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| News archive September 2010 - December 2010 | ||
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JOE BONAMASSA ON BLU-RAY
Provogue is pleased to announce the UK release of the companion piece to 2009's hugely successful DVD release 'Joe Bonamassa - Live At The Royal Albert Hall' (originally released in October 2009). Now, for the first time, the legendary concert, featuring a special guest appearance from Eric Clapton, will be released on special 2 x CD and Blu-Ray formats in the UK on Monday November 15th and Monday November 22nd respectively.
When blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa took the stage at Royal Albert Hall in May 2009, he fulfilled a dream he'd held since first picking up a guitar as a kid in upstate New York. The sold-out concert - fresh off the back of his album The Ballad Of John Henry - marked Bonamassa's headlining debut at arguably the most prestigious concert venue in the world.
"May 4, 2009 was a day 20 years in the making," says Bonamassa. "I have never been so honoured in my life. It was truly larger than the sum of its parts."
The Blu-Ray edition, which also features an exclusive interview with Bonamassa, presents that magical night in full - for posterity, and for all the fans that couldn't be among the 4,000 concert goers who filled the seats. The 12-camera high definition, Surround Sound shoot was produced by Bonamassa's collaborator Kevin Shirley.
DIO AT DONINGTON UK: LIVE I983 & 1987
NIJI ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC. TO ISSUE FIRST RELEASE - 'DIO AT DONINGTON UK: LIVE 1983 AND 1987' 2 CD SET ON NOVEMBER 8TH, 2010.
2010 will go down as the year that we lost one of hard rock/heavy metal's all-time greatvocalists, Ronnie James Dio (after a valiant battle with cancer).
Throughout a career that saw Ronnie pen or co-pen classics with such legendary acts as Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and with his solo group, Dio, there are simply not enough words to describe the singer's contribution to rock music worldwide.
And to celebrate the life of the man that has become synonymous with metal. Several new releases will soon be arriving that are certain to please Dio's large and loyal fanbase.
On November 8th, the double disc set, 'Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987' will be released through Niji Entertainment Group Inc. The first disc was recorded at the first-ever UK performance by Dio's solo group, while on tour supporting their classic debut, 'Holy Diver.' The set-list does a superb job reflecting Dio's debut (featuring such classics as "Rainbow in the Dark," and "Stand Up And Shout,"), as well as classics from both Rainbow and Black Sabbath including "Man on the Silver Mountain," and "Heaven and Hell," - resulting in a thorough retrospective of Dio's career, from Rainbow to Black Sabbath to solo hits.
The second disc of 'Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987' features guitarist Craig Goldy's debut - recorded in 1987, in support of the 'Dream Evil' album, and contains highlights from Dio's career.
'Dio at Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987' will be the very first release from the Niji Entertainment Group (which was formed by Ronnie James Dio and his wife/manager, Wendy Dio, in early 2010).
The set will be released as a deluxe digipak including a booklet filled with rare photographs and liner notes, and original replica all access laminates from both shows.
Ronnie was the executive producer on the Donington project, and was very much looking forward to the release.
QUEENSRYCHE'S TRIPLE-PLATINUM 'EMPIRE' 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Deluxe 2CD and Digital Packages Feature Remastered Original Album Plus 13 Bonus Tracks, Including 10 Previously Unreleased Live Recordings
Queensr˙che has partnered with Capitol/EMI for the November 8 release of an expanded 20th Anniversary Edition of the band's triple platinum-certified breakout album, Empire. The new 2CD and digital packages both include the remastered album, featuring six hit singles, including the #1 smash 'Silent Lucidity,' as well as 13 bonus tracks, among them 10 previously unreleased live performances recorded in 1990 at London's Hammersmith Odeon.
The 2CD package is presented in a lift-top box with five postcards, a fold-out poster and a booklet featuring rare photos from the band's personal archive.
