Tons of news coming out this week about all sorts of new music being worked on/expected!
*The collaboration with Slash & Myles Kennedy, which is slated to come out May 22nd, finally has a title to it now; "Apocalyptic Love"
*Legendary shredder Carlos Santana will release a new album "Shape Shifter" in May as well as drop a new DVD "Santana live at Montreux 2011" on Tuesday.
*HELLYEAH is putting the finishing touches on their new CD "Band of Brother's" and are looking at early June to put it out. They're also planning a tour with CLUTCH-sadly no stops planned for KC as of now.
*While holed up in Las Vegas for their three week residency at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Nikki Sixx confirmed this week that Motley Crue is in the process of writing a new album to follow up 2009's "Saints of Los Angeles".
*Green Day is set to work on a new album. This time, less political!
*Sully Erna, of Godsmack, saying this week that "Smack will put out a 5 song EP of tunes "that everybody should know". No firm date on when we can expect this album.
*New Deep Purple studio album coming out in 2013.
*I'm personally excited for this one, BB King has a new CD/DVD coming out in March on the 20th. "B.B. King: Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2011" was recorded on June 28th, 2011 and has a slew of special guests including Slash, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Ron Wood and Simply Red's Mick Hucknail.
*And here's a little something for all you metalheads out there...
Meshuggah...
Crazy to think about this but we are really getting close to spring!
Monday we had snow and today we have rain and 50!
Before you know it those 50 and 60 days with sun will be here.
And that means bikes will be out again!
I know you have not seen us for a while but keep in mind we are still around!
Last week I had a close call heading out to Leavenworth.
Nothing major but it was close enough for me to remind you of this!
I really don't feel like being road pizza so keep a eye out and enjoy the spring type weather with us!
M
Greetings friends and enemies, alike, it is time for another installment of your WRWU blog. I hoped you enjoyed the vlog! Twas a busy week in the world of Rock-n-Roll!!
*Seems fans of Van Halen are getting behind VH's first album with David Lee Roth in 28 years as projected first week sales of "A Different Kind of Truth" are expected to be somewhere in between 180,000 & 200,000!
*Joe Perry, guitarist for Aerosmith, tweeted this week the band will embark on a U.S. tour in June. No dates or cities listed yet.
*I told you guys in a Vlog a little while back that AC/DC had put their stamp of approval on a pinball machine, well this week, it was announced in the U.K. that AC/DC wine is now available. Two wine styles are on the market to choose from in Shiraz and Sauvignon.
*Rush "Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland" DVD is nominated for a JUNO award. JUNO awards are the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys.
*Brian "Head" Welch, former Korn guitarist, announced this week his band from now on will be known as Love and Death.
*Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars was asked this week about front-man Vince Neil's possible retirement from Crue once Motley's done with their Vegas residency. In short, his reply was, "Fat Chance!"
*With Disturbed on indefinite hiatus bassist John Moyer will keep himself busy as it was announced this week he's to join drummer Mike Portnoy (formerly of Dream Theater) and the rest of the members in Adrenaline Mob. The Mob's debut CD will drop next month on the 13th.
*Lamb of God created "Vox of God" a new iPhone app which creates a vocal simulation of lead singer Randy Blythe's vocal style when the user records their voice with the app. COOL!
*And drummer Lars Ulrich, of Metallica, publically stated this week "The people whose opinions I trust say 'Lulu' is very good".
New Music Announcements
*Only 1,000 copies of Ace Frehley's "Anomaly" will be available on April 10th. It will be a double LP set in special gatefold packaging with the vinyl being silver colored.
*Ann Arbor, Michigan rockers Taproot will release its latest album "The Episodes" on April 10th, as well via Victory Records.
It is official we are a little less than a month away from making the announcement for Rockfest 2012!
And yes I have heard a lot of rumors myself as to who will be there but before we start the guessing game I want to remind you that there will be a Rockaholic pre-sale for tickets shortly after we announce the show.
Why would I remind you of that now?
Because I want you to get your ticket during that so it is cheaper!
If you start tossing back five or ten bucks a week now when the sale come on you will be ready!
Now if you don't worry about saving ten bucks just do what you want but I like to save cash so I wanted to remind you now!
See you at the show!
M
Greetings dear friends of cyber-world! It's hard to believe we've already reached another Friday and another Weekly Rock Wind Up Blog for you to enjoy. Thanks for reading and feel free to pass it along to anyone you'd think would enjoy it and please take note of the new segment below!!!
*Country Love, oh how you're always in the news for just being… well… a psychopath! Seems daughter Francis Bean spoke out this week about her mom's "habits" and how they resulted in the death of her cat and dog. The cat died after becoming entangled in Love's piles of garbage, boxes of paperwork and piles of fabrics while the dog died after swallowing some of Court's sleeping pills. Mom of the year for sure Ms. Love!
*KISS action figures are back! The original line up of toys was introduced in 1977 and stood at twelve inches tall. The new figures will be eight inches.
*Opeth, Mastodon, and Ghost announced this week they'll be going on a Spring tour. No stops planned as of yet for KC. If that changes, we'll let you know! Here's the list of shows, though, in case you wanna make a road trip!
