Music News Net

DAVE DAVIES Sets New Release Plans

MUSIC NEWS - The man who forever changed the sound of rock 'n' roll when he invented distortion, Kinks' legend Dave Davies, has recorded a brand new solo album of all original material! I WILL BE ME will be released on Cleopatra Records on June 4^th and features guest appearances by The Jayhawks, Anti-Flag, award winning UK blues guitarist Oli Brown, Chris Spedding, US stoner
rock band Dead Meadow, Aussie rockers The Art, Geri X and others!

In support of Dave's new album release, a special engagement of Live performances in New York
and Los Angeles are scheduled for the end of May to mid-June!  See below for current tour itinerary.

RAY MANZAREK, Founding Member of The Doors Dead at 74

MUSIC NEWS - Ray Manzarek, a founding member and keyboardist of the legendary 1960s rock group The Doors, died on Monday at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family at age 74, said the group's manager Tom Vitorino.  Manzarek died following a battle with bile duct cancer, the band said in a statement.

Singer Jim Morrison and Mr Manzarek formed The Doors in 1965 after the two met at UCLA film school and later a chance meeting at Los Angeles' Venice Beach.  Manzarek's keyboard work would go on to be a touchstone of hits like "Break On Through to the Other Side" and "Light My Fire."   "I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate  Ray Manzarek today," The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger said in a statement. "I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him."

Peter Frampton's GUITAR CIRCUS Ready to Kick Off

MUSIC NEWS- After his success with a 2011/2012 world tour celebrating the 35th Anniversary of his multi-platinum live album Frampton Comes Alive!, Peter Frampton is back on the road with Frampton’s Guitar Circus. Each night, Frampton’s set will be recorded and subsequently sold in digital format.

Starting off later this month, Frampton will perform several dates with five-time Grammy Award winner Robert Cray including Nashville, New York City and Austin. In July, guitarist/vocalist/producer Steve Lukather and praised blues artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd will open the show—performing in cities including San Antonio and Minneapolis. Then in August, Frampton will travel through Atlanta, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and more with acclaimed slide blues guitarist Sonny Landreth opening the show, followed by the legendary B.B. King.

Rolling Stones Add Wash DC "50 and Counting" Concert Date

MUSIC NEWS - The Rolling Stones, who recently kicked off their "50 and Counting" tour  at STAPLES Center on Friday, May 3, have added another concert date to their summer tour. The classic rock band will perform at Verizon Center in Washington, DC for one night only on Monday, June 24*, 2013.

Their "50 AND COUNTING" tour continues the celebration of the band's first 50 years-five decades of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood bringing their iconic music and ground- breaking stage shows to audiences around the globe.

Robert Plant Announces "Sensational Space Shifters" Tour Dates

MUSIC NEWS- Robert Plant Presents the Sensational Space Shifters has announced its first North American tour dates. This dynamic and powerful new incarnation of Plant's musical vision has been touring the world, most recently in Australia and New Zealand.  The Brisbane Times reports "What's going on is further proof that Plant is far more imaginative, playful and adventurous than any cliche, a man who's absorbed all the music he's loved and played and sought out the musicians to explore that," while Adelaide Now hailed, "The Sensational Space Shifters are everything their name suggests."

The USA dates begin on June 20 at the Dallas, TX, Palladium and end July 27 in Brooklyn, NY's Prospect Park. The band will be playing five festival dates, including Britt in Jacksonville, OR, High Sierra in Quincy, CA, Jambase in George, WA, Portland Blues in Portland, OR, and Forecastle in Louisville, KY.

Rock Album Cover Artist, Storm Thorgerson, Dead at 69

MUSIC NEWS - Iconic rock album cover designer, Storm Thorgerson has passed away at age 69. He had been treated for cancer for some years.  His incredible body of work and his long-term relationship with Pink Floyd, designing covers for the likes of Darkside Of The Moon and Wish You Were Hear among many others made him and his Hipgnosis firm, legendary.  Thorgerson was also commissioned, and well known for his work with Peter Gabriel, Led Zeppelin, Muse, Phish, Styx, Biffy Clyro (his final work, for their OPPOSITES album ), Black Sabbath and more.

More @ Stormthorgerson.com

 

MEAT LOAF Cancels Date on His Farewell "Last at Bat" Tour in the UK

MUSIC NEWS - Classic rocker, Meat Loaf pulled out of a British concert just hours before he was due on stage as health problems continue to dog the 65-year-old singer. He's currently touring Europe on his farewell "Last At Bat" tour which he claims will be his last after struggling with health problems in recent years.

On Sunday he cancelled the fifth of eight concerts booked in Britain, issuing an apology on his Facebook page saying "several members of the band" were ill and the concert in Nottingham would be rescheduled for May 20.

PAUL McCARTNEY Keeps Adding USA Tour Dates

MUSIC NEWS - Paul McCartney keeps adding USA concert dates to his 2013 tour schedule as the run now includes several more shows with new gigs in Milwaukee and Indianapolis and second nights in Austin, Orlando and Tulsa. The additional nights in Texas, Florida and Oklahoma were added “due to massive popular demand.”   According to the music legend's website, the first show in Orlando since 1993 sold out “immediately” and his first ever show in Austin sold out “instantly.”

The onsale for Sir Paul’s first 2013 gig at Tulsa’s BOK Center “is officially the fastest sell-out in the arena’s history.” He last took the stage at the venue in 2009.

