Thursday October 7, 2010 Source:MSO Location: Los Angeles, California
“I am sickened and disgusted by the use of ‘Crazy Train’ to promote messages of hate and evil by a “church,” singer Ozzy Osbourne said in response to news that Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church used lyrics from his song at events surrounding Tuesday’s (10/6/10) Snyder v. Phelps Supreme Court hearing. An attorney—a daughter of the church’s founder, along with her sister—paraphrased lyrics from Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” at a post-Supreme Court hearing press conference in Washington D.C.
The church is described by the Wall Street Journal (10/6/10) as a “tiny Kansas church…[that]…preaches that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are punishment for American’s tolerance of homosexuality and abortion.”As the Examiner.com noted (10/6/10) of the church, “their flamboyant demonstrations at the funerals of non-gay service members using the events to highlight their belief that military deaths overseas are justified punishment for U-S tolerance of homosexuality. (‘You’re Going to Hell,’ ‘Thank God for Dead Soldiers,’ and ‘God Hates You’ are popular Westboro slogans.).”
Wednesday October 6, 2010 Source:BretMichaels.com Location: Lost Angeles, California
Starting Thursday, October 7th visit Billboard.com to watch the premiere of the brand NEW Bret Michaels music video for the song “Riding Against The Wind” from the new ‘Custom Built’ album! This song is also the theme song for the brand new Vh1 show “Bret Michaels: Life As I Know It”, which premieres Monday, October 18th.
Monday October 4, 2010 Source:VQPR Location: Hollywood, CA
Bassologist James LoMenzo (former Megadeth/ Black Label Society) will take the slot of Billy Sheehan. Sheehan regrets that he must pull out due to unforeseen commitments in Europe and sends his apologies to all. I’m a real big fan of the Ramones and this was unexpected. Good luck on this amazing concert!
Todd Morse hails from The Offspring and will be taking on guitar tactics and several Ramones songs. Billy Close is punk-bass extraordinaire and is a founding member of The Freeze (East Coast Punk Band) and also the punk rock band Klover (Mercury Records).
Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead) has confirmed to play along with Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, David Lee Roth), Michael Graves (The Misfits), Jeff Duncan (Armored Saint), Marko DeSantis (Sugarcult), Andy Hilfiger (bassologist/Fashion Guru) and Marky Ramone himself for a full concert of The Ramones. You will hear the music that defined many generations and inspired many bands. Marky’s set list is comprised of 31 historical Ramones songs such as SEDATED, K.K.K., PSYCHOTHERAPY, BLITZKREIG BOP, PINHEAD and more!
The legendary Rock Hall of Fame drummer for The Ramones is performing a special all-star fund-raising concert on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 8pm in the MI Concert Hall. Doors open at 7:30pm. The concert is in benefit for the newly-created Marky Ramone Drum Scholarship for Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. I am much honored to be chosen as an artist for the scholarship program. Music for kids is very important to have, explains Marky. 100% of the event proceeds will fund the newly-created Marky Ramone Drum Scholarship at MI.
ONLINE ADVANCE SALE: General Admission seats (festival seating) are $30, VIP seating is $45 (guaranteed first 3 rows), $99 VIP Backstage (First 3 rows seating guaranteed | Backstage Pass | After-Show Meet & Greet | Special Marky Ramon Gift bag).
WALK-UP (day of show): General Admission seats (festival seating) are $35, VIP seating is $50 (guaranteed first 3 rows), VIP Backstage not available.
Musicians Institute Concert Hall
1655 N. McCadden Place
Hollywood, CA 90028
Marky Ramone is a member of the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame, and is best known for the 15 years he spent drumming for The Ramones. The Ramones formed in 1974, and are often cited as the first punk-rock group. Marky is the only living member of the longest running Ramones line-up – which featured Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, and Marky. He has performed over 1700 shows and more than 15 album releases during his tenure (starting in 1978) as a member of The Ramones.
For more info on MarkyRamone or the concert click www.mi.edu
Monday October 4, 2010 Source:Brian Ray Location: HollyRock, California
Brian Ray, who has been touring the globe with Paul McCartney since 2002, will kick off his new release, This Way Up with an album release party on Friday, October 8th, at Hollywood’s famed Roxy Theatre. This Way Up is Ray’s second full-length to be released on ICON Music Group/Whooray Records. All proceeds from the event will go to benefit the MusiCares Foundation. The release party will also host a raffle for a Marshall Amp, a Les Paul guitar and Voyage-Air folding acoustic travel guitar.