After building a devoted fan base with album and EP releases throughout the 1980s, including 1988's critically acclaimed Operation: Mindcrime, Queensr˙che broke into the mainstream across North America and abroad with the 1990 release of Empire. In the U.S., the album peaked at #7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and its hit ballad 'Silent Lucidity' quickly became a heavy rotation staple at rock radio and on MTV, topping Billboard's Modern Rock singles chart and earning Queensr˙che the coveted MTV Viewers Choice Award for the song's music video. Empire also made the U.K.'s Top 10, and the album's international success led to Queensr˙che's 18-month headlining 'Building Empires' world tour, the band's longest trek to date.
Empire also features the Billboard Top 10 Modern Rock hits 'Jet City Woman' and 'Another Rainy Night,' the Top 20 single, 'Anybody Listening?,' and the Top 30 singles 'Best I Can' and Empire.' In addition to the aforementioned live recordings, Empire (20th Anniversary Edition)'s bonus tracks include 'Last Time in Paris' from the Ford Forlaine soundtrack, 'Dirty Lil' Secret,' and the band's cover of Simon & Garfunkel's 'Scarborough Fair.'
Since forming in Bellevue, Washington in 1981, Queensr˙che has sold more than 20 million albums around the world. The band continues to tour and record; American Soldier was released last year. For more information, visit Queensr˙che's official Website:
www.queensryche.com
THE WHO - LIVE AT LEEDS 40th Anniversary Super-Deluxe Collectors' Edition released November 15
'Live At Leeds' was the ultimate confirmation of the Who's sheer ferocity as a live rock act without equal. Whereas their studio recordings had only tantalisingly hinted at the all-out barrage of the senses that a live Who gig produced, Live At Leeds removed all doubt.
Following on the heels of the success of the 'rock opera' Tommy, and the band's grandstanding appearance at the Woodstock Festival, when released in 1970, Live At Leeds unwittingly documented the Who at the peak of their powers, whose shows now stretched up to two and a half hours without a break containing Tommy as their centrepiece.
Except it should have been very different. The original intention was to release the recording from the Hull City Hall performance the following night after Leeds as the live album. The recording from Leeds, the first gig of the tour, was largely set up as a back-up in case there were any problems with the Hull recording. Suffice to say, upon listening to the tapes it was thought that John Entwistle's bass was missing from the Hull recording. With little they could do to repair the tapes in those days, the band went with the Leeds recording for release instead, despite preferring the Hull performance. 'Hull was a better gig than Leeds,' recalls Roger Daltrey. 'I remember it like it was yesterday, although in retrospect 'Live At Hull' doesn't really trip off the tongue!'
Now years later the Hull tapes were revisited and it was discovered that because the first reel consisting of four tracks had no bass, everyone had assumed that the whole show had no bass and didn't listen to any more of it, but in fact the rest of the gig was complete.
Through the wonders of modern technology, however, the full Hull recording has been repaired by flying in Entwistle's bass tracks from the Leeds recording to repair the Hull tapes and is now available in its entirety for the first time ever.
Captured on the Super-Deluxe 40th Anniversary Collectors' Edition of this landmark of live albums, at the time, live pop or rock albums tended to be primitive affairs when capturing both band and audience. Live At Leeds was no exception, recorded on a mobile unit placed amid the kitchen of a university refectory in an unassuming industrial town in northern England. But the results - crackling noises and all - were enough for influential pop culture writer Nik Cohn, to describe 'Live At Leeds' in his New York Times column as 'the best live rock album ever made.' As recently as 2006, it topped a poll in Q magazine of the greatest live rock albums ever made - a testament to its enduring legacy.
This new edition of one of the most important live rock albums ever contains:
- Two CDs containing the full Leeds show from 14 February 1970 recorded for the album including the complete performance of Tommy
Housed in a hard-back box with cover artwork reproducing the original black stamped vinyl first UK pressing which, according to the July 2010 edition of Record Collector magazine, is now valued at approximately £250 in mint condition.
BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION ANNOUNCE DECEMBER SHOWS
Black Country Communion, the critically acclaimed rock supergroup featuring vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Sabbath), award-winning blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol), today confirmed that they will perform two long-awaited UK concerts in December.
