Monday, November 29, 2010
Outlook 2011
Guns N' Roses/New GN'R - Don't expect a new album in 2011 or anytime soon. They might play Rock in Rio in September/October, but don't get your hopes up for a tour of the United States. I don't know why Dj Ashba said that.
Slash - Velvet Revolver looks like it's on the back-burner once again. Slash and Myles are recording another album and are going to continue to tour together, on and off, throughout the year.
Izzy Stradlin - Will probably release another under-the-radar collection of songs for iTunes. Maybe he'll submit to an interview - he skipped his semi-annual interview in 2010.
Duff McKagan's Loaded - just signed with Eagle Rock, who will release their new album, The Soundtrack, on March 22, 2011. Eagle Rock also plans to re-release Loaded's 2009 album, Sick, in April. The reissue will have a bonus DVD, featuring 11 tracks from a live set filmed at The Garage in Glasgow 2008. Duff has also "penned more than 150,000 words thus far" for his upcoming autobiography, tentatively due in November 2011.
Adler's Appetite - will release their first full-length album next year and embark on a World tour including a short US run in January and a longer jaunt through Europe in February.
Predictions - Bumblefoot will be the next member of New GN'R to leave the band. I'll go back to listening to my 1970s Myles Davis records.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Fresh, New Adler's Appetite in the Oven
via AntiMusic
Former Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler has revealed that his band Adler's Appetite whas begun production of their new CD with Cinderella's Fred Coury.
Adler's Appetite have also confirmed the first batch of dates for a 2011 European tour. The band has already confirmed dates in the UK, Spain, The Netherlands and France.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Axl Rose Sues Activision (Makers of Guitar Hero)
Radar Online
Axl Rose is suing Activision Blizzard Inc, the owner of the hit video game Guitar Hero, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned.
Axl is suing the company for over $20 million dollars for fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment, among others claims.
COURT DOCUMENTS: Axl Rose Suing Guitar Hero Makers
In the court filing, Rose sates that he is the majority owner of the trademarks and licensing associated with the band.
Axl has an issue with Guitar Hero III using "Welcome to the Jungle" without his permission.
In the legal documents, Rose states, that there was an agreement to use the song for Guitar Hero III, but (all quotes from Rose's lawsuit)
"Activision breached the contract when it released GH III which prominently features Slash imagery in direct connection with the use of "Welcome to the Jungle," exploits the prior association between Slash and Guns N' Roses, promotes Slash's and VR's (Velvet Revolver) separate interests and includes VR tracks as available downloads, all of which was and is directly contrary to the contractual obligations of Defendants."Rose is seeking at least $20 million dollars in damages, punitive damages and other associated costs.
"In order to promote Guns N' Roses, Rose diligently attempts to channel fan and media attention to the current status of the band, including its current lineup, and focus on the band's current endeavors and plans for the future."
"Rose and Guns N' Roses pursue a forward-looking outlook rather than one that dwells on the past."
"Nonetheless members of the tabloid media have tended to focus on and mythologize a rift within the band that occured in 1996, when one of the bands guitarist, Saul Hudson, aka "Slash" and Guns N' Roses parted ways."
"A preoccupation on the part of some members of the media with the rift between Slash and Guns N' Roses has led to a distorted public perception between the images and careers of Slash and Guns N' Roses."
"Despite the fact that Slash has had nothing to do with Guns N' Roses' ongoing popularity and success since 1996."
"(Slash's) association with the band lingers, at least as far as certain members of the media are concerned."
"Riley sought to reassure Rose, through his representative Beta Lebeis, that in no uncertain terms, if given the authorisation to use Welcome to the Jungle in GH III, no VR related material would be included and no Slash imagery would be used at all, let alone in association with Guns N' Roses and 'Welcome to the Jungle.'"
"In numerous conversations occuring in May of 2007, Riley reassured and represented that none of the rumours Rose was reading on the internet regarding the planned use of Slash and VR in GH III were true. For example, in one conversation Riley flatly denied the rumours stating "'Come on Beta, you know you can't believe everything you read on the internet.'"
"While the form and substance of these conversations may have occasionally varied the central message and operative language used did not. Riley 'guaranteed' that provided Rose agreed to approve Activision's use of 'Welcome to the Jungle,' there would be no use of 'Welcome to the Jungle' and no VR in GH III."
