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February 24, 2010
High Voltage Show Set To Showcase Classic And Contemporary Rock Acts
The only problem with the upcoming “High Voltage Festival” is that it’s set to take place in London, England. Great for U.K. fans, but not so much for those of us located an ocean away. Unless you are in the habit of dropping hefty sums of money on live shows, the “High Voltage Festival” is probably out of reach.
It’s obviously silly to complain about the location of any given event, and that’s not the my intention. It would be more accurate to say something like: This sounds like a pretty cool event, but I wish it was closer to home since I think a lot of fans here in the U.S. would love to be there.
Even so, I suppose we have our fair share of events here at home to choose from, and as big as this country is, it is possible to bypass the airport and save some cash by driving just about anywhere you want to, if you want to see a show badly enough.
For those fortunate enough to making their plans to attend, the festival sounds like it will be a unique experience, with special attention given to pleasing rock fans of various stripes. It will feature a classic rock stage, a prog rock stage, and a heavy metal stage.
It appears that new acts are still signing up for the event, with Dweezil Zappa signing on just yesterday for his slot on prog rock stage. Zappa has been showcasing the music of his legendary dad, Frank Zappa, in a show that the younger Zappa calls “Zappa Plays Zappa.” Although this act undoubtedly belongs on the progressive rock stage, reflecting on the music of Frank Zappa makes me wonder if they should consider adding a “progressive prog rock” stage to the event.
Zappa will be sharing the prog rock stage with other well-known groups like Asia, Argent and Uriah Heep.
The classic rock stage will feature their own collection of big name rockers from decades past, and will include ZZ Top, Bachman and Turner, Foreigner, Emerson Lake and Palmer and more. It’s looking like the event may mean double duty for drummer Carl Palmer, who, as far as I can tell, will be on stage with ELP and Asia for this event.
With Aerosmith recently announcing new European dates for the 2010 summer concert season, one wonders whether they might end up on the roster for this show as well. They’re scheduled for the “Download 2010” event in the U.K. during June, so maybe sticking around for another month or so might be an option. I have no inside information about Aerosmith’s plans or summer schedule, so this is just random speculation on my part.
For more information and updates on the “High Voltage Festival,” you can visit the event’s official website.
January 1, 2010
Classic Rock Preview For 2010
I see a lot of stories around this time of year about what was. TV programs featuring the notable events of the previous 12 months are never in short supply after Christmas. Ditto for other media, such as newspapers and radio. It’s also pretty good fodder for bloggers, who have weighed in with their versions of what was important during 2009.
Instead of looking back, I’m going to look forward. Granted, looking back has its benefits, especially when we think about those things we wish we had not done. In those cases, we all hope we have learned from our mistakes.
The new year looks like it will be an interesting one for classic rock fans. A number of our old favorites will be going on tour or releasing a new album. There’s clearly a lot of demand out there for the music of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and fortunately, many of the big names from those decades are still going strong.
Yes resumes their tour next month on the 4th at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH. Still no Jon Anderson, but as long as he stays healthy, there may be a chance we’ll see him fronting the group again some day.
Although it has not been confirmed, the Rolling Stones are said to be preparing for a world tour sometime this year. We can thank Ron Wood’s ex-girlfriend Ekaterina Ivanova for leaking that little gem to her friends.
In April, Bad Company will reunite for a brief tour of the U.K. What’s a little unique about this reunion is that it will be made up of the original members. So many of the classic acts seem to have undergone significant line-up changes over the years, so it’s really kind of nice to see the real deal on stage for this one.
In May, Scorpions hit the road for a world tour of their own. They are also working on a new album, but have not revealed a release date that I am aware of.
The Faces appear set to reunite for a tour sometime this year, although it remains to be seen how many of the original members will be there. Other members of the group seem to have lost their patience waiting for a decision from Rod Stewart about the tour, and have decided to forge ahead without him. Stewart reportedly decided he would rather work on other projects. With Ron Wood presumably set to tour with the Stones, it’s not clear what his status is regarding the reunion.
That enduring trio from the Great White North may soon be dusting themselves off and getting back to work on a new album and tour. No confirmation on any plans yet, but Rush is rumored to be kicking around the idea of linking up and figuring out what kind of project they want to do.
Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart are working on a new album that is planned for release this summer. Word is that we’ll be hearing a lot more from Nancy on vocals for this new release.
No dates have been lined up yet, but Randy Bachman and Fred Turner are planning what will probably be the closest thing to a BTO tour we will ever see, although they will probably not be billing themselves as Bachman-Turner Overdrive for legal reasons. Seems Randy’s brother and former BTO drummer Rob, and former BTO guitarist Blair Thornton, have teamed up in an effort to ensure that the name is not used. They claim that Randy Bachman gave up any rights to it when he went solo in 1977. I guess that’s what you call “Takin’ Care of Business.”
With the future of Aerosmith hanging in the balance, it’s hard to predict which direction they will be headed in this year. The continuation of Aerosmith in its current form seems to be in the hands of frontman Steven Tyler, who has reportedly checked himself into rehab recently.
As time carries us further into the new year, we’re very likely to hear from more classic acts who have plans for new material, a tour, or perhaps both. As long as the fans are out there in sufficient numbers, a lot of these enduring groups seem quite happy to forge ahead and continue making music as long as the aging process will permit.
March 24, 2009
‘Classic Rock Track Pack’ Planned For ‘Rock Band’
Harmonix, developer of the popular video game “Rock Band,” has announced plans to release a new disc for rock star wannabes that will feature 20 classic rock tracks.
The new disc, entitled “Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock” will include 20 songs from classic acts like Boston, Jetrho Tull and Rush. Gamers can expect to find the new release available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. Owners of PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 will be able to download the new tracks to their set list.
This is another fine example of how music in the digital age is actually contributing to the preservation of classic rock music that is most likely old enough to have serenaded most gamer’s parents on their first date.
Although there was – and probably continues to be – fear among music industry fat cats and some musicians that the age of the digital download would kill off the music business, developments like this just prove that progress on the technology front always has room for those who are forward-looking and ambitious enough to profit from it.
Instead of whining about music downloads and trying to hunt down internet users grabbing free tunes, music industry execs should have adapted to the new environment and started working on things like “Rock Band.” It was noted recently that the Guitar Hero’s release, “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” sold more than three times as many units as the group’s most recent album. At about $20 each (at Amazon.com), that’s not bad.
Living room rock stars can expect to see “Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock” on store shelves and online retail locations on May 19 in North America. It is set to retail for $29.99.
Here’s a peek at the tracks that will be included on this new release:
1. Boston – “Peace of Mind” (1976)
2. Boston – “Rock and Roll Band” (1976)
3. Dead Kennedys – “California Uber Alles” (1987)
4. Dead Kennedys – “Holiday in Cambodia” (1987)
5. Free – “All Right Now” (1970)
6. George Thorogood & the Destroyers – “Bad to the Bone” (1982)
7. James Gang – “Funk #49” (1970)
8. Jethro Tull – “Hymn 43” (1971)
9. Lenny Kravitz – “Let Love Rule” (1989)
10. Pat Benatar – “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (1980)
11. The Police – “Can’t Stand Losing You” (1978)
12. The Police – “Truth Hits Everybody” (1978)
13. Rush – “Closer to the Heart” (1977)
14. Rush – “Red Barchetta” (1981)
15. Siouxsie and The Banshees – “Kiss Them For Me” (1991)
16. Steve Miller Band – “Take the Money and Run” (1976)
17. Steve Miller Band – "The Joker” (1973)
18. The Stone Roses – “Love Spreads” (1994)
19. The Who – “Baba O’Riley” (1971)
20. The Who – “Behind Blue Eyes” (1971)
August 13, 2008
Classic Rock Lags Behind In Digital Download Era
Seems like there’s one corporation or another tracking just about every consumer-oriented event you can imagine these days, and downloads of digital music are no exception.
I was surprised to discover that the latest statistics on digital music downloads did not reflect all that favorably on classic rock. Well known stat trackers Nielsen/SoundScan have discovered that only 10 songs on the Top 200 downloaded songs were from the 70’s, 80’s or 90’s.