The first concert will take place right in the heart of the Black Country at the legendary Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Wednesday 29th December, followed by a concert at London's o2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on Thursday 30th December.
'Black Country' was released by Mascot Records in the UK and the rest of Europe on Monday September 20th, followed by a North American release through J&R Adventures on Tuesday September 21st, the album was produced and mixed by Kevin Shirley (Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin), and mastered by the legendary Bob Ludwig.
All songs are sung by Glenn Hughes, with the exception of Song Of Yesterday and The Revolution In Me which are both sung by Joe Bonamassa. Hughes and Bonamassa share lead vocals on Sista Jane and Too Late For The Sun. Also included is a new version of Medusa, the rock classic Hughes originally recorded with his first band Trapeze.
Album review and Video interview
QUO WINTER TOUR
Live Nation has announced that Britain's best-loved rockers Status Quo will undertake a 28 date UK Winter tour in 2010. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 21 May 2010 and are available from www.livenation.co.uk
The 'Quid Pro Quo' tour kicks off in Southend on 9 November and draws to a close in Bradford on 19 December.
With shows in 15 countries already confirmed for 2010, Quo are gearing up for yet another hard-rocking year. In the Autumn of this year, the band will surprise many of their fans with a special record release.
Francis Rossi said, "We cannot wait for the UK Winter dates. We've been halfway round the world already in 2010, so it will be great to get out on stage in front of our unbelieveable home crowds. Playing in the UK is so special to us." Rick Parfitt added, "It doesn't matter how many thousands of miles we've done on the bus, by the time the tour starts in Southend we'll be ready to rock - see you there!"
Last year, Status Quo were, for the second year running, crowned as Britain's hardest-working band in the Arena Venues category by the PRS (Performing Right Society). With over 40 years of hard-gigging behind them, Quo know better than almost anyone how to put on a show and seriously get the crowd rocking. With 'Quid Pro Quo' meaning an exchange of one item for another of value, Status Quo will trade one entrance ticket for one killer show packed full of hits and favourites from the last five decades. Support on some shows is from Joe Brown.
Box set review
Gig review
HAWKWIND TOUR IN DECEMBER
Legendary space rockers HAWKWIND will embark on a major UK tour throughout December 2010.
Touring in celebration of new album 'Blood Of The Earth', dates include; Holmfirth Picturedrome (Dec 3), Glasgow ABC (Dec 4), Newcastle Academy (Dec 5), Lincoln Engine Shed (Dec 6), Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall (Dec 8), Worthing Assembly (Dec 9), Liverpool Academy (Dec 10), Manchester Academy (Dec 11), Salisbury City Hall (Dec 12), Bristol Academy (Dec 14), Bedford Corn Exchange (Dec 15), Oxford Academy (Dec 16), London HMV Forum (Dec 17).
Tickets are available from 0871 2301101 and www.seetickets.com.
FM PRE-CHRISTMAS SHOWS
DECEMBER FM are pleased to announce their UK tour in support of new album METROPOLIS continues.
In addition to three more dates in October, FM have been added to the bill at Hard Rock Hell IV on Friday 3rd December.
And the FM Christmas Party tradition returns with the announcement of a show at O2 Academy Islington on Wednesday 1st December.
Four Wheel Drive will open proceedings at 7.10pm. 4WD will be filming on the day for their first live DVD. More info at http://www.fourwheeldriverock.com.
Airrace need no introduction. They will be taking to the stage at 8.10pm and there's a whisper that their set will include a couple of brand new songs from their forthcoming album. http://www.myspace.com/airraceband
FM have always loved their Christmas shows and on December 1st they're planning to have an absolute blast. To help them celebrate the evening they'll be sharing the stage with some very special guests.
Photo: Lee Millward/GRTR!
STEVE HACKETT NEW MATERIAL, SPECIAL GUESTS AND LIVE CD ON NOVEMBER TOUR
There's only a handful ... who can hold a candle to Hackett's ability to paint a landscape with his guitar - Get Ready To ROCK!
