News From Vintage Guitar

Vox Launches Hand-Wired Series

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Vox Amplification has announced an entirely new lineup of hand-wired AC15 and AC30 amplifiers. Created for the amp enthusiast, the Hand-Wired Series includes innovations to satisfy the versatility a modern player needs. Included are four combo models, plus a head and matching extension cabinet. The ultimate take on the Vox classics, these amplifiers make use of high quality components, an all-tube design, hand-wired turret board construction, and over 50 years of Vox AC15 and AC30 refinements. Finished in fawn-colored vinyl reminiscent of the 1960s AC amplifiers, the birch-ply cabinets feature solid, tight bracing and a natural high frequency diffuser. Matched Ruby Tubes are used throughout for an extended dynamic range. All models provide three 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tubes. The AC30 models are equipped with an EL84 quartet in the power stage and a GZ34 rectifier. Inside the AC15 models, a duet of EL84 tubes drive the power stage, while an EZ81 is used for the rectifier. The 12" speaker choices include the Celestion GM12 Greenback or Celestion AlNiCo Blue. The models in the Vox Hand-Wired Series utilize the traditional Vox two-channel design, offering a Normal and a Top-Boost channel, with High and Low inputs provided for each. A number of important features have been added to allow modern versatility. The Normal channel is equipped with a Bright switch for added brilliance. The Hot/Cool switch (also accessible via the included VFS1 footswitch) allows the Top-Boost channel to achieve even more gain. In true "old-school" fashion, the MV/BYPASS completely bypasses the Master Volume section. Finally, the Output Power (OP) switch will cut the amp's output power in half, making it easier to balance the need for gain against a range of listening levels. A custom-fit dust cover is included with every model. Learn more at voxamps.com.

Experience Hendrix Tour Returns This Fall

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Experience Hendrix, the concert tour that has wowed audiences revisiting the music and inspiration of Jimi Hendrix featuring an all-star line up of music greats will be re-launched within a single calendar year. The Experience Hendrix tour crisscrossed the country this past March for a string of sold-out concerts and will return with a new set of U.S. and -- for the first time -- Canadian dates this October and November. Featured artists performing music associated with the legacy of Jimi Hendrix include some of the best known and highly regarded names in contemporary rock and blues including Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Susan Tedeschi, Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang, Steve Vai, Los Lobos' David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas, Eric Johnson, Ernie Isley, Living Colour, Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble and The Slide Brothers a/k/a Chuck and Darick Campbell of Sacred Steel. Fender Musical Instruments Corp. is the tour's lead sponsor as was the case with last spring's Experience Hendrix tour. Participating sponsors also include Dunlop Effects Pedals, Marshall Amplifiers and Mapex Drums. In terms of format, the tour offers multiple opportunities for performers and audiences to witness unique collaborations such as Steve Vai performing with Living Colour, as well as the tour's artists performing their favorite Hendrix signature songs including "Little Wing," "Fire," "Purple Haze," "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)," "Crosstown Traffic" and many others. As has been the case with previous Experience Hendrix outings, special guests are expected to sit in at many of the dates, making the concerts all that much more memorable for both new and veteran Hendrix fans. Past special guests have included Paul Rodgers, Joe Satriani, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Robby Krieger and others. The tour's presence has been made known on national TV with Robert Randolph performing classic Hendrix on the Late Night With Conan O'brien Show and Jonny Lang doing the same on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Anchoring the tour is Billy Cox, the legendary bassist whose relationship with Jim Hendrix and his music dates back to the early 1960s when the two met while serving in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division. The two bonded over their love of music and would later work together backing R&B acts on the "chitlin' circuit." They reunited when Cox was recruited to be part of the Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys as well as the ultimate iteration of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, performing at such landmark festivals as Woodstock and the Isle of Wight. Cox, who has been part of all previous Experience Hendrix tours, notes, "It's always a great thrill and honor for me to play Jimi's music for audiences now just as it was in the 1960s. The Experience Hendrix tours have shown how timeless this music really is and is just wonderful that we've continued to get an infusion of new, very enthusiastic artists to participate and are able to offer the most wide-ranging Jimi Hendrix-related repertoire possible." Larry Rodgers of the Arizona Republic echoed Cox's thoughts in his rave review of one of this year's earlier Experience Hendrix shows, "It was encouraging to see fans of all ages, from teens to baby boomers who witnessed Hendrix's career launch firsthand, in the Mesa crowd. The show and that crowd made it clear that Hendrix's magical music will never die." Kenny Wayne Shepherd, a veteran of several Experience Hendrix tours remarked, "Jimi Hendrix's music has really inspired me to push the limits of my own music. He didn't observe any boundaries musically. He was an amazing player and a tremendous showman so I incorporated some of his showmanship in what I do." As far as having been part of the Experience Hendrix touring phenomenon, Shepherd noted, "It touches you on the inside and gets you fired up." The Experience Hendrix Tour is presented by Experience Hendrix, LLC, the Hendrix family-owned company founded by James A. "Al" Hendrix, Jimi's father, entrusted with preserving and protecting the legacy of Jimi Hendrix. Earlier this year, Sony Music Entertainment's Legacy Division and Experience Hendrix entered into a worldwide catalog licensing venture to make all of Jimi's extraordinary music, including classic albums, never before heard archive recordings, and filmed concerts available through all forms of media. The initial release from the alliance was Valleys of Neptune bringing Jimi Hendrix back to the upper reaches of album charts throughout the world. This fall's Experience Hendrix tour dates will be followed by a second wave of Hendrix releases through Legacy including the 4 CD + 1 DVD anthology set West Coast Seattle Boy plus other key catalog titles. Launching in Pittsburgh on October 26, the tour will play nineteen markets over the course of three weeks including Montreal, Toronto, New York, Boston, Atlantic City, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and other eastern and mid-western locales.

Soulfly Slates Winter Tour

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

SOULFLY, lead by metal titan Max Cavalera, has announced a string of winter tour dates that will bring the band to eleven cities beginning in November. This is Soulfly's first tour since the release of the seventh album, Omen, which features appearances by famed guests like Dillinger Escape Plan's Greg Puciato and Prong's Tommy Victor. Alternative Press said "longtime fans of Cavalera's brand of primitive crunch will love Omen..." while Revolver said Omen is "harder, angrier and catchier than its predecessors."

Slash Rocks with "Slash FM"

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Multi-platinum-selling guitar hero Slash is synonymous with rock n' roll, and now the monster musician is affixing his signature top hat, shades to the digital airwaves with the launch of his own A.P.E. Radio station, "Slash FM." The channel announcement comes on West Hollywood's official "Slash Day"-Thursday, August 26th-which will honor the legendary guitarist and L.A. icon at the third annual Sunset Strip Music Festival. Throughout its limited-time run, beginning with its debut on Thursday, September 2nd, "Slash FM" will broadcast a wealth of exciting content, including selected playlists of some of the guitar god's favorite songs, such as tracks by AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, The Beatles, Soundgarden and Metallica. Of course, songs from Guns N' Roses and Slash's solo work will also be aired, and punctuated with behind-the-scenes stories told by Slash himself. The August 26th tribute event at the House of Blues Sunset Strip will include speeches from Slash's close friends, a presentation from the City of West Hollywood, and live music performances celebrating Slash and his contributions to the legacy of the city's rich music scene. Immediately following the Sunset Strip Music Festival, Slash will embark on a North American tour. Slash's A.P.E. station will be distributed across Clear Channel Radio's "iheartradio" network, which includes hundreds of local radio websites; the popular iheartradio mobile app, which has been downloaded by nearly 9 million people; widgets; and slashonline.com.

Queensryche Signs to Roadrunner

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Queensryche has signed a multi-album worldwide deal with Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records. The band's label debut -their twelfth studio album overall- is tentatively scheduled for a Spring 2011 release. Singer and founder Geoff Tate remains the creative nucleus of the band, which continues to make relevant, against-the-grain hard rock that entices fans, both new and diehard. Queensryche have been - and unquestionably remain- one of the most respected and innovative names in forward-thinking hard rock throughout the course of their nearly 30-year history. Since their inception over 25 years ago, Queensryche have sold over 20 million albums worldwide and have performed in over 22 countries. "We are very happy to be signing with Road Runner/Loud and Proud. This is the rock label and a place where they are as excited about our music as we and our fans are," Tate said. "We are excited to welcome Queensryche to the label" stated Loud & Proud President Tom Lipsky. "They have earned global acclaim for their distinctive approach to music and we are confident of a successful partnership with them." Queenryche's 1988-issued album Operation: Mindcrime is universally respected as a classic concept release about rock, revenge and redemption. The album elicited comparisons to The Who's Tommy and Pink Floyd's The Wall and is ultimately regarded as one of the most important and essential hard rock records in the genre's expansive canon. 1990's follow-up, Empire, yielded a #1 single, the Grammy-nominated ballad "Silent Lucidity," which the band performed at the 1992 Grammy Awards accompanied by a supporting orchestra. In 2006, the band released Operation: Mindcrime II, a scorching sequel to their original. The band then hit the road performing both albums Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II back-to-back in their entirety in an incredible theatrical presentation throughout the year. The final performance was recorded at The Moore Theatre in Seattle that October and the Mindcrime at the Mooredouble CD/DVD release debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Music DVD Chart and eventually reached Gold status. Visit http://www.queensryche.com/ for more information.

Alfred Music Publishing Expands Basic Guitar Series

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Alfred Music Publishing is expanding its guitar method series, Alfred's Basic Guitar, with a brand-new book for students and musicians to write their own music: Alfred's Basic Guitar Music Writing Book. Alfred's Basic Guitar Music Writing Book is the perfect tool to enhance a lesson or for writing your own music. Featuring 46 pages of full 9" X 12" manuscript, this book is specially designed for guitar players, including blank guitar chords, fingerboard diagrams, and a 12-fret fingerboard chart. Recognized for over 50 years as the best-paced and most comprehensive guitar method available, Alfred's Basic Guitar Method has introduced over 5 million beginners to the joy of playing guitar. Through this series, students at any level of musicianship will learn to play the guitar and read music in the musical styles of blues, country, folk, jazz, pop, rock, and more. With Alfred's Basic Guitar Music Writing Book, they can now write their own guitar music in full musical notation, using the skills they learn from the books. Learn more at alfred.com.

Lick Library Launches Learn to Play Rory Gallagher DVD

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Lick Library's selection of guitar tuition DVDs wouldn't be complete without including the legendary Rory Gallagher. Described by Jimi Hendrix as the best guitarist in the world, Rory Gallagher is cited by many modern guitarists including Slash, The Edge and Joe Bonamassa as an inspiration in their formative years. Rory was an Irish Blues / Rock guitarist, famed for his talent, dedication to his craft and his legendary marathon performances. Learn to Play Rory Gallagher - is over two hours of outstanding guitar tuition by acclaimed guitar teacher Mike Casswell. This double DVD set breaks down five classic Rory Gallagher tracks into easy to learn sections which let you learn every riff and solo note for note. Tracks included on these guitar tuition DVDs are Do You Read Me, Secret Agent, Moonchild, Tattoo Lady and Shadow Play. Mike shares cool little tricks with you as he advises you on how to get the best touch and tone to achieve an out of phase sound similar to Rory Gallagher. Techniques covered include power chords, bending, harmonics, distortion, and how to get the same sound with different hand positions - choose the one most comfortable for you. Guitar tutor, Mike Casswell, is a world renowned player with an extensive musical history having toured with many of the greatest, played on TV ads, jingles and film soundtracks and worked on theatre productions including We Will Rock You. He is a versatile player with a wide range of influences including Rory Gallagher himself and clear easy manner as he teaches you these fabulous tracks. Log on and learn at www.licklibrary.com.

The Loar Intros Two New Archtops

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Loar is set to release of two new archtop guitars with hand-carved tops. Based on the LH-600 and LH-650 guitars and modeled after historic 1920s designs, the LH-300 and 350 are built with solid spruce tops, maple back and sides, mahogany neck with bound rosewood fretboard and an ebony bridge. With a 1-3/4" nut width and a 24-3/4" scale length, these guitars stay true to their classic design origins. The LH-350 has a Florentine cutaway and a floating humbucker for amplified playing. Both guitars will be offered in a vintage sunburst finish. For more, visit theloar.com.

VG Readies 2011 Price Guide, Calls for Photos

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Vintage Guitar, Inc., publishers of Vintage Guitar mag, is in the final stages of production for The Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide 2011, and is seeking photos to supplement the book. If you have photos of your guitars, amps, basses, effects, mandos, ukes, pedal steel, or lapsteel guitar, and you're willing to send us a photo, please send it to doug@vintageguitar.com. Anyone who sends a usable shot (minimum 1-meg file/1280x960) will be eligible to receive one of five 2011 Guides the magazine is setting aside for this effort, even if your photo doesn't appear. There's no money or photo credit involved (sorry!), but there IS a chance for your piece to be immortalized in print!

Dobro Master Jerry Douglas Presents "Southern Filibuster: A Tribute to Tut Taylor"

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Simply put, there isn't a Dobro player alive who doesn't owe Tut Taylor. Taylor is a towering figure in the world of acoustic music, championed for his flat-picking mastery by generations of fellow musicians and connoisseurs of rural American music. Prolific and versatile, Taylor's licks have graced recordings by hundreds of country and bluegrass artists including Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Norman Blake, Clarence White, Porter Wagoner, Vassar Clements and Leon Russell, and his solo albums have been studied by countless admirers, some of whom playfully refer to him as King Tut. One of those lifelong devotees is Jerry Douglas, perhaps the most celebrated Dobro player in the world for more than 30 years. "Tut's tenacious playing style, his phrasing and his way of making simple things interesting," as Douglas puts it, have had a seismic impact on Douglas over the years, and their 1994 co-production The Great Dobro Sessions won a GRAMMY Award for "Bluegrass Album of the Year." But now, with the release of Southern Filibuster: A Tribute to Tut Taylor (E1 Music: July 13, 2010), Douglas takes his esteem for the Dobro doyen to another level entirely. For this labor of love, Douglas assembled 14 of the world's greatest Dobro players to interpret compositions penned by Taylor. He also enlisted Nashville's finest backing musicians for the recording including Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), Jason Carter (fiddle), Tim O'Brien (mandolin), Russ Barenberg (guitar), Barry Bales (bass), Fred Carpenter (fiddle), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Chris Jones (guitar), Mike Compton (mandolin), Dennis Crouch (bass), Bryan Sutton (guitar), and Mike Bub (bass). All of the proceeds from Southern Filibuster go directly to Taylor. And even best of all, they didn't tell Taylor about the project until it was a wrap, giving him one of the nicest surprises of his 86 years. "Jerry knocked me for a loop," says Taylor, "and I'm still knocked for a loop. I couldn't believe it. I haven't been in the limelight over the course of my life. I never really did this as a professional; I do it for fun. When I would hear a Dobro player play my tunes on the radio, I would be floored. So when Jerry told me, 'We've gotten 14 Dobro players together to make a CD of 14 of your tunes,' I couldn't believe it. I never thought anyone would do something like that for me. I felt very humble and very thankful." Taylor's own regard for Douglas is no less strong than the younger man's is for him. "Jerry is heavily into the music," he says. "All Dobro players love the instrument, but he was the one to grab it and take it someplace else, way someplace else." For Douglas, Southern Filibuster serves as both a years-later sequel to The Great Dobro Sessions and a necessary marker of the state of the instrument today. "Since The Great Dobro Sessions, we've lost three of our original 10 in that flock," he says. "I thought, why shouldn't we celebrate this instrument, the Dobro, that we love so much? With this in mind, I went through a mental list of who was viable, available and having an impression on the lay of the land these days as far as Dobro prowess goes. Rob Ickes, Mike Auldridge and Randy Kohrs immediately came to mind. From there it was easy to assemble the list of a veritable who's-who of the Dobro world: Curtis Burch, Phil Leadbetter, Andy Hall, Cindy Cashdollar, Ferrell Stowe, Ivan Rosenberg, Orville Johnson, Michael Witcher, Megan Lovell and Billy Cardine all came aboard. I knew they had all been impacted by Tut's trail of tunes." The fourteenth spot went, of course, to Douglas himself. "Tut was one of my early influences when I was learning Dobro," says Cindy Cashdollar, whose playing has graced recordings by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and others. "He had a different sound. I admired his quirkiness." "Tut is the pantheon of Dobro players," adds Orville Johnson. "His technique is a lost thing, and we all appreciate his writing. His seminal record Friar Tut that came out on Rounder in 1972 is such a touchstone of Dobro playing. There are certain legendary albums you come across when learning this instrument, and Friar Tut is certainly one of them." Indeed, Taylor and Douglas have lived very different lives, and their careers have taken very different paths. Born in November 1923 in a small town in Georgia, Taylor took up the banjo and mandolin before he discovered the Dobro at 14 and taught himself to play the instrument, a form of resonator guitar invented by John Dopyera in the 1920s. Developing his own distinctive flat-picking style, Taylor quickly gained favor in the country and bluegrass world, and by the 1970s he'd become a fixture in Nashville, the most in-demand Dobro player on the scene. Despite all of his credits, though, Taylor never became a star. He was revered by fellow pickers and aficionados of acoustic music - not only for his musicianship but also his songwriting and production - but his name was virtually unknown to the general public. More people may even know Taylor as the proprietor of two of Nashville's favorite instrument shops than for his musical prowess: In 1970, Taylor opened GTR and then, after selling his share, went on to open the Old Time Pickin' Parlor. The shop doubled as a performance space and instrument workshop, turning out handmade pieces for the likes of Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and others. Douglas, on the other hand, became something of a household name. Born in Ohio in 1956, he began playing at age eight and had turned professional by his teens. A busy session musician, he worked with a wide array of traditional and progressive acoustic musicians, among them Ricky Skaggs, David Grisman, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Béla Fleck and Ray Charles - at last count he had reportedly played on more than 1600 albums. Since 1998, Douglas has also been a member of the highly acclaimed Alison Krauss and Union Station. His massive list of awards includes a dozen Grammys, three "Country Music Association Musician of the Year" awards, an NEA National Heritage Fellowship, and he was named the "2008 Artist-In-Residence" by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Douglas' prominence in the music industry places him in a perfect position to curate and direct Southern Filibuster, which includes new workings of classic Taylor tunes. Among the tracks featured on the tribute set is Johnson's rendition of Taylor's "Ghost Picker." Says Johnson, "Tut can write simple things that are really catchy, which is a gift for a songwriter. I see his writing in three areas: things that are bluegrassy, tunes that are very infused with blues, and moody tunes, sometimes in a minor key. 'Ghost Picker' is a mood piece." Cashdollar took on Taylor's "Little Green Pill," which, she says, "I have been performing for a long time but had never recorded." And for his contribution, Billy Cardine, the youngest Dobro player on the album, chose "Swampwater," a Taylor composition that Taylor himself had never recorded. "Tut showed me this song when I was over at his house one time," says Cardine. "I wanted to pick a song that we could document. His whole catalog is somewhere around 70 songs." "Tut was wondering who was paying attention to him," adds Cardine. "His whole vocabulary is from a different era and it almost seems impossible for anyone today to sound like this guy. There is something about his playing that's deceptive. But as I got older and started thinking about life, I could hear Tut's presence in everything. He is always in the moment when he touches the strings. It gives you a feeling that you can't get any other way. The way he speaks music, there is a power to it, as great as any legendary musician." "Tut was very humbled when we told him about the project," Douglas says. "He didn't think anyone was really that interested in his Dobro career. This affirms we are. And it astounds me that the songs these Dobro players picked maintain Tut's original essence, although they each added their own individual twists to create brand new songs. To me, this gives the songs new life that will be even further interpreted by the players of the future." For all of the praise Douglas tosses at Taylor, however, the veteran is quick to return the compliment. "The contribution of Jerry Douglas to the movement of the Dobro is humungous," Taylor says. "There were many Dobro players. Then here comes Jerry, laying down some bluegrass stuff, just playing well. Then, he began to branch out, singlehandedly bringing the instrument to where it is today. I'm mighty proud to have him as my friend."

