Not Really Pair A Dice

All the "hype" surrounding Pair A Dice has me a little baffled. The band sends a lot of Myspace bulletins - and fans were constantly reposting them right before Rocklahoma. Pair A Dice are on the Retrospect Records label and the band did play the festival. Admittedly, I didn't watch their set - so I cannot comment on their live show.

Pair A Dice reissued their only recordings in a self-titled debut earlier this year. The album features only six tracks:

Stay the Night
Nasty Girls
Nowhere To Run
Where's Jenny
Midnight Train
I'll Be There For You

I do not know why I waited so long to give Pair A Dice a listen - but I did. Anyway, I had the band built up big in my head, so I was a little disappointed when I finally gave the self-titled disc a spin. Pair A Dice has basically horrible production - the songs don't sound remastered at all. My guess is that the songs were taken from a beaten up cassette (or worse) and patched together as best as possible. Problem is, the songs sound very thin. Maybe the band couldn't help this. I know there is only so much you can do to improve the past.

Now, things you can change: poor songwriting. Oh Glam goodness, Pair A Dice have bad songwriting. I mean, it's like every Glam cliché ...captured on tape, er...CD. Here's the thing: I think Pair A Dice have some potential as a band. I certainly believe the members have talent. Guitarist Dave Marshall even toured with Vince Neil during the Exposed era (he does not play on that album). Pair A Dice even looks Glam to this day. I think the band would be better served by circling back and recording all new tracks. The new technology means a better sound - and being older (hopefully) means better songwriting. 

The bottom line: I give Pair A Dice props for giving it a shot - but if I never hear the song "Where's Jenny" again...it will be too soon.

Here's "Nowhere to Run"

How Much Fame...Is Too Much?

Awhile back I read an article on Yahoo! News about Ringo Starr. The former Beatle is apparently sick and tired of...fan mail.

If you send an item for Starr to autograph, say a shirt or book or CD, it will be trashed. Starr says he is "too busy" and to not bother him.

This wouldn't be such a big deal except that Starr previously said he would personally read every piece of fan mail and always provide an autograph when asked. Now, I know a lot of you don't give a cup of Earl Grey tea about Ringo Starr - but that isn't the point. The point is this: at what point does an artist become so famous he can shrug off fans?

I know famous people are busy. I also know they don't have the same burdens as the rest of us. Someone like Ringo Starr, or Nikki Sixx, or Jon Bon Jovi...don't have to worry about keeping a job to pay the mortgage, to pay a student loan, to buy food. These famous musicians don't have to work (unless it is their decision) 12 hours a day to stay afloat.

The thing is, I honestly expect nothing...from anyone. That goes for my parents, my husband, my friends...and famous musicians. I believe you go your own way in life, do the best you can and just plug along. That said, if I'm standing backstage and some musician walks by that I want to speak with (and honestly, I don't seek many out) then I'll approach him or her. I rarely ask for autographs because I think they are worthless, but I do like photos. I add them to my Myspace page and it gives me a story for this website. Still, I never expect anything from a musician - but if I'm turned down rudely, it's on. Look, I think musicians (the famous ones of course) need to get back to basics and learn that if fans quit buying concert tickets and albums their careers are done. If not for fans, musicians are just a group of talented people...looking for temp work at the local staffing center.

What do you think about musicians that shrug off fans?

Photo credit: I didn't take the photo of Ringo above. It's from the George Harrison fan forum. I certainly hope the Beatles don't sue me as I don't have any money anyway. No copyright assumed.

We Don't Talk About Hardcore Superstar Enough Around Here...

Hardcore Superstar are one of my favorite Swedish bands. They've been around quite some time - since 1997 actually.

I graduated high school in 1998 - I can only imagine my life might have been a little different had I discovered Swedish Glam then...instead of years later. Hell, I hang my head in shame that I haven't been to Sweden yet. I imagine when I get there I'll hunt Hardcore Superstar (and the remaining members of Crashdiet) down and have a good old time. I'm serious, too. Seriously. I'll do it.

I've written about Hardcore Superstar in the past. I love the song "We Don't Celebrate Sundays" - but you already know all this. The song is featured on the band's self-titled album. Because Hardcore Superstar albums are sold as imports, they are mega expensive. As such, I don't have the 2007 release Dreamin' in a Casket. Of course, our friends around the world bring us music from this album thanks to the power of YouTube.

Maybe someday soon I'll get to see Hardcore Superstar....live and in color. For now, just watch some videos. I'm going to try and get over yet another migraine...and salvage my Saturday. Sigh.

"Dreamin' in a Casket"

>p>
"Still I'm Glad"

"Wild Boys"

I've Got So Much to Write...

The amount of stuff I need to write for this website is overwhelming. I have a bunch of CDs to review. I've listened to them... I've formed opinions...those opinions just need written.

In the coming days...expect a lot of varied content as I catch up on dynamic articles and album reviews. Two bands getting reviewed this week are Willie Basse and PairADice. Also look for a special feature on Tonight You Rock very soon.

I can't help but wonder if I'm the only person that feels like work is never-ending...and yet nothing gets done. I mean, good Glam, I spend 80% of my life with a computer attached to my body. Yet, the work never gets done.

Giant sigh.

At least it's the weekend. T.G.I.F. 

