You might remember Christopher Guest from Spinal Tap. Now, the National Geographic Channel has an all new documentary on the history of Stonehenge. Nigel Tufnel...er, Christopher Guest as Nigel hosts the promos for the documentary. The documentary is called Stonehenge Decoded and is based on the history of the giant monument. The entire piece airs June 1.
For a faux band, I always thought Spinal Tap were pretty good. Of course their songs are funny, but some of them are no more ridiculous than tunes that were "serious" hits.
I won't lie: I'd love if Spinal Tap played Rocklahoma. Here's the band performing "Stonehenge." One of my favorite parts from This Is Spinal Tap.
Here's the promo for the documentary I mentioned above.
I am so watching this in June. Me, some popcorn and a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Thank goodness for simple pleasures.
I've been playing phone tag with guitarist Keri Kelli for literally the past 24 hours. We've talked back and fourth and started an interview, stopped an interview, got interrupted...alas. At some point, we'll get it together!
As you probably know, Keri plays guitar for Alice Cooper. He's also played with Slash's Snakepit, Big Bang Babies, Saints of the Underground...and many more.
While we (all!) wait for the interview, let's watch Alice Cooper and Keri Kelli videos! Woo hoo!
Here's Alice Cooper: "Love's A Loaded Gun"
Here's Alice Cooper: "Bed of Nails"
Here's Keri Kelli, Slash and Alice Cooper at Musicares. This is a partial clip.
I've never seen Alice live, but I think that would be great fun. Do you have any good Alice Cooper concert stories?
Please take a few moments of your day and vote for some of my friends. The band James Brown Car Alarm is in a contest to play a stage at Lollapalooza 2008. The contest is called "Last Band Standing." You can vote here.
No, James Brown Car Alarm are NOT Glam - but they are good kids, and we should help them achieve their dream. Round one voting ends June 22.
Why do bands seem to start heavy and get lighter as their careers go on? Think about it: Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Metallica and now bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for My Valentine all started heavy and progressed to more melodic music.
What gives?
High n' Dry and Shout at the Devil are decidedly Metal, while Songs from the Sparkle Lounge and Theatre of Pain are certainly not.
Of course, the easy answer is that the bands wanted to, you know, sell albums. I mean, how dare they?!
While popularity and the desire to eat and have a home are one thing, many bands have stayed tried and true to Metal, especially Motorhead and Iron Maiden. Now, it's none of my business to talk about a person's financial status, but since members of both Motorhead and Iron Maiden are celebrities, they are exempt. I am going to go out on a limb and say both bands are doing pretty well for themselves.
Metallica are working on their new album right now. Drummer Lars Ulrich keeps saying it's "classic Metallica." Does that mean we're about to have another Kill 'Em All on our hands? Somehow, I'm having trouble buying what Lars is selling.
Let's face it: Metallica made the so-called Black album and it's been downhill ever since Metal-wise. Sales wise, the band has pretty much been on fire. Well, except for the pesky Load releases...
Were bands like Metallica, Motley Crue and Def Leppard mere products at the mercy of a new 80s medium known as MTV? I know Motorhead and Iron Maiden made videos too, but nowhere near as many as the Glam bands I talk about on here daily. MTV was (is) a genre for the beautiful. Let's face it: Nikki Sixx is considered more than attractive by quite a lot of women. I'm sure his looks and attitude didn't hurt Motley's sales any. It's no different than Beyonce or other pop stars because sex sells. Often when you throw sex into the picture, the product - in this case Metal - becomes somewhat diluted.
So, did bands like Metallica, Motley Crue, Def Leppard and all the rest evolve to become more commercially popular or was it just a sign of the times? Remember, the same is exactly true for modern Metal acts like Avenged Sevenfold and Bullet for My Valentine. With each album, both bands get a little more melodic. That's no issue for me - I seriously love every album by both bands, but I realize I'm in the majority when it comes to screamo Metal. Yes, the Glam mistress does enjoy the heavy stuff from time to time.
Just for fun, let's compare:
Here's Avenged Sevenfold's "Darkness Surrounding" from Sounding the Seventh Trumpet
Now, "Gunslinger" from the recent self-titled release.
Do you hear the differences? Spill it, my music maniacs.
Are you not a true fan if you like to hear your favorite band play their hits during a live show? Last night during Eddie Trunk Live, Eddie was chatting with Cinderella frontman Tom Keifer. Tom was talking about liking to play more obscure tunes once in awhile. Eddie then said… “I’m a true fan. I don’t like when bands play the hits.”
I about puked.
Seriously? Just because I like to hear the hits during a concert doesn’t make me any less of a fan. I’ll tell you one thing: I'd love for Motley Crue to play “Danger” but I know it won’t happen. By common economic principles, they need to play songs that charted, and that’s o.k. I’d be pissed if Motley decided to skip “Dr. Feelgood” or “Girls, Girls, Girls.” There’s a reason why those type of songs typically became hits in the first place: it’s because they’re damn good.