Steve Hackett's 2009 album Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth has received unanimous acclaim from the media and fans alike. Having spent much of this year touring the world with his 'Around the World in 80 Trains' show he now returns to the UK to play a further 14 dates in November and December.
Such was the response to last year's performances, Hackett and his Electric Band will be treating his legions of fans to another awe-inspiring display of virtuoso musicianship as Steve takes the audience on a remarkable and exhilarating musical journey. The new show will feature at least one additional Genesis song, as well as Sierra Quemada, Golden Age of Steam, Shadow of the Hierophant and Valley of the Kings. Fans will also be treated to a brand new, never heard before track.
Special guests Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree and John Wetton of Asia will join Steve at his Shepherds Bush Empire show for a song or two. Wetton and Hackett will perform their version of All Along the Watchtower.
Of the forthcoming UK shows, Steve says: 'It's been great to take the Train on the Road tour around the world, but as Dorothy says "There's no place like home" and I'm really looking forward to touring the UK again - My electric band will be celebrating the special edition of my album "Out of the Tunnel's Mouth", along with some surprise numbers... See you in November!'
Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth has been nominated for Album of the Year in the Classic Rock Magazine's Roll of Honour Awards, which take place in November. The album is widely regarded as one of Steve's best works to date. Recorded entirely in his living room, and featuring some of the worlds most accomplished musicians, the album is now available in stores as a Special Edition 2CD Digipack (incl. 5 live & 1 studio bonus track), released by EMI/InsideOut.
Steve is joined on the road by - Roger King (keyboards), Nick Beggs (bass, stick and vocals), Gary O'Toole (drums & vocals), Rob Townsend (Various saxes, flute, whistle and vocals) and Amanda Lehmann (guitar and vocals).
'Steve Hackett Live Rails' is scheduled for release on 15th November featuring recordings from his 2009 - 2010 tour, from Paris and London via New York and beyond...
The album will be initially available only on the UK tour starting 16 November and then via Steve Hackett's website.
CD 1 Intro/ Everyday/ Fire On The Moon/ Emerald And Ash/ Ghost In The Glass/ Ace Of Wands/ Pollution C/ The Steppes/ Slogans/ Serpentine/ Tubehead
CD2 Firth Of Fifth/ Blood On The Rooftops/ Fly On A Windshield/ Broadway melody of 1974/ Sleepers/ Still Waters/ Los Endos/ Clocks
Full tour details are:-
November
Tues 16th Southampton The Brook £16.00 023 8055 536 www.the-brook.com
December
Thurs 2nd Cambridge The Junction £20.00 01223 511 511 www.thejunction.co.uk
All tickets are subject to booking fee and available from venue box offices or websites as above.
During his career, Steve's inherent talent has yielded success in a diverse range of musical genres, from his years with Genesis, through jazz, world music, rock and blues. He is an equally gifted classical guitarist, with 4 hit classical albums to his name.
Steve Hackett's official website is www.hackettsongs.com
Gig review
Photo: Lee Millward/GRTR!
ALL'S WELL FOR LUKE IN OCTOBER; UK TOUR IN NOVEMBER
Guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer and arranger, Steve Lukather is set to release his new solo album 'All's Well That Ends Well' on Monday 11th October 2010.
The new album showcases Lukather's innate feel for rock and jazz guitar music, and is laden with extraordinary musicianship, performed across some of the best and most emotional songs of Steve's career.
For over 30 years Lukather has been known as one of the founding members of the multi million selling band Toto. He's played guitar on hundreds of albums with the biggest artists including Van Halen, Whitney Houston, Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart and also played guitar on Michael Jackson's multi-million selling milestone album 'Thriller'.
To coincide with the release of the album, Steve Lukather will perform three UK concerts in November which will showcase classics from his all his solo albums, Toto, plus songs from the forthcoming album. The dates are as follows -
Thursday 18th November - O2 Islington Academy, London
Friday 19th November - The Robin 2, Bilston, Wolverhampton
Saturday 20th November - The Brook, Southampton Album review and video interview
PHILIP SAYCE TOUR IN NOVEMBER
Philip Sayce, former guitarist with Melissa Etheridge and Jeff Healey, will embark on a nationwide tour in the UK starting at the Manchester Academy 3 on Sunday 7th November.
