Benjy says...
Dear Rock of Ages subscribers,
Lots of rock news this week as well as some great new releases to look out for: I managed to get my paws on an advance copy of the new Porcupine Tree album, "Fear of a blank planet" (Roadrunner). The followup to 2005's award winning "Deadwing" is out at the end of this month and I'm happy to say that it doesn't disappoint - filled with mesmerising guitar licks, intricate time signature changes, dreamy keyboard textures with founder Steve Wilson's Floyd-ish voice and playing very much to the fore. Whilst not as metal/hard rock edged as previous albums, "Fear of a blank planet" is everything you would expect from one of the best modern prog rock bands around........
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| The Best Of Acoustic Jethro Tull |
I have always held the view that Jethro Tull were at their best in an acoustic vein so the new album (see Rock News below) is something to look forward to .....
Don't forget that the show will be back on the 5th April with what promises to be one of the specials of the year .... Remember the 80's. The next Rock of Ages Special will be "Back to the 80's ... again" - all those classic rock tracks from the 'makeup 'n hair' bands, the 'spandex' brigade, the 'alternatives', the 'metallers' and the like ... Please email your suggestions for the special to me at rockofages@icon.co.za
Rock of Ages's recommendations
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| Neil Young - Massey Hall 1971 |
Like many Rock of Ages listeners I am a confirmed Neil Young fan and have been since his early days with Buffalo Springfield and through his stormy on-off relationship with Crosby, Stills and Nash. His lengthy solo career has seen him forge entirely unique and sometimes unfathomable directions, flitting freely between acoustic folk, rock 'n roll, punk style noise, country, new wave and electronic. It hasn't always been successful, either critically or commercially, but it's always been definitively Neil Young. His new album "Massey Hall 1971" (Warner/Gallo) **** is an absolute masterpiece - recorded just with acoustic guitar and piano barely months before the release of his landmark "Harvest" album, it is the sound of a consumate musician at the top of his game. Breathtaking versions of "Old Man", "A man needs a maid", the full "Heart of gold" suite, "Ohio", "Down by the river" and many more, recorded live with sound so crystal clear that you feel that you are up on stage with Neil.
"Massey Hall 1971" comes as a cd/dvd release.
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| Neil Young |
Ratings:
***** Volcanic....not to be missed.
**** Seismic....highly recommended...buy it!
*** Aftershock....solid effort.
** Damp squib really!
* Do I need to explain this?
Rock of Ages presents "Footstompin' Music"
"Footstompin' Music" is almost ready for release through Universal Music, I guess it should be in the stores sometimes soon. Here is a pic of the front cover for you to drool over as well as the final tracklisting:
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| Rock Of Ages Presents Footstompin' Music |
- Grand Funk Railroad - Footstompin' Music
- Deep Purple - Burn
- Uriah Heep - Look at yourself
- Black Sabbath - Sweat Leaf
- Thin Lizzy - Chinatown
- Robin Trower - Too rolling stoned
- Mountain - Never in my life
- Wishbone Ash - Blowin' free
- Foghat - I just wanna make love to you
- Budgie - Baby, please don't go
- Santana - Toussaint l'Overture
- Alice Cooper - Muscle of love
- Nazareth - Go down fighting
- Blue Oyster Cult - The Red & the Black
- Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme back my bullets
- Free - The Hunter
- Taste - What's goin' on
KEN E HENSON - A 50 YEAR CELEBRATION
Keep the rock real...
Benjy
Contact Rock of Ages
Email:
Website: www.rock.co.za/rockofages
Snail mail:
PO Box 53585, Kenilworth, 7745
Studio phones: 021-4342523 / 4342525
Disclaimer:
The views, opinions, rants, raves and ramblings expressed on this website are the author's own and in no way reflect the views of Radio 2000 or the SABC.
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| Rock Of Ages News |
Beatles top 200 .... The Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame have published their list of the Definitive 200 albums of all time. 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' by the Beatles is number one, with Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones all having entries in the Top Ten. In the Top 50, there are records from Guns n' Roses, the Eagles, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Boston.
Him Shoes ... HIM fans - here's something special. The band have designed their own shoes, and only 400 pairs exist! Yep, just 400 have been manufactured, each with the distinctive Hear tagram logo. It's available now at www.attitude.uk.com
Elton Birthday .... All those who are turning 60 and celebrating with CD and digital download releases, please raise your hands. Ah, yes, you there, the short fellow in the feather boa... April 1 is Elton John's 60th birthday, an occasion that most of us might celebrate with a small gathering of family and friends or dinner out. As befits his stage persona, Sir Elton is celebrating in a much flashier way. First, there's the U.S. release (March 27) of Rocket Man - Number Ones, a CD-DVD package that includes digitally remastered versions of 18 of his best known songs, and video of performances from his Red Piano tour. John's entire catalog -- more than 400 tracks -- will be available for digital downloading (beginning March 26) via iTunes. After April 30, they will also be available from other online outlets. The icing on the (birthday) cake comes in the form of the artist's 60th concert (March 25) at Madison Square Garden.
