Lost And Found: Driver’s Seat
June 24, 2009
According to the Sniff ‘n’ The Tears official website — this one hit wonder isn’t even about driving. [Read more]
What’s All This Talk About Sex, Drugs & Rock N’ Roll? (Part II)
June 24, 2009
What’s All This Talk About Sex, Drugs & Rock N’ Roll? (Part II)
After serious consideration, we’ve concluded that THIS would have been a better video to show our parents when they worried about our crazy music and the kids we hung out with. Last week’s “White Punks On Dope” by The Tubes may have been the wrong choice after all. If we only had a VCRs back then…
Jimmy Page & Jack White Don’t Have A Whole Lotta Love For “Guitar Hero”
June 24, 2009
“You think of the drum part that John Bonham did on Led Zeppelin’s first track on the first album …how many drummers in the world can play that part, let alone on Christmas morning?” That’s the word from Jimmy Page himself at a press conference for the upcoming documentary ‘It Might Get Loud.”
Jack White notes that “It’s depressing to have a label come and tell you that (Guitar Hero) is how kids are learning about music and experiencing music…”Not that anyone from asked us but ClassicRockForever is always ready to throw its two cents in by tossing part of the blame for kids not showing up at music lessons on the “The Electric Slide”, “The Macarena” and the original culprit “YMCA”. Our theory dates back to the “post-disco” era when people started hiring DJ’s instead of live bands at weddings. Maybe there weren’t enough local bands that could segue smoothly from “Candida” to “Last Dance.” Then again, it was always cheaper to hire a DJ. The trend quickly spread to high school dances. Suddenly in the nineties, we woke up one morning with an entire generation of kids who had never seen a live “cover” band - or, for that matter, any live music. Most of them completely oblivious to fact that learning to play Mustang Sally and Good Lovin’ could get them lots of dates. Well, maybe something more 21st century – like a Jack White/White Stripes tune?
Oh, kids these days. Some think that the route to Carnegie Hall is via the TV screen but, plastic guitars don’t necessarily make rock stars.
Read more entire Jimmy Page/Jack White/Guitar Hero story HERE.
Don’t You Know That You Are Free?
June 24, 2009
Well at least in your mind if you want to be… [Read more]
Today’s White House Press Briefing: Iran, Health Insurance, Mr. Roboto
June 24, 2009
The jig is up, the news is out, they finally found them. Those renegades, Styx, showed up behind the podium in the White House press briefing room. Sounds like the press loved it. Word has it that some of media’s finest were actually singing a few lyrics from some of the band’s tunes. We’re hoping that Fox News and MSNBC got to harmonize on “Fooling Yourself”.
Wouldn’t You Like To Have A Pepper Too?
June 24, 2009
A Sgt. Pepper poster has sold for more than $50,000. The keepsake - signed by all four Beatles – was one of the more than 300 music related items auctioned off at Christies in New York. Read the entire story here.
Chickenfoot - CD Review
June 22, 2009
It took an extra week to review the new Chickenfoot CD because I kept hitting the replay button after each track - liking it so much that it was tough to move on to next one. Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani and Chad Smith have put together a primer for wannabe rockers. With two former members of Van Halen on board it’s pretty tempting for a lot of critics to overanalyze - and wring their hands wondering what Eddie thinks. At the end of the day, it’s the best rock record to come out in a long time. Much too long of a time.
Favorites so far include “Sexy Little Thing” and “My Kinda Girl” – both tunes are straight ahead, crank this sucker up, rock and roll. “Future In The Past” has got that anthem-like, change-it-up/build-it-up, soaring guitar thing going on. I haven’t heard a guitar soar in quite a while. Thanks Joe, I needed that – and thanks for setting every single track on fire on this smoker.
Working together, Michael Stanley and Chad Smith bring a sensibility that often seems to be missing when “veterans and superstars” team up. In addition to actually sounding like they’re working together, they clearly know how to transcend the mechanics to reach a state of pure funkification. “Turning Left” is a great example.
And then you’ve got Sammy Hagar sounding the way you want him to sound. It genuinely feels like he’s having a good time. Although he’s got nothing to prove, you could imagine him announcing, “now this is how ya do it” at the start of this CD.
