Category: Newswire

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.

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.

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.

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 unleashes his third instrumental masterpiece on Shrapnel Records, August 3. <em>Fuzz Universe</em> 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."

<em>Fuzz Universe</em> title is inspired by Gilbert being so immersed in the world of guitar it made him realize that he lives in a <em>Fuzz Universe</em>. "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 <em>Fuzz Universe</em>, 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.

The Black Crowes are preparing to release a double album of all-acoustic material titled <em>Croweology</em>. 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.

<em>Croweology</em> 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 <em>Shake Your Moneymaker</em>, <em>Croweology</em> 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 <em>Croweology</em> is worth studying for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

In order to thank fans for 20 years of support, <em>Croweology</em> 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 <em>Croweology</em> 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.

Guitarist Lee Ritenour’s new album, <em>6 String Theory,</em> is now available. Produced by Lee and John Burk of the Concord Music Group, <em>6 String Theory,</em> 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 &amp; 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 has released <em>Beginner’s Guide to Electric Guitar</em> 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 <em>Live Through the ’80s</em> 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, <em>Live Through the ’70s</em>.

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 <em>Serious Business</em> [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."

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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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.