If Ticketmaster and Live Nation Merge, We're Screwed

Ok, so everyone knows I hate Ticketmaster. I loathe Live Nation just about as much. Here's the catch: if you love live music, you basically have no choice but to get raped by either ticket vendor. Now, there are strong rumors that Ticketmaster and Live Nation will merge - and this will effectively kill the concert industry as we know it. It's already virtually impossible to actually camp out for seats these days. Live Nation scoops up every tour and markets it to high hell, creating a corporate bag of greed that usually features a ton of acts on a bill with about two bands people actually want to see.

Well, anyway I just think this merger is awful. From a business perspective, it's brilliant and of course music is about making money...but man. At some point, Ticketmaster and Live Nation are going to piss off fans so much people will just stop buying. The economy is swirling the toilet bowl right now and any second someone is going to flush. While Ticketmaster and Live Nation try to plunge the last dregs of the tour industry, thousands more will lose jobs and not really be in the mood to drop three bills on a concert ticket.

Ticketmaster tried to pull a fast one on some Bruce Springsteen fans. You know, the old "let's swap the web page really quick, make the show look sold-out then put up the seats on our illegal auction site for three times the price" bait and switch. Well, the Boss wasn't pleased and he intervened. You know what? Congress stepped in, too! My eyes deceive me! The people we elect to office...actually doing something for the people? Be still my heart.

I hope the Springsteen thing turns into a massive class action lawsuit - and I want a piece of that pie. Bloody hell, I spent ten thousand dollars on concerts/festivals/music events last year - and I think some Ticketmaster/Live Nation exec probably made a big bonus off my sales alone.

Thoughts?

Michael Schenker Group - Classic Album Review

Way back in 1981, the Michael Schenker Group toured Japan before legions of screaming fans. Despite the language barrier, crowds were receptive and energetic. The band recorded one of the stops and this became the classic live disc One Night at Budokan (BGO).The album was originally released in 1982 and remastered in 1996.

The track listing for One Night at Budokan:

1. Armed And Ready (Schenker/Barden) 6:20
2. Cry For The Nations (Schenker/Barden) 5:32
3. Attack Of The Mad Axeman (Schenker/Barden) 4:50
4. But I Want More (Schenker/Barden) 5:24
5. Victim Of Illusion (Schenker/Barden) 6:18
6. Into The Arena (Schenker) 4:45
7. On And On (Schenker/Barden) 5:32
8. Never Trust A Stranger (Raymond) 6:07
9. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (Schenker/Barden/Glen/Raymond/Powell) 7:18
10. Courvoisier Concerto (Schenker/Raymond) 3:42
11. Lost Horizons (Schenker/Barden) 7:22
12. Doctor Doctor (Schenker/Mogg) 5:30
13. Are You Ready To Rock (Schenker/Barden) 7:10

The album is comprised of songs from the first two MSG albums as well as Schenker’s work with UFO. The MSG lineup for this recording include Gary Barden (vocals), Paul Raymond (rhythm guitar), Chris Glen (bass), Cozy Powell (drums) and Schenker.

So, is One Night at Budokan the best live album of all time? In a word, no. It is, however, pretty damn good and features some of the best guitar work of the 1980s. There’s no doubt that Michael Schenker is a guitar machine – his skill is largely unmatched, saved for the likes of Eddie VanHalen. Even with Schenker’s guitar ability, the real hero here is the production: the drums sound huge. The wall of sound fills your speakers and pretty much demand attention. The late Cozy Powell really shines here. This is, perhaps, his finest effort with the Michael Schenker Group.

What are the highlights? There are a lot, but my favorite songs are “Doctor Doctor,” “On and On” and “Cry For the Nations.” “Doctor Doctor” is a favorite for obvious reasons, but “On and On” has a wicked introduction that you really just need to hear to believe. “Cry for the Nations” has pounding drums, which I love and give One Night at Budokan depth. It’s this depth that separate this live effort from so many other releases that just don’t quite replicate the actual concert experience.

Back to “Doctor Doctor.” The intro clapping and the transition to the guitar solo are really all you need here...except the song just gets better and better, thanks to a slow build in the arrangement.  It’s pretty obvious the crowd realizes this is the apex of the show, because there is more ambient noise – from cheering, clapping and the like.

The verdict? Required listening for any Glam fan wanting a historical foundation of guitar rock. Michael Schenker was doing crazy guitar licks before Eddie VanHalen  but he never really got his due. One Night at Budokan is a good representation of Schenker’s live skill and status as bona fide guitar legend.