The Stones keep rolling (and earning) .... The Rolling Stones have topped America's music rich list for the second consecutive year having coined $138.5 million for their Bigger Bang Tour. It has been estimated by Forbes Magazine that the Stones earned a total of $150.6 million during the last 12 months.
Sing a song of Starbucks ...... The 800 pound gorilla of specialty coffee is looking to become a major player in the entertainment industry. Starbucks has hooked up with Concord Music Group to form a new record label, Hear Music, a name it has used on previous releases in Starbucks stores. The first artist to sign with the new label is Paul McCartney, with an album planned for early summer release. Said Sir Paul via satellite at the annual Starbucks stockholders meeting, "It's a new world now and people are thinking of new ways to reach the people and for me that's always been my aim." The album will be available both at Starbucks stores and at traditional retail music outlets.
Boston vocalist dead .... Brad Delp, the lead singer of the 1970s and '80s rock band Boston committed suicide at his home in southern New Hampshire police said. With Delp's big, high-register voice, Boston scored hits with "More Than a Feeling," "Long Time," "Don't look back" and "Peace of Mind." The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, but it remained active off and on, producing its last album "Corporate America" in 2002. Delp was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and bought his first guitar at age 13 after seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, according to his Web site. Since 1994, he spent his spare time working in a tribute band called Beatle Juice, the band's Web site said. The band's Web site carried a statement, "We've just lost the nicest guy in rock and roll."
Standing at the crossroads .... Eric Clapton just announced his second Crossroads Guitar Festival, scheduled for July 28, 2007 at Toyota Park in Chicago. Profits from the Festival will benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility founded by Clapton for chemically dependent persons. The day-long festival will feature legendary music and collaborations including: Steve Winwood, BB King, Willie Nelson, Jeff Beck, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy and John Mayer.
Acoustic Tull ..... perennial rock/folk proggers, Jethro Tull, are to release a new album titled "The best of acoustic Jethro Tull" featuring 24 stunning acoustic Tull classics including Thick as a brick, Life is a long song and Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow. The album, scheduled for release in South Africa via EMI this month, will also incude 2 previously unreleased live tracks and is also available as a digital download via iTunes. Speaking of which all the Jethro Tull albums are now available as digital downloads.
Fall Out Over Lyrics ... Emo rockers Fall Out Boy might be facing a law suit. Nicholas Hans from defunct hardcore crew Knives Out claims that a line in the band's song 'Our Lawyers Made Us Change The Name Of This Song' is taken from one of their T-shirts. The disputed lyric is 'It's just past eight and I'm feeling young and reckless/The ribbon on my wrist says, "Do not open before Christmas".' So far, though, Hans hasn't sued Fall Out Boy. In the meantime the band are to give away 45 posters, and they'll be real collector's items. Not only will each one be hand numbered and individually made, but the ink will also contain some of the band's blood. Kiss fans will, of course, immediately recognise the blood presence as a tribute to their heroes, who did something similar in 1977 for the first Kiss Marvel Comic.
Let's do it for the fans ..... Following on the heels of the recent Police reunion the latest additions to the 'lets do it again but this time for the music and not the money' brigade are Crowded House, Rage against the Machine, James, the Smashing Pumpkins, The Jam (without Paul Weller - bizarre) and The Jesus and Mary Chain (!). Whilst the antipodean Housers (without drummer Paul Hester who committed suicide) are a cert for at least a tour or two and maybe even a new album, the same can't be said for Scottish hooligan noiserockers, the JMC brothers Reid. After all Jim and sibling William have been known to knock each others teeth out and that's on a friendly day. To put it mildly, they don't get on .... we await developments with bated breath.
