Buckcherry Offers Free Download After BP Oil Spill

I'm not sure if you've been following the giant debacle that is the BP oil spill in the Gulf, but really, it's just shameful. The incident is a massive corporate failure and the U.S. government isn't doing much to help either. The economic turmoil couldn't come at a worse time: the summer travel season after a massive economic slump. Then there's the wildlife: CNN keeps showing images of birds covered in oil and it just makes me furious. The poor birds look like Easter candy. You know, covered in chocolate. The oil is so thick they can't move and they have to be "rescued" by a special consultancy group hired by BP. Of course, many people have offered to volunteer to clean the birds but BP leadership throws a hissy, claims jurisdiction and wins. If you can't tell, I'm disgusted by the entire situation and it turns out, the guys in Buckcherry are too.

Buckcherry is offering a free download of the song "Our World" off their upcoming album All Night Long. You can get the free song at the band's official website.

According to a press release, the song was "originally written as an anthemic cry-out to help right the social, environmental, economic and other wrongs of this world [and] represents the band’s commitment to expose the BP disaster and to bring awareness and support to the crisis and its victims -- human and animal."

The press release continues with a comment from Buckcherry singer Josh Todd: "'As musicians who have the benefit of the spotlight from time to time, we feel it is our duty to aid in raising awareness and financial support to help remedy the awful situation in the Gulf Of Mexico. It is so important that each and every one of us do what we can to help those out whose lives have been harshly impacted by the oil spill.'"

Buckcherry will release All Night Long August 3rd via Eleven Seven. 

Click for more on the Gulf Coast Oil Disaster.

Steel Panther...and Bud Light!?!

Steel Panther are featured in one of the new Bud Light campaigns revolving around a haircut. Yep. Just watch.

Bobby Blotzer of RATT: The Bring Back Glam! Interview

I recently interviewed drummer Bobby Blotzer of RATT for Noisecreep. The topic was his new book, Tales of a RATT: Things You Shouldn't Know. Because I've been known to ask a lot of questions during interviews, I had some content leftover...and I knew you'd love it! By the way - get a copy of Bobby's book: it's a hoot!

Here's some of the leftover transcription:

BBG!:  Are you happier now doing more fly-in gigs than a standard tour where you're just living on a bus?  I mean, at this point in your life?

Bobby:  Well, interesting question because I'm happier in what brings the most commerce to this band.  If it means being on a bus for three months, and that makes more income for me, that's what I like.  If it's flying – I mean, personally, I don't like leaving home.  I mean, I have big beautiful house with a great pool and amazing backyard and my dog and my girlfriend and my cat and people don't realize how... Picture anybody that's reading this can think of it this way:  you go on a vacation, you have a great time.  But when you get home, you're like, 'Ahh, it just feels so good to be home!' That's the way [I feel]. You're gone for months and you're in and out of a hotel every single day.  You just really appreciate your home when you get home.  So I like either way.  For me, it is a business.  I'm there to sell tickets and make people happy by playing.

BBG!:  Does it anger you if people consider RATT a nostalgia band - especially now that you have new output that's so good?

Bobby:  Consider us a nostalgia band?  No, I've never had a – no, because every single person that I know including you I'm guessing goes to a show of the band that they grew up with or whatever and they want to hear the hits.  They're like, 'Okay, throw me a couple bones of some new stuff.'  But by and large, they want to hear the songs that they go back in time and relate to.  That's what makes for a fun night.  Even with Paul McCartney. I go to see Paul McCartney and he goes, 'Oh, like we're going to do some new numbers.'  And I swear, it's a cue for people to get up and start walking to take a leak.  It’s really – especially from somebody like Paul McCartney, who is the top of the food chain in music.  It’s like, 'Wow!' If they did it with Paul, they're certainly going to not really want to hear anything from anybody else.  So I don't have a problem with that, not at all.  I mean, it's my job to please people.  If that's what it takes to please them, let’s go.

BBG!:  The other part of the book that really stunned me I guess was the part about the Station Nightclub fire. I didn't know you were so close to Jack Russell and the guys in Great White.  I mean, it makes sense that everyone was out in L.A. so you had that connection.  But it really surprises me how much that that shook up RATT.

