Duff McKagan Joins Axl Rose On Stage - Does It Matter?

Last night, Duff McKagan joined Axl Rose - and the rest of Guns n' Roses - on stage in London. The show was the first time Rose and McKagan shared a stage in 17 years. So what does it mean?

McKagan helped out GnR with a few tunes including "Nice Boys," "You Could Be Mine" and "Knockin' On Heavens Door." Of course, this performance immediately kicked all those GnR reunion rumors into high gear. Again.

I say, "not so fast."

Sure, anything is possible but maybe everyone is reading too much into this McKagan-Rose merger. Maybe everything wasn't as tainted between the two as we've been led to believe?

Axl has made it very clear he never wants a full-fledged GnR reunion because he doesn't like Slash. To be specific, Rose told Billboard "What's clear is that one of the two of us will die before a reunion and however sad, ugly or unfortunate anyone views it, it is how it is. Those decisions were made a long time ago and reiterated year after year by one man."

So, while Axl is apparently getting along with Duff now, I'm not getting my hopes up for much more. Axl has a new version of Guns now, and that's okay. He owns the name and the other ex-Gunners have moved along with their collective lives. I'm not saying I wouldn't love a reunion - and I think it would do gang busters in ticket sales - but I just don't have the faith it's going to happen. At least, happen anytime soon. I would, however, love to know the back story behind this Duff-Axl surprise performance. I mean, who called who? Was Sebastian Bach involved? I read online that Axl and Duff were staying at the same hotel and they sort of "bumped into each other." That seems far fetched to me, but whatever.

What are your opinions?

Slash and Ozzy to Tour

You want to see Slash and Ozzy on tour? They aren't coming near me...but I wish. Here's a release:

Living legend Slash is set to hit the road again. After wrapping up his sold out “We’re All Gonna Die” headlining tour featuring Myles Kennedy, and releasing his SLASH Deluxe Edition CD, the iconic musician consistently referenced as one of the best living guitarists, announced today that he will bring his show back out on the road joining Ozzy Osbourne for an 18 city commitment.

The U.S. dates will kick-off January 16, 2011 in Omaha, NE. The six-week 2011 trek will include a pair of intimate shows: January 26 at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix and Feb 1 at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. Tickets for the Live Nation-produced tour go on sale beginning Friday, October 15. For the most up-to-date on sale information, please visit www.slashonline.com or LiveNation.com .

Slash recently released his debut solo album the chart topping SLASH and the subsequent smash success, SLASH Deluxe Edition CD.

Beautifully packaged with artwork by Ralph Steadman, SLASH Deluxe Edition, includes 3 discs worth of audio and video content along with an updated 12 panel booklet, limited edition guitar pick and redeemable interactive fan poster. Comprised of everything from the earliest demos conceptualizing his album all the way through to live video footage from the album release secret show at the famed Roxy, this Deluxe Edition features new content any fan would want to experience.

Released in the US on Slash’s own Dik Hayd label, the original album debuted as one of the highest-charting self-released albums ever, and the highest debut of the week. Slash partnered with Los Angeles-based management firm, The Collective, who handled the marketing & promotion campaign for the album. By creating a series of ground-breaking strategic partnerships that targeted fans directly through non-traditional retail outlets and digital partnerships, coupled with an EMI distribution deal to traditional retail outlets, SLASH entered the Billboard Top 200 charts this week at #3 (#1 on the Rock Chart, #1 on the Independent Chart & #1 on the Hard Music Chart). The album also became the #1 overall digital album and #1 on iTunes in 13 countries.

The album features an all-star roster of guest musicians including Ian Astbury, Chris Cornell, Rocco DeLuca, Fergie, Dave Grohl, Myles Kennedy, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmister, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Duff McKagan, M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, and Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother.

Here's the dates:

Jan. 16 - Qwest Center - Omaha, NE
Jan. 18 - Toyota Center - Houston, TX
Jan. 20 - American Airlines Center - Dallas, TX
Jan. 22 - Sprint Center - Kansas City, MO
Jan. 24 - AT&T Center - San Antonio, TX
Jan. 26 - Comerica Theatre - Phoenix, AZ
Jan. 28 - Mandalay Bay Resort - Las Vegas, NV
Feb. 01 - Gibson Amphitheatre - Los Angeles, CA
Feb. 03 - HP Pavilion - San Jose, CA
Feb. 05 - Tacoma Dome - Tacoma, WA
Feb. 08 - Pepsi Center - Denver, CO
Feb. 10 - BOK Center - Tulsa, OK
Feb. 12 - The Palace of Auburn Hills - Detroit, MI
Feb. 14 - i wireless Center - Moline, IL
Feb. 16 - Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, TN
Feb. 18 - St Pete Times Forum - Tampa, FL
Feb. 20 - BankAtlantic Center - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Feb. 22 - Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena - Jacksonville, FL

I Think I Love Kissin' Dynamite

Look, I'll be honest. Not many new bands are doing it for me right now. It's not because I'm not looking...but I just haven't found much that impresses. I decided to give Kissin' Dynamite another shot and I'm glad I did. Sometimes one listen isn't enough to determine the color of a band and I've got to say, I love these young, German metallers.

