Talking About That Blues Rock Salvation: An Exclusive Interview With Texas Blues Guitarist Lance Lopez

There's no doubt about it, the state of Texas is well known world wide for its fiery blues guitar players.

Even just a cursory look will reveal the state's rich tradition, which easily rivals Chicago and Mississippi for producing players who have been both originators and contributors to the legacy of the guitar's significant role in the genre's history. Dating back to the 1920's with "Blind" Lemon Jefferson, continuing through the 1950's with such legends as Freddie King, T-Bone Walker and "Lightning" Hopkins, with the advent of the rock era of the 1960's the pressure cooker exploded.

Albino blues giant Johnny Winter, from Beaumont, in 1968 was signed to what was then the largest advance in the history of the recording industry---$600,000. Houston's ZZ Top, with the Reverend Willie G, i.e. Billy F. Gibbons - armed with a '59 Les Paul- during the 70's went from being "That little ol' band from Texas" to being world wide ambassadors with their unique brand of deep blues infused boogie rock.

Although disco and subsequently new wave lessened blues rock's influence in the late 70's, by 1983 it was another native Texan, Dallas born Stevie Ray Vaughan, whose combination of raw blues mixed with Hendrix styled pyrotechnics spearheaded yet another resurrection as the genre rose its evil head once again. A breath of much needed fresh air amongst the synth heavy offerings on MTV and radio airwaves of the time, the guitarist's massive influence has extended long beyond his untimely, tragic death twenty years ago.

One such player whom Vaughan touched the soul of was young, gifted blues/rock axeslinger Lance Lopez. Although born in Shreveport, Louisiana, at the age of 12, his family moved to Dallas, where with the exception of a spell back in New Orleans and Southwest Florida, the guitarist has called his home ever since.

A professional musician since the age of 14 when he began playing local bars in and around the New Orleans, Louisiana area, at 17 he was hired by soul great Johnnie Taylor, with whom he toured for six months. By 18 he was hired as the band leader of blues legend Lucky Peterson's band, spending three years touring throughout the world.

It was while with Peterson in Europe that he struck up a close friendship with the larger than life drummer Buddy Miles, subsequently becoming the guitarist for The Buddy Miles Express for a brief time. The former Band Of Gypsys legend would go on to mentor Lopez, leading to him co producing his debut album 'First Things First', along with Grammy winning producer Jay Newland (Norah Jones) which was released independently in 1998.

From 2003 to 2007 Lopez recorded, and released three studio and one live CD for a small independent label, Grooveyard Records - all of which were heavily influenced by another of the guitarist's main influences - Jimi Hendrix. Despite the hindrance of being released on such a label, the albums are all prime examples of post Hendrix heavy blues, filled to the brim with awe inspiring fretwork, which led to him garnering a cult following amongst guitar fanatics world wide.

Now after a three year break, Lopez is back with a brand new Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Santana) produced studio album 'Salvation From Sundown'. Intentionally conceived as a more traditional Texas blues styled offering, it's the guitarist's most mature recording to date, showcasing strong songwriting while still retaining the red-hot fretwork which has elicited none other than guitar god Jeff Beck to call him "A very exciting and intense blues guitarist". His first release on a major label (Sony/MIG) it shows him poised to take his rightful place as one of the finest blues players on the planet.

Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Lopez to discuss the new album, his philosophy regarding his music, memories of close friends Buddy Miles and Dimebag Darrell and much more. Read on as we have an exclusive conversation with one of the leading purveyors of true Texas tone, Lance Lopez....Click here to read the interview

"Salvation From Sundown" from 'Salvation From Sundown' Lance Lopez 2010 :

Eric Clapton : "I Hate My Singing"

Gibson.com is reporting :Give Eric Clapton a guitar, and old Slowhand has no fear. But it’s another thing entirely when the rock legend has to sing.

“I hate my singing. I don't like the way I sing,” Clapton recently told Mojo. “It all sounds like I’m 16 years old from Surbiton. I do my best to try and feel it. You know, when I watch Ray Charles sing, I think, ‘That’s it, that's how it’s done.’ He remembers thousands of songs and he sings them all as if they’re the most important song he knows. He does it from the bottom of his heart, every time, every song. And that’s, that’s the inspiration. That’s my influence. But I’m imbued with so much self-doubt about my singing, that it’s very difficult for me to get to that freedom that those kinds of singers have.”

For his forthcoming album,Clapton, the blues-rocker has teamed up with Allen Toussaint, Sheryl Crow and Wynton Marsalis. For his version of Irving Berlin’s “How Deep is the Ocean” on the studio album (his first in five years), Clapton said he was inspired by frequent collaborator J.J. Cale.

“That’s almost like I’m not having to try to sing. I can sing very quietly and it's going to be O.K.,” he said. “I learned that from J.J. See, you can have Ray Charles at one end of the spectrum, who can do all kinds of things with the voice, and go up and down in octaves and registers. And, you've got J.J. at the other, who creates exactly the same amount of emotional capacity in a very minimal way. And he’s still just as riveting to listen to. So there are different ways to do it.”

Clapton will be released on September 28.

Paul Rodgers Confirms Being Approached To Front Aerosmith

In an interview with Spinner.com, legendary vocalist Paul Rodgers (Free/Bad Company/The Firm/Queen +Paul Rodgers) confirmed being approached by Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry to replace frontman Steven Tyler, and subsequently turned down that offer during the period when it appeared Steven Tyler might be leaving the band.

An excerpt from the interview follows below :

Were you ever contacted to replace Steven Tyler in Aerosmith?

Well, yes, I was, actually. Joe Perry came up to me at another awards celebration. And he said that Steve was not really interested in touring anymore at the moment, and they were all ready to tour and that they were looking for somebody to take that slot. And I said to him, "You know ... maybe you guys ought to rethink that." And I'm happy to see that they're up and running now because they're a fabulous band.