4/4/2012 State Theatre Portland, ME
4/5/2012 Orpheum Theatre Boston, MA
4/6/2012 Metropolis Montreal, QC Canada
4/7/2012 Sony Center Toronto, ONT Canada
4/9/2012 Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA
4/10/2012 Wallingford, CT
4/11/2012 Roseland Ballroom New York, NY
4/13/2012 Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL
4/14/2012 The Intersection Grand Rapids, MI
4/15/2012 Stage AE Pittsburgh, PA
4/16/2012 Tennessee Theatre Knoxville, TN
4/18/2012 Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK
4/19/2012 Palladium Ballroom Dallas, TX
4/20/2012 Backstage Live San Antonio, TX
4/21/2012 Concrete Street Amphitheatre Corpus Christi, TX
4/23/2012 Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO
4/25/2012 House of Blues Las Vegas, NV
4/26/2012 Gibson Amphitheatre @ Universal City Walk Universal City, CA
4/27/2012 Fox Theatre Oakland, CA
4/28/2012 Grand Sierra Theatre Reno, NV
4/30/2012 Paramount Theater Seattle, WA
5/1/2012 Orpheum Vancouver, BC Canada
5/3/2012 Edmonton Events Centre Edmonton, ALB Canada
5/4/2012 MacEwan Hall Calgary, ALB Canada
5/5/2012 Odeon, The Saskatoon, SAS Canada
5/6/2012 Burton Cummings Theatre Winnipeg, MAN Canada
5/9/2012 The Fillmore - Silver Spring Silver Spring, MD
5/10/2012 The Fillmore Charlotte Charlotte, NC
5/11/2012 House Of Blues N. Myrtle Beach, SC
5/12/2012 Masquerade Atlanta, GA
*Speaking of tours, Guns-n-Roses announcing this week more additions to their North America run. All shows listed below take place this month and the tour is being called;
Up Close and Personal
10: New York, NY (Roseland Ballroom)
12 New York, NY (Terminal 5)
15 New York, NY (The Ritz n.k.a Webster Hall))
19 Chicago, Il. (House of Blues)
23 Silver Springs, Md. (The Fillmore)
24 Atlantic City, N.J. (House of Blues)
*Nikki Sixx, Motley Crue/SIXX AM bassist, took a shot at "Cryin' Like A Bitch" author Sully Erna of Godsmack. As many of you know Crue is set to embark on a three week residency in Las Vegas and Sixx said he wanted to hire an angry midget for their show, and was wondering if Erna could fill that role. No word back, yet, from Sully.
*A conman in the UK, Scott Travis, allegedly defrauded a pensioner out of $158,00 claiming he was Whitesnake's drummer, named Franco, who was set to received a boat-load of cash from his mother's will.
*Matt Sorum (Drummer for GnR, Velvet Revolver, and The Cult) was a busy body this week. Selling personalized autographed Velvet Revolver drum sticks. He also finished the first 50 of 100 "Epic Rhythm Canvases" which are described as "massive, abstract and unprecedented". Check out www.mattsorumart.com
NEW MUSIC ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK AC/DC – Back in studio, New album later this year Joe Walsh – "Analog Man" – May or June The Cult – "Choice of Weapon" – May 22nd
And a new segment I'm starting in the Weekly Rock Wind Up is a posting of new music, either audio or video, I've received this week. Some of the music came via mail in hard copy CD's, some in the digital format from email. Do enjoy below.
*NOTE: The Slowdown is a KC band and I love their video and Die Antwoord is something my girlfriend showed me that is just weird and I had to share it with you!
"How Do We End Up Alone" - Hurt
"This Time It's Different" - Evans Blue
"To Die For" - Edisun ft. Matt Reardon of Black Sunshine
Dear Sabbath Fans, Fellow Musicians and Interested Parties,
At this time, I would love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour. However, I am unable to continue unless a "signable" contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band. Last year, I worked diligently in good faith with Tony, Ozzy and Geezer. And on 11/11/11, again in good faith, I participated in the L.A. press conference. Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another "unsignable" contract was handed to me.
Let me say that although this has put me in some kind of holding pattern, I am packed and ready to leave the U.S. for England. More importantly, I definitely want to play on the album, and I definitely want to tour with Black Sabbath.
Since the news of Tony's illness, and the understanding that the band would move production to the U.K., I've spent everyday getting to or living in a place of readiness to leave. That involves something of a task, and as I've tried to find out what's going on with the U.K. sessions, I've realized that I've been getting "the cold shoulder" (and, I might add, not for the first time). Feeling somewhat ostracized, my guess is as of today, I will know nothing of what'shappening unless I sign "the unsignable contract."
The place I'm in feels lousy and lonely because as much as I want to play and participate, Ialso have to stand for something and not sign on. If I sign as-is, I stand to lose my rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician. I believe in freedom and freedom of speech. I grew up in a hard rock/metal band. We stood for something then, and we played from the heart with honesty and sincerity. I am in the spirit of integrity, far from the corporate malady, I am real and honest, fair and compassionate.
If I'm replaced, I have to face you, the beloved Sabbath fans. I hope you will not hold me responsible for the failure of an original Black Sabbath lineup as promoted. Without fault finding, I want to assure everyone that my loyalty to Sabbath is intact.
So here I am. I lay my truth down before you. I'm good to go IF I get a "signable" contract. I don't want to let anyone down, especially Black Sabbath and all the Sabbath fans. You know I love you. It would be a sad day in Rock if this current situation fell to the desires of a few.
My position is not greed-driven. I'm not holding out for a "big piece" of the action (money) like some kind of blackmail deal. I'd like something that recognizes and is reflective of my contributions to the band, including the reunions that started fourteen years ago. After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract. I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honor all that I've brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning.
