Remember Raging Slab?

Raging Slab isn't Glam, but they are definitely 80s metal. I don't think we've ever talked about them here, but I do dig them when I'm in a "country boogie rock" sort of mood.

I can't help but compare Raging Slab to both the Black Crowes and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Is that fair? Who knows. Still, I think it's an accurate description of the band's sound.

Raging Slab released their indie debut in 1987 and were on a major (RCA) by 1989. There was constant touring, more writing and recording and eventual label issues and lineup changes. I think Raging Slab still exists today, but I'm not sure how long it has been since the band actually played a live gig. At any rate, I'm in the mood - so let's have a listen. And tell me, did you ever see Raging Slab live back in the day?

Paying Respect to John Lennon

Today would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. I think it is prudent if we pay our respects, both because he was a member of the Beatles and also because he was a brilliant songwriter. I wonder if the world would be any different today if he hadn't been murdered so long ago?

Here's John doing “Come Together.” While it was a Beatles tune, John did most of the writing on this one.

Just consider all the different musicians that have covered, say, “Come Together.” Their backgrounds literally comprise the tapestry of my varied music tastes. I think that is saying something.

Dear Poison: We Want New Music, Not Another Rehash

So Poison will release a box set November 9. The box set, called Nothin’ But a Good Time: The Poison Collection will feature “34 studio hits and concert recordings, plus an exclusive, limited edition ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’ bandana.”

Seriously.

A bandana? Oh my.

Why, oh why, do these bands we love keep doing this to us? Must we have another rehash? The box set will have the songs on 2 CDs. I’d say this would be worth buying if there was a rarities disc, too but as it stands, who needs this? It’s all music we already have.

Songs included in the box set include "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "Unskinny Bop," and "Something To Believe In," among others. The cool part is that the box set includes a full-color booklet with photos.

But seriously, we need some new music. Or some rarities. Or a DVD…something rare or new. Rehash, repackage, re-scam-the-loyal-fans-who-love-you. Whatever. Poison will soon celebrate 25 years of Glam. If that doesn’t call for new music, I don’t know what does. Sure, we’ll all still want to hear “Look What the Cat Dragged In” when we see Poison in concert. But we’ll take a couple new tunes, too.

Nothin’ But a Good Time: The Poison Collection will be released via Capitol/EMI.  

Here's Bret Michaels' new video, too. "Riding Against the Wind"

Remembering Steve Lee of Gotthard

Steve Lee, singer of Gotthard, was killed in an accident Tuesday.  Lee was riding in a group of motorcyclists and was stopped on the side of the road in Nevada when a tractor-trailer slammed into him. Lee was pronounced dead at the scene.  

There's a sad statement on the front of Gotthard's official website, which I suggest you read for yourself.

Let's all listen to a little Gotthard today, in memory of Steve.

Win Tickets to the Halloween Hootenanny!

As promised, here is your chance to win a pair of tickets to the Halloween Hootenanny with Alice Cooper in Columbia, Maryland. The show is at Merriweather Post Pavilion on October 17. Remember, the Halloween Hootennany features Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Black Label Society, Clutch, Children of Bodom, Murderdolls, 2Cents and Half Pint Brawlers - Psycho Midget Wrestling!

So, wanna go to the show for free? Just send an email to allyson@bringbackglam.com and put " Halloween Hootenanny!" in the subject line. Include your legal name in the email. If you are selected as the winner, you and a guest will attend the show. You will claim your pair of tickets via will call at the venue so it is imperative the name you provide in your entry matches your photo ID. Entries will be accepted until Friday, October 8 at 11:59pm ET. Good luck.

Want a little more Alice? This is super cool: Go to Alice's official website for a Halloween countdown. Each day, you'll see a different video from the Theatre of Death DVD. So, it's basically like getting to see the DVD for free.

Halloween Hootenanny at Merriweather Post Pavilion

Later this week, I'll be giving tickets away to the Halloween Hootenanny featuring Alice Cooper in Columbia, Maryland. The show is October 17 and details are below. Be sure to check back soon for info on my ticket giveaway! Here's a release:

As if a Halloween show with shock-superstars Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper wasn’t fitting enough, the Halloween Hootenanny is over-the-top diabolical. Welded together like some ghastly behemoth, this creepy concert also features Zakk Wylde’s brutal crew Black Label Society, Maryland rock demigods Clutch, and much more maniacal metal. It gets even crazier from there, with the addition of Half Pint Brawlers (an insane squad of midget wrestlers), plus tons of haunted rides and attractions. Pile your friends into the hearse and make your way to Merriweather this October. You’ll have one hell of a time.

Sunday,  10/17

The Halloween Hootenanny featuring The Gruesome Twosome - Rob Zombie & Alice Cooper
Black Label Society
Clutch
Children of Bodom
Murderdolls
2Cents
Half Pint Brawlers - Psycho Midget Wrestling!

Merriweather Post Pavilion · Columbia, MD
3:00 PM Gates

Tickets on sale now through Ticketfly.com

Looking Ahead 20 Years - I Am Sad

Will there be a "Bring Back Metalcore" or "Bring Back Emo" in 20 years?

Are people even passionate about music anymore? Or anything of substance really?

I'm amazed at how fast the world moves. I swear, when I started this site, it was Myspace or bust. Then Facebook. Now Twitter. So what's next? You and I both know that within four years, Twitter will be the "has been" of the social networking world and everyone will have moved on. Again.

All this "moving on" really concerns me when we're talking music. Myspace was (is?) good for musicians because the site allows bands to push out new music to new and old fans for free...and then maybe that fan would become a customer. As social media platforms move forward, so do bands. But do the fans?

Remember back when we were kids and Glam was hot? The only way you could really follow the bands was to watch MTV or buy Metal Edge. Then, you could get a Metal Edge pen pal and talk about those bands over snail mail. You had to wait...for a response! There was something so civilized about it all. Now, forget it. You can get into a fight with your favorite musician if you're on the right social media site at the right time. I've often theorized that the reason I kept my Glam bands with me for so long was because they were all I really had in terms of interests outside of school. My friends were all really into music, so all our conversations revolved around rock bands. After all, I used to buy a couple CDs a week and I always liked to show off my haul. With the rise of digital music, there's nothing to show or hold anymore. Now, I know very well that kids still like music. It's just the importance of music in life these days seems diminished.

And really, we need the escape of music now more than ever. Honestly, the world we live in these days terrifies me. Political parties fight about the wrong issues, everyone is broke and you're lucky if you have a job. So, it seems to me this is a great time for a great musical revolt, just like in the 1960s. Except that if it happened, we probably wouldn't even know because there's no unified platform in which we receive our music anyway. After all, commercial radio is just that - commercial. There's no more real MTV and the web can honestly only take you so far.

I feel sorry for kids today. I really do. Not only is the world a complete and utter mess, I can't imagine they'll have many special "music related" memories to look back on a couple decades from now. What a tragedy.