What the ? Cheap Trick to Perform Sgt. Peppers in Vegas ?

The iconic American rock band Cheap Trick is close to finalizing a headliner deal with the Las Vegas Hilton that would feature the group performing The Beatles' epic album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" live with a full orchestra.

Word has it their performances could begin as soon as March and stretch throughout 2009.
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Cheap Trick's original members would be involved in the exclusive agreement with the Hilton.

The band has sold 20 million records and produced 29 movie sound tracks. They hit it big in 1979 when "I Want You to Want Me" peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Top 40. "The Flame" topped the charts in 1988 and their cover of Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" reached No. 4 a couple of months later.

VH1 listed Cheap Trick No. 25 among the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock."

info: lvrj.com

Cheap Trick - 'At Budokan! 30th. Anniversary' Release Febuary 2 2009

This deluxe package is highlighted by the premiere commercial DVD release of a video recording of the second concert, a one hour 15-song program that was broadcast only once on Japanese television 30 years ago.

The stunning DVD artefact features a new stereo mix and 5.1 Surround Sound by original 1978 producer Jack Douglas and engineer Jay Messina. At last, Cheap Trick fans can actually see and feel the moment come to life when – for the first time in history – lead singer Robin Zander exhorts the Japanese audience, “I want YOU… to want… ME!”

The four-disc package goes on to include (on disc two) a CD that replicates the audio of the DVD in its full 19-song length, also produced by Jack Douglas and Jay Messina.

Discs three and four represent the previous 20th anniversary (1998) double-CD Live at Budokan (culled from multiple night’s concerts, as was the original 1978 LP), beautifully re-mastered, produced by Cheap Trick and Bruce Dickinson.

1Giant Leap: It's Not Rock But It Will Blow Your Mind

I have just listened to what may be the best album I have ever heard, it's moving, beautiful, mindblowing..........................................................

Here's some info

Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman went around the world to Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, India, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, America and Europe, equipped solely with a a laptop and recording equipment - they wanted to capture and weave together a unique fusion of sound, image and spoken word from some of the world's most happening musicians, authors, scientists and thinkers and to explore 'The Unity in the Diversity'.

Their treasure hunt brought many unexpected collaborations with such inspirations as Michael Stipe, Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Robbins, Dennis Hopper, Brian Eno, Asha Bhosle, and Baaba Maal.

'1 Giant Leap' is nothing short of an electronic drum circle, drawing the citizens of Earth together for a planet-wide cautionary pep talk. Mesmerizing and utterly profound, yet wonderfully accessible, '1 Giant Leap' reminds us all of what we're capable of achieving.

(info from Calabashmusic.com)

Check it out; (the first one features Michael Stipe about halfway through)

Special Funk Show This Week on Rock Revival Radio

We take a slight detour this week on Rock Revival Radio into the wonderful world of classic funk.

James Brown, Parliament, Tower of Power, Curtis Mayfield, Cameo..............OOOOW!!

Listen directly on your computer at the following time...

Thursdays 8-10PM Sydney
Thursdays 9-11AM GMT Anywherelse...

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Rock Revival's Classic Albums (1976): Brand X 'Unorthodox Behaviour'

In the history of Jazz Fusion Brand X are a critical yet less well known institution. They formed in 1974, broke up in 1980 and reformed in the 90's and are amongst the most talented and sophisticated artists in the genre.

Brand X are perhaps best known for hosting Phil Collins as their some-time drummer. Other members included Keyboard player Robin Lumley, previously with Bowie's Spider's From Mars and John Goodsall of Atomic Rooster

Their first album, Unorthodox Behaviour, was turned down by Island Records and released by Genesis's label, Charisma

The album shines with everything a fan of prog-jazz needs: complextime signatures, adventurous arrangements, and experimental sounds. Phenomenal bass grooves, ferocious driving drums and complex solos snaking in and out of off-kilter themes. Think funky Mahivishnu and you just about have it

Highly reccomended.

Another Aussie Jazz Fusion Master: Frank Gambale

Two new artists I have discovered this week, Tal Wilkenfeld, young bass prodigy and Frank Gambale, incredible fusion guitarist

Toured with Jean Luc Ponty in 1986 and went on to be a member of Chick Corea's band for 6 years. He's also released ten of his own albums

Let the music do the talking

Rock Revival's Top Best 25 Bass Lines Basslines of All Time

I'm not a bass player so I know this is a dangerous post but here is my atempt to list Rock Revival's favourite basslines of all time. A tribute to the least appreciated but most critical instruments.