Ok, I'll Bite (Spread Eagle Edition)

Do you remember Spread Eagle? The sleaze band sort of got a late start in the Glam genre. Think 1989ish. Anyway, Spread Eagle are from New York and were on the Universal (MCA) label. You can hear some of the band's songs on Myspace.

Myspace leads me to today's article.

I don't usually pay all that much attention to Myspace bulletins. Bands send the same notes over and over all day long...and then there's the surveys. Oh Glam, the surveys! Quite frankly, the bulletins are just too much to read - and I never have much time.

Well, Spread Eagle sent a bulletin yesterday. This seemed odd and it caught my eye.

Said bulletin simply stated "announcement tomorrow."

Ok, I'll admit it. I'm cynical. I can't help it - I just am.

I immediately thought "What can Spread Eagle possibly be announcing?" The band is already reformed. Spread Eagle have also already remastered their debut. Hell, maybe the band is announcing a tour. Why not? Nearly every other Glam band has reformed and toured over the past 18 months. Spread Eagle might as well get some of that hot nostalgia coin. You know, while us poor Glam fans still have some coin to spare.

So, guess the announcement. When it posts on Myspace, I'll create a follow-up to this article.

Ok, some videos. I'd be lying if I said these tracks were anything less than Glamtastic.

Here's "Scratch Like a Cat."

Here's "Switchblade Serenade."

Update on Friday, October 24, 2008 at 04:18PM by Allyson B. Crawford

The announcement is that the band will tour in December. Dates TBA.

I Heard It From a Friend, Who Heard It From a Friend...(Summer 2009 Tour Gossip)

It's not even Halloween yet - and I'm already getting some juicy hot tips on some 2009 summer tour packages. No tip is more juicy that what I am about to tell you.

Sit down.

Take a deep breath.

Ready?

Good.

I've heard through the Glam grapevine that Cinderella may hit the road with RATT...and Kix. The mere mention of Kix playing a couple shows a week in places not mainly on the east coast should make any good Glam fan giddy.

Now, there's a lot of news here to dissect. First, Tom Keifer must be healing nicely if there is even possible "talk" of a Cinderella summer tour. Granted, the "tour" could be a bunch of fly-in dates to major or medium-sized markets over weekends. Second, RATT have supposedly been working on a new album for quite some time. Touring *yet again* makes sense if they have an album to support, so go ahead and look for that disc by next summer. Third, Kix touring is major news in and of itself. Dare I say my dirty boys are in bigger demand in 2008...than they were in 1988? Only time will tell.

You know what this means, right? If this package tour happens, I say you can bet on seeing at least two of the three acts at the many rock festivals popping up all over the country. There's Rocklahoma, Rock the Bayou, South Texas Rock Fest, Rock Gone Wild, Rock Fest, Moondance Jam... the list goes on.

So. What do you think? Do you believe my hot tip? You should know that I vette my tips with a lot of care. When I hear something, I track backward from the source. I ask around. I make phone calls.

Remember, I told you six months ago Poison wouldn't be touring summer of 2009. No one believed me then. Now we know this to be true. I also said there would be no 2009 Motley Cruise.  Just sayin'.

See Queen + Paul Rodgers - For Free?!

Kids, I have two tickets to give away for the new Queen + Paul Rodgers movie
Let the Cosmos Rock.  This  special concert movie is  airing at theatres worldwide  for one night only - November 6, 2008. Get off work early - the film starts at 7:30 p.m.

The film Let the Cosmos Rock features classic hits...and songs from the new album called The Cosmos Rocks. The footage was shot on September 12 in the Ukraine. According to an official press release supporting the film, Queen has sold over 150 million albums worldwide. 

Fans know the name Paul Rodgers from the bands Bad Company and Free. He's sold over 90 million albums with those bands. The Cosmos Rocks is his first studio album with Queen.

So what songs can you expect to hear during your screening of Let the Cosmos Rock? You'll hear "We Will Rock You," "Tie Your Mother Down," "Bohemian Rhapsody," "All Right Now," "I Want It All," and "Bad Company."

Now, I'm sure you'll all agree that Queen are the epitome of a 70s Glam band...later paving the way for our 80s Sunset Strip favorites...and now Sweden's modern rockers. So, if you want to win my pair of tickets to the special one-night-only event - read on.

As you know, I always make my readers work for their winnings. This time, I want you to write a Glam haiku. You can write about any band you wish - but the subject must be tied to Glam.

Remember, a haiku is made up of just three short lines. The first line is five syllables, the second line is seven syllables and the final line is five syllables. Haiku does not rhyme.

I wrote a haiku to help you out:

Motley Crue is Glam
Girls, girls, girls; lots of hairspray;
Sunset Strip legends

Before you get writing, please check this link to see if the movie is showing near you. If not, don't enter because I want the winner to actually attend the screening. Let me be blatantly clear: one winner will garner both tickets.

If you find a theatre near your city and you think you can write a good Glam haiku, get to it, Hemingway! Please email your haiku to allyson@bringbackglam.com. Send me your entries by 11:59 p.m. EST Friday, October 24. I'll post the winning haiku here for all to enjoy. Good luck.

Here's the official movie trailer:

Update on Sunday, October 26, 2008 at 10:47AM by Allyson B. Crawford

Here's our winner:

Cold beer at sixteen
Quiet Riot cranked to ten
High school glam party!

Congats to Bob! He'll be enjoying the Queen movie for free!