Van Halen just released "Tattoo," the first single to their upcoming album A Different Kind of Truth. It's the first Van Halen single with David Lee Roth on vocals in 27 years.
"Tattoo" sounds exactly like Van Halen -- there's no disputing that classic guitar tone. And once Diamond Dave opens his mouth, you know exactly what you're going to get. After a couple of listens, I decided that "Tattoo" is a catchy song but something is missing. Sure, there's the nonsensical lyrics that are part of Roth's signature and there's an awesome (I mean REALLY awesome) guitar solo, but isn't that all standard for VH? I can't quite put my finger on what is missing but I'm pretty sure it's energy. Or enthusiasm. But it's something and I bet I'm not the only one who feels this way.
Now, I know a lot of you flipped out with glee on first listen and that's great. Instead of attacking me for my opinion, educate me on why "Tattoo" is fantastic.
In case you like train-wreck television, here's a programming alert: Dee Snider and his wife Suzette will be on Celebrity Wife Swap tonight.
You may be asking yourself, "Who is Dee swapping Suzette for during the show... and why?" Well, the answer is Liz, partner of rapper Flavor Flav. Liz and Flav have been together nine years and have two kids. The Sniders have four kids by the way.
So, Suzette moves in with Flav for a week and Liz moves in with Dee. I'm sure hilarity ensues... but I gotta admit, I won't be watching.
Wife Swap is a show that never did anything for me, but if you're interested in seeing Dee and hear some obligatory Twisted Sister tunes, the show airs tonight on ABC. Check your local listings for the exact time.
Oh and if Celebrity Wife Swap isn't enough... Dee Snider will be part of the cast on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice, too. He'll be competing against Clay Aiken, Arsenio Hall, Debbie Gibson and a slew of other folks. That show starts Feb. 12 (and no, I won't be watching it either)!
Props to Metalboy! for sending me this video. Check out this clip of Kix doing "Cold Blood" at the 2010 Sunset Strip Music Festival. Keep watching - the late, great Jani Lane pops up in the middle. I can't believe I never saw this clip - but I'm so glad I have it bookmarked now!
In the past (and I have no idea how long ago) I wrote about one-hit wonders and how they are usually guilty pleasures. Well, I was on Amazon and looking for new music and noticed a lot of songs for just .69 cents. Turns out, these tunes are one-hit wonders. Now, you may already own a lot of these songs - but there is some good stuff being offered up for cheap.
If you're looking for some new music or are just building a library, you might want to check it out. The rock selections include songs like "Cum on Feel the Noize" by Quiet Riot and "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit. There's also some good tunes in the pop section if you happen to be in the market for something light or for a workout play list. I'm going to pick up "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" by Irene Cara and "99 Luftballoons" by Nena.
Oh, and if you were slow in picking up albums released in 2011, like the new SIXX:AM or Anthrax, there's a lot of them up for five bucks right now. Go!
I'll post the "Flashdance" video since I doubt I'll ever have a reason to mention the song on this website again.
As promised, Van Halen released tour dates yesterday and you can see them below. The band also announced A Different Kind of Truth as their new album and that the song "Tattoo" is the first single. The full version of the song will be released Tuesday, January 10. The full album is out February 7.
I waited all freaking day to hear the 30 second teaser snippet of "Tattoo." I'm serious. I was slammed at work and didn't want to have to listen quick and leave it as an afterthought. So while everyone else was listening, I abstained so I could come home, hit play a couple times and really think about the preview for awhile. And after all that, I ended up disappointed. Granted, the only thing we have to go on now is a 30 second sample... but still. I love me some Van Halen. I have no idea what I was expecting... but it wasn't the flat vocals and weirdo lyrics in "Tattoo."
Now, "She's The Woman" is another story entirely. The band recorded a demo of the tune way back in the late 70s and it just never made it on to an official album... until now. Like "Tattoo," "She's The Woman" will be on A Different Kind of Truth. Of course, the modern version is different. Here's that 70s demo, by the way:
Here's the band doing "She's The Woman" on Thursday night in New York City:
Anyway, I hope I'm being overly pessimistic. And I'm sure once I hear the full version of "Tattoo" I'll like it more. I'll be buying the single on Tuesday for sure.
The tracklisting for A Different Kind of Truth:
1. Tattoo 2. She’s The Woman 3. You and Your Blues 4. China Town 5. Blood and Fire 6. Bullethead 7. As Is 8. Honeybabysweetiedoll 9. The Trouble With Never 10. Outta Space 11. Stay Frosty 12. Big River 13. Beats Workin’
Here's the tour dates. Kool and the Gang will provide support.
