WKHY Rock Report |
Headlines for Friday, May 24, 2013
Metallica's Robert Trujillo and System of a Down's Shavo Odadjian joined Slayer's Kerry King as speakers at Thursday's memorial service for Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died of liver failure on May 2nd. The late afternoon service at L.A.'s Hollywood Palladium was open to the public and fans filled at least two-thirds of the 3,700-capacity hall. There were also plenty of other musician friends who came to pay their last respects, including:
- Slayer drummers Dave Lombardo and Paul Bostaph
- Exodus guitarist Gary Holt, who filled in for Hanneman in Slayer when he was unable to perform in 2011 due to the effects of a crippling spider bite
- Rob Zombie guitarist John 5 and Ozzy Osbourne bassist Blasko
Nick Bowcott of Marshall Amplification served as MC for the service. After emotional speeches by Metal Blade Records head Brian Slagle and American Recordings rep Dino Paredes, King took the stage and delivered a series of anecdotes about his bandmate that included such information as the irony that he and Hanneman had actually been banned from the Hollywood Palladium for about the last 20 years, how the two met and that Hanneman didn't drive. Like all the speakers, he spoke about Hanneman's shyness and sense of humor.
Next came Trujillo, who began by reading a speech from producer and label head Rick Rubin, who couldn't attend. Rubin praised Hanneman's "colossal riffs" that were "the perfect balance of mayhem and intensity" and reminded the crowd that "he left us with recordings we can listen to any time to feel his presence."
Odadjian said that "if there was no Jeff Hanneman, there would have been no System of a Down. Slayer took us on our first tour and Jeff mentored us." He concluded by observing that Slayer "made punk and metal OK." The speeches closed with Slayer's longtime manager Rick Sales and his staff. One of them read a thank you message from Hanneman's wife, Kathryn.
Finally there was a video tribute to Hanneman. During it, the crowd formed five separate mosh circles as "Raining Blood" played through the P.A. It was a fitting sendoff.
MUMFORD & SONS, VAMPIRE WEEKEND: Heading to Sasquatch
Mumford and Sons, The Postal Service and Vampire Weekend are among the acts headlining this weekend's Sasquatch Music Festival. It takes place Friday through Monday at The Gorge in Quincy, Washington.
Also on the bill are The Lumineers, Arctic Monkeys, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Cake, Primus, Imagine Dragons, Bloc Party, Andrew Bird, Divine Fits and ZZ Ward.
GUNS N' ROSES, ALICE IN CHAINS: Ready to Rocklahoma
Guns n' Roses, Korn and Alice in Chains are headlining the Rocklahoma festival this weekend. It takes place Friday through Sunday at the Catch the Fever Festival Grounds in Pryor, Oklahoma.
The lineup also includes Bush, Cheap Trick, Bullet for My Valentine, Papa Roach, Skillet, Hollywood Undead, Ratt, Halestorm, Device, All That Remains, Escape the Fate, Dokken and Young Guns.
Rocklahoma's promoters have announced that they'll be be donating a portion of every ticket sold this weekend to local relief efforts, as well as auctioning autographed memorabilia, artist meet-and-greets and more. There will also be cash donation stations located throughout the venue. But promoters ask that fans not bring clothes, food, toiletries and other similar items to the festival for donation.
BLACK SABBATH: Iommi Was Shocked
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Tony Iommi was "shocked" that Bill Ward opted out of the Black Sabbath reunion album and tour.
He says, "We were hearing stuff from lawyers, like, 'I'm not happy with this. I'm not happy with that.' We waited a long time for Bill and we wanted to sort it out. But at the end of the day, especially after I was diagnosed [with lymphoma], I thought, 'Bloody hell, that's it. We've got to get a move on. I might pop off next year!' So I E-mailed him and said, 'Bill, we can't wait any longer. We've got to get on with it.' And that was it."
Brad Wilk from Rage Against the Machine took Ward's place on the album, 13, which comes out on June 11th. Ozzy Osbourne's drummer, Tommy Clufetos, is playing on the tour.
ROLLING STONES: No Tweets Please
Mick Jagger isn't willing to let Twitter have too much sway of The Rolling Stones' set lists.
The Stones have been giving fans the chance to vote on a list of songs before each show on their 50 and Counting tour, and the one with the most votes gets played at that show. But that's as much input as Jagger is willing to take. He says, "With Twitter, you get so much more feedback. But the kind of people who tweet about songs are not your general fan. Not everyone wants obscure songs. Otherwise, you’ll get everyone else saying, 'I brought my girlfriend along, and she wants 'Honky Tonk Women,' not the whole of Their Satanic Majesties Request, thanks.'"
