It's time for another confession: I'm a fantasy back-up singer for some of our favorite bands. Yes, it's true. In my mind, I'm member of the Nasty Habits. I share the stage with Nikki, Tommy, Vince and Mick.
Yes, I've even sang with Poison, Cinderella and all the rest.
As Don Dokken says, "In my dreams."
Here's the thing: I cannot sing. It's not a question of "afraid to sing in public" or anything like that. No, I literally cannot carry a tune. Which is fine. I never wanted to be a singer in real life - only in my fantasies. I think if I was on a deserted island and I found a magic bottle with a genie inside, I'd use one of my three wishes on singing. And not forever, either. I just want to know what it feels like to sing amazingly well in front of people just one time.
Music is really a gift. You've either got the talent or you don't. I don't and that's fine. I'm still looking for my talent and I have confidence I'll find it someday. While I'm looking, I'll continue to dream about wearing something ultra glam and sharing the stage with someone awesome just once. It's simple fantasies that help me pass the time.
A little birdie told me it's highly likely you'll see Lord Tracy make a festival appearance this summer. Which fest? That's for you to figure out, my dear friends.
Do you like Lord Tracy? The band has a relatively new album called Porn Again and they did a few dates last summer including Rocklahoma. The band is based in Texas and that's where they play most of their shows -- but yes, they leave the Lone Star State from time to time.
Here's "Foolish Love." I never got to see these guys "back in the day." Rocklahoma was great...but I'm looking ahead to this summer now!
Frontiers Records announces the release of Y&T first studio album in 13 years!
Y&T, featuring original members Dave Meniketti (vocals and lead guitars) and Phil Kennemore (bass), along with longtime members John Nymann (guitar) and Mike Vanderhule (drums) have recorded their first studio album in 13 years, aptly titled Facemelter to be released in Europe on May 21st on Frontiers Records.
With a discography of 18 albums and three greatest hits collections, Y&T has sold over four million albums since their 1974 inception. The band has toured with numerous Rock icons including Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Mötley Crüe, receiving constant and extensive airplay with hits such as "Forever," "Rescue Me," "Mean Streak" and "Summertime Girls." Y&T songs have been featured in a multitude of movies and television shows, including Real Genius, Out of Bounds, Baywatch, and Hunter. After five US top 100 albums, songs that tipped into the 40s, two Bammie Awards, and many international television appearances, Y&T's hits are still played nowadays on classic rock radio stations everywhere. Y&T's high-energy music still captivates legions of fans around the globe, proving Y&T's music timeless.
As the title indicates, Facemelter-the anticipated new recording-is a hard rockin', song-oriented album that lives up to its name: it captures the band's raw energy and tightness that they've become known for. Featuring heavy grooves, powerful guitars, and strong melodies, the band shows their versatility, delivering a range of high-energy rockers, mid-tempo head-bangers, modern rock grooves, majestic ballads, and signature Y&T rock anthems. To mark the return, the band engaged John Taylor Dismukes-the same artist who designed covers for Y&T's classic albums "Mean Streak," "Black Tiger" and "In Rock We Trust"-to create the amazing art of the new Facemelter.
"What a great feeling to dive back into making new Y&T music," states Dave Meniketti. "After being away from it for this long, the anticipation of writing a new CD worth of material was, at first, a bit scary, but as soon as we started up I was happy to find how natural it was to get right back in it again. I think we're going to have to keep this up, because musically and emotionally, we still have a lot to say!"
"It's ridiculous that we waited so long to make a new record," states Phil Kennemore. "In creating new music for Facemelter, I rediscovered the most important thing for any artist, and that is to continue creating . . . it feeds my soul. My hope for Facemelter is that people might just find a few new favorite Y&T songs."
"We recorded together to capture as much of a live feel as possible which I feel is the strong point of the band," adds Mike Vanderhule, while according to John Nymann, "The chemistry we have between us makes it so easy to develop ideas. Now that we are ignited with new material, I can't wait to bring it to the stage."
Face-melting is a term that has been with Y&T since the mid-'70s, when a rabid fan ran backstage and told the band, "you melted my face," which inspired the group's first publishing company: "Facemelting Music."
Confirmed Summer Tour Dates in Europe:
June 10 ~ Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival June 12 ~ Donington, UK - Download Festival June 15 ~ Köln, Germany - Underground Cologne June 16 ~ Zwolle, Netherlands - Hedon Podium June 17 ~ Dordrecht, Netherlands - Bibelot June 19 ~ Clisson, France - Hellfest
Some of you come to this site because I am very fortunate to get inside information on big shows before the ticket buying public. I always share my good fortune with you guys (up the allowable point) and some of you believe me...and some of you don't. Do with the info what you will. The inside info seems to make some people jealous... I'm not sure why, but whatever. We're all here to have fun and today, I present another band you'll be seeing at a festival this summer. You figure out the fest my children (and yes, the band is already booked for Midwest Rockfest).
The guys in Texas Hippie Coalition consider themselves godfathers of Red Dirt metal. To me, that means they like it heavy in the heart of the south. Think a mix of BLS and Pantera and you're on your way to the THC. They've played Rocklahoma before - I dig 'em (but Rocklahoma isn't the fest I'm hinting at today). Sometimes you need a little heavy to mix with the Glam, right? Check out some vids below.