Ray, a native Californian, cut his teeth early on as musical director for Etta James, a career move that would last for 14 years, sharing stages with the likes of Keith Richards, Santana, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker and Bo Diddley. Ray, and 13-year songwriting partner Steve LeGassick penned what would become an award-winning mega-hit—“One Heartbeat,” the title track of Smokey Robinson’s 1987 album . The song is now nearing 3 million airplays.
Underscoring his talent, Brian cemented his position as one of the top contemporary guitarists in the world today when he began touring with Paul McCartney in 2002. Hailed as “Paul’s best band since the Beatles” playing with McCartney is literally a dream come true for Brian. With Sir Paul, he has appeared on several DVDs and TV specials including two Super Bowl appearances, one in the White House and participated in such meaningful collaborations as Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Project.
Ray’s contributions to other artists albums, including the aforementioned Etta James, Shakira, The Bangles, Chris Cornell, Kelly Clarkson and Adam Cohen, and Paul McCartney’s most recent projects that spawned his own creative endeavor,writing, producing and releasing his first solo album, Mondo Magneto (2006). For the album, Brian spearheaded a record label and got together with friends,collaborators and bandmates Abe Laboriel, Jr., Wix Wickens and Rusty Anderson, as well as Scott Shriner (Weezer), Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello). Etta James also made a rare special guest appearance singing with Brian on the rocking song “Soft Machine” as a symbol of their continued respect and affection for one another.
This Way Up promises more of the same attributes. Straight-up perfect pop,boasting an enviable host of players and collaborators such as previously mentioned, Davey Faragher and Pete Thomas on bass and drums, from Elvis Costello’s band, Aaron Sterling and Paul Bushnell on several songs, not to mention returning McCartney bandmate, Abe Laboriel, Jr and keyboardist Adam MacDougal from the Black Crowes, as well as songwriting collaborations with Oliver Leiber and Tonio K.
In addition, a new single, coinciding with, (but not included on) This Way Up,entitled “Les Paul Tribute,” featuring Cheap Trick guitarist, Rick Nielsen and rock goddess, Orianthi will be released on iTunes tomorrow. The proceeds of the single will also benefit MusiCares.
The MusiCares Foundation, Inc., was established in 1989 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Meant for musicians to have a place to turn, in times of financial, personal, or medical crisis, its primary purpose is to focus the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues which directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. The foundation’s programs include emergency financial assistance, addiction recovery, outreach and leadership activities, and senior housing.
Brian Ray on the recording of This Way Up - Part I
Bret Michaels’s health has taken a turn for the worse, PEOPLE has learned: After an excruciating headache late Thursday night, the star was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where doctors discovered he suffered a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding at the base of his brain stem), according to a source close to the situation.
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Roger Waters, co-founder and principal songwriter of the archetypal progressive band Pink Floyd, is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the original release of The Wall with a monumental tour featuring a full band and a newly-mounted state-of-the-art production of his epochal masterpiece of alienation and transformation performed in its entirety.
Up to date details on Roger Waters’ The Wall Tour, and more, may be found on the artist’s newly relaunched and redesigned website, RogerWaters.com. Waters is personally involved with the site and will be communicating with fans through it.
The Wall has been previously performed live in its entirety by Waters just 31 times including Pink Floyd’s 1980-81 tour in support of the album. A spectacular Roger Waters solo staging and performance of the rock opera in July 1990, celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall, drew nearly a half million fans to the Potsdamer Platz.
Roger Waters’ The Wall North American Tour, produced by Live Nation, will open September 15 in Toronto and runs through December 13 at the Anaheim Honda Center (please see full itinerary following).
The New York Times (March 2, 1980) declared that “The Wall show remains a milestone in rock history, it will be the touchstone against which all future rock spectacles must be measured.”
Originally released in November 1979, The Wall was America’s top-selling album of 1980, is one of the top-selling double albums of all time, and is still in the US Top 5 best-selling albums of all time.
The Wall was made into a metaphorical musical film, directed by Alan Parker with screenplay by Roger Waters, in 1982.
One of the most profoundly influential albums in the history of recorded music, The Wall continues to affect pop culture while resonating with generations of music fans.