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Lindsay Lohan for Velvet Revolver
Lindsay Lohan just lost a job playing a porn actress.
I don't work in the movie business, but I'm guessing things are pretty bad when that happens to you.
Velvet Revolver is looking for a new singer - the stars are aligning.
Velvet Revolver was huge when they emerged as a super group because they satisfied people's appetites for the GN'R and STP of yesterdays. If they come out with a new record, I wouldn't want to see it disappear like a Libertad II.
Getting some unknown singer may just not really do it the second time around.
I knew that Lindsay might be interested when I read this story on how she wanted guitar lessons from Slash.
Lindsay Lohan has been begging former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash to help her brush up on her strumming skills. She said: "Can you maybe give me guitar lessons? I've lost any sort of magic touch I've ever had."They're not going to be making a grandiose Picasso or Monet painting. It's just rock 'n' roll. I don't think it really matters if she can sing that well. Slash and the gang have got a ton of riffs, and I can see that this would be a success. Also, Slash is friendly with Lohan, and this past April NME reported that
Slash has said there will definitely not be a Guns N' Roses reunion - as he only wants to work with ladies now.Lindsay's a triple-threat - actor, singer and dancer. Or if you prefer - drug addict, ex-con and porn-star. Ke$ha is just a poser. Lindsay Lohan is a lot more rock 'n' roll than what's out there, and she's also a Ginger.
Please tag your tweets with #LL4VR if you want to see this grassroots campaign succeed.
She should at least get an audition.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Slash Begins Recording New Material
This Tuesday, Slash announced via his Twitter account that the recording for his new album had started.
So far so good in the studio! Got a couple brand new riffs, pretty heavy stuff.
Earlier this month, Slash told the UK's Planet Rock radio that he would be working with Myles Kennedy.
I'm working on new material for what would be a new record. As well on my own but probably working with Myles. That's the plan: to do an album with him.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Bumblefoot: Don't Hold Your Breath for New GN'R Album
via Blabbermouth
Guns N' Roses fans shouldn't expect a new studio album from the band anytime soon, according to the band's guitarist, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal.
Even though GN'R axeman Dj Ashba said in an interview at last week's launch party for the Call Of Duty: Black Ops video game that the band is "throwing around a bunch of ideas" for its next CD, Bumblefoot doesn't believe that a new GN'R album will surface in the foreseeable future. He writes on his Facebook page, "We've yet to get in a room and write as a band." He adds, "I know Dj mentioned something about a new album, but don't want y'all expecting anything soon. Other than old unreleased Chinese Democracy songs, songs need to be written, jammed, recorded, tweaked, re-worked, re-recorded, mixed, re-mixed, mastered, re-mastered, art, new art, label approval, a game plan from the label that Axl approves ... not as simple when it's on such a big scale ... Just don't want ya getting frustrated if a GN'R album doesn't happen quick ..."
Rose himself hinted in an interview back in 2002 that he had compiled enough songs to release follow-ups to Chinese Democracy in rapid succession, saying, "The plan is to drop the record. Have a bunch of extra tracks . about a year or so down the road, drop another record, and drop a third record. This is a three stage thing; we'll be touring for a real long time."
In addition to Ashba, Thal and sole original member Rose, the current lineup of GN'R includes guitarist Richard Fortus, bassist Tommy Stinson, keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Chris Pitman and drummer Frank Ferrer.
Guns N Roses' latest album, Chinese Democracy, was released in November 2008 as a Best Buy exclusive, 17 years after the last all-original Guns sets, Use Your Illusion I and II. The album was a commercial disappointment, selling less than one million copies in the US (according to Nielsen SoundScan) despite the long wait.
Bumblefoot joined GN'R in early 2006 as the replacement for Buckethead. He made his live debut with the band at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on May 12, 2006.
Ashba joined GN'R in March 2009 following the departure of Robin Finck.
Armistice Day
I will come to a time in my backwards trip when November eleventh, accidentally my birthday, was a sacred day called Armistice Day.
When I was a boy ... all the people of all the nations which had fought in the First World War were silent during the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of Armistice Day, which was the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one another.
