Holy Shit!

Coyote Drive In 

IT'S OVER!!!!!!

Geoff Tate "owns" Operation Mindcrime I & II, the remaining members own the Queensryche name and can perfrom any and all songs from the Queensryche catalog. Geoff received some financial compensation for the naming rights and the dispute was settled out of court - He will perform one final show under the moniker of Queensryche featuring Geoff Tate.

Seattle Times Article 

Dueling Band List

• KISS vs. RRHOF vs. Ace and Peter vs.........
• Wu-Tang Clan vs. Wu-Tang Clan
• Beastie Boys vs. GoldieBlox (Resolved)
• Hawkwind vs. Nik Turner's Hawkwind (Resolved)
• Black Flag vs. Flag
• Oren Kaplan vs. Eugene Hutz (Gogol Bordello)
• The Turtles vs. SiriusXM
• Bun E. Carlos & David Frey vs. Cheap Trick
• Pandora/Spotify etc.  vs. Musicians
• Scott Weiland vs. STP
• Current version of Beach Boys vs. any former Beach Boy who is not in the current version
• Former Vandenburg members vs. Adrian Vandenberg
• J. Geils Band vs. John Geils/Francesa Records
• Live vs. Ed Kowalcyzk
• Queensryche & Geoff Tate (Resolved)
• T&N and Dokken
• Kyuss & Kyuss Lives!
• Creedence Clearwater Revisited and John Fogerty
• War and The Lowrider Band
• Blood, Sweat and Tears and David Clayton Thomas (kind of)
• Steppenwolf & John Kay's Steppenwolf

End of April Updates

• So Hurricane Carter, the boxer who was the inspiration for the Bob Dylan song "Hurricane" died earlier this week. However I had heard before that Mr. Zimmerman's interpretation was full of inaccuracies - and here is a site that (allegedly) details them all.
• So the driver in the SXSW crash is now facing four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, capital murder and 20 counts of assault. And so far he has only been charged with two of the deaths. If he doesn't get the death sentence he will never be free again - I know he hasn't been tried in a court of law but the evidence against him is overwhelming.
• In the news we already knew department Led Zeppelin will never tour again. This comes up about twice a year. Robert ain't going to do it.
• In the news I shouldn't even be reporting dept. Nirvana poseurs Puddle of Mudd's front man Wes Scantlin had an onstage meltdown at their last Dallas show (April 16) - flipping off fans, throwing a microphone at someone in the crowd (lawsuit!!) and storming off stage - and also allegedly lip syncing.
• Maybe they should have made this list "20 Rock Tours that Ended Tragically" judging from the comments. They left off the biggest with Buddy Holly and omitted the Damageplan incident as well - I will give them credit for including The Sandman however - Morphine was the shit.
• So the creator of Led Zeppelin Played Here, previously reported in this blog, got back with me: He has entered the film in the Dallas Videofest, if that doesn't work out he is going for the Lone Star Film Festival - per my suggestion. Hope to see it soon!
• Ben Harper is talking about retiring. First The White Stripes and now this?!? But Jack White released a record in one day.
• So I did some research and on April 22nd 1978 The Blue Brothers made their first appearance. This should be referring to the performance in bee costumes on SNL? But there was apparently an appearance before that in their classic attire. I haven't figured it out yet, and you can't find the bee costume version anywhere.

Queensryche Settlement Forthcoming

As of now Geoff Tate's website is billed as "Geoff Tate - The Voice of Queensryche" with a link to "Queensryche without Geoff Tate" pointing to the Todd La Torre fronted version, which features all the remaining Queensryche members. Confused yet?

Interestingly enough the reciprocal is not featured on the "Queensryche without Geoff Tate" site with a link pointing back to Geoff Tate site.

An official press release is forthcoming.

FYI - Queensryche.com = Geoff Tate version, queensrycheofficial.com = remaining members version

Really??!?!?

UPDATE: From the Freedom Facebook page

Trenton Freedom

April 19

They're here folks! At the hotel now to pick up Jack Russell's Great White and bring them to the arena for a sound check. Come out tonight at 7PM and join us for a great game and a post-game concert!

Like · Comment

• Brian Fishman Fish, Mark Klein, John M Bolcato and 15 others like this.

According to this article Great White were slated for a free post game show after an Indoor League Football game (it was also 80's night) but the promoters failed to promote it. So no one stayed. My question is, and I am not trying to be sarcastic, what if they did promote it? The arena holds 8500, but was it full for the game? This is Trenton's third indoor team in the last 15 years - and apparently the discount site Spinsaver knew about it. Not the biggest Great White fan but if I would have been in attendance I would have taken full advantage of the situation.

And On This Day in 1978

Allegedly that is - more to come......

I don't understand...

This map

Click the link above for an interactive version. So I understand Nashville ranking high in country and blues but punk? And the only "red" for Texas is for alternative centered around Austin. And apparently Vegas is the folk capital of the world.......