Up next for the Stones is Toronto on Saturday night.
SAMMY HAGAR: Appeal Is Filed
A legal headache that Sammy Hagar thought was behind him has popped back up.
The former Playboy bunny who claims that he fathered her now-deceased child has appealed a judge's ruling tossing out her lawsuit against him. Identified as Jane Doe, she filed the appeal on Wednesday in Iowa. She's suing over Hagar's autobiography, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock.
In the book, Hagar wrote that the woman had tried to extort money from him in the '80s, and that he settled rather than face a prolonged paternity battle. Earlier this month, a federal judge dismissed the original suit, ruling that Hagar did not mention the woman by name and that she'd failed to prove that the book injured her.
AARON LEWIS: Staind Frontman Goes to Country Landmark
Staind frontman Aaron Lewis will visit one of the landmarks of country music on Tuesday.
Lewis, who's carved out a decent solo career as a country singer, will make his first-ever appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He says, "Getting to play the Grand Ole Opry is such an incredible honor. It's a dream come true to think that I'll get to stand in that same iconic circle where music royalty has stood."
DISTURBED: Really, We Will Return
David Draiman really wants Disturbed fans to know that the band will get back together after their hiatus.
Draiman took to the band's Facebook page on Thursday once again to confirm that they will reunite. He writes, "This hiatus has nothing to do with the projects each member of Disturbed is currently involved with. It has to do with stopping the assembly-line type of machine the Disturbed leviathan had become, giving ourselves and the fans time away from it so that we can eventually reunite, with new inspiration for both the band side and the fan side... Bitterness at our individual projects is really quite misplaced. So please support Device, Fight or Flight and Adrenaline Mob, as they are fruit born of this hiatus. We're counting on all of you."
Headlines for Thursday, May 23, 2013
GODSMACK: Sully Gets Own Guitar
Godsmack frontman Sully Erna is the latest musician to get his own signature guitar.Gibson's Sully Erna Les Paul Studio model is ebony black with a Godsmack sun emblem on the body along with a Sully Erna moon-and-star logo on the headstock. The list price for the guitar is $2,300. Get more details about it at the Gibson website.
VAN HALEN: So Simple a 14-Year Old Can Do It
Tina, a 14-year old girl has posted a video of her doing Van Halen's "Eruption," which is Eddie Van Halen's signature solo from the band's self-titled debut album.
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE: Lots on Letterman
Queens of the Stone Age will be setting up shop at The Late Show With David Letterman in early June.The band will be the musical guest on June 5th -- the day after Like Clockwork is released -- and will do a Live on Letterman webcast that will be streamed through the Letterman website and Vevo starting at 9 p.m. ET. The band will return the next night to be the musical guest once again.
JOE WALSH, HEART, PRETENDERS: Guest on Rich Guy's Album
Joe Walsh, Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson and The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde make guest appearances on the new album from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.Allen -- who started the Experience Music Project in Seattle -- and his band The Underthinkers are also joined by The Allman Brothers Band's Derek Trucks and Los Lobos' David Hidalgo on Everywhere at Once, which is due out on August 6th. All proceeds from the album will go to fund educational programs through the EMP.
SAMMY HAGAR: Going Home
Sammy Hagar will be back in his hometown of Fontana, California on June 1st. He will be the honorary Grand Marshal of the 100th Fontana Days Parade. Hagar says, "How cool is that? If you're nearby, stop on by!" Fontana is 50 miles east of Los Angeles.Hagar has posted a notice on his website about the tornado that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma this week. He says, "I'm sending my prayers and support to everyone affected by the devastating break of tornadoes this week. Pray for Oklahoma and help me in supporting my friends at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma if you can. We've been in contact with them and the best are monetary donations, which can be made online at RegionalFoodBank.org or mailed to: Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, P.O. Box 270968, Oklahoma City, OK 73137."
BON JOVI: Loose Lips Sink Ships
Bon Jovi continues to tour without guitarist Richie Sambora, and Jon Bon Jovi continues to do interviews in support of it. But Jon says he finds it difficult not to discuss Sambora's absence. “It’s getting more and more difficult every day to not just say something. Because all I can say is this: it’s for personal reasons. He’s been through it before," which could mean that he indeed is back in rehab for drinking.And, like the last time he checked in, guitarist Phil X has checked in to take Richie's place. Bon Jovi start a U.K. tour on June 8th in Manchester, England.