Kissin' Dynamite recently came out with a new album called Addicted to Metal. The title track is great (see below) but I thought "not Glam enough." Then I kept on listening. (Irony: MetalUnderground thought they were too glam, ha!) Addicted to Metal has some cool moments, especially the Damn Yankees cover of "High Enough." Seriously.

So Kissin' Dynamite started as Blues Kids. Is it me, or does that name (actually, both names) remind you of Kix? The thing is, Kissin' Dynamite is able to effectively blend straight metal with elements of Glam and sleaze. That is to say, they are commercial enough to actually go somewhere.

The bad news is that the physical CD is pretty expensive on Amazon...but the digital download is only 10 bucks. So worthwhile! Have a listen.

"Addicted to Metal"

"High Enough"

"In the Name of the Iron Fist"

I saved the power ballad for last! "Why Can't You Hear Me?" Sort of sounds like "Quicksand Jesus" to me...

Nickelback/Buckcherry/Three Days Grace Show Review

On Friday, the Glam husband and I headed south to Lexington, Kentucky to catch Nickelback/Buckcherry/Three Days Grace in concert on the Dark Horse tour. I won tickets from a Twitter contest.

The show was great! Buckcherry were loads of fun as always. Josh Todd was a little sluggish at the onset, but he got going and the show's momentum carried him through. Three Days Grace were good, too. I missed half their set because I wanted a Diet Coke. Silly mistake on my part, I guess. I've never been in such a slow concession line. I digress.

To be honest, I wasn't at the show for Buckcherry or Three Days Grace. I've seen both bands a total of eight combined times this year. I'd never seen Nickelback and I was excited to add another band on my "must see" list.

I honestly don't get why people hate on Nickelback, but whatever. I like them and that's all that matters to me. And Nickelback plays a long set with lots of pyro. Very Glam! In fact, there were tons of Glam references during their set. The music before Nickelback was Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Guns n' Roses.

Here's the setlist:

Burn It to the Ground

Flat On The Floor

Photograph

Savin' Me

Shakin' Hands

Something in Your Mouth

This Afternoon

Friends In Low Places

If Today Was Your Last Day

Don't Stop Believing

Rockstar

Animals

Drum Solo

Another Brick in the Wall  

How You Remind Me

Too Bad

Gotta Be Somebody

Wanted Dead or Alive

Someday

Figured You Out

My favorite parts of the show included all the pyro at the end and beginning (there was lots in the middle, too). During "Rockstar," a giant screen projected images of credentials of 80s bands like Bon Jovi and W.A.S.P.  I was really hoping Nickelback would do "Side of a Bullet" but that's okay - maybe next time. In all honesty, I would easily put this show in my top five concerts of all time. Nickelback were high energy and you know what? The band members honestly looked like they were having a good time.  All the audience members were having a blast too. Everyone was standing and dancing. That was something good to see.

Too bad I didn't get a freebie from the T-shirt canons. The merch was too expensive for my blood.

Flame away. But don't knock it 'til you try it.

Conan Goes Glam

Comedian Conan O'Brien is gearing up for his new show on TBS. And really, what better way to celebrate than with some Glam? Conan gets sexy with Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me."

Once again, Glam proves perfect. I can't imagine any other song that would work as well in this commercial...and really, there aren't many songs better than "Pour Some Sugar On Me."

Oh, and Conan premieres November 8.

Tomorrow, a review of the Buckcherry/Three Days Grace/Nickelback show I caught Friday night in Lexington, Kentucky.

Remember Raging Slab?

Raging Slab isn't Glam, but they are definitely 80s metal. I don't think we've ever talked about them here, but I do dig them when I'm in a "country boogie rock" sort of mood.

I can't help but compare Raging Slab to both the Black Crowes and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Is that fair? Who knows. Still, I think it's an accurate description of the band's sound.

Raging Slab released their indie debut in 1987 and were on a major (RCA) by 1989. There was constant touring, more writing and recording and eventual label issues and lineup changes. I think Raging Slab still exists today, but I'm not sure how long it has been since the band actually played a live gig. At any rate, I'm in the mood - so let's have a listen. And tell me, did you ever see Raging Slab live back in the day?

Paying Respect to John Lennon

Today would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. I think it is prudent if we pay our respects, both because he was a member of the Beatles and also because he was a brilliant songwriter. I wonder if the world would be any different today if he hadn't been murdered so long ago?

Here's John doing “Come Together.” While it was a Beatles tune, John did most of the writing on this one.

Just consider all the different musicians that have covered, say, “Come Together.” Their backgrounds literally comprise the tapestry of my varied music tastes. I think that is saying something.