Are Disc Jockeys Obsolete?

Well, are they?

Think of this: in the 70s and Glam heyday of the 80s, disc jockeys helped break bands. In fact, back in ye olden days of yore, a DJ would be known to actually hold a physical record in her hot little hands. She could flip the record...and determine if an A or B side would be a hit! In that sense, DJs in big markets really did break bands. In the magical time before Clear Channel owned the broadcast industry, these mythical DJ-like creatures could play pretty much whatever they wanted...as long as they stayed in format. Sometimes these brave souls even - gasp - broke format for the love of music!

Now, everything in broadcasting - both radio and television - is automated. A DJ tapes a song intro four hours before it airs. The introductions become MP3s and are loaded into an audio vault of sorts. The computer can either randomly select songs or is listed by priority by whatever the station manager deems important to air. When I worked at a radio station, the song computer was set up to prioritize based on requests and numbers of plays. So, if a song is on four times a morning...it would soon be on six and so forth.

Without a human actually listening to the tracks before spinning - what's the point of a DJ anyway? Most of us have satellite radio. Once in a while, those jocks tell a cute story and intro a block of ten tunes. This might help break the monotony - but they are not discovering new music.

I want to bring back the days when a disc jockey could decide the "single" was less impressive than the B side. Fun fact: did you know that "Get It While It's Hot" by Kix was actually an A side? "Don't Close Your Eyes" was the B side. You guessed it: some DJs across the land flipped the record...and the power ballad eventually became Kix's most famous song.

Now, this article should not be misconstrued. I don't want you thinking I love DJ chatter - because I don't. I hate it. But I do wish disc jockeys had a little power to find great, new tunes. It seems Internet radio is really gaining ground - but still has a long way to go to outpace the popularity of more traditional radio format. Perhaps I'm wrong, but someone trapped in a car for a few hours really is a captive audience. This is where music fans are made.

What say you?

Tracii Guns Interview...Over on Noisecreep

Read the first of a three-part interview with Tracii Guns over on Noisecreep. Tracii talks about new music and playing alongside his son Jeremy.

Comment me there. You know what to do.

No Support! (Or Why I Wish Aerosmith Would Hit the Road Solo)

Everyone knows my favorite band is Aerosmith. In America, there are few bands as iconic - and important - to stadium rock than Aerosmith.

I've been waiting on a new tour for a few years now. Dates are *finally* starting to leak. It seems Aerosmith are playing Cincinnati on August 30 at Riverbend Music Center. Support is listed as ZZ Top. Now, notice I said "leak" - the date isn't confirmed or anything, so don't plan a vacation around the show. That said, I have a beef over tour support.

I have nothing against ZZ Top. In fact, I'm sure they are going to be awesome. My question is, really, why do certain bands even bother with support?

In my mind, there are just a few bands that don't need to take support on the road. Those bands would be Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Bon Jovi, AC/DC and Bob Dylan. Why can't bands like this - each with a massive catalog - get on stage and rock out for two hours and call it a night? I know when I go to a regular show, I'm paying the giant ticket price for the headliner - not support. Now, I'm not dissing support here. I just don't see why Aerosmith or Maiden or whoever even bothers. Yeah, Motley Crue has Crue Fest to attract a younger fan base...but do the same rules apply for Aerosmith? I'm not so sure.

Every band wants to remain relevant and hip. At some point, though, this comes at a cost to the fans. I would much rather hear two hours of classic Aerosmith than 90 minutes of awesomeness plus five songs from a support band.

Oh, and while I'm talking about Aerosmith - if they wanted to jump on the bandwagon and do an entire classic album all the way through - I'd choose Rocks. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Here's a hella-old clip of my beloved Aerosmith performing "Mama Kin" way back in 1977. The clip is so delicious, I was giddy for a few minutes after watching for the first time. If you're a vintage Aerosmith fan, get ready. This is the good stuff.

"Sleeping late and smoking tea!"

Want a Copy of the New Queensryche Album 'American Soldier?'

I'm giving away a copy of the fabulous new Queensryche album American Soldier. That's right: I said fabulous. I've had the album for about a week now...and it's been on regular iPod rotation. I have every confidence you'll love it too. Put it this way: American Soldier should have come right after Empire. The disc truly sounds like classic 'Ryche and that's a great thing.

Friday, I spoke with Queensryche front man Geoff Tate about American Solider, giving back to our enlisted men and women and about playing aboard Shiprocked. You'll be able to read that interview very soon on Noisecreep. For now, business at hand: I have one spare copy of American Soldier to give away to one loyal Bring Back Glam! reader. The album doesn't even hit stores until next Tuesday, so if you win - you'll be beating the release date!

To enter, send me an email to allyson@bringbackglam.com. Please put "American Soldier" in the subject line. Any email without those two words in the subject line will be discarded. Include your legal name and mailing address with your entry. Any emails that fail to do this will also be discarded. You have until Wednesday, March 25 at 11:59 ET to enter. Anyone can enter, but only those in the United States will receive the disc before Tuesday's official release date.Good luck.

You can watch the video for "If I Were King" from American Soldier by clicking here.

