More Midwest Rockfest Bands Announced

If you're attending - or planning to attend - the Midwest Rockfest, take note. The fest has just announced many more bands and also added an extra day of fun. Band additions include Fuel, Nelson, Black and Blue, Jetboy, Bang Tango and XYZ.  This fest also has a lake and hot air balloon rides which sounds like a lot of fun. In the coming days, I'll bring you my chat with Midwest Rockfest promoter Tommy Shelton. Here's the official release:

Wichita, Kansas (April 08, 2010) - DEA Entertainment Group, LLC is proud to announce the addition of Fuel, Nelson, Black n' Blue, Jetboy, Bang Tango and XYZ, to its Midwest Rockfest line-up! The Festival is slated for July 22-24, 2010 at the beautiful Lake Afton, in Wichita, Kansas.

Midwest Rockfest is excited to announce the addition of a third rock n' fun filled day at the lake! The Festival will kick off Thursday night, July 22nd. Bands and special guests and events for Thursday will be announced in the coming weeks.

Midwest Rockfest fans are reminded that they can camp at the lake for the whole week, at no additional charge, with their festival camping passes. Come swim, fish and boat for the first part of the week as Lake Afton turns into the Rock N' Roll party of the summer.

One day General Admission passes will go on sale April 9th  at $45.00 including taxes., Pick your day to come out and play!! 3-day General Admission passes are on sale now for $75.00, including taxes and parking. VIP and very limited number of Platinum Passes are also available for purchase. Check the website at www.midwestrockfest.com or call the office at (877)-442-3301 for up to date information and to purchase tickets.

The Midwest Rockfest Line-up so far is as follows:

Thursday, July 22nd: Bands will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Friday, July 23rd: Fire up the boats and rock the docks as modern rock meets the father of rock!! Styx, Fuel, Nelson, Pop Evil, Texas Hippie Coalition, and more to be announced.

Saturday, July 24th: Shake & Bake at the Lake, as these 80's legends Glam up Lake Afton. Twisted Sister, Winger, KIX, Y&T, Black n' Blue, Jetboy, Bang Tango, XYZ, Toxin and Archer.

While other festivals are in open fields, amphitheaters or over-crowded theatres, Midwest Rockfest offers its fans over 300 acres to Camp and Rock n' Roll! With cool lake waters in your face, hot air balloon rides that allow you to check out the venue and concert area from 150 feet above the lake, Boats, Fishing and Foam Parties, Stay tuned and watch for more announcements. See you at the lake. Midwest Rockfest IS destination spot of the summer.

America Fights the Taliban with...Metal

Our fine U.S. special forces are using heavy metal to fight the Taliban. According to the AFP, the special, "hand-picked" metal play list annoys the Taliban. I must admit I find this hilarious. I'm a pacifist at all costs and I certainly don't believe in torture...but blasting some heavy metal certainly doesn't seem dangerous. Hell, if it pisses off some terrorists and literally sends them for the hills, then great.

The music and messages are blasted from speakers attached to an armored vehicle.

So what sort of bands are the American forces blasting? Just some Metallica, Offspring and Thin Lizzy. Not bad. (The military also blasts verbal threats to the Taliban during the heavy metal parties).

It's not clear if this "metal blast" is an official American military tactic. According to the AFP story, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Christmas (the commander of US Marines in northern Marjah, Afghanistan) didn't know of the music operation and he apparently doesn't like it, saying "It's inappropriate."

Sebastian Bach, Pretty Boy Floyd Added to Rock n' America

The title says it all: Sebastian Bach and Pretty Boy Floyd were just added to Rock n' America. They join Lita Ford, Slaughter, the Scorpions, RATT, Twisted Sister, Dokken, Warrant, Great White, L.A. Guns, Firehouse, Faster Pussycat, Lynch Mob, Bulletboys, Steelheart, Enuff Z'Nuff and Toxin on the bill. More will be added. Stay tuned - it's getting crazy keeping up with these additions!

The Last Vegas to Open for AC/DC!

Here's a cool release from The Last Vegas:

Chicago glam rockers The Last Vegas have been selected to open for AC/DC at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA on April 17. Dubbed the "Best Discovery" by SPIN and armed with the iTunes critics pick for the Best Single of 2009 (Rock), "I’m Bad," The Last Vegas have quickly built an impressive touring history throughout arenas, clubs and theaters in, which includes Mötley Crüe, Buckcherry, Hinder, Theory of a Deadman, Papa Roach, Smile Empty Soul and AC/DC.

The Last Vegas made history as the first band to win Guitar Center’s On-Stage new music program when they were hand selected by Mötley Crüe at the world famous Whiskey A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, CA. The band’s acclaimed album, Whatever Gets You Off, was recorded in Los Angeles with veteran rock producers Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M., DJ Ashba (Producer of Sixx:A.M., Mötley Crüe) and Marti Frederiksen (Producer of Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne) and features the top iTunes rock track for 2009.

Go to www.thelastvegas.com to download the new single, Whatever Gets You Off for FREE! For updated tour dates and more information on The Last Vegas, please visit: www.thelastvegas.com.

Rock N' America Adds Lita Ford, Slaughter

Rock n' America, the new 80s festival set for July 23-25 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has added Lita Ford and Slaughter to the bill. Lita and Slaughter join the Scorpions, RATT, Twisted Sister, Dokken, Warrant, Great White, L.A. Guns, Firehouse, Faster Pussycat, Lynch Mob, Bulletboys, Steelheart, Enuff Z'Nuff and Toxin on the bill.

The fest will take place at the Zoo Amphitheatre. Tickets go on sale Saturday. While not officially released, it seems ticket prices are $100 for all three days for general admission. There will be parties all over the city each night after the "official" music ends. And yes, more bands will be added.

Mark Slaughter is too, too cute in this clip. I can barely contain myself. Here's "Real Love."

Confession: I'm a Fantasy Back-up Singer

It's time for another confession: I'm a fantasy back-up singer for some of our favorite bands. Yes, it's true. In my mind, I'm member of the Nasty Habits. I share the stage with Nikki, Tommy, Vince and Mick.

Yes, I've even sang with Poison, Cinderella and all the rest.

As Don Dokken says, "In my dreams."

Here's the thing: I cannot sing. It's not a question of "afraid to sing in public" or anything like that. No, I literally cannot carry a tune. Which is fine. I never wanted to be a singer in real life - only in my fantasies. I think if I was on a deserted island and I found a magic bottle with a genie inside, I'd use one of my three wishes on singing. And not forever, either. I just want to know what it feels like to sing amazingly well in front of people just one time.

Music is really a gift. You've either got the talent or you don't. I don't and that's fine. I'm still looking for my talent and I have confidence I'll find it someday. While I'm looking, I'll continue to dream about wearing something ultra glam and sharing the stage with someone awesome just once. It's simple fantasies that help me pass the time.

Do you have a similar fantasy?

Lord Tracy...Live This Summer?

A little birdie told me it's highly likely you'll see Lord Tracy make a festival appearance this summer. Which fest? That's for you to figure out, my dear friends.

Do you like Lord Tracy? The band has a relatively new album called Porn Again and they did a few dates last summer including Rocklahoma. The band is based in Texas and that's where they play most of their shows -- but yes, they leave the Lone Star State from time to time.

Here's "Foolish Love." I never got to see these guys "back in the day." Rocklahoma was great...but I'm looking ahead to this summer now!