The Bulletboys are about to head out on the road again. The band announced new tour dates yesterday. Looks like the shows are mostly on Friday or Saturday night. No shows close to me on this tranche of dates, but more shows are apparently coming. Seems like summer fun to me!
I've been thinking a lot about this since the news that Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins died suddenly over the weekend. As soon as I saw the news, I pretty much decided the band was done. Yet, there was the business of a massive 50 date tour already booked with many sold out shows. I figured the shows would be canceled and I was right.
The Foos didn't waste any time canceling - and that shows a lot of respect for Hawkins and his importance in the band. In the past when a band member died, say for The Who, ZZ Top or The Rolling Stones - the bands just kept on going like nothing happened. I was especially shocked when ZZ Top took barely a breath after the death of Dusty Hill. I know the Foo Fighters are on an entirely different plane of fame - they are arguably one of the biggest rock acts in the world - but still. There is no blueprint for dealing with a tragedy like this and everyone living has the right to make money, but sometimes respect and dignity matter more than ticket sales. The Foo Fighters - and especially Dave Grohl - got this right.
In this week's Sunday's Best, we talked about great Swedish glam bands. Nestor came up in the comments, so I wanted to highlight their videos. Nestor is an old Swedish band who reformed to create throwback Glam music. Nestor released Kids In A Ghost Town toward the end of 2021 and strive to create "stories" in their videos, just like back in the day.
It was a long week, wasn't it? The weather was crappy again by me. I woke up to snow both yesterday and today and so much cold! The news is depressing... and work is work. Looking for something to cheer me up, I thought about the best Swedish rock bands. That's our Sunday's Best for this week.
Obviously, Europe is on the list. I mean, is there a better rock band from Sweden? Creating stadium anthems since before the 1980s, Joey Tempest has one of the greatest voices in Glam. My favorite Europe track is easily "Superstitious."
Hardcore Superstar just released their new album Abrakadabra and also dropped their video for the title track. HS is a great band and definitely one of my favorites.
Of course, no list of my favorite Swedish rock bands is complete without Crashdiet. So many different singers, but each one brings a new flavor to the group. Here's "Rust."
Crazy Lixx is also always on my favorites of Sweden list. I was in love with this band the first time I heard them. They've been around since 2002 and Loud Minority is a great debut. That was back when one of the founders, Vic Zino, was still in the band. Zino is with Hardcore Superstar now and has been since 2009.
Taylor Hawkins, phenomenal drummer for the Foo Fighters, died suddenly in Bogota, Colombia. He was 50 and no cause of death has been released. The Foo Fighters were in Colombia to headline the Festival Estereo Picnic and were also set to play Lollapalooza Brasil Sunday. The band has a massive run of tour dates ahead of them. I highly doubt any of those happen now - or in the future.
Foos frontman Dave Grohl always considered Hawkins a brother. In his recent autobiography I believe he wrote that if any member of the band died, that would be the end of the Foo Fighters. Before joining the Foo Fighters, Hawkins was the drummer for Alanis Morissette.
I read the Rolling Stone obit around 4 a.m. - and I urge you to give it some attention as well. Click the tweet below.
"Our chemistry was so obvious that even Alanis [Morissette] herself once asked him, 'What are you going to do when Dave asks you to be his drummer?'" Dave Grohl wrote in his memoir about Taylor Hawkins. "Part Beavis and Butthead, part Dumb and Dumber." https://t.co/lpblgfNTTF
Shocked n’ saddened to hear of the passing of Taylor Hawkins.He was a really great guy, drummer n’ family man. Was always great to see him!Was looking forward to seeing him n’ everyone in Daytona.Truly saddened. My deepest condolences to his family, the Foo Fighters n’their fans.
Overnight, Skid Row released the full version of their new "The Gang's All Here" and you can listen to it below. The song features new singer Erik Gronwall. Skid Row plays Las Vegas tomorrow night with The Scorpions... I am looking forward to seeing clips of the new lineup live together.
Here's some video of Erik Gronwall singing live back in 2009 on Swedish Idol.
Erik auditioned for Swedish Idol with Skid Row's "18 and Life." It should be recalled that (also in 2009) Adam Lambert auditioned for American Idol with Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." Now he fronts Queen. Erik fronts Skid Row. Life is amazing sometimes.
Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 01:02PM 