Anthrax To Join Slayer and Megadeth on Jagermeister Music Tour

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Following seven shows as part of "The Big Four" European festival dates with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, Anthrax will join Slayer and Megadeth on the Jagermeister Fall Music Tour set to kick off September 24 at Superpages in Dallas, TX. The 20-date concert trek will mark the first U.S. tour Anthrax has done since vocalist Joey Belladonna rejoined the band earlier this year, and the first time the three bands have shared an American stage since the classic 1991 "Clash of the Titans" tour. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com (http://knoxvilletickets.com/ for the Knoxville date). For this tour, Anthrax has teamed up with Artist Arena to offer fans the ultimate Anthrax VIP Package, which consists of a Meet & Greet pass to meet Anthrax, an autographed commemorative poster, a commemorative tour laminate, and an exclusive VIP-only Anthrax T-shirt. For more details, and to get your Anthrax VIP Package, log onto http://bit.ly/anthraxvip - Usermane: anthrax - Password: tickets Media showered praise on the Belladonna-fronted Anthrax for the European "Big Four" festivals: "It's been almost two decades since [Belladonna] initially parted with Anthrax, but he proved to be in raw, primal and fine form," one European journalist wrote, while another noted, "Anthrax made their presence known with a raucous roar...you would never have known that they weren't the headliners." "It's great to see so many people getting excited about us being together again," said Belladonna. "Even with just one day of rehearsal before the show in Poland, we played really well and really jelled together on stage. We had a great time in Europe, and are looking forward to seeing our U.S. fans this fall." "Everything has been going so great, just like we hoped it would," said guitarist Scott Ian. "We wanted Joey to say yes to coming back to the band, we hoped all would go well, and everything couldn't be going any better." For the Jagermeister Fall Music Tour, fans can expect an Anthrax set packed with some of their all-time favorite songs - "Caught In The Mosh," "AntiSocial, "Madhouse," and "Indians," are just a few that the band knows HAVE to be played. "There are a lot of songs to fit into 50 minutes," laughed drummer Charlie Benante, "so we'll probably change up the set list a little from night to night, and we might debut a new song from our upcoming album as well." Since returning from the European tour, the members of Anthrax have begun writing and rehearsing for their new album which is expected out in early 2011. "We've got an unusual luxury of hindsight," Ian explained. "We finished an album more than a year ago, we've lived with those 12 songs since then, and we can look back on them and see what we really love and what we can make even better, especially with Joey back in the fold. On these U.S. dates, we'll have a portable rig with us so we can work on the songs during any down time, and get everything to the point where we'll be ready to get into the studio as soon as possible." Added Benante, "There are five or six songs from a year ago that we don't want to change, we love them the way they are, other than having Joey making them his own with his vocals. Then there's another five or six that we may want to rework, and then there are a bunch of other tunes that are still in the early stages, that we want to finish." With worldwide sales in excess of 10-million, Anthrax is about to celebrate its 29th year as a band. Over its career, Anthrax has received multiple Gold and Platinum albums, multiple Grammy nominations, and a host of other accolades from the press, industry and fans. Belladonna, an essential part of Anthrax's lineup from 1985 to 1992, sang on some of the band's most popular albums including Spreading the Disease, Among the Living and Persistence of Time. He had reunited with original members of Anthrax for the 2005 - 2007 "Among the Living Tour," but is now permanently back in the fold. "We're super excited that Slayer and Megadeth asked us to be part of this tour," said Ian, "especially coming off of the European shows. To tour with both of them again in the U.S. is an unbelievable high, and we can't wait. This is why we love being in a band: it's not work, it's 'let's go out and have some fun with our friends.'"

Robert Randolph: On TV, On Tour

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Randolph & The Family Band will bring their sound to "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" the night of September 7. Currently on a headlining tour in support of their new album We Walk This Road, which is produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett, Robert & the Family Band will join Zac Brown Band in mid September, return to headlining in October, and then join the Experience Hendrix Tour in November where he will officially debut The Slide Brothers, an all-star guitar ensemble of Randolph and fellow Sacred Steel guitar legends. Throughout the recording of We Walk This Road, Randolph and Burnett worked closely together as archivists, discovering songs-decade by decade-from the 20th century American music canon. The songs they uncovered, ranging from blues and rock to field recordings and gospel, serve as the inspiration for the 11 songs on We Walk This Road. Recorded at the Village Recorders and Electro Magnetic Studio, the album includes "If I Had My Way" (featuring Ben Harper), "Salvation" (featuring Leon Russell), and reinterpretations of Prince's "Walk Don't Walk," Bob Dylan's "Shot Of Love," (featuring Jim Keltner, who played drums on the original version) and John Lennon's "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama" (featuring Doyle Bramhall II).

Allman Brothers Band Announce Additional Fall Tour Dates

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Allman Brothers Band has confirmed additional cities for their fall tour. The dates include eight shows beginning November 11 and their first performance at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. The Philadelphia concert will mark the band's first shows since Gregg Allman's successful liver transplant in June. The iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band - Allman (vocals and keyboards), Butch Trucks (drums and tympani), Jaimoe (drums), Warren Haynes (vocals, lead and slide guitar), Derek Trucks (slide and lead guitar), Oteil Burbridge (bass) and Marc Quinones (congas and percussion) - will perform lengthy "evening with" sets each night. The group had been forced to cancel a June 26 appearance at Eric Clapton's "Crossroads" festival, as a liver became available for Allman, who is continuing to recover. Tickets for the additional four shows go on sale in September. For all the latest, visit allmanbrothersband.com.

Axes & Axles Exhibit Opening in September

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Axes & Axles: The Art of Building Cars and Guitars, Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Fender Telecaster, an exhibition to acknowledge the synergy between guitars (axes) and cars (axles), will be on view at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum from September 4 through June 30, 2011. This exhibit will feature a vast collection of rare photographs, rock memorabilia and personal cars and guitars from rock icons such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Michael Anthony, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Billy F Gibbons and many more. As part of the 60th Anniversary of the Fender Telecaster guitar, the exhibit will also illustrate the history of Fender and celebrate one of the most famous guitars ever built, the Telecaster. "Guitars and cars have a great deal in common: both are means of expression, both generated fanatical fans and both offer a stairway to freedom," said Museum Director Tony Thacker. "This new exhibit will showcase the amazing connection of guitars and hot rod building. It's going to make visitors want to rock!" Musicians exhibiting cars and guitars include: • Michael Anthony • Jeff Beck • Eric Clapton • Billy F Gibbons • Kenny Wayne Shepherd • Brian Setzer • Jimmie Vaughan A variety of educational programs will be presented in conjunction with the exhibition including guitar demonstrations and a panel discussion with hot rod builders and musicians. For more, visit museum.nhra.com.

Players Join for Acoustic Tour

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Three of the most popular, talented, innovative and musically rich guitar players and composers in contemporary music will bring their acoustic guitars together to perform and interact on stages across America this October and in January, 2011, when Eric Johnson, Andy McKee, and Peppino D'Agostino meet on the Guitar Masters tour. The 21-date/two-leg run of theaters, colleges, and clubs will feature sets by each capped with a finale where all three collaborate to offer an engaging and enlightening aural feast of acoustic six-string mastery and melodic brilliance. The trek is sure to be an unforgettable musical experience for concertgoers that unites guitar virtuosos not just known for their awesome skills and technique but a mutual gift for song composition and melody and drawing out the full musicality of the solo acoustic guitar to near-orchestral dimensions. Creative sparks, one-time only stunning improvisations and mutual inspiration are sure to abound as they come together at the end of every show to offer a value-added concert bill that appeals to fans of many musical styles as well as guitar aficionados. For dates and more, go to razorandtie.com.

Tony Joe White Slates U.S. Tour

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Songwriter Tony Joe White will hit the road this fall in support of his raw and unvarnished new album, 'The Shine' (Sept 28/Swamp Records). The tour will showcase the new album's stripped-down sound, which beautifully lays bare White's rich, nuanced baritone, and distinctive brand of swampy southern soul. Dates kick off September 24, with a performance at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, TN. Over the past five decades, Tony Joe White a.k.a. the Swamp Fox, has scored several major hits, and seen some immortal artists turn his compositions into signature songs--from Elvis Presley's version of "Polk Salad Annie" to Ray Charles' take on "Rainy Night In Georgia." Tony Joe has also written for Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Kenny Chesney, Hank Williams Jr. and Dusty Springfield to name but a few. Learn more at tonyjoewhite.com.

Taylor Guitars Announces Road Show Dates

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars has announced that the company will once again bring its fan-favorite Road Show to guitar lovers across the country this fall at over 100 in-store locations in North America. Now in its fourth year, the award-winning Road Show brings enthusiasts, Taylor clinicians and experts straight from the company's factory in El Cajon, California together for a lively in-store gathering. At each event, Taylor's Road Show team shares insights on the company's guitar-making process and demonstrates how body shapes and woods affect tone. After the demonstration, players are invited to take part in the "Petting Zoo": an opportunity to pick up and play a variety of different models, as well as rare and custom Build to Order models. Admission to each Road Show is free. The 2010 Fall Road Show schedule will kick off in early September with multiple dates along the West Coast with shows in Oregon and Washington, through the Midwest in Missouri and Nebraska, to be followed by dates in Canada and along the East Coast. Each Road Show attendee will receive a complimentary digital subscription to Premier Guitar magazine and, while supplies last, TaylorWare gear and Elixir strings. Attendees will have the chance to enter to win the grand prize, an opportunity to build their own custom guitar through Taylor's Build to Order program. In 2009, Taylor brought the Road Show to over 170 locations in the United States and Canada, and held over 30 events throughout Europe and Japan. The Taylor Guitars Road Show was awarded the 2008 Supplier Excellence Award from Music Inc. magazine in the category of Events for putting "the excitement of the company's factory tours into retail dealers across the country." For more information on Road Show dates and locations, please visit the official Taylor Guitars Road Show calendar at taylorguitars.com.

Daisy Rock Girl Guitars Supports "Running Wild in the Night" Music Program

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Daisy Rock Girl Guitars is donating instruments to the Covenant House California and its musical program, Running Wild in the Night. Founded by Mötley Crüe's bassist Nikki Sixx, the program provides participants a chance to learn, practice, and perform music. The largest non-profit agency serving homeless, trafficked, and at-risk youth in the state, Covenant House California has been impacting the lives of more than 150,000 youths in the Hollywood area since 1988 and the Bay Area since 1998. Open all-year round and 24 hours a day, this agency not only offers those in need a bed and a hot meal, but also hope, education, job training, life skills, medical attention, mental health counseling, and many opportunities to turn their lives around. In addition to the instruments donated, all proceeds from Daisy Rock Girl Guitars' annual charity concert event, Pretty in Punk, will also be given to the Running Wild in the Night music program. For more, visit daisyrock.com and covenanthousecalifornia.org.

Guitar Center Announces Executive Succession Plan

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Guitar Center, Inc. today announced a management succession plan to be implemented during the fourth quarter of 2010. Under this plan, Greg Trojan, presently President and Chief Operating Officer, will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Trojan will also remain a member of Guitar Center's Board of Directors. Marty Albertson, presently Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, will step down as Chief Executive Officer but will remain as non-executive Chairman of the Board. "I am thrilled to take on the role of non-executive Chairman." said Albertson. "This will allow me to pursue many other interests and still contribute to Guitar Center in a strategic capacity." "I asked Greg to join the Guitar Center team nearly three years ago as part of my effort to groom a successor for the CEO role, and my confidence in his ability to successfully lead the company was critical to my decision to change my role at this time. Further, Greg has a thorough knowledge of our culture, values and industry." "I am excited to be assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer at this point in Guitar Center's history," said Trojan. "With the company's strong management team and with the investments we have made in both our infrastructure and our people, we are well positioned to grow online and through our brick and mortar network. Accordingly, we plan on resuming opening new Guitar Center retail stores in 2011."

Whitesnake Announces New Bassist

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

After months of speculation, Whitesnake has announced its new bass player/singer is Michael Devin. Devin has been playing with Lynch Mob, along with new Whitesnake drummer, BRIAN TICHY. This union completes the new Whitesnake line-up alongside guitarists Doug Aldrich, Reb Becch and keyboardist Timothy Drury for the new album in the works. "It's an honour to be welcomed into the Whitesnake family. I'm a big fan," said Devin. Whitesnake is notorious for exciting musicianship, David's history is rich, and I'm very proud to be here." The album is being recorded for release in early 2011. The band will be also returning to touring.

"Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child" documentary to Air on BIO Channel

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

BIO Channel brings viewers inside the story of one man, his music and the world that embraced him with the two-hour documentary special "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child," premiering this Thursday, August 26, at 9PM ET. Over the course of just four years, Hendrix left an indelible stamp on the world, shaping not only popular music but popular culture as well. He remains the most innovative musician of his, or any other, era having virtually reshaped the vocabulary of the electric guitar for future generations. "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child" is an autobiographical journey that reveals the man as never before, featuring the legendary musician's own words to tell the story of his remarkable life. Drawing upon interviews granted by Hendrix, coupled with letters, writings and recordings, "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child" provides new insight into one of the most enduring icons of popular culture. The special is filled with never before seen photographs and film footage from the Hendrix family archive and features a soundtrack that includes such legendary Hendrix recordings as "Purple Haze," "Hey Joe," "Fire," "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" together with never before heard live performances. Funk legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic renown, is featured as the voice of Jimi Hendrix. Directed By Bob Smeaton and produced By Janie Hendrix and John McDermott. "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child" is produced for BIO Channel by Experience Hendrix L.L.C. Executive producers for BIO Channel are Tom Moody and Peter Tarshis.

Ponderosa Stomp Announces the Clandestine Celluloid Film Series

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Ponderosa Stomp music festival has been growing every year, giving birth to a music history conference and film series during the day before the concerts, then a record hop. This year's Clandestine Celluloid film series moves to One Eyed Jacks, a few blocks from the Music History Conference being held in the Cabildo in Jackson Square. For film series producer Madeleine Molyneaux, Clandestine Celluloid, the second incarnation of the moving image component of the Ponderosa Stomp "will expose Stomp attendees to film subjects and archival footage that have, due to circumstances often beyond filmmaker or audience control, remained secret, silenced or submerged ...until now." The two-day series, with filmmakers Les Blank, Bradley Beesley and others in attendance, includes the first ever public screening of "It's What's Happening, Baby!, a 1965 TV special hosted by the infamous East Coast DJ Murray the K, a sneak preview of the film-in-progress "Bayou Maharajah" about New Orleans piano legend James Booker, "Hot Pepper", the story of Clifton Chenier , and some extremely clandestine films that have been scarcely seen and hotly pursued by those who have heard the whispers. In addition to the film schedule below, the Stomp has just announced the schedule for the music history conference. For full details, go to ponderosastomp.com.

Vox Ships AC4TVmini

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The new new Vox AC4TVmini is based on the AC4 from the 1960s. An all-tube practice amp, it has been factory-modded with a premium transformer and select component. This up-to-date Class A version retains the distinctive EL84 power tube of the original and features a 12AX7 preamp tube, plus an original Vox design 6.5" speaker. Adjusting the volume and tone settings can create a broad range of tones - from a sweet, clean sound to the distinctive VOX overdrive sound. Stylish, clean and classic, the AC4TVmini borrows its retro-chic "TV" front styling from the classic 1958 AC15. This vintage Vox design is still in use on today's AC15HTV from the Vox Heritage Collection. The attenuator switch allows the AC4TVmini's output power to be set at four Watts, one Watt or even one-tenth of a Watt. This convenient and ear-saving feature allows the amp to create a real, musically satisfying distortion - even at the lowest power setting. An external speaker jack is also provided for connecting to the user's favorite cabinet.

Clapton Preps New Solo Album

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Guitar icon and three time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eric Clapton announced today that he will release his 19th solo studio album on September 28, simply titled Clapton. Co-produced by guitarist and long-time collaborator Doyle Bramhall II, the album features an all star cast of musical collaborations starting with the legendary JJ Cale, drummer Jim Keltner, bassist Willie Weeks, and keyboardist Walt Richmond-and the sessions later added guests including Steve Winwood, Wynton Marsalis, Sheryl Crow, Allen Toussaint, and Derek Trucks. Clapton created a collection that touches on everything from century-old traditional brass bands to little-known country blues to brand-new originals. The result is both relaxed and revelatory, and unlike anything the guitarist has done in his legendary career. "This album wasn't what it was intended to be at all," says Eric Clapton. "It's actually better than it was meant to be because, in a way, I just let it happen. It's an eclectic collection of songs that weren't really on the map-and I like it so much because if it's a surprise to the fans, that's only because it's a surprise to me, as well." For more , visit ericclapton.com.

Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax Jagermeister Fall Music Tour

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jagermeister, the brand known for decades of involvement with rock and metals bands, continues to own the concert circuit with the announcement of the 2010 Fall Jagermeister Music Tour, North America's biggest thrash tour in 20 years with the 1991 original "Clash of the Titans" lineup - Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. The brand's 17th Music Tour will bring three of the hardest hitting metal bands in the world to one stage and will feature complete performances of Slayer's much lauded Seasons In The Abyss album from 1990, Megadeth's landmark 1990 album Rust In Peace, and the return of Anthrax's singer Joey Belladonna. The tour kicks off September 24 and will play 20 venues across the nation. "I've been working with Jagermeister since 2004 to try to make the first Jagermeister Music Tour Trifecta happen," said guitarist Kerry King of Slayer. "I always have such a killer time on the Jagermeister Music Tour, and this time we're coming through with Megadeth and Anthrax so you know everyone will be on the top of their game for these shows." Megadeth's Dave Mustaine adds, "It is a rush to finally be a part of the Jagermeister Music Tour!" "Slayer has been a long time friend and supporter of the brand," says Bill Henderson, Senior Vice President Marketing and Advertising at Sidney Frank Importing Company, Inc. "Jagermeister has been sponsoring them since 2001 and named them as headliner of both the 2003 and 2004 Fall Music Tours. It is great to work with them again and know that adding Megadeth and Anthrax to the program will make this a tour to remember."

Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience Set to Launch October 8

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience will celebrate the life and music of his father, Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. The oncert dates - timed to take place just after the 30th anniversary of his Dad's passing on September 25, 1980 - will launch October 8 in British Columbia. JBLZE will kick off in the U.S. October 19 in Minneapolis and continue through late November, reaching major North American cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, Houston, Seattle, Vancouver and many others (see the initial dates listed below with more to be announced). Bonham has teamed with Annerin Productions, the company behind "The Pink Floyd Experience" and "Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles." "I can't wait," Bonham said. "I'm sure it will be an emotional night, especially the first time we do it in front of an audience, but it's a commemoration of Dad's life and my life with the music and the company of Led Zeppelin. And I'm really looking forward to doing it." As Bonham and his band rock through Led Zeppelin's catalog, a state-of-the-art sound system and light show will enhance their live performance onstage. Behind them, giant screens will display futuristic art and mood-setting historical video footage and photos. Learn more at jblze.com/.