Sayce's guitar-driven retro blues rock sound is rich and raw. His high-energy blues and soul vibe is packed with original style and explosive impact. Fans can expect Sayce to perform songs from his first album 'PEACE MACHINE', and his second and most recent album 'INNEREVOLUTION' (both released by Provogue Records).
Dates include Manchester Academy (Nov 7), Wolverhampton Robin (Nov 8), Nottingham Rescue Rooms (Nov 9), Glasgow O2 ABC 2 (Nov 11), Edinburgh Caves (Nov 11), Newcastle O2 Academy 2 (Nov 13), Liverpool O2 Academy 2 (Nov 15), Poole Mr Kyps (Nov 16), London Borderline (Nov 17). Ticket Hotline: 0871 230 1101, www.seetickets.com/Tour/PHILIP-SAYCE
Described as an emotive singer and an exceptionally skilled guitarist, Sayce's live shows features a stunning interpretation of Neil Young's classic Cinnamon Girl; a song that featured on his debut album 'Peace Machine'. Sayce's touring band includes bassist Joel Gottschalk and drummer Fritz Lewak (Melissa Etheridge, Jackson Brown, Peter Frampton).
Celebrated UK blues rock guitarist Marcus Bonfanti is special guest on Philip Sayce's November UK tour. He'll perform songs from his new album 'What Good Am I To You?
FM PRE-CHRISTMAS SHOWS AND
EP DECEMBER FM are pleased to announce their UK tour in support of new album METROPOLIS continues.
In addition to three more dates in October, FM have been added to the bill at Hard Rock Hell IV on Friday 3rd December.
And the FM Christmas Party tradition returns with the announcement of a show at O2 Academy Islington on Wednesday 1st December.
Released via Riff City Records, the CITY LIMITS EP will no
doubt please fans old and new. Lead track 'Bring Back Yesterday' (from this
year's METROPOLIS album) has been playlisted on BBC Radio 2, receiving plays on
the Chris Evans and Steve Wright shows amongst others.
Also included on the mini-album are 5 tracks from METROPOLIS
recorded live at FM shows this summer. Fans will be champing at the bit to hear
brand new song 'Start It Up' and a breathtaking new acoustic version of 'That
Girl' (originally released on the band's début album INDISCREET and still one of
their most popular songs, regularly included in their live set). The mini-album
concludes with one of DJ Juppy's (drummer Pete Jupp) tour de force extended
mixes of lead track 'Bring Back Yesterday'.
THE FINAL FRONTIER' OUT NOW
The release date for IRON MAIDEN'S highly anticipated new studio album THE FINAL FRONTIER is now confirmed for Monday 16th August (Aug 17th in the USA). The new album artwork has been unveiled on their website www.ironmaiden.com and was illustrated by Melvyn Grant. To mark the occasion, the band have made special arrangements for one new album track 'EL DORADO' to be made available Worldwide as a FREE digital download MP3 with immediate effect via their website www.ironmaiden.com
Singer Bruce Dickinson explains: ''El Dorado' is a preview of the forthcoming studio album. As we will be including it in the set of our Final Frontier World Tour (which opens in Dallas on 9th June - full dates below) we thought it would be great to thank all our fans and get them into The Final Frontier mood by giving them this song up front of the tour and album release.'
The band reunited with long-time Maiden producer Kevin 'Caveman' Shirley in early 2010 at Compass Point Studios, Nassau to record the album and then moved to LA to finish the recording and do the mixing. Compass Point Studio is very familiar to the band, it was where they recorded the Piece Of Mind ('83), Powerslave ('84) and Somewhere In Time ('86) albums.