Bobby:  Well, knowing that everybody in that club was a fan of just not Great White and RATT but every other band that we all dig from the day and whatnot: they're 80's metal people.  So it's like, I have personally met I'm sure so many of those people.  And whether it was in a club or backstage at a show, or on stage that I'm saying 'Hi' to them on the show.  My god, a drum tech for me was in that audience! So for sure that thing still affects me.  And it was man... dark, dark, dark days for me after that for a long time. And I've seen Jack and those boys since then and I don't...I mean, there's nothing towards them right now.  But it was a little odd at first when that first happened to even contemplate calling to reach out like I could, I wasn't able to do that.  And anybody that's reading this that was there that night or that had family, you guys are still in my prayers and in my brain and that will never end in my life.  So it's very disturbing.

Read the rest of my chat with Bobby Blotzer soon on Noisecreep.

Rocklahoma Announces Attendance Figures

For those wondering, here is the release about the official Rocklahoma attendance figures:

Record crowds converged on Oklahoma May 28-30 for Rocklahoma 2010, making America’s biggest Memorial Day weekend party a huge success.  The three-day festival held at the premier destination “Catch The Fever” Festival Grounds in Pryor, Oklahoma kicked off summer with over 30,000 rock fans in attendance, record setting camping attendance and beautiful weather.  By the end of the three-day weekend, music fans had taken in 39 artists, an incredible VIP experience and all Rocklahoma merchandise was sold out with waiting lists for more.

The festival’s all-star roster of top rock artists from the past three decades included ZZ Top, Godsmack (whose new CD recently debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart), Tesla, Three Days Grace, Cinderella, Chevelle, Buckcherry, Theory of a Deadman, Saliva, Saving Abel, Fuel featuring Brett Scallions, Sevendust and many more. 

Artists performing at Rocklahoma enjoyed the weekend as much as the fans.  Tom Keifer of Cinderella proclaimed: “Rocklahoma was kick ass!  It was everything we had heard and more…awesome crowd and a great time!”

The press also had positive things to say about Rocklahoma 2010.  Rick Florino of ArtistDirect.com called it “middle America's loudest rock fest…with some of the best bands from the '70s, '80s, '90s and today.”

In their live coverage of the festival, Jennifer Chancellor of the Tulsa World noted: “Tens of thousands of music fans from across the country descended this weekend on 400 acres just northeast of this sleepy community with two things on their minds: Rock 'n' roll and partying.” 

Elsewhere, Tulsa’s CBS affiliate KOTV said: “Thousands of music fans from near and far have turned up to celebrate ‘Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Rock!’"

“We are so thrilled with Rocklahoma,” says Festival President, Mark Nuessle.  “2010 was a year of changes, from new event dates to line-up reinvention, and the response from the fans was amazing.  There was electricity in the air, and seeing thousands of people having a good time, interacting with one another and creating memories was something we will cherish as we set our sites on Rocklahoma 2011!”

Established in 2007 as a classic rock destination festival with the motto “life, liberty & the pursuit of rock,” Rocklahoma organizers teamed with AEG LIVE to revamp the 2010 event to encompass a much broader mix of classic, current and up-and-coming rock artists. 

On-site campers enjoyed a weekend party with amenities including access to restrooms and a shower house, a general store for campers, VIP reserved seating, hospitality areas and much more.

For additional information, please visit www.rocklahoma.com.

Iron Maiden Release 'El Dorado,' Announce New Album

Heck yes! Iron Maiden just released a new song called "El Dorado." Listen to it three times and then make a judgment. This is definitely a song that takes a few listens to fully appreciate.

The new album will be called The Final Frontier, due out August 16. Since Maiden is a band that doesn't mess around, the guys also released the track listing:

1. Satellite 15....The Final Frontier
2. El Dorado
3. Mother Of Mercy
4. Coming Home
5. The Alchemist
6. Isle Of Avalon
7. Starblind
8. The Talisman
9. The Man Who Would Be King
10. When The Wild Wind Blows

Iron Maiden's Final Frontier World Tour starts tomorrow night in Dallas. So have you heard "El Dorado?" If not, listen and give me your opinion!

