LA Guns (Tracii Guns version) will release an acoustic album of greatest hits called Acoustic Gypsy Live on September 27. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and the band will tour in support of the new record.
I was blessed with an advanced copy of the disc and I spun it while working on other projects. All the songs you would expect are included like 'Never Enough' and 'The Ballad of Jayne.' Jizzy Pearl is on vocals and sometimes it is weird hearing Tracii play acoustic instead of wailing on his guitar like he does at concerts. Some songs, like 'Electric Gypsy' I think were just not meant to go acoustic. Of course, 'The Ballad of Jayne' sounds just fine that way.
I quite enjoy 'Rip and Tear' and 'Over the Edge' and overall I think it was smart of LA Guns to come to market with a "new" record of "old" material. This gives the band something to tour, helps put money in their pockets and gives us diehards a new way to approach some songs we already love.
Isn't it amazing to think that in 29 years this is the first time LA Guns has done an acoustic record? If you are an LA Guns fan, pick up the CD.
Tracklisting:
1. Crystal Eyes 2. One Way Ticket 3. Decide 4. Dreamtime 5. Electric Gypsy 6. It's Over Now 7. Never Enough 8. Over The Edge 9. Little Soldier (Brand New Song!) 10. Sex Action 11. These Arms Of Mine (Otis Redding Cover) 12. Love Hurts (Nazereth Cover) 13. The Ballad Of Jayne 14. Rip and Tear
In the 1980s, there are a handful of Aussie rock bands that mattered. Rose Tattoo sang about being a criminal. No-one was really sure what the Angels sang about half the time. Midnight Oil sang about things that mattered. Social issues, aboriginal issues, CSR refusing to pay out workers harmed by asbestos in mines, nothing escaped their gaze. Peter Garrett, the lead singer, always seemed to have some sort of seizure on stage, and the band was legendary for their live performances. As a teenager, you knew that the government was messing it up, and that people like Peter Garrett were what the world needed if we were ever going to make things better.
So, it's 2011, and where are they now? Actually, Peter Garrett is a member of the Australian parliament, although he lost his portfolio due to a government subsidy program that was widely rorted and ended up in the deaths of several apprentices. He was minister for the environment, a position in which he utterly failed to ever live up to his ideals, and was regularly embarrassed on television by being reminded of the gap between the lyrics he used to sing and what he was doing now that he had a chance.
Funny old world.
I'm not sure if the Oils were ever heard of outside the U.S., have you heard of them?
Does the world need new Ugly Kid Joe music? I say yes! The band, somewhat surprisingly, debuted a new tune the other day on some California radio show. The new tune is called "Love Ain't True." Ugly Kid Joe got back together, recorded six new songs maybe for an EP release in the future. In the meantime, here's "Love Ain't True."
One of my favorite guitar heroes has a new album coming! Michael Schenker will release a new one in October and he's going on tour here in America, too! Here's the release - I would like to see Michael when he comes to Ohio.
Michael Schenker, a true purveyor first-class hard guitar rock, is set to release the aptly titled "Temple of Rock" on October 11 on CD, digital formats, and vinyl. He will also be touring with Uli Jon Roth and Leslie West on the 3 Guitar Heroes tour.
The list of Schenker's successes is extensive... As a young man he lent his very special sound, together with his brother Rudolf, to the Scorpions, which later made the band one of the first real international hard rock stars from Germany. In the 70s, he similarly helped the British rock legends U.F.O. to their definitive breakthrough, turning songs like "Rock Bottom" or "Doctor, Doctor" into hits everyone knows.
In 1980, it was time for him to form the first band of his own... The Michael Schenker Group, or MSG for short. Some of the world's best musicians were asembled, cavorting with founding members such as Gary Barden, Don Airey or Simon Phillips. Not forgetting that no one less that Roger Glover from Deep Purple manned the production console for the first record. Since then, the three letters MSG have become a synonym for honest, hand-crafted and impelling premium hard rock.
