Music News Net

JETHRO TULL's Ian Anderson Announces THICK AS A BRICK Part II

MUSIC NEWS - Following the recent announcement of a 19-date tour to commemorate the 40th anniversary of 'Thick As A Brick,' on April 3, Ian Anderson will release a sequel to the original album!

In 1972,Ian Anderson wrote and recorded the Jethro Tull  progressive rock classic album 'Thick As A Brick.'  The lyrics were credited at the time to the fictitious child character, Gerald Bostock, whose parents supposedly lied about his age. The record instantly became a number one Billboard Chart album and enjoyed considerable success in many countries of the world.

So, forty years later, what would Gerald Bostock, now aged fifty, be doing today?  What might have happened to him?  The anniversary “part two” album will examine the possible different paths that the precocious young schoolboy, Gerald Bostock, might have taken later in life through alter-ego characters with song-section identities illustrating the hugely varied potential twists and turns of fate and opportunity. Not just for Gerald but to echo how our own lives develop, change direction and ultimately conclude through chance encounters and interventions, however tiny and insignificant they might seem at the time.

Ian Anderson recently said of the album, “As we baby-boomers look back on our own lives, we must often feel an occasional 'what-if' moment. Might we, like Gerald, have become instead preacher, soldier, down-and-out, shopkeeper or finance tycoon?” Adding, “And those of more tender years - the social media and internet generation - may choose to ponder well the myriad of chance possibilities ahead of them at every turn.....”

 

SUPERTRAMP's Roger Hodgson Announces USA Tour Dates

MUSIC NEWS - Roger Hodgson, the voice of Supertramp, will kick off his Breakfast in America Tour next month, leading off with two sold out shows at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, CA. Fans the world over have been thrilled with Hodgson's unforgettable songs such as "Breakfast in America," "The Logical Song," "Dreamer," "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home," and "School." Hodgson and his band will perform these timeless songs, as they take you on a magical musical journey.

Founding Supertramp in 1969, Hodgson's tones and beautifully crafted lyrics helped the band sell in excess of 60 million albums, transforming them into a worldwide phenomenon. Although he left the band in 1983, he is still regarded by many as the spiritual and creative force behind Supertramp.

 

Steve Howe's TIME Gets North American Release

MUSIC NEWS- YES guitarist, Steve Howe has, over the last 50 years assured his position as one of the world’s pre-eminent guitarists. His uniquely fluid and creative style helped propel Yes and Asia to superstar status. 

And, throughout his career Steve has included pieces for folk and classical guitar in his amazing repertoire, with compositions such as ‘Clap’ and ‘Mood For A Day’ becoming perennial favorites.  An album of cool instrumentals that bridge the classical, jazz and folk genres, it's a wonderful trek.  Howe's obvious high high regard for the classical music form finds full expression in TIME.

PETER GABRIEL's 25th Anniversary "So" Release Would Like Your Help

MUSIC NEWS- With the 25th Anniversary of his "So" album, Peter Gabriel is working on a 25th anniversary edition of thes landmark album, and he's asking for your help. In a video (below), he's requesting pictures, objects, memorabilia, etc that you may have for possible inclusion in the upcoming album's book or on his website.

You can submit your memorabilia via; http://petergabriel.com/so-submissions/

YES Announces Live CD/DVD Release

MUSIC NEWS- Progressive rock legends, Yes have announced the release of another live album.  Called
“In The Present — Live from Lyon”, it'll be out on November 29 in North America and December 2 in Europe. 

The set was recorded in Lyon, France, on December 1, 2009 with singer Benoit David in the Jon Anderson role.  The release will contain a 55 minute DVD with excerpts from the live show, interviews and behind the scenes footage.

“THE MAKING OF BATTLES’ ‘MY MACHINES’” VIDEO FEATURING GARY NUMAN

MUSIC NEWS - The Creators Project is currently premiering “The Making of Battles’ ‘My Machines’” video, featuring synth-pop pioneer Gary Numan.  A collaboration with The Creators Project’s The Studio, which produces and distributes works from artists representing a cross-section of creative disciplines, directed by Daniels, the making-of video can be viewed below along with the “My Machines” video.