Personally, it’s hard for me to think of music from the 90’s as “classic,” unless it is a product of a classic group that was still making new music during that decade. When I see a 1996 Buick pass me on the street, I don’t think 
“classic” but when I spot a 1983 Pontiac Firebird or a or a 1982 Chevy Monte Carlo (one of which provided me with great service for a good number of years!), I am much more inclined to think “classic.” I’ll refrain from talking about “Classic Coke,” since that’s a whole other story.
Getting back to music, which might be a good idea at this point, the lackluster popularity of classic tracks among the Top 200 downloads is perplexing to me for a number of reasons. After all, classic rock seems to be experiencing a resurgence in popularity in recent years. When I see high school kids sporting Led Zeppelin T-shirts and I can find three or four classic rock radio stations on the FM dial, I know that classic rock is far from dead.
That inspires the question: Why aren’t people downloading as much classic rock as its popularity might suggest?
Allow me to indulge in a little unscientific speculation. Perhaps classic rock fans, particularly the younger ones, who may be more likely to download music, have simply borrowed their parents’ old CDs and “ripped” the tracks from them to put on their iPods and PCs. That’s one way to bring Led Zeppelin along when kids head out to wherever it is they head out to these days.
Then again, some of the most successful classic rock acts are still making new music, so why wouldn’t some of those tracks make it on the Top 200?
I suppose I could speculate about this for a few more paragraphs, but maybe I should just be glad that classic rock is still alive and well, which is evidenced by the fact that groups like Rush, Van Halen and Springsteen can still rock in front of sold out venues populated by enthusiastic fans, which by the way, include a good number of younger fans who were not even around when these bands hit their stride.
Among the classic songs that did manage to secure a slot on the Top 200 were Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” There are of course, seven more that were considered “classic,” and if you’d like to see the entire list check it out on Yahoo! Music.
August 12, 2008
Rock Radio 1 Uses Internet To Help Keep Classics Alive
I can remember the days when accessing a website outside the U.S. often resulted in frustratingly slow surfing, but things sure have improved these days.
There are numerous radio stations available on the net, and probably more coming online every day. Rock Radio 1 is a U.K.-based internet radio station that has been broadcasting a little over a year. I decided to check the station out recently and see how much of my favorite music they were playing.
Although they advertise "Hard Rock & Heavy Metal from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s," most of what I heard was indeed from the 60’s through the 80’s, and that’s a good thing, since I have difficulty thinking of the 90’s as part of the classic rock era, but that may be a reflection of my status as someone who might be referred to as "middle aged," which at this point, gives me some hope that I’ll live to see 100 one day.
The sound quality of Rock Radio 1’s 192kbps streams was excellent and I experienced no drop-out or interruptions of any kind. Although is would be impossible for any radio station to play only music that I like — unless I was the DJ of course — I did hear quite a few of my favorites on Rock Radio 1, including Led Zeppelin, Foreigner, Jethro Tull and Van Halen.
Some of the best features of the site include the ability to make requests from their library of over 3,500 tracks, the "Currently Playing" icon that refreshes automatically to let you know what’s playing – very useful if you decide to mute your player during a track you don’t care for, allowing you to crank it back up when one of your favorites shows up at the top of the screen.
The station also offers a "Recently played songs" list that shows what has previously aired, as well as a "Coming up" section so listeners know what tracks to expect next.
Rock Radio 1’s "Top 20 Requests" list suggested that there are a lot of heavy metal fans tuned in, with groups like Guns N’ Roses and Metallica well represented. Other top 20 groups included Rainbow, Led Zeppelin and Van Halen, so there’s a good bit of music that some of us more, ahem, "mature" types would enjoy.
Last but certainly not least, Rock Radio 1 is 100% commercial-free and there is also no DJ banter — it’s all music with just the occasional station ID.
Rock Radio 1 is definitely something classic rock fans should check out. With so many of us spending so much time in front of our computers these days, internet radio is a nice change of pace. Just be sure you don’t crank it up too loud if you happen to listen at work, or use headphones if that type of thing is permitted on the job.
You can give Rock Radio 1 a look (and a listen) by clicking the link or the logo above.