"Leaving"
"Pissed Off and Mad About It"
I should interview THC shouldn't I? I think I will.
If you like prog, definitely check out Australia's Karnivool. I love the band's second album Sound Awake and I think you might dig it too. The videos are visually beautiful - I love when bands use videos as an extension of their art.
The band is touring America now so if you like what you hear, you should go support them... especially since they are based down under!
Just got this press release and thought I'd pass along for those interested:
LOS ANGELES, Apirl 1, 2010 – Nikki Sixx, rock icon and host of the nationally syndicated radio programs Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixxand The Side Show with Nikki Sixx, will host a one-hour radio special entitled “Inside Slash.” Available for air April 2 - 6, in addition to being heard during Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx on April 5, the special will feature an in-depth conversation with the famed Guns N’ Roses guitarist about his first true solo album, “SLASH,”which will be released April 6.
Listeners will be treated songs from the album as Slash discusses his inspiration, as well as his collaboration with an all-star roster of guest musicians including Chris Cornell, Fergie, Dave Grohl, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmister, Adam Levine, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and others. Slash will also discuss what it was like to work with producing partner Eric Valentine and a rhythm section comprised of bassist Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction and drummer Josh Freese of Nine Inch Nails.
“I have been a friend of Slash’s since before G n R and continue to be a friend and fan after almost 25 years. It's exciting to have him on my radio show so we can breakdown this incredible new album track by track and collaboration by collaboration for the fans, as well as reminisce about our checkered pasts. This is everything I’d want to hear about if I didn’t have the opportunity to ask him myself,” said Sixx.
“Inside Slash” will air on more than 60 radio stations in the U.S. and Canada including: KLOS/Los Angeles, WRXP/New York, WRIF/Detroit, WMMR/Philadelphia, KISS/San Antonio and WFTK/Cincinnati.
Here's the official release regarding the Rock N America festival:
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK---PM Group /Innervisions in association with Event Marketing Group are proud to announce the first annual Rock-N-America Music Festival to be held July 23-25, 2010 at the Historical Zoo Amphitheatre in Oklahoma City, OK.
Rock-N-America has put together the largest collection of Eighties Bands in the United States during this three-day festival.
Scheduled to headline Rock-N-America are Scorpions, embarking on their very last tour “Get Your Sting And Blackout,” making Rock-N-America one of their final stops in North America. Scorpions are known for such songs as “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” “Send me an Angel,” “Wind of Change,” “No One Like You,” “Still Loving You,” and their latest single and radio hit “Raised On Rock.” Scorpions new and final album, “Sting in the Tail” was released March 23rd via Universal Music Enterprises entered the Billboard Top 200 charts at #23 marking the bands highest chart debut in over 20 years. The album also landed at #6 on the Rock Albums chart.
The Scorpions consists of KLAUS MEINE (vocals), MATTHIAS JABS (lead guitar), RUDOLF SCHENKER (guitar), JAMES KOTTAK (drums) and PAWEL MACIWODA (bass). The German rockers will be celebrating 40+ years in music on this final outing--set to kick off June 18 in Holmdel, NJ--that will take them around the globe through 2012, with special guests supporting along the way.
“Scorpions is a live band,“ asserts MEINE. “Totally, 200%, this band was always about live concerts. We always wanted to go on stage and play in front of our fans. From the very beginning, from the smallest clubs to the biggest arenas and stadiums around the world, the passion to be a live band has never changed.” And when asked why the band decided to retire after all these years together, SCHENKER stated, “We want to celebrate [with] a big party around the world. We've had a really great career, coming out from Germany and showing people that rock can come out of Germany. I think we started as a gang built by friendship and musicality, and going and showing that the Germans can rock"
In addition to Scorpions, headlining Rock-N-America will be Eighties renowned Twisted Sister and RATT. Over Thirty bands are scheduled to perform on two stages over the three days. The artists include Scorpions, Twisted Sister, RATT, Dokken, Great White, Warrant, L.A. Guns featuring Tracii Guns, Faster Pussycat, Enuff Z Nuff, Lynch Mob, Bullet Boys, Toxin and more to be named a later date.
Howard Pollack, President of the PM Group said “Eighties Rock is all about the fans and our goal at Rock-N-America is to give everyone a fun experience in a fan friendly environment!”
Camping facilities are available at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City and there’s sufficient free parking at Remington Park Racetrack and Casino.
The Zoo Amphitheatre in Oklahoma City is well known as being one of the Mid West’s unique concert facilities nestled next door to the Oklahoma City Zoo, one of the top rated zoos in North America and is the oldest zoo in the Southwest. The Zoo Amphitheatre is located just over seventeen miles from Will Rogers World Airport. Accommodations are not a problem as Oklahoma City boasts over 15,000 Hotel Rooms.
3-Day General Admission Tickets and 3day VIP Tickets as well as 3 day combo admission/Hotel packages to Rock-N-America go on sale at 10AM CST Saturday, April 10th at www.rocknamerica.com or call toll free at 800-511-1552.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 12:02AM