It dawned on me recently that I don't think I've ever mentioned these guys. Dirty Rhythm formed in the very late 1980s in Oregon. The band sounds a lot like Sebastian Bach-era Skid Row. Dirty Rhythm have a rough edge to their sleaze sound.
The band has two official albums, released more than a decade apart. The 1991 debut, Hard As a Rock features all the Glam sounds you love. I think Dirty Rhythm just got lost in the shuffle. In 2006, reissue label Suncity released Never Cleaned Up, a series of lost songs.
Dirty Rhythm released a video to support Hard As a Rock. The clip for "Feel the Fire" is below. You'll notice the song is catchy as hell. Of course, we all know there's no rhyme or reason why some bands hit and others just sort of fade away.
I'd love to have Hard As a Rock on CD, but I don't think that will happen. Copies of this obscure disc go for a ton of cash.
Are you familiar with Dirty Rhythm? Do you have their debut album?
The first time I heard Sheryl Crow's version of "Sweet Child O' Mine" I was in some random bar in Washington, D.C. Crow's version offended me so much, the hair on my arm sort of stood on end and I ranted a little. Ok, a lot. I remember thinking "I am so writing about this song" but a few days passed and I forgot my rage. Forgot, that is, until I heard the real "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns n' Roses - and then the anger came rushing back.
There are only a few songs that cannot be covered. "Sweet Child O' Mine" is one of those songs. Especially by a pop singer. A female pop singer.
I have to be honest here: I don't hate Sheryl Crow. I've seen her in concert. Her live show is decent. She is not, however, anywhere near as good as Guns n' Roses - and her version of "Sweet Child O' Mine" makes me want to cringe. The song is perfect. It didn't need covered - or changed - in any way, shape or form. It certainly didn't need a modern video.
I have nothing else to say. Just watch the video. Tell me if I'm being too harsh. Something tells me you'll see it my way.
Classic Rock Magazine is running a contest right now where you can vote for your favorite album of the year, event of the year, band of the year...and so on. Click
here to get started.
The contest is good in that it honors many legacy acts, including bands we love here like Whitesnake and Def Leppard. The contest also leaves the door open for brand new bands (with a best new act category) and choices like Foo Fighters for the band of the year category.
I think such contests are basically good, but overall there seems to be a lot of missing categories and weak choices. I'll let you make up your own mind on that after you go to the link and make your opinion known.
The best categories are not open to fan vote. The writers at Classic Rock will weigh in and give their opinion on "Metal Guru," "Comeback of the Year" and "Classic Album."
I'm just a nobody, but I'm good enough to write for Classic Rock, so here are my choices for the three categories I just mentioned:
Metal Guru: I might actually have to give this one to nutty Axl Rose. The man's a brilliant musician and he might have the shrewdest business brain in the business. There is word of a deal that puts the elusive Chinese Democracy in Best Buy stores by the end of the year. If this happens - watch out. Bring Back Glam! will go into overload.
Comeback of the Year: This one seems like a no-brainer. Motley Crue had a strong 2008, from their new album Saints of Los Angeles, to launching Crue Fest, to their massive Live Nation deal. Kudos to my beloved Glam boys - even if they hate the word Glam.
Classic Album: Sure I'm biased, but Aerosmith's Rocks is probably about the best rock album ever made. More than 30 years old, the songs still stand-up and out.
There. Go vote. Then - if you're American - make sure you're registered to vote in the upcoming presidential election. Remember: voting has no impact on jury duty selection, so please don't use that as an excuse.
If you think Avenged Sevenfold suck, you are wrong.
If you think Avenged Sevenfold are devoid of songwriting talent, you are wrong.
If you think Avenged Sevenfold put on a boring live show, you are wrong.
Just last week the California rockers released Live in the LBC/Diamonds in the Rough. The DVD/CD package chronicles the bands headline appearance on the 2007 Taste of Chaos tour. That's the LBC part. As you can imagine, the DVD chronicles the band's live Taste of Chaos stop in Long Beach, California. Diamonds in the Rough is some rare, previously unreleased tracks.
I saw Taste of Chaos 2007, so it is pretty cool to own a professionally shot DVD of the show. All the famous A7X songs are here including "Afterlife," "Beast and the Harlot," "Critical Acclaim," "Gunslinger" and my favorite "Unholy Confessions."
A word about "Unholy Confessions:" I think this may be the most perfect Metal song of the entire decade. Of course we've got a couple years left - but it's going to take a lot to beat "Unholy Confessions" in my mind. If you're not familiar with the song, it's on the studio recording Waking the Fallen.
Live in the LBC has great sound and beautiful cinematography. I love the camera pans and all the different stage angles. The band looks beautiful in every light! Even more impressive is just how tight their live presence is on this DVD. I remember being impressed while at Taste of Chaos - but seeing the show again makes me even more appreciative of the band's skill - especially when it comes to intricate guitar work.
When I saw the Taste of Chaos tour, there was an honest to Glam blizzard in Ohio. I remember the band mentioning all the snow on the video that rolled right before they took the stage. Sure enough, all those pre-show videos are included in the DVD as "extra features." Pretty cool to hear Avenged Sevenfold talk about little old Dayton, Ohio on their DVD!
