We Will Rock You

FROM WWW.EDMONTONSUN.COM:

In a world where many would rather play a fake guitar in a video game than rock a genuine six-string, it seems there is little appreciation for the real-life guitar hero.

Axeman extraordinaire Adrian Belew has had his hand in about as many rock ‘n roll pies as one possibly can, and yet the 59-year-old has never attained nearly the notoriety of many of the musicians he’s shared stages with.

The Adrian Belew Power Trio will hit the Starlite Room tomorrow for an evening of prog-rock wizardry.

Belew’s journey as a guitar idol began in 1977, when he was playing with a cover band in Nashville and none other than Frank Zappa came down to check out one of his gigs.

Zappa liked what he saw, and invited Belew to audition for his touring band.

“I was poor, so he gave me a list of songs to learn and I had to borrow the records from my friends,” Belew recalls fondly. “I thought, ‘Well, I can’t spend the money on them ’cause I’m too poor, and if I don’t make the audition I’ll have spent all that money.’ ”

He got the spot, and there was no looking back.

From there he caught the ear of David Bowie, and after doing an album and a global stadium tour with the British superstar, it was onto new wave sensations the Talking Heads.

With his own band GaGa also on the go, by 1981 he was one of the most demanded names in rock ‘n roll.

“Then came the hard part — which was King Crimson,” he laughs.

Belew pushed his arena rock life aside to join prog-rock innovators King Crimson in ‘81, a band that had been one of his biggest inspirations. Instead of enlisting the budding star as a hired hand, band founder Robert Fripp offered Belew the frontman role he’d been waiting for.

King Crimson forced Belew to elevate his playing to a new level, and he would go on to release a series of solo albums that were a mish-mash of his previous projects, driven by his oddball pop sensibility and the inventive, skillful guitaring that brought him to the top of the rock world.

“I just find the electric guitar is almost unlimited in its capabilities, the things you can do with it; especially as all the technology has grown over the time that I’ve been doing this. It’s been a really thrilling ride for me,” he says.

Originally a drummer, Belew has added countless other instruments to his arsenal along the way and has continued to play with King Crimson as well as his on-again, off-again pop outfit The Bears.

He’s toured every year since his first jaunt with Zappa and has remained a highly-sought-after session musician through the years, collaborating with Paul Simon, Cyndi Lauper, Nine Inch Nails and Tori Amos, to name just a few.

POWER TRIO

Belew formed his Power Trio in 2006 with brother-and-sister team Eric and Julie Slick - who are both just in their early 20s — and the band recently released its first studio album E, a 43-minute King Crimson-esque instrumental piece that took Belew three years to write.

On the trio’s current tour you’ll see him play over loops, plug his guitar into keyboards and do all manner of things to get fresh sounds out of the instrument he has dominated for decades.

And he’ll be down in the clubs, right where he started, and right where he likes it best.

“I never liked playing in stadiums because it’s not much of a musical event,” he says. “The sound is usually horrible, the audience can’t really see you or feel what you’re doing or respond to you. I love playing smaller places because of those very reasons.”

FROM WWW.ROLLINGSTONE.COM:

In 1968, the members of what would soon be named Led Zeppelin were snapped outside a Scandinavian club by a fan. The images of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham are candid, slightly fuzzy and extremely rare, but now fans can check them out in the new book Good Times, Bad Times: A Visual Biography of the Ultimate Band. The hard-cover title, out earlier this month via Abrams publishers, collects shots of the legendary quartet that focus on their offstage lives: the rockers decompressing in the countryside, spending time with their families, composing in the studio.

Check out a selection of rarely seen Led Zeppelin photos from Good Times, Bad Times.

In his introduction to the book, Anthony DeCurtis recalls seeing Led Zeppelin for the first time, and what it was like actually being in the studio with the band when he was on assignment for a Rolling Stone cover story. “The entire set was mesmerizing,” he writes of experiencing the band live as a high school student. “Page soloed spectacularly on every song, and the ecstatic call-and-response exchanges he and Plant engaged in were galvanizing.”

Fans got a glimpse of that magical interaction when the band reunited for their December 2007 gig at London’s O2 Arena that has become the stuff of legend. Relive that special day in rock history with photos from the show and David Fricke’s full report.