Slayer Announces The Vinyl Conflict Box Set

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

For the first time in its near 30-year history, Slayer, the single most distinctive and radical thrash metal band ever, will see its ten American Recordings albums released as a limited-edition, high-end box set - The Vinyl Conflict (American Recordings/Sony Legacy). Ten albums on 11 discs, The Vinyl Conflict will feature the band's entire Def/American Recordings catalogue: Reign in Blood (1986), South of Heaveneasons (1988), Seasons In The Abyss (1990), the double-record Live Decade of Aggression (1991), Divine Intervention (1994), Undisputed Attitude (1998), God Hates Us All (2001), Christ Illusion (2006), and World Painted Blood (2009). The Vinyl Conflict will be released on October 12, 2010; check Slayer's website (www.slayer.net) or Amazon.com for pricing. "Most longtime Slayer fans may not have these records at this point," said American Recordings' Dino Paredes, "or their copies are completely beat-up, so to have the complete catalogue in this first-class presentation is terrific. For the newer fans, this is their opportunity to really get into this band the way that they could have if they were born 20 years earlier." American/Sony Legacy invested a great amount of care into making The Vinyl Conflict, treating the albums the way they would treat a great jazz, classical, Bob Dylan or Miles Davis record, something that isn't normally done for metal records. All ten albums have been re-mastered from the original analog flat master tapes and were pressed on the highest quality, 180-gram audiophile vinyl at RTI, the most respected pressing plant in the U.S. and among the best in the world. Lacquers were cut and re-cut several times to ensure the highest sound quality. The individual vinyl discs will come in a standard, clear inner sleeve to preserve the vinyl, are then housed in high-quality litho-wrapped jackets, and then boxed in a hardcover slipcase. Additionally, reproductions of the original LP inner sleeve artwork were converted to 12X12 inserts. "The vinyl box is a real treat for fans, especially with today's renewed and increased interest in vinyl," added Sony Legacy's Adam Farber. "It's been years and years since the Slayer vinyl has been in print - only the two most recent albums are currently available on vinyl, the rest have been out of print for years and very hard to find. These albums sound spectacular - they sound like you've never heard them before." "Everything about The Vinyl Conflict - the look of it, the feel of it - it's very strong, very powerful, very Slayer," added Paredes, "from the music to the dripping, bloody pentagram on the front of the box. It's perfect." The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot wrote that Slayer is "one of the great American rock bands of the last 30 years, forget about genre." Indeed, few bands come close to matching the intensity that Slayer - guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, vocalist/bassist Tom Araya, and drummer Dave Lombardo - bring to its live shows, having been named "Best Live Band" by numerous media outlets including Revolver, SPIN, and Metal Hammer. The band has received numerous nominations and awards, including four Grammy nods and two wins. Slayer is co-headlining the first leg of the American Carnage Tour with Megadeth that kicked off August 11 and goes through September 4.

Bachman & Turner's New Album Out 9/7

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

After being apart for more than 20 years, and with many years of gentle prodding by rock aficionados, Randy Bachman and Fred Turner are finally back together. The men at the heart of legendary band Bachman-Turner Overdrive (who have sold 30 million albums and earned 120 platinum, gold & silver discs worldwide) are set to release their self-titled studio album on September 7, through E1 Music in Canada and RBE Music/Fontana in the U.S. The album is stocked with anthemic new rock tracks - all penned by Randy Bachman and Fred Turner - that seamlessly fit alongside their classic hits "Takin' Care of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet." Bachman & Turner were recently featured in USA TODAY for their remarkable return and new-found fitness (as well as their status among reunited 70's/80's acts.

Alfred Offers Books on Guitar Soloing Strategies

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Alfred Music Publishing, the leader in educational music publishing since 1922, is proud to partner with National Guitar Workshop to release The Improv Series for guitar, featuring two new instructional books: Pentatonic Soloing Strategies for Guitar, by Erik Halbig, and Modal Soloing Strategies for Guitar, by Jody Fisher. Pentatonic Soloing Strategies for Guitar takes the most common improvisational tool, the pentatonic scale, and shows you its almost limitless possibilities. It begins with standard major and minor pentatonic scales in the five basic positions and quickly moves into challenging pentatonic variations for string skipping and sweep picking. The book culminates with a series of substitution scales, including the rootless 9th, the half-diminished, and the whole-tone augmented pentatonic scales. A CD demonstrating all the examples in the book is included. Modal Soloing Strategies for Guitar is a comprehensive, multi-faceted study of the seven major-scale modes. Start applying and understanding the modes through sample licks, extended solos, and play-along tracks. In addition, you'll play each mode in all 12 keys, learn different types of fingerings, and even discover the formula for each mode and its relationship to the diatonic chord. Soon, you'll be harmonizing the modes and deriving them by altering other scales. A CD with play-along tracks and demonstrations of all the examples in the book is included. Pentatonic Soloing Strategies for Guitar and Modal Soloing Strategies for Guitar are now available for $19.99 each. Pick up your copies at a local music retail store, or buy them today at alfred.com.

Shankar/Harrison Box Set

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dark Horse Records announced today the October 19th release of a limited edition deluxe box set entitled RAVI SHANKAR GEORGE HARRISON COLLABORATIONS. The release honors the sitar master's 90th birthday. Collaborations is a 3 CD and 1 DVD uniquely numbered limited edition box set. All compositions were composed by Ravi Shankar and produced by George Harrison over a period of 20 years. The DVD is a rare concert performance of Ravi Shankar's Music Festival From India recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1974. The albums include the acclaimed Chants Of India (1997), The Ravi Shankar's Music Festival From India (studio version 1976) and Shankar Family & Friends (1974). The 56-page book includes a foreword by Philip Glass, a history of George and Ravi "in their own words" and rare photographs from both family archives. "The personal and musical friendship between Ravi Shankar and George Harrison has been known and well documented for decades now. It was a friendship that was powerful enough to make an impact on the large, musical life of the late nineteen sixties and it reverberates, as clearly, even today" - from the Foreword by Philip Glass In 1973 George Harrison signed Ravi Shankar to his Dark Horse Records label. The first joint recording project between George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, Shankar Family & Friends brought together renown Indian classical musicians such as Ustad Alla Rakha, Lakshmi Shankar, and Shivkumar Sharma alongside Western jazz and rock musicians including George, Ringo Starr, Tom Scott, Klaus Voormann, Jim Keltner and Billy Preston. One half of the album comprises instrumentals and songs, while the second half is a thematic ballet to a yet un-staged performance. Ravi Shankar's Music Festival From India (live from the Royal Albert Hall) was the first artistic event organized and sponsored by George Harrison's Material World Charitable Foundation; bringing together a 17-piece Indian classical ensemble as well as a solo sitar performance by Ravi Shankar accompanied on tabla by Alla Rakha. In 1997 George Harrison and Ravi Shankar again collaborated on an album. This time Ravi created music for ancient Sanskrit chants with the challenge of maintaining the authenticity of the ancient verses. Released in 1997, Chants Of India are timeless, Vedic verses chanted for the well being of man and mankind. Collaborations is available on Dark Horse Records and distributed by Rhino Entertainment.

The Recording Guitarist, Revised and Updated

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
"Recording guitar and playing guitar live are as different as night and day," states author Jon Chappell in the introduction to the new fully revised and updated edition of The Recording Guitarist. It is a fact anyone who has every tried to lay down tracks will attest to-when it comes to getting the right sound down on tape (or hard drive as is increasingly the case) there is a whole different ethos than on stage or in the rehearsal studio. So arm yourself with the essentials before you hit the record button at your next session. Revised and updated with a heavy focus on the modern digital-recording techniques and processes now so prevalent everywhere from desktop home setups to top recording studios, author Jon Chappell provides an invaluable reference guide that should always be in arms reach of any six-string slinger or studio engineer! Chappell's decades of experience as musician, arranger, and journalist make The Recording Guitarist is the most comprehensive course available on guitar recording and perfect for both home, studio, and classroom use. Chappell takes readers through every step of the recording process; from selecting the right guitar to amps and speakers, micing techniques, doubling tracks, adding effects, tracking vs. mixing, a glossary of important audio and recording terms, and a detailed synopsis on how to dial in the sounds of 14 classic guitarists from Dimebag Darrell, Eddie Van Halen, and Kirk Hammett to Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steve Morse, and Sonny Landreth. Beyond that, advice from recording industry pros such as Carl Verheyen, Al Di Meola, Alex Lifeson, and Phil Ramone explain dozens of studio tips and tricks-digital delay cascade effects, capoing, setting up a guitar for slide, using multieffects processors inline and more-for players and engineers alike to keep in their arsenal. Hundreds of diagrams and pictures throughout leave no question unanswered.

Alfred Releases New Guitar Method for Jazz Band

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Alfred Music Publishing is set to release Playing Guitar in Jazz Band, a practical guide for students and teachers of jazz guitar, by David Sinclair. Playing Guitar in Jazz Band is for beginning or intermediate guitar students interested in joining a jazz band and the ideal companion for music teachers who want to better understand the role of the guitar in their ensemble. Playing jazz guitar can be challenging, as the chord changes are often complex, yet the guitar parts should remain simple enough to avoid detracting from the overall sound of the band. This book breaks down that process by substituting difficult chord shapes with more flexible voicings that are designed to sound good on the guitar. The method also teaches a wide variety of rhythmic patterns and uses authentic chord charts that are exactly like the ones you will encounter in real-life situations. A CD demonstrating the examples in the book is included. Playing Guitar in Jazz Band is now available as a book and CD set. Pick up your copy at a local music retail store, or buy it today at alfred.com.

Buckcherry Crack Top 10 Charts with All Night Long

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Buckcherry's fifth studio album, All Night Long, their first since the band's move back to Top Independent Rock label Eleven Seven Music, has debuted at #10 on the Top Billboard Top 200 Album chart and was the #1 Rock debut. All Night Long is winning rave reviews. The band continues its Top 10 success worldwide as they debuted at #7 on the overall chart in Canada (their highest chart position to date there) and scored their first Top 10 chart positions in the UK at #6 on the Independent Albums and #5 on the Rock and Metal charts, respectively. Fans can catch a live performance of the album's raucous title track on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" this Thursday (August 12) on ABC at 12:05 a.m., ET/PT. The single has just broken in to the Top 10 of the Mainstream Rock radio chart, landing at #9 and is currently the #10 Rock song on iTunes. Buckcherry is currently on the road playing select tour dates and will gear up for an extensive North American tour supporting Nickelback beginning September 14 in Nashville. Learn more at buckcherry.com.

Guitarist Phelps "Catfish" Collins Passes

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Guitarist Phelps "Catfish" Collins died August 6 after a long battle with cancer. He was 66. Collins grew up in Cincinnati with his brother and bandmate Bootsy Collins. In 1968, the brothers played together in the Pacemakers until James Brown hired them to join his band in 1969. Collins played a role in the recording of songs including "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine," "Soul Power," and "Super Bad." After playing with Brown, the brothers joined Parliament-Funkadelic. Collins played on the band's America Eats Its Young and was a member of Bootsy's Rubber Band. Collins left P-Funk in 1983, and more recently contributed the soundtrack for the film Superbad.

Smithsonian to Feature Electric Guitar

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
This month, the Smithsonian Channel will broadcast "Electrified: The Guitar Revolution." Airing August 15, this 60 minute high-wattage history lesson salutes the inventors, pioneers and gods of the electric guitar. The electric guitar was invented to be heard among the brass instruments of the big band era, but it soon took on a sound and life of its own. How did this assemblage of wood, wire and metal go on to ignite a new era of music, transform background musicians into guitar heroes and become a symbol of freedom and rebellion? From the early days of the Model U and the Frying Pan to the guitar wars of Fender and Gibson, experience its evolution through vintage footage, interviews with rock historians and rousing live performances. Virtuosos like G.E. Smith of the "Saturday Night Live Band" go through the decades of sound innovations of the electric guitar. Smithsonian Channel will also debut a series called "Inside the Music," a series of specials that tell stories about the music and musicians that have had an enormous impact on some of the most listened to sounds spanning generations. From the creative genius who designed the album cover of The Beatles' "Revolver," to a history lesson on the instrument that changed the look, sound and volume of music forever, "Inside the Music" has something that everyone can listen to. The featured "Inside the Music, premiere, "All You Need is Klaus," airing August 22 at 8pm ET/PT, is a journey into the incredible life of Klaus Voormann. Voormann is best known for his association with the most popular and most influential band in rock 'n roll history, The Beatles. "All You Need is Klaus" also features Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Carly Simon, and Randy Newman, Joe Walsh and Simon are also interviewed in the 90 minute film with Simon recounting Voormann's influence on her biggest hit, "You're So Vain." In 1960, Klaus Voormann met The Beatles, who at the time were completely unknown, in Hamburg, Germany, where he was an art student. Three years later, when Klaus moved to London and lived with George Harrison and Ringo Starr in their apartment, The Beatles had already become the embodiment of a new youth culture. In 1965, Voormann, who was working as a graphic designer at the time, was asked by John Lennon to create the album cover for their latest album. The highly influential piece of cover art for "Revolver," earned Klaus a Grammy Award. That same year, he became the bassist for the Manfred Mann Band and, in 1969 for John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band. Klaus Voormann was on the frontlines of the pop era's meteoric rise and played on all the Beatles' solo albums. Learn more at smithsonianchannel.com.

Calvin "Fuzz" Jones Dies

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Calvin "Fuzz" Jones, longtime bass player of the Muddy Waters Blues Band, passed away August 9 of complications from lung cancer. He was 84. Best known for touring as part of Muddy Waters' band in the 1970s and '80s, his bandmates at the time included Bob Margolin, Pinetop Perkins, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, James Cotton, and others. Jones also played with Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter.

Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie Set Halloween Hootenanny Tour

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper will reunite for The Halloween Hootenanny Tour featuring the Gruesome Twosome with special guests (and Zombie labelmates) Murderdolls. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles at the Gibson Amphitheatre on Thursday, September 30 (please see below for tour dates). The pair recently shared the stage for a highly-successful, sold-out limited North American run earlier this year and have long been fans of one another, as well as good friends. The Billings Gazette declared, "Thousands of fans got the show of a lifetime...With elaborate multimedia stage shows and classic fist-pumping anthems, both artists brought much more to the stage than their music... the multi-sensory experience of the show will likely not be forgotten." Charlotte's Creative Loafing stated, "Zombie was a wildman - running around stage, flipping his hair in every way and stomping away to rev the crowd into a frenzy...Two fantastic performances..." Drummer Joey Jordison will be doing double-duty on the dates, playing drums with Rob Zombie, as well as playing guitar with his own band, special guests Murderdolls. Tour dates include; SEPTEMBER 30 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre OCTOBER 1 San Diego, CA Harrah's Rincon 2 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater 4 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre 6 Kansas City, MO Independence Event Center 7 St. Charles, MO The Family Arena 8 Bloomington, IL U.S. Cellular Coliseum 12 Binghamton, NY Broome County Arena 14 Portland, ME Cumberland County Civic Center 15 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun 16 Worcester, MA DCU Center 19 Roanoke, VA Roanoke Performing Arts Theater 20 Nashville, TN Nashville Municipal Auditorium

"Phase 2" Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project Set

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The second wave of releases in the 2010 Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project will be available October 19. Legacy's next round of titles from the artist Rolling Stone magazine called the greatest guitarist of all time will include deluxe editions of Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC Sessions and Jimi Hendrix: Blues, his legendary Live At Woodstock performance, and Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year, the highly collectible Jimi Hendrix Christmas EP. Originally released in 1994, the Jimi Hendrix: Blues album features 11 blues performances recorded by Hendrix between 1966 and 1970 showcasing the guitarist's mastery of the 12-bar form. The new deluxe Legacy edition comes packaged in a six-panel digipak with an expanded, 36 page booklet and includes a bonus DVD featuring an expanded, 30 minute version of "Jimi Hendrix and the Blues" from the Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues series. Directed and Produced by Alex Gibney, Janie Hendrix and John McDermott, the film features interviews and live performances not seen in the original PBS television broadcast. A double-disc 12" vinyl LP audiophile edition of Jimi Hendrix: Blues will also be available. The Legacy edition of Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC Sessions brings together recordings from Hendrix's appearances on a variety of BBC radio and television broadcasts from 1967 through 1969. The two CD Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC Sessions comes packaged in a six-panel digipak and includes a never before released 30 minute bonus DVD documentary. The film features the group's famed January 1969 appearance on "Happening For Lulu" which featured Hendrix interrupting the live broadcast to perform a ferocious rendition of Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" together with interviews with Jimi Hendrix Experience bandmates Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding as well as BBC staff producers Jeff Griffin and Bernie Andrews detailing the legendary sessions. The acclaimed two-CD set includes Hendrix's unique interpretations of such classics as Bob Dylan's "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?," Muddy Waters "Hoochie Coochie Man" [with noted British blues enthusiast Alexis Korner on slide guitar], the Beatles "Day Tripper" as well as two songs featuring the dream pairing of Stevie Wonder with Hendrix. A single CD "best-of" the BBC Sessions as well as a three-disc 12" audiophile vinyl LP edition of the album will also be available. Both the 2 CD and 3 LP BBC sets feature a previoulsy unreleased version of "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" sourced from the August 24, 1967, of the Jimi Hendrix Experience on "Top of The Tops." The watershed Live At Woodstock album, the artist's most popular live performance, will be reissued in a two-CD set, available in both digipak and brilliant box configurations as well as an audiophile, three-disc 12" vinyl LP edition. "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year," the Jimi Hendrix seasonal single, features the celebrated 1969 medley of "Little Drummer Boy," "Silent Night," and "Auld Lang Syne" backed with "Three Little Bears." Merry Christmas & Happy New Year will be reissued as a CD as well as on 7" vinyl in a picture sleeve.

Mellencamp Set to Tour

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
John Mellencamp and his band are set to embark on the first leg of the No Better Than This Tour in late October following the August 17 release of his Rounder Records debut album, No Better Than This. The tour, designed as a uniquely formatted "evening with," brings Mellencamp's music to theater-sized venues, a rare opportunity to experience one of America's most iconic songwriters and performers in an intimate setting, highlighting all phases of his artistry. The tour, anticipated to continue through the spring of 2011, will kick off on October 29 in Bloomington, Indiana, where Mellencamp and his family make their home. It continues for four weeks bringing Mellencamp, his band and music to audiences in Nashville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh and three additional Indiana markets of South Bend, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis with further tour dates pending. The tour will feature classic Mellencamp material associated with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee over the course of his 35 year long career as well as the new music from No Better Than This. The new album was produced by T Bone Burnett and recorded in three historic locations in the American South: Savannah's First African Baptist Church, Sun Studio in Memphis and Room 414 of San Antonio's Gunter Hotel where Robert Johnson recorded in 1936. The sessions were documented on a 55-year-old mono tape recorder using just one vintage microphone at each location. Rolling Stone's review of the album noted, "Mellencamp has never sounded looser or easier on a record," suggesting the artist was "channeling spirits and stepping into period styles. They fit him perfectly." As a reflection of the diversity of styles and material that have been a hallmark of Mellencamp's eclectic career, the concerts are formatted into three segments. These showcase John Mellencamp in an acoustic context, fronting a small combo recalling blues/country and rockabilly roots and with his full rock band. Musicians backing Mellencamp include Michael Wanchic (guitar), Andy York (guitar), Miriam Sturm (violin), John Gunnell (electric and upright bass), Dane Clark (drums) and Troye Kinnett (accordion/keyboards). Of special note is the fact that the tour's "opening act," is a documentary film by Kurt Markus entitled It's About You. Shot on Super8 film over the course of last year's Bob Dylan-John Mellencamp-Willie Nelson tour of minor-league baseball stadiums, it chronicles the creation of No Better Than This while serving as a cinematic 'think piece' on the state of the country at the end of the first decade of the 21st century. Markus, whose still work has put him in the front ranks of contemporary American photographers, has been cited for his vision of his work documenting the American West and is the recipient of Life magazine's Alfred Eisenstaedt Photography Award. For more, visit mellencamp.com.

