Only My Heart Talkin'

What do you get when you mix Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler and an awesome guitar riff? Why, "Only My Heart Talkin'" of course! The track is one of the best rock ballads of all time. Do you agree?

File Under: Songs I Haven't Heard in 20 Years...

Wow.

Talk about a blast from the past. I haven't thought about Shark Island in, oh, about a lifetime...I heard the band mentioned two weeks ago and I have on good rumor that Shark Island will be playing at least one festival this summer. Which one? I cannot say.

Anyway, Shark Island reunited a couple years ago and released a new album called Gathering of the Faithful. Shark Island released three albums prior - with their debut in 1986. Despite the three releases - and a ton of shows on the Sunset Strip - the band just wasn't able to make a go at fame. At any rate, I got a hoot out of watching the classic video for "Paris Calling" - I even remember this one from the classic MTV days. Singer Richard Black sure looks Glam.

Shark Island - Paris Calling

Little Angels

Looking for some great Glam from the 80s? Look no farther than the British band Little Angels. I don't think the band ever achieved much success in the United States - but they were fairly famous in their native U.K. I actually had no idea how many records Little Angels released. According to the Wikipedia article on the band, Little Angels have seven albums in their discography:

The 1987 EP (1987)
Too Posh To Mosh EP (1988)
Don't Prey for Me (1989)
Young Gods (1991)
Jam (1993)
A Little of the Past (1994)
Too Posh to Mosh, Too Good to Last (1995)

The band had quite a few member changes, especially in the drummer role. Just last month, Little Angels drummer Michael Lee passed away.

Between the recording, line-up changes and endless touring, the band managed to make some music videos in support of their work.

Here's my favorite Little Angels song "Kickin' Up Dust"

Here's the video for "Boneyard"

Here's the video for "I Ain't Gonna Cry"

You know, it just dawned on me: I've never once heard a Little Angels song on either Hair Nation or The Boneyard. I think this band must be added to the rotation!

I Sorta Like Tokio Hotel

Like the title of this article says, I sorta like Tokio Hotel. I say "sorta" because I'm still a little on the fence. I haven't quite decided what to make of the German band just yet. I mean, the lyrics and music are pretty darn good...but I'm not 100% there yet.

It's near impossible to peg Tokio Hotel for a specific genre - and I think that's great. The band has an amazingly unique sound - sort of melodic, a little pop with just a touch of "heavy" if you know what I mean.

If you're not familiar with Tokio Hotel, the album Scream is the place you want to start.

Here are a few video clips:

"Monsoon"

"Ready, Set, Go"

The Best Albums of 2008

A lot of Metal bloggers around the Interwebs are writing their "best of 2008" lists today and Bring Back Glam! is no exception. Without any more introduction here are my picks for the 10 best albums of 2008.

10. Black Butterfly - Buckcherry
* Key track: "Rescue Me"

09. Cosmic Universal Fashion - Sammy Hagar
* Key track: "Loud"

08. All Comes Down to You - Tonight You Rock
* Key track: "Are You Lonely"

07. Light from Above - Black Tide
* Key track: "Shockwave"

06. Circus - Britney Spears
* Key track: "Kill the Lights"

05. Scream, Aim, Fire - Bullet for My Valentine
* Key track: "Waking the Demon"

04. Saints of Los Angeles - Motley Crue
* Key track: "Saints of Los Angeles"

03. Tragic City Symphony - Lynam
* Key track: "Save My Soul"

02. Along Came a Spider - Alice Cooper
* Key track: "Vengeance is Mine"

01. Chinese Democracy - Guns n' Roses
* Key track: "Prostitute"

The most played track on my iPod this year was also a 2008 single. The winner is "Waking the Demon" by Bullet for My Valentine.

Compare my choices and join the conversation. Please click and read the blogs below:

Heavy Metal Addiction -- http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/
Hard Rock Hideout -- http://hardrockhideout.wordpress.com/
Heavy Metal Time Machine -- http://metalmark.blogspot.com/
Rock and Roll and Meandering Nonsense -- http://rnrnonsense.toomanyvoices.com/
All Metal Resource -- http://allmetalresource.com/
Imagine Echoes -- http://www.imagineechoes.com/
Metal Excess -- http://metalexcess.wordpress.com/
The Ripple Effect -- http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/
Rock Of Ages -- http://rockofages.wordpress.com/
Layla's Classic Rock -- http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/
Hair Metal Mansion -- http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/
The Metal Minute -- http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/

South Texas Rock Fest Announces Dates

South Texas Rock Fest has announced dates for next year's festival: May 22, 23, 24 2009. This means the festival won't be competing with Rocklahoma like it did last year. The event will also be in downtown San Anotonio...so I'm not quite sure what that is all about. I didn't attend South Texas Rock Fest '08 because I was at Rocklahoma...but I did attend Rock the Bayou in downtown Houston which, by all accounts, was a major bust.

I have no idea of any of the bands yet for this event - but I can probably find out over the weekend.

In a very bizarre PR move, the folks that run South Texas Rock Fest didn't update their official website, opting instead for a Myspace bulletin. They also chose the biggest holiday of the year to make their announcement, so I'm scratching my head on that one. You'll notice Rock Gone Wild didn't announce any bands this week. Whatever the case, I'll post the lineup for South Texas here when it is released - or when I know the leak.

Change the Holiday Song, Win a Prize Pack

Happy Holidays dear Glam fans. As you know, I could care less about your religion – so, whatever you believe (or not) I hope you are having a great holiday season with family and friends. I do care about your passion to rock. The holidays are a great time to reassess what is important to each one of us. That said you already know music is a very big part of my life. I can’t imagine a world without music. I truly believe all of us can find at least one song or artist to like from every genre. True music appreciation means understanding the different – then accepting that beauty.

The other day, my friend Ray sent me some lyrics. He likes to change words to popular songs.

Here is his Glam holiday tune...set to the music of “Deck the Halls:”

Deck the halls with am-pli-fiers,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
'Tis the season to be Metal.
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Don we now our glam apparel,
Fa la, fa la la la la.
Troll the ancient rock-n-roll chorus,
Fa la la la la la la la la.

See the amazing show before us.
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Strike a chord and join the voices,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Follow me in 80'sglorious,
Fa la, fa la la la la.
While I tell of legends before us,
Fa la la la la la la la la.

Pretty impressive, isn’t it? I don’t think I can do any better – so here’s your challenge: create a holiday tune using Glam phrases. The only rule is that the tune should be familiar, you know, like set to the “Dreidel Song” or “Jingle Bells.”

The most impressive song wins a Bring Back Glam! prize pack full of goodies. As always, I’ve got piles of stuff around the house – just waiting for a loving Glam home. Please leave your entries in the comments section and be sure to use a valid email address so I can contact the winner. Please enter by 11:59 pm EST on Friday, December 26, 2008. Good luck.