Rocklahoma Bands Revealed

Eddie Trunk and a gaggle of Glam Metal stars just helped the Catch the Fever organizers announce this year's Rocklahoma line-up.

Here are your performers (so far):

Thursday:

LA Guns (Tracii's version)
Enuff Z' Nuff
Jetboy
VAIN
House of Lords
Sebastian Bach
Bret Michaels (headline)

Friday:

Triumph (headline)
Extreme
Night Ranger
Kingdom Come
Armored Saint
XYZ

Saturday:

Pretty Boy Floyd
Every Mother’s Nightmare
Tora Tora
Black N Blue
Trixter
Kix
Warrant (with Jani Lane)
Cinderella (headline)

Sunday:

Axe
Beautiful Creatures
Zebra
Lynch Mob
Living Colour

UFO
Tesla
Headline TBA

Side Stage 1:

Thursday: 

Jester
Harlow
Sidekicks
Frontrunner
Paradice
Tommy Had a Vision
Bobby Mesano from Stars

Friday: 

Gypsy Blue
White Fox
Heavens Edge
Blue Tiger
Wild August
Valin
Paul Shortino from Quiet Riot
Mariah

Saturday:

Warrior
Bad Candy
Loraine
Nasty Nasty
Compass
MASS
Viper
Roughcon

Sunday:

Oney
Strikeforce
Parazz
Reckless
Heartless
Ron Keel

Side Stage 2:

Deathriders
Dario
Jani Lane's Band
Odin
Order of nine
Jackyls
Krucible
Sacred Dawn
Mindfield
Lipstick Magazine
Seet F.A.
Pownd
Shadow Side
War machine
Dirty Penny (Saturday headline)
Gypsy Pistoleros (Friday headline)
Asphalt Valentine
Exit 27
Cockpit

 

Rocklahoma Announcement - Today!

It's finally time to learn just who will be playing Rocklahoma 2008. The announcement is set for 1 p.m. (Pacific) at the Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles - right on the Sunset Strip. Jetboy, Bret Michaels, Jani Lane and the rest of Warrant will be on hand for the announcement. DJ Eddie Trunk will host the conference and it will stream live on XM satellite radio channel 41 The Boneyard.

There isn't much point in me writing anything else. I'll be back right after the announcement with the list of performers and my thoughts on the selection.

Ok, I will say this: It's just after midnight. I still don't think Motley Crue is playing Rocklahoma. Perhaps I'll get a nice surprise come this afternoon?!?

While we wait, watch this video: Motley Crue "Shout at the Devil '97." More proof that it's always a bad idea to mess with an original.

Van Halen - Shows Postponed

VAN HALEN

March 5, 2008

U.S. Bank Arena - Cincinnati

POSTPONED

CINCINNATI , OH – The Van Halen concerts in Dallas, Cincinnati, Raleigh, and Baltimore have been postponed. According to Eddie Van Halen’s physician, he is undergoing a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures.

The March 5^th concert at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 22^nd.

Fans should retain their tickets as they will be honored at the rescheduled concerts or ticket refunds will be issued at the original point of purchase.

Van Halen Tour Over?

Everyone said it was too good to be true. Heck, even I said the tour wouldn't last. Now, entertainment website TMZ.com is reporting the remaining dates of the Van Halen reunion tour are over. The issue is not bickering with David Lee Roth, but Eddie Van Halen and his uncontrollable urge to hit the sauce.

Talk about a shame.

I have tickets to the Wednesday show in Cincinnati. If this news turns out to be true, there are going to be thousands of angry rock fans all up and down the east coast. I guess it was a wise move I  saw the band back in October.

Back to Eddie.

How much money does it take to get someone sober? I know that money can buy the best rehab but cash alone can't drive sobriety. I thought the lynchpin for Eddie would be touring the States alongside his son Wolfgang. Surely Wolfgang would keep him on the straight and narrow.

Apparently not.

Like I said, I am not sure if TMZ is correct, but the site has become a powerhouse of celebrity gossip. My guess is that someone knows someone and that this much-hyped reunion tour has just imploded. It wasn't but days ago that the VH camp cancelled a couple of gigs and rescheduled them for a much later date.

The band is scheduled to play tonight in Dallas. I'll be checking Live Nation and Ticketmaster to see if the show is actually on or not.

Let's be honest. Who thought the tour would last to the bitter end? I sure didn't - but I was optimistic enough to pull out my credit card for a second round. I guess I might need plans for Wednesday night...

In the meantime, watch a video from earlier in this tour.

Here's a reunited Van Halen performing "You Really Got Me" in Detroit.

Update on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 10:07AM by Allyson B. Crawford

I put in a call to Ticketmaster at 10 this morning. Computers were still showing the scheduled concerts are a go and tickets are still available. Yay! Me and Van Halen Wednesday night.

Metal Edge Goes Top 25

In the April issue of Metal Edge, various contributors list their choices for the top 25 Glam (they say "Hair Metal) albums of all time.