Bruce comments: 'The studio had the same vibe and it was EXACTLY as it had been in 1983, NOTHING had changed! Even down to the broken shutter in the corner...same carpet...everything...It was really quite spooky. But we felt very relaxed in such a familiar and well-trodden environment and I think this shows in the playing and the atmosphere of the album'
Thirty years on from their eponymous debut album in April 1980, The Final Frontier will be Maiden's 15th studio album, making a remarkable average of a new album every two years for 30 years and totalling over 80 million album sales during this period.
Iron Maiden headlined Sonisphere, on Sunday August 1.
Sonisphere review
Album review
RODRIGO y GABRIELA ANNOUNCE FIVE NIGHT RESIDENCY AT 02 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE
Acoustic rockers Rodrigo y Gabriela will be back in London next year for an
unprecedented five night stand at one of their favourite venues - the O2
Shepherds Bush Empire. The shows will run on November 2nd, 3rd, 5th (yes, expect
to see fireworks), 6th and 7th, and will see Rod & Gab play to 10,000 fans
during the residency.
Tickets priced at £22.50 (including booking fee) will go on sale at 9am on
Wednesday 23rd December. The duo played three sold out shows at the venue in May
2007.
Rodrigo y Gabriela are currently on a world tour promoting their new studio
album '11:11' which was released to glowing reviews in September 2009. The next
leg will see them visit Australia, New Zealand and Japan before an extended
jaunt around North America en route to further European dates in the spring.
Rod & Gab's most recent London gig was the triumphant sold out night at the HMV
Hammersmith Apollo in November. Shows so far on the first leg of the '11:11'
world tour have seen them joined onstage by Robert Trujillo of Metallica in
Chicago and guitar legend Al Di Meola in Paris.
'11:11' is Rodrigo y Gabriela's personal tribute to eleven musicians or bands
who have inspired them along their musical journey, ranging from household names
like Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix to personal favourites such as Le Trio Joubran
and Michel Camilo. The album was produced by Rodrigo (with co-production by John
Leckie on one track) and mixed by Colin Richardson (Slipknot, Trivium).
Album review
Gig review
SATRIANI TOURS UK IN OCTOBER
Joe Satriani, one of rock music's most renowned electric guitarists, undertakes a six date UK tour from Sunday 17th October at the Manchester Apollo.
Tickets go on sale from Friday May 14th and can be purchased from the National Credit Card Hotline - 0844 888 9991 or www.ticketline.co.uk. Very special guest is the critically acclaimed Belfast-based blues guitarist Simon McBride. The tour coincides with the release of Satriani's 11th studio album.
Joe Satriani has been a worldwide guitar hero since his 1987 breakthrough album, Surfing With The Alien. Over 10-million albums and CD's later, in addition to 14 Grammy nominations and numerous accolades Joe continues to push the envelope of modern rock guitar playing.
Although he originally started his career by teaching some of the top rock guitar players of the '80s and '90s like Metallica's Kirk Hammet and virtuoso Steve Vai, Joe Satriani is universally hailed as one of the most technically accomplished and respected guitar players in the history of rock music.
Satriani, who cites Jimi Hendrix as a major influence, quickly established his reputation as one of rock's most important guitarists.
In 2009 Satriani teamed up with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony of Van Halen plus Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) to form Chickenfoot. Their debut album became a global hit and received gold awards in the US, Canada and Europe, while Classic Rock Magazine voted them Best New Band of 2009.
Tour dates:
Venue: Manchester Apollo
Venue: Bristol Colston Hall
Venue: London HMV Hammersmith Apollo
Venue: Newcastle City Hall
Venue: Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
Venue: Birmingham Symphony Hall Album review
Gig review
KORN OCTOBER UK DATES
Metal behemoths KORN are set to play a handful of UK headline shows following their Ozzfest appearance at the O2 Arena on 18th September (www.ozzfest.com).
The band's new studio album, 'Korn III: Remember Who You Are' hits stores on 12th July, with first single, 'Oildale (Leave Me Alone)' already available to purchase from i-Tunes and all good online retailers. Tickets are on sale now at www.seetickets.com.
Fri 8th October - SOUTHAMPTON Guildhall - £28.50
Sat 9th October - WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall - £27.50/£30.00
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