METALLICA: Gotta Pay for Film Before New LP
Metallica fans waiting for a new album might have another project to blame for the delay -- the band's 3D movie.Singer-guitarist James Hetfield says he really wants to work on the new album, but the upcoming Orion Music and More Festival in Detroit and the film Metallica Through the Never have been rather time consuming. Hetfield tellsBillboard, "I want it done yesterday, and [Orion] and this movie is keeping us pretty busy at this point, and it's taking a lot of our time and effort. We've been touring some obscure places; I guess basically what we're trying to do is pay for this movie, so the touring is keeping us from getting in there and finishing the record. Right now, the focus is on the movie."
Metallica Through the Never is slated to hit the big screen on August 9th.
TOM PETTY: Going Deep at Beacon Run
Tom Petty wasn't lying when he said The Heartbreakers would be skipping hits in favor of deep cuts during their Beacon Theatre residency in New York.The first two shows of the run featured "When the Time Comes" from You're Gonna Get It, and Petty said it was the first time they'd played the song since 1978. They also brought back songs from 2002's The Last DJ and 1999's Echo they hadn't been played since the tours behind those albums. Covers in the sets included The Monkees' "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," Booker T. and the MG's' "Green Onions," Little Feat's "Willin'" and The Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil."
Petty's Beacon Theatre residency continues Thursday.
Headlines for Wednesday, May 22, 2013SAVING ABEL: Get New Single for Free
Saving Abel are giving away a download of their new single.Fans can get the track "Mystify" at SavingAbel.com now. It will appear on the band's as-yet-to-be titled new EP, due out on August 6th.
Saving Abel's tour continues Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
RAY MANZAREK: More Tributes For the Flea
The tributes keep pouring in for Ray Manzarek, the keyboardist in The Doors, who died Monday from cancer at the age of 74.
Former Doors manager Bill Siddons: "While everybody focused on Jim Morrison -- and let's face it, how could you not? -- it was Ray who discovered him as well as putting Robby Krieger and John Densmore in the band. In a very real way, Ray made The Doors happen, both in musical terms and by quietly being the force that kept those disparate forces together, against all odds. He was a brilliant innovator."
Billy Idol: "I was lucky to get a chance to rock out with him and the other two Doors. Cheers mate, say hi to Jim."
Alice Cooper: "Okay, it is official. Ray Manzarek is dead. Mind blown. R.I.P. Ray."
Slash: "R.I.P. Ray Manzarek. Words cannot express…"
Joe Satriani: "I had the pleasure of playing with Ray Manzarek impromptu on a radio show many years ago. He was an original, a true artist and musical innovator. The sound he produced is part of the soundtrack of my youth, and my musical foundation. Thank you, Ray."
Ian Astbury of The Cult who was part of The Doors of the 21st Century with Manzarek and Krieger: "I am deeply saddened by this news he was a beautiful man who had a profound effect on my life. I shall treasure the time I spent with him. My heart go's out to all in The Doors family... I can't say much more. We lost a giant today."
Al Kooper: "Ray was an innovator and a true friend. In his organ solo in 'L.A. Woman' he quoted two musical lines from one of MY songs. That's classy. I'll never forget that kindness."
Bill Cunningham of The Box Tops: "Ray Manzrek was the key to The Doors. For me Ray’s arrangements distinctively marked their performances and recordings in a way that branded each song as belonging to The Doors, as much as Jim Morrison’s voice. Millions of us will miss him dearly. There will never be another like him. R.I.P. Ray."
Howard Kaylan of The Turtles: "Everybody loved Ray. The nicest, gentlest soul on the planet. Morrison's death left Ray sad and confused as evidenced by their Other Voices tour, which we opened. They searched for a Jim everywhere, as Queen looked for their new Freddie, but he never came. Manzarek was a jazz poet who rhymed on his keyboards. We (Flo and Eddie) sang on Ray's solo albums too. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the man whose haunting chords shaped my adulthood. He was a singular performer who never compromised his place in the Rock Pantheon for a quick buck. Integrity. Hard to find these days. A bright star has sputtered out today. I feel the gravitational loss already."
As a tribute to Manzarek, the Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip where The Doors got their start, are honoring him on their marquee and at every show at the club through Saturday. The club will also be going briefly dark each night at 8.
A few years back, Manzarek said he was not a rock star. "You can't think of yourself as a star. You're a human being... You're just an entity on this planet. You're a little flea..."
Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
WHITE ZOMBIE: Ex-Drummer Dies
Ex-White Zombie drummer Phil Buerstatte died over the weekend in Madison, Wisconsin. No cause of death has been revealed.Phil joined the band after the release of their 1992 breakthrough album La Sexorcisto and played on the multiple tours in support of it. He also played on three compilation tracks the band recorded in 1993 and 1994.
