Whitesnake Wednesday

With Whitesnake's new album Good to be Bad set for release later this month, I thought it high time we revisit some of the band's classic material.

I think Whitesnake's best song will always be "Still of the Night." The driving guitars and David Coverdale's epic wails make this one of the best rock songs ever recorded. Yes,"Still of the Night" is on the immensely popular self-titled Whitesnake album that also features the MTV hits "Is This Love" and "Here I Go Again." While I agree those two songs are pretty great, I don't think they are nearly as good as some of the band's older work.

I've already heard a few tracks from Good to be Bad and I think the new stuff actually sounds like late 70s Whitesnake - and that's a good thing!

For this installment of Whitesnake Wednesday - let's compare two tracks. The first is "Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" from the album Snakebite.

Now here's "Slow An' Easy" from the album Slide it In.

Now here's the hard part: which song (and clip) is better? Extra credit: does either track trump "Still of the Night?" I think not. I mean, you can't argue with perfection. Thoughts?

Must Buy Alert - Winger: Live

Kip Winger and crew recently released a new live double disc set showcasing their most famous tunes. Live (recorded during a 2007 tour stop in California) is on Shrapnel Records and features these songs:

Disc One

Blind Revolution Mad
Loosen Up
Easy Come, Easy Go
Your Great Escape
Down Incognito
Rainbow In the Rose
Generica
Junkyard Dog

Disc Two

Right Up Ahead
Reb's Guitar Solo
You Are the Saint, I Am the Sinner
Rod's Drum Solo
Headed for a Heartbreak
Can't Get Enough
Seventeen
Who's The One
Miles Away
Madalaine
Blue Suede Shoes (acoustic)

I honestly don't have much to even say about this double disc set because it's just so darn good. Of course, if you've ever seen Winger in concert you know the band is a really tight group of true musicians. Reb Beach sounds awesome here and Kip's voice is particularly strong.  I want to believe that this album is basically raw - there doesn't seem to be a lot of studio fixes. I've always been of the opinion that a live album should be just that, but I know a lot of artists disagree and "patch" mistakes via Pro Tools and other recording techniques.

My favorite Winger song is "Down Incognito" and I really love hearing the song live. The bass line is top drawer - it's so good here it makes me remember why I fell in love with Kip Winger in the first place (and yes, the good looks don't hurt!).

I do have a criticism: "Spell I'm Under" is missing. "Spell I'm Under" is one of Winger's best songs, and Kip performs it wonderfully during his solo gigs. That song error aside, the Live release is well worth 15 bucks. The crowd is definitely into the show and that seems to help the momentum throughout the set.  Did I mention Reb Beach wails? My Glam goodness...you don't even need to listen to his solo to appreciate his talent. The guitar solo during "Headed for a Heartbreak" stands up as one of the best of the entire Glam genre - and he nails it here.

I seriously have nothing else to add. Trust me - you need to buy this album. I typically hate live releases, but I've listened to this album about 20 times now - and I've had the CD for exactly one week.

The Last Mile

I love the band Cinderella. They were big - but not huge - during the 1980s Glam heyday. Their grit reminds me of Aerosmith and I really appreciate the complexity and depth of their songs. Tom Keifer is a brilliant craftsman and his songs helped catapult Cinderella to stardom.

Most people only know Cinderella by "Don't Know What You Got ('Til Its Gone)" (Long Cold Winter, 1988) and that's a shame. The band has so many other really great blues-rock songs. My favorite Cinderella track is "Somebody Save Me" (Night Songs, 1986).  There for awhile I felt like that song was written specifically for me. I mean, look:

"Everybody's got opinions/
But nobody's got the answers.
And that shit you ate for breakfast/
Well it'll only give you cancer.
Were 'runnin in a circle/
'Runnin to the morning light.
And if 'ya aint quite workable/
It's been one hell of a night."

So, last night I was listening to Cinderella and I decided to look up some of their videos. Well, I found the clip for "The Last Mile" from the album Long Cold Winter. I can't believe I've never mentioned this song - or video - on Bring Back Glam! before today. Quite simply, this song owns you. I mean, it may be perfect. Even better, the band members look so beautifully happy in this clip. Have a look:

Do you have a favorite Cinderella memory?