FROM WWW.ROLLINGSTONE.COM:

Brian Wilson will reportedly complete at least two unfinished works by composer George Gershwin for an upcoming release, the Los Angeles Times reports. Wilson received authorization from the Gershwin estate to work on the unfinished songs, which are more than seven decades old. Wilson told the LAT he was “thrilled to death” by the prospect of completing Gershwin’s work, adding “I’m proud to be able to do it. Hopefully I’ll be able to do them justice.”

Check out a guide of Brian Wilson’s essential albums.

While the pieces that Wilson will be working on will likely remain instrumentals, the Beach Boy didn’t rule out the possibility of transforming Gershwin’s music into one of his trademark pop songs or something even bigger in scope. Wilson also plans to release an album’s worth of Gershwin music next year, the LAT writes. Gershwin died at the age of 38 in 1937, leaving behind dozens of unfinished works ranging from mere bars to nearly completed songs.

Five years ago, Wilson salvaged another decades-old, unfinished masterpiece when he finally completed his supposed Pet Sounds follow-up Smile. “Smile is Rhapsody in Blue circa 2004,” Brad Rosenberger, senior vice president of catalog development and marketing for Warner/Chappell, said in comparing Wilson’s album to one of Gershwin’s most memorable works. “It’s very experimental, very rich and very melodic and really pushed popular music.” The Los Angeles Times also reports that a tribute album comprised of Gershwin’s unfinished works and produced by Phil Ramone is also in the works, with a 2010 release date eyed.

FROM WWW.BILLBOARD.COM:

Liam Gallagher has insisted that U.K. rock act Oasis is no more, following Noel Gallagher’s departure from the group in the summer.

Although the brothers have always had a rocky relationship, Gallagher insisted this split was for good, during an interview with the London Times ostensibly to discuss his new Pretty Green clothing range.

“Well, Oasis is no longer,” he said, speaking for the first time since the split. “I think we all know that. So that’s done.”

Noel Gallagher quit the band Aug. 28 after a row with Liam in Paris, posting a message on the band’s official Web site stating that he was “forced” out of Oasis.

As well as his venture into fashion - the singer said he “loves” clothes and always went on shopping trips while on tour - Liam Gallagher said he intends to still make music, although he was certain Oasis had come to an end after 18 years.

“Without a doubt,” he said. “And it’s a shame but that’s life. We had a good run at it. The thing about Oasis is, no one … we ended Oasis. No one ended it for us. Which was pretty, kind of… cool. I’m thinking of what the next step is musically, which is all my mind’s on.”

He added: “I’ll be doing music to the day I die. People will be able to buy his [Noel's] records. People will be able to buy our records. So everyone’s happy.”

FROM WWW.CLASSICROCKMAGAZINE.COM:

Drummer Carl Palmer has revealed to Classic Rock that Emerson, Lake And Palmer planned to tour this month – but problems with Keith Emerson’s hand put the kibosh on reunion plans.

Because Emerson is unable to perform a lengthy stage show, Palmer suggests the keyboard player might like to make a guest appearance with Asia instead!

Excerpts from an interview with Rob Hughes follow:

“ELP were going to be playing together this month and into November, but Keith Emerson had some problem with his hand.

“It froze up in the studio when he was overdubbing his live DVD, so he’s not been able to play. He hasn’t been able to play more than a 35- or 40-minute set. That was the problem.

“The last I heard was that the two of them [Emerson and Greg Lake] were doing some writing together and thinking of making an album together. I’ve got so much on my plate, but am ready to look at any situation providing it’s the right one.

“I also have the idea that maybe we could get guests singers and musicians to play with Asia, people who have connections to the individuals in the band.

“It’d be kind of a family rock tree, putting a show together that way. Justin Hayward would be great, or one of the guys from Supertramp. I mean, Justin Hayward singing Nights In White Satin with Steve Howe backing him on guitar – wouldn’t that be marvellous?

“I thought that might be a situation where Keith Emerson could play, and we’d have Greg Lake as well. So we’d have those two on stage and Asia. We could play things like Fanfare For The Common Man and Lucky Man. It would provide a different slant on the whole thing.

“Of course I don’t know if Emerson would do it, as he has an ego the size of Wembley football stadium. But it would be worth throwing the idea out there.”