I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the Voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind.
Armistice Day has become Veterans' Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans' Day is not.
So I will throw Veterans' Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don't want to throw away any sacred things.
What else is sacred? Oh, Romeo and Juliet, for instance.
And all music is.
-Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions (1973)
When I was a boy ... all the people of all the nations which had fought in the First World War were silent during the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of Armistice Day, which was the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one another.
I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the Voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind.
Armistice Day has become Veterans' Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans' Day is not.
So I will throw Veterans' Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don't want to throw away any sacred things.
What else is sacred? Oh, Romeo and Juliet, for instance.
And all music is.
-Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions (1973)
Adler's Appetite Releases Full Version Of "Alive" Single
via Blabbermouth
Adler's Appetite has announced more dates, including additional shows for its European tour, which is set to start on February 3, 2011 in Rome, Italy.
The group has also officially released its new single, "Alive," It is currently available on iTunes as well as via other online music stores. This will be the first chance for fans to get the full version of the track.
A radio edit of "Alive" was released on July 29 in conjunction with Adler's tell-all autobiography, My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses.
Adler's Appetite recently wrapped up a 50-city US tour and is currently in the studio writing and recording new material which its plan to release in early 2011.
"The new songs are coming along great," stated Adler. "After the response we got from performing 'Alive' all summer, we are really excited to put out more original music."
"We are really excited to be moving forward with original material," added guitarist Alex Grossi. "I think people are really going to like the direction we are going in."
For more information, visit www.adlersappetiteonline.com
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Slash's Video with Fergie too Steamy for Wide Release
via Blabbermouth
According to The Pulse of Radio, Slash's new music video for his song "Beautiful Dangerous," which features a guest appearance from Fergie, is apparently too steamy for wide public release and will have to be edited.
Slash was quoted as saying in a recent interview, "it's very controversial. I thought it was okay but apparently there's a lot of suggestiveness and we're having a rethink."
The clip stars Fergie as a crazed fan who stalks Slash and ends up tying him to a bed, kissing him and teasing him with a knife, all while dressed in leather lingerie.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Jackie & The Treehorns
Dick Cheney revealing Valerie Plame's secret identity. Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson's sex tape stolen from their personal safe. Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief" leaked online weeks before it's official release. And now, Jackie & The Treehorns newest album, "It's All About Me: A Tribute to Jackie", has it's Master CD stolen from the United States Postal Service and "leaked" online prematurely!
Yes folks, the rumors are true. The Jackie Master CD was in fact stolen (and later returned). Whoever the culprit's are they should know that they have committed a federal crime. Mail tampering is not a joke in this country! Jackie's vast legal team headed by Heshel Treehorn is hard at work with local authorities seeking out the guilty parties (Sean Parker? P Diddy? Django Treehorn?)
In the meantime, Jackie realizes there is no fighting the interweb and Facetunes of the world, so he has reluctantly agreed to allow a free digital release to occur weeks before the physical one.
"Look, we all know Jackie is a physical person. Jackie wants his music to touch people. He wants people to be touched by his music. And sometimes, Jackie himself wants to touch his fans. But Jackie cannot stop the internets, he cannot prevent digital felons from stealing and revealing his latest work." Jackie was quoted as saying before heading off to an undisclosed Paris hospital for his sixth rehab stint.
So it is with great excitement, reluctance, and ambivalence that we would like to present to you, the listener/fan/Jackie-obsessor, the brand new album by Jackie & The Treehorns entitled "It's All About Me: A Tribute to Jackie". Otherwise known on the street as "The Jackie Tribute Album."
Let's face it, if there is an artiste that deserves a tribute, it's Jackie!
