Vains of Jenna Lead Singer Leaves Band

I didn't see this one coming. Vains of Jenna lead singer Lizzy DeVine has left the band according to a post on their official Myspace.  Considering the band has a ton of shows booked, I'm stunned.

Here's the statement:

Swedish rock band VAINS of JENNA seek new front man vocalist.

The last 5 years with this band has been the best years of my life. It's with a tear in my eye, but a whole lot of love and respect for the band, manager, endorsers and fans all over the world, I announce that I'm no longer the lead singer/front man of VAINS OF JENNA. It's been a crazy ride. And I've loved every second of it. But now I must move on and let the band grow. I've done more with this band than I could ever have dreamed of but now it's time for new adventures! I love all of you. Lizzy DeVine.

VAINS of JENNA comprised of lead guitarist and main song writer Nicki Kin (Age 23), bassist JP White (26) and drummer Jacki Stone (23) embrace this change with the following statement.  We have always been a family and have supported each other through the good times and the bad. Today we support and respect Lizzy's choice. We wish him all the best in the future and we part ways as friends. To our fans and friends everywhere, we are as shocked at this development as the rest of you. But we are real, committed to our music and will go forward. We have been honored by all of your support over the years and cannot express enough our regrets to bring this news. But this is reality and we accept the challenge.

VAINS of JENNA formed in 2005 in Falkenberg Sweden. They have been featured internationally on TV and radio, appeared in hundreds of print articles and performed over 400 shows in a dozen countries. The band was originally signed by MTV star BAM MARGERA (Jackass/Viva La Bam) to Filthy Note/Universal in 2006. Soon followed major North America tours with Poison, Ratt & GWAR in 2007. They returned to Europe in 2008 and toured ITALY, ENGLAND & SWEDEN which included the Mega Festival SWEDEN ROCK. In the summer of 2009 the band was back in Los Angeles to release  The Art of Telling Lies (RLS/RAW NOIZE) which received 5 star reviews around the globe. Since inception VAINS of JENNA have continuously drawn comparisons to legendary groups like Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses and Hanoi Rocks.

 We are seeking a young, hungry, aggressive, dedicated, fresh face and voice to front our band. Someone who is one of us. If you think you’re the guy for the job  then step to the plate now.Nicki, JP & Jacki

Music/video samples, photos, bio and more are welcome. All inquiries should be directed to www.myspace.com/vainsofjenna  

 The show must go on - VAINS of JENNA

Ratt, 'Eat Me Up Alive' - New Song

The guys in RATT have released another track off their upcoming release Infestation. The song is "Eat Me Up Alive" and it's good - but not as strong as "Best of Me." Stephen Pearcy's voice is a little too raspy on this track for my liking, but I love the guitars, so it sort of balances.

Infestation will be released 4/20. I've already pre-ordered my copy off Amazon.

Judas Priest and Lady Gaga Need to Record Together

I don't know what it means to be a rockstar anymore. The phrase "rockstar" has about as much clout these days as "rock writer." Both are completely archaic and worthless. Still, people throw both phrases around like confetti, so I'll play along.

I think Lady Gaga is the world's biggest Glam rocker these days. I mean, she isn't a rock singer to be sure. She's a pop starlet and a damn genius but the woman is more rebellious, inventive and "dangerous" than any rocker I've seen in a long time.

It's true, Lady Gaga probably couldn't have been successful a decade or so ago. The studio tools she uses to bend her voice weren't nearly as prevalent as today. Gaga came at just the right time to save the cynical music biz. She saved us from ourselves.

Gaga loves her some metal, too. She's always making metal references and she "gets" the genre. She's also borrowing some of her danger from our 80s faves and her hooks are big, just like "Wild Side," "Bad Medicine" or "Cherry Pie." She gets it. 

Maybe she 'gets it' so well, she conceived her entire alter ego to become the world's biggest rockstar. I think when Gaga started, she had big dreams of a wildly successful singing career but I doubt she envisioned what has happened to her over the past 16 months or so.