Did you not want to do that just because you had already done the Queen thing?

I think so. As I said earlier, Queen was an exception -- joining forces with an actual band that existed. Because in the past I've always formed a band and then written a whole catalog of songs for that band.

To read the entire interview go to this location.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Rickey Medlocke : "We're Not A Tribute Band"

In an interview with the San Jose Mercury News, Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Rickey Medlocke spoke about the version of the Southern rock band that’s touring and recording these days. "A lot of people say, ‘Don’t you ever feel like you’re really a tribute band?’ No, I don’t. I think that as long as Gary [Rossington] and myself and Johnny [Van Zant] are there, it’s always going to be Lynyrd Skynyrd," Medlocke said. "But I do like to think that we’re giving tribute to the guys that have gone before us."

Medlocke has a long history with Lynyrd Skynyrd. He first joined the band in 1970, but not as a guitarist. "I was needing to make a change at the time," he said. "I called up Ronnie [Van Zant] and said, ‘Do you need a crew guy or somebody to set up equipment or whatever?’ And he said, Do you still play drums?’ I knew how to play drums, but I hadn’t messed with them in years. But in order to have a gig, I kind of BS’ed him and said, ‘Yeah, I still know how to play."

He left the band after about a year, because he didn’t think he was a good enough drummer for the band. He went on to form Blackfoot, where he served as singer and guitarist, but remained good friends with the Skynyrd gang. He said he could have been on the plane that killed some of the band’s key members in 1977.

"I was invited to go travel with the guys for like a week," Medlocke said. "But I got bookings with my band and I couldn’t make it. So therefore, things worked out the way they did. It was too bad that the band was cut down at a time when it was. Who knows how much further that band could have gotten? They were going to headline Madison Square Garden for the first time, which they had always wanted to do. But it was something that just wasn’t meant to be."

When the band reunited in the ’90s, founding member Rossington asked Medlocke to join, this time as a guitarist and songwriter. He’s been part of the group ever since.

"I think that amongst everything that has happened, it brings us together closer," he said. "And the music brings us closer together. Music is a healing tool."

John Lennon's Toilet Sells For $15K

The legendary musician's porcelain throne was sold for £9,500 ($15,500) at a Beatles auction in Liverpool Saturday.

The toilet, painted with blue flowers in and around the bowl, was part of Lennon's Tittenhurst Park home when he bought it in 1969 and was removed three years later by a contractor. Lennon gave him the toilet as a gift and told him to "put some flowers in it." Forty years later, the contractor's son-in-law decided to sell it.

Auction organizer Stephen Bailey, who also owns The Beatles Shop in Liverpool, told the BBC that "we had bids coming in from all over the place but it went to a private overseas buyer." The toilet was originally expected to fetch up to £1,000 ($1,600).

New Releases From Guitar Legend Rory Gallagher Coming September 14

Eagle Rock has announced two releases from Irish blues rock guitar icon Rory Gallagher. The label will release Ghost Blues 2DVD and The Beat Club Sessions CD on September 14.

The 2DVD set, running 179 minutes in total, is the complete Rory Gallagher experience, both revealing his background as a musical artist and tapping into his dominating stage presence. Ghost Blues, the first disc in the set, is the first complete and fully authorized documentary of Rory Gallagher's life and career. Unveiling Gallagher's story, we follow him from his upbringing in Cork and his early days with a show band, to his brief success in power trio Taste and his skyrocket into stardom going solo. The documentary threads together live footage, archive interviews with Rory, and contributions from his many friends and admirers, including his brother Donal, Bob Geldof, The Edge (U2), Cameron Crowe, Slash, Johnny Marr (The Smiths), Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones), and his former band members Ted McKenna and Gerry McAvoy, as well as many others.

After traversing Rory's roots, The Beat Club Sessions portion digs into his prowess as a trailblazing electric blues-rock performer. These live recordings are drawn from three different appearances on German TV's Beat Club program in the early seventies. The video footage is captured on disc 2 of the DVD package and via select audio on the CD release The Beat Club Sessions. With over 90 minutes of previously unreleased material, these performances capture Gallagher in his element, playing classic songs from his first two solo albums that would remain staples throughout his career, such as "Laundromat," "Messin' With The Kid," and "Crest Of A Wave."

Ghost Blues 2DVD and The Beat Club Sessions CD are more welcome additions to Eagle Rock's established Rory Gallagher library, which includes the Live in Cork DVD (released March 2009), The Definitive Montreux Collection 2DVD (May 2006), Live at Rockpalast 3DVD (August 2007) and The Best of Rory Gallagher: Crest of a Wave CD (August 2009).

Track Listing:
Ghost Blues 2DVD

Disc 1:
Ghost Blues documentary

Disc 2:
The Beat Club Sessions
1.) Laundromat
2.) Hands Up
3.) Sinnerboy
4.) Just The Smile
5.) Used To Be
6.) In Your Town
7.) Should've Learned My Lesson
8.) Crest of a Wave
9.) Tore Down
10.) Pistol Slapper Blues
11.) I Don't Know Where I'm Going
12.) Going To My Hometown
13.) I Could've Had Religion
14.) McAvoy Boogie
15.) Hoodoo Man
16.) Messin' With The Kid

The Beat Club Sessions CD:
1.) Laudromat
2.) Hands Up
3.) Sinnerboy
4.) Just The Smile
5.) I Don't Know Where I'm Going
6.) I Could've Had Religion
7.) Used To Be
8.) In Your Town
9.) Should've Learned My Lesson
10.) Crest of a Wave
11.) Tore Down
12.) Messin' With The Kid

"Used To Be" from The Beat Club :

Rockin' The Kremlin : Russia's President Medvedev Tells U2's Bono That He's a Fan of Led Zeppelin, But Prefers Deep Purple

Dmitry Medvedev told U2 lead singer Bono that he’s a fan of rock group Led Zeppelin over tea during a meeting at the Russian president’s residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Upon his arrival in Russia on Aug. 22, Bono joked that he would cancel a meeting with Medvedev after learning the president preferred Deep Purple to the Beatles, Kommersant reported.

