Blowing A Lion To Smithereens

Today's post is from our friend HIM.
 

Let me explain. Well, first I will let you listen to Mike Tramp’s “Coming Home:"

As many of you know, the second White Lion album, 1987’s Pride, is sacrosanct to me. There is nary a dud on that album (even the self-help sweetness of “Don’t Give Up”). After that things get a bit spottier. But you always knew it was White Lion, except when it wasn’t. Tramp’s late-1990/early-2000’s Bratta-less reboot was a thing to scowl at, a thing that even Tramp now dismisses as a rather dumb idea.

 

His solo work has never really grabbed me. Sure, some of his acoustic versions of the White Lion classics are interesting. But that is a huge step down for me. I want something that moves me. And much of it seems to be middling and mid-tempo. That isn’t a slam on Tramp. If he wants to put the lion in the rear-view, on his own terms now, that is his prerogative.

 

Which is why this song surprised me. This is mellow Tramp that harkens back to White Lion while engaging some very clear Smithereens-ish sounds. Which is fine by me. I always liked DiNizio’s band, even when they had to slum for gigs at corporate parties (sidebar: the original members are reuniting this month for a series of shows).

 

I know that most of us who like White Lion would like to see the duo of Tramp and Bratta back for another attack (no offense to LoMenzo or D’Angelo). I also know that Bratta teased that idea . . . a decade ago (even after threatening to sue Tramp for his revamped aforementioned version of the band). But I think it is safe to say it likely won’t happen. Which is a shame.

 

“Coming Home” isn’t the homecoming we might want. But I, for one, will take it. You?

Scratch The Skid Row Reunion

Well, that theory was fun while it lasted. I thought - and so did a lot of other people - that a reunion between Sebastian Bach and the rest of the original members of Skid Row was getting closer. Apparently not.

Skid Row just announced that ZP Theart, formally of Dragonforce, is officially their new singer. He's been performing with the band for quite awhile now.

Rachel Bolan made the announcement from the stage at a recent show and the band is also going to record a new record.

You know, nothing is really impossible anymore and certainly nothing surprises me at this point, but an original Skid Row reunion just doesn't seem in the cards. Never say never, but time is marching on and the guys in the band(s) are not getting any younger. Thoughts?

Rock Fest Lineup Includes Mix of Modern Metal and Glam

Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin is always a big event. The lineup poster is below but headiners include Avenged Sevenfold and Slayer. Glam acts include RATT, Lita Ford, Tom Keifer and more. The festival is set for July 13-15. Camping packages go on sale tomorrow. Tickets are on sale now but it looks like gold VIP is already sold out.

Rock Fest is something I always wanted to do, but it's really in a remote area and I could never get a group together to do this one. Is anyone going?

VIP & Reserved Lawn tix & camping on sale now. Weekend GA tix, camping & morrie's pit passes on sale mon/8a CST. https://t.co/jXrF3GooW1 pic.twitter.com/hCApzVlD8q

— Rock Fest, WI (@rockfestwi) January 15, 2017

When Metal Members Go Missing

Today's post is from our friend HIM.
 

As fans of metal, we know it is filled with lots of sleaze, and not just the good kind!

 

Seriously, though, there are instances when bands move on and leave their past behind. So, I ask you: what constitutes a good omission in the life of a legendary band? Framed differently: how much are bands and artists allowed to excise from their past if, in fact, the parts they remove were integral to their legacy? I will start with a softball of a question.

 

Where was Bill Ward? Article:

 

http://www.spin.com/2012/05/black-sabbath-erase-bill-ward-bands-history-literally/

 

This is an easy one in retrospect. Ward requested that Sabbath remove his image because of the morass that their “reunion” had become. While I still side with Ward on the overall situation, I don’t begrudge Sabbath for following a request with legal implications.  So let me step it up a wee bit.

 

Where is Michael Anthony? Article:

 

http://www.feelnumb.com/2012/10/25/eddie-van-halen-attempted-to-remove-michael-anthonys-photos-from-early-album-covers/

 

Well, he is there now. But we all know that Van Halen are a secretive, and spiteful, bunch. One brother, or both, seem comfortable with revising the band’s history so as to settle scores old, real, and imagined. Anthony, on the other hand shrugs and smiles. Let me end with a more troubling question.

 

Where is Dave Holland? Image:

 

https://judaspriest.shopfirebrand.com/products/turbo-30-3cd-lp-print

 

He wasn’t the first drummer in Priest. Nor should he be blamed or praised for the change in direction that was Turbo. But Holland was an integral part of their several-stage transition toward stadium-metal glory. He was their Phil Rudd. There is a problem though. He is also a convicted sex offender. You see the point? I see Priest’s point.

 

But I wonder: was a 30^th anniversary release of Turbo made better by offering it alongside a poster that, for fans, actually draws attention to what is missing—also an issue in the previous instances—even as it celebrates what was created? Were there no other promo shots available? Was the revised cover artwork not enough to stand alone, or perhaps a glossy version of the original cover to go with the release?

 

I often wonder about a lot of things. I wonder about the real world struggle and strife, the ugly and horrendous things that go into the songs we love by the bands we idolize. I wonder about all of that still, even after I know a lot more than I want to about those bands and those songs. I also wonder about the choices these bands make, time and again, as artists and as brands, to project their images out to all of their fans. And so I end with a question that is a request. What bands and artists that you love have issues that, try as they might to obscure them, come uncomfortably spilling out?