Fender Custom Shop Road Show Rolls On

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT
oin top Fender Custom Shop representatives for a series of events that provide "an all-access pass to the dream factory" as the Fender Custom Shop Road Show visits U.S. and Canadian dealers throughout summer and fall 2010. At Custom Shop Road Show in-store events, dealers invite their top customers to meet and greet Custom Shop managers and master builders and their local Fender® district sales managers in a relaxed atmosphere that is as cool as it is informative. Guests can see, play and purchase special Custom Shop instruments created exclusively for these events; learn about Custom Shop instruments, history and programs; have their questions answered straight from Custom Shop staff; and design and order their "dream guitar" with direct assistance from Custom Shop staff and their local dealer. Dates and locales include: Aug. 10 Long & McQuade Toronto, Toronto, Ont. Aug. 12 Long & McQuade Vancouver, Vancouver, B.C. Aug. 28 Dave's Guitar Shop ,La Crosse, Wis. Sept. 16 Music Gallery, Highland Park, Ill. Sept. 30 Wildwood Guitars, Louisville, Colo. Oct. 2 Rainbow Guitars, Tucson, Ariz. Oct. 22 Wild West Guitars, Riverside, Calif.

Sheptone Offers P-90H

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Sheptone's new P90H pickups for electric guitar. Each pair is handmade by Jeff Shepherd and designed to allow guitar players with humbucker equipped guitars to achieve the highly sought after tone of the original P90 pickups. The new Sheptone P90H will be a direct replacement for most humbucker models and is available with black covers, black/gold/nickel/chrome open-faced covers and gold or nickel poles. The standard Sheptone P90H pickup is made of vintage construction using rough-cast, degaussed Alnico 5 magnets and uses scatter wound #42 plain Enamel wire for better harmonics and overtones. A standard set will deliver 8.6k in the bridge pickup and 8.1k in the bridge pickup.To learn more, go to sheptone.com.

ZT Provides Amps for Wilco Festival

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
ZT Amplifiers will provide amplifier systems for the Solid Sound Festival, August 13-15 in North Adams, Massachusetts. The festival is created, curated and headlined by Wilco and will feature performances by all Wilco member's side projects (The Nels Cline Singers, Autumn Defense, On Fillmore, Pronto), a solo set by Jeff Tweedy with special guests, a performance by soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples and many more plus live comedy, film, art and interactive exhibits. MASS MoCA, the largest contemporary art museum in America, is located in North Adams, Massachusetts and hosts the three-day event. "Wilco guitarists Nels Cline and Jeff Tweedy have been fans of the ZT Lunchbox amp since it was first introduced in early 2009. Nels requested a large number of Lunchbox amps and the extension Lunchbox Cabs to construct sound systems for this year's festival," said Michael Kirschmann, ZT's VP Product Management & Artist Relations. "He's been a big supporter, and we're very happy to be a part of this." Premiering at the Solid Sound Festival will be Wilco guitarist Nels Cline's Solid Sound Stompbox Station, an interactive guitar pedal exhibit. "The ZT amps will be in the center of as many as five circles of effects pedals (one Lunchbox amp and one extension Lunchbox Cab in each circle) for amplification; pedals which the participant/concertgoer can manipulate and which basically play each other," explained Nels Cline. Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche will also use Lunchbox amps in his interactive drum head exhibit, with Lunchbox amps to be housed inside various percussion instruments. Learn more at ztamplifiers.com.

Gov't Mule to Release Mulennium

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
December 31, 1999 ushered in a new century and millennium and called for something truly magical - and that night's Gov't Mule show at Atlanta's historic Roxy Theatre delivered it. What made this New Years Eve show so extraordinary? For starters, Little Milton, one of Warren Haynes' most important influences, joins Gov't Mule for six songs including "I Can't Quit You Baby" and "It Hurts Me Too." Mulennium also marks the 10th anniversary of Allen Woody's death and is the first official release featuring the original Gov't Mule trio issued since his passing. Mulennium features Gov't Mule's original lineup - Warren Haynes on guitar, Matt Abts on drums and the late Allen Woody on bass and contains many Mule covers played for the first time including The Black Crowes' "Sometimes Salvation" and King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man." Blues legend Little Milton and The Black Crowes' Audley Freed join Mule for a spirited second set that blazes into the wee hours of the new millennium. "Friends seen and unseen, I find myself, again, trying to conjure up what to say about a show-in this case a memorable, dare I even say magical show. New Year's shows, as everyone in Muleland knows, are very special to us. The show was never intended to be an official release but we knew it should be recorded and, thanks to our friend Doug Oade, it was. Finally after all this time we have re-mixed it and are happy to share it with you." - Warren Haynes The collection was remixed and mastered from the original master tapes. Mulennium is out August 3 via Evil Teen. Tracks are: Disc 1: 1. Bad Little Doggie 2. Lay Your Burden Down 3. Blind Man In The Dark 4. Life Before Insanity 5. Larger Than Life 6. Towering Fool 7. Countdown Jam 8. 21st Century Schizoid Man 9. We're Not Gonna Take It 10. Dazed And Confused Disc 2: 1. When The Blues Comes Knockin'* 2. My Dog And Me 3. Lump On Your Stump * 4. I Can't Quit You Baby * 5. It Hurts Me Too * 6. Blues Is Alright * 7. Is It My Body? ** 8. Power Of Soul ** Disc 3: 1. Helter Skelter ** 2. Sometimes Salvation ** 3. 30 Days In The Hole *** 4. End Of The Line ** 5. Out Of The Rain **** 6. I Shall Be Released ***** 7. Simple Man ****** 8. Crowd *with Little Milton **with Audley Freed ***with Audley Freed & Robert Kearns ****with Audley Freed, Johnny Mosier & Mark Van Allen *****with Barry Richman, Robert Kearns, Johnny Mosier & Mark Van Allen ****** with Audley Freed & Mark Van Allen Learn more at mule.net.

People You'd Like To Know Photo Book Set for Release

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
A new collection of exclusive, highly personal photographs of music's most enduring personages People You'd Like To Know, will be released October 1 by Omnibus Press. Beautifully captured in never-before-seen black and white photos, People You'd Like to Know offers an intimate glance into the working lives of legendary artists from the '60s, '70s and '80s including Bob Dylan, David Bowie, John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, Frank Zappa, Blondie, New York Dolls, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Taj Mahal and Steve Winwood, among many others. In celebration of the release of People You'd Like To Know, there will be a book launch event at Morrison Hotel in New York City on October 28, where prints from the book will be on display. Photographer Herb Wise travelled extensively over three decades, attending dozens of music festivals across the country, where he developed palpable camaraderie among musicians. Wise, who learned his craft from friend David Gahr, the revered photographer of American folk music performers, was president of Oak Publications working on books about folk musicians. In order to aid his regular need for musicians' photos he began travelling with Gahr, who showed him how to shoot and what to look for in a portrait. In vivid portraits and powerful performance shots, Wise seized moments with some of the best-known artists in the folk, pop, rock, jazz and blues worlds. He manages to capture distinctly personal images of these artists, many of whom were in the very beginnings of their storied careers-a youthful New York Dolls in rare individual portraits and a warmly casual Jackson Browne strumming a guitar backstage as a guest of Joni Mitchell's at Mariposa '72. Wise even took captivating shots of lesser-known regional artists like Ann Arbor's Shaky Jake Woods, whose eccentric style is encapsulated in a close-up photo of his ring-laden fingers and snapshot-covered guitar. Wise says, "You'd like many of these people. They are good friends, even to know them through a brief glance along the way." This collection transmits that feeling of camaraderie while letting us share Wise's brief glances into the early working lives of some great musicians of our time.

Armor Gold Cables Offers Right-Angle Ends

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Armor Gold Cables is now offering Premium USA Handmade Instrument cables with Right Angle ends in 10 and 20 foot lengths. These cables offer the same components and design as the company's award-winning instrument cables, with a polymer outer mesh, G&H Show Saver Plugs, and double-layer heat shrink. We use medium-low capacitance wire for great tone. Yes, different cables do sound different... super-low capacitance (below 30 pf) can sound too trebly and harsh, while higher capacitance (over 40 pf) cables can sound dull and lifeless. We hit the sweet spot at 33 pf for that elusive combination of warmth with clarity. Learn more at armorgoldcables.com.

Big Lou Guitars - For Big Hands

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Big Lou Guitars' Wide Nut guitar has an extra wide fretboard with .315" (8mm) string spacing, and a 1 7/8"-wide nut to accommodate bigger hands and fingers. A slotted groove in the pickguard is designed to improve picking accuracy and provide a point of reference for the player's picking hand. The guitar has a basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, floating vibrato, one humbucking pickup, two single-coil pickups, a five-way selector switch, and foil shielding on all electrical components. Learn more at biglouguitar.com.

Frontier Record Celebrates 30 Years

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Frontier Records, the independent Los Angeles-based record label founded in 1980, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with their 100th release, YES L.A., scheduled for later this year. Owned and operated by Lisa Fancher, Frontier is instrumental in releasing classic punk, alternative country, paisley underground, goth and pop records that are considered classic 'must-haves' to critics and serious music collectors alike. Among the first to tap into the Los Angeles punk scene, Frontier Records' initial success was releasing the classic Circle Jerks record Group Sex. This was later followed by Orange County's Adolescents' debut known as the Blue Album TSOL's Dance with Me and Christian Death's Only Theatre of Pain. However, it was the eponymous debut LP from Suicidal Tendencies that spawned the unexpected MTV smash "Institutionalized" that put Frontier on the map. If you caught the Don Johnson vehicle Miami Vice episode featuring Suicidal, you'd know the mainstream finally caught up with the underground. In light of these early successes in punk rock, it is easy to overlook the fact that Frontier has also released well-known records from bands from a variety of genres: The Long Ryders, Thin White Rope, The Three O'Clock, Young Fresh Fellows, American Music Club and Heatmiser, Elliott Smith's first band. All of these groups and more released full-length-albums on Frontier Records that were as important to the labels evolution as any punk rock angst the label is best known for. Perhaps most importantly, a woman starting her own independent record label in an overwhelmingly male dominated music industry in 1980 was key in shattering the notion that 'chicks can't rock'. Simply put, women didn't start their own record labels then, especially in the testosterone-drenched L.A. punk rock scene. For founder Lisa Fancher to have survived as an indie label for thirty solid years on, having seen her fair share of record distributors go belly up and put her label in financial jeopardy, makes its survival almost as impressive as its inception. "When I founded Frontier Records in 1980, I had no idea what running a record label entailed, I just wanted to turn other people onto the local bands I loved," said Frontier Records founder Lisa Fancher. "It's pretty cool to have outlasted so many independent - and major - labels thirty years later but what really still makes me want to continue is to continue to release great music that still needs to be heard. Especially now!" Having begun her music career as a teenage clerk at the Bomp Records store on Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood- concurrently fan club president for L.A.'s The Dickies and publisher of Biff!Bang!Pow! fanzine- Lisa learned the ropes on how to jumpstart an indie label from the best possible mentors a person could have, Greg and Suzy Shaw at Bomp Records. While her first success came from releasing soon-to-be classic punk titles by new bands, Fancher gradually delved into the world of reissuing out-of-print catalog as well, including Born Innocent from Redd Kross, two legendary slabs of punk vinyl from The Weirdos: Weird World Vol. 1 & 2, Dangerhouse Vols 1 & 2 featuring crucial 45s by X, The Avengers, Weirdos, Black Randy, et al.), the Adolescents' Complete Demos 1980 - 1996 and The Middle Class' compilation Out of Vogue. In late 2010, Frontier will re-release the digitally remastered Christian Death classic Only Theater of Pain with Rozz Williams' original artwork as well as Dangerhouse's Yes L.A. compilation and other nuggets soon to be announced. Additionally, Frontier has always been a vinyl-oriented label, which considers the limited edition colored vinyl LP their calling card - so expect more colored wax reissues in the coming months. Visit frontierrecords.com.

Lynch Mob Embarks On A Summer Tour

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Lynch Mob is getting ready to embark on a summer tour in support of their current release "Smoke and Mirrors" on Frontiers Records. The band line-up for this tour consists of George Lynch (shred master), Oni Logan (vox), Michael Devin (bassologist) and Brian Tichy (time-keeper). After seventeen long years singer Oni Logan and guitar wizard George Lynch found their way back together and again show their amazing abilities in some killer new Hard Rock songs." I would say this new record "Smoke and Mirrors", is the record we should have put out as a follow up to "Wicked Sensation"...better late than never I guess...", says Lynch presenting the new record. For more, visit www.georgelynch.com.

Alfred Offers The Complete Idiot's Guide for Guitar and Ukelele

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Alfred Music Publishing is publishing The Complete Idiot's Guide to Acoustic Guitar Hits, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Rock Guitar Hits, and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Rock Hits for Ukulele. The Complete Idiot's Guide series will have music makers strumming and fingerpicking to their favorite songs in no time! Written in full music notation and TAB, these one-of-a-kind arrangements sound just like the album versions and are easy to play. Each song begins with a lesson that teaches style and technique-offering important tips to help you play the song perfectly! In addition, the books begin with a short refresher course on the basics of music theory to bring musicians of any level up to speed. Using Alfred's exclusive Tone 'N' Tempo software on the included CDs, these fun and educational books provide customized learning by allowing the user to easily loop sections for practice, slow tracks down or speed them up without changing the pitch, switch back and forth between the full-performance and play-along tracks, and even change keys! Three versions of each song are included on the CD: full performance with vocals, full performance without vocals, and full performance without guitar/ukulele for play-along. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Acoustic Guitar Hits offers 25 simple, authentic arrangements of the hugely popular acoustic hits of our time. Featuring legendary artists such as Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Eagles, Pink Floyd, Harry Chapin, Plain White Ts, Green Day, Van Morrison, The Allman Brothers, and Fleetwood Mac, this book will have you strumming and fingerpicking your favorite songs immediately! Titles: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You * Cat's in the Cradle * Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) * Hey There Delilah * How Can You Mend a Broken Heart * Margaritaville * Moondance * Never Going Back Again* Take It Easy * and many more. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Rock Guitar Hits presents 25 of the greatest rock hits ever, featuring rock 'n' roll legends such as Creed, Santana, Green Day, Pink Floyd, Nickelback, The Allman Brothers, Cream, and Derek & the Dominos. Through authentic arrangements that are accessible even to beginners, this book will have you playing those world-famous, classic guitar parts in no time! Titles: Bad to the Bone * Boulevard of Broken Dreams * Creep * Hotel California * How You Remind Me * Immigrant Song * Paralyzer * Smooth * Soul Man * Sunshine of Your Love * and many more. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Rock Hits for Ukulele is the ultimate guide to learning your favorite rock hits on the ukulele, the instrument craze sweeping the country! Featuring Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole's famous rendition of "Over the Rainbow," this book includes 25 simple, but authentic arrangements of rock hits by hugely popular artists such as Pink Floyd, Green Day, Radio Head, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Journey, Cream, and more. Titles: Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) * Bad to the Bone * Do You Want to Know a Secret * Don't Stop Belevin' *Gimme Some Lovin' * If You Could Read My Mind * Stairway to Heaven * Sunshine of Your Love* Wild Night * and many more.

Country Music HoF All For The Hall Fundraiser Returns

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's All for the Hall fundraiser will return to Los Angeles for a second consecutive year. The event, which will take place on Thursday, September 23, at Club Nokia, will again follow a "guitar pull" format featuring performances by Country Music Hall of Fame members Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson, superstar Taylor Swift, and a very special fourth chair that must remain anonymous. The evening offers a unique opportunity to see these acclaimed singer-songwriters interact with one another as they take turns swapping songs, stories and personal recollections. The "guitar pull" is a Nashville specialty; it originated in the homes of Nashville songwriters who gathered to try out new compositions for their peers. Nashville's most storied guitar pulls were hosted by Johnny and June Carter Cash. The hallmarks of a great guitar pull are spontaneity and camaraderie. The Museum launched All for the Hall, its first-ever non-bricks-and-mortar fundraising campaign, in 2005. The campaign addresses the Museum's need for long-term financial security and will provide a safety net for the institution and its work. This is the fourth year the Museum has taken its "annual giving" event on the road, hosting previous All for the Hall events in New York in 2007 and 2008 and in Los Angeles in 2009. "This year especially, the event will provide much needed support as Nashville works to recover from the devastating impact of a once-every-500-years flood," said Director Kyle Young. "While our exhibits and collections are all on upper floors and never in danger, flood waters did reach 'five feet high and rising' in our ground-floor Ford Theater." Last year's event, also held at Club Nokia, featured performances by Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam and Melissa Etheridge; special guests included Chris Isaak, who also acted as host, Kara DioGuardi and Michael McDonald. "Our All for the Hall Los Angeles debut gave us an opportunity to focus on West Coast country music history and remind our guests that these artists and executives and their songs are a part of the story we both preserve and teach at the Museum," said Young. "By design, guitar-pull content is unplanned and unrehearsed. It was very exciting to see West Coast country spontaneously become the theme of the 2009 performances, which included musical salutes to Gram Parsons, Buck Owens and Cindy Walker, among others," he said. "We are grateful for our warm welcome last year and look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones in September." Describing last year's event, Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Any visitor to the [Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum] realizes that music also can take the form of a joke, a nursery rhyme, a prayer, a come-on or a campfire tale...Harris, Yoakam, Melissa Etheridge and Vince Gill touched upon all those forms, showing the flexibility of 'country' as they did so..." (10/2/09). Guests at the 2009 event included legendary producer (and former Elvis Presley and Emmylou Harris pianist) Tony Brown; recording artist and songwriter Sarah Buxton; Desperate Housewives actor James Denton; eclectic singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones; renowned western tailor Manuel; actress-writer-director Marianna Palka; actress Mary Kay Place, star of television's Big Love; and film-theater-television actor Jason Ritter, son of the late actor John Ritter and grandson of Country Music Hall of Fame member Tex Ritter. For more, visit countrymusichalloffame.org.

Manson's Launches John Paul Jones Signature Bass

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The Manson John Paul Jones E-Bass model is a replica of the bass that Hugh Manson made for Jones in the early '90s and has become John's first call four-string ever since. Featuring a maple through-neck construction, figured maple top, Aged Cherry Sunburst high gloss lacquer, ebony fingerboard, EMG pickups and active circuit, Hipshot D-Tuner, Schaller machineheads and Badass bridge, the specs reflect exactly the current upgraded hardware of the bass John is currently using on tour with Them Crooked Vultures. Visit mansons.co.uk.

Ozzy, Iommi Settle Differences in Ownership of Black Sabbath

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi of the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath have amicably resolved their problems over the ownership of the Black Sabbath name and court proceedings in New York have been discontinued. Both parties are glad to put this behind them and to cooperate together for the future and would like it to be known that the issue was never personal, it was always business.