Bono told Medvedev today that they have to overcome the differences in their musical tastes. Bono, 50, said he’s a long- time Led Zeppelin fan, while he knows that Medvedev likes Deep Purple. The president countered in televised remarks that he also enjoys Led Zeppelin.

Bono met with Medvedev before U2’s first-ever concert in Russia at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium.

Medvedev, 44, has said previously that he likes to listen to classic rock. Russia’s president since May 2008, Medvedev became a fan of Deep Purple as a teenager living in a cramped two-room apartment on the outskirts of Leningrad in the 1970s.

Deep Purple, whose music was banned by Soviet authorities, were flown to Moscow in February of 2008 to be the guests of honor at a concert in the Kremlin and met Medvedev. In a 2007 interview with Itogi magazine, Medvedev said he had the entire vinyl collection of Deep Purple. At school, he also listened to Black Sabbath. He said last year that his teenage son Ilya is a fan of the alternative rock group Linkin Park and that he also listened to the band’s music from time to time.

Band You Should Know : Southern Rockers Zach Williams And The Reformation

Hailing from Northeast Arkansas, Zach Williams And The Reformation, in the words of their press kit, look and sound like they stepped off of a bus that’s been in time travel since 1975.

Featuring influences from classic Southern Rockers such as The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynryd mixed with the hard edged blues rock of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Free, their 2009 debut album 'Electric Revival' conjures up the past whilst putting it in a more modern setting ala The Black Crowes. It all adds up to a potent blend of vintage 70's sounding rock which is sure to please any afficianados of the genre, filled with slide guitars, sizzling tube amps, soulful, whiskey tempered vocals and strong songs throughout.

Here's a taste in the form of "Angel With A Broken Wing", which features a guest spot from North Mississippi Allstars/The Black Crowes guitarist Luther Dickinson :



For more info go to this location.

Rare Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow Videos Posted Online

Bassist Bob Daisley, who was a member of Rainbow from 1977 to 1979, has posted high-quality video footage of of Rainbow performing the songs "Gates of Babylon", "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" and "L.A. Connection" at a New York studio prior to the release of the band's third studio album, 1978's "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll'. You can watch the clips below.

Although Bob Daisley and David Stone are listed on the "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" credits for their contributions, they joined Rainbow after the recording sessions had already commenced and only appear on a couple of tracks. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore played most of the bass parts himself for the album.

Hear New Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single "I'm A King Bee" From 'Live In Chicago'

As previously reported, blues rock guitar hero Kenny Wayne Shepherd will release 'Live In Chicago' via Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records world wide on September 28th.

Recorded in Chicago’s House of Blues during the critically acclaimed 10 Days Out: Blues From The Backroads tour, Live in Chicago showcases Kenny and his band, Noah Hunt, Chris Layton, Scott Nelson and Riley Osbourn, along with special guests, Hubert Sumlin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Buddy Flett, Bryan Lee and Tommy Shannon (of Double Trouble).

Listen to Kenny Wayne Shepherd's take on the classic Slim Harpo swamp blues track "I'm a King Bee" from 'Live In Chicago' now below. (Photo credit : Mike McCurry)

Jimi Hendrix Two Hour Voodoo Child Documentary To Premiere This Week

BIO Channel will premiere the two-hour documentary special "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child," on Thursday, August 26 at 9PM ET/ 8PM CT/ 10PM PT.

Over the course of just four extraordinary years, Jimi Hendrix left an indelible stamp on the world, shaping not only popular music but popular culture as well. He remains the most innovative musician of his, or any other, era having virtually reshaped the vocabulary of the electric guitar for future generations. "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child" is an autobiographical journey that reveals the man as never before, featuring the legendary musician's own words to tell the story of his remarkable life.

Drawing upon interviews granted by Hendrix, coupled with letters, writings and recordings, "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child" provides new insight into one of the most enduring icons of popular culture. The special is filled with never before seen photographs and film footage from the Hendrix family archive and features a soundtrack that includes such legendary Hendrix recordings as "Purple Haze," "Hey Joe," "Fire," "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" together with never before heard live performances. Funk legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic renown, is featured as the voice of Jimi Hendrix.

Directed By Bob Smeaton. Produced By Janie Hendrix and John McDermott. "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child" is produced for BIO Channel by Experience Hendrix L.L.C. Executive producers for BIO Channel are Tom Moody and Peter Tarshis.  

Whole Lotta Ca$h : Jimmy Page Book To Come Out Next Month

Jimmy Page is to release his first ever published book on September 27th through Genesis Publications.

Genesis Publications and Jimmy Page have spent two years together sifting through thousands of photographs to produce a final and definitive edit that includes a mixture of iconic portraits, rare and unseen images and photographs from Jimmy's own archive.

This large format book is over 500 pages and reproduces more than 650 photographs and illustrations, making it the biggest limited edition that Genesis has produced to date. It is fine-screen printed and image varnished on to heavyweight art paper (size: 280mm x 330mm).

The limited edition books are hand-bound in morocco leather and laser-cut Perspex. The translucent front and back boards are screen-printed with two of Jimmy's favorite portraits.

Jimmy Page: "I've really got a lot of time for the way Genesis produce their books, they're really quality items. As someone who's always been interested in having a library themselves, I appreciate fine bookbinding and their whole ethic of what they do and what they're trying to do with a whole catalogue of books."