You might call Chickenfoot’s debut an inspirational record that encourages hope. It’s inspired me to pester my friends that have given up on rock …to insist that they listen – and we all hope there’s a second CD in the works.
Rock And Roll Is Here To Stray
June 9, 2009
A new survey on a U.K. extra-marital dating site, finds 37% of adults looking to cheat on their spouses are Rock music fans - compared to only (only?) 3% who are Christian/Gospel music lovers. If you happen to be a Country music fan living in the U.K ., you must be busy two-steppin’ instead of two-timing, because we haven’t seen results from that genre yet. The percentages might change if this type of research project is ever done in the states. Read more about the study by Illicit Encounters HERE.
I Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More
June 4, 2009
‘Cause time goes by like hurricanes …and faster things.
DEEP PURPLE HISTORY, HITS & HIGHLIGHTS: 1968-76 Two DVD Set
June 4, 2009
(PR) Deep Purple are easily one of the most influential and dynamic British rock bands of the 20th Century. Fans now have the opportunity to experience highlights from the early days of this legendary band, as Eagle Rock Entertainment releases History, Hits, & Highlights, a special 2DVD set that hit stores this week.
A vivid compilation of rare and unreleased material, live performances, archival interviews and studio/television footage, History, Hits & Highlights chronicles the years 1968-1976 when the band survived four line-up changes and produced such classic albums as In Rock, Fireball, Burn, and Machine Head. It was at this time that essential tracks like “Hush,” “Speed King,” “Black Night,” and, of course, “Smoke On The Water,” were produced. These solid rock staples, plus many more, are prominently displayed on this set. As a bonus, a photo gallery is included on the second disc.
Hot on the heels of front man Ian Gillan’s new CD One Eye To Morocco (March 31, Eagle Rock), this 2DVD set is a revealing look at the band. It also follows a grand tradition of great Deep Purple releases from Eagle Rock, such as Around The World Live 5DVD set (June 2008), and They All Came Down To Montreux DVD (June 2007).
Track Listing:
Disc #1:
History – 20 minute history of Deep Purple from 1968 to 1976
Hits – full performances:
Mark One Line-Up (March 1968 – July 1969) – Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Rod Evans (vocals), Jon Lord (keyboard), Ian Paice (drums), Nick Simper (bass)
1.) Help
2.) Hush
3.) Wring That Neck
Mark Two Line-Up (July 1969-June 1973) – Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Ian Gillan (vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Jon Lord (keyboard), Ian Paice (drums)
4.) Hallelujah
5.) Mandrake Root
6.) Speed King
7.) Black Night
8.) Child In Time
9.) Lazy
10.) Strange Kind Of Woman
11.) Fireball Writing Session
12.) Fireball
13.) Demon’s Eyes
14.) No No No
15.) Into The Fire
16.) Never Before
17.) Highway Star
18.) Smoke On The Water
Mark Three Line-Up (July 1973-1975) – Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), David Coverdale (vocals), Glenn Hughes (bass/vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards), Ian Paice (drums)
19.) Burn
20.) Mistreated
Mark Four Line-Up (June 1975-March 1976) – Tommy Bolin (guitar), David Coverdale (vocals), Glenn Hughes (bass/vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards), Ian Paice (drums)
21.) Love Child
22.) You Keep On Moving
Disc #2:
Highlights – bonus performances and interviews
Mark One Line-Up
1.) And The Address (Playboy TV)
Mark Two Line-Up
2.) Wring That Neck (Bilzen Jazz Festival 1969)
4.) Wring That Neck (“Pop Deux” Paris Concert 1970)
3.) Mandrake Root (“Pop Deux” Paris Concert 1970)
5.) Black Night (Promo Clip)
6.) No No No (Take 1 – Rockpalast Rehearsal Session)
7.) No No No (Take 2 – Rockpalast Rehearsal Session)
Mark Three Line-Up
8.) Jt. Nuit (French TV 1974)
9.) Leeds Polytechnic Student Project 1974 – featuring Burn/Space Truckin’
Mark Four Line-Up
10.) New Zealand TV Documentary (November 1975)
11.) Smoke On The Water (New Zealand TV)
12.) Tony Edwards (Deep Purple’s manager) – French TV Interview 1976