Feb. 18 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center Feb. 20 – Auburn Hills, MI – The Palace Of Auburn Hills Feb. 22 – Indianapolis, IN – Bankers Life Fieldhouse Feb. 24 – Chicago, IL – United Center Feb. 28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden Mar. 01 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden Mar. 03 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Arena Mar. 05 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center Mar. 09 – Buffalo, NY – First Niagara Center Mar. 11 – Boston, MA – TD Garden Mar. 15 – Montreal, QCBell Centre Mar. 17 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre Mar. 21 – Ottawa, ON – Scotiabank Place Mar. 24 – Atlantic City, NJ – Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Mar. 28 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center Mar. 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Consol Energy Center Apr. 01 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena Apr. 10 – Sunrise, FL – BankAtlantic Center Apr. 12 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Times Forum Apr. 14 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center Apr. 16 – Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena Apr. 19 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena Apr. 21 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum Complex Apr. 25 – Charlotte, NC – Time Warner Cable Arena Apr. 27 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena May 01 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center May 05 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome May 07 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena May 09 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome May 11 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place May 17 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre May 19 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center May 22 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center May 24 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center May 27 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena Jun. 01 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center Jun. 03 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena Jun. 05 – San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion At San Jose Jun. 12 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center Jun. 14 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena Jun. 16 – Phoenix, AZ – US Airways Center Jun. 20 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center Jun. 22 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center Jun. 24 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center Jun. 26 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Arena
There's a longish commercial/promo clip for Motley Crue's upcoming residency in Las Vegas. The band will take over the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for three weeks next month to do, as Mick Mars says, "whatever they want." I have to admit, I'm concerned with Vince Neil's appearance in this clip. He doesn't exactly look sick, just... off or something.
THE DEFINITIVE DOCUMENTARY ON THE WORLD’S GREATEST ROCK BAND IS COMING TO DVD AND BLU-RAY on January 31.
To Be Released by Eagle Rock Entertainment through Eagle Vision.
"This fantastic and moving two-parter tells the story of the finest live band in the history of rock. There's archive footage of past performances, interviews with the members and, best of all, plenty of insider anecdotes; the choicest being Elton John's reaction to Bohemian Rhapsody: "Are you off your head? You'll never get that played." The Guardian/UK.
In 1971, four college students got together to form a rock band. Since then, that certain band called Queen have released 26 albums and sold over 300 million records worldwide. The popularity of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon is stronger than ever 40 years on. On November 6, 2011, in front of an estimated TV audience of 1.2 billion they were honored with the Global Icon Award at the 2011 MTV EMA.
But for Queen the journey was no bed of roses. No pleasure cruise. Queen had their share of kicks in the face, but they came through - and this is how they did it.
Set against a backdrop of brilliant music and stunning live performances from every corner of the globe, Queen: Days of Our Lives - available in both Blu-Ray and standard DVD formats, brings Queen’s 40th Anniversary year to a close in suitably regal style.
Days Of Our Lives began as a two-part documentary produced by long-term Queen collaborators and life long fans Rhys Thomas (the comedian who famously broke the Mastermind all-time record points score with a specialist subject of Queen) and Simon Lupton, and directed by the renowned director Matt Casey. After 10 years of making Queen DVDs, Lupton and Thomas were asked by the band to produce the definitive 40th Anniversary documentary and after almost a year of painstaking research and editing, this was the result.
Split over two episodes, Part One covering 1970-80, Part Two 1980 – present day, the documentary is a genuine rollercoaster of rock and roll history.
In this film, for the first time, it is the band that tells their story. Featuring brand new interviews with Brian May and Roger Taylor and unseen archive footage - including their recently unearthed first ever TV performance - it is a compelling story told with intelligence, wit, plenty of humor and painful honesty.
Rhys Thomas comments, “We set out to make the definitive Queen documentary. It's a funny, honest, inspiring and ultimately tragic account of ‘a certain band called Queen’, as told by the band themselves. We tell the story of four students who met in West London, slogged hard and conquered the world, ultimately changing rock music forever.”
When originally broadcast in the UK on BBC 2 across two nights in May of this year, Queen: Days of Our Lives was the highest rated TV show on in its slot, beating every other channel and peaking with 3 million viewers. It has been widely regarded as one of the finest rock documentaries made and the critical reaction was outstanding. “Funny that,” says Thomas, “considering Queen were always denounced by the press!”
“The Boys did a fantastic Job on this documentary ... with little interference from us! I think this one will set the bench mark for years to come,” said Brian May.
Thomas explains the transfer of the original BBC documentary to DVD release: “When originally making the series it wasn’t easy condensing 40 years of Queen down to just two hours. In fact, there was so much more to be said and so much more to be seen. Thanks to Blu-Ray and DVD, so much more of that story can now be told…As the two documentaries worked so well, we resisted the idea of making an epic 3-hour ‘Extended Cut’. They are always boring, and as Freddie said to his manager Jim Beach in his last days: “Do anything you want with my music dear, but never make me boring!