Rob Zombie said in a statement that "Phil was a very troubled guy during his time with us and I never really knew what happened to him after he left the band. The few stories I heard were not good."
Source: Blabbermouth
ROLLING STONES: Finally Utilizing Mick
The Rolling Stones featured Mick Taylor on more than one song Monday in Los Angeles.
By now you know that the Stones have brought along their former guitarist on their 50 and Counting tour, but have used him on just two songs -- "Midnight Rambler" and, occasionally, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." That number increased slightly Monday at their second and final L.A. show when -- perhaps because they had no other special guests -- they brought Taylor out for a whopping three songs: "Sway," which was voted in by the fans, "Can’t You Hear Me Knocking" and "Midnight Rambler." Also making its first appearance on this tour was "Faraway Eyes."
Mick Jagger says they try and change around the set list, especially when they do multiple nights in the same city.
It's now time to head north as the Stones play the first of two shows in Toronto on Saturday. They then have three in Chicago before heading back to Toronto on June 6th.
SAMMY HAGAR: This Is His Life Tour
Sammy Hagar is taking his Four Decades of Rock tour on the road in August.He'll play songs from throughout his career -- from Montrose to Van Halen, and from his solo days to Chickenfoot. Joining him will be Denny Carmassi and Bill Church from Montrose, and Michael Anthony from VH and Chickenfoot. He also has a few dates with his band, The Wabos.
The tour starts August 18th in Jackpot, Nevada.
GREEN DAY: A Skateboard for Charity
Green Day have designed a series of skateboard decks for charity.The line of decks -- based on the covers of band's Uno, Dos and Tre albums -- will benefit the Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, California. You can order your own deck now at ActionsRealized.com.
THE CLASH: Massive Box Set on the Way
Yet another Clash box set is due out this fall.The 12-disc Sound System set -- due out September 10th -- contains the band’s first five studio albums (across eight CDs); three discs featuring demos, non-album singles, rarities and B-sides; and a DVD with previously unseen footage shot by both Julien Temple and Don Letts, original promo videos and live footage.
Also out on September 10th will be a two-disc best-of called The Clash Hits Back.
The first Clash box set, Clash on Broadway, was released in 1991. The group has also done four previous best-of compilations.
JON BON JOVI: Calls Bieber an "A-Hole"
The Justin Bieber fan club just lost one member -- Jon Bon Jovi, who says the Bieb looks like an "a-hole" for treating his fans so badly.Jon tells London's Evening Standard that Justin has been showing disrespect for his fans by showing up late for shows and blowing off meet and greets. Bon Jovi says, "[He] runs the risk of disrespecting audience members who have worked hard to pay for their ticket, to give you the permission to take two or three hours of their lives -- or in that kid’s case, 80 minutes of their lives. Do it once, you can be forgiven. Do it enough times and shame on you... It’s really not cool -- you’re an a-hole. Go to [bleepin'] work!”
Headlines for Tuesday, May 21, 2013
RAY MANZAREK: Doors Co-Founder Dead at 74
Ray Manzarek, a founding Member of The Doors, has died at age 74.
The keyboardist, born Raymond Daniel Manczarek, Jr., succumbed this afternoon (Monday) at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, where he was being treated for bile duct cancer. He was surrounded by his wife of 46 years, Dorothy Manzarek, and his brothers Rick and James Manczarek (the original spelling of the family name).
Just last week, Doors guitarist Robby Krieger told us Ray was sick, but was hoping to play a show they had scheduled in Los Angeles in August. He has issued a statement saying, "I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today. I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life, and I will always miss him."
In addition to his wife and brothers, he is survived by his son Pablo, his daughter-in-law Sharmin and their three children. Funeral arrangements are pending. The family asks that its privacy be respected at this time. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ray's name to Stand Up 2 Cancer at StandUp2Cancer.org.
The Chicago-born Manzarek moved to Los Angeles to study film in 1962. He formed the The Doors in 1965 with singer-poet Jim Morrison, drummer John Densmore and Krieger shortly after finishing UCLA film school, and dropped the "c" from his last name to make it "Manzarek." A chance encounter on Venice Beach with Morrison, who was also studying film at UCLA and had written some lyrics, led them to put the band together.
Although their first record deal, with Columbia, fell apart, they soon signed to Elektra Records and recorded their self-titled album. While their first single, "Break on Through," wasn't a hit, their second, an edit of "Light My Fire," that omitted Manzarek's lengthy John Coltrane-inspired organ solo, was -- topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. "Break on Through" eventually went on to become one of the group's signature songs, too, though Manzarek said people who thought it was about death had misunderstood it.