The book is limited to 2500 copies worldwide and each numbered book is individually numbered and signed by Jimmy Page.

You can pre-order your copy at this location.

At a price tag of At £445, ($691 in U.S. Dollars), unless we get a review copy (Yeah right), we think we'll be waiting for the cheap paperback version.

Blues Rockers Healing Sixes To Release New Studio Album 'Bluejay' on September 7th

Blues rockers Healing Sixes have completed work on their new album, 'Bluejay', which is scheduled for release September 7, 2010. It's the follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed 'One Less Friend To Ignore'. The album also marks the first time that the previously released single, "Fine Time," which features blues virtuoso Joe Bonamassa on guitar, has appeared on a full length release.

Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, and consisting of band members Doug Henthorn (vocals, guitar), Eric Saylors (guitar), Wade Parish (drums), and Jeff Stone (bass), Healing Sixes has released a total of three studio albums thus far, 1998's 'Maple;' 2002's Kevin Shirley produced 'Enormosound;' and 2007's 'One Less Friend to Ignore,' as well as the live DVD, 2008's 'Live at Harby's,' which captures the band in an intimate, acoustic setting.

Drummer Jason Bonham of Black Country Communion is a previous member of the band. Henthorn also provided the lead vocals for Joe Bonamassa's cover of Led Zeppelin's "Tea For One", on the guitarist's 2006 album 'You & Me'.


For more information go to :

 www.healingsixes.com

www.myspace.com/healingsixes

"Fine Time" from the upcoming album 'Bluejay', featuring Joe Bonamassa :

Robert Plant : Led Zeppelin Reunion Show At O2 Was "The Best Led Zeppelin Gig Since 1975"

Neil McCormick from Telegraph.co.uk spoke with legendary Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant about a number of topics including his new Band Of Joy project.

When asked about the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert at London’s O2 Arena in December 2007, with Jason Bonham taking his father’s place behind the drum kit.

“I really had a wonderful time,” says Plant. “It was the best Led Zeppelin gig since 1975.” Many would like the reunion to have continued, including his band mates. When I spoke to Jimmy Page earlier this year, he said: "You’d better ask Robert Plant what the future of Led Zeppelin is.”

So I put the question directly to Plant: would he do it again?

“I don’t think so,” he sighs. “You’ve got to have a lot in common with the people you’re working with at this time in your life. Everything has to move on and forward, in all relationships.

The official Robert Plant Facebook page, featuring a competition to win tickets to an exclusive secret London show with the Band Of Joy, has launched.

According to a press release, "fans who 'Like' Robert are exclusively and automatically entered into a competition to win tickets to see a secret performance by Robert Plant and the Band Of Joy. The lucky winners - chosen at random - will have the chance to attend the intimate show at a secret central London location on the 1st September 2010. Robert Plant releases Band Of Joy, his first album since 2007's six time Grammy Award winning Raising Sand.Just visit Facebook and click Like - that's it! Click here to enter."

Robert Plant's Band Of Joy project is due out on September 13th via Decca in the UK and the 14th via Rounder/UMGD in North America and mainland Europe.

"I know that bands that haven’t put out a record for 10 years are playing to 20,000 people a night. But that’s not the achievement. The achievement is to knock yourself out. It’s a very selfish thing. The tail must never wag the dog.”

Read the entire interview here.

Ozzy Osbourne: 'I Want To Try Something Like A Blues Album'

Pittsburghlive.com reports: Ozzy Osbourne has been the subject of more parodies than most sitting presidents. He's variously portrayed as the intemperate rock star, the guy who bit the head off a bat during a concert, or the hapless father at odds with his family on the reality show "The Osbournes."


But during a recent teleconference to promote Ozzfest, Osbourne projects a different image. Sure, he's sometimes hard to understand, but that's only because of his Brummie accent, the regional dialect particular to natives of Birmingham, England. He's cogent, thoughtful and most importantly, sober.

The latter condition is a relatively new state for the 61-year-old musician, one he admits he wasn't keen to embrace.

"When I first started to get sober, I thought, 'Well, how can I enjoy music without drugs or alcohol in my system?'" he says. "And I had to come to a decision where I'd get help ..."

A clean and sober Ozzy seems like an amusement park without the roller coasters. But Osbourne doesn't really miss the attendant drama that comes with substance abuse. With a new album, "Scream," a new healthier regimen and perhaps a new sense of purpose, he sounds revitalized.

Just don't expect any mischief with Motley Cure, who joined with Osbourne in 1984 for "one of the most intense tours I ever did," he says. "I don't think that it's going to be as it was, I mean, in the respect of getting loaded and all that (stuff). I don't do that anymore, you know."

But despite past foibles and misadventures, he never took live performances for granted.

"When everything is in the right place and it's going well and my voice is on form, you know, and the crowd is giving me some craziness .... when it's going great, there's nothing in the world to come anywhere near - love, sex, drugs, there's nothing can touch it," he says. "But at the other end of the spectrum, when it's going bad, there's nothing worse, as bad as that. The challenge is still there for me."

With Ozzfest, however, all Osbourne basically does is show up. When asked about selecting the bands on the tour, he says son Jack takes care of that detail. Asked about any new innovations with his stage show, and he replies, "I ask Sharon (his wife) what I got to do."

But Osbourne is being pro-active in one area that means the world to him. Osbourne recently stated that he'd be in favor of reuniting with original Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.

"We're talking and that's a good sign," he says. "We're not at war with each other ... I was speaking to Bill Ward last night. I've got to speak to the other two. But it was in the last attempt where we just all met without saying anything to each other (after) quite a few years. I'm trying to get things done right, talking at least. I can't give any dates, 'cause I don't know anything. I don't know whether they want to do it with me, or whatever, but I'm starting to feel (things) ease up for it. To be honest with you, I would love to do a killer Black Sabbath album. It would make my life, my whole thing, round up perfectly for me.'"