Short Cuts ...... King's X are to call their new album 'Go Tell Somebody'. It's being produced by Michael Wagener, and should be out later in the year ... Bon Jovi are to release new album 'Lost Highway' in June. It's been co-produced by Dann Huff and John Shanks. It'll be preceded by the single '(You Want To) Make A Memory'… Police have decided not to charge Kid Rock, following allegations from an unknown woman that he assaulted her at his home recently….. The Dead Kennedys have licensed their classic 'Too Drunk To F**k' for use in the upcoming Quentin Tarantino movie 'Grindhouse'… ex Audioslave yowler Chris Cornell now plans to release his new solo album in early June. It's called 'Carry On'… Lou Reed is to perform the whole of his landmark 1973 album 'Berlin' at London's Hammersmith Apollo on June 30 and July 1. He'll be backed by a choir, string and horn sections…. Uriah Heep have a new drummer. He's Russell Gilbrook, who takes over from Lee Kerslake who has left the band due to 'health issues' …. The Rolling Stones are expected to headline the Isle Of Wight Festival on June 10 - their first UK festival performance since 1976. This date is likely to be confirmed in the next few days .... Rumours have started to circulate that the new Nightwish singer is none other than former Tristania vocalist Vibeke Stene. However, the band won't make any official announcement until the end of May ... The Cult are back in the studio recording the followup to 2001's "Beyond good and evil" ... Rush's new album, "Snakes and Arrows" will be released on May 1. You can hear snippets on the band's website at www.rush.com ... Iron Butterfly are about to release a new album, the first in more that 30 years! .... Dream Theater have signed a new deal with Roadrunner Records and are scheduled to release their ninth studio album "Systematic chaos" in June .... Eagles drummer Don Henley recently told a Las Vegas audience that the followup to their 1979 album, "The Long Run", is finally imminent provided that "we don't kill each other first" ... Def Leppard are planning to call their new album 'Sparkle Lounge'. The band are currently recording this at frontman Joe Elliott's home studio in Dublin.
More Classic Rock?
I can highly recommend the About Classic Rock website run by Dave White. Not only does Dave host one of the most knowledgeable classic rock blogs on the Net but the site itself is very entertaining and informative. There are always great indepth stories on the artists and the rock quizzes are addictive. If you are like me, a classic rock fan, then the weekly About Classic Rock newletter is a must. Sign up at classicrock.about.com
More rock on R2K......
Suffering from Rock withdrawal symptoms on a Tuesday night? Well then tune the dial el pronto to Barney Simon's show between 8 and midnight every Tuesday on Radio 2000 (or R2K as Barney calls it) for the best in South African rock plus gig guide, albums reviews, demos, new releases, news from around the country and much more...... Unmissable!.... Also don't forget to catch Michelle Constant between 1pm and 3pm Monday-Friday for news, music, interviews and loads of cool stuff.... and of course.... Mo G on the morning drive, weekdays 8-10am... Exclusively on Radio 2000.
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| Live Gigs |
KEN E HENSON - A 50 YEAR CELEBRATION
(see poster on the left)
Thursday 29, Friday 30, Saturday 31 March - Thunder Road Rock Diner, 136 Florida Road, Durban
Thursday 29 - John Stengel / Red House / Roly Struckmeyer / AK Massive / Cubic Inch
Friday 30 - Dave Marks & Alan Judd / Roger Lucey & Dan Chiorboli / Interitmo Drummers/
Barry Thomson / Squeal / Mike Slavin's Blues Train
Saturday 31 - Nux Schwartz / Chris Chapman & AntiGravity / Guy Buttery & Nibs van der Spuy / Ken E Henson w Robbie Pavid & Neil Wainwright Steve & Tara Fataar / Abacus feat. Dawn Selby, Barry Thomson, Mark Freel & Mali Sewell / Bobby & The Dynamites w Richard Haslop / Dan Patlansky w Bobby & The Dynamites
Ken E Henson: Featured Guest on all 3 nights
Boulevard Blues Band
28th Berties mooring Gordons bay
30/31st Arrabella Sheraton "Deep south theme"
Jo Day
Sat, 31 March - Rafterz, Vanderbijlpark. (with Hiccup)
FESTIVALS
Splashy Fen Festival
5-9 April Underberg KZN … See www.splashyfen.co.za for artist lineups
VENUES
Tanz Café, Bryanston
30th Louise Carver
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| You say it's your birthday... |
March 22
Jeremy Clyde - Chad and Jeremy - 1941
Keith Relf - Yardbirds - 1943
March 23
Ric Ocasek - The Cars - 1949
Phil Lanzon - Uriah Heep -
March 24
Dougie Thomson - Supertramp - 1951
March 25
Elton John - 1947
Aretha Franklin - 1942
March 26
Steven Tyler - Aerosmith - 1948
Richard Tandy - Electric Light Orchestra - 1948
Fran Sheehan - Boston - 1949
March 27
Tony Banks - Genesis - 1950
March 28
John Evan - Jethro Tull - 1948
March 29
Bobby Kimball - Toto - 1947
Chad Allan - Guess Who)
March 30
Graeme Edge - Moody Blues - 1942
Eric Clapton - 1945
Dave Ball - Procol Harum
Jim "Dandy" Mangrum - Black Oak Arkansas - 1948
March 31
Mick Ralphs - Mott The Hoople, Bad Company - 1944
Angus Young - AC/DC - 1955
Courtesy of
About ClassicRock
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