Main Menu
Classic Rock News And Views
Browse: Classic Rock Gear Classic Rock Ringtones Classic Rock Posters
March 25, 2009
Boatload of Rush Video From ‘Retrospective 3’ on VH1 Classic Site
This past weekend, VH1 Classic aired a special program featuring the latest release from Canadian rock trio Rush. The show, entitled Rush: Retrospective 3 Box Set Special, appropriately enough, aired on Saturday night at 10:00 PM.
For those who do not have access to the VH1 Classic channel (like myself), content from the special has been posted on the VH1 Classic website.
The bulk of the content is footage of Rush performances and accompanying commentary from Geddy Lee which fills in some interesting details on some well-known Rush favorites.
Lee provides some interesting background on some of their material and what inspired them to do it and also talks a little about some of the technical aspects of working in the studio and getting the sound that they want.
Considering all the albums they have done, Lee does an impressive job of recalling the details of the group’s experiences creating, recording and performing. After that many albums and tour dates, one might think it would all be a blur by now.
If, for whatever reason, you are a dedicated Rush fan who does not have your own copy of the new box set, it’s well worth your time to check out this special online.
Thanks to the Rush Is A Band blog for calling attention to this.
Subscribe to RRN via RSS Feed or follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on classic rock news
December 27, 2008
Vh1 Classic Rings In 2009 With 2,009 Classics
At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, Vh1 Classic will air a special program called “2,009 For 2009 Music Video Marathon.” The program will feature 2,009 of the the classic video music channel’s favorite videos. That’s a lot of videos and may challenge the hard disk space on your DVR or Tivo just a bit since the program runs for seven days.
From the schedule on the Vh1 Classic website, it appears the program will air from 6:00 AM to 4:00 AM in the days following the kickoff on New Year’s Eve.
The program will be hosted by Mark Goodman who many of us may remember as one of the early VJ’s on MTV back in the good old days when the music video format was in its infancy.
Among the artists on the playlist for the program are Van Halen, Madonna, Guns N’ Roses, Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper and, of course, a lot more.
Presented in an orderly alphabetical fashion, the program will begin with Gloria Estefan’s “1-2-3” and wrap up a week later with David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust.”
October 14, 2008
Classic Rock Briefs For October 14, 2008
Maybe AC/DC Should Make Up Their Minds
OK, so we’ve talked very recently about how Aussie rockers AC/DC do not care to have their material distributed via digital means, otherwise known as over the internet, on sites such as iTunes.
Well, late word is that they will be allowing fans to listen to their new album, Black Ice, in its entirety via the The Times newspaper for a week in advance of the album’s release.
Perhaps they decided to do this since they know the whole album is already out there, as reported here just a short time ago. A case of “If you can’t beat ‘em. join ‘em",” perhaps. Full Story.
Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx Hot For Tattoo Queen Kat Von D
Talk about a lot of ink! Nikki Sixx and L.A. Ink star Kat Von D are officially an item. It might just make one wonder if their kids would be born with pre-existing tattoos if these two decided to procreate.
Seriously though, I have seen Kat Von D on TV and I think she’s an attractive woman for sure, but something about that much ink on a woman’s body just kind of freaks me out. I guess Nikki Sixx and I have different viewpoints on that topic. Full Story.
Rock Band Breaks Onto The TV Scene
Thanks to VH1 Classic, the popular video game “Rock Band” will enjoy new status as a television show. Tomorrow the channel will air Rock Band 2 The Stars, which is described as “a spoof of VH1’s celebreality competition” where “Professional rock stars Alice Cooper and Sebastian Bach will play hosts to 12 wannabe rockers who live in a loft together and vie to out-skill each other in challenges designed to showcase Rock Band 2’s new features.” Full Story.
September 18, 2008
VH1 Classic Reveals Fall Programming Highlights
From the looks of VH1 Classic’s programming this fall, I’d say there is something for just about every classic rock fan to look forward to over the next few months,
A few days ago, I mentioned Rush Hashanah, which airs on September 29, at 7:00 PM, but that’s just the beginning of the classic lineup that’s on the schedule.