Diamonds in the Rough has some good cuts. It seems like everyone and his Glam brother has covered Pantera's walk... and Avenged Sevenfold are now on that list too. Thing is, their version is just darn good. The band also does more than justice to Iron Maiden's "Flash of the Blade." Other songs include "Girl I Know," "Crossroads," and "Tension."
Do you know the bang
Big Noize? It's a super group featuring Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple, Rainbow), Phil Soussan (Vince Neil, Billy Idol bands). The band also features keyboard player Teddy Zig Zag Andreadis (Guns n' Roses, Alice Cooper). Most recently, the famous musicians in Big Noize traveled to Iraq and Kuwait, playing some music for our troops. Surely our troops need Metal and Glam! Big Noize are hitting the road again, playing December dates around the world and stopping in Peru, Argentina, Chile and more.
The cool thing about Big Noize is that they play the "greatest hits" from their respective bands. This means Quiet Riot or Black Sabbath fans can go to a Big Noize show and sort of get the best of both worlds. I suppose that's the goal of most super groups: the entertain both the fans the performing musicians.
I wonder if the future of Glam is the super group? Think about it: most of our beloved musicians are either in new "super groups" or are performing regularly with other name musicians. It's a way for the musicians - and the genre - to remain viable. The band Big Cock are essentially a super group. Guitarist David Henzerling spent his early Glam days with King Kobra and Keel. Drummer John Covington played with the Greg Leon Invasion. Singer Robert Mason was with Lynch Mob (and is now singing for Warrant). The Sin City Sinners features a revolving door of famous Glam musicians, the constant being former Faster Pussycat guitarist Brent Muscat. ...Then there's Scrap Metal featuring the Nelson twins, Mark Slaugher, Eric Martin, Kelly Keagy...
Even SIXX: AM is a supergroup of sorts and not just because the band features Nikki Sixx. No, SIXX: AM is a super group because DJ Ashba and James Michael are accomplished musicians in their own right - who both just happen to write for Motley Crue.
Damn Yankees formed at an odd time for super groups. The band, featuring Ted Nugent, Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw and Michael Cartellone created Glam at the apex of the hey day...and into the fall of the supreme genre. I think if Damn Yankees reformed, they could do quite well have a good touring future.
So, what do you think: are super groups the future of Glam?
If you're not familiar, here's a clip by Big Noize
Have you ever been haunted by a song? You know, when you can't get the riff or lyrics out of your head?
The other day I had Alice Cooper's "It's Hot Tonight" going through my head so bad I was literally scratching the walls. The song wasn't driving me nuts in a bad way. No, I just had to learn the song on my husband's guitar.
Please believe I am not skilled at the guitar. I'm a functioning bass player - but guitar strings are closer together and that is hard! Still, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep unless I sorted out at least the opening riff to "It's Hot Tonight."
I've had "It's Hot Tonight" going through my head off and on since seeing Alice Cooper live at Rock the Bayou. That song has a great riff! So, I panicked, got online and started hunting for tabs.
After playing the introductory riff repeatedly for about 45 minutes, I got it down. By "got it" I mean the song was recognizable. I'm not ready for my close-up or anything. Still, it was a triumphant little evening for me as I never play Eric's guitar. I'm pretty much a bass girl. Buy hey, you gotta branch out from time to time.
After I figured out the opening riff, I was set. The song was no longer haunting my every move. I wasn't humming the words in business meetings. Or at stop signs. Or in the grocery.
Have you ever been haunted by a song? What was your solution?
By the way, here's "It's Hot Tonight." Talk about a great song!
I can't remember seeing too many shows that didn't feature some sort of opening act. George Michael didn't tour with support and it seems AC/DC are going solo on their fast approaching tour.
Sometimes an opener makes sense. Crue Fest took a bunch of support acts, created a mini-moving festival and helped hype Motley Crue in one tidy package.
Sometimes an opener makes zero sense. Case in point, the recent Van Halen reunion tour featured Bob Marley's son as the opener. That's right: I can't even remember the guy's name. No, "Bob Marley's son" wasn't bad - he was actually quite good. It's just his performance was out-of-place and largely ignored. In other words, a giant waste of time that just cost the tour more money and probably tacked a couple extra bucks on fan seats.
There are those rare occasions when opening acts actually drive tour ticket sales. I'm not talking about dual headline events, but true openers that are actually famous in their own right. The Rolling Stones had just about every famous musician/band on the planet open for them during their lengthy Bigger Bang tour. Openers included Metallica, Motley Crue and Pearl Jam. I'm sure some fans bought tickets just for opening band and then stayed for the Rolling Stones. In this instance, the opening was more than justified. Of course, ticket prices for A Bigger Bang were astronomical (pun intended) - but that's another article.
On "normal" tours I think opening acts are basically a waste. Sure I recently had the chance to see Billy Idol and Steve Stevens in the opening slot for Def Leppard and that was great - but there was hardly anyone in the audience and I think that is hard for musicians.
An empty room is hard for fans, too. I try to get to shows as early as possible. I don't like missing music, but sometimes this just can't be helped. Concerts happen during the week and I work. Shows are also a social experience and I like to talk to people, have dinner first or just generally not feel "rushed." Lastly, it seems - in general - people just don't care about paying attention to opening acts. At the end of the day, it's sort of like "why bother?"
What do you think? Are concerts better with - or without - opening bands?
Monday, September 29, 2008 at 12:01AM 
Does anyone remember Dirty Rhythm? 