Aerosmith's Tyler and Perry's Drug Use Caused Collapse Of 2008 Album Recording Sessions

Rock News Desk is reporting that Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler says the band's shambolic attempt to make an album in 2008 collapsed because he and guitarist Joe Perry started using drugs again. But the frontman says the situation threw up a terrible contrast: the once-celebrated Toxic Twins rekindled their friendship while they were high – but they couldn't work as a band while they partied.

The Boston giants' recent history is littered with near disaster. In 2009 Tyler fell off stage while under the influence of drugs, breaking his shoulder and forcing the band to cancel their tour with ZZ Top. Months later he announced he wanted to concentrate on his solo career, and his bandmates set about finding a replacement.

At the end of the year Tyler crashed a Perry solo show and told the crowd he wasn't leaving Aerosmith. Months later the band settled their differences and hit the road again, with both Toxic Twins saying the situation had got out of hand, and hadn't needed much conversation to repair.

Guitar Legend Jeff Beck To Release Live DVD Of 1999 Japanese Performance in May

On May 17th, via MVD Entertainment, British guitar legend Jeff Beck will release 'Jeff Beck/Jennifer Batten/Randy Hope -Taylor/Steve Alexander Japan 1999', a DVD of a 1999 performance recorded at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan for Japanese television.

Running a total of 69 minutes, and featuring 18 tracks, the lineup for the concert consists of Jeff Beck, guitar, Jennifer Batten, guitar, Randy Hope, bass and Steve Alexander, drums.




The full tracklisting is as follows :

    * What Mama Said
    * Psycho Sam
    * Brush With The Blues
    * Star Cycle
    * Savoy
    * Black From The East
    * A Day In The Life
    * Declan
    * THX 138
    * The Pump
    * ´Cause We Have Ended As Lovers
    * Space For The Papa
    * Angel
    * Even Odds
    * You Never Know
    * Blue Wind
    * Big Block
    * Outro / Another Place

Guitarist KK Downing Quits Judas Priest After 40 Years

Rock News Desk is reporting that guitarist KK Downing has quit Judas Priest, and won’t join the band on their upcoming final world tour.

The 59-year-old axeman recently told his bandmates that he’d decided to retire with immediate effect. After considering the situation they’ve decided to complete the Epitaph tour as planned.

Downing will be replaced by 31-year-old Richie Faulkner, who was most recently a member of Lauren Harris’ band.

In a statement Judas Priest say: “KK Downing has formally retired and will therefore not be joining us on tour. The band respect his decision and we all wish him well.

“Having thought long and hard about how to proceed, Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Ian Hill and Scott Travis unanimously agreed to go ahead with the tour, and not let down the fans around the world.

“Fate stepped in and delivered the perfect replacement. Richie has blended into the band perfectly, and he’s a great talent who’s going to help set the stage on fire.”

Priest last year revealed they’d decided to bring their touring career to an end after over 40 years on the road. They plan to release a new album in 2012.

Downing said at the time: “Travelling becomes such a major part of your life that you feel like a piece of luggage yourself. But when you get to go to places you’ve never been before like Korea, Turkey, Romania and Columbia, you feel like the luckiest man alive.

“People often ask me what it’s like to be on a tour and I always say the same thing. It’s the hardest thing you will ever do.”

Original Alice Cooper Band To Perform UK Holographic Concert

Classic Rock magazine is reporting that Alice Cooper is to make history by appearing in 4D.

This happens on Wednesday May 11 at Battersea Power Station. Dubbed The Jagermeister Ice Cold Event, it will be the first ever holographic rock gig, and is being done to celebrate the release of the Alice Cooper box set Old School: 1964-1974. It will see the original Alice Cooper band, Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Neal Smith (minus the late Glen Buxton) making their first appearance in the UK since 1972.

Says Alice: “We couldn’t resist this. Working with Jägermeister to appear as holograms on the other side of the Atlantic is the ultimate experience, a cutting-edge conjuring trick that celebrates the future and our history. We can’t wait to see the results".

Crossroads Guitar Festival Contest Winner Ryan McGarvey To Undertake First European Tour Dates

Fast rising blues rock guitarist Ryan McGarvey, winner of the 2010 Ernie Ball Crossroads Guitar Festival Contest will be making his first ever European appearances beginning June 10th in Groesbeek, Holland. The dates will continue with shows in Germany and Belgium.