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Roger Waters’ The Wall North American Tour Itinerary
September 15 Toronto Air Canada Centre
September 20 Chicago United Center
September 21 Chicago United Center
September 26 Pittsburgh Consol Energy Center
September 28 Cleveland Quicken Loans Arena
September 30 Boston TD Garden
October 5 New York Madison Square Garden
October 8 Buffalo HSBC Arena
October 10 Washington DC Verizon Center
October 12 Uniondale Nassau Coliseum
October 15 Hartford XL Center
October 17 Ottawa ScotiaBank Place
October 19 Montreal Bell Centre
October 22 Columbus Schottenstein Center
October 24 Detroit Palace of Auburn Hills
October 26 Omaha Qwest Center
October 27 St Paul Xcel Energy Center
October 29 St. Louis Scottrade Center
October 30 Kansas City Sprint Center
November 3 New York Izod Center
November 8 Philadelphia Wachovia Center
November 9 Philadelphia Wachovia Center
November 13 Fort Lauderdale Bank Atlantic Center
November 16 Tampa St. Pete Times Forum
November 18 Atlanta Philips Arena
November 20 Houston Toyota Center
November 21 Dallas American Airlines Center
November 23 Denver Pepsi Center
November 26 Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena
November 27 Phoenix US Airways Center
November 29 Los Angeles The Forum
December 6 San Jose HP Pavilion
December 10 Vancouver General Motors Place
December 11 Tacoma Tacoma Dome
December 13 Anaheim Honda Center
RUSH - TIME MACHINE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2010
featuring for the first time ever MOVING PICTURES IN ITS ENTIRETY
Tickets for Rush go on sale in select markets beginning April 16th at LiveNation.com
Rush – Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart – is without question one of the most inventive and compelling groups in rock history, equally famed for both its virtuoso musicianship and provocative songwriting.
Announced today, The Time Machine Tour is an evening with Rush, where they will perform their classics, give a taste of the future – and for the first time ever – feature the Moving Pictures album live in its entirety.
The band is currently working on their 20th studio album with producer Nick Raskulinecz (co-producer from 2007’s Snakes & Arrows) and in addition to their classics plan to showcase a few new tunes live this summer.
“We were off for a year and a half, and now it’s just pouring. Everything is totally crazy and there’s not a minute left in the day. We’ve got these half-dozen songs, and we’ll probably go in the studio and work on a couple of them and see how it goes, perhaps release something – and I say perhaps – and then we plan on being on the road,” says guitarist, Alex Lifeson.
This summer’s Live Nation promoted tour will visit approximately 40 cities throughout North America beginning June 29th in Albuquerque, NM and finishing October 2nd in West Palm Beach, FL with stops along the way in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Holmdel, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, Washington, and more (complete tour itinerary follows).
Rush has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and garnered untold legions of devoted and admiring fans. According to the RIAA, Rush’s sales statistics place RUSH third after The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for the most consecutive gold or platinum studio albums by a rock band.
Released in 1981, Moving Pictures was their most successful album, certified 4x Platinum and features some of Rush’s most well known songs and perennial radio favourites Tom Sawyer, Limelight and the Grammy-nominated instrumental YYZ.
“Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage” a documentary created by filmmakers Scot McFadyen & Sam Dunn (whose filmography also includes: “Iron Maiden; Flight 666,” “Metal, A Headbangers Journey” and “Global Metal”) will premiere at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival on April 24th followed by the Canadian premiere at Toronto’s Hot Docs festival on April 29th. The band was also recently showcased in the comedy “I Love You Man” where they play themselves in a concert scene featuring actors Paul Rudd and Jason Segal as uber-fans, a performance which has exposed the band to a whole new generation.
Inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame this past March alongside Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot, Rush has also been nominated for multiple Grammy awards and won a number of Juno Awards. They were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and bestowed the Order of Canada in 1997. Consistently celebrated and respected worldwide, Rush is the most successful Canadian rock band of all time and they remain one of the biggest grossing arena rock bands ever.
Tickets for Rush Time Machine Tour will go on sale beginning April 16th in San Francisco, Uncasville, Saratoga Springs, Denver, Chicago, Wantagh, Seattle and Holmdel at Livenation.com. Tickets for performances in Milwaukee, Sarnia and Syracuse go on sale April 17th, check local listings for ticket information.
Citi® cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets through Citi’s Private Pass® Program beginning April 13th in select markets. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.