Mirror, Mirror

Remember those little mirrors you could win at county fairs and carnivals? You know, the mirrors that featured a band logo (and the band was ALWAYS Glam). These mirrors were usually prizes in the $1 game tents...for popping a balloon with a dart or shooting a can with an air gun.

If you're from a rural area, then you already know all about the county fair. For a kid in school, the county fair was just about the biggest town event all year. When I was growing up, we actually got a week off from school just so all the farm kids could show their animals. This freedom from school gave me a lot of time to troll the midway for games that gave away Glam prizes.

One year I won a Def Leppard Hysteria mirror. That was huge. I had that mirror for a long time but I think it eventually sold at a garage sale for a dime. Now I still wish I had that thing.

The mirrors were "rough edge" so you could build a little frame for them - or place many along the wall for a sort of tapestry of rock. They were usually packaged in a little white folder. I always remembered loving the damn things...but then having to hold the mirror all day. That part sucked.

I searched on eBay last night for some of those little mirrors...I couldn't find what I wanted though. This seems odd to me as the little mirrors were so huge in the 80s.  In fact, Glam always blared through the midway: Poison, Guns n' Roses and Def Leppard were the three bands I recall hearing the most. There was also some odd circular ride that looked like a spaceship. I think it was called the Graviton. The Glam wafted from this ride too - on the inside, the volume was almost unbearable.

At any rate, I'm on the lookout for some of those little rock mirrors. I think they would look great on the wall beside my wet bar!

DJ Ashba Joins Guns n' Roses; The Glam Mistress Awaits Tour News

It's been a hot Internet rumor for the past two weeks that Dj Ashba would join Guns n' Roses. Yesterday, Axl Rose confirmed the news.

From www.gunsnroses.com:

Guns N' Roses is proud to announce that guitarist n' songwriter Dj Ashba has joined the band. Ashba, who officially replaces current NIN guitarist Robin Finck, is best known as co-founder of hard rock bands Sixx AM and Beautiful Creatures.

"Dj's a gifted, energetic guitarist that Guns N' Roses is proud to have on board!!" exclaims Axl Rose. "We're very excited to have the opportunity to work together. Guns' radar has silently been aware of Dj's presence for quite some time. He brings a fresh approach to our particular brand of mayhem expanding the tapestry of Guns N' Roses live. Once Dj's name was in the hat, the hat disappeared!!"

"It's an honor to have the opportunity to be a part of a band that I have always loved and respected," said Dj Ashba. "I'm looking forward to working with Axl, who is not only one of the few great front men of our generation, but a true artist."

Dj Ashba co-wrote and co-produced Motley Crue's latest album Saints of Los Angeles, which garnered a 2008 GRAMMY nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance, as well as co-wrote and co-produced the Sixx AM album Heroin Diaries.

I think the addition of Dj is great for Guns n' Roses. The only original member is Axl anyway, so he might as well surround himself with some great talent. Dj's playing style and ability seem to fit the GnR mold. I hope this addition/announcement means that Guns n' Roses are about to hit the road. The rumor on that front is that Guns n' Roses will tour this summer with Van Halen. Talk about a great bill! I'd be *very* excited for this - more so for GnR than VH since I saw the latter band two times last summer. 

A pending GnR tour announcement does leave the Glam Mistress in a bit of a bind: concert and festival season is quickly eating my vacation days. Heather and I decided we need to see GnR in Las Vegas...I've only got a few days unaccounted for, so GnR better get on the ball! 

So, what do you think of the addition of Dj Ashba to Guns n' Roses?

2008 Rocklahoma Coffee Table Book Available for Pre-Order

If you attended (or played!) Rocklahoma 2008, you might be interested in this book. Best yet, I wrote the narration!

PRYOR, OKLAHOMA (March 21, 2009) – What could be better than five days of rock, mud and booze immortalized forever in book form? The 2008 Rocklahoma^TM Coffee Table Book is now available for pre-order. Claim your copy by visiting www.rocklahomabook.com. The book is severely limited, with only 1200 copies available. The 2008 Rocklahoma^TM Coffee Table Book is only $45.00. Reserve your book before June 5, 2009 and receive FREE shipping!

The 2008 Rocklahoma^TM Coffee Table Book features more than 450 photos on 132 full color pages. Complete narration provides the perfect complement to the graphical story, helping Rocklahoma fans relive every moment of America’s signature glam festival.

Bands featured in the 2008 Rocklahoma^TM Coffee Table Book: Firehouse, Jackyl, RATT, Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp^TM, Jetboy, House of Lords, Enuff Z'nuff, L.A. Guns, Dokken, Sebastian Bach, Bret Michaels, XYZ, Armored Saint, Kingdom Come, Living Colour, Night Ranger, Extreme, Triumph, Pretty Boy Floyd, Every Mother's Nightmare, Tora Tora, Black 'n Blue, Trixter, Lynch Mob, Kix, Lita Ford, Warrant, AXE, Zebra, UFO, Steelheart, Ace Frehley, Tesla, Queensrÿche and more!

Payment options and more information available at www.rocklahomabook.com.