Coney Island Rockabilly Festival Set to Roll

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The 2010 Coney Island Cockabilly Roadshow features, "...the trashiest, dirtiest rock and roll, the most mind-bending and bizarre sideshow and the most sultry and seductive burlesque that Coney Island has to offer." The traveling roadshow will play clubs and bars across the United States, concluding over Labor Day Weekend on the boardwalk in Coney Island, New York. Check it out cockabillyrecords.com.

Electro-Harmonix Releases Two Pedals

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Very Best of Free and Bad Company Goes Gold

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New Mini-Coil Cable From Lava

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The Lava Mini Coil cable has a 99.99 percent pure oxygen-free low-strand count copper conductor, right angle G&H Show Saver Plugs, and low noise due special layering and a proprietary outer jacket. The Mini Coil can stretch to between one and 12 inches. It is offered in a variety of colors including black, white, purple, metallic green, metallic red, and orange.Learn more at lavacable.com.

Take A Stand Launches Custom Guitar Stands

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Take a Stand guitar stands are designed to be structurally sound, aesthetically beautiful, and flattering to your guitar and its surroundings. They are handcrafted using fine hardwoods with wood trim accents, machined metal and genuine leather. Designed and patented by Stuart Mono, the stands provide a balanced, low center of gravity for maximum stability. Minimal contact with the guitar's finish is an essential feature. The contact points are surgical rubber covered with genuine leather, thus protecting the guitar's finish. The supports are secured to the neck of the stand using internal hardened stainless-steel pins. The two models available can accommodate virtually all guitars including unique shaped guitars like Gibson Flying Vs and Explorers. For more, go to TakeaStandInc.com.

Michael Schenker Group Sets 30th Anniversary Tour Dates

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
While in the midst of its 30th Anniversary tour, The Michael Schenker Group will release Live In Tokyo: 30th Anniversary Japan Tour on DVD this October 19. Recorded in January, 2010, the group consists of Michael Schenker, Gary Barden, Simon Phillips, Wayne Findlay, and Neil Murray. The band blasts through a track list highlighting all stages of Schenker's career, from UFO and Scorpions hits through MSG classic tracks, to his solo compositions. The tour is ongoing.

Hank Cochran Passes

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Hank Cochran, the legendary songwriter who penned country-music classics like "I Fall To Pieces," "Make The World Go Away," "Ocean Front Property," "The Chair" and "Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me," passed away July 15 at his home Hendersonville, Tennessee, after suffering a long illness. Cochran was inducted to the Nashville Songwriters Association International Hall of Fame in 1974, and honored by B.M.I. in June '09 for his six-decade career. He is survived by his wife, Suzi, daughter Booth Calder, and three sons - Garland Perry Cochran Jr., James Lee Cochran, and Daniel Cochran.

John Jorgenson Goes to Iraq on a Mission of Music

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Guitarist John Jorgenson recently returned from a musical tour of Iraq sponsored by Lone Wolf Productions, to entertain the troops. The band included members of the band Orleans and also featured Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult on bass and vocalists Jimi Jamison of Survivor, Skip Martin of Kool & the Gang), and Alex Ligertwood of Santana. Billed as "Rock and Pop Masters," the band also featured John playing his Gladiator solid-body electric guitar; which was recently introduced by Saga Musical Instruments. At the end of the tour, this guitar was donated to the troops on behalf of John and Saga. To no one's surprise, the show was a huge hit with this super group of players making many new friends and playing to appreciative audiences of servicemen and servicewomen wherever they went. "Of course, we rocked all the classics from all of the bands including the crowd favorite, 'Don't Fear the Reaper,' where Serviceman Kyle McKnight joined in on cowbell," said Jorgenson. "Naturally the crowd enthusiastically cried out for 'More!' The entire tour was certainly a once in a lifetime experience and we had a wonderful time entertaining the brave men and women out there protecting our country!"

JW Jones Preps Midnight Memphis Sun

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Ruf Records announces an August 10 U.S. release date for the label debut from blues guitarist/singer JW-Jones, Midnight Memphis Sun. Recorded primarily at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Midnight Memphis Sun features special guest appearances by two iconic blues performers: guitarist Hubert Sumlin and harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite. Ruf Records is distributed in the U.S. by the Allegro Corporation. Considered Canada's top touring blues artist, Maple Blues award-winner JW-Jones wrote or co-wrote eight of the dozen tracks on the new CD, which also includes exquisite covers of songs from Lowell Fulson ("Love Grows Cold"), Bryan Adams ("Cuts Like a Knife"), Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee ("Burnt Child") and Jimmy Reed ("I Don't Go for That"). His original songs demonstrate a special affinity for the feel of blues, R&B and other roots music forms, while adding topical lyrics that reference everything from the global recession ("Off the Market') to the Bernie Madoff scandal ("Born Operator"). His incendiary guitar playing showcases a variety of styles and influences: from Magic Sam on "Born Operator" and B.B. King on "Right on Time;" to Buddy Guy on "Make a Move" and Peter Green on the appropriately-titled "Howlin' with Hubert," wherein Jones and the great Hubert Sumlin engage in some wonderful guitar interplay. The legendary Sumlin, whose signature guitar work graced the music of Howlin' Wolf for over 20 years and was named in the list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" by Rolling Stone, clearly had a ball recording his three tracks on Midnight Memphis Sun. "JW's got it down! So much soul, and nice material. You can't beat it. I am telling the truth," he said after the sessions. Another blues legend, harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite, also adds his trademark harmonica work on three tracks, including the soon-to-be-classic original tune, "Kissin' in Memphis," as Jones throws down some funky Texas guitar licks on a song extolling the sights and sounds of The Bluff City. And on "I Don't Go for That," Jones, Musselwhite and company conjure up classic Chicago '50s blues from the South Side. Seven tracks on the new CD were recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis, featuring a band including all-stars Larry Taylor (Canned Heat) on bass and Richard Innes (Kim Wilson) on drums. Throughout, regular touring band member Jesse Whiteley adds funky and soulful touches on Hammond organ and piano. Learn more at .jw-jones.com.

Nick Lowe Announces Tour

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Iconic British songwriter Nick Lowe will bring a full band this side of the Atlantic for a national tour for the first time this millennium. Droves of U.S. fans have watched enraptured, as Nick has perfected his now legendary solo performances over the past ten years, culminating in his awe-inspiring Austin City Limits performance from season XX. Constant clamoring for full band renditions of his new and classic material has finally paid off, resulting in a national tour this fall. The U.S. line-up will feature Geraint Watkins (keyboards), Robert Trehern (drums), Johnny Scott (guitar) and Matt Radford (bass). An architect of pub rock with Brinsley Schwartz and Rockpile, then later emerging as the co-founder of Stiff Records, Lowe debuted as a solo artist with pop monolith Jesus of Cool/Pure Pop for Now People in 1978. In recent years, Lowe has continued to produce some of his most critically-acclaimed solo albums with The Impossible Bird, Dig My Mood, The Convincer and most recently, the amazing At My Age. Considered by Nick to be a "trilogy" of sorts, the three albums immediately preceding At My Age - The Impossible Bird, Dig My Mood and The Convincer - will be pressed on vinyl for the first time ever, hitting stores September 21. Learn more at yeproc.com.

Riot Fest 2010 Announces Lineup

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Riot Fest announces the largest punk festival yet, set for October 6-10, 2010 in Chicago. Bad Religion, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Circle Jerks, Articles of Faith, Snapcase, Less Than Jake, The Lawrence Arms, Bouncing Souls, High On Fire, Corrosion of Conformity, Riverboat Gamblers, Red Oktoberfest presented by Red Scare, "Busted at Oz" Reunion, Cro-Mags, FUN., Negative Approach, Smoking Popes, Bhopal Stiffs, The Meatmen, Agnostic Front, Off With Their Heads, Brendan Kelly, The Toasters, Roy Ellis a.k.a. Mr. Symarip, Righteous Fool and many more. A full listing of announced bands is available at www.riotfest.org. Fans should be ready for new announcements of another batch of heavyweight bands in the coming weeks - Riot Fest is by no means done announcing major additions to this hoard of punk stars. Riot Fest is revered for reuniting classic bands from years past (last year the UK's Cock Sparrer electrified audiences in two sold out shows). This year is no exception. Snapcase plays their first show outside their hometown of Buffalo in years, Articles of Faith play with their original line-up for the first time in 25 years, Bhopal Stiffs reunite for one Riot Fest show only, New York crossover giants Cro-mags return and Negative Approach play a rare show. Corrosion of Conformity will return for their first show with the original three-piece "Animosity"-era line up of Mike Dean, Reed Mullin and Woody Weatherman, performing songs from "Animosity" and "Technocracy". An extraordinary array of punk bands will take the stages at Congress Theater, Metro, House of Blues, Double Door and Subterranean. There will 17 shows over five venues (not including secret shows), making 5 day passes extraordinarily economical. With more headliners than ever before, Riot Fest saw the need to make traversing the city easier and answered the call - 2010 will find shuttle buses running from Cobra Lounge (there is ample free parking nearby) to each venue and back, where rumor has it that late-night free shows will be going down. A series of official Riot Fest secret shows will be announced via RiotFest.org; they'll take place undisclosed locations over the summer and fall. Now in its sixth year, Riot Fest has come a long way in a very short time. When Mike Petryshyn launched Riot Fest in 2005, only two of the bands he really wanted to play agreed to do so. In the first five years, 25,000 fans have attended to see over 200 bands. Learn more at riotfest.org.

Alejandro Escovedo Scores Highest Chart Debut

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Alejandro Escovedo's 10th album, Street Songs Of Love, was released last week and made the highest chart debut of the Texas troubadour's career at #93 on Billboard's Top 200 Album chart. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Heatseeker chart. The new record, out on Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group, features Bruce Springsteen, Ian Hunter, and was produced by Tony Visconti. Alejandro's summer tour continues and he will perform on "The Late Show with David Letterman" July 21. Learn more at alejandroescovedo.com.

Steve Earle Garners Emmy Nomination

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Steve Earle has received an Emmy Award Nomination for his song, "This City" in the Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Category. The new song closed the season finale of HBO's series "Treme." Produced by T Bone Burnett and featuring arrangements by Allen Toussaint, "This City" was written specifically for the series. From David Simon (creator of The Wire) and Eric Overmyer (writer/producer of Law & Order), "Treme" begins in the fall of 2005, three months after Hurricane Katrina's devastation on the city of New Orleans. The series title refers to one of New Orleans' oldest neighborhoods and a historically important source of music and culture. The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards telecast, which will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon, will air on August 29th on NBC. This is Steve Earle's first Emmy Award Nomination. As he appeared in the critically acclaimed David Simon series, "The Wire"/, Steve Earle played a recurring character, Harley, a street musician, in three episodes of "Treme". When speaking about the brand new song, Steve Earle stated, "David Simon came on the set one day and asked me to write a song that my character would have written in '05. The next morning I woke up and wrote it." Steve Earle has also announced summer tour dates with Electric Hot Tuna in addition to multiple nights, which begin this evening, in his adoptive hometown of New York City at the City Winery. Each night will feature his wife, critically acclaimed singer songwriter Allison Moorer and special guests. Among those announced are Roseanne Cash, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Greg Trooper, and Steve Earle's son, the critically acclaimed singer songwriter, Justin Townes Earle. To read more, go to steveearle.com.

Tony Joe White Gets Raw

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
One of the most distinctive and respected songwriters of the Deep South, Tony Joe White, gets raw and real on his new record, The Shine, set for September 28 release on his own Swamp Records. The Shine is a stripped-down collection of ten new White-penned songs that beautifully lays bare his rich, nuanced baritone, and distinctive brand of swampy southern soul. While White's last record, the critically acclaimed 'Uncovered,' featured a slew of special guests including Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Michael McDonald and J.J. Cale, 'The Shine' is all about White. He produced and recorded the album himself in his home studio outside Nashville. From the first whispery notes of "Season Man," in which he recounts an ominous dream, to the record's closing track, "A Place to Watch the Sun Go Down," The Shine is an album of understated beauty and beguiling mystery. Over the past five decades, Tony Joe White a.k.a. the Swamp Fox, has scored major hits of his own, and seen some immortal artists turn his compositions into signature songs--from Elvis Presley's version of "Polk Salad Annie" to Ray Charles' take on "Rainy Night In Georgia." Tony Joe has also written for Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Kenny Chesney, Hank Williams Jr. and Dusty Springfield to name but a few. White will tour extensively this fall. Learn more at tonyjoewhite.com.

Grascals Shoot "Last Train To Clarksville" Video

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The Grascals kept their cool as a 100-plus degree heat wave hovered over the mid-state during an all-day video shoot for their current country and bluegrass radio single, "Last Train To Clarksville." Directed by Marcel Chagnon (Clay Walker's "She Won't Be Lonely Long"), the piece was filmed at several locations, including Cummins Station/The Gulch, Lower Broadway and at Franklin, Tennessee's Riverstone Farm. A bright orange 1966 Dodge van co-stars with the band and is featured throughout the video. Quick close-ups of each Grascal, mixed with fast-frame action, keep the tempo pumping. Director Marcel's choice of the 12 frames-per-second shooting technique gives the clip an intentional, stop-motion feel reminiscent of 1960s and '70s home movies. The video gives a strong, original "shout-out" to The Monkees and their 1966 #1 hit with "Last Train." The single, the first release from their newest CD, THE FAMOUS LEFTY FLYNN'S, has just shipped to country radio, but is already a proven hit on the bluegrass charts. "Last Train To Clarksville" currently holds the #2 spot on the Bluegrass Music Profiles July Chart and is #20, on the July Bluegrass Unlimited Chart. THE FAMOUS LEFTY FLYNN'S is currently #3 on the BILLBOARD Top Bluegrass Albums Chart, # 2 on the Bluegrass Unlimited Chart and #1 on the Bluegrass Music Profiles Top 10 National Bluegrass CD Chart. Learn more at www.grascals.com.

Slash, Myles Kennedy at Sunset Strip Music Fest

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The third annual SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL (SSMF), set for Aug. 26-28, 2010, has announced 2010 honoree Slash will perform with FERGIE and MYLES KENNEDY--two of the vocalists on Slash's self-titled album, which topped the charts as the #1 rock album and #3 on the Billboard Top 200 list in its first week of release--during the Saturday, August 28 outdoor street festival. Organizers also announced COMMON, SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS, NEON TREES, BIG B, and STEEL PANTHER have been added to the street festival lineup that is being headlined by the previously announced Smashing Pumpkins. The boulevard is closed to traffic between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard and will be transformed into a premier concert destination with outdoor stages, beer gardens, a VIP lounge, food trucks, interactive experiences and live performances within the venues during the day. Multi-Grammy Award-winning musician and noted actor Common, who has spent his career pushing boundaries and taking listeners out of their comfort zones with his socially conscious words, will close the East outdoor stage. The street fest will also feature Semi Precious Weapons (whose appearance marks a break in their tour with Lady Gaga and a return to their Sunset Strip roots); Neon Trees (who "are excited to share the stage with such an amazing eclectic group of artists as well as have the time to become fans for the day"); Big B with special guests (known for his high caliber collaborations with guest performers, Big B will preview songs from his upcoming fifth studio album); and a larger than life performance by The Sunset Strip's resident heavy metal band Steel Panther. For more, visit www.ssmf.com.

Hendrix, Fullerton, to Enter Fender HoF

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Fender Musical Instruments Corp. (FMIC) is proud to announce that it will honor rock legend Jimi Hendrix and founding employee George Fullerton at its fourth annual Fender Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony August 13 at the Tempe Center of the Arts in Tempe, Arizona. The Fender Hall of Fame was created in 2007 as an annual celebration of Fender founders, artists, leaders, innovators and other historically significant figures, and as an institution in which their contributions to the company's legacy are permanently commemorated. Special guests at the 2010 induction ceremony will include Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, Geoff Fullerton, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Chris Layton. Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC, is the central figure in preserving and protecting the ongoing legacy of her legendary stepbrother, Jimi Hendrix. As the head of the Hendrix estate for nearly a decade, she will be present at the induction ceremony that afternoon to accept the honor on behalf of Jimi Hendrix and the Hendrix family. Over a career spanning nearly half a century, world-famous recording producer and engineer Eddie Kramer is well known as the man who recorded Jimi Hendrix; playing an integral role in recording every seminal Hendrix album from the 1967 debut Are You Experienced to 1971's The Cry of Love. Kramer is unquestionably one of the most renowned and well-respected producer/engineers in rock history; his work has also included famous albums for the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Peter Frampton and many other artists. Fender's own Geoff Fullerton is the son of George Fullerton, one of Leo Fender's best friends, first employees and key right-hand men during Fender's original 1940s-1960s golden age. A generation later, Geoff Fullerton has lent his own talents as a builder to the Fender Custom Shop in Corona, Calif.; he remains there today and will be on hand at the induction ceremony to accept the honor on behalf of his father and family. The fourth annual Fender Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will also feature a musical performance by noted blues guitarist/singer/songwriter Kenny Wayne Shepherd, ably backed by premier electric blues drummer Chris Layton, formerly of Double Trouble and also known for his work with a variety of artists including Storyville, Arc Angels, Doyle Bramhall II and many others. James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (1942-1970) is universally hailed as the greatest electric guitarist in the history of rock and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. In the annals of rock history-and especially in Fender history-he towers above all others as an artist whose life and work were as phenomenal as the era which he helped to define and personify. Innovative, enigmatic and astoundingly talented, Hendrix pioneered an explosive new role for the electric guitar in the latter 1960s over the course of a meteoric career that was as musically adventurous as it was all too brief. Indeed, one can only speculate on the even greater musical heights he would have achieved had he lived beyond the age of 27. With bands the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys, he recorded groundbreaking hit singles and albums, including Are You Experienced and Axis: Bold as Love (1967), Electric Ladyland (1968) and Band of Gypsys (1970), all of which are as acclaimed and influential today as when first released. A mesmerizing performer, Hendrix also turned in unforgettable concert moments, including his literally fiery performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and his immortal appearance at the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair. With his Stratocaster guitar slung upside down and his artful and inventive use of distortion, feedback, and other effects, Jimi Hendrix bequeathed to the world an artistic legacy so powerful that he has transcended mere stardom to become a worldwide cultural phenomenon that endures to this day. George William Fullerton (1923-2009) played a pivotal role during Fender's original 1940s-1960s golden age. In the mid-1940s, as a gifted artist and working musician with a keen interest in electronics, George became friends with Leo Fender. The two men eventually became business associates after Leo personally enlisted George to sign on with the fledgling guitar and amplifier company. With his artistic sense and natural ability to translate ideas into practical processes and machinery on the shop floor, Fullerton contributed to the creation of several of the most important musical instruments of the 20th century, including the Telecaster®, Stratocaster, Precision Bass and Jazz Bass® guitars. George Fullerton reported to work at Fender on Feb. 2, 1948, after performing several years of side work for Leo. He ran the small shop and supervised the crew during those first formative years, bringing a congenial, family-like atmosphere to the feisty young company. He became vice president in charge of production in April 1959, and from that early era through the 1960s, he remained both well liked by everyone at Fender and steadfastly loyal to Leo, with whom he remained a lifelong friend and business partner long after both men retired from Fender in 1970. For more, visit www.fender.com.