The 24 year old has been wowing crowds throughout the Southwest the past several years due to his jaw dropping live performances which reflect a deep senses of blues tradition melded with pure rock power. In 2010, despite entering late he beat out over 4500 hopefuls as he was chosen as the winner of Ernie Ball's 'Play Crossroads' contest, allowing him to perform what was an extremely well received set June 26th at Eric Clapton's 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Toyota Park at Bridgeview, Illinois.

In September of 2010 McGarvey performed onstage with bassist extraordinaire Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder, David Gilmour) and drummer Chris Frazier (Whitesnake, Edgar Winter, Eddie Money) on the bill, headlined by Derek Trucks and blues legend Honeyboy Edwards at Guitar Center's 2010 King Of The Blues Competition at the House Of Blues in Hollywood, California.

This month on April 17th he will be appearing at The Dallas International Guitar Festival , held April 15-17 at Dallas Market Hall In Dallas, Texas, which also features performances by Rick Derringer, Brother Cane, Andy Timmons, Davy Knowles, George Lynch, Reeves Gabriels, Lance Lopez, Point Blank, Derek St. Holmes, Van Wilks,Rocky Athas, Mike Zito, Lillian Axe, Bugs Henderson, Anders Osborn and many others. For more information go to this location.

He currently is at work on the follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2007 debut release 'Forward In Reverse'. (Photo Credit : Rhonda Pierce)

European Tour Date Listings :


Friday 10-6-2011 Bluesmoose Radio/Press Gathering
Groesbeek,NL

Saturday 11-6-2011 20th Ann. Groslch Bluesfestival
Schöppingen,GER
http://www.kulturring-schoeppingen.de/

Sunday 12-6-2011 VOFdepoort
Mook (NL)
http://www.vofdepoort.nl/

Monday 13-6-2011 de weegbrug Roermond
Roermond (NL)
http://www.deweegbrug.nl/

Tuesday 14-6-2011 TBA
Wednesday 15-6-2011 TBA
Thursday 16-6-2011 TBA

Friday 17-6-2011 Der schwarze adler
Rheinberg, GER
http://www.schwarzer-adler.de/ (via Manni)

Saturday 18-6-2011 DE Gompelhof Mol
MOL (Belgium)
http://www.gompelhof.be/

Sunday 19-6-2011 Woejtstok
Brunssum (NL)
http://www.woetsjtok.nl/

Blues Rockers To Come Together For New York Rory Gallagher Tribute In May

On May 23, 2011, at the renowned Iridum club in New York City, Eagle Rock Entertainment will present a special tribute to the late great Irish guitar legend Rory Gallagher. Entitled "One More Rory : A Tribute To The Music And Life Of Rory Gallagher", the one night presentation will consist of a panel discussion, slide show and musical tribute.

Musical performers already confirmed as appearing are Davy Knowles (Back Door Slam), Innes Sibun (Robert Plant), Jim Suhler (George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Monkey Beat), Scott Holt (Buddy Guy), Andrew "Duck" McDonald (Blue Cheer), Jeff Simon (George Thorogood & The Destroyers), Roger Earl (Foghat), Kerry Kearney (Kerry Kearney Band), Neil Evens (Soulive), JP, Bertha and surprise guests.

Tickets are $30.00 and can be purchased at this location.

Billy Gibbons, Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks To Join Guitar Legend Johnny Winter On Blues Covers Album

Billboard.com is reporting that it should be no surprise that Johnny Winter's next album finds him playing the blues. But on "Roots," due out later this year, he's playing other people's blues.

The veteran guitarist, singer and bandleader's first studio album in more than seven years finds him covering material such as Robert Johnson's "Dust My Broom," Son House's "Death Letter," Elmore James' "Done Somebody Wrong," Bobby Blue Bland's "Further On Up the Road," Chuck Berry's "Maybellene," Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City," Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working" and Walter Davis' "Come Back Baby." "Roots" also features a pair of instrumentals, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's "Okie Doke Stomp" and "Honky Tonk," which features a guest appearance by Winter's younger brother Edgar.

Also helping on the album are ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks and his wife, Susan Tedeschi, and "Conan" bandleader Jimmy Vivino. More guests are expected to be announced soon.

"It's all old material that I grew up being influenced by," Winter tells Billboard.com. "I do a lot of songs I grew up loving. I've been wanting to do something like this for a long time. It actually is my manager's idea, but I love it."

