Jacob Lynam On 'Hard Rock Nights!'

Lynam is one of my favorite bands - I try to follow everything they do. Jacob Lynam is a great songwriter and front man and he'll be on "Hard Rock Nights" starting today! Here's the release:

Jacob Lynam of the Birmingham-based hard rock band Lynam will be the special guest on this week’s edition of Hard Rock Nights (September 25-October 1). Jacob will join JT to talk about the band’s latest release, ‘Tragic City Symphony,’ working with the legendary Beau Hill, and touring with bands such as Hinder. Jacob will also explain the Battle Creek incident in which Lynam was kicked out of the club.

"Hard Rock Nights" is a weekly syndicated radio program heard on several rock and metal stations, including 93.9 MAXX in New Hampshire. Click for a complete list of stations and air times.

As you probably know, Lynam will perform on ShipRocked. I'll be interviewing Lynam while we're on the boat together. Look for that interview here sometime after November 20th.

What's with All the Repackaging?

This is about to become "What's with?" week here on Bring Back Glam! I'm generally fed up with life right now and stupid shit in the music industry is ticking me off.

Ok, so Motley Crue is about to release another Greatest Hits package. Truth. The Greatest Hits disc comes out November 17 (just in time for the holiday rush, natch) and here's the rub: there's nothing obscure here at all. Look, I get "Shout at the Devil" must be on every Motley best-of...but seriously, give us fans something new and obscure!

Here's the track list:

Too Fast for Love
Shout at the Devil
Looks that Kill
Too Young to Fall in Love
Smokin' in the Boys Room
Home Sweet Home
Wild Side
Girls, Girls, Girls
Dr. Feelgood
Kickstart My Heart
Same 'Ol Situation
Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
Without You
Primal Scream
Sick Love Song
Afraid
If I Die Tomorrow
Saints of Los Angeles
The Animal In Me (Remix)

So, I guess the market for this disc is brand new Motley fans? Every single one of us here have all these songs. Seriously, one previously unreleased track would have made me buy this disc...but in this economy, I won't be picking up another Greatest Hits of songs I already own - even if I'm a completist. I guess this is just a cash grab for Motley...or maybe this is part of that "secret" album and concert deal with Live Nation? Still, it's all Motley's decision: they control their masters, meaning they are in a very rare position to manage their fate.

The positive? There's a new Motley Crue: Behind the Music coming at the beginning of November to coincide with this release.

Thoughts on this one?

What's with All the 'Scab' Talk?

If you've ever spent five minutes on Metal Sludge, you understand the title of this article. If not, then "scab" basically means "not authentic" or "replacement."

I swear, every thread over there these days mentions "scab" members. Look, I'd rather see an original lineup of a band too, but sometimes that isn't an option. I'm not sure it's fair to brand replacement members as "scabs."

If you think about it, very few bands that we love have the original members. Sure, Motley Crue is made up of the original guys, but they had different members in the past. Same for Aerosmith. Look at Van Halen. Is Wolfgang Van Halen a "scab?" I'm not sure. He's got the right surname, so he won the job. That also means he's probably not going anywhere and the chances of Michael Anthony coming back are pretty slim.

So, Crashdiet is on singer number three. Pretty Boy Floyd has had more members than I can even list. Same with Guns n' Roses. The list goes on and on.

Does it matter?

Put it this way: if a member leaves and is replaced, it's a little sad but we still get to hear the songs we love performed live. Sure, there are times the entire dichotomy of the band is ruined. Poison is a great example of this...and yet, that band kept on until C.C. DeVille came back. Of course, the time he was gone from the band has been basically "erased," which is also unfortunate.

The hardest member to replace is the lead singer, just because a person's voice becomes signature to a song. I happen to quite enjoy the 1994 self-titled Motley Crue release with John Corabi, but a lot of people do not share my view. Still, I don't think it's very fair to call Corabi a "scab."

So, to bring all this full circle, Bonham is going to play a few gigs. That's right: Bonham. As in, The Disregard of Timekeeping - Bonham. The original singer is dead, but the short run is billed as a tribute to Daniel MacMaster. So, is this considered a "scab" situation?

What do you think? Is it fair to deem replacement band members as scabs?

