Will be rockin'!
Tonight, Slash will host a concert to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mirage Resort and Casino. Billed as Slash & Friends, the lineup includes guests such as Joe Perry, Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander, Matt Sorum and members of Rob Zombie's band.
I have no doubt they will tear it up.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Feeling a bit Urgent...
Actually, I'm feeling a bit bummed, but Foreigner doesn't have a song with that title. I'll be missing their show tonight, and I'm sad about it.
I just have to say it. Foreigner is a great rock and roll band. I think the "corporate rock" label for them and other bands like Journey and Styx is just plain stupid. They play good, solid, hook filled rock and roll, and what's wrong with that? Being commercial isn't the equivalent of being bad.
Some may say Foreigner isn't the same since Lou Gramm left. After all, he was "the voice." I can see both sides of this. Lou Gramm had an amazing voice, but his age, his illness, and the fact that he'd performed for so many years was working against him. I saw him with the band a few years ago, and I found it hard to watch and listen to a singer who can't hit the notes he was famous for. It's heartbreaking. But I admit to being biased about the new singer Kelly Hansen. I was a fan of his band Hurricane in the 80s, and I always thought he was an underrated singer back then. Listening to him perform songs I love pumps me up and I think he really does them justice. And Mick Jones is simply Mick Jones, still awesome after all this time.
So this evening as I go about my regular life, I'll be humming Foreigner songs to myself and wishing I was rocking out. Maybe next tour...
I just have to say it. Foreigner is a great rock and roll band. I think the "corporate rock" label for them and other bands like Journey and Styx is just plain stupid. They play good, solid, hook filled rock and roll, and what's wrong with that? Being commercial isn't the equivalent of being bad.
Some may say Foreigner isn't the same since Lou Gramm left. After all, he was "the voice." I can see both sides of this. Lou Gramm had an amazing voice, but his age, his illness, and the fact that he'd performed for so many years was working against him. I saw him with the band a few years ago, and I found it hard to watch and listen to a singer who can't hit the notes he was famous for. It's heartbreaking. But I admit to being biased about the new singer Kelly Hansen. I was a fan of his band Hurricane in the 80s, and I always thought he was an underrated singer back then. Listening to him perform songs I love pumps me up and I think he really does them justice. And Mick Jones is simply Mick Jones, still awesome after all this time.
So this evening as I go about my regular life, I'll be humming Foreigner songs to myself and wishing I was rocking out. Maybe next tour...
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
What Possessed Him?
Bas, Bas, Bas....
A few weeks ago I was singing your praises. Now, I have to say, you've just gone and ruined it for me.
Why oh why would Sebastian Bach ever consent to be on Celebrity Fit Club?!?!?
Why has he become VH1's bitch? Between I Married Sebastian Bach, SuperGroup, a lame-ass countdown show, and now this? And no, I haven't forgotten the show on CMT and The Gilmore Girls. This man used to be fierce. What the hell is going on with him?
Not only is he going to be on this stupid show, his fellow cast mates will include freakin' Bobby Brown and gag me Kevin Federline!
Please, Bas, I beg you - stick to what you do best, and that's music.
A few weeks ago I was singing your praises. Now, I have to say, you've just gone and ruined it for me.
Why oh why would Sebastian Bach ever consent to be on Celebrity Fit Club?!?!?
Why has he become VH1's bitch? Between I Married Sebastian Bach, SuperGroup, a lame-ass countdown show, and now this? And no, I haven't forgotten the show on CMT and The Gilmore Girls. This man used to be fierce. What the hell is going on with him?
Not only is he going to be on this stupid show, his fellow cast mates will include freakin' Bobby Brown and gag me Kevin Federline!
Please, Bas, I beg you - stick to what you do best, and that's music.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
One of the things I love about music is one of the same things I love about life - there's always something new to learn.
Last night I was flipping through the television channels and came across a program on VH1 Classic about Syd Barrett. I'd heard the name before, but since I didn't know anything about the man, I decided to give it a go.
Syd Barrett was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. As I've gotten older, I've developed an appreciation for Pink Floyd's music, but I wouldn't consider myself a fan. All I know of Pink Floyd is Dave Gilmour and Roger Waters, Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. Years ago I watched the movie The Wall, but I didn't really get it. That may be because I watched the movie absolutely stone cold sober. In any case, Pink Floyd wasn't too high on my list of faves.