There is one other thing Osbourne would like to accomplish before his voice deserts him or before he's too old to care: He'd like to have a No. 1 record in the United States, something that eluded him even in the halcyon days of Sabbath. And if conditions are right, Osbourne might even try to reinvent himself.

"I'd like to get a fictitious band name and do something completely different than heavy music, you know," he says. "(Do) something a different way, because being Ozzy Osbourne - having the track record I've had - it's very difficult. But if I want to try something like a blues album, it's very difficult to do that. (It would be) 'What the hell is he doing now?'"

Eric Clapton To Release New Studio Album 'Clapton' In September

Planet Rock is reporting that rock guitar legend Eric Clapton is to release a brand new studio album entitled 'Clapton' on September 27th.

The album is a follow up to 2006's JJ Cale collaboration album The Road to Escondido. It will feature a mixture of covers and brand new material and features several guests, including Sheryl Crow on the album's first single "Diamonds Made From Rain."

The album is thought to be the first volume of a two volume set after Clapton revealed last year that he was working on a double album. Details on that second set of songs are still to be revealed.

Several of the songs included on the album have featured in Clapton's live set over the past few years.

Here's the tracklist:

1. Travelin' Alone
2. Rocking Chair
3. River Runs Deep
4. Judgment Day
5. How Deep Is The Ocean
6. My Very Good Friend The Milkman
7. Can't Hold Out Much Longer
8. That�s No Way To Get Along
9. Everything Will Be Alright
10. Diamonds Made From Rain
11. When Somebody Thinks You�re Wonderful
12. Hard Times Blues
13. Run Back To Your Side
14. Autumn Leaves

Aerosmith's Tyler Falls Off Stage Again, This Time With The Help Of Joe Perry

The Globe and Mail  is reporting : Going down, Mr. Tyler? Seemingly harmless roughhousing during an Aerosmith concert Tuesday at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre resulted in the flamboyant singer Steven Tyler being pushed by the guitarist Joe Perry off a catwalk and into the crowd.

The incident occurred early in the hit-laden performance, during the band’s lewdly grinning Love in an Elevator. Tyler had lightly hip-checked Perry, who, after completing his guitar lick, looked over his shoulder before backing into the unsuspecting front-man. Tyler, 62, briefly teetered on the edge of the protruding walkway before falling into the throng. Eventually, with help from Perry, Tyler climbed back on the stage.

The occurrence was a dicey one for Tyler, who one year ago made headlines when he fell from the stage during an Aerosmith concert in South Dakota. That tumble left the strutting singer with a broken collarbone, which resulted in the cancellation of a series of summer tour dates, including concerts in Vancouver, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg.

Once composed, Tyler remarked: “It ain’t gonna happen again, baby,” undoubtedly referring to last year’s South Dakota debacle. “You’ll pay for that, my brother,” he then said, directing his remark to the lightly smirking Perry.

The pair, who are the faces and principle members of the legendary Boston rock quintet, have endured a testy relationship of late. Earlier this year, Tyler mulled over a possible solo career before entering rehab for a prescription drug addiction. Perry, in turn, released a solo album and discussed his intention to replace Tyler with a new Aerosmith vocalist.

The duo has since reconciled; Aerosmith is currently in the midst of a 42-date North American tour. “There’s still a lot of head-butting,” Tyler told Rolling Stone magazine recently. “It’s like any 40-year marriage.”

After Tyler’s topple Tuesday at the ACC, the band continued its concert with no further incidents, completing a robust performance of crowd-stirring ballads and rugged blues rock. The first song after Love in an Elevator was Falling in Love, which contains the line “falling in love is hard on the knees.” Falling off stages, Tyler and Aerosmith know too well, comes with its hazards as well.

Legendary Rolling Stones Concert Film From 1972 Tour To Be Screened in Theaters In September

Spinner.com is reporting that a legendary 1970s Rolling Stones concert film has been remastered and will be screened worldwide in September.

'Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Rolling Stones,' was filmed on the band's 1972 'Exile on Main Street' tour, and will appear at more than 800 cinemas this autumn.

It will subsequently be released on DVD and Blu-ray in November, just in time to make its way onto every self-respecting Stones fan's Christmas lists.

The footage was captured on 16mm film over four nights at concerts in Fort Worth and Houston, Texas. 'Ladies and Gentlemen ... The Rolling Stones' was originally released in 1974.

In that original run it was released in "Quadrasound," a special surround system to create added intimacy. This presentation of the film required its own sound system, which was transported between venues on a flat-bed truck. Due to the desire to recreate the 'feel' of a rock concert, it also needed sound engineers to mix the sound to venue and audience requirements.

It has been remastered for the modern audience, with the addition to the film of an interview with frontman Sir Mick Jagger filmed in London, at the Dorchester Hotel.

The film features a set list of 15 songs, including: 'Brown Sugar,' 'Street Fighting Man,' 'Tumbling Dice,' 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' and 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'.
Sir Mick said (via NME), "It's a full-on performance and energy levels are really high... everyone's very together."

In the UK, 'Ladies and Gentlemen...The Rolling Stones' will be screened between Sept. 16 and 29 at Vue, Picturehouse, and Showcase cinemas. It is also being shown across the US and Europe, with full details at Cinerock.

Live Performance Video Of Roger Waters, David Gilmour Reunion Available

As previously reported last month, on July 10th, 2010 former Pink Floyd bandmates Roger Waters and David Gilmour reunited for the first time since the live 8 Pink Floyd reunion in 2005. The two appeared together at the Hoping Foundation Evening, held for charity at Kiddington Hall in Oxfordshire, England.