Pink Floyd's DAVID GILMOUR Loses Court Battle Over Shed

MUSIC NEWS - Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has been ordered to pull down his bright yellow beach hut in East Sussex, England, because local government officials have said it's an eyesore.

The rocker uses the storage shed, which is at the end of his driveway at his seafront mansion in Hove, to store his bicycles.  Gilmour and his wife, writer Polly Samson, had appealed against the council's request to have the building destroyed, but officials are now demanding the musician take the hut down or face prosecution.

PETER GABRIEL Announces "New Blood" Release

MUSIC NEWS - On the heels of a limited date sold-out USA summer tour that earned Peter Gabriel some of the best reviews of his career, word comes of the release of a full-length album by the former Genesis leader, NEW BLOOD on October 11, 2011 via EMI. A continuum to his Scratch My Back release, the NEW BLOOD album will feature some of Gabriel's biggest hits from his notable solo career, all reconstructed and re-imagined with orchestral arrangements and recorded live with the New Blood Orchestra. Gabriel hand-selected the songs and enlisted the help of longtime collaborator John Metcalfe for the arrangements and Ben Foster as conductor of the 46-piece New Blood Orchestra.

The treatment was applied to songs including "Mercy Street", "Don't Give Up", "Digging In The Dirt", "San Jacinto", and the all-time classic "Solsbury Hill".  The plan was not to simply rework Gabriel's biggest songs, but rather, find songs that were enhanced by the massed strings, brass, woodwind and percussion. "Don't Give Up" now with Norwegian singer Ane Brun's vulnerable, cracking vocals replacing those of Kate Bush, rides a stirring, uplifting coda. Where the

STEVE HOWE of YES to Release REMEDY LIVE Tour Documentary

MUSIC NEWS - Yes/ ASIA  rocker, and guitar legend  Steve Howe will release a doc of his Remedy European Tour 2004 on October 25. The REMEDY LIVE documentary features exclusive footage of the band in their own studio and rehearsal environment, interviews with band members on the road and backstage footage.

Presented with 5.1 Dolby Digital, 5.1 DTS and Dolby Stereo Sound Options, Steve Howe's Remedy will include a feature length Steve Howe's Remedy "Live" concert, filmed during his 2004 European Tour and the DVD is loaded with the "Acoustic" and "Tour Story" Special Features.

Ian Anderson Announces the Thick As A Brick Tour for 2012.

MUSIC NEWS- Ian Anderson has revealed that he will be performed the classic Tull album,  Thick As A Brick in its entirety for the first time since 1972, going on a world tour commencing in Great Britain in Mid-April. Then, it's on to European countries in the late Spring and Summer before landing in the USA for two tours spanning September, October and early November of 2012.

This tour will feature a more theatrical production with video, additional musicians and a troupe of dancing elephants. (Just kidding about the dancing elephants: they don't dance...)

 

Prog Rock's GENTLE GIANT Gets Re-Master Treatment

MUSIC NEWS - On September 27, 2011 more GENTLE GIANT music will be re-issued.  This time it's the sets with Roger Dean's infamous Octopus art and Martin Birch's original Three Friends artwork on the special digipacks which are heading to your favorite music shoppe.  You can acquire another taste of Gentle Giant with the original U.K. Artwork and remastered music on CD or via digital download. 

One of the most renowned bands that came out of the British Progressive Rock Movement, Gentle Giant spent their decade together pushing musical boundaries and continually taking chances. Their music, though rooted in rock, had overtones of classical European composition, American jazz, British soul, medieval and even blues. They seamlessly integrated these varying musical styles into a melting pot that epitomized the essence that was Gentle Giant. 