"It's All About Me: A Tribute to Jackie" Track Listing:
1. How Much Does It Mean? by Buddy Revel & The 3 O'clock High
2. St*rf*cker by Treehorn & The Jackies
3. Slow by Clarice & The Lotion Baskets
4. Don't You Know...They Did It For Love by Ron Johnson & The Audio Consultants
5. One Man's Edge Is Another Man's Straight Line by Albert & The Swearengens
6. Built Up For Release by Kima & The Yellowtops
7. It's All About Me by Alabama & The Dick Ritchie Valens Quartet featuring Jackie
8. It's Only True by Jackie & The Apriles
9. No Blues by Jackie
Download the entire album for FREE here
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Ashba on New Album and 2011 US Tour
via Blabbermouth
During an interview with the Artisan News Service on the "black carpet" of this past Thursday night's (November 4) party to promote the release of the new video game Call Of Duty: Black Ops in Hangar Eight at Santa Monica Airport, California, GN'R guitarist Dj Ashba said that fans won't have to wait long for the band's next studio album.
"We're talking about that right now," he said. "We've been throwing around a bunch of ideas and it should be good, man. We've got a lot of good stuff on the plate coming out. It won't take as long, I promise. Yeah, I'm excited to get this next one rolling. A lot of great shit. Axl has a lot of good shit up his sleeve, so I'm really excited about it."
Dj also confirms that GN'R will tour the States in February 2011.
Another tour of Europe in the Summer of 2011 is rumored.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Duff McKagan Documentary in the Works
West Seattle Herald
One year ago West Seattle filmmaker and documentarian Jamie Burton Chamberlin released his movie and 2-DVD set Double Down Live featuring an intimate look at rock icons ZZ Top performing live throughout America and Europe including rare, behind the scenes footage. The West Seattle Herald reported on that release, plus ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons' visit with Chamberlin to the Mission Latin Grill, Feedback Lounge and West 5 last August 28.
Chamberlin's new project is a feature length film about Seattle rock legend Duff McKagan and his band, Loaded. The band's line up also includes bass player and West Seattle resident Jeff Rouse, as well as guitarist Mike Squires and drummer Isaac Carpenter.
The film is based on the new Loaded album which is soon to be completed and yet to be titled.
"Duff" as he is affectionately known, played for 13 years with Guns N' Roses, recently did a stint with Jane's Addiction, and is the bassist for Velvet Revolver. He writes a weekly music column for the Seattle Weekly. He has a reputation of being business savvy, and has written on finance for publications including Playboy.
McKagan, 46, is married to super model Susan Holmes, a noteworthy swimsuit designer who has fit other celebrities. She will soon appear on a new reality TV show called Married to Rock.
It was recently announced that a song from the new Loaded album, prior to its release, will be played in rotation during Major League Baseball's World Series coverage.
Chamberlin said "McKagan and the boys are gonna lay down the hammer" when Loaded performs two of its soon to be released songs, "We Win" and "Fight On" at the Seattle Seahawks Veterans Day half time show November 7. The Seahawks play the New York Giants at home.
"It's going to be huge," said Chamberlin. "'We Win' is a pulsating anthem reminiscent of 'We Will Rock You', and 'Fight On' is an amazing song about overcoming adversity. These two songs seem perfectly matched for the other veteran-related activities planned.
"My main focus for half time is to shoot how the band gets there and where they head after. It's more about designing a fictitious story line which will be a part of the larger project, and will be a contemporary version of, say, Hard Days Night meets (Led Zeppelin's) Song Remains the Same, with aspects of documentary, music video, and live performance, all interconnected by an underlying motivation. The album will serve as the soundtrack.
"Everything will be shot in Seattle and the Northwest," he added. "We hope to use locations in West Seattle and other familiar settings to create these vignettes that develop organically within them."
Chamberlin hopes that Billy Gibbons may swing by West Seattle again to appear in the film. Other big name musicians may also make cameos.
Chamberlin is excited that McKagan may push to have the piece released in the film festival circuit to offer exposure to a wider audience beyond his music fans.
"Not a lot of artists out there are interested in going to this extreme of having their music interpreted in film," said Chamberlin. "This project wouldn't be happening without Duff's vision, and the support of people like Rick Canny at Sanctuary management, Loaded's manger.
"Duff is a super guy, one of the nicest guys you could meet. He has shown a strong commitment to getting this project off the ground. He's got a great business sensibility and is totally creative, qualities that draw me to him as an artist. He's just a classy cat."
Dj: "Axl Runs the Ship but I've Been Treated Amazing"
A couple of clips from Swedish TV showing GN'R's backstage set-up. They even show the monitors that Axl watches the crowd on while he's getting ready to take the stage.