RATT Cancels European Tour

From the official RATT Myspace page:

New York, NY: RATT have been forced to cancel their upcoming European tour dates. Vocalist Stephen Pearcy will be undergoing urgent hernia surgery this week. The band regrets missing the European dates on the heels of the release of their first album in eleven years, INFESTATION, which enjoyed a high chart debut in European territories.

Ratt shares this disappointment with all their European fans who planned to attend the shows at Sweden Rock, Sauna Open Air Festival, UK Download, Hellfest, Grasspop and Gods of Metal as well as their other dates. The band is looking into rescheduling as many of the shows as possible.

Pearcy's doctors anticipate a full recovery in time for Ratt’s North American touring schedule, which includes a run with The Scorpions, beginning in July and running through September.

We wish Pearcy a speedy recovery.

Mark Slaughter joins Nelson 20th Anniversary Tour

I didn't see this one coming! Check out this release I just received. 

(NASHVILLE, TN) June 7, 2010 - Celebrity rockers Matthew & Gunnar Nelson announced multi-platinum rock star frontman and lead guitarist Mark Slaughter (Slaughter, Vinnie Vincent Invasion) will join their band NELSON as lead guitarist for the NELSON 20th Anniversary Tour. NELSON is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the release of their international multi-platinum debut classic album "AFTER THE RAIN".

NELSON will headline several upcoming major rock festival events including the M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, MD on June 19; Thunder Mountain RockFest in Sawyer, ND July 9; and The FireFest in Nottingham, England U.K. Oct. 31 as part of the NELSON 20th Anniversary Tour.

"Mark Slaughter has widely been acknowledged worldwide as one of the best rock singers in the business for decades...but not enough people know what a fine lead guitarist Mark is, and always has been.  This tour is going to change that," said Gunnar Nelson. "NELSON is lucky to have such an amazing addition to our band for the 20th Anniversary Tour. It's definitely going to ROCK!"

"It's great to be back touring live with NELSON," said Matthew Nelson. "We're thrilled to have Mark Slaughter joining us onstage for these incredible rock festivals - M3, Thunder Mountain, FireFest and to connect with the fans who love melodic rock music.  The FireFest will be the first time ever NELSON has performed in the U.K."

Mark Slaughter is probably best known as the lead front man and guitarist for the successful rock metal group bearing his own name, Slaughter, which sold in excess of five million records in the 1990s touring worldwide to sold-out arenas.  Best known for MTV / VH1 #1 hits "Fly to the Angels" and "Up All Night".  Mark also had a #1 hit "Love Kills" with the band Vinnie Vincent Invasion that was featured on the film soundtrack for Wes Craven's "Nightmare on Elm Street" in 1986.

NELSON is the top-selling international rock group starring identical twin celebrity rockers Matthew & Gunnar Nelson. The 20th Anniversary Tour commemorates the phenomenon & success of NELSON's "AFTER THE RAIN" record and tour.  NELSON has (1) One Number One, (4) Four Top Ten, and  (5) Five Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit singles, plus (5) Five #1 MTV videos and has sold over 6.5 million albums worldwide! Over 300 headlining shows worldwide. VH1 has ranked NELSON's #1 "Love and Affection" as one of the "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s".

NELSON has a new album, "The Blond Leading the Blond" coming out soon on Frontiers Records.  Artistically, it will be a seamless follow up to the "After the Rain" album.

 Matthew and Gunnar Nelson are the twin sons of Rock'n'Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Nelson, and grandsons of '50s TV icons Ozzie & Harriet Nelson. When NELSON first hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" which they wrote and perform, it landed the Nelson family in the Guinness Book of World Records as the only family in entertainment history with (3) three generations of #1 hitmakers!

Mark Slaughter joins the NELSON 20th Anniversary Tour kicking off with the M3 Rock Festival this month at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, MD June 19th.

In addition to performing with NELSON on lead guitar, Mark will also perform as a solo artist opening for NELSON at the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den on June 26.