Larry Thomas Appointed CEO of Fender

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today announced the appointment of Larry Thomas to Chief Executive Officer, following the retirement of long-time Chairman and CEO Bill Mendello. The announcement is part of a corporate succession plan that has been in place for nearly a year and officially positions Thomas in his new role, effective Aug. 1, 2010. Thomas was appointed to the FMIC Board of Directors in 2009 and brings nearly 40 years of music industry experience to FMIC, including his successful tenure (1996-2004) as Chairman and CEO of Guitar Center, Inc. The organizational move also names current FMIC Board members, Mark Fukunaga and Michael Lazarus as Co-Chairmen, effective Aug. 1, 2010. Mark Fukunaga has served as a member of the FMIC Board of Directors since July 1993 and is currently the Chairman and CEO of Servco Pacific Inc. Michael Lazarus has served as a member of the FMIC Board of Directors since December 2001. Lazarus co‑founded Weston Presidio, a private equity firm and FMIC's largest shareholder, in 1991, where he currently serves as Managing Partner. "Larry Thomas is a proven entrepreneur and seasoned professional manager with an impressive record of success throughout his entire career," said Lazarus. "We are very excited about our opportunity to work closely with Larry as he continues to build the FMIC culture and lead the FMIC team into the future," said Fukunaga. "I am delighted to be able to pass the leadership of FMIC into the very capable hands of Larry Thomas," said Mendello. "Larry is a widely-respected person with an incredible amount of experience and valuable insight about music companies and music retailers, large and small. He is one of the true legends in the industry and brings the credentials that will help lead FMIC to even greater future success." "It is an incredible honor and responsibility to be chosen to lead Fender Musical Instruments Corporation," said Thomas. "As one of the world's best known and most respected companies, there continues to be great potential in the FMIC brands, and I look forward to contributing to future success while growing the company's powerful musical legacy." Thomas began his career in 1971 with instrument wholesaler/importer Buegeleisen and Jacobson, Inc. He joined Guitar Center in 1977 as a salesperson, subsequently rising through increasingly responsible roles including store manager, regional manager, general manager, president and ultimately chairman and CEO. At Guitar Center, he played an integral role in the company's continued growth, acquisitions and subsequent public offerings, and eventual status as the largest, most popular music chain in North America.

Lava Cable Intros Soar Cable

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The Lava Soar uses dual 22 AWG 99.99-percent pure OFC solid-copper conductors in a unique configuration, dual layers of tailored shielding, and a rugged outer braid. It comes with highly conductive Lava Silver Wire plugs standard as part of a complete matched plugs-to-cable design. Durability over flexibility was chosen in the solid-core design and as a result the cable is slightly stiffer than an average stranded cable, but the Lava Soar still retains a nice lay and feel. Our goal with this cable is to provide same results at nearly half the price of other high end cables in this category. With low capacitance of 29 pF/ft in the sweet spot zone, it provides outstanding detailed frequency response so you can hear your guitar the way it was meant to be heard. Your tone will reach new heights with the Lava Soar. For more.lavacable.com.

Former Members of Yes, Toto Return wtih YOSO

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The term "Super-Group" describes a band rising out of two of the most creative bands of the past 30 years: YOSO is formed out of TOTO's brilliant lead vocalist Bobby Kimball and the creative force of former YES members, Tony Kaye and Billy Sherwood, thus equalling the magic of YES with the voice of TOTO. However, YOSO is much more than a combination of two classic rock groups. The band's debut album "Elements" will debut July 2nd in Europe and July 23rd in the USA on Frontiers Records. This long awaited release comes with a bonus live CD where the band plays some old and new classics. This musical blend presents a fascinating combination of the sound of YES ("90125"/"Big Generator" era) and TOTO, with a very interesting and original sound that truly encompasses the styles. Even with the band's two diverse heritages, YOSO intends to become its own identifiable entity in a very short time. YOSO's mission is to make the next decade one where their music will stand the test of time holding up alongside their classic rock roots. "YOSO was started when I suggested to Bobby Kimball we should write some new music and form a band," recalls Sherwood. "We had been working together on various tribute projects that I was producing and one thing lead to another. Before too long we had 5 songs in the can and were well on our way to making a record. That is when we started thinking seriously about taking it to the next level. Once there was a few songs underway the concept grew into the band we now have, " YOSO ". YOSO line-up was later rounded out with two amazingly gifted musicians: Johnny Bruhns as the guitarist and background vocalist and Scott Conner on drums, percussion and background vocals. For more, visit myspace.com/yosohq, www.frontiers.it .

Paul Gilbert Set to Release Instrumental CD

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Paul Gilbert unleashes his third instrumental masterpiece on Shrapnel Records, August 3. Fuzz Universe is my third guitar instrumental album," explains Gilbert. "Being a fan of pop music and rock bands, I am a reluctant convert into the art of instrumental rock music. But after touring with Joe Satriani's G3, I witnessed firsthand the power of the electric guitar to take center stage and rock the audience. Playing my guitar-driven songs live was a blast! This discovery led to a huge increase in my touring as a solo artist. In the last couple of years, I've played nearly 150 shows all over the world, with my guitar leading the way." Fuzz Universe title is inspired by Gilbert being so immersed in the world of guitar it made him realize that he lives in a Fuzz Universe. "Every generation of guitar players has their own terminology for the rock guitar sound: Distortion, Overdrive, Gain, Crunch, Saturation, Drive etc. For me, the word is 'fuzz.'" Gilbert's talent of arranging/composing lends to the new music's fresh melodies for songs that shows his true diversity. "As always, my influences are diverse and not what you might expect from a "heavy metal" artist. While I was writing the songs for Fuzz Universe, I was immersing myself in Bulgarian Female Choir music, Baroque lute and violin pieces, Johnny Cash songs about trains, cows, mules, and mining coal, the Bee Gees, and Ronnie James Dio. I mix all this into my head, and out came endless new ideas for my guitar to chew on. "After several months of being locked in my writing room, I gathered my touring band together and headed to the studio. Jeff Bowders played drums. Craig Martini played bass. Emi Gilbert (my wife) played keyboards. And I bent the guitar strings until I couldn't play anymore. "As usual, there are no dramatic stories here. No heroin overdoses, motorcycle accidents, celebrity divorces, or band-member boxing matches. The emotion, drama, and power are all in the music. That is the universe that I want to live in." Gilbert started his career with Shrapnel Records as a teenager in the late '80s, and is one of the most active guitarists from the original shred-guitar scene. His resume includes a number one song with Mister Big and cult status as founding member of the legendary and highly successful underground progressive metal band Racer X. For more, visit paulgilbert.com.

Black Crowes Prep Album, Set Tour Dates

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The Black Crowes are preparing to release a double album of all-acoustic material titled Croweology. Due August 3, it features new arrangements of the band's best-loved songs and catalogue picks. The band will celebrate the album's release that evening with a performance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and perform the next night, Wednesday, August 4, on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Next, they'll kick off a four-month North American tour August 13. It will wrap Dec 19 with a six-night stand in San Francisco at The Fillmore, after which Chris Robinson (vocals/guitar), Rich Robinson (guitar), Steve Gorman (drums), Sven Pipien (bass), Luther Dickinson (guitar) and Adam McDougall (keyboards) will go on a lengthy hiatus to catch their collective breaths and spend time with their families. Croweology spans The Black Crowes revered catalog with acoustic renditions of 20 songs from their two decades of cosmic rock 'n' roll. Commemorating the 20th anniversary of their landmark multi-platinum debut, 1990's Shake Your Moneymaker, Croweology gives listeners an intimate retrospective, stripping away these fan and band favorites like "Jealous Again," "Remedy," "She Talks To Angels" and "Wiser Time" to their very essence through brand new recordings, captured in 2009 at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles. Given its scope and bright approach, the Paul Stacey-produced Croweology is worth studying for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. In order to thank fans for 20 years of support, Croweology will be priced at the cost of a single album. In addition, it will be available on vinyl and as an iTunes LP. Listeners will get their first taste of Croweology when "Jealous Again" and "Morning Song" hit radio this week. Following the album's release, The Black Crowes will hit the road--with multiple nights in many key markets--on their "Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys" tour. In most cities, the band will perform for three hours: a 90-minute "Acoustic Hors D'oeuvres" set, followed by a 90-minute "Electric Reception with The Black Crowes." While on tour, The Black Crowes will be inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 11 at the 32nd Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Show. The official induction will feature a live performance by The Black Crowes. Presented by Friends of Georgia Music Festival, Inc, the evening will take place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in North Atlanta. The event marks the third decade that the non-profit organization has recognized Georgia's accomplished artists and musicians for outstanding achievements. Learn more at blackcrowes.com.

Ritenour's 6 String Theory Hits Streets

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Guitarist Lee Ritenour's new album, 6 String Theory, is now available. Produced by Lee and John Burk of the Concord Music Group, 6 String Theory, marks Lee's 50th year playing the guitar and features 20 world-class guitarists, including George Benson, B.B. King, Slash, Steve Lukather, John Scofield, Vince Gill, Keb' Mo', Taj Majal, Joe Bonamassa, Jonny Lang, and others. 2010 marks 50 years since Lee Ritenour starting playing the guitar, setting in motion a career that legends are made of. A career that has earned him 19 Grammy nominations, a Grammy Award, numerous #1 spots on guitar polls, A Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian SJ Awards, and the prestigious "Alumnus of the Year" award from USC. During his illustrious career, he has recorded over 40 albums, with 35 chart songs and was a founding member of the group Fourplay, considered the most successful group in contemporary jazz. As a young guitarist his diverse musical style became the foundation of over 3,000 sessions, covering a broad spectrum of artists ranging from his first session at 16 with the Mamas and Papas, to Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Simon & Garfunkel and Frank Sinatra. On his latest endeavor, 6 String Theory, Ritenour celebrates the instrument that has allowed him this blessing, the guitar; - by producing and assembling a star-studded tribute.

National Guitar Workshop Releases Beginner's Guide to Electric Guitar

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
National Guitar Workshop has released Beginner's Guide to Electric Guitar by Burgess Speed. The book provides an easy-to-understand and down-to-earth tone, this book gets to the important stuff first and doesn't bog you down with all the details. Learn all about the different types of electric guitars, amplifiers, and effects, all while learning how to play like your favorite bands such as Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Green Day, Metallica, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Alice in Chains, and more. To keep things simple, the music examples are written in TAB only and are designed to get you playing quickly-from riffs on a single string to power chords, pentatonic scales, and tunes in drop-D tuning. The accompanying CD features full band play-along tracks, allowing you to jam to your favorite hits instantly. Learn more at alfred.com.

Johnny Winter Live Through the '80s on DVD

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Johnny Winter Live Through the '80s on DVD will be released August 24. Hi Res Cover ArtIt includes an incredible collection of official archival performance footage from around the world compiled from the original masters. It features 18 performances from various locations such as MTV Rock Influences '84 "Guitar Greats", Massey Hall (Toronto '83), Roskilde DRTV (Roskilde, Denmark '84), New Hampshire ('84), Sonet Studio (Bromma, Sweden '87), Piazza Duomo (Pistoia, Italy '88), and more. Intermixed with the live content is interview footage from various locations. This program is the definitive document of Johnny's career in the '80s, and is also the perfect companion to 2007's live DVD compilation, Live Through the '70s. The program kicks off in grand style with four performances culled from Johnny's long-sought-after 1983 appearance at Canada's Massey Hall. Leading his high-energy trio -- Jon Paris (bass, harmonica) and Bobby T. Torello (drums) -- with laser-like focus and fire-breathing intensity, the DVD opens with a blistering rendition of the Sonny Boy Williamson blues classic, "Unseen Eye." Johnny would later release a studio version of this track on 1985's Serious Business [Alligator]. Next up is Johnny's original mid-tempo ballad, "Stranger," for which he plays a solo that is nothing short of a textbook of his virtuoso capabilities: with blazing speed and razor-sharp execution, Johnny's ideas flow from one to the next with his one-of-a-kind unrelenting drive and inspired, passionate execution. The Massey Hall segment rounds out with Johnny's original fingerpicked Delta-style blues workout, "Sweet Papa John," and the rock 'n' roll classic, "I Used to Love Her." The next two tracks come from Johnny's 1984 performance at the Capital Theater in Passaic, NJ, featuring the hard-driving shuffle "Mad Dog" (released on that year's Guitar Slinger [Alligator]) and the slow blues workout, "Good Times Woman." With his newly acquired headstock-less Lazer guitar, Johnny plays with mind-boggling speed and flawless precision. Later that same year, Johnny performed in front of 100,000 people at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, with Paris and new drummer Tom Compton. Four tracks are included from this outstanding performance: "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Boot Hill," plus incendiary versions of two of Winter's signature tunes, Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode." Shirtless and with his screamin' demon tattoo in full view, Johnny prowls the stage like a possessed madman. The fast rock 'n' roller "Lights Out [Guitar Slinger] and Johnny's old favorite, "Please Come Home for Christmas," filmed in 1984 in New Hampshire, are succeeded by two videos shot for Alligator Records: the Guitar Slinger version of "Don't Take Advantage of Me"-which was, at the time, shown in high rotation on MTV--and a very rare and candid interview with Johnny, during which he plays unaccompanied electric guitar. This DVD also includes rarely seen archival footage of Johnny riding his tour bus, talking candidly about his deep feelings for blues music, and relaxing backstage prior to a Swedish television appearance in 1987. Two songs are included from that performance: a rock-solid rendition of "Sound the Bell" (featuring subtle quotes from Freddie King's "Sen-Sa-Shun" and "San-Ho-Zay") and the hard-rocking shuffle that has become one of Johnny signature songs, "Mojo Boogie." The final segment of the DVD features two absolutely scorching performances from the 1988 Pistoia Blues Festival in Italy: the extended slow blues, "Early in the Morning," and a lightening fast version of "Serious as a Heart Attack."

Bachman, Turner Prep New Album

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
the two men at the heart of legendary band Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Canadian rock n' roll stars Randy Bachman and Fred Turner, have reunited for the first time in nearly 20 years. The pair's first gig as Bachman & Turner was a recent intimate club show on their hometown stage at Winnipeg's renowned Pyramid Cabaret, and the band's official global return was in front of tens of thousands of attendees of the Sweden Rock Festival earlier this month, alongside Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses and Billy Idol. A self-titled new studio album will be released on E1 Music (Canada), and RBE Music/Fontana (U.S.) September 7, with a world tour to follow. Bachman & Turner's upcoming album will be stocked with all original new tracks penned by the pair. Songs including "Rock and Roll Is the Only Way Out, " "Slave to the Rhythm" and ten others feature a heavy sound that seamlessly fits alongside the band's renowned classic rock anthems "Takin' Care of Business" and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet." Bachman & Turner's first single "Rollin' Along" is currently being spun on rock radio stations on both sides of the border, and is available now as a digital single. In the mid-'70s, Randy Bachman earned his first colossal success with Winnipeg rock band The Guess Who, with their hit "American Woman" scoring the #1 spot on the Billboard charts, a first for any Canadian act. Together with Fred Turner in Bachman-Turner Overdrive, he soared even higher as the band became a musical phenomenon with extraordinary global success. Over the course of a four-year run, BTO sold in excess of 30 million records, earning a staggering 120 platinum, gold and silver discs, and notching up hits in more than 20 countries. The band reached #1 on Billboard's singles chart ("You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet") and album chart (Not Fragile), as well as scoring another handful of hits including "Taking Care of Business," "Hey You," "My Wheels Won't Turn" and "Looking Out for #1." For more, visit bachmanandturner.com.

Helmet Preps Seeing Eye Dog, U.S. Tour

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
HELMET return September 7 with a new full-length album SEEING EYE DOG--their first since 2006's critically acclaimed Monochrome-and will tour the U.S. immediately upon its release and then Europe (dates TBA). Marking their first release on the indie Work Song label (with physical distribution by Redeye and direct-to-fan digital delivery by Topspin), SEEING EYE DOG is their seventh album overall and was produced by band leader, vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Page Hamilton, with additional production by Toshi Kasai and vocal production by Mark Renk. On songs that consistently cut deep, Hamilton's guitar is on fire as always and his vocals are as wicked as ever. The album's 10 tracks include the title cut, "Welcome To Algiers," White City," the mostly instrumental "Morphing" and a cover of the Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing." HAMILTON is joined by drummer KYLE STEVENSON, guitarist DAN BEEMAN and bassist CHRIS TRAYNOR; Helmet's live bassist is DAVE CASE. "The Helmet musical vocabulary is well established at this point, but I continue to work on a variety of musical projects that inevitably influence the Helmet songs," says PAGE. "I've been working on movies with Elliott Goldenthal and co. for 17 years now and had never really experimented with incorporating these soundscapes (or shit sculpting as I prefer to call it) into Helmet songs. We had a much better recording situation in which I felt much less time pressure and was working with an engineer who was patient and very creative (Toshi Kasai) so away we went. I started layering upper parts of the chords and was digging the sound so I went with it." He adds: "It's so important to have great musicians in this band as we track the music with my guitar and the drummer and then overdub the 2nd guitar and bass. I can't stand the sound and anti-human feel of edited rock music. People have always commented that we sound like our albums live. This has a lot to do with it. Humans playing music will always be better than chop shop rock so one has to find the right players." SEEING EYE DOG-as bracing as anything released by "a band that made important connections between indie-rock and metal..." (New York Times, September 12, 2004)--is being issued in five formats (see below), each of which will include a bonus live album recorded in 2006 in San Francisco. --Digital Only (new album plus 1 live album) --Two-disc CD (new album plus 1 live album) + digital --Limited Edition Double 180g Vinyl (New album plus 1 live album) + digital --Limited Edition Deluxe: New album and 1 live album on two-disc CD, New album and 1 live album on double 180g Vinyl, custom HELMET USB key with four more live albums, signed package + digital of new album + 1 live album --Super Deluxe: Same as Deluxe but includes gold laminate/tour access component Meanwhile, HELMET has just released a digital-only deluxe version of their third and much beloved 1994 album BETTY. It includes 14 original album tracks plus 5 bonus tracks ("Flushing, "Thick," "Pariah," "Biscuits for Smut [Pooch Mix]," and "Biscuits for Smut [Mutt Mix]"), all available through the helmetmusic.com website. The additional tracks were originally only available on the 10" double gatefold LP and 12" single for "Biscuits for Smut," released by Interscope in 1994. Read more at helmetmusic.com.

Deftones Set U.S. Tour

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
DEFTONES have just completed a triumphant European tour in support of their sixth full-length studio album, DIAMOND EYES, which crash-landed its way into the Billboard Top 10 in early May. While their American fans impatiently await this fall's highly anticipated BLACKDIAMONDSKYE (also featuring Alice In Chains and Mastodon), DEFTONES are pleased to announce their own headline tour slated to begin this August on the West Coast, which will work its way across the Midwest. See more at deftones.com.