I haven't just stuck to rock but have instead try to draw on funk, jazz and jazz fusion as well

Let me know what I've missed or what you would put as your top basslines

1 Waiting for an Alibi Thin Lizzy

2 NIB Black Sabbath

3 Chameleon by Herbie Hancock

4 Dead Ringer The Stranglers

5 Armando's Rhumba Chick Corea

6 Teen Town - Weather Report Jaco Pastorius

7 Peace Frog The Doors

8 Footstompin Music Grand Funk Railroad

9 My Jelly Roll Soul Charles Mingus

10 Roundabout Yes

11 Josie Steely Dan

12 Thankyou for Letting Me Be Myself Again Sly and the Family Stone

13 One Nation Under A Groove Funkadelic

14 Dazed And Confused Led Zeppelin

15 Badge Cream

16 Freewill Rush

17 Sunshine Of Your Love Cream

18 Ramble On Led Zeppelin

19 Fight the Power The Isley Brothers

20 Velmwind Ozric Tentacles

21 The Joker Steve Miller Band

22 Elbow Grease Niacin

23 Maceo Parker Shake Everything You've Got

24 Frankenstein Edgar Winter

25 Day Tripper The Beatles

Here's the great Jaco Pastorius, a true genius

Who Loves Tal Wilkenfeld ? Bass Prodigy

Wow what a story, picks up the bass at 14 years old, drops out of High School at 16 and immigrates from Australia to the US to pursue her music career, makes her name is New York clubs and then becomes one of the most celebrated new bass players on the planet.

Don't believe me ? Here's what she has done since 2006

Played with the Allman Brothers, toured with Chick Corea and Jeff Beck, attended Eric Clapton's Crossroad Guitar Festival and joined Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton and the famous Ronnie Scott's in London. All that and released a brilliant Fusion album called Transformations

Check her out

With Jeff Beck, the beauty and the beast !! Makes me cry !!



Here she is teaching at a Bass Clinic, wow !!



With Chick Corea

Hugh Cornwell Stranglers Frontman Free Download Here

Hugh Cornwell of the Stranglers has launched a solo album "Hooverdam" and has made it available on the internet for free

Get it here

He has launched a stinging attack on bands like Metallica who fight against free downloading

"The internet is the perfect delivery system for music, so why not use it? I don't see it as being exploited at all - I think we are exploiting the internet,"

"It's silly. Come on! It's hysteria. You have got to grow up and move forward"

"I think you have just got to find more ingenious ways of generating a living than by ripping people off, charging them £15 for an album that they can get for free. It just means people aren't being ripped off any more."

"To physically print up a CD it costs about 50p. It you're charging £15 for it, that's a huge profit margin. It just means that all these years, people have been ripped off."

New U2 Album Influenced By Led Zeppelin ?

I'm not sure about you but U2 haven't really turned us on here at rock revival for over a decade, especially given Bono's carry on as saviour of the universe,etc.

The Edge, however, is claiming that U2's new album titled 'No Line on the Horizon' will be heavily informed by Led Zeppelin, or at least the guitar playing by Jimmy Page. The Edge is also pretty enamoured by Jack White. All three hung out recently while filming the documentary It Might Get Loud.

"I was just fascinated with seeing how Jimmy played those riffs so simply, and with Jack as well," says The Edge

We are ready to be surprised.....

Tune in To Rock Revival Radio This Week

Rock Revival Radio is back on air this week after a two week break and is streamed direct to your computer.

Thursdays 8-10PM Sydney

Thursdays 9-11AM GMT Anywherelse....

This week we'll feature the following:

1. Women in Rock: We'll focus on the real belters including Koko Taylor, Janis Joplin and Big Mama Thornton, women who can outdo the likes of Ian Gillan or Ronnie James Dio in the power stakes

2. Metal: We'll find out what happens when the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Lemmy team up with contemporary metal bands

3. Untold Stories: A focus on Chicago before they went soft, including their meeting with Hendrix

4. Mash-Ups: Ever wondered what would happen if you speeded up Sabbath's war Pigs more than 1000 times and added Outkast's Bombs Over Bagdad ? No ? Well you'll here it anyway, plus what The Specials would have sounded like if they teamed up with grime rapper Dizzee Rascal.

