How did I not know that Great White made a video for "Mista Bone?" Of the entire Great White catalog..."Mista Bone" is my favorite. Yes, it even trumps "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" which I also really love.
"Mista Bone" has a damn good bass line. It proves how cool you can sound - and look - while playing open E.
Great White is coming to Cincinnati next Friday night. Since it's so close to the Motley Cruise, I probably won't be able to attend...but I guarantee if you go, you'll hear "Mista Bone."
The song is so great because it's simple. Everyone knows that Great White is a blues-based band, and "Mista Bone" stays completely true to that form. Jack Russell's voice has a perfect whine that supports the sensuality of the lyrics.
Here's my question: if this was an officially released video, why can't I find a clip on YouTube that features artist credit?
Well, well, well. Two more reunions, two more bands that will probably make the line-up of Rocklahoma 2008.
Over the weekend, Steve "Sex" Summers of Pretty Boy Floyd announced a special one-off show (in Los Angeles) with the band's original members. By all accounts, this means Kristy "Krash" Majors and Summers will share the stage again for the first time in years. My guess is the set will be heavy on material from the Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz era -- and not much else.
In related news, Black n' Blue is set to headline the Z Rock festival. The European event is big for the band, and further fuels my suspicion that singer Jamie St. James really is out of Warrant, meaning Jani Lane is back in the fold.
The boys in Warrant can't be so stupid to think fans won't question why Jamie St. James is suddenly - and out of the "blue" - touring the world with his former band. Are Black n' Blue a good band? Yes. Did they earn fame and fortune? Not really. Is Jamie St. James in a better position fronting Warrant? I don't know.
It would seem that the decision makers (or name owners, depending on how you look at things) in Black n' Blue, Warrant and Pretty Boy Floyd got a copy of the memo that declared 2008 "the year of the glam reunion."
While reunions of these classic glam bands is pretty great overall, I can't help but wonder "why now?" What is creating this over-arching desire to reunite with the band members that helped make them famous - or at least earn dinner?
I think I remember a recent press release from the organizers of Rocklahoma that basically said bands are reuniting just to play the festival. That's possible...but I still think there's a bigger reason at work here. Perhaps I'm overlooking the obvious, which is that all of us need to earn a living and the buck really does stop with a reunion. But come on: the Van Halen brothers certainly didn't need cash when they agreed to tour again with David Lee Roth.
So what is it?
Is it because glam popularity seems to follow recessions? Think about it: the 80s were the glam Metal salad days.The 1980s were a time of great unemployment, inflation...and therefore a recession. Reaganomics couldn't really stymie the issue...it took time and growth creation to ease the financial burden. Still there was time to party, and the lyrics to most Poison and Motley Crue songs fit in really well. Now, a recession seems all but inevitable and here we are again with glam coming back, better than ever. If you think about this, it is ironic that grunge was popular during the economic and technology boom throughout the Clinton nineties.
If music follows the economy...what do you think is next for Glam Metal?
By the way, here's the Black n' Blue video for "Hold On To 18." Jamie St. James looks like a cross between Dee Snider, Richard Simmons...and David Lee Roth.
I'm going on Vince Neil's Motley Cruise in less than two weeks. In preparation, I decided to find some recent clips of Vince playing with his solo band.
Instead, I found something damn hilarious. Just watch the clip below.
I'm really excited about the Extreme reunion. So excited, I'll bet my next paycheck (including overtime!) on the fact that Extreme will play Rocklahoma 2008. I'm thinking Sunday, July 13th around 5 p.m. I guess we'll learn that line-up when it is officially announced in March.
Back to Extreme.
Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt is awesome. He wrote some great songs with singer Gary Cherone. Quite frankly, I think the band called it quits a little too soon. Anyway, I was researching Extreme on Wikipedia (I know, the source for news!) and the entry classifies Extreme as Funky Metal. What the hell is "Funky Metal?" I always thought Extreme to be glam.
Remember, a long time ago I noted "More than Words" is a personal favorite. It's ironic that Extreme is known for an acoustic song considering Nuno Bettencourt is basically a shredder, but life is funny that way I suppose. Anyway, Extreme got really big in 1990 with their album Pornograffiti. Things started going downhill a few years later...and by 1996 the band was done - because Nuno Bettencourt wanted a different project. I can't tell you the names of his solo records, but we all know that Gary Cherone became the third frontman for Van Halen and most of you didn't like that one bit.
So now it's winter 2008...and a world tour is promised for spring. Will it happen? I don't know about a grand scale, but I do believe the New Englanders will hit the road for a series of special club dates. I also think all those shows will sell fast.
Here's Extreme "Rest In Peace" from the album III Sides to Every Story.
***Here's a question for you: do you just want to see Extreme in concert, or do you also want a new album?
My good friend Christian Graus recently air mailed me a lovely care package from Australia. It included many bags of Caramello koalas (!) plus some music, including Bengal Tigers Panic Clinic. The EP has six tracks:
Do It! On the Leash To the East Body Heat Evil Hour On the Leash (extended)
Melbourne-based Bengal Tigers are classic heavy Metal in the vein of AC/DC or Judas Priest.
They've released seven albums over a very sporadic career and with many different members.
The Panic Clinic album is pretty good, if not uneven. The tracks are true to their form: straight up Metal with glam touches. If you're not familiar with Bengal Tigers, I'm not surprised. There is very little information about the band on the Internet...and American music fans may find it hard to track down the releases. Still, if you come across a Bengal Tigers album in a used bin, pick it up - you won't be sorry!
Give this song a listen: Bengal Tigers "Break & Bend"
This week has turned out to be one of the most stressful of my entire life. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say I wish it was Friday instead of Thursday.
I was going through my archive, trying to find an obscure band that doesn't get much love around here. I've determined we all need to give Southgang a little attention.
Southgang was one of those bands that came on the scene at the tail end of the glam phenomenon. You know what I mean: the boys in the band had long hair and wore jeans and flannel in addition to their spandex. Southgang released two albums, Tainted Angel and Group Therapy. Neither were huge hits, but singles and video play did earn the band a little traction.
The most famous member of Southgang is probably guitarist Butch Walker. He's written music for a slew of artists, including Tommy Lee, Rockstar Supernova and the Donnas. You might remember Butch Walker from Rockstar Supernova, although that show was never as good as American Idol: that's a fact!
Anyway, I'm awfully tired so I hope you'll accept this short entry today.
Here's Southgang's video for their song "Tainted Angel" from the debut album of the same name. As always, give me your opinion.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 12:01AM 