New Stan Ridgway Album includes Dave Alvin and others

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
"You never really have a choice about the tone and subject matter of the records you make," confides veteran L.A. singer-songwriter Stan Ridgway about his new album, Neon Mirage. "At least I don't. They're obsessions, really. Things happen, good and bad. And for most people, the passing of a parent or a close friend has an impact. It's really about the music, and how it heals the mind. The records I grew up with still inform me, and the best were like an inner journey - mixing up blues, jazz, pop and country to make something fresh and, in the end, positive. But you can't ignore the darker side of things, either." Stan Ridgway's Neon Mirage, due for August 24, 2010 release, is arguably the most emotionally revealing, musically far-ranging - dare we say mature? - album of the L.A. singer-songwriter's accomplished career. Yet it's also a project whose troubled circumstances might tempt Stan to paraphrase John Lennon's familiar wisdom: Life is what happens when you're busy making another album. Indeed, in many ways Neon Mirage can't help but feel like an elegy to the colleague and family Stan lost in the midst of writing and recording its dozen, typically eclectic songs: gifted Texas-born violinist/session player Amy Farris; a beloved uncle; and the man who helped forge the very foundations of Ridgway's unique outlook on life and music, his own father. "Events like that can't help but have an impact on the music you're making at the time," Stan admits. "You'd be lying to yourself - and your listeners - if you thought otherwise." Ridgway quickly sets the album's tone with a warm, accomplished recasting of "Big Green Tree" from Black Diamond (his forceful 1996 debut as an independent) produced by Dave Alvin. The L.A. roots rock legend reinvents it here in a gentler, more hopeful ethos around Ridgway and his longtime keyboardist/collaborator Pietra Wexstun, with Brett Simmons on upright bass and Amy Farris, then a member of Alvin's own Guilty Women ensemble, on violin. Alvin had heard Stan perform the song solo at a special show for mutual friend and fellow songwriting legend Peter Case, and early sessions also yielded Neon Mirage's memorable, Alvin-produced cover of Bob Dylan's elegy to his own fallen hero, "Lenny Bruce." It's an album in which Ridgway's familiar wise-guy wit and cinematic lyricism are further tempered by an ever-inquisitive mindset that ranges from the haunting, candid introspection of "Behind the Mask" to an effusive, wistful tribute to lost friends and the Nashville of record producer Owen Bradley, "Wandering Star." Elsewhere, Neon Mirage centers around more impressionistic takes on the toll patriotism extracts from its warriors ("Flag Up On a Pole"), the reality of being closer to the end of life's rich pageant than its beginning ("Halfway There") and the human propensity for myopia in the face of looming catastrophe ("Turn a Blind a Eye"). Yet, as the foreboding and darkly loping guitar lines of "This Town Called Fate" and the album's infectious instrumental title track attest, Ridgway's new songs are also graced by the inventive musicality and unique viewpoint his fans have become well acquainted with since his early days as the driving force behind L.A.'s favorite '80s experimentalists, Wall of Voodoo. But while the album's expressive baritone and deft harmonica flourishes are instantly familiar, Stan employs them here on an ever-restless musical odyssey. Ridgway expands an already impressive musical palette via Wexstun's always intriguing keyboard melodies and textures, the masterful sax, flute and woodwind work of Ralph Carney, the deft acoustic and electric guitar lines of longtime band mate Rick King and the rich symphonic string orchestrations of Amy Farris. "I've probably confused people with my music, my choices, the albums and the changes in direction from year to year," Ridgway admits. "But I can't help it. That term 'eclectic' fits me perfectly and there are just too many musical styles and songwriters and singers I enjoy to just involve myself in only one type of music. I try to bring all the things I love into the sound. There's a weird old American jukebox in my head and it still plays everything that's ever got under my skin." Stan is quick to note where his often-mischievous musical curiosity came from: "Your parents' record collection can be a big influence growing up. Something you thought was corny has a way of hangin' on if it's good to begin with. My dad was a big fan of country & western music, comedy records, hi-fi playboy stereo lounge stuff. Hank Williams, Dean Martin, Ernest Tubb, Sinatra, Johnny Cash of course, Allan Sherman, Charlie Rich, Patsy Cline, and Marty Robbins - all of the great originals. I learned to love the singing, the stories, and even when my tastes in music grew far too weird for my dad, we could still come together on those old records we loved and listened to together. The old western myths of heroes and villains and storytelling of Marty Robbins' Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs was an important one. And I never would have thought of covering 'Ring of Fire' with Wall of Voodoo without my dad' s influence in the beginning." Ridgway also credits his father with informing much of the wry personal/musical viewpoint that's always been central to his songwriting. "A sense of humor is important in handling the disappointments in life," Stan notes. "My father taught me that, too. Along with a strong work ethic. A certain type of 'black humor' helps put a light on the darker realities of living and let's you get above them by making a joke about it. But it wasn't a cynic's view, more of a frustrated romantic's perspective over a developed sarcasm about the way things really are and not how they seem to appear." Stan explains: "In the last few years in his 80s, he always knew my mother and all of us right up until the end. But memory could sometimes be sketchy for Dad. Even so, he never lost who he was or his love, loyalty and dedication to family and working hard in life to achieve results. Or the hard won values of his generation and what they'd sacrificed to achieve for a greater good. All the great adventures he'd had, the global travel and work, the grand victories he'd experienced along the way were never lost to him. And he recalled them all in great detail with pride and a singular sense of humor. And us there with him." Ridgway's father passed in December 2009. But while Ridgway had long girded himself for his father's passing, he admits the suicidal death of brilliant violinist Amy Farris in the midst of Neon Mirage's sessions felt "abrupt and brutal." When Amy phoned him to cancel an upcoming appearance with his band because she wasn't feeling well, Ridgway assured her it was no problem, saying, "'health is everything.' But that weekend she took her life," he recalls sadly. "Possibly even the night we were on stage at McCabe's. Dave (Alvin) called me Monday morning with the news and I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. But mental illness and depression are like any other illness, and Amy struggled from childhood with them." Despite the troubled times it was recorded in, Ridgway insists Neon Mirage represents something even more personal than the sum of its songs to him. "It's as much a journey as a destination," Stan says of his music. "If I don't try and create something of my own, I just feel that I'm hangin' on a corner waiting for someone to tell me what to think and do. It's a mad society. But the best therapy for me is always creativity and invention. And a dedication to the people and things you love. Most people live their lives upside down and backwards, only jumping in when the consensus says it's safe. That's just human nature - who doesn't want to be safe? But is that really possible?"

Lynch Mob Embarks On Tour

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Lynch Mob is getting ready to embark on a summer tour in support of their current release "Smoke and Mirrors" on Frontiers Records. The band line-up for this tour consists of George Lynch (shred master), Oni Logan (vox), Michael Devin (bassologist) and Brian Tichy (time-keeper). After seventeen long years singer Oni Logan and guitar wizard George Lynch found their way back together and again show their amazing abilities in some killer new Hard Rock songs." I would say this new record "Smoke and Mirrors", is the record we should have put out as a follow up to "Wicked Sensation"...better late than never I guess...", says Lynch presenting the new record. Lynch Mob was formed by George Lynch, one of the few genuine guitar heroes of substance to emerge from the Los Angeles scene, after DOKKEN split up in 1989. The band's first album" Wicked Sensation" went on to sell over 500,000 units in the US and featured the talents of singer Oni Logan, Anthony Esposito on bass and another former DOKKEN member Mick Brown on drums. After a tour in support of Queensryche, Logan opted out, with Robert Mason taking his place on the follow up self titled release. However Lynch and Brown eventually returned to Dokken releasing 2 studio albums until he left again in late 1997 putting together a several new incarnations of Lynch Mob and exploring new sounds with different projects. For more, go to georgelynch.com.

Maroon 5 Announce New Dates for Hands All Over Tour

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Maroon 5 has added new dates to their 2010 'Hands All Over' tour. The second leg, which will kick off on October 6th will follow the release of the band's third studio album, Hands All Over (A&M/Octone), out September 21st. Produced by rock studio legendRobert John "Mutt" Lange (AC/DC, Def Leppard, The Cars), Hands All Over is a killer hybrid of rock, pop, funk and R&B. In addition, the band's first single"Misery," which was released last week on June 22nd, will impact radio airwaves today, June 28th with the video's world premiere, July 1st on MTVand VH1. The guys will debut the track live on "Toyota Concert Series on Today" this Friday, July 2nd. To kick off the summer tour, the band just announced they will take the stage at New York City's Beacon Theatre for "Fuse Presents: Maroon 5 Live From the Beacon Theatre," airing live in HD, Tuesday, July 27th at 9pm ET on Fuse. This concert will be held in support of The Garden of Dreams Foundation and Maroon 5's charity of choice. Tickets will not be sold to the public, all seats will be reserved for those involved in the organizations. Joining Maroon 5 for the first leg of their nationwide tour is an exciting group of rotating special guests, including:Owl City, Guster, Kris Allen, V.V. Brown and Ry Cuming. For the second leg of the tour, Bruno Mars and Ry Cuming will share the run of dates with pop rockers OneRepublic (see routing below). Tickets for select dates of the tour will go on sale the weekend of July 10th, 2010. Maroon 5 began writing the songs that appear on Hands All Over after winding down from a world tour in support of their 2007 studio release It Won't Be Soon Before Long. Several months later, the band received a phone call from Lange, who had heard the band were beginning to write a new album, and expressed an interest in producing it. The result is Hands All Over, a monumental record chock full of buoyant, unforgettable melodies. Recorded at Lange's Switzerland studio, the members of Maroon 5 locked themselves in the mountains to patiently craft their latest effort. Starting with the hard-rocking title track, the album's 15 tracks take several intoxicating twists and turns including such compositions as "Out of Goodbyes," a stunning country ballad infused with musical and vocal contributions from Nashville chart-toppers Lady Antebellum. Long-time fans will get a thrill out of the single "Misery," with its funky guitars and high-stepping melody, as well as the propulsive "Stutter,"melody rich "Give A Little More" and "Don't Know Much About That," which professes a classic soulful vibe. Check www.maroon5.com for more info.

Kinks Co-Founder Quaife Passes

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
A founding member of the Kinks, bassist Pete Quaife recently died from kidney failure. Forty-six years ago, the Kinks were part of the rising British Invasion, signed to Pye Records by noted record producer Shel Talmy. Quaife played bass on the band's classic early singles, such as the breakthrough hit "You Really Got Me," "All Day and All of the Night," and the 1965 classic, "See My Friends," one of the earliest rock and roll songs to incorporate Indian musical influences. He also sang backup on the single "Waterloo Sunset" and was an early proponent of Rickenbacker 4000-series basses Quaife was seriously injured in a 1966 car accident which resulted in him temporarily leaving the band. He rejoined later that year and worked with the Kinks on records such as Something Else By The Kinks and The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, the latter of which Quaife regarded as the best thing he ever recorded with the band. Tired of the ignominious in-fighting between the Davies brothers, however, Quaife left the band in 1969. He briefly worked in an unsuccessful country-rock band called Maple Oak before retiring from the music business entirely. Quaife later worked as a graphic artist and cartoonist, living in Canada and Denmark, but his role as a member of the Kinks during their early years remains an indelible image of '60s British rock. - Pete Prown

Justin Townes Earle to release Harlem River Blues

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Harlem River Blues, the third full-length from Justin Townes Earle, is schedled for release September 14. Woody Guthrie once said, "Any fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple." On Harlem River Blues, Justin Townes Earle takes that lesson to heart, making a statement without making a wall of sound. Compared to the much-lauded Midnight at the Movies, Harlem River Blues is more mature and increasingly nuanced, while still embracing the raw voice and clean sound of previous standout tracks like "Mama's Eyes." Featuring guest appearances from Jason Isbell, Bryn Davies and Calexico's Paul Niehaus, it's rockin' and reelin' at times, sweet and slow at others - and it's great. Like good fried chicken, a well-cut suit and a hand made guitar, there's heaven to be found in the beautifully crafted simpler things. Sporting some of those well-cut suits, Justin Townes Earle spent 2009 pounding the proverbial pavement, touring constantly and wowing audiences worldwide. That hard working earnestness has paid off, to say the least. Justin won the Best New and Emerging Artist at the 2009 Americana Music Awards. at the Movies was named one of the best records of last year by Amazon, got four stars in Rolling Stone and found a sweet spot in the blackened hearts of fans and critics alike. GQ magazine named him one of the 25 best dressed men in the world in 2010. He also appeared on HBO's Treme with his dad, troubadour Steve Earle, on whose Grammy Award winning Townes record Justin also guests. As versed in Mance Lipscomb as he is in M. Ward and sporting Marc Jacobs suspenders, Justin Townes Earle is a man beyond eras. With Harlem River Blues, a record that's perfect for late Indian summer nights on either the front porch or fire escape, Justin's found yet another way to be a timeless original.

Rogers/Evans Museum Collection to be Auctioned

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Christie's will host a sale featuring the collection from the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum on July 14 and 15 in association with High Noon Western Americana. The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum closed their doors last fall after over four decades of celebrating one of the most popular cowboys and cowgirls the world has ever known. The auction with no reserve will include over 300 iconic lots from suits by Nudie the Rodeo Tailor, saddles, personal photos, awards, the famous Nellybelle jeep from the 1950s TV Show, to arguably, the most famous horse of all time, Trigger. This historic sale will pay tribute to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans who will always remain renowned for their wholesome and caring treatment of their family, friends, and fans.

Gretsch Foundation Supports AthFest

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
A bright red Gretsch Brian Setzer Nashville model guitar autographed by Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush-better known as Atlanta-based country music super-duo Sugarland-will be auctioned on eBay between June 23 through June 30. The proceeds will go to support educational music programs sponsored by AthFest, Athens, Georgia's long-running music festival. The guitar was donated to AthFest by The Gretsch Foundation, an organization chartered by Savannah's Fred and Dinah Gretsch to help promote music and arts education programs. Says Fred Gretsch, "When folks who understand the value of music as a way to enrich people's lives work together, amazing things can be accomplished." The Gretsch Foundation donates Gretsch guitars to programs like AthFestAfterSchool, AthFest InSchool, and Keys For Kids. The guitars are decorated by major artists and/or signed by prominent musicians, and then auctioned off on eBay to raise funds. Over the past two years The Foundation has donated guitars signed by the members of R.E.M., Widespread Panic, and The Drive By Truckers. Gretsch's Nashville model guitar was first built in 1954 in collaboration with Chet Atkins. It's been offered in many deluxe versions over the succeeding years. Current prices on Gretsch Brian Setzer Nashville models start at $4,100. The auction will commence at 8 p.m. PDT/11 p.m. EDT June 23. For more information go to athfest.com and gretschguitars.com.

Gregg Allman Undergoes Liver Transplant

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
As part of his continued recovery from Hepatitis C,Gregg Allman recently underwent a successful liver transplant operation at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. The singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and guitarist had been on a waiting list for the transplant and is looking forward to a speedy recovery. "I feel pretty good, considering everything that's happened," says Allman, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band in 1969. "Everybody involved - my doctors and nurses in the hospital and all the Allman Brothers fans - they've just all been great." The surgery the morning of June 23, after Allman was notified that an appropriate liver had been donated. The transplant comes as a result of the artist's previous battle with Hepatitis C, a liver disease. In late 2007, Allman began a series of treatments, but chronic damage of his liver led to doctors recommending a transplant. "I changed my ways years ago, but we can't turn back time," Allman said. " Every day is a gift, and I can't wait to get back on the road making music with my friends." Updates on his recovery will be posted on greggallman.com and allmanbrothersband.com.

Backbeat Releases New Gruhn's Guide

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Backbeat Books is proud to present three new titles from vintage-instrument authorities George Gruhn and Walter Carter! Over the years the Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars has come to be the bible for collectors, retailers, and guitar enthusiasts alike. Originally published in 1990 and revised in 1999 this updated and expanded third edition includes a wealth of key info not included in the previous editions. The book is the most extensive and detailed list of specifications ever published on guitars and is the last word with regard to identifying, dating, and establishing an instrument's authenticity. The book's coverage extends to all major collectable brands including but certainly not limited to Gibson, Fender, Martin, Rickenbacker, Mosrite, and Dobro as well as vintage and highly sought after amplifiers. And for the first time ever Backbeat is pleased to offer a pocket-sized field guide edition packed with the same info as the full-sized with detailed specs on every model's frets, wood type, body shape and size, pickups, serial numbers, date of manufacture, and other significant features. Also due out from Backbeat is a revised and expanded edition of Gruhn and Carter's Electric Guitars and Bases: A Photographic History. Both Gruhn and Carter have lived and worked inside the guitar universe for many years and this lavishly illustrated volume offers a unique insider's look into the rich history of countless rare and iconic makes and models. Gruhn and Carter trace the evolution of the instrument from a couple of copper wire wrapped magnets nailed onto a wooden plank to the beautiful sunbursts, goldtops, Korinas, and hollowbodys beloved by players and collectors alike.

Alfred, Foley Releasing Guitar Woman DVD

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Alfred Music Publishing, the leader in educational music publishing since 1922 and the exclusive print publisher of thousands of popular artists, is excited to announce the release of Sue Foley: Guitar Woman, the latest DVD from Alfred's Artist Series. Join award-winning guitarist Sue Foley as she shares her influences and teaches the techniques behind her unique blues sound. Sue Foley: Guitar Woman explores the history of women in blues music, told through Sue's live performances and candid stories. Discover Texas blues, Piedmont blues, Hill Country blues, and even flamenco guitar, and find out about great female artists like Memphis Minnie, Jessie Mae Hemphill, and many others. Learn how to play six of Sue's songs, including "Goin' Down the Road Again," "Two Trains," "Doggie Treats," "Let Me Drive," "New Used Car," and "Mediterranean Breakfast." Whether you want to play the blues or enjoy learning about the journey of the female guitarist in blues history, you'll get it all in this video.

Buckcherry to Help Support Spill Victims

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Buckcherry are taking their desire to help raise awareness for the tragedy in the Gulf Coast one step further: as of today, a new version of the track "Our World," from the forthcoming album All Night Long, will be available for purchase as an iTunes exclusive with all of the band proceeds from the sales to go to charities devoted to helping victims of the oil spill - both human and animal. To download the new version of "Our World," fans can visit: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/our-world-gulf-spill-awareness/id378504791. Last week, the band posted the album version of "Our World" as a free download on buckcherry.com as their offering of support, but decided that they wanted to do more. "Our World" was originally written as an anthemic cry out to help right the social, environmental, economic and other wrongs of this world. The band reworked the lyrics to represent their commitment to expose the BP disaster and to bring awareness and support to the crisis and its victims. The track was just rewritten and recorded for this unique and unfortunate situation. Please see below for the new lyrics to "Our World." Buckcherry's new album, All Night Long is set for an August 3rd release via original independent label, Eleven Seven Music. The title track has been called "The top down anthem" by Billboard. In their more than decade-long career, multi-platinum artists Buckcherry have established themselves as a definitive hard rock band with a massive presence at radio. Hits such as "Lit Up," "Crazy Bitch," and "Sorry" have propelled the band's sales to more than 3 million albums worldwide and have garnered Buckcherry two Grammynominations. For more information, visit buckcherry.com.

Seeger Releases Tomorrow's Children

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
On his latest studio album, Tomorrow's Children out July 27 on Appleseed Recordings, the indomitable Pete Seeger continues his life's work of communication and inspiration to action. The new album is the first new studio recordings by the iconic folksinger and political activist since his 2008 Grammy-winning album At 89, and it's like a joyful town picnic. It features 91-year-old Pete as a (global) village elder, assembling his neighbors to appreciate their past and present, to celebrate their triumphs against environmental threats, to swap old and new stories, to appreciate the natural glories surrounding them and to make sure that the following generations "carry it on." When Beacon, NY, fourth-grade teacher Tery Udell began teaching her students about the Hudson River, class sessions became songfests, and where there are songs, there's Pete Seeger. He became a regular visitor to the kids' classroom in 2007. The classroom gatherings and performances inevitably led to a series of recordings by Pete, Clearwater educator and singer Dan Einbender, musician and CD co-producer (with Dan) David Bernz, the children (known as "The Rivertown Kids"), as well as adult musicians, high schoolers and even 14 grammar school percussion students. The 19 newly recorded songs on Tomorrow's Children, testify to Seeger's long-held credo, "Think globally, act locally." Pete is on every track of the CD, singing, storytelling, playing banjo and 12-string guitar, but he shares the studio spotlight with all of his guests. Their voices, instruments and the songs they have adopted or adapted are woven into a colorful quilt depicting our nation's history ("Take It from Dr. King," the tribute to Pete's fellow civil rights warrior performed on the "Late Night with David Letterman" show; "I See Freedom," the true story of a runaway slave who settled in Beacon); the possibilities of an ecologically clean world (the newly co-written Seeger song "Solartopia" featuring guest vocalist Dar Williams), and the natural beauty worth preserving ("Down by the River," "The River that Flows Both Ways," and others). Perhaps most importantly, Tomorrow's Children contains songs of empowerment and cooperation adapted or written by the kids themselves such as "We Sing Out" ("...so our voices can be heard," with a melody borrowed from Tom Paxton), an updated version of the old gospel and union song, "We Shall Not Be Moved," and a set of new verses to Seeger's Biblically-inspired standard, "Turn, Turn, Turn," added for the children by Pete's wife of more than 60 years, Toshi.