Growing up in Beaumont, Tex., Winter -- who played clarinet and ukulele before picking up the guitar -- says blues is something that appealed to him as soon as he was exposed to it. "I first started hearing it on the radio before I saw anybody live," he recalls. "I was about 12 when I heard it on the radio and I thought, 'This is the greatest music I've ever heard. What is this stuff?' The first album I ever bought was 'Singing the Blues' by B.B. King, then I started playing it."

"Roots" is not Winter's only recording project this year, however. He played on a new version of "Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" for an upcoming album by Sly Stone and on a rendition of Deep Purple's "Space Truckin' " for William Shatner's new album, "Seeking Major Tom."

"It was a funny song," Winter says of the latter project. "[Shatner] doesn't sing; he just talked it. He sent the tape down and I played on it; I didn't meet him or anything. But I always liked 'Star Trek,' so it was fun to do."

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of "Live Johnny Winter And," the concert recording that was Winter's greatest commercial success. His own feelings about the hard-rocking album are ambivalent, however.

"It's not one of my favorites," he confesses. "I like rock 'n' roll second to the blues; I just pretty much went into doing more rock 'n' roll because my manger back then thought the blues was kind of fading. He thought [rock] would be a good idea. I really wasn't happy about it, but it was my biggest-selling album, so it still feels a little strange to me."

British Heavy Rock Legends Uriah Heep Release First Video From Upcoming 'Into The Wild' Studio Album

British Heavy Rock Legends Uriah Heep have released the first video "Nail On The Head" from the upcoming studio album 'Into The Wild', The release is the band's 23rd studio album, which will be released on April 15 in Europe and May 3 in North America via Frontiers Records.



The CD was produced by Mike Paxman (Status Quo, Asia) and features cover artwork  by the renowned Greek-American artist Ioannis (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Fates Warning).



"Into The Wild" track listing:

01. Nail On The Head
02. I Can See You
03. Into The Wild
04. Money Talk
05. Trail Of Diamonds
06. Lost
07. Believe
08. Southern Star
09. I'm Ready
10. T-bird Angel
11. Kiss Of Freedom

"Nail On The Head" from the




Audio Samples from "In The Wild"

Jon Anderson To Undertake Acoustic Tour Of The US In Support Of Forthcoming CD Release

Much to the excitement of fans across the country, Music icon Jon Anderson, best known for his work with Yes, Vangelis, Kitaro and other notable music artists, as well as his innovative solo efforts, is preparing to tour the US in support of his forthcoming CD release 'Survival and Other Stories'. Jon recently completed a successful European tour with former Yes member and keyboard virtuoso Rick Wakeman on the heels of their critically acclaimed debut album 'The Living Tree'. The upcoming Spring tour “An Acoustic Evening With Jon Anderson” touts an exciting mixture of material from Jon Anderson's prolific solo career, collaborations with Vangelis and classic Yes songs, along with new compositions from his pending CD, and promises a magical and memorable evening of enchanting music for all who attend!

Most recently, Jon Anderson's vocals from the song "In High Places" featured on Mike Oldfield's 'Crises' album from 1983 (written by Anderson and Oldfield) are sampled on Kanye West's new track "Dark Fantasy" from his 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' CD, which has topped Billboard's chart as the #1 album in the country.

On May 24, 2010 Jon shared the stage with the 112 member Cleveland Contemporary Youth Orchestra and 60 member student chorus in a mesmerizing performance that exudes joy and energy. The one night concert was recently shown on HDNet. For replay information visit www.hd.net/schedules/ Three weeks ago Jon sang with the wonderful San Antonio Youth Orchestra to several standing ovations adding a new ark to his luminous career.

Jon is featured singing on the upcoming CD release by US composer and producer Jonathan Elias called 'Prayer Cycle', which also includes guests appearances by Sting, Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Sinead O'Connor, Robert Downey Jr. and via an archival recording Jim Morrison, amongst others. Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman's recent collaboration 'The Living Tree', the duo's debut studio release featuring nine tracks of original material, has been garnering rave reviews worldwide! Details and ordering information can be found at the Voiceprint website. You can also download The Living Tree on Amazon.com. Jon's much anticipated forthcoming CD 'Survival and Other Stories” is scheduled for release in late Spring 2011. With themes about love, life, understanding, healing and survival, Jon's new CD has an inspirational message for all who will listen!