Now video has surfaced of the entire performance. Filmed by Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson, it shows the pair performing the 4 songs they played, ‘To Know Him Is To Love Him’, ‘Wish You Were Here’, ‘Comfortably Numb’ and ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part Two)’.

Here's the video of the entire 27 minute plus performance :

Hoping Foundation benefit performance from Hoping Foundation on Vimeo.

Second Black Country Communion Album Being Discussed Before Tour?

In an interview with Billboard.com, Black Country Communion drummer Jason Bonham is hinting that the supergroup - consisting of Bonham, vocalist Glenn Hughes, blues rock guitar titan Joe Bonamassa and keyboardist Derek Sherinian - is talking about recording a second album before starting to tour in 2011.

The band's Kevin Shirley produced debut album 'Black Country' is slated for a September 21st release world wide through J&R Adventures. The first single from that album "One Last Soul", as previously reported is available in advance of release date for free digital download at this location.

Legendary Little Feat Drummer Richie Hayward Passes Away Age 64

Drum legend Richie Hayward, a founding member of Little Feat, passed away today, August 12th due to complications from liver cancer. He was 64 years old.

In addition to his forty plus years in Little Feat, throughout the years Hayward recorded and performed with a virtual "who's who" of rock, blues and jazz artists, including Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Robert Plant, Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, James Cotton, Peter Frampton, Jonny Lang, Nils Lofgren, Taj Mahal, Bob Seger, Stephen Stills, Tom Waits,Warren Zevon and many others.

In August 2009, Hayward announced that he had been diagnosed with liver cancer, and put touring and recording plans on hold indefinitely. He is survived by his wife Shauna.

Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to Richie's family, friends and fans at this time.

Tony Iommi's Gibson SG Guitar Stolen At High Voltage Festival

According to a posting on the Black Sabbath fan site Black-Sabbath.com, Tony Iommi's Iommi SG guitar was stolen at the tribute show Heaven & Hell performed on July 24 at the High Voltage festival at Victoria Park in London, England.

If you have any information or leads regarding the guitar's whereabouts, contact Iommi's webmaster. A reward is being offered for the instrument's return.

Surviving Heaven & Hell members Iommi, Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice played a very special tribute to their fallen bandmate, Ronnie James Dio at the High Voltage festival. The musicians were joined by legendary former Deep Purple/Black Sabbath and current Black Country Communion vocalist Glenn Hughes and Norwegian vocalist Jorn Lande, who sings for power metallers Masterplan and has just released his own tribute to Dio.

Heaven & Hell "Heaven & Hell" with Glenn Hughes and Jorn Lande live High Voltage July 24th 2010 :

Download First Single From Supergroup Black Country Communion For Free

In case you haven't heard - And you'd have to not have visited this site before to not know - Black Country Communion, consisting of vocalist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple/Black Sabbath/Trapeze), blues rock guitar star Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin /UFO/ Foreigner) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater/KISS/Alice Cooper) have their debut self titled album due to be released world-wide through J&R Adventures on September 21st.

Now, in advance of the album's release the band has released the very first single "One Last Soul". What's even better is that you can download the full track for free at this location.

To preview the track before downloading here's an authorized YouTube video of the song :

Blues Rock Slide Guitar Master Eric Sardinas To See Live DVD Released in September

September 21st will see the release via MVD Visual of the first ever live DVD from Los Angeles based  blues rock slide guitar master Eric Sardinas. Entitled 'Eric Sardinas-and Big Motor Live', the 45 minute footage captures the true power and emotion of Eric's amazing live performances, which have wowed audiences world wide with his amazing musicianship and showmanship.

Filmed in HD, the DVD will include seven songs, including dazzling versions of Tony Joe White's "As The Crow Flies" and blues legend Muddy Waters' "Can't Be Satisfied". All tracks showcase Sardinas and his powerful rhythm section of Big Motor, offering up a unique, driving contemporary blues/rock sound.

Track Listing :

Intro
I'm Worried
Eric and Big Motor
Almost Done
Can't Be Satisfied
8 Goin' South
Love Me

Eric Sardinas & Big Motor "Can't Be Satisfied"

Next Wave Of Hendrix Reissues To Hit Stores In October

The second wave of releases in the 2010 Jimi Hendrix Catalog Project will be available October 19, 2010.

Legacy's next round of titles will include deluxe editions of Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC Sessions and Jimi Hendrix: Blues, his legendary Live At Woodstock performance, and Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year, the highly collectible Jimi Hendrix Christmas EP.

Originally released in 1994, the Jimi Hendrix: Blues album features 11 blues performances recorded by Hendrix between 1966 and 1970. The new deluxe Legacy edition comes packaged in a six-panel digipak with an expanded, 36 page booklet and includes a bonus DVD featuring an expanded, 30 minute version of "Jimi Hendrix and the Blues" from the Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues series.  Directed and Produced by Alex Gibney, Janie Hendrix and John McDermott, the film features interviews and live performances not seen in the original PBS television broadcast.  A double-disc 12" vinyl LP audiophile edition of Jimi Hendrix: Blues will also be available.

The Legacy edition of Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC Sessions brings together recordings from Hendrix's appearances on a variety of BBC radio and television broadcasts from 1967 through 1969.  The two CD Jimi Hendrix Experience: BBC Sessions comes packaged in a six-panel digipak and includes a never before released 30 minute bonus DVD documentary.  The film features the group’s famed January 1969 appearance on "Happening For Lulu" which featured Hendrix interrupting the live broadcast to perform a ferocious rendition of Cream’s “Sunshine Of Your Love” together with interviews with Jimi Hendrix Experience bandmates Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding as well as BBC staff producers Jeff Griffin and Bernie Andrews detailing the legendary sessions.