Slash Announces U.S. Tour

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Slash, the iconic musician consistently referenced as one of the best living guitarists, announced today a summer U.S. tour that comes after the artist blazed a trail across Europe performing at some of the largest outdoor Festivals. Slash recently landed on the top of the charts with his first true solo album, SLASH, which debuted as #1 Rock Album and #3 overall on Billboard's coveted Top 200 charts, in addition to going #1 in more than 13 countries. The album features an all-star roster of guest musicians including Ian Astbury, Chris Cornell, Rocco DeLuca, Fergie, Dave Grohl, Myles Kennedy, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmister, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Duff McKagan, M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, and Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother. Slash's U.S. dates will feature vocalist Myles Kennedy who was also part of the European tour and received strong critical praise at shows like the Download Festival which had over 100,000 fans and Rock-Am Ring which had more than 70,000 concert-goers. Audiences in Europe were treated to a career-spanning Slash set list of songs from the new album which Kennedy provides vocals for two songs, along with Slash classics from Guns N Roses like "Sweet Child O' Mine", "Paradise City" and numerous Velvet Revolver, and Slash's Snakepit favorites. Full tour routing listed below, additional dates/cities to be announced shortly. Check local ticketing agencies for on-sale dates and locations. In addition to a long career filled with prestigious awards and accolades, Slash was just honored this week by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce who named him as an official selection for 2011 to receive a star on Hollywood's iconic Walk of Fame. A date for the ceremony has yet to be determined. For more, go to www.slashonline.com.

Smashing Pumpkins to Headline Sunset Strip Fest

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Organizers of the SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL have confirmed that THE SMASHING PUMPKINS will headline the street festival on Saturday, August 28, with a live performance on the legendary Strip, which is being closed to traffic for the second time in its history. The iconic band will wrap up the third annual SSMF, set to include a special tribute event for SLASH at House of Blues on August 26; live performances in The Roxy Theatre, the Whisky A Go-Go, Viper Room, Key Club, Cat Club and House of Blues on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; plus more than 50 bands, two outdoor stages and a full day of music in the venues on Saturday, August 28. THE SMASHING PUMPKINS--who have created one of the most acclaimed bodies of work in musical history and sold more than 30 million albums--are touring this summer in conjunction with their TEARGARDEN BY KALEIDYSCOPE project. It's a collection of 44 songs being released online for free one at a time as well as in installments of specially packaged four-song EPs for sale in record stores. In late May, the Pumpkins released the project's first EP TEARGARDEN BY KALEIDYSCOPE VOL.1: SONGS FOR A SAILOR (Martha's Music/Rocket Science Ventures) to critical acclaim, with Jerry Shriver of USA Today hailing the music as "a delicious swirl of howling psychedelic rock and melodic ballads (5/25/10)." Look for leader Billy Corgan and his band mates--guitarist Jeff Schroeder, drummer Mike Byrne and new bassist Nicole Fiorentino--to hit the road for an array of intimate shows across the U.S. beginning July 6 in Cleveland, to be followed in August by two headline festival appearances in Tokyo and Osaka. As in year's past, the SSMF will honor a figure who is synonymous with The Sunset Strip for their contribution to the history of The Strip as well as the music industry. This year's honoree: SLASH. Previous recipients of this honor have been Ozzy Osbourne (2009) and Sunset Strip club owners Lou Adler, Mario Maglieri and Elmer Valentine (2008). Last year's street fair drew 10,000 people to The Strip, which was closed between San Vicente Boulevard and Doheny Drive and filled with two full-scale stages, fans, food vendors and a VIP beer garden. "We are ecstatic to be able to bring this caliber of talent to the street and create what will undoubtedly become the ultimate end-of-summer music festival experience for our attendees," says SSMF Festival Managing Director Karmen Beck. Following the Smashing Pumpkins' show, bands will continue to play into the night in venues within the street closure, all of which will be free of charge to SSMF attendees.Learn more at .sunsetstripmusicfestival.com.

Steve Vai Planning Monthly Song Releases

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
It's not uncommon for a musician to record more work than they release. In Vai's case, the Grammy® award-winning guitarist has a digital ocean of snippets in various degrees of completion. Some are leftovers from assorted sessions, projects that were never completed, soundcheck jams, or songs that were specific to a particular venture. "There are enough lonely, unreleased notes in my world to fill an infinity shelf," says Vai. In between composing new scores for his upcoming performance with the North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Vai has transformed these snippets into full, lush songs and these rarities are being released as a series of single digital downloads called VaiTunes. Each release comes with a PDF booklet containing detailed notes about the creation of the song, the story behind the recording, and gear involved. The latest release from the series, "The Moon and I" evolved from a soundcheck jam in Athens, Greece in the spring of 2000. The PDF liner notes allow the listener to follow Vai as he birthed the chord changes in Greece and subsequently watered and fertilized the song ten years later half way around the world in his Encino studio. Equally fascinating is the story of the guitar used to finish "The Moon and I." Under unique circumstances, Vai recently purchased an original Desert Yellow Ibanez JEM 777DY guitar, a guitar he designed in 1987, from a local pawnshop and named the guitar "Moon." Vai plans to offer one track every month or so, each one representing a unique moment in his personal musical history. The releases can be purchased via iTunes and other digital music providers worldwide through www.vai.com/vaitunes.

Martin Guitar unveils CFMIV 1955 D-18

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Like the recent CFM IV 1955 D-28, the CFM IV 1955 D-18 commemorates the 55th birthday and ongoing contribution of Christian Frederick "Chris" Martin IV to the company that bears his name. But this is not just the mahogany version of the CFM IV D-28. Since its introduction in 1935, the D-18 has been one of the major stalwarts of the Martin line, and for many years outsold the more costly D-28. In 1955, the year of Chris Martin's birth, Martin sold 1,103 D-18s versus 806 D-28s. Prized for its bright treble, crisp midrange and clear bass, the D-18 is a favorite of many bluegrass, folk and country musicians. Its strong, loud voice is meant to be heard and hold its own over banjoes, mandolins, steel guitars - and, yes, raucous rock n' roll. It's also excellent recording guitar offering exceptional balance and distinct articulation. Elvis Presley played a 1942 D-18 during his early career (it can be heard in on all of his Sun recordings, including the classic "That's Alright Mama"). Hank Williams also played a D-18 that he rotated with his D-28 (Hank's 1947 D-18 is now owned by the Martin company and is on permanent display in the Martin Museum). Oh, and you remember that great rockin' guitar intro on Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues"? That's a D-18, too. In creating the CFM IV 1955 D-18, we carefully replicated D-18 specs in place during 1955. This includes Sitka top with non-scalloped top braces, small maple bridgeplate, elegant old style 18 rosette and tortoise body binding & pickguard, cedar ribbons, cloth reinforcement strips, ebony bridge (with long bone saddle) and fingerboard, bone saddle, rounded headstock (from template wear) with old style C. F Martin & Co. scroll decal and other authentic 1955-specific details.So choosing the D-18 as the other half of the CFM IV 1955 celebration set was a natural. Special features including back and sides of rare quilted Mmogany (dark stain), adjustable 14-fret neck (with two-way truss rod), old style "waffleback" tuners, figured Madagascar rosewood back strip and head plate veneer (similar in look to the original Brazilian rosewood headplate), and a small paper label specially designed by Dick Boak and signed by C.F. Martin IV in numbered sequence. The guitar is finished in premium high-gloss polished lacquer.Only 55 of these superb instruments will be offered, delivered in our highest grade Cabernet plush, 5-ply, hard shell case. And if you already own the CFM IV 1955 D-28, the CFM IV 1955 D-18 will make a perfect matched set. The CFM IV 1955 D-18. Another extraordinary Martin collectable - 55 years in the making.

Lick Library Releases Hank Marvin DVDs

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Lick Library is offering a new collection of guitar tutorial DVD sets demonstrating how to get the sound of Hank Marvin and The Shadows. Lee Hodgson, a studio musician and stage performer, conducts the lessons. The Shadows were pioneers of the four-member rock-group format (consisting of lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar and drums) in the UK. Their playing had a rhythmic bite and variety of tone which is distinctly their own. Hank Marvin has an individual guitar sound and appearance, primarily using a clean sound with very distinctive echo and vibrato giving a dreamy effect. His expressive use of the tremolo arm has made him one of the most distinctive guitarists ever Learn to Play Hank Marvin breaks into manageable pieces five classic Shadows tracks; "Apache", "Wonderful Land", "F.B.I.", "Man Of Mystery and Guitar Tango". Lee takes you through these tracks at three different tempos; Dead Slow - so you can learn the notes; Medium Tempo- to help you practice, then Up To Tempo - so you can play along to the backing track. He covers topics like scales, muting and single and twin note walk ups whilst sharing with you clever tricks to help you remember the phrases and rhythms he is teaching you such as little rhymes and use of a metronome. Learn to Play Hank Marvin is a double-DVD looking at the five more classic tracks: "Geronimo", "Kon Tiki", "Riders in the Sky", "Sleepwalk" and "Foot Tapper". Lee's through, careful, clear explanations and demonstrations will soon have you performing in the same melodic way as Hank Marvin. Lee shares with you the version of the track he his teaching you the chords and use of reverdb and vibrato techniques, so you can go and listen to the original, then explores variations you can use to make these tunes your own. Learn to Play Cliff Richard and The Shadows takes you through, note for note, five tracks: "The Young Ones", "Fall In Love With You", "Living Doll", "Dance On", "Please Don't Tease". Lick Library's characteristic split screen ensures that you can see what Lee is doing with both hands while he is teaching you how to perform these enduring songs. Learn more at licklibrary.com.

Martin 00-15M revives the '30s

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
In response to suggestions from Martin Owners Club members, the new 00-15M offers an authentic blues-type guitar reminiscent of small bodied Martins of the 1930's. Favored by legions of blues players, these mahogany bodied guitars have a warm tone and clear voice all their own. The 00-15M is further enhanced tonally by Martin's A-frame Sitka bracing. A single ring wood rosette is used in keeping with the old 30s tradition. The genuine mahogany 14-fret neck has the classic solid headstock with vintage-style Gotoh tuners. Fingerboard and "belly" bridge are East Indian rosewood. Nut and compensated saddle are bone. This beautiful, soulful guitar is finished in satin lacquer over a rich dark-stained body. All you need to add the blues.

Megadeth Marks 20th Anniversary of Rust In Peace

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
The final night of Megadeth's historic month-long Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour has been captured for the upcoming Rust In Peace Live Blu-ray, DVD and CD, due out September 7 on Shout! Factory. On March 31, 2010, at this incredibly special show at the legendary Hollywood Palladium, not far from where Dave Mustaine formed the band in 1983, Megadeth played their landmark, genre-defining 1990 Rust In Peace album in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth favorites. Rust In Peace Live also marks the return of original bassist David Ellefson (Megadeth 1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group after eight years. Ellefson (bass), joins Mustaine (lead vocals, guitar), Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar). Rust In Peace Live features the entire Rust In Peace track listing, including all-time classics "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18" along with bonus fan favorites from various other Megadeth releases such as "Symphony For Destruction," "Peace Sells," and "Skin O' My Teeth." Megadeth founder/frontman/guitarist Dave Mustaine explains, "We are pumped to be able to share the RIP Live concert with you all around the world. The anniversary and David Ellefson coming back was better than a facelift and a bottle of Viagra for old Vic." The 80-minute Rust In Peace Live DVD (5.1 Dolby Surround 16:9 Widescreen) and Blu-ray (5.1 DTS Master Audio 1080p High Definition) were directed by Kerry Asmussen (Green Day, Jay-Z, Coachella). The DVD and Blu-ray will also include behind-the-scenes footage, including a rare glimpse of the band rehearsing in their dressing room as they prepare to take the stage. Rust In Peace is considered one of the best metal albums of all time by fans and critics and debuted at #23 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart in the U.S. and #8 in the U.K. The album showcased a much tighter sound, with Mustaine's writing style adopting a rhythmically complex progressive edge, prompting All Music Guide to cite Rust In Peace as "Megadeth's strongest musical effort." The album received Grammy nominations in 1990 and 1991 for "Best Metal Performance." Emphasizing the massive impact of Rust In Peace in the July 2010 issue of Guitar World, writer Richard Bienstock calls it "one of the pinnacles of the first wave of thrash metal." He continues, "A defining quality of Megadeth's sound-and the one that perhaps most sets them apart from their 'Big Four' thrash brethren, Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax-has always been the band's fiery mix of speed-metal ferocity and progressive instrumental virtuosity...nowhere has this combination been displayed better than on Rust In Peace."

New Software That Teaches Fretboard Theory to Guitarists

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT
Guitar Notes Master is a new software application that promises to help guitarists rapidly learn essential fretboard theory, scales, arpeggios and chords in an enjoyable way. Guitar Notes Master takes the student from the very basics of the guitar fretboard, through learning to find notes and to build scales, arpeggios and chords. Lessons go from the most basic chords and scales up to many of the more complex chords and scales in common usage. Guitar Notes Master incorporates interactive lessons, building knowledge of guitar fretboard theory from the ground-up rather than relying simply on rote learning of chords and scale patterns. Thousands of practice questions are included so that students can practice the topics learned in the lessons using a virtual fretboard - so users can practice without a guitar! Finally, customisable and printable guitar exercises can be generated for the patterns to help the user to get the patterns they've learned "under their fingers". Graham Pett of Pett Software comments "As a guitarist, I found that the books that aim to teach guitar fretboard theory tended to be very dry and confusing, and lacking in information on how to incorporate building the knowledge into your practice routine. Existing software tools seemed to concentrate only on rote memorisation of the position of notes on the fretboard rather than true understanding of the fretboard. I wanted to build something that would give guitarists the fretboard knowledge they really need and do it in an enjoyable way, so Guitar Notes Master was born." Guitar Notes Master includes lessons and practice exercises covering the following topics: Open Strings Root Shapes Note Names and Finding Notes on the Fretboard Diatonic Scales (Major and Minor Scales) Pentatonic Scales Pentatonic Lead Patterns Intervals Triads - Arpeggios and Chords Seventh Arpeggios and Chords Other Chord Types - Extended (e.g. 9th, 11th), Suspended Chords, 6, 6/9, Add9, Slash Chords and Power Chords Modes - Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Locrian Other Scales - Blues Scales, Harmonic and Melodic Minor, Phrygian Dominant Mode, Whole Tone and Diminished Scale No previous knowledge is assumed, so it is suitable for beginners, but the lessons progress to advanced topics so nearly all guitarists will find valuable information in the lessons. Guitar Notes Master also provides MIDI playback of examples, customisable display and support for left-handed guitarists. Learn more at guitarnotesmaster.com.

News From Vintage Guitar

Vox Launches Hand-Wired Series

Experience Hendrix Tour Returns This Fall

Soulfly Slates Winter Tour

Slash Rocks with "Slash FM"

Queensryche Signs to Roadrunner

Alfred Music Publishing Expands Basic Guitar Series

Lick Library Launches Learn to Play Rory Gallagher DVD

The Loar Intros Two New Archtops

VG Readies 2011 Price Guide, Calls for Photos

Dobro Master Jerry Douglas Presents "Southern Filibuster: A Tribute to Tut Taylor"

Anthrax To Join Slayer and Megadeth on Jagermeister Music Tour

Robert Randolph: On TV, On Tour

Allman Brothers Band Announce Additional Fall Tour Dates

Axes & Axles Exhibit Opening in September

Players Join for Acoustic Tour

Tony Joe White Slates U.S. Tour

Taylor Guitars Announces Road Show Dates

Daisy Rock Girl Guitars Supports "Running Wild in the Night" Music Program

Guitar Center Announces Executive Succession Plan

Whitesnake Announces New Bassist

"Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child" documentary to Air on BIO Channel

Ponderosa Stomp Announces the Clandestine Celluloid Film Series

Vox Ships AC4TVmini

Clapton Preps New Solo Album

Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax Jagermeister Fall Music Tour

Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience Set to Launch October 8

Slayer Announces The Vinyl Conflict Box Set

Bachman & Turner's New Album Out 9/7

Alfred Offers Books on Guitar Soloing Strategies

Shankar/Harrison Box Set

The Recording Guitarist, Revised and Updated

Alfred Releases New Guitar Method for Jazz Band

Buckcherry Crack Top 10 Charts with All Night Long

Guitarist Phelps "Catfish" Collins Passes

Smithsonian to Feature Electric Guitar

Calvin "Fuzz" Jones Dies

Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie Set Halloween Hootenanny Tour

"Phase 2" Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project Set

Mellencamp Set to Tour

Fender Custom Shop Road Show Rolls On

Sheptone Offers P-90H

ZT Provides Amps for Wilco Festival

Gov't Mule to Release Mulennium

People You'd Like To Know Photo Book Set for Release

Armor Gold Cables Offers Right-Angle Ends

Big Lou Guitars - For Big Hands

Frontier Record Celebrates 30 Years

Lynch Mob Embarks On A Summer Tour

Alfred Offers The Complete Idiot's Guide for Guitar and Ukelele

Country Music HoF All For The Hall Fundraiser Returns

Manson's Launches John Paul Jones Signature Bass

Ozzy, Iommi Settle Differences in Ownership of Black Sabbath

Coney Island Rockabilly Festival Set to Roll

Electro-Harmonix Releases Two Pedals

Very Best of Free and Bad Company Goes Gold

New Mini-Coil Cable From Lava

Take A Stand Launches Custom Guitar Stands

Michael Schenker Group Sets 30th Anniversary Tour Dates

Hank Cochran Passes

John Jorgenson Goes to Iraq on a Mission of Music

JW Jones Preps Midnight Memphis Sun

Nick Lowe Announces Tour

Riot Fest 2010 Announces Lineup

Alejandro Escovedo Scores Highest Chart Debut

Steve Earle Garners Emmy Nomination

Tony Joe White Gets Raw

Grascals Shoot "Last Train To Clarksville" Video

Slash, Myles Kennedy at Sunset Strip Music Fest

Hendrix, Fullerton, to Enter Fender HoF

Larry Thomas Appointed CEO of Fender

Lava Cable Intros Soar Cable

Former Members of Yes, Toto Return wtih YOSO

Paul Gilbert Set to Release Instrumental CD

Black Crowes Prep Album, Set Tour Dates

Ritenour's 6 String Theory Hits Streets

National Guitar Workshop Releases Beginner's Guide to Electric Guitar

Johnny Winter Live Through the '80s on DVD

Bachman, Turner Prep New Album

Helmet Preps Seeing Eye Dog, U.S. Tour