Bon Jovi's RICHIE SAMBORA Drops Out of Current Tour

MUSIC NEWS- NJ rockers' Bon Jovi's guitarist, Richie Sambora is off the current leg of the rock band's world wide tour because of "personal issues".  But word is the guitarist, who has done stints in rehab due to problems with alcohol, tweeted fans this week that he was "well." "Thank you everyone for your concern," Sambora said on Twitter. "I'm well, but had to stay in LA to take care of a personal matter. Love you all and see you very soon."

53 year old Sambora, who spent time in rehab in 2007 and 2011 for alcohol and prescription drug abuse, was not on stage at Bon Jovi's show in Calgary, Alberta, on Tuesday and the group said he would miss a the series of North America concerts.

CHEAP TRICK to Celebrate 35th Anniversary of "Live at Budokan" with NYC and L.A. Shows

MUSIC NEWS - To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the legendary show in Budokan, Japan, Cheap Trick have announced that they will play the exact April 28, 1978 Budokan set on April 28 at the John Varvatos Bowery boutique in New York City.  This is the same space that formerly housed the seminal underground music club CBGB's.   "I'm proud to host this momentous show for my friends Cheap Trick at my Bowery store which is celebrating its own 5th anniversary this month," says designer John Varvatos. 

Fans around the world will be able to watch the show live via Livestream.com by visiting livestream.com/CheapTrick/Budokan.  PopMarket.com will offer 50 VIP ticket bundles on
April 4th which will include entry to this private show, a meet and greet, a signed  poster, the Cheap Trick Complete Epic Albums CD Box Set, plus the Budokan! 3 CD/1 DVD box set. 

Texas Psych Rock's MOVING SIDEWALKS Re-unite for Special Gigs

MUSIC NEWS - The upcoming "regathering" of the Moving Sidewalks for the iconic Texas band's first live performances in 44 years has inspired the brilliant automotive minds at SO-CAL Speed Shop to reach into the past as they project into the future. Under the guidance of SO-CAL's Peter Chapouris and with input from band's Billy F Gibbons, SO CAL designers have envisioned "the fastest band van in the world." 

Modeled on the original Ford Econoline van (w/ Texas plate "FUNKY") that the band used for club and concert appearances in the late 1960s on bills shared with Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, Beau Brummels, Electric Prunes, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Music Machine, the Jeff Beck Group (with Rod Stewart), Steppenwolf, John Mayall, Ten Years After and Stevie Wonder, the new creation, according to Chapouris is a "sleeper version of a 'Pro Touring' style vehicle that could be used as a gig van."  He went on to describe the new version as "pretty much a stock beater on the outside but wicked on the underside."  He's suggesting it be equipped with a full road race suspension and supercharged 600+ horsepower Ford Coyote 5.0 motor.  Chapouris continued, "When it pulls up to venues it will be, quite literally, 'Moving Sidewalks.'"

Band photo: Sandrine Lee

HUEY LEWIS & the NEWS Back for 30th Anniversary of "Sports"

MUSIC NEWS- Huey Lewis and The News' 1983 'Sports' album has spawned four Top 10 hit singles (and another that broke into the Top 20), an iconic music videos, and has sold almost 10 million copies. To celebrate the album's 30th anniversary, Lewis has personally overseen an expanded commemorative edition, which will be out on May 14 via Capitol/UMe.

Having gone through a digital remastered process for CD and standard and high definition digital audio, 'Sports (30th Anniversary Edition)' pairs each of the original album's nine songs with choice live versions on a second disc, many of which have never before been released previously,

FOREIGNER's Mick Jones and Lou Gramm to Reunite for Hall of Fame Event

MUSIC NEWS- Key members of classic rocks' Foreigner, Mick Jones and ex-singer Lou Gramm, will share a stage this June for the first time in a decade, and in the process will put a long running and bitter feud behind them.

The two will reunite for their induction into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame on June 13 in NYC.  Mr Gramm says it was easy to finally pick up the phone and call his former colleague as they get recognized for the creation of world-class rock tunes that includes Feels Like The First Time, Cold As Ice, Hot Blooded and Juke Box Hero.

The Eagles Announce Their "History of the Eagles" Tour

MUSIC NEWS - The standard bearer of Southern California rock, The EAGLES, one of America’s most iconic bands will take to North American concert stages in celebration of their Showtime documentary film.  Announced cities for the Eagles run include Louisville, Milwaukee, Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The Eagles; Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit will perform classics spanning their career including “Hotel California,” “New Kid In Town,” “Take It To The Limit,” “One Of These Nights,” “Lyin’ Eyes,”  “Best Of My Love” and “Take It Easy.” Hits from band members’ solo careers will also be featured during the shows.

Peter Frampton Announces Frampton's Guitar Circus Tour

MUSIC NEWS - Following the success of the 2011/2012 world tour celebrating the 35th Anniversary of his multi-platinum selling live album Frampton Comes Alive!, Peter Frampton is back on the road with Frampton’s Guitar Circus.  The tour will feature the Grammy-winning musician performing with
friends, celebrated guitarists, and other special guests (to be announced).  Kicking off in May, Frampton will perform several dates with five-time Grammy Award winner Robert Cray including Nashville, New York City and Austin. In August, he will travel through Atlanta, Washington DC, Los Angeles and more with praised slide blues guitarist Sonny Landreth opening the show, followed by the legendary B.B. King. Each night, Frampton’s set will be recorded and subsequently sold in digital format.