The woman has a 360 degree mind that must work in overdrive. It's clear Gaga's watched a ton of classic MTV. Headbanger's Ball, anyone? Nearly every one of Gaga's videos is a mix of 80s Glam and theater of the absurd. Sort of like Twisted Sister but with more Chanel and even more bad makeup. What we need is for Gaga to do a duet with one of our Glam faves. Something completely insane and over-the-top. I'm thinking Judas Priest with Lady Gaga!

I can see it now: a number one single. Metal and pop finally properly joined by two acts that love their craft. Can you imagine the video? I wonder who would wear more leather: Gaga or Halford?

The Scorpions Are Touring With RATT

The Scorpions are touring the world in 2010 as part of their farewell to fans. For the U.S. leg, RATT will provide support. I'm thinking there's another band still to be added...common sense would point to Cinderella, but that wouldn't give Tom Keifer and his crew very much time on stage.

I'm pretty excited about the Scorps/RATT package. I think it will be a good show and I definitely believe RATT needs to heavily push the songs off Infestation.

The tour is supposed to begin in July. I just hope the guys in both the Scorps and RATT take a note from Iron Maiden and keep ticket prices reasonable.

Confessional: I Love Bon Jovi But I Don't Like "Runaway"

I go to the gym everyday. I wear an iPod to block out all sorts of annoying noises: grunts from guys lifting, females panting and especially from hearing the horrible commercial radio blasting on the gym stereo system. Every once in awhile a rock song comes on and yesterday it was Bon Jovi's "Runaway." I only even knew the song was playing because it came on right as I walked through the doors and didn't yet have my ear buds in place. As I was selecting a torture machine for the daily workout, I sort of stopped and pondered why I despise "Runaway." It's the only classic Bon Jovi song I don't like. Perhaps it's the video?

I've never been able to pin why I don't like the song...it's just so typical Bon Jovi. I love the big Bon Jovi choruses and the keyboard, too and "Runaway" has both.  Plus, Jon is really young and pretty in the video and I usually dig that...but I dunno. There is something about "Runaway" that just makes me freaking cringe. I'm seeing Bon Jovi in July and so help me if they do "Runaway" (and I'm sure they will) this will be my bathroom break. Like, the hair on my arms literally stands on end when "Runaway" comes on...*shudder.*

Do you have songs you can't stand for no reason?

Here's the "Runaway" video for the hell of it. I didn't watch it before posting!

Big Hair Rules!!! and Bring Back Glam! Join Forces on Facebook

My new friend Ke Xu had a great idea of starting a Facebook page called Big Hair Rules!!! He was kind enough to ask for a link trade and input. I'm pretty excited about this new page. Right now, it's links of articles on Glam bands from all around the Internet...but we want some raucous discussions, too. I don't have a "Bring Back Glam! Fan Page" on Facebook because I think that's overly presumptuous, but I'm hoping some of you Facebook users will join the Big Hair Rules!!! page so we can talk there too.

The page is good for me because I can go back to writing original articles (rants) here and post news on Facebook and interviews on Noisecreep. I've decided it's impossible to keep up everything in one place anyway. Might as well spread it around. The more Glam, the better!

On a completely random note: Scorpions - "Send Me An Angel"

The New Wig Wam Video is a Hoot

The new Wig Wam video for "Do You Wanna Taste It" from the album Non-Stop Rock n' Roll is hilarious. Also, I swear Chip Z'Nuff is wandering around in the background (ok, it's the guitarist for Wig Wam, but damn). The video has every Glam cliché: pyro, girls and an expensive car. I love it!

I interviewed Wig Wam lead singer Glam last month for Noisecreep. Glam told me about the recording of Non-Stop Rock n' Roll.

"It's a bit darker than the first two ones, but that is a result of all the craziness we have experienced," explains Glam. "We have to get it out somehow. There's a lot of happy songs there too."

Check out the video below!