But I was fascinated with Syd Barrett's story. He recorded on the first two Pink Floyd albums and was the band's principle songwriter in the early days. His behavior both on and off the stage became increasingly erratic and he was dismissed from the band in 1968. He released two solo albums, but then retreated into self imposed seclusion for almost 30 years, passing away from either pancreatic cancer or complications from diabetes in 2006, depending on what report you believe.
Syd Barrett was known to have been a heavy LSD user. His family and former band mates also think there were other factors at work in Syd's psyche. There was speculation that he was schizophrenic, or bipolar. It was thought that he had a nervous breakdown. People also wondered if the flashing lights used in Pink Floyd's stage shows, combined with the drugs, could have triggered epileptic-like seizures. It's just amazing to me how many times we keep hearing the same story, only with different character names. Gifted young musician strives for success, achieves it, starts to use drugs, can't handle success they worked so hard for, self implodes.
The list of rock and roll cautionary tales gets longer every day.
Monday, September 28, 2009
That (Sorta) Metal Show
My name is Jen and I am a heavy metal fan.
So, as an admitted, out in public metal fan, I was really excited last year to hear that VH1 Classic was going to air a half hour show about hard rock and heavy metal. I'd been a devotee to MTV's Headbanger's Ball back in the day, and was hoping for an engaging interview and discussion type show.
Instead, what I got was a show that has more misses than hits. Debuting on November 15, 2008, the show is hosted by Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson. That's the first problem I've got with the show. Eddie Trunk is a local New York DJ who also has a satellite radio show dedicated to heavy metal. The man is a walking encyclopedia of music knowledge, which is good. The bad part is that he's dull as dishwater. He injects a lot of personal stuff into his stories, which can be interesting. But he talks a lot. Sometimes he talks more than the guests. And who are the other two guys? Comedians who are metal fans? They don't bring a lot to the table. I seriously don't understand VH1's compulsion to add comedians to all their shows, because instead of their comments being funny, they're just annoying.
Each show has an interview segment with an artist, with the exception of the episode where former NY Mets catcher Mike Piazza was the guest. I know he's a metal fan, but come on, there was NO ONE else available in all of New York City to be the guest that day? In any case, in my opinion this part of the show should be the main focus, but inevitably it's cut too short just as the interviews with the artists start to get interesting. The show obviously needs time for it's other two segments, Stump the Trunk and Throwdown.
Stump the Trunk is a trivia contest where an audience member gets to ask a question of walking encyclopedia Eddie Trunk, and if he fails to answer it, they win a prize. Throwdown asks the host to pick one of two artists over the other and answer why in a timed response. There are also other bits, such as Where Are They Now and Pick of the Week.
All in all, it's too much to stuff into a half hour. If I know Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater is going to be on the show, I want the whole show about him, not 7 minutes out of 30. I could care less about the other filler.
The second season of the show ended this summer. If the show comes back for another season, I hope it's retooled. 'Cause in my opinion, That Metal Show is so not metal.
So, as an admitted, out in public metal fan, I was really excited last year to hear that VH1 Classic was going to air a half hour show about hard rock and heavy metal. I'd been a devotee to MTV's Headbanger's Ball back in the day, and was hoping for an engaging interview and discussion type show.
Instead, what I got was a show that has more misses than hits. Debuting on November 15, 2008, the show is hosted by Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson. That's the first problem I've got with the show. Eddie Trunk is a local New York DJ who also has a satellite radio show dedicated to heavy metal. The man is a walking encyclopedia of music knowledge, which is good. The bad part is that he's dull as dishwater. He injects a lot of personal stuff into his stories, which can be interesting. But he talks a lot. Sometimes he talks more than the guests. And who are the other two guys? Comedians who are metal fans? They don't bring a lot to the table. I seriously don't understand VH1's compulsion to add comedians to all their shows, because instead of their comments being funny, they're just annoying.
Each show has an interview segment with an artist, with the exception of the episode where former NY Mets catcher Mike Piazza was the guest. I know he's a metal fan, but come on, there was NO ONE else available in all of New York City to be the guest that day? In any case, in my opinion this part of the show should be the main focus, but inevitably it's cut too short just as the interviews with the artists start to get interesting. The show obviously needs time for it's other two segments, Stump the Trunk and Throwdown.
Stump the Trunk is a trivia contest where an audience member gets to ask a question of walking encyclopedia Eddie Trunk, and if he fails to answer it, they win a prize. Throwdown asks the host to pick one of two artists over the other and answer why in a timed response. There are also other bits, such as Where Are They Now and Pick of the Week.