Next up is a special program dedicated to Bob Dylan entitled VH1 Classic Celebrates Dylan, which is scheduled for October 7 at 8:00 PM. Included will be the classic 1965 D.A. Penebaker documentary Don’t Look Back featuring behind-the-scenes moments with Joan Baez, Donovan and Alan Price, and Dylan’s iconic opening of "Subterranean 
Homesick Blues."
October 19 is a day AC/DC fans might want to get out of bed a bit earlier than normal. It’s a Sunday, which might make a normal "sleep in" weekend day a bit rough for fans without a DVR, Tivo or, dare I say, VCR. That is the day VH1 Classic has decided to call AC/DC Day, and it comes just two days before the release of the group’s new album, Black Ice. The 24 hours of AC/DC-only programming will feature archival footage of the Aussie rockers, BBC concerts, and one of the groups most seminal performances, "Live at Donnington."
In another clever play on words, 6:00 AM on October 31, otherwise known in this part of the world as Halloween, will mark the beginning of another marathon called WHOlloween. This special program is packed with sweet treats for fans of The Who, which will include VH1 Rock Honors: The Who, VH1 Classic Rock Doc: Amazing Journey – The Story of the Who, Classic Albums: Who’s Next, BBC Electric Proms: The Who and On Tour: The Who Virtual Ticket. At 9:00 PM fans will be treated to the premiere of The Who Live at the Isle of Wight.
On Thursday, November 27, which marks the Thanksgiving Holiday here in the U.S., VH1 Classic will present VH1 Classic Gives Thanks for Pink Floyd. I suspect Pink Floyd fans might also be thankful for the more reasonable hour chosen for the start of this presentation, which is 11:00 AM. This program will include documentaries including The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story, and Pink Floyd: Which One’s Pink? It will also recount the story behind the making of one of Pink Floyd’s most influential albums: Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon. The program will end with an encore presentation of the band’s iconic movie The Wall, and the premiere of David Gilmour: Live in Gdansk, which is soon to be released in various formats, which include CD and DVD.
In addition to these specials, VH1 Classic is also launching a new series called VH1 Classic All Time Top 10. The show will air every Friday at 10:00 PM, and will feature one specific artist or genre of music on each episode. Some of those planned for the spotlight are Def Leppard, Madonna, Van Halen, male singers, female singers, metal and more. The show will be hosted by Mark Goodman, whom I believe was a VJ for MTV back in the early days of music video.
All show times are reported to be ET/PT. For more, visit MarketWatch.
September 15, 2008
A New Twist on The Jewish New Year: Rush Hashanah
Rush fans (even those that do not happen to be Jewish) have reason to look forward to the celebration of the Jewish New Year this year. In their own unique way to celebrate the holiday, that is known as Rosh Hashanah, VH1 Classic will be presenting 24 hours of Rush-related content that they are calling Rush Hashanah.
The Rush special will hit the airwaves on September 29th, the day that Rosh Hashanah falls on this year, and will feature two Rush concert films. Both Rush In Rio and R30 will be included, as well as a collection of Rush music videos that span decades of the group’s history.
Rush lead singer and bass player Geddy Lee, who was born Gary Weinrib, is the son of Holocaust survivors who met while they were imprisoned in a Nazi labor camp in Poland, later married and moved to Canada. Lee’s mother, who had trouble pronouncing Lee’s real name, Gary, called him Geddy, which has obviously stuck with him for good.
For those who are active practitioners of the Jewish Faith, and also happen to be Rush fans, Rush Hashanah may be a good way to pass some time that day, since work is not permitted during the holiday, according to the information I have been able to dig up with regard to Rosh Hashanah.
No serious Rush fan would consider watching Rush on TV as work, and although I am not Jewish, and therefore not qualified to make definitive statements regarding the requirements of Jewish Holidays, it seems unlikely that watching television would be considered work.
