Glam Snow Day

I hate Ohio winters. I despise snow. I despise ice. Moreover, I LOATHE driving on the stuff. I think the world should just STOP during winter. As I write this, southern Ohio is getting slammed with a major snow and ice storm. When I was in junior high my hometown got such a bad snow...school was closed for a week! That's all well and good until you realize you'll be sitting in a classroom in June making up those snow days.

The only good thing about snow days is the potential for some Glam. During the junior high snowstorm I mentioned above, I read the same Metal Edge magazine over and over - I had nothing else to do! Now we have the Internet, iPods, YouTube...the possibilities are endless.

As per usual, I am exceptionally behind in my CD reviews. In fact, I have so many albums to review it's embarrassing. If I could sit at home all day and just review albums, I'd be happy as a clam. 

While I'm talking about my fantasy day of Glam leisure, I think I would also spend some time researching new bands. There is so much untapped talent all over the world, and I think it is important to talk about new artists from time to time. I would also put the rest of my CD collection into iTunes. I got a nifty new iPod for Christmas and still haven't uploaded all my songs.

Of course, none of this is going to happen because - like the rest of the world - I have a job. Still, a girl can dream. While I was thinking about that fantasy snow day, I clicked around YouTube and found some fun clips I thought you might enjoy. Maybe you are having a snow day of your own.

Here's Tora Tora "Walkin' Shoes." You'll be able to see the reunited band at Rocklahoma 2008.

When I'm hating winter, I like to listen to bands that remind me of summer. Of course, that band is Poison. Here's "I Won't Forget You." Incidentally, this is one of my favorite Poison videos. I love the concert footage before the band was really famous.

Watch these clips, then tell me: how would you spend your Glam snow day?

Slik Toxik

Oh man, I need to track down some classic Glam. Do you remember Canadian rockers Slik Toxik?

I was clicking around YouTube last night and found some gems. The band was signed to Capitol Records and was fairly popular in Canada. I don't think they made much of a splash here in the United States, but I will blame that on timing. Slik Toxik was a Glam band stuck amid 90s grunge artists. They didn't get a fair shot at fame, which is sad.

Guitarists Kevin Gale and Rob Bruce teamed up with vocalist Nicholas Walsh to form the band. Also featured on the debut recording are bassist Patric Howarth and drummer Neal Busby. I don't know much about any of these men except all of them went on to other musical projects, none of which were commercially successful.

Here's the video for "Helluvatime" on the album Doin' The Nasty.

Now here's the video for "White Lies/Black Truth" also from Doin' The Nasty.

I need to track down Doin' The Nasty. First I'm off to eBay...then a used record shop. I will succeed in my quest!

After I have album in hand, I might go further. What if I put this band back together? My goodness, we could have a Glam reunion. This, I must seriously ponder...

The Intimidator

You might recall I am an aspiring bass player. My husband bought me a brand new black bass for Christmas, and I started playing right away.

I played diligently right up until the Motley Cruise, then I didn't practice while I was on vacation. Then I got sick and I didn't practice. Ok, so I was really, really sick for two weeks and I didn't practice at all during that time. Now I am better, and I'm looking at the bass.

It intimidates me.

You see, I was progressing quite nicely before my sabbatical. I could actually play 90% of "Unholy Confessions" by Avenged Sevenfold, and all of "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream.

Now I have to start over and that makes me really sad. As it sits on the stand, it taunts me.

The bass isn't expensive: just a basic Dean, commonly used by novices to learn the instrument. How will I ever play bass live if I don't practice?

I don't have time to practice. I spend my days working, writing and being married. There is scare little time for anything else.

There are a lot of talented musicians who read Bring Back Glam!  on a daily basis. Our own Valentine fronted the California Glam band Tonight You Rock (T.Y.R.). Glam rocker Joe was in a very successful East Coast band. Both Valentine and Joe lived the scene and were on the brink of stardom (Valentine was a signed artist in the 90s).

It's pretty cool they hang out with us, isn't it?

Back to the bass. I bet Valentine and Joe practiced their craft. They didn't wuss out like me.

I need a swift kick in the pants to get back in the saddle. I don't want to pay for lessons. Truth is, I already know how to read music and I actually really love playing the bass.

It's hard to fit in time for everything, though.

Enough of my whining. I bet you'd like to see a clip of Valentine back in the day, wouldn't you?

Here he is playing "Tell Me No Lies" at The Stone in San Francisco.

Valentine told me a lot of great stories about his band back in the day. He's played with Marq Torien (before he was in the Bulletboys!) and did shows with Roxx Gang. Yes, he played the Whisky A Go-Go. Yes, he saw Steven Adler do cocaine. Yes, he's GLAM.

Tonight You Rock on Myspace

If we are really good and behave ourselves, both Valentine and Joe might share a story or two about being in a real live Glam band. No pressure boys, but thousands of daily readers are waiting...