All in all, it's too much to stuff into a half hour. If I know Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater is going to be on the show, I want the whole show about him, not 7 minutes out of 30. I could care less about the other filler.
The second season of the show ended this summer. If the show comes back for another season, I hope it's retooled. 'Cause in my opinion, That Metal Show is so not metal.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Daddy's Little Girl
Anyone who's read my earlier posts can tell I'm not really a fan of what I call "competition TV," those programs that pit contestants against one another to win money or a recording contract or a person's heart. With a few exceptions, it's not really something that interests me. However, I found myself tuning in to "Dancing With The Stars" this week.
Why?
I wanted to see Kelly Osbourne.
Again, why?
For two reasons. First, I wanted to see if she could pull it off. Second, I wanted to see whether Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Bleeping Darkness, would actually show up and sit in the audience with the family members of the other contestants.
Kelly Osbourne is the youngest daughter or Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. As part of the phenomenal success of The Osbournes reality show on MTV, she became a target of the paparazzi and has struggled with the demons that haunt her family, drugs and alcohol. She has a sharp tongue and a quick temper, and like her parents, no internal censor. I thought it would be interesting to see if she if she could tamp all that down to be a contender in the competition.
Well, like everyone who watched the show, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Her first dance was very elegant, ladylike and polished, very un-Osbourne like. She did an amazing job and handled herself brilliantly. She and her partner got high marks from the judges and have moved on to the next round of the competition.
And as for Ozzy, yes, he was in the audience, with Sharon and Kelly's fiance. Not only was he there, but he cried. Yes, The Prince of Bleeping Darkness actually cried watching his daughter glide elegantly across the floor. I expected that from Sharon, I've read her autobiography Extreme and I know that beneath her business rep as a cast iron bitch she's actually a marshmallow. But Ozzy? After her dance was completed Kelly ran across the floor to hug him and Sharon, and I don't think they could have been more proud.
I've only seen Ozzy Osbourne in concert once, in December of 2001 as they were in the middle of filming the first season of The Osbournes. More than anything, I went because I wanted to see Zakk Wylde. Unfortunately, I have to say, it was one of the most boring concerts I've ever been too, and I was disappointed. After that, I've much preferred Ozzy in Dad mode than Rocker mode, and Dad mode was out in full force on Dancing With The Stars.
Go, Kelly! I'm rooting for you!
Why?
I wanted to see Kelly Osbourne.
Again, why?
For two reasons. First, I wanted to see if she could pull it off. Second, I wanted to see whether Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Bleeping Darkness, would actually show up and sit in the audience with the family members of the other contestants.
Kelly Osbourne is the youngest daughter or Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. As part of the phenomenal success of The Osbournes reality show on MTV, she became a target of the paparazzi and has struggled with the demons that haunt her family, drugs and alcohol. She has a sharp tongue and a quick temper, and like her parents, no internal censor. I thought it would be interesting to see if she if she could tamp all that down to be a contender in the competition.
Well, like everyone who watched the show, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Her first dance was very elegant, ladylike and polished, very un-Osbourne like. She did an amazing job and handled herself brilliantly. She and her partner got high marks from the judges and have moved on to the next round of the competition.
And as for Ozzy, yes, he was in the audience, with Sharon and Kelly's fiance. Not only was he there, but he cried. Yes, The Prince of Bleeping Darkness actually cried watching his daughter glide elegantly across the floor. I expected that from Sharon, I've read her autobiography Extreme and I know that beneath her business rep as a cast iron bitch she's actually a marshmallow. But Ozzy? After her dance was completed Kelly ran across the floor to hug him and Sharon, and I don't think they could have been more proud.
I've only seen Ozzy Osbourne in concert once, in December of 2001 as they were in the middle of filming the first season of The Osbournes. More than anything, I went because I wanted to see Zakk Wylde. Unfortunately, I have to say, it was one of the most boring concerts I've ever been too, and I was disappointed. After that, I've much preferred Ozzy in Dad mode than Rocker mode, and Dad mode was out in full force on Dancing With The Stars.
Go, Kelly! I'm rooting for you!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
It's An Honor Just To Be Nominated
Do you think Gene Simmons will say that if KISS doesn't make it this year?
The list of 2010 potential Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees was announced today. The list includes KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, LL Cool J, Genesis, Donna Summer, ABBA, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro, the Stooges, the Chantels, the Hollies and Jimmy Cliff.
The nominees are chosen by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, and artists are eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their debut. Inductees include not just artists, but producers, songwriters, DJs and others who have made musical history.
So who will make the cut this year?
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