Here are the choices:

25. The Darkness - Permission to Land (2003)
24. Pretty Boy Floyd - Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz (1989)
23. Slaughter - Stick It To Ya (1990)
22. Winger -Winger (1988)
21. Europe - The Final Countdown (1986)
20. Bulletboys - Bulletboys (1988)
19. Whitesnake - Whitesnake (1987)
18. Lita Ford - Lita (1987)
17. W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P. (1984)
16. Faster Pussycat - Faster Pussycat (1987)
15. Guns n' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
14. Dokken - Tooth and Nail (1984)
13. Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry (1984)
12. Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987)
11. White Lion - Pride (1987)
10. Cinderella - Night Songs (1986)
09. Warrant - Dirty Rotten Stinking Filthy Rich (1989)
08. RATT - Out of the Cellar (1984)
07.Poison - Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986)
06. Def Leppard - Pyromania (1983)
05. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (1986)
04. L.A. Guns - Cocked & Loaded (1989)
03. Skid Row - Skid Row (1989)
02. Quiet Riot - Metal Health (1983)
01. Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil (1983)

Now, I will agree that most of these albums deserve a spot in the top 25 - my main problem here is the number placement, and also the commentary that goes with each selection.

My friend Cheryl A. Hoaning did a great job introducing this special feature - her authorial voice is lively and positive. I can't say the same for the other writers involved in the piece.

Let's tackle the album selection and numerical placement first. I don't agree with The Darkness earning a spot on this list. If the editors wanted to chose a modern band and album, then the only option is Crashdiet Rest in Sleaze. As a matter of fact, I would put Rest in Sleaze in the top 10.

I also don't necessarily think Lita Ford deserves a spot on this list. I'll agree, Lita is a good effort, but not one of the best. I would think Poison's Open Up and Say...Ah! deserves a mention, considering many of their live staples come from this album. 

I don't think anyone will dispute me here that Appetite for Destruction deserves a spot in the top 10. Really, I don't know what the editors were thinking when they gave Guns n' Roses the 15th spot. After all, Appetite for Destruction is one of the best Metal releases of all time.

Speaking of mistakes, I think not adding Hanoi Rocks to the list is a grave oversight. Two Steps from the Move is a Glam classic and the band would be a lot bigger today if not for fate getting in the way.

Metal Edge got it right by placing Motley Crue's Shout At The Devil in the top spot. This album sums up and entire genre and Motley always takes the prize for reigning the Sunset Strip during the 1980s.

Now, we'll tackle the editorial content. Some of the contributors are genuine in their responses, others less so. Many write comments like "aging rocker dude," and, when talking about GnR "...Tonsorial choices and power ballads aside, though, one thing set Appetite for Destruction apart from the rest of the L.A. hairspray-and-spandex crowd: it absolutely didn't suck."  

What a glowing endorsement.

As for the photos, we finally get a glimpse at the glory days of Metal Edge. The photos are from the classic period, taken by veteran rock photog Eddie Malluk.

Thoughts on this list? Thoughts on my thoughts?

I'm the One that Jaded You

It's finally March and that means that one of the worst weather months of the year is behind us. February 2008 seemed to drag forever and the leap day didn't help matters. I can't remember seeing a single concert last month - but things are about to pick up nicely. I'm seeing Van Halen Tuesday and the Taste of Chaos of Friday. The Rocklahoma announcement is (finally) Tuesday.

Let's talk about Rocklahoma for just a minute. I will admit I can't wait for Tuesday just so we have some concrete answers. Keeping the rumors straight from truth is starting to give me a headache. I think Catch the Fever has done an excellent job building suspense and excitement. Every music website I frequent right now - including message boards - is all over Rocklahoma.

Sadly, I think I've become jaded. Perhaps it is all those years in the news business? At any rate, a tip from one of my friends sent the Internet music world upside down. Now, the hottest rumor of them all is that Motley Crue is headlining the final night of Rocklahoma 2008. This made me chuckle - until Nikki's announcement yesterday that SIXX: AM would not be touring anytime soon.

Ah, the drama. At least music fans already holding tickets to the festival are pumped and that is a good thing. I just can't believe that Motley will play Rocklahoma because 1) that would mean I get to meet Nikki Sixx and 2) Nikki wants nothing to do with the 80s scene. Time will tell. I need to learn to be less skeptical.

Back to March. The spring equinox will occur in just 19 days (March 20). That means warmer weather for sure! If I managed a rock band (and I don't) I would make March 20 the day I announce a summer tour.

In celebration of my jaded personality, here's Aerosmith performing "Jaded."

Please check the message board. I am updating the Rocklahoma bands forum today...

Hearts Burst Into Fire

Do you listen to Bullet for My Valentine? The Welsh band is described as metalcore, but I think their new CD is on the heavier side of Glam.

I know, I know.

You came here today to read an article about Poison, Great White or maybe even my childhood. Today, I really want you to seriously consider giving Bullet for My Valentine a chance. Their latest effort Scream, Aim, Fire is honestly phenomenal. Yes, there are still a few "cookie monster" vocals, but overall, this album is full of Glam guitar solos. Read me: GLAM GUITAR SOLOS.

Don't take my word on this. Listen to this fan created clip of "Hearts Burst Into Fire." Go ahead, I'll wait. We'll chat on the other side of this clip. 

Pretty good, huh?

Scream, Aim, Fire just drips with influences by the likes of Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Guns n' Roses...and Poison. I can hear all those bands - and more - in "Hearts Burst Into Fire." I bet you can too. It's perfectly O.K. to resist. I was skeptical at first too, but Bullet for My Valentine - like Avenged Sevenfold - are different than other modern Metal bands.

The ironic thing here is that I bet every member of BFMV would loathe being grouped in with bands like classic Guns n' Roses and Poison. This just proves 80s Glam bands are still relevant, influencing new bands with great riffs and melodic harmonies.

I'll be seeing Bullet for My Valentine live next Friday night. I'll be sure to share my experience.  

Photo credit: Bullet for My Valentine via Myspace.