FROM WWW.CLASSICROCKREVISITED.COM:

This news is brought to you by VH1 Radio’s Dave Basner

Joe Perry performed at The Viper Room in Hollywood on Tuesday night.  Perry and his five-piece Joe Perry Project played an hour-plus long set at the very small venue, complete with a star-studded audience including Slash, Matt Sorum from Velvet Revolver, Perry Ferrell and others.  Highlights of the show included Perry’s band tackling Aerosmith staples like “Walk This Way,” “Train Kept a Rolling” and an interesting reggae version of “Dream On.”  The band closed the show with a cover of The Beatles’ “Revolution.”  

FROM WWW.CLASSICROCKREVISITED.COM:

This news is brought to you by VH1 Radio’s Dave Basner

Ozzy Osbourne’s autobiography, I Am Ozzy, is now out overseas and it turns out, the Prince of Darkness wrote the whole book in a very traditional way.  According to Metro.co.uk, Ozzy’s wife, Sharon, explained, “He did it all by himself – with a pencil.”  In the book, Ozzy talks about his career and his troubled past.  A U-S release date of I Am Ozzy has not yet been announced.     

FROM WWW.CLASSICROCKREVISITED.COM:

This news is brought to you by VH1 Radio’s Dave Basner

This week, Heart released a children’s book and a CD of guitar music for babies.  Ann Wilson wrote and illustrated a book called Dog & Butterfly, based on the band’s hits song, and Nancy Wilson was behind Baby Guitars, the new album of acoustic lullabies.  Nancy herself has kids so has motherhood changed how she writes?  She filled us in. 

“I think it sort of deepens the passion because when you become a parent, everything is a little more… like the things that you worry about, the things you are emotional about get a little deeper because you’re here more for them now, not just for yourself.  So yeah, it’s changed but it hasn’t softened.  I think it’s actually just made it a little more fiery.” 

Of course, the music on Baby Guitars might not be too fiery.  You can hear it for yourself now and by Ann’s book exclusive at Amazon.com. 

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA (October 7, 2009) - The Thunder is coming! Thunder Mountain Rockfest will host bands from the 70s, 80, 90s and today for three days of rock n’ roll hysteria in North Dakota - and you’re invited to the party! Thunder Mountain Rockfest will take place July 8,9,10 just 14 miles southwest of Minot, North Dakota off Highway 52 at the Rock Dakota Ranch. Visit www.tmrockfest.com for more information.

Thunder Mountain Rockfest is special because acts will be grouped together by decade. The fest opens on Thursday, July 8 with 70s day, featuring Foghat, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, The Guess Who and another band still to be announced! On Friday, July 9, bands from the 80s will hit the main stage, including Kix and Night Ranger. In total, 12 acts will play the main stage over the course of the festival. Twenty national acts will play a second stage. On Wednesday, July 7, promoters will host a special pre-party featuring bands on the second stage plus other special activities. Visit www.tmrockfest.com often for new band announcements!

Tickets are available now for Thunder Mountain Rockfest! Simply visit www.tmrockfest.com to purchase your pass to the ultimate summer rock n’ roll bash! It’s easy to charge by phone! Just dial 701-757-7625. Three day passes are available at the recession-friendly price of $120 + plus tax and handling. Camping passes also available now. Pass prices vary on site selected. All campers must possess a multi-day ticket to enjoy the 24 hour fun.
 
Thunder Mountain Rockfest is proud to honor mother earth. Promoters encourage festival attendees to go green and limit waste. One effective way is to purchase a “TMRF Green Team Membership.” For just $50, attendees receive a T-shirt, reusable mug and special discount card for use at concession stands during the run of the festival. Most important, Green Team members help the environment by allowing the fest to utilize recycling bins, recycled products and green cleaning supplies.

Thunder Mountain Rockfest will take place at the Rock Dakota Ranch located at 13101 153^rd Street in Sawyer, North Dakota. All tickets and camping passes are non-refundable. Thunder Mountain Rockfest is a rain or shine event. Event is open air. Festival and camping passes sold prior to this announcement for Bottineau, North Dakota event honored at gates.

Visit www.tmrockfest.com often for new band announcements, contests and other exciting news bulletins!

FROM WWW.CLASSICROCKREVISITED.COM:

This news is brought to you by VH1 Radio’s Dave Basner

Last month, Genesis released a massive ten-disc live box set called Genesis Live 1973-2007, and next month, the band plans to release another large package.  This one is called The Movie Box and boasts five-DVDs which feature footage of the group’s live performances while Phil Collins was the frontman.  The set includes concerts from 1981, 1984, 1992 and an updated version of Genesis’ Vh1 Behind the Music special.   The Movie Box hits shelves on November 24^th.