5. Covermania: Rock goes country is some pretty beautiful country versions of rock songs (including Dolly gets her Led out)

Plus, Classic Album, This Week in Rock and much more.........

Thursdays 8-10PM Sydney
Thursdays 9-11AM GMT Anywhereelese

iPod Candy: Rock Revival's Top Twenty Soft Rock Songs

At the moment I am doing the highly suspect activity of listening to alot of soft rock.

Why? You ask. Well call it a pallette cleanser but there is a certain joy in listening to music has no intellectual challenge whatsoever.

Here's Rock Revival's Top Ten, let me know what you think is missing.

1 Drift Away - Dobie Gray
2 Sailing - Christopher Cross
3 Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts
4 Minute By Minute - The Doobie Brothers
5 Chuck E.'s in Love - Rickie Lee Jones
6 More Than Words - Extreme
7 Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
8 Babe - Styx
9 Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
10 Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
11 Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton
12 On and On - Stephen Bishop
13 Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
14 Tin Man - America
15 What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
16 Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross
17 You're So Vain - Carly Simon
18 I'd Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan and John Ford Coley
19 Piano Man - Billy Joel
20 Rosanna - Toto

Thin Lizzy Pay Tribute to Phil Lynott

Thin Lizzy is still together and released this statement yesterday in honor of Phil Lynott

"Philip Parris Lynott passed away 23 years ago today. Philo, we, indeed, remember you while you're away - thousands and thousands of people around the globe who you touched with your music and words. And it seems fitting to post the lyrics you wrote about another icon so many years ago, as it most definitely describes how so many of us feel tonight. We shall miss you and we raise a glass to you today, tonight!"


King's Call

It was a rainy night the night the king went down
Everybody was crying it seemed like sadness had surrounded the town
Me I went to the liquor store
And I bought a bottle of wine and a bottle of gin
I played his records all night
Drinking with a close, close friend

Now some people say that that ain't right
And some people say nothing at all
But even in the darkest of night
You can always hear the king's call
You can always hear the king's call

We still love you Phil !

Grateful Dead Survivors to Tour Spring 2009

The surviving members of the greatest psychedelic band of all time, The Grateful Dead will tour for the first time in 5 years in 2009

They will start out April 12 in Greensboro, N.C., for "evening with" shows in 19 cities

Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart will be in attendance assisted by Jeff Chimenti and Warren Haynes.

Lesh:

"For me, it's the question mark that's really pulling me in ... what's gonna happen?," "When you walk out on the stage the possibilities are infinite every time."

April 12: Greensboro, N.C. (Coliseum)
April 14: Washington, D.C. (Verizon Center)
April 15: Charlottesville, Va. (John Paul Jones Arena)
April 17: Albany, N.Y. (Times Union Center)
April 18-19: Worcester, Mass. (DCU Center)
April 21: Buffalo, N.Y. (HSBC Arena)
April 22: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (Wachovia Arena)
April 24: Uniondale, N.Y. (Nassau Coliseum)
April 25: New York (Madison Square Garden)
April 26: Hartford, Conn. (XL Center)
April 28-29: East Rutherford, N.J. (Izod Center)
May 1-2: Philadelphia (Wachovia Spectrum)
May 5: Chicago (Allstate Arena)
May 7: Denver (Pepsi Center)
May 9: Los Angeles (Forum)
May 10: Mountain View, Calif. (Shoreline Amphitheatre)

Prince to Release Three new Albums in 2009

The man now known as Prince is planning to release three albums in 2009 and is in talks with a major retailer rather than a record comany

Two album have been named "MPLSOUND" and "Lotus Flower."

"MPLSOUND" was made Paisley Park in Minneapolis and is described as "electro-flavored" and full of "trippy, experimental pop songs."

"Lotus Flower" is a guitar album; trax include "Dreamer," a cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson & Clover," "Colonized Mind" and "Wall of Berlin."

Who Do You Think Has the best Voice in Rock ?