Def Leppard, Poison and Tesla Tour Confirmed

It finally happened. Def Leppard has announced their summer tour and Poison and Tesla will provide support. The tour is actually more spring than summer, starting in early April and concluding at the end of June. Now there's no Cincinnati date here which stuns me. The closest show to me is Indianapolis, so I guess I'll be going to that one. Here's the dates, courtesy of Blabbermouth. 

Apr. 08 - Manchester, NH SNHU Arena
Apr. 10 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre *
Apr. 12 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
Apr. 14 - Baltimore, MD - Royal Farms Arena
Apr. 15 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
Apr. 17 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
Apr. 19 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
Apr. 21 - St Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
Apr. 22 - Sioux Falls, SD - Sanford Premier Center
Apr. 24 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
Apr. 26 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Cneter **
Apr. 27 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
Apr. 29 - Ft Myers, FL - Fort Rock ***
Apr. 30 - Jacksonville, FL - Welcome to Rockville ***
May 02 - Tuscaloosa, AL - Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre
May 03 - Atlanta, GA - Lakewood Amphitheatre
May 05 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena
May 06 - Charlotte, NC - Carolina Rebellion ***
May 24 - Lincoln, NE - Pinnacle Bank Arena
May 26 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma ***
May 27 - San Antonio, TX - River City Rockfest ***
May 29 - Colorado Springs, CO - Broadmoor World Arena
May 31 - Bozeman, MT - Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
Jun. 02 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place *
Jun. 03 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome *
Jun. 06 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena *
Jun. 07 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena
Jun. 09 - Seattle, WA - White River Amph
Jun. 10 - Portland, OR - Moda Center
Jun. 12 - Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center
Jun. 14 - Ontario, CA - Citizens Bank Arena
Jun. 16 - San Diego, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Jun. 17 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
Jun. 19 - Salt Lake City, UT - ASANA Amphitheatre
Jun. 21 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center **
Jun. 22 - St Louis, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Jun. 24 - Chicago, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
Jun. 25 - Indianapolis, IN - Klipsch Music Center

* Def Leppard only
** Def Leppard and Poison only, no Tesla
*** Def Leppard festival dates

DEF LEPPARD Announces North American Tour With POISON And TESLA https://t.co/K7zgXu2hIp pic.twitter.com/bE5Dlu6MbB

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) January 12, 2017

Are Guns n' Roses Planning A DVD Release Soon?

I noticed yesterday that the Guns n' Roses Twitter sent out an excerpt of a Dizzy Reed interview. The clip was shot before one of the band's recent reunion shows. This is definitely pro-shot. This makes me wonder: will GnR release a DVD of their storied reunion run soon? I guess we'll know if more clips pop up.

#GnFnR Exclusive:
Dizzy Reed pic.twitter.com/WEhorbtchp

— Guns N' Roses (@gunsnroses) January 11, 2017

Rocklahoma 2017 Lineup Announced

A massive music lineup has been announced for the 11^th year of Rocklahoma, presented by Bud Light, May 26, 27 & 28, 2017 at "Catch the Fever" Festival Grounds in Pryor, Oklahoma, just outside Tulsa. Soundgarden, Def Leppard, and The Offspring lead the music lineup for America’s Biggest Memorial Day Weekend Party, which features the best current rock artists and classic bands. The three-day camping festival features music on three stages, as well as a campground stage to keep the music going all night long. With onsite camping amenities and unparalleled VIP packages, Rocklahoma lives up to its motto of “Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Rock.” In 2016, Rocklahoma had its biggest year ever, with over 70,000 fans attending the festival’s 10th year.

The current Rocklahoma band lineup is as follows: Soundgarden, Def Leppard, The Offspring, Stone Sour, Seether, Three Days Grace, The Cult, Skillet, Ratt (featuring Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, Juan Croucier and Carlos Cavazo), Jackyl, The Pretty Reckless, Pierce The Veil, Taking Back Sunday, Suicidal Tendencies, Nothing More, Buckcherry, Zakk Sabbath, Diamond Head, Fuel, Black Stone Cherry, Rival Sons, In Flames, Slaughter, Starset, Norma Jean, Fozzy, Red Sun Rising, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Wage War, Badflower, Goodbye June, DED, Royal Republic, Aeges, One Less Reason, Wildstreet, Black Tora, Lynam, Ratchet Dolls, ASKA, Moxy & The Influence, Niterain, The Tip, Diamond Lane, Nova Rex, Dead Metal Society, Deathgrip, Desire The Fire, Wild Planes, Electro_Nomicon, 3-D In Your Face, Coda Cutlass, Kore Rozzik, Retrospect All-Stars, Adakain, 5 Star Hooker, Arson City, The Chimpz, As Above So Below, Keychain, Stolen Rhodes, Nicnos, Paralandra, Hoodslide, NonHuman Era, The Mendenhall Experiment, Midnight Mob, Another Lost Year, Wild Fire, Final Drive, Sun and Flesh, BC and the Big Rig, Screaming Red Mutiny, The Adarna, Locust Grove, Skytown, Difuzer, Save the Hero, Reliance Code, Sweatin Bullets, The Normandys, Thousand Years Wide, The Fairweather, The Revolutioners and Weston Horn and the Hush.

Presale weekend tickets and layaway packages, as well as hotel, camping and VIP packages, are available for purchase starting Tuesday, January 10 at 10:00 AM CST at www.Rocklahoma.com. The layaway option allows purchasers to split the cost into four monthly payments.

Weekend General Admission: $107

Weekend General Admission Ticket 4-Pack: $347

Weekend VIP Reserved: $386