You Decide: Living Colour vs. Tesla vs. UFO

I think Living Colour fits the Rocklahoma schedule much better than UFO. Moreover, I think Tesla can blow both bands away.

I suppose I'll be able to judge for myself when I see all three bands at Rocklahoma. While it's not clear, I'll go ahead and assume all three bands are playing on Sunday, July 13th. I thought it would be fun to pit them against each other here on Bring Back Glam!

The rules? Show a live performance from each band. Then you decide which band is better. Not which band has more "hits" or more famous members. Just which band performs better live.

Here's Living Colour performing their very famous song "Cult of Personality" around 1989.

Here's Tesla performing "Signs" in 2006.

Finally, UFO performing "Rock Bottom" in 1995. *Note: you will not see Michael Schenker at Rocklahoma lest there be any confusion!

So, what is your ranking? Who comes out on top - and why?

Hail to the Chief

Well, Nikki Sixx is now president of a record label. Yesterday, Billboard magazine confirmed that Nikki - the once baddest boy of the them all - will lead Eleven Seven music. You might recall Eleven Seven is under the publicity banner of Tenth Street Entertainment. Look for all Tenth Street bands when Motley Crue announces their tour (Cruefest?) April 15.

The announcement (promotion?) leaves me 100 shades of confused. How can Nikki run a label while on tour with Motley? Forget tour - how can he finish The Dirt while running a label, building a clothing brand, cultivating new talent and scouting for employees? Clearly, Nikki has insider knowledge and industry experience which will help in his new job. He's still going to need a lot of patience and good time management skills.

I guess at this point Nikki is at a crossroads. He's always been willing to take musical risks - and now he's taking a major career turn. I wonder how much one person can manage? It's hard for me to work full time, maintain this website (plus write for several others) and maintain a home so the EPA doesn't come knocking. Of course, Nikki is rich and has help. He also - now more than ever - has an immense amount of power to shape Metal acts within the music community. I'm interested to see how Eleven Seven grows under Nikki's watch. If you're not familiar, Eleven Seven has a roster of these acts:

Buckcherry
Deborah Harry
Drowning Pool
Everclear
The Exies
Jonny Lives
Marion Raven
The New Cars
SIXX: AM
Trapt
Chosen Son

So, what do you think of President Nikki?

Rocklahoma Bands Added

Eddie Trunk just announced two more bands for Rocklahoma 2008: UFO and Living Colour.

These bands surprise me much. In fact, I am a little stunned. There is one TBA left: the coveted Sunday headliner spot. Stay tuned.  

Trail of Tears

We all know our beloved Glam bands made some crazy videos back in the day. Some have stood the test of time...and others, well...not so much.

You remember Europe, right? You know "The Final Countdown." That's a good song - even if it's about aliens or traveling to Venus or whatever. So, we've established "bonkers" is the norm for the Swedish band - but what about Native Americans?

I don't know how it's possible - but I swear the first time I ever saw the video for "Cherokee" was about 12 hours ago. Oh, how did I live without knowing of this video's existence?

As a song, "Cherokee" is pretty good - but the video seems crazy to me. Maybe it's watching a Glam band playing during a stampede in the mountains?

I wonder why Europe isn't rumored for Rocklahoma? Every other band of the genre has at least been mentioned. I know Europe still have a lot of fans in the United States - and everyone knows the words to "The Final Countdown" and "Carrie." Here's some other food for thought: the band is curiously open during the weekend of Rocklahoma (and therefore the South Texas Rock Fest). They are playing Rockweekend in Sweden on July 18. Seems there would be plenty of time to jump to the States, play Rocklahoma (or South Texas) and fly back over to their homeland.

Speaking of crazy - Europe has the oddest website I've ever seen. It honestly made me jump the first time I clicked onto their page. Don't believe me? See for yourself by clicking here. Don't say I didn't warn you.