Styx Still Rocking The Younger Generation

Apparently, Styx is yet another classic rock group that is surprised by the number of young fans showing up for their shows these days. Not bad for a group that got its start in the early 1970’s.

This surely is not the Styx I remember since it looks like there are only two or three original members left. Still, it’s nice to hear that they have been attracting a younger crowd and it’s not just us old folks who enjoy the music of that era. I have a Styx “Greatest Hits” CD that I still listen to once in a while.

In a recent article, James Young, one of the band’s original members said he thought that the kids who were showing up for their shows may be embracing some of the older music as part of a rebellion against some of today’s more popular music, and I surely would agree with him. Where else can kids go today to escape the crap that passes as music these days?

That’s not to say that there are no good bands emerging any more since I do hear some that actually sound pretty decent once in a while. However, if the stuff I hear so often as part of movies or TV commercials is any indication, it is easy for me to understand why some kids are looking back a few decades for something that actually sounds like music.

[tags]styx, concert, james young[/tags]

Aerosmith Joins With Motley Crue For Fall Tour

Another tour that kicks off in New Jersey this year will be the newly-teamed Aerosmith and Motley Crue, who will rock Holmdel, New Jersey on September 14, 2006 and complete their tour on November 24 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Aerosmith was forced to cancel the remaining acts in their tour during March due to lead singer Steven Tyler’s throat problems that required him to undergo surgery to remedy the problem.

For my money, Motley Crue has a decidedly more hard rock reputation than Aerosmith (and that’s not to be a considered and insult since I actually much prefer Aerosmith to Motely Crue) so it will make for an interesting team.

Def Leppard on The Comeback Trail?

Def Leppard is a band that certainly enjoyed their share of airplay back in the 1980’s. They also had to deal with their share of hardship, more specifically the 1984 auto accident that resulted in the loss of their drummer’s arm.

Even after an accident that could have easily sidelined a drummer, Def Leppard’s Rick Allen kept on going, and with the help of some special equipment, remained behind his kit, and, according to lead singer Joe Elliot, became an even better drummer.

Now, more than 20 years after the accident, Def Leppard is prepared to take on the odds again and try their luck on the comeback trail. Like many classic rockers who were so well-known a couple of decades ago, they sort of dropped off the radar for a while, although they did tour the U.S. with Bryan Adams last summer and attracted some respectable crowds and picked up a few good reviews to boot.

With the recent release of their cover album entitled Yeah, the band is set to embark on a three-month U.S. tour, beginning on Friday (6/23/06) at The Tweeter Center in Camden, New Jersey.

Joining Def Leppard as the tour’s co-headliners is the legendary Journey, who also enjoyed amazing popularity during the 1980’s and is contuniung to work hard in the studio and on the road today.

Def Leppard fans who may not be able to attend one of their lives performances may be interested to know that the band will appear on The Late Show With David Letterman on Friday night (6/23/06) and on the syndicated morning show Live With Regis & Kelly Monday Morning (6/26/06).

For more information, check the news section of Def Leppard’s official web site.

[tags]def leppard, journey, tour, concert[/tags]

Frank Zappa’s Music Lives Again

I don’t know all that much about Frank Zappa other than he was the guy that named his kids Dweezil and Moon Unit and had some cool music that I heard on the radio once in a while.

Even so, it was interesting to see that his son Dweezil has spent the last two years preparing himself to breathe new life into his father’s music by taking it out on the road with the new band he has assembled.

Frank Zappa’s music is probably considered a bit “out there” by a lot of folks, and despite the unusual lyrics and music that was well outside the mainstream, I was always impressed by the level of musicianship that Zappa and his band demonstrated.

Apparently, son Dweezil is no less demanding about the musicians he will be taking on tour with him to perform Frank’s music.

He has managed to round up Napoleon Murphy Brock, one of Dad’s original vocalists (among other things), guitarist Steve Vai and, most impressive to me, Terry Bozzio, a phenomenal drummer whose talent I have admired for quite a long time.

Although not all that well known, the two albums that Bozzio made with Tony Levin and Steve Stevens a while back are just amazing and highly recommended.

There’s a good write-up on this in the Boston Globe if you would like to read more about this.

[tags]dweezil zappa, frank zappa, tour, band[/tags]

New Bob Seger Album Coming Later This Year

According to Billboard, Bob Seger is set to release his first new album since 1995. The plan is to release it September 12, so that puts the release date out about three months from today.

Seger produced the album himself and has included fellow Detroit rocker Kid Rock on one of the tracks for a duet.

For my money Seger has produced some pretty decent stuff. I have not spent a lot of time listening to his stuff and I don’t have any of his music myself, but when I have heard his various hits on the radio through the years, I listened to the whole song more often than not.

From a notorious radio button-pusher like myself, that’s almost an endorsement!

There currently no plans for a tour, but it is something that Seger is reportedly considering.

[tags]bob seger, new album[/tags]

What’s Up With All The Van Halen Talk?

It appears that former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth is more anxious than ever to reunite with his old band mates. I’ve been seeing stories here and there quoting Diamond Dave saying that the band’s reunion is inevitable.

Granted the guy needs a new gig after being fired from the radio gig he had for a short while as one of the replacements for Howard Stern’s show.

Another story I just finished reading about Sammy Hagar quotes him as saying that he would not rule out reuniting with the old group as well, but only if Eddie Van Halen demonstrates some “fundamental changes” in his behavior.

According to Hagar, Eddie is not the most pleasant person in the world to be around and is prone to violent outbursts and other negative behaviors.

Personally, I thought the Hagar years produced some of Van Halen’s best-sounding stuff, but I was never a big fan of David Lee Roth, so my feelings about Hagar probably benefit a good deal as a result of my feelings for the original and flamboyant front man.

In the meantime, Sammy Hagar is hitting the road with his old band and this time he will have former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony in tow. One might wonder how Eddie Van Halen feels about that development.

At this point it appears there are two obvious questions concerning any Van Halen reunion: Will it ever happen? And, if it does, who will they be welcoming back into the fold, David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar?

[tags]van halen, sammy hagar, david lee roth[/tags]

New 4-Disk Box Set From Rush

Coming this month, a new treat for Rush fans which will include 3 DVDs featuring the band’s live performances and a CD soundtrack version of Grace Under Pressure.

To be released on June 13, the new box set is entitled Rush Replay X3.

The three DVDs are out-of-print and feature performances from the following tours: Exit… Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure and A Show of Hands.

Each DVD includes new 5.1 Surround Sound and stereo mixes done by Alex Lifeson and Mike Fraser as well as digitally transferred and remastered video.

Also included are mini reprints of the original tour booklets for the three concerts that are featured.

[tags]rush, dvd, replay x[/tags]