Bret Michaels Opens Rocklahoma 2008

"PRYOR, OKLAHOMA—Poison front man Bret Michaels and his solo band will headline the opening night of Rocklahoma Thursday, July 10, 2008.

Michaels, whose music has sold more than 25 million records worldwide in his 22 year career with his band Poison, has also achieved success with his top rated show on VH1 Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.

'There is no denying that Bret Michaels is one of Rock’s top front men and who better than to help kick off Rocklahoma,' proclaimed Mark Nuessle, General Manager of the Catch The Fever Music Festivals.

Rocklahoma 2007 was the largest Rock Festival of its type featuring bands from the eighties. Attendance for the upcoming Rocklahoma has already sold tickets from all fifty states and four out of seven continents.

Located four miles north of Pryor, OK, off Highway 69, the Catch the Fever facilities include over 6,200 assigned and numbered seats, as well as general admission on the lawn for over 50,000 people. The grounds also feature over 4,000 campsites, on-site parking, bathroom facilities, a convenience store, and overnight security provided by Mayes County Sheriff’s Department. Rocklahoma also has a Picture Alley that allows anyone in attendance to approach the stage during any performance and take photographs of a favorite artist at close range.

There are a limited amount of V.I.P. tickets available to Rocklahoma, which includes free beer and food for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There is a special pre-party on Thursday July 10th for all three day and V.I.P. ticket holders at no extra cost. Through February 29th, prices for V.I.P. tickets are $325 and three day general admission tickets for just $110. They can be purchased by calling toll free 866-310-2288 or by going online at RockFeverFest.com"

SIXX: AM Tour Routing

Today is the day when we learn the special tour routing for SIXX: AM.

Not so long ago, the band featuring Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba and James Michael decided they would hold a contest of sorts to pick the winning tour stops. SIXX: AM asked fans to vote for their city. As of this writing, I have no idea the routing or how many stops to expect. I also don't know what time today the tour stops will be announced, although I assume that information will come to me via press release. As soon as I know the information, I'll post the update here.

I'm going to guess the band will play no more than nine shows, each in a very intimate setting. I am sure at least two of the stops will be California, another in New York City, one somewhere in Texas and at least one Midwestern gig. Do I think the Midwestern gig will be in Ohio? Absolutely not.

No matter. I'll be attending one of the shows regardless of the location. That's why we have airplanes, credit cards and hotels. I actually quite like planning vacations around concerts. It gives me something to look forward to, and seeing a favorite band in an unfamiliar city seems somewhat exotic.

Many fans have created their own videos set to SIXX: AM songs. Here's a clip set to "Tomorrow."

I would say how I feel about Mr. Sixx, but I'm a married woman and it wouldn't be very fair to my husband.

Update on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 08:36PM by Allyson B. Crawford

My contact at 10TH Street Entertainment now says SIXX: AM will issue a press release about the tour sometime this week. Now the online petitions say voting is extended until next week - I guess that means we won't know the routing until March. Here's the link to the petition: http://ivpnewmedia.com/10thst/sixxamtoyourcity/ Happy voting!

Hail Triumph

A lot of people are really excited at the possibility of Triumph performing at Rocklahoma.

The Canadians rockers are already slated to perform the Sweden Rock Festival in June, so Rocklahoma isn't a far fetched idea. Some think these festival appearances mean a full fledged world tour. Time will tell.

Both "Magic Power" and "Lay It On the Line" play constantly on classic rock radio here in Ohio.

If you're not familiar, Rik Emmett plays guitar and sings, Mike Levine plays bass and Gil More plays drums and also sings.

I would say if the rumors are true and Triumph really does headline Rocklahoma, it's a pretty clear indication that the festival will start to move from a 100% Glam format to a more diverse mix of classic rock. I suppose that is fine as long as fans are not alienated.

I found many, many classic clips of Triumph performing live. Most clips are at least 20 years old. Being a child of history, this excites me much. I had no idea Triumph played the U.S. Festival 1983. If only I had a time capsule...

I digress.

Looking over the band's history, I must admit I am humbled. I didn't know Triumph had quite so many songs or fans. Moreover, those fans are rabid. The message board on the band's official website is crazy, as are comments below every YouTube clip.

Here's Triumph performing "Magic Power" live at the 1983 U.S. Festival.

Here's "Lay It On the Line" from the same show:

Rik Emmett kills in both instances. Thoughts?

Brothers From a Different Mother?

 

Isn't this funny? My husband discovered the amazing similarities between Jeff Blando (Slaughter) and Billy Ray Cyrus (you know, the father of Miley Cyrus).

Just thought I would pass along this funny coincidence. I must admit, Billy Ray looks much better these days after ditching the giant mullet.  

Also, I didn't take the photos, so I don't make any claim to the images