Now, after extensive touring, and following a well-earned rest, Schenker has returned with his group to add a new jewel to his creative work. Names such as Pete Way, Wayne Findlay, Neil Murray and Chris Slade still represent the highest of standards and get aficionados' heartbeats racing. One of the biggest treats is his collaboration with the former Scorpions drummer, Herman "the German" Rarebell, as well as his beloved brother Rudolf. And yet the list is even longer with Doogie White (former member of the Rainbows), Super drummer Carmine Appice and Elliott Tichy. However the one name missing in 2011 is Gary Barden. Michael Voss, the new vocalist, is more than "just" a replacement. The experienced producer and singer showed just what he is capable of during the last MSG tour.
Here's the tour info:
October 6 - Norfolk - CT - Infinity Music Hall & Bistro October 7 - Albany - NY - The Egg October 8 - Ridgefield - CT - The Ridgefield Playhouse October 9 - Plymouth - NH - The Flying Monkey October 12 - Foxborough - MA - Showcase Live October 13 - Asbury Park - NJ - Stone Pony October 14 - New York - NY - Irving Plaza October 15 - Philadelphia - PA - Theatre of Living Arts October 16 - Westbury - NY - NYCB Theatre At Westbury October 18 - Silver Spring - MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring October 19 - Baltimore - MD - Sound Stage October 20 - Cleveland - OH - House of Blues October 21 - Cincinnati - OH - Bogart's October 22 - Indianapolis - IN - Egyptian Room October 26 - Milwaukee - WI - The Pabst Theater October 27 - Chicago - IL - House of Blues November 4 - Dallas - TX - House of Blues November 5 - Houston - TX - House of Blues November 11 - Las Vegas - NV - Boulder Station Hotel & Casino
I have been a fan of The Angels for a long, long time. They did not hit big in the USA, although they have a cult following, sometimes under the name 'Angel City' or 'The Angels from Angel City'. A few years ago, I went to see Doc Neeson play some songs with some young kids backing him up, as part of a package of 70s/80s pop bands. I sat through a lot of bad music to see him the only way I ever expected to.
So, I was thrilled when they got back together with Doc, and saw them several times, including once with the Adelaide Orchestra. But, it seems all is not well in Angels land, again. If you go to
www.theangels.com.au, a popup gives you a link for 'The Angels 2011 onwards.' The lineup given is Brewster/Brewster/Bailey/Gleeson. That means that Buzz Bidstrup (the drummer) has left along with Doc, and the new drummer is not credited. Dave Gleeson was/is the singer for Screaming Jets, another Aussie hard rock legend, best know for the song 'Better.' Click to hear the one song they have recorded with Dave, but apparently they've done gigs with him and are planning a tour. This band has always had a troubled history, and it's a shame to see them lose their original singer again. I guess only time will tell what comes of it. What is for sure is this: while they are a great band, they appear to me to be in the same situation as Skid Row. That is, you put up with a singer you can't stand if there's a lot of money to be made, but not if you're playing clubs.
Today is the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. It's hard to believe a decade has passed since that nightmarish day in 2001 - but here we are, commemorating another Patriot Day.
Skid Row recorded the song "One Light" in remembrance of the tragedy. The song is from the album Thickskin. Much love and respect to all today.
Either Hell froze over or Axl Rose is broke, because Guns n' Roses are touring America - and soon. So far, there are three dates confirmed. That might not sound like much, but for Axl's Roses, I think it's a ton.
Here are the dates:
10/28/11 - Orlando, FL - Amway Center
10/29/11 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
11/12/11 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
Notice the dates - I feel confident in predicting many more dates to come. This looks like the shell of a tour routing to me! None of these dates work for me, so I'm holding out hope that Guns n' Roses will play in Ohio (or close to it) when I'm not on Shiprocked. So, what are your predictions for this tour: will Axl actually pull it off? Will you attend?
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 12:01AM 
LA Guns (Tracii Guns version) will release an acoustic album of greatest hits called Acoustic Gypsy Live on September 27. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and the band will tour in support of the new record.