Pre Good Friday Updates

• Unfortunately it appears that Malcolm Young has a very serious illness - speculations are that he has possibly suffered a stroke and/or is suffering dementia or Alzheimer like symptoms. The dreaded C word and hospice like attention has been alluded to as well. But no official statements have been released regarding.
• Greg Allman has pulled the old "we are retiring, oh never mind we are having to much fun to retire thing". However Warren Hayes and Derek Trucks are leaving the band - amazingly the Allman Brothers still boast three founding members after all these years: Greg, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe Johnson - not too shabby.
• Add Steely Dan to the list of bands that have/are skipping the metroplex over the last couple of years. There are actually no dates for Texas at all.
• Dear KISS - Please enough! You should have just skipped the induction ceremony.
• So the Jeff Krulik, the man behind the cult classic "Heavy Metal Parking Lot", has now released "Led Zeppelin Played Here" about a mysterious 1969 concert at a youth center in Wheaton, MD. AAANNNNDDD I just emailed Jeff to find out when it might be playing locally.
• Toad the Wet Sprocket have reunited!!! Said no one I know......
• Check out some of the prints below by David Redon - more of his work here. 
• Have a good holiday weekend no matter what your faith may or may not be.....

Malcolm Taking a Break - AC/DC Still Rocking....

Statement from the band......

"After forty years of life dedicated to AC/DC, guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young is taking a break from the band due to ill health. Malcolm would like to thank the group’s diehard legions of fans worldwide for their never-ending love and support. 

In light of this news, AC/DC asks that Malcolm and his family’s privacy be respected during this time. The band will continue to make music."

--Joe Reinartz 

Get Well Soon Malcolm!!!

 

It's all about Malcolm

If you don't understand how big AC/DC is just Google AC/DC retiring - this is everywhere and conflicting reports are still coming out. But here (I think) is the situation:

The band has made a pact that no one in the current lineup will be replaced and that if any member is unable to perform/contribute they will disband. This makes since as they basically currently maintain their classic (both pre and post Bon Scott) lineup at this point since Phil Rudd returned on drums in 1994.

According to sources Malcolm is extremely ill and has returned to Australia to be with his family. There is no report of what the illness may or may not be, nor the longevity or seriousness of such. However it may be serious enough that he is "unable to perform".

Even without the pact Malcolm is the backbone of this band, one of the founding members and (obviously) the brother of Angus. There is enough justification with or without a pact to discontinue.

They are booked in the recording studio for six weeks starting May 1st - this coincides with reports earlier this year for a 40th anniversary celebration including a new album and tour.

There has been no official statement from the band nor it's recording label or management at this point.

AC/DC Update via Billboard

And according to them - not retiring....

Not Retiring?

There are various news outlets reporting the opposite at the same time. Confusing.

How about a full AC/DC show from 2009 instead......

Rumours are swirling....

Of AC/DC's demise. Although they recently announced plans for a 40th Anniversary album and tour there are concerns swirling around Malcolm Young's health and that he is very ill. Some Australian radio stations are reporting that a break up announcement may come very soon, some even citing as early as TODAY that they will disband. But we all know how rumors go...

One More For the Road

Apparently this is a little documentary floating around that includes SRV and KZEW - those are the only two things I needed to know....

Post Super Event Weekend in the Metroplex & RRHOF Induction Ceremy Update

• The crowd for the 3 Day March Madness Music Fest never reached "capacity" - the weather was just crappy enough to keep people away/inside. It would probably have been the perfect time to attend if you didn't mind the conditions.
• The Main St. Arts Festival began yesterday and this year's performers are a little underwhelming. Robert Cray is about the only one I would like to see - The Mavericks are there as well just not my ilk.
• Nirvana had FOUR frontWOMEN join them for their RRHOF concert. Joan Jett, St. Vincent (Annie Clark), Kim Gordon and Lorde. You can see some crappy fan videos here.
• And then proceeded to play at the show you wanted to be at - a secret invite only show at the Brooklyn Saint Vitus club. All of the above, with the exception of Lorde, performed with Nirvana as well as being joined by J. Mascis and others. I would like to see some decent video of THAT show.
• There is a lot of induction news out there - more than can be put here. I probably won't mention the RRHOF until the next "issue". Unlike others, however, if I ever get a chance to attend my footsteps will darken it's halls - there is just too much memorabilia and history there for the bands that are inducted to pass up.
• Austin is holding the SXSWCares event this weekend to benefit victims of the insanity that left four people dead at the SXSW show several weeks ago.
• Here are renderings of what the reverse image of some famous album covers may have looked like.

RRHOF Ceremony

I usually don't comment on award shows, besides the sarcastic statement, and I definitely don't watch them very much. If anything I might catch a performance of an artist or something unique, such as The Kennedy Center Honors -which is a step above all the rest I have discovered - however the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has become such a lightning rod of controversy receiving criticism from not just public figures but the artists themselves, including previous and upcoming inductees, that it is hard to ignore.