STRAWBS Return For North American Tour

MUSIC NEWS - You'll find the Strawbs this season on the East Coast, West Coast and all across Canada, as they plan to spend a serious amount of the Fall of 2011 in North America. And Singer guitarist David Cousins, guitarist Dave Lambert and bassist Chas Cronk  won't likely be doing the same shows each night on this run.  We'll have nights like their September 14 tour debut at the Town Crier in Pawling, where the Acoustic Strawbs will hold court all by themselves. And then there will be fall evenings when the Strawbs are pursued by The Zombies. Either way, we know you're in for a night of superb British rock.

Coming out of the early days of the British folk movement, David Cousins, Tony Hooper formed The Strawberry Hill Boys (it was shortened to the Strawbs) to play bluegrass. For a while, they counted Sandy Denny as a member (before she went on to Fairport Convention). As the group got deeper into a more “progressive” sound, they also featured Rick Wakeman [who will also tour the USA this fall] , before he went on to Yes.

(photo of Acoustic Strawbs & Rick Wakeman from July 2011 UK gig by Dick Greener)

Ex- YES Men Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman to Tour North America

MUSIC NEWS - The two legendary prog-rockers have announced plans for an autumn North American concert tour.  As a founding member of YES, Jon Anderson and in & out YES member, Rick Wakeman helped shape the British band’s unique sound as they created the entire music genre of progressive rock. Wakeman (former Strawbs member) joined the group for the band's fourth album in 1971, Fragile, and added a new spin that defined the band and replaced original keyboardist Tony Kaye. Wakeman added state-of-the-art instruments like the Moog and Mellotron to Yes, creating a deeper, orchestral sound for the rockers.

Though Wakeman’s relationship with YES was strained at periods, in part to musical as well as lifestyle differences, finding the keyboard ace venturing off in 1974.  He returned in 1976 for the Going for the One release and left again in 1980. These days Geoff Downes, who replaced Wakeman in 1980, is the keyboarist, though Rick' son has toured with the band as well !  The group now performs with Canadian singer Benoit David, who hand been in a YES tribute band, after Anderson was dumped after needing to take a break due to an illness.  Both Anderson and Wakeman record on tour on their own, and together occasionally, this marks the first time they bring the shows to North America.  Anderson's recent release, Survival and Other Stories is out now.

"A Dramatic Turn of Events" for Dream Theater, and Tour Dates

MUSIC NEWS - Dream Theater, who were recently voted one of the top 10 Prog Rock bands of all time by RollingStone.com readers, will return on September 13 with a new release; A Dramatic Turn of Events via Roadrunner Records.  The album marks the recorded debut of new drummer Mike Mangini with the progressive metal band. 

 In addition to the standard version, a special edition CD/DVD set will include The Spirit Carries On – a 60-minute movie documenting Dream Theater’s much-discussed drummer auditions; a double LP Set in gatefold jacket; and a Limited Deluxe Collector's Edition Box Set. The A Dramatic Turn of Events Deluxe Collector’s Edition Box Set includes the A Dramatic Turn of Events album; instrumentals of the entire album; the DVD of The Spirit Carries On;  a double-LP Set of A Dramatic Turn of Events (180-Gram Vinyl in Gatefold Jacket);  Dream Theater branded custom turntable slipmat; and a litho print of album. Also, 50 lucky winners will find a Dream Theater 'Ticket For Life,' which is randomly inserted into packaging.  All the content will be housed in a custom box and those who purchase will receive a digital download of the album the day prior to release. 

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER's Reunion Performance Releases on Video

MUSIC NEWS- Classic prog rockers, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER (ELP) reformed last summer, for the first time since 1998 headline the HIGH VOLTAGE FESTIVAL on Sunday, July 25, 2010 and we now have word that the performance will be out on dvd/blu ray on August 23, 2011.

2010/2011 marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of Emerson Lake and Palmer, who were the predominant force that laid the foundation for all of progressive rock.  Comprised of  Keith Emerson, the explosive keyboard who came from the Nice, the sultry vocals and extraordinary bass of Greg Lake from King Crimson and the theatrical and extraordinary drumming of Carl Palmer (ASIA), who emerged from Atomic Rooster.