The acclaimed 2 CD set includes Hendrix’s unique interpretations of such classics as Bob Dylan’s “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?,” Muddy Waters “Hoochie Coochie Man” [with noted British blues enthusiast Alexis Korner on slide guitar], the Beatles “Day Tripper” as well as two songs featuring the pairing of Stevie Wonder with Hendrix. A single CD "best-of" the BBC Sessions as well as a three-disc 12" audiophile vinyl LP edition of the album will also be available.  The 2 CD and 3 LP sets will feature a previously unreleased version of "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp" from Hendrix's August 24, 1967 appearance on "Top Of The Pops."

The Live At Woodstock album, the artist's most popular live performance, will be reissued in a two CD set, available in both digipak and brilliant box configurations as well as an audiophile,  three-disc 12" vinyl LP edition.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, the Jimi Hendrix seasonal single, features the celebrated 1969 medley of “Little Drummer Boy,” “Silent Night,” and “Auld Lang Syne” backed with “Three Little Bears.”  Merry Christmas & Happy New Year will be reissued as a CD as well as on 7" vinyl in a picture sleeve.

The upcoming wave of 2010 Jimi Hendrix titles culminates in the long awaited release of West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology, a definitive career-spanning four CD box set which tracks Hendrix’s remarkable journey from R&B sideman to international stardom.  The deluxe set is filled with previously unreleased Jimi Hendrix Experience recordings plus demos, alternate takes and more.  The newly curated and assembled Jimi Hendrix anthology will include a new Hendrix documentary directed by the Grammy award winning Bob Smeaton (Beatles Anthology, Festival Express, Beatles: The Studio Recordings).

For more info go to this location.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience "Drivin' South" from the BBC Sessions :

The Allman Brothers Band Schedule Trio Of Boston Dates

Billboard.com is reporting that The Allman Brothers Band is coming back sooner rather than later.

The group has announced a trio of shows Nov. 18-20 at Boston's Orpheum Theatre, as part of "an East coast intimate theatre tour of Evening With shows." Tickets for the Boston shows go on sale Aug. 12, while more "select shows" are expected to be announced soon.


Gregg Allman, whose June 23 liver transplant forced the Allmans to cancel a planned appearance at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival three days later in Chicago, said in a statement, "I'm ready. I've been itching to play since I got the operation and am glad to be back. Can't thank everyone enough for their help and support."


 Guitarist Warren Haynes, meanwhile, tells Billboard.com that the other Allman Brothers members are happy Allman was able to get the much-needed transplant, but that it's too early to determine what it will mean for the group in the long-term.


"It's really hard to say," says Haynes, who is currently touring with Gov't Mule. "I know (Allman) personally feels like he's got a new lease on life. He's healing up and feeling better...Depending on the day you talk to him, he's already talking about getting back on the road. I think he has a lot of things that he wants to pursue himself, with his own band and projects and stuff. And even before this situation, the band was looking forward to winding down the schedule a little bit. So we'll see."

Glenn Hughes : Black Country Wanted 500K For Name

Rock Radio UK is reporting that Glenn Hughes tried to negotiate with the owners of the name 'Black Country' when he decided to use it for his supergroup – but they wanted half a million dollars for the title, he says.

The band, now called Black Country Communion, found themselves engulfed in three months of negotiations before giving up.

Hughes tells EspyRock: "When I Googled, 'Is there a band called Black Country?' the answer came back no. So I said, 'Okay, we'll call ourselves Black Country.'

"Jason Bonham was doing a TV interview and next thing we knew we got a cease-and-desist letter from this band called Black Country in Baltimore, Maryland.

"So for the next three months we tried to negotiate a fee to buy the name – but they wanted half a million dollars. I told them very nicely: 'Are you out of your f'kin minds?'

"They were really aggressive with me. They were trying to play down who we are, saying they weren't a Led Zeppelin tribute, but they were saying, 'Our music is very influenced by Tommy Bolin' – not realising Tommy was in my band Deep Purple!

"They thought because of all the records we've sold and all the stuff we've done that I'd just have half a million dollars in my back pocket to give them. It's just rude.

"So I added the word 'Communion' at the end. It's not a religious term – I wanted to have a real 60s vibe, a hippy-sounding last word, and 'Communion' is that.

Black Country Communion's self-titled album, featuring Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian, and produced by Kevin Shirley, is released in September after lead single One Last Soul.

Zeppelin Reunion Gig Too Heavy For Plant

Robert Plant has revealed that the famous Led Zeppelin  reunion show at the O2 Arena in 2007 was "too heavy" for him, and that after the show he had to slink away and have a few quiet drinks on his own.

He also described fobbing off the Gallagher brothers backstage after the gig, which was held to pay tribute to Ahmet Ertegun, the founder of Atlantic Records.

Plant, who is regularly cooling speculation of another reunion between the surviving Zeppelin members, told Mojo magazine, "Well, what could you do afterwards ...? Twenty minutes after we finished, the Gallagher brothers were leaning on the door of my dressing room and one of them said, 'You're the real f---ing thing, you are.' I said, 'I've known that all down the line -- but I think you need to go a little further round the corridor, next door on the left.' And I went."

He added: "[I} ended up in the Marathon [pub in Camden], drank four bottles of Keo [lager] and half a bottle of vodka then went to bed. Because I had to get away from it. I'd done it. Had to go.

"[It was] too heavy. Beautiful - but talk about examining your own mortality ... Crazy."

This week Plant announced three additional dates for his 'Band Of Joy' solo tour this October, with new shows in Edinburgh, Gateshead and Liverpool. He plays a one-off show at the Forum in London on Sept. 2.

Aerosmith's Joe Perry Rages At Steven Tyler Over American Idol

Rock Radio UK is reporting that relaunched Boston giants Aerosmith could be on the verge of another civil war after guitarist Joe Perry erupted with rage over singer Steven Tyler's plans to become a presenter on US TV show American Idol.