Buy the import by clicking here.

Coffee Is So Glam, or Heavy Metal Pitchmen

Ok, I have about a zillion other things to write about, but I'll be darned if I didn't come across a thread on Metal Sludge last night about Paul Stanley. Turns out Mr. Kiss sang a Folgers ad back in the 1970s. I never knew this and I always love learning random facts about my favorite bands/musicians. (If you're not from America, Folgers is a brand of coffee).

If you're from America, you probably remember those cheesy 80s Taster's Choice commercials with the fake soap operas revolving around coffee (seriously, I'm not making this up). Well, Paul Stanley singing for Folgers trumps Taster's Choice any old day.

The ads don't stop with Paul and the coffee. Aerosmith did an advertisement for the Gap about a decade ago. When I saw it the first time, I wept a little - and not out of joy. Here's the clip:

Of course, we all know Alice Cooper has become a de facto pitch man for everything golf. Last night I actually stumbled across an advertisement featuring Alice that I've never seen before (probably because it only airs during golf, and I don't watch that!)

And finally, what makes more sense than having a Metal star...pimp a Metal magazine? A lifetime ago, Slash and Axl Rose joined forces to drum up business for RIP Magazine. I'm pretty sure Slash was either 1) drunk or 2) high or 3) both during the filming of this spot. No matter - the classic Glam pictures are enough for you to push play and watch the clip. Note: operators are not standing by, so do not call!

Does your favorite Glam musician pitch for a certain product? Post the link!

Saints of Los Angeles Tour...

Just a reminder that Motley Crue kick off the Saints of Los Angeles tour  tonight in San Diego. With them are Hinder, Theory of a Deadman and The Last Vegas. I post this reminder in case you want to search for some live video clips in about 24 hours. I'll be seeing this tour in two weeks with Heather in Illinois. I'll post a review and photos after the show.

Here are all the tour dates in case you don't have your tickets yet:

2/2/09 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
2/4/09 - Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
2/6/09 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel
2/7/09 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel
2/10/09 - Omaha, NE - Quest Center
2/11/09 - Moline, IL - iWireless Center
2/13/09 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
2/14/09 - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center
2/15/09 - Rockford, IL - MetroCentre
2/17/09 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
2/18/09 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
2/19/09 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
2/21/09 - Nashville, TN - Sommet Center
2/22/09 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC Arena
2/25/09 - Greenville, SC - BI-LO Center
2/27/09 - Lafayette, LA - Cajun Dome
2/28/09 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
3/3/09 - Miami, FL - Hard Rock Casino
3/4/09 - Orlando, FL - UCF Arena
3/6/09 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
3/7/09 - Erie, PA - Erie Civic Center
3/8/09 - Hershey, PA - Giant Center
3/10/09 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
3/11/09 - Hamilton, ON - Copps Coliseum
3/13/09 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
3/14/09 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
3/16/09 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
3/17/09 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Arena
3/18/09 - Portland, ME - Cumberland County Civic Center

Happy Birthday, Valentine!

People, today is Valentine's birthday. You can wish him well here. I mean, he is our resident Glam singer. Ladies, feel free to share your eye liner. He wears it. Seriously.

In the meantime, listen to some of his songs here or here. I'm not sure of Valentine's age, but it doesn't really matter. To me, he'll always be a 28 year old blond guy with stacked hair in black leather pants. Seriously.

Here are some "back in the day" videos of Tonight You Rock:

Nothing To Do With Glam, But...

My Glam, I was watching the Super Bowl last night and about fell off my chair when I saw this commercial by CareerBuilder.com - I mean, it's possibly the best television ad I've ever seen.

I wanted to post the ad here in case you didn't watch the game.

Dumbest Video Concept - Ever?

So I'm watching Metal Mania and the video for "Hungry" by Lita Ford pops up. Now, I like Lita well enough. I give her considerable importance in rock history because she was a member of The Runaways and later held her own among the boy's club that is Glam Metal. All that aside, I'd forgotten the horribly stupid video concept for "Hungry." One minute it's Alice in Wonderland...the next, it's Lita, swirling in water and looking like a porn star. Actually, the more I think of it, Cinemax probably plays the "Hungry" video in between the stock pile of soft-core movies. Ick. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click to watch the video below.

Don't agree with my assessment that "Hungry" has the dumbest video concept ever? Make your own selection known. I dare you.