Eddie Van Halen Does Prime Time

This is what I wanted to post hours ago...but it took all night to hit YouTube! Anyway, Eddie Van Halen did a guest spot on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men last night. The scene was short - but that's ok - because it's Eddie and Two and a Half Men is one of the funniest shows on television. You might recall Steven Tyler also did a guest spot on the show a few seasons back - love it!

I haven't checked, but I bet if you go to the CBS page on YouTube, you can watch the whole episode. I also think the network streams full shows on their official website as well.

Steve Vai Awarded Honorary Doctorate

I think this is very cool. The Musicians Institute just awarded Steve Vai an honorary doctorate for his contribution to the music world. Later this month, Steve will release a new DVD called Where the Wild Things Are. I've had the DVD on my radar for awhile now, and I plan on picking it up when it comes out. Here's the official release:

HOLLYWOOD, CA (September 21, 2009) - Musicians Institute awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree to legendary rock guitarist, recording artist, producer, and composer Steve Vai. The award was officially conferred during MI’s summer graduation ceremony held on September 18 at LA’s Wiltern Theatre.

After first achieving prominence as guitarist for the late Frank Zappa, Vai has gone on to win multiple Grammys, repeatedly top critics’ and readers’ polls, and earn gold and platinum records while becoming the personification of contemporary guitar virtuosity. His latest concert DVD, Where the Wild Things Are, is set for release September 29th on Favored Nations.

Describing why MI selected Vai for the honor (only the second awarded in the school’s history), Vice President of Education Beth Marlis said, "Steve Vai has not only inspired countless musicians around the world and played a major role in the evolution of modern rock guitar, he also embodies MI’s ideal of the artist-educator who combines relentless pursuit of his creative vision with a sense of responsibility for mentoring the next generation."

Kix at Rams Head Live Baltimore - Live Review

I've seen Kix live lots of times and I think club shows are better than festival gigs because of the time allotted and the varied set.

Kix played Rams Head Live in Baltimore Saturday night to a sold out crowd and (naturally) I was there. 

I'd have to say this show rivals the Rocklahoma '08 performance for the best Kix concert I've ever attended. Best of all, the band performed "Tear Down the Walls," one of my all-time fave Kix tunes that isn't played during festival shows. During "Tear," Steve Whiteman played the acoustic guitar. The set was mixed-up order wise, with "Don't Close Your Eyes" coming as the encore right before "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah."

So what else was played? "Midnite Dynamite," "Blow My Fuse," "Girl Money," "Cold Chills,""Poison," "The Itch," "Sex," "She Dropped Me The Bomb" and more - not necessarily in that order. For whatever reason, the band was especially tight and seemed to play with a renewed energy. The packed house probably didn't hurt, but it was almost as if Kix were playing for each other and not for the fans.

The next time you go to a show, watch the faces of the musicians closely. You can tell if they are happy, annoyed or bored. Every member of Kix looked generally happy to be on stage - you can't fake that - and it comes through in the performance. It stands true in live performance as with all things in life: if you're happy with your job, you excel. At about the same time I watched both Ronnie Younkins and Mark Schenker actually smile at their fans from a very genuine place, I realized Kix is honestly my favorite live band - bar none.

After "Don't Close Your Eyes," guitarist Brian Forsythe had an amp issue, causing Steve to vamp. Earlier in the show, Steve explained that he'd hurt his back at the gym, was in pain, and  wouldn't be jumping around much. Despite his warning, he continued to jump and kick like a madman as he normally does. I'm not sure how someone with a back injury moves like Steve - but he sure is entertaining.

A few weeks ago, Kix opened for Judas Priest at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Baltimore. During that show, Steve  told the crowd that he would do the Rams Head encore in his underwear if the show sold out. During "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," Steve came out in a green tube dress instead: still an ample way to celebrate the capacity crowd. The "rap" was gender adjusted for "Stevette." It was cool seeing "Yeah" presented in a new way and the other Kix faithful seemed to dig it too.

Kix will play more shows before the year is up. Check www.kix-band.com for more information.

Rattlesnake Kisses

Holy glam, the Electric Angels look like "Never Enough" era L.A. Guns in their video for "Rattlesnake Kisses." Formed after Candy fell apart, Electric Angels never made it huge, but they did have a deal with Atlantic Records which yielded the band's only album, Electric Angels. I like the song "Rattlesnake Kisses" - do you?