“So rather than simply dump a load of ‘deleted scenes’ onto the DVD and Blu-Ray, Simon and I decided to edit them all with as much love, time and care as we put into the main documentary. What we have as a result is a great companion to the main story and some real gems, most notably covering the formation of the band and the making of the last three albums which was only touched upon in the televised version. For instance, we learn from Brian how John Deacon made a cut in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ for the record company and Freddie’s reaction; the revelation that Freddie was not sober during the making of ‘Spread Your Wings’/’We Will Rock You’ in Roger’s back garden, and a hilarious sequence about Queen and their love of Scrabble.
“As well as the new sequences, there are 7 new videos. Excerpts were featured in the main documentary, but we have completed them, and here on DVD and Blu- Ray they appear in full.” The Blu-Ray format allows for additional bonus material and therefore differs in content to the Standard DVD release. Please check credits for each release.
‘Queen: Days of our Lives’ Blu-Ray & Standard DVD content descriptions:
Documentary Part 1 – 59 mins Documentary Part 2 – 59 mins.
ADDITIONAL VIDEOS – Blu-Ray and Standard DVD (24 mins):
Seven Seas Of Rhye 2011:
A compilation of all four Top Of The Pops and Rainbow Live performances from 1974 – all unseen
Killer Queen 2011
A compilation of two Top of The Pops performances, one the familiar 1974 Christmas Special, the other - discovered in the late British comedian Dick Emery’s private collection, hasn’t been seen since 1974, the original master tape wiped from the BBC archives.
Somebody To Love 2011
This is a new edit of the video using the four takes shot on the day, most of which has never before been seen.
We Are The Champions 2011
In 1977, cameras filmed Queen recording a new version of the song for the promo video. This video shows the band performing and mixing this unreleased version in two live takes. An instrumental version of this closed Part One of ‘Days of our Lives’. Here for the first time the video can be seen in its entirety.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love 2011
A new edit of the video compiled from the rushes including outtakes and unseen angles.
Under Pressure 2011
A new video intercutting Queen’s first live performance of the song in Montreal 81 and Queen + David Bowie at the Freddie Mercury Tribute.
Radio Ga Ga 2011
This new video includes unseen color footage from the 1984 Radio Ga Ga video shoot plus rushes and outtakes.
BONUS SEQUENCES – Blu-Ray (59 mins) / Standard DVD (21 mins only):
Queen: The Beginning A detailed look at how Queen formed in 1971. Covering Smile, finding John Deacon, and the early struggles of the band.
Queen On Tour 1974-5
Featuring Queen at the Rainbow and unseen footage of the band touring Japan for the first time. Includes excerpts of ‘Now I’m Here’, ‘Killer Queen’ and ‘In The Lap Of The Gods’ live.
Bohemian Rhapsody
Brian reveals how John Deacon made a cut in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ for the record company, only to be dismissed by Freddie: “Either it’s released in it’s entirety or not at all!.”
Working Together
The Band discuss their working relationship, including unheard archive of Queen having a ‘creative discussion!’
Leaving John Reid
An in-depth account of how the band left manager John Reid and set up Queen Productions – plus the revelation that Freddie was not sober during the making of ‘Spread Your Wings’/’We Will Rock You’ in Roger’s back garden.
Don’t Stop Me Now
Brian and Roger discuss ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ and the ‘Guitar Version’ discarded by Freddie.
Flash Gordon
A short sequence on the making of Queen’s first film soundtrack, ‘Flash Gordon’, plus an alternate promo video.
Making Videos
The band discuss the video making process, featuring lots of unseen outtakes.
Scrabble Wars
A hilarious sequence about Queen and their love of Scrabble. You will just have to watch!
From Magic to The Miracle
In the three years between A Kind Of Magic and The Miracle, the members of Queen went through some life changing experiences in their working and personal lives. This chapter sheds light on what went on behind closed doors.
Going Slightly Mad: The Making of Innuendo
In 1991 Queen hit the charts with a No.1 album and single, “Innuendo.” Creatively the band were reinvigorated, their material better than ever, but beneath the surface, they all had to face the fact that Freddie was seriously ill and time was running out.
Made In Heaven
Roger and Brian talk about the making of the last Queen album, Made In Heaven, working with Freddie in his final weeks, as well and working with the material he had recorded after he had passed away and the emotional distress it caused.
Return To Imperial
Brian returns to Imperial College and shows us around the college where he and Roger first met, formed Smile and ultimately Queen.
BONUS INTERVIEWS - Blu-Ray (19 mins). Not included on Standard DVD:
The Bonus Interview section contains various interesting, funny and insightful footage that didn’t fit into any particular sequence but was too great to leave on the cutting room floor.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 12:01AM 