The U.K's Sun newspaper has just revealed it's top 40 Voices in Rock, what do you think, agree disagree ?

The Top 40 Greatest Voices In Rock:

1. Robert Plant (LED ZEPPELIN)
2. Freddie Mercury (QUEEN)
3. Paul Rodgers (FREE/BAD COMPANY)
4. Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE)
5. Roger Daltrey (THE WHO)
6. David Coverdale (WHITESNAKE)
7. Axl Rose (GUNS N' ROSES)
8. Bruce Dickinson (IRON MAIDEN)
9. Mick Jagger (ROLLING STONES)
10. Bon Scott (AC/DC)

PS: check Robert's tightest jeans in Rock ?

'Neil Young Archives Volume 1 (1963 - 1972)' (Blue-Ray & DVD Box Sets) Release January 27 2009

From Uncut.co.uk

"New details on Neil Young's expansive The Archives Vol. 1 1963-1972 box set, due for release early in 2009, have been revealed. According to a newly-released trailer, the box set, on 10-disc DVD or Blu-Ray, will contain 128 audio tracks, including 43 unreleased and 13 of these never heard before. The set, which comes with a 236-page hardback book, will also feature access to thousands of images and hours of video.

One of the videos included is Journey Through The Past, Young's 1974 film never before released on DVD, which includes footage of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby Stills Nash And Young. An audio track of 'Aurora' by Young's high school band The Squires is also included. The previously-released Archives albums, Live At The Fillmore East and Live At Massey Hall 1971, will also be included in the box set, although it is currently believed that the newly-released Sugar Mountain - Live At Canterbury House 1968 will not. Hand-written lyrics, letters, newspaper cuttings and memorabilia will also be available in the Archives, along with a detailed interactive timeline"

Graham Nash - 'Reflections' (3 CD Set) Box Set Release Febuary 2009

On February Rhino celebrates Graham Nash’s career with Reflections, a three-CD boxed set containing 40 years of music with 64 songs; half of which are unreleased mixes, alternate versions and unissued tracks.

This is a deluxe package that features a 150-page booklet with 75 unseen photos and track notes by Graham Nash.

"Arranged chronologically, Reflections spans Graham Nash’s recordings from 1967 to 2007, starting with a trio of singles he released with The Hollies in 1967: “On A Carousel”, “Carrie Anne” and “King Midas In Reverse”. Nash left the group a year later, joining with Crosby and Stills to record the trio’s self-titled album......Reflections gathers several songs from that album-and its follow-up, released a few months later with the addition of Neil Young - including “Pre-Road Downs”, “Marrakesh Express”, “Our House” and “Teach Your Children”. The set also includes tracks from the group’s other albums: “Just A Song Before I Go”, “Wasted On The Way” and “Heartland”.

The collection also brings together several classics from Nash’s four solo albums, ranging from the politically-charged (”Military Madness” and “Chicago” / “We Can Change The World”) to the emotionally raw (”Simple Man” and “Sleep Song”) and the socially conscious (”Barrel Of Pain” and “Chippin’ Away”.) Reflections spotlights 32 songs with different mixes and alternate versions that have never been released. Among the highlights is Nash’s solo acoustic demo of “Right Between The Eyes”. Recorded during the Déjà Vu sessions, a live version of the track popped up in 1971 on a CSN&Y live album. The compilation contains six unreleased tracks, including “Water From The Moon”, “Try To Find Me” and “In Your Name”, a song he recorded in 2007"


Pre-order Spincds.

Happy New Year From Down Under

After 7 days at this beach over New Years I am relaxed and ready for another great year of Rock Revival. Get ready for more news, reviews and views, lists, special weeks dedicated to specific genres, forgotten gems, etc.

Rock Revival's Classic Trax (1965): Tom Jones 'It's Not Unusual'

OK, confession time, 'It's Not Unusual"by Tom Jones is one of my favourite songs, albeit I have thousands of favourites.

Tom Jones may be associated with the likes of Engelbert Humperdink now but back in the day he was one of the best white soul singers, taking advantage of his Welsh roots where everyone can sing and he knew he was well liked by the ladies

'It's Not Unusual' went to number one in the UK charts in 1965, Jones's, peaking at #10 in May of that year in the US

Check it out!