RATT Jumps On the Theme Concert Bandwagon; Enough Is Enough

What is the deal with band’s doing one album on tour? Judas Priest is getting ready to do British Steel from beginning to end. Motley Crue will do Dr. Feelgood at this year’s Crue Fest...RATT will perform Out of the Cellar during their headline spot at Rocklahoma...and Aerosmith might even do Toys in the Attic from glorious beginning to end.

Now, don’t get me wrong: the albums mentioned are huge. Toys in the Attic and British Steel are especially iconic and still have a massive impact on modern Metal. Bands like to say they do this for the fans.

I call bullshit.

Bands don’t play songs from one album from start to finish for the fans. They do it for the media exposure and the nostalgia factor. Motley’s been doing basically all of Dr. Feelgood live for years and years now, so it’s not like the band has to rehearse many “new” songs. Sure it’s cool that we’ll get to hear a couple random songs never before performed live, but it’s not for us: it’s in an effort to move tickets.

Saying that, I’m excited to hear all of Dr. Feelgood and possibly Toys in the Attic. I’d rather Motley do all of Shout at the Devil and Aerosmith do  Rocks, but you take what you can get. I just hope this trend of legacy acts falling back on old staples doesn’t signal an end to creativity and new music. After all, I’ve been owed a new Aerosmith disc for years now and that was just put on hold...again.

Back in the day, bands didn’t tour without an album to support. Now in the land of Live Nation, Ticketmaster and credit cards, bands just tour whenever and wherever – because you gotta get paid. Just like the musician has to earn a dollar – I need some new music to make it worth my while.

What do you think: should bands continue with the trend of theme concerts?

The Hottest Male Pin-up to Ever Prance Across A Concert Stage?

Just...wow. David Lee Roth on Entertainment Tonight back in 1981. I have no idea what the hell Dave is talking about here...but I'm pretty sure you owe it to yourself to watch this three minute video.

Just...wow.

Back to the topic title at hand: do you agree with the reporter that Diamond Dave is the hottest male pin-up to ever prance across a concert stage? I don't. I say that title easily goes to Axl Rose. Just sayin.'

Discuss.

Thunder Rocks, Rules and Says Farewell

My Glam, how is it that I haven't mentioned Thunder before on this website? What a great, underrated band from the U.K.

A short primer is that the band formed around 1989 and signed with EMI. Their debut came out soon after - and became a big hit in their native land. The long and short of it is the band had some lineup changes, split, reformed and are about to embark on a farewell tour.

Here are some clips of the band. I think you'll agree - Thunder rules!

"She's So Fine"

Gimme Some Lovin'

Back Street Symphony

More information about the band and the farewell tour here.

Been Thinking About Velvet Revolver

I've had Velvet Revolver on my mind a lot lately. I guess part of the reason is because I spoke to Duff McKagan a few days ago and have also been reading a  lot on Slash doing American Idol. Thinking of Slash and Duff always shifts my mind to classic Guns n' Roses and Velvet Revolver.

Will Velvet Revolver ever pick a new singer?

Awhile back it seemed that a new singer was a done deal and that person was Lenny Kravitz. Now, Duff is back to admitting the band doesn't have a new singer selected and Slash is full steam ahead on his solo album.

I'm excited about that solo album and yet I want an entire Velvet Revolver lineup, too. Maybe it's selfish, but Velvet Revolver are a great bridge band. By that, I mean they bridge the era of classic Glam with modern Metal. Famous members = headline tours and album sales. It also means fun.

I know quite a lot of die hard Guns n' Roses fans don't care for VR, but I do. No, Scott Weiland doesn't sound anything like Axl Rose - but Velvet Revolver is a different band after all. I can't help but wonder if the constant delay of picking a new singer means 1) a GnR reunion could happen someday within the next decade or 2) if the remaining members of VR just don't care? Perhaps Slash and co. realize that fans will be waiting for VR when they are ready to record again. I just hope they don't wait too long. I want some new arena rock.

Thoughts?

Pontiac and Heavy Metal – Always Connected

Does saying goodbye to Pontiac mean a little piece of heavy metal history is dying? Absolutely.

Heavy metal isn’t considered high brow. It’s music for the masses: for men with beautiful women, fast cars and beer. Since the 1970s, the Trans Am and other like muscle cars were automatically identified with heavy metal and for good reason: fast cars are sexy. Sure, Corvettes are hot too, but they are cost prohibitive. The stock broker in the better side of town might buy a Corvette, but you’d choose a Trans Am and be damn happy with it – right?

The death of Pontiac and slow collapse of the American auto industry is more entwined with music than you might believe. I don’t dabble in stereotypes here at Bring Back Glam! After all, I’m a metal head just like you. I also have a professional job at a Fortune 500, a graduate degree, a husband, a house in the suburbs and no kids. I’m the modern “me” generation exemplified: money to buy most of what I want, when I want it. I’m not sure the same could be said for the average Metal fan twenty years ago. You know, when Aerosmith was considered Metal and Ozzy could still string some words together to form a sentence. In the days beyond 1985, our economy changed and so did our music – and the cars we buy.

At around the same time more and more of us chose college instead of working right out of high school, importation of foreign autos became the norm. By the time I was in high school in the mid-90s, it was common for everyone to drive a Honda. The “buy American” crowd was exceptionally vocal then: those laborers and Teamsters could see the writing on the wall. The tide was shifting, just like the music industry. American manufacturing jobs were going away because of automation and competition. Music sales were plummeting because of competition and the start of what would be the epidemic known as illegal downloading.

In 1986, I bet you owned a cassette of Look What the Cat Dragged In – and played it while cruising in your Trans Am. You know you had a good time cruising down the boulevard with the top down. Times were simpler in your Trans Am. The car didn’t cost $40,000 either.

Heavy Metal is built for speed, isn’t it? It’s music that can get you in trouble if you’ve got a lead foot. Pop on Judas Priest’s British Steel and tell me you don’t drive just a little faster than normal? I’m sure you do.

I can’t even think of all the music videos that feature Pontiac sports cars. I know the Trans Am is featured in the cold open of Metal Mania and that says a lot right there.

I suppose I have an unfair bias toward Pontiac. After all, I’m from a GM family. For more years than I’ve been alive, my dad has worked around GM autos. That job was always good enough that my mom never had to work; I had everything I ever needed and wanted – and a Pontiac convertible as my first car. The first CD I ever played in that car was Aerosmith. Coincidence? I think not.