That said, I do love it when bands play an obscure track or two during live sets. It’s fun to see “die hard” fans go crazy, but I’ll admit these lesser known songs typically take a toll on crowd energy. Van Halen is a good example of this. Everyone and her sister knows “Runnin’ With the Devil” and a Van Halen concert wouldn’t be the same without the track. I can’t say the same for “Atomic Punk.” Yes, both tracks are on the same 1978 debut release, but one is played constantly on classic rock radio and the other…not so much. I saw Van Halen twice on their 2007/2008 reunion tour and both times, the fans went bonkers during the famous bass beginning of “Runnin.’” Not exactly the same scenario for “Atomic Punk.”
Does this mean those fans who were a little less interested in “Atomic Punk” were not true blue to Van Halen? Absolutely not. The next time you go to a show, look around. There will inevitably be someone who can sing every lyric of every song regardless of popularity. All the same, there will be someone who doesn’t know many songs at all. Each person still paid price of admission.
What do you think? Are you not a "true fan" if you like to hear the hits live?
Two side stage bands blew the main stage acts away at this weekend's Rock on the Range festival: Airbourne and Black Tide. I had high expectations for both bands, and each delivered.
Airbourne were great! I didn't own their debut album Runnin' Wild before this weekend, but after the show I made it a point to pick up the disc. The band played most songs off Runnin Wild and the crowd seemed to eat them up. Lead singer Joel O'Keeffe screams like a madman and makes funny faces when he performs, but it all adds to the show. Airbourne deserved a main stage slot.
Black Tide are one my current favorite bands. I recently told you that their debut Light From Above rules - and they rock live, too! Unfortunately, a bunch of morons had to ruin my experience by taking the mosh pit back way too far. At one point, the security detail encircled the pit to create a human barrier. I'll never understand why people would rather beat the shit out of one another instead of listening to music, but whatever. At any rate, Black Tide played quite a few songs off Light From Above as well as a Metallica cover from Kill 'Em All.
Black Tide are so cute - and so young. It was kind of funny watching a group of literal kids rock the faces off of people more than double their age!
Rock on the Range had something pretty cool for all the side stage bangs: an F.Y.E. tent. During the shows, F.Y.E. employees would walk through the crowd selling CDs by the band currently performing. Each CD purchase came with an autograph wrist band. I didn't participate, but I think this is a great way for up and coming acts to get some exposure and one - on - one time with new fans.
More about Rock on the Range:
1 - I've never seen concessions more expensive in my life. At one point I was wishing I was at freaking Disney World just to save a couple bucks. Yes, beer was $8 a bottle! A "margarita" was $10! You can imagine how much nachos cost. Parking was $15 each day too - makes me wish I owned a giant parking lot!
2 - The crowds were too violent. Seriously, DO NOT throw objects at shows. This is dangerous for both patrons and performers. Can you imagine being on stage, performing for 20 thousand people and having a beer bottle fly at your head? This isn't cute, it isn't funny and it sure as hell isn't Metal. The only thing it is? Ignorant.
3 - The main stage sound was lousy. The second stage bands were much better than the main stage acts. Most of that has to do with talent, but a lot of it was also because the main stage sound was very weak. I only noticed four suspended speakers at the sound board. When sitting in the bleachers, the sound was muffled and when standing on the field everything was distorted.
With the sound issues and high prices, I still love festivals. I firmly believe festivals are the best way to enjoy great rock music and big doses. Just remember: don't throw bottles! Rock on!
Rock on the Range music festival in Columbus, Ohio is currently underway. The biggest event of the weekend is the Stone Temple Pilots reunion concert. Scott Weiland and company played a 75 minute set of their most famous songs, "Big Empty," "Wicked Garden," "Big Bang Baby," "Vaseline," "Lady Picture Show," "Creep," "Plush," "Interstate Love Song," "Sex Type Thing," "Trppin on a Hole in a Paper Heart," "Dead and Bloated" and many more.
The crowd of more than 15 thousand all seemed very excited during the STP reunion. During some parts of the show it seemed like every person in Columbus Crew Stadium was singing along with Scott Weiland. The now former Velvet Revolver singer came out on stage looking like a member of the Blues Brothers in a three-piece suit and hat. As the show wore on, Wieland stripped down: first, ditching the hat, then his jacket, then his vest. Yes, he kept his pants on. The reunion show was good overall except the audio mix was off and Weiland's microphone sound was very distorted. It was a little easier to hear and understand lyrics during the songs, but impossible to decipher anyone in the band during stage banter.
Sometimes it's easier to tell a story in pictures, so please enjoy the following images:
I'll have a complete wrap of Rock on the Range, more photos and a review of Airbourne and Black Tide soon.
Friday, May 23, 2008 at 12:01AM 
