia (bass, mandolin) and Dana Spellman (drums, percussion).

HURTSMILE track listing:

1. Just War Theory
2. Stillborn
3. Love Thy Neighbor
4. Kaffur (Infidel)
5. Painter Paint
6. Tolerance Song (Edit)
7. Set Me Free
8. Jesus Would You Meet Me
9. Slave
10. Beyond The Garden/Kicking The Goads
11. Just War Reprise
12. The Murder Of Daniel Faulkner (4699)

Buckcherry, Lynam, Sevendust and More Confirmed for Shiprocked 2011

The first bands for Shiprocked 2011 have been announced. The bands so far are Buckcherry, Hinder, Hellyeah, Sevendust, In This Moment, Lynam, Broken Teeth and Rival Sons. The cruise ports out of Ft. Lauderdale and will go to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico. The festival is November 14-19.

Here's the press release:

Ft Lauderdale, FL – February 21, 2011 – The retro styling of LA’s multi-platinum Buckcherry and their string of hard-rocking anthems and power ballads lead the way for this year’s ShipRocked 2011. The Music and Life-style cruise sets sail November 14-19, 2011 heading for the tip of Mexico and its popular stretch of gorgeous Caribbean water known for scuba diving, shopping and bars aplenty. Buckcherry headlines along with fellow rockers Oklahoma’s Hinder (“Lips Of An Angel”,” Use Me”), metal titans Hellyeah! featuring members of Mudvayne and the legendary Pantera who bring their stampeding metal groove on-board and SR 2010 alum, Atlanta’s Sevendust, brought back by the demand of prior cruisers – bringing an intensity only matched by 20-foot sea swells, helping solidify a four-pronged trident of rock and roll mayhem.

ASK4 Entertainment’s Alan Koenig promises “ShipRocked 2011 will be five days of wall-to-wall music, giving fans the rare opportunity to listen to and hang out with rock stars on a luxury cruise ship. With the confirmed artists onboard (and additional acts to be announced), there’s enough music for whatever your heart rate can withstand” Main support comes from LA’s In This Moment led by the vocal pyrotechnics of Maria Brink. And we’re happy to have returning late-night favorites Lynam, as well as the inescapable Texas thunder of Broken Teeth led by the affable Jason McMaster, and new sensation Rival Sons and their brand of 70’s style guitar groove.

The setting is the MSC Poesia (Italy) one of the cruise industry’s most acclaimed new super cruise ships. It all begins in Fort Lauderdale, FL, visiting the premier Mexican ports of Costa Maya and Cozumel. Exuding her Italian roots, the Poesia features include the luxurious Aqua Spa, two pools, four Jacuzzis, a state-of-the-art cardio gym, salon, sushi bar, wine tasting bar, the Teatro Carlo Felice, a beautiful, 3-level, Las Vegas-style theater, and additional stages for ShipRocked bands and passengers to enjoy all night long!

Prices start at only $799 per person, based on double occupancy, and include exclusive access to all ShipRocked concerts and special events, deluxe stateroom, meals, ship activities, ship entertainment and much, much more! Space is limited so early booking is encouraged to guarantee your cabin. General on-sale begins on Monday, February 28, 2011.

Tickets for ShipRocked 2011 are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and are only available at www.GetShipRocked.com or by calling 1-888-438-9509.



Tunnel, 'Disarray' - New Song

My friend David Henzerling (Big Cock, King Kobra) has a band called Tunnel. The band has a new song called "Disarray." It's a cool track and it features Troy  Luccketta from Tesla on drums.

Tunnel is a great new band keeping rock alive - please give them a listen and let me know what you think!

Want Rock n' America Back?

A few days ago I received an email from one of the guys behind Rock n' America. The event was held for the first time last July in Oklahoma City. The bands were great - the Scorpions even headlined a night - but attendance was less than stellar. In fact, the attendance was so bad...I figured the event was dead.

Well, maybe it's not.

Here's a petition circling online - especially Facebook:

From Howard Pollack / The Zoo Amphitheatre

I'm thinking about bringing back "Rock N America" It was great last year but financially a bomb- give me a reason to bring it back. Give me your thoughts and or criticisms and or complaints. But here is the kicker!!!! The only way I will bring the show back is if I get a petition to bring the show back and it has to be signed by 5,000 people - so are you up to the challenge? Is Rock N America worth it? The ball is in your court. You can Facebook me or you can send emails to office@pmgroupar.com or you can go to zooamp.com and join up on the hot list. Now the only way top get 5,000 signatures on the petition is to have all of you believers email or Facebook all your friends that were there or missed out last year but want to be there this year. So send me a message-you know what to do!

So there it is: if you want Rock N' America back...you better get online! 

Another Rare Motley Crue Live Performance Video - 'Paperback Writer'

Here's another rare Motley Crue clip. The band, pre- Too Fast For Love playing their second gig ever at the Starwood in Los Angeles. The song? "Paperback Writer" by the Beatles. The quality of this clip is amazing.

It's pretty clear by watching the clip that Motley is a very new band here. The guys aren't quite as comfortable together on stage as they could be...and yet...there's chemistry.

Look at how young the guys are - and they are so thin! Like toothpicks! The video is a hoot and a half. Enjoy your Saturday, Glam lovers!