“An Acoustic Evening With Jon Anderson” tour dates:

4/23/2011 - Somerville Theatre - Somerville, MA
4/26/2011 - Havana New Hope - New Hope, PA
4/28/2011 - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT
4/30/2011 - B.B. Kings Blues Club & Grill - New York, NY
5/02/2011 - Musikfest Cafe ArtsQuest Center at Steel Slacks - Bethlehem, PA
5/04/2011 - Theatre of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
5/06/2011 - Princeton University - McCarter Theatre - Princeton, NJ
5/07/2011 - New Jersey Performing Arts Center - Victoria Theatre - Newark, NJ
5/09/2011 - Rams Head On Stage - Annapolis, MD
5/11/2011 - Rams Head On Stage - Annapolis, MD
5/13/2011 - The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performing Center - Plymouth, NH
5/15/2011 - Bates College Olin Arts Center - Concert Hall - Lewiston, ME
5/18/2011 - Tupelo Music Hall - Londonderry, NH
5/19/2011 - Tupelo Music Hall - Londonderry, NH
5/21/2011 - Woodstock Town Hall Theatre - Woodstock, VT
5/25/2011 - Ellsworth Grand Auditorium - Ellsworth , ME

For more information visit Jon Anderson's new website: www.JonAnderson.com
www.facebook.com/TheJonAnderson www.twitter.com/TheJonAnderson

Paul Rodgers : "I Was Lined Up To Join The Doors"

Gibson.com is reporting that Bad Company and Free frontman Paul Rodgers has revealed that he nearly replaced Jim Morrison in The Doors, following the singer’s death in 1971. Rodgers told Uncut magazine that he wasn’t aware that the surviving members of The Doors – Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore – were interested, and that he just learned the news recently.

“I discovered quite recently that I was lined up to join The Doors, which blew my mind,” he said. “Robby Krieger told me that The Doors were all fans of Free and after Jim Morrison’s death; they came to England looking for me. [The] thing is, at that time, I had buried myself in the country, working on things, and they couldn’t get a hold of me.”

Manzarek ended up taking on lead vocal duties on the band’s initial post-Morrison music.

“My jaw actually dropped like in a cartoon when Robby told me this,” Rodgers said. “Would I have joined them? I dunno. It’s hard to say, looking back. But I think not. I tend to form bands, that’s what I do. Although it’s always flattering to be asked!”

Blues Rock Guitar Legend Gary Moore Left Estate Of More Than $2 Million

The Belfast Telegraph is reporting that former Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore left an estate worth over £2m, according to probate records.

The Belfast-born star died of a suspected heart attack in February as he began a holiday in Spain.

Records released last week show that Moore's estate was worth £2.077m but this was reduced after liabilities to a net figure of £1.021m.

The High Court in England granted a temporary order allowing his executors power to run his companies, Orionstar and Bonuswise, pending a final settlement of his estate.

Moore, with an address in Hove, England, had two sons from a former marriage and a daughter from his relationship with Jo Rendle. It is not known if he left a will. The 58-year-old had a successful solo career as a singer and guitarist but is best remembered for his time with Thin Lizzy.

Moore died hours after checking into the five-star Kempinski Hotel on the Costa del Sol.

New Album From ZZ Top To Be Out By End Of 2011

ZZ Top is "in full production" on a new album, its long-awaited follow-up to 2003's "Mescalero," which guitarist Billy F. Gibbons predicts will be out "by the end of the year."

Gibbons tells Billboard.com that the Texas trio has been working on the set in both Houston and Los Angeles. "I've got a little studio at my house out in L.A.," he says, "and it kind of takes the load off to be able to leave Texas, got to California, stay there for awhile and then you get to leave California  and come back to Texas."

As for the sound, Gibbons notes that he, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard are "still just making a lot of loud noise. We still pose as interpreters of the blues. We can't invent it; It's already been invented. But we can do it our way." Gibbons adds that the album will be comprised primarily of originals but that the group "might cover a couple of things."

Blues Rock Guitar Titan Joe Bonamassa Hits U.S. Top 40 Album Charts With 'Dust Bowl'

Congratulations are in order for blues rock guitar titan Joe Bonamassa as his new album 'Dust Bowl' has garnered him his highest U.S. chart placing to date.

The Kevin Shirley produced Dust Bowl sold 14,420 copies its first week in stores placing the album at no. 37 on Billboard's Top 200 Chart and at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart (his seventh consecutive album to debut at no. 1) and no. 5 on the Indie Chart.

Bonamassa currently has three titles in the Blues Chart's Top 10. Accompanying "Dust Bowl" is his 2009 live album "Joe Bonamassa: Live From The Royal Albert Hall" at #5 and 2010's studio album "Black Rock" at #8.