Deep Purple, Ted Nugent, Saxon, Thin Lizzy Booked For Monsters of Rock Spain 2008

Monsters of Rock is a massive festival held in the Uk 1980-1996 and revived in 2006. It's traditionally held in the Uk but has also been organised in other countries. The first ever festival featured Rainbow, Judas Priest, Scorpions, April Wine, Saxon This year a massive line-up has been booked for Spain.. July 11, 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain. Deep Purple are headlining.

Other bands on the bill include Twisted Sister, Ted Nugent, Saxon, Thin Lizzy, Pretty Maids, Candlemass and Rage.

Image: Courtesy http://www.monstersofrock.es/

Deep Purple 'The Halcyon Years' and 'Around the World' DVD Sets Due For Release May 19, 2008

Two new Deep Purple DVD sets will be released may 19, 2008

Press Release info is below

Deep Purple - 'The Halcyon Years' (2 DVD + Book)

"This is the powerful, hard-hitting review of the music of Deep Purple on stage, on record and on film during the halcyon years from 1967 through to the ignominious end of the Mark IV line up. Covering the ascent to superstardom, this film documents the band from their acclaimed debut album 'Shades of Deep Purple' through to the mighty 'Machine Head'. In the company of bassist Nick Simper with bassist Glenn Hughes on hand plus leading critics and industry experts, this film follows the band from 'Who Do We Think We Are' to the resurgent 'Come Taste The Band'; the subsequent death of the ephemeral Tommy Bolin and eventual disbandment of DP Mark IV"

Deep Purple - 'Around The World' (4 DVD)

"This stunning set features three full Deep Purple concerts, highlights of a fourth, interviews with the band members and a new documentary telling the full Deep Purple story from their beginnings up to the present day with an emphasis on the Steve Morse era. The four full length DVDs are packaged within a hardback cover that also contains a 32 page specially commissioned book written by Joel McIver of Classic Rock magazine and illustrated with photographs from the era covered by the concerts. The discs cover concerts in India, South Korea, Australia and the UK across a seven year period. Packed with rare and previously unseen material this is the ultimate Deep Purple collection" Click on 'pre-order' to check the contents.

Go to Spin CD's

Image: EMI Warner Bros

Rock Revival's Ultimate Funk Rock Playlist: Top 20

Like a bit of James brown in your Jimi Hendrix, a bit of Ohio Players in your Deep Purple

Here's our ultimate Top 20 Playlist

1 Black Cat: Brian Auger
2 Life is Just a Passing Parade: Santana
3 Footstompin Music: Grand Funk Railroad
4 Guitars That Rule the World: Billy Sheehan
5 Peg: Steely Dan
6 Funk #48: James Gang
7 Stratus: Billy Cobham
8 Nappy Head: War
9 I'm Your Vehicle: Blood, Sweat and Tears
10 Get Ready: Rare Earth
11 I Want to Ta-Ta You baby: Johnny Guitar Watson
12 Time Crunch: Niacon
13 Gettin Tighter: Deep Purple
14 I'm a Man: Chicago Transit Authrity
15 Elegy: Colloseum
16 Expresso: Gong
17 Are You the One: John McLaughlin
18 Happiness is Just Around the Bend: Brian Augers Oblivion
19 IGY: Donald Fagan
20. Protocol