Tyler says the deal has been done to replace Simon Cowell on the series, and he's also planning to do a solo album.

That's the kind of talk which led to the near-collapse of the band this time last year, following Tyler's drugs-influenced stage fall. The incident saw them cancelling a US tour with ZZ Top and eventually resulted in several big-name singers being invited to replace Tyler.

Issues were resolved in an eleventh-hour meeting in February and Aerosmith have been touring ever since, with talk returning to work on a new album.

But now Tyler has announced: "I'm doing it." And while American Idol producers haven't confirmed the deal, Perry is furious that the singer didn't consult his bandmates.

The guitarist tells the Boston Herald: "I found out on the Internet, like the rest of the world. None of us in the band knew anything about it. This is no small thing.

"I mean, after 40 years he couldn't tell me about this? Why so secretive? We're told it's a done deal – but if Steven is committed to a TV show, that kinda affects the rest of us. We'd like to plan our lives."

One of the main reasons for Aerosmith's near-split was a similar level of lack of communication between singer and band. The frontman publicly discussed taking time out to "work on Brand Tyler" without talking to Perry and the others first.

Play Crossroads Contest Winner Ryan McGarvey To Appear At 2010 King Of The Blues Competition Grand Finals Show

Hot up and coming blues rock guitarist Ryan McGarvey has been confirmed as being added to the bill at Guitar Center's 2010 King Of The Blues Competition, to be held September 2 at the House of Blues in Hollywood, CA.

The 23 year old Albuquerque, New Mexico native will be joined onstage by bassist extrordinaire Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder, David Gilmour) and drummer Chris Frazier(Whitesnake, Edgar Winter, Eddie Money).

McGarvey, as winner of the Ernie Ball 'Play Crossroads' contest, recently performed an extremely well received set at Eric Clapton's 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Toyota Park at Bridgeview, Illinois on June 26, 2010.

Hosted by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, the event will be headlined by guitarist Derek Trucks (Allman Brothers Band) and also featuring blues legend Honeyboy Edwards. A friend of Robert Johnson's, Edwards is regarded as the oldest delta blues legend to still be touring. He recently received a 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2008 received a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album with 'Last Of The Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live In Dallas'.

The event will also feature five of the nation’s top undiscovered blues guitarists competing for the King of the Blues crown and $25,000 cash. Tickets can be purchased for the event at this location.(Photo credit : John Birchak)

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010 To Land On DVD, Blu-Ray November 9th

Rhino Entertainment captured every epic note from that blistering summer day in Chicago and will release over four hours in High Definition on CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010. Fans around the world will have a chance to experience many of the festival’s greatest moments including performances by Clapton, ZZ Top, Steve Winwood, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Bill Murray, and many others as well as behind-the-scenes footage and candid interviews with the performers. CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010 will be available November 9 at retail outlets, including Amazon , for a suggested list price of $31.49 (2-Disc Blu-Ray) and $26.99 (2-Disc DVD). This marks the first ever release of a Crossroads Guitar Festival on Blu-Ray.

“The Crossroads Festival is the realization of a dream for me, to gather a group of amazingly talented musicians to perform on one stage,” said Clapton. “The Crossroads performers are all musicians I admire and respect.”

The first Crossroads Guitar Festival, in June 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, was an unprecedented collection of guitar icons from blues, rock, and contemporary music. The sold-out show was chronicled in a 2-disc DVD that has since gone on to become one of the world’s top-selling music DVDs, achieving the 10x platinum mark in the United States alone. The Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 was the second such concert by Clapton and was also staged at Toyota Park in July of 2007 and was filmed for a second DVD that met similar acclaim and has been certified 6x platinum.

Kinks Guitarist Dave Davies Slams Van Halen

Over 30 years since Van Halen broke the Top 40 with their high-octane cover of The Kinks' classic "You Really Got Me" — Kinks guitarist Dave Davies says he's got a problem with it. Davies, who is recovering after being sidelined by a 2004 stroke, took a poke at Van Halen, telling Classic Rock Magazine, "There's the thing: good art isn't always about having the comfiest technique. I shouldn't encourage him, but I'm sure Eddie Van Halen played better when he was drunk. But it must be a good record if people like it. Van Halen's version was very Middle America. It was like, 'Hey man, look at me with my tight trousers! Here's our version of 'You Really Got Me'!"

Davies says that The Kinks actually came to resent the cover version that was featured on Van Halen's 1978 self-titled debut. "We got pissed off though, when we played America," he said. "The Kinks had an album out called 'Low Budget' and we ended up touring and playing stadiums. Some kid came up to me after one of the gigs and said: 'I like your cover of Van Halen's 'You Really Got Me'. You have to smile sometimes."

Dave Davies, who has always battled his brother Ray Davies for attention and control of The Kinks, says that he's responsible for the band's signature sound on "You Really Got Me" which propelled them to fame. "It wouldn't have been a record without, in all modesty, I think it wouldn't have been a record without that guitar sound on it, so it's like it paved the way for our whole career," he said.

AC/DC To Release A New Live Album

Undercover Music is reporting that AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson has let slip that the legendary rockers are likely to release another live album.

Johnson was on ‘The Chris Evans Breakfast Show’ on BBC2 in the UK late last week and casually mentioned that the band will “probably bring a live album out”.

They’ll have a lot of material to choose from after touring their Black Ice album for almost two years to over five million people.

Word is that it will not merely be a CD but a DVD of one of their shows in Buenos Aires in Argentina in December last year.

It has been less than a year since they released Backtracks, a triple-CD, double-DVD box set of rare tracks and compiled live versions.

They haven’t released a straight-up live album since the two included in the Bonfire box set of 1997.