With that being said the "ceremony" is tonight at the Barclay's Center with HBO recording for an airing at the end of this month. I am not sure if there is a public free simulcast or not but I am sure there will be plenty of video available tomorrow.

Will KISS even show up, or should I way will Paul and Gene show up? The four original members are slated to be inducted, and attend, but as previously posted in this blog they will not perform and current members (as well as any other former members) will not be inducted. Goofy shit. Paul just recently slammed the hall calling it a farce and stating the only reason they are being inducted is because they (RRHOF) have looked like fools for years for not doing it. He is probably right.

Ace however will be performing. He is slated to be part of the All-Star Jam, being invited by Tom Morello. Does Tom Morello get around or what? He is like Dave Grohl's twin.

Nirvana will reunite again and perform for their induction. The frontman has yet to be revealed but rumors are Joan Jett or Micheal Stipe, who is slated to induct them. They were previously fronted by Sir Paul at the Grammy's.

Cat Stevens (Yusalf Islam) will perform as well - it will be interesting to see what he performs.

The inductees for tonight are below:

Peter Gabriel
Daryl Hall and John Oates
KISS - only the original members
Nirvana - not the original members
Linda Ronstadt
Cat Stevens
Brian Epstein
Andrew Loog Oldham
The E Street Ban

20 Years Ago - 9:40 AM PST - Seattle, WA

This was the day you first heard about it.....

For myself this was the first major death of a musician from a band that my generation had watched completely from their inception to their demise. Others had passed on from bands I followed - Cliff Burton, Freddie Mercury and Randy Rhoads to name a few, but a lot of these bands had been around (don't lie - you didn't know who Metallica was until Ride the Lightning) before I actually started listening to or following them - I was 10 when the Blizzard of Ozz came out, I think I had just discovered radio at that point. The only other musician I can think of whose death had this kind of impact was Stevie Ray Vaughn - and that is a Texas thing.

Oh yeah - we skipped the last Nirvana date here in the metroplex, I believe only the second time they had played here, we were going to see them the next time.....

The Park Bench

April 5th, 2014 20th Anniversary of Kurt's death

Opening for Bruce last night.

And yes that is Tom Morello....

Super Event Weekend in the Metroplex Friday Update

• Although it is not all music related it is one hell of a weekend to be in the Fort Worth - Dallas area. And I will probably not attend any of the events below with the exception of maybe hitting downtown Fort Worth or finding some really cheap seats on StubHub.

• NCAA Final Four at the Death Star - two games on Saturday and championship game on Monday.
• The first NASCAR race of the season, The Duck Commander 500, Sunday at The Texas Motor Speedway including what I believe is the debut of The Big Hoss TV - the worlds largest HD screeen.
• The two above events are partnering together for "The Ultimate Sports Weekend".
• As part of the Final Four:The March Madness Music Festival - a free three day concert at the site of the former Reunion Arena. Featuring Jason Aldean, Eli Young Band, Tim McGraw, Pat Green, The Killers, L.L. Cool J and Bruce Springsteen and The East Street Band as your final night headliners. There are several other acts on the bill as well. It is going to madness alright - I am pretty much avoiding this at all costs.
• ESPN Game Day will be broadcasting in Sundance Square at 10 AM daily starting today through Monday.
• We have inclement weather on the slate for the weekend possibly hampering some of the outdoor events listed above. The first event that will be affected by this would be the NASCAR race....
• Duff McKagan will rejoin GNR for some South American shows - I think he may be the only one on completely amicable terms with Axl.
• If you attended a Kings of Leon concert in Seattle recently they are citing it as a possible site for measles exposure and asking ANYONE who attended to get checked as soon as possible. They are very serious.
• Man that Bavaria Radler beer commercial I posted a while back featuring the likenesses of passed music stars, including Kurt and Lennon,  is receiving some serious criticism. I thought it was a little cheesy but I took it tongue in cheek - But most of the videos have been taken down as part of a copyright claim.
• I am really confused about this whole Wu-Tang clan album - there was reported infighting on getting it completed and now they released one single copy of an album - I am not even sure if it is the same one or not?!?!? Was the report a publicity stunt? I don't know but supposedly someone is offering 5 Mil for the "one of a kind"  album.
• I took this test on the best selling albums of all time and come out under 25%. But I excluded all greatest hits/best of albums.
• SNL's music acts have pretty much sucked balls this year.

Most Annoying Concert Behaviors

Including one of my golden rules - wearing the shirt of the band you are going to see. One that is not listed that I emphasize is also listening to the band on the day of the concert. I really don't see the point of pulling in the parking lot and listening to every "hit" of the band you are going to see - isn't that the whole point of being there in the first place?? And cell phones - I wish they were banned sometimes - everywhere.

Concert Etiquette