We Will Rock You

FROM WWW.SPINNER.COM:

Famed punk drummer Chuck Biscuits isn’t dead after all. Instead, the man born Charles Montgomery — who has played with the likes of D.O.A., Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, Danzig and Social Distortion — was the victim of a death hoax involving an elaborate correspondence from someone claiming to be Biscuits.

According to music blogger James Greene, Jr., this punk rock version of the Balloon Boy mess started when an imposter using an e-mail address that was previously believed to have been used by the drummer sent out an e-mail Tuesday, Oct. 27, claiming that Biscuits, 44, died last Saturday after a prolonged battle with throat cancer. The death story was picked up by a number of music outlets, Spinner included, after an e-mail supposedly sent by a member of the Montgomery family falsely reported that “Chuck did not survive his battle with throat cancer. He passed surrounded by his family on 10/24/09.”

FROM WWW.SPINNER.COM:

FROM WWW.CLASSICROCKMAGAZINE.COM:

Classic Rock can exclusively reveal that Joe Elliott’s Down’N’Outz are in the process of recording a studio album.

Words: Dave Ling

The Down’N’Outz are the supposedly ‘one night only’ group comprising Leppard frontman Elliott on vocals, rhythm guitar and piano, plus assorted members of The Quireboys – guitarists Paul Guerin and Guy Griffin, keyboard player Keith Weir and drummer Phil Martini – and completed by bassist Ronnie Garrity (a member of the band Raw Glory which features former Gillan drummer Mick Underwood and ex-Heavy Metal Kids guitarist Cosmo).

The Down’N’Outz got together to open for Mott The Hoople on the final night of the reunited band’s recent string of dates at London’s Hammersmith Apollo, ostensibly to perform material the members of Mott The Hoople had been involved with after splitting in 1974.

This treat included material from the back catalogue of Ian Hunter, the band Mott and British Lions.

The October 6 performance included the songs:

Golden Opportunities (Ian Hunter)
Overnight Angels (Ian Hunter)
One More Chance To Run (British Lions)
Shouting & Pointing (Mott)
Storm (Mott)
Career (Mott – with vocals from Spike of The Quireboys)
Who Do You Love (Ian Hunter)
By Tonight (Mott)
England Rocks (Ian Hunter)
Good Times (Mott, originally recorded by The Easybeats)

The show was filmed by a camera crew that had been documenting the Mott reunion, though until now the exact fate of the footage was uncertain.

But when Classic Rock spoke to Paul Guerin ahead of a December tour from The Quireboys – during which the band will perform their 1990 debut album A Bit Of What You Fancy in its entirety – the guitarist revealed:

“As we speak, we are recording studio versions of those songs. The bass and drums for 10 tracks have already gone down. I start the guitars tomorrow; Griff’s already doing his. Spike’s also going to be involved [with the song he sang live, Career].

“Basically, we are going to do all of the music and backing vocals before flying it across to Joe at his studio in Dublin. The plan is to release a studio album and DVD in one package.

“The studio album will also include tracks that we didn’t have time to play during a 45-minute gig. Emails are currently flying back and forth about those extra songs.”

Besides the December UK tour, The Quireboys are also about to release an Americana-themed album called Halfpenny Dancer, which includes a restyled version of UFO’s Love To Love. This can currently be heard at their MySpace site.

Of the band’s upcoming tour, which features Wolfsbane as support (the same act that opened for them circa A Bit Of What You Fancy), Guerin confirms that yet another original feature of those dates is to be recreated.

“Just like first time around, the 2009 stage set will include a bar – a couple of them, in fact,” he smiles. “I designed them and they are being constructed right now. As long as the size is done correctly it will look absolutely great. My only fear is a Spinal Tap-Stonehenge scenario.”

The dates are as follows:

Crewe Limelight Dec 3 (low-key warm-up)
Bristol Academy Dec 10
London Kentish Town Forum Dec 11
Dudley JB’s Dec 12
Liverpool Academy Dec 17
Glasgow Cathouse Dec 18
Sheffield Academy Dec 19
Newcastle Academy Dec 20

For tickets visit: www.seetickets.com or tel: 08700 603 777.

FROM WWW.CLASSICROCKMAGAZINE.COM:

It looks like The Who will follow The Beatles by having their own Rock Band game.

Vocalist Roger Daltrey has just told MassLive:

“The game, yeah, yeah, they’re going to be doing a Who one next year. There is one planned. The idea is fabulous. Anything that gets non-musical people interested in music is wonderful.”

So, far The Who have had around 14 tracks used in various Rock Band games, including Pinball Wizard and Won’t Get Fooled Again.

For further info, go to www.thewho.com

FROM WWW.CLASSICROCK.COM:

Marillion are planning to film and record their London dates in December for a DVD and CD.

The shows are part of the band’s current acoustic tour, promoting new album Less Is More, and happen at Cadogan Hall on December 6/7.

Drummer Ian Mosley told Clasic Rock:

“Actually, we’re recording every date on the current UK and European tour, then making available for download – mistakes and everything – at our website (www.marillion.com). But we’ll be shooting and recording both London gigs professionally.”

Marillion also have plans in hand to kickstart the next new studio album.

“We’re gonna go out to Portugal in March for 10 days, to get the writing process done. We could stay at home and use our own studio. But then you’re always susceptible to getting phone calls from home that the house is flooded. Besides, I like the idea of a warm climate in the winter!

“We’ll pay for the time out there by doing an acoustic gig at the end of the session, on March 27. That’s Marillion – no expense spent.”

There are also plans for a box set on EMI showcasing the Steve Hogarth years.

“I’ve got seven CDs of stuff to go through. I’m not sure when this would come out, but as a band we shall be involved as much as we can. EMI would put it out with or without our input, but at least this way we can ensure the quality is as good as possible.”

The full list of UK/Irish shows on the upcoming acoustic tour is:

Burnley Mechanics November 29, Leamington Assembly Rooms 30, Glasgow Ferry December 2, Dublin Button Factory 3, London Cadogan Hall 6/7.

This is the second and final installment of my recent interview with Gentle Giant singer/front man Derek Shulman. In this segment we discuss the business side of Gentle Giant, and what it would have taken for Gentle Giant to have more commercial success; the changes the band made toward the end of its career to try to achieve more success; being back in touch with the other band members; the decision-making process for re-releasing these albums; role of the Internet in marketing music now; bonus tracks on the digital releases; are there studio enhancements on the live tracks; what else is in the vaults that may still see release; will there be any Gentle Giant live dates; and how does Derek want Gentle Giant to be remembered.

Thanks once again to Anne Leighton for arranging this interview, and to Derek Shulman for sharing his time and observations.

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PRESS RELEASE:

New York, NY (October 28, 2009)—For 23 years, UK progressive maestros Marillion have built a solid career crafting unique and thought-provoking music. On December 8, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release their latest studio album Less Is More [MSRP $13.98].
 
A band with an abundant musical history, Less Is More is an acoustic re-creation of their vast back catalogue. These eleven stripped down tracks, accentuated by soaring melodies and haunting rhythms, evoke a listening experience that is deeply moving and powerful.
 
Considered to be one of the founding bands of Neo-Progressive rock, Marillion finalized their line-up in 1988 with charismatic lead singer Steve Hogarth (formally of The Europeans). Joined by guitarist Steve Rothery, keyboardist Mark Kelly, bassist Pete Trewavas and drummer Ian Mosley, Marillion consistently defy preconceptions and dodge trendy labels. Having released nine studio albums, some of which have been released on their own label Intact, UK’s Classic Rock Magazine has deemed the band “an enduring and undervalued treasure.”
 
Forever expanding their parameters, Marillion has constantly reinvigorated and redefined themselves, and Less Is More is a continuation of this process. Additionally, Eagle Rock will release a new album from Steve Rothery’s side project Wishing Tree – digitally November 24, and in stores January 19.
 
Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audiovisual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Germany, France & Toronto.

 Track Listing:
1.) Go
2.) Interior Lulu
3.) Out Of This World
4.) Wrapped Up In Time
5.) The Space
6.) Hard As Love
7.) Quartz
8.) If My Heart Were A Ball
9.) It’s Not Your Fault
10.) The Memory Of Water
11.) This Is The 21st Century
 
Bonus Features:
1.) Runaway (Live)
2.) Fake Plastic Trees (Live)
 

FROM WWW.SPINNER.COM:

Although Robert Plant sparked speculation this week that a Led Zeppelin reunion could happen at 2010’s Glastonbury Festival, the band’s bassist, John Paul Jones, suggests a regrouping isn’t likely. In a new interview with the BBC, Jones — currently playing in the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme — says that after the legendary band failed to regroup in 2008 he isn’t looking back.

Speaking of Plant’s disinterest in the previous reunion, Jones said, “Jimmy [Page] and I rehearsed a bit with Jason [Bonham]. We couldn’t agree on a singer and it fell by the wayside.”

“This came along and to be honest, I’m really happy,” Jones said of his involvement in Them Crooked Vultures. “I immediately recognized [Grohl] was drummer that was, A, really good, B, groovy, and C, listened. All those nice things bass players like in drummers.”

Now it looks like its Plant who may be out in the cold. In a separate interview with the BBC, the Zeppelin frontman says he was approached by festival organizer Michael Eavis to play the weekend event’s 40th anniversary, declaring, “There’s place for me there, but I have no idea who with.”

FROM WWW.SPINNER.COM:

The trailer for ‘Nowhere Boy,’ a new film based on John Lennon’s tumultuous teen years, has been released. Based on the memoir “Imagine This: Growing Up With My Brother John Lennon,” written by the late rock icon’s half sister, Julia Baird, the film will be released in UK theaters on Dec. 25.

Shot in Liverpool by director Sam Taylor-Wood, ‘Nowhere Boy’ stars Aaron Johnson as the young Lennon and
depicts his childhood, having been raised by his Aunt Mimi, played by Kristin Scott Thomas , from the age of five after being given to her by his mother, Julia. The film documents Lennon’s discovery of rock ‘n’ roll and shows his Julia, played by Anne-Marie Duff, teaching him chords on a banjo, which he later used to learn the guitar.

Although the dramatic film chronicles Lennon’s first meetings with Paul McCartney, it largely focuses on John’s tangled relationships with Mimi and his mother, who died in a car crash in 1958 when Lennon was just 17.

It’s still unclear if any actual Beatles songs will be featured in the film. A release date for the US has yet to be announced although Rolling Stone reported last March that the Weinstein Company had picked up the rights.

Check out the trailer below.

FROM WWW.SPINNER.COM:

While the Beatles left behind countless iconic images and performances in addition to their music, do you ever wonder where their signature style came from? The answer is Brian Epstein, whom Paul McCartney famously called “the fifth Beatle.” While Epstein was slowly shaping the band’s sound, the Fab Four’s onetime manager also influenced their famous fashions — most notably those signature matching suits.

Using archived footage from the foursome’s heyday plus interviews with peers and family members, the documentary ‘Brian Epstein - Inside the Fifth Beatle,’ is one of the best primers for Epstein’s vast contributions to the Beatles. Beginning with his start as a record store owner to his untimely death in 1967, the film could be seen as evidence that Epstein was just as influential on the band as its actual members. “That guy could smell a hit record,” his assistant Alistair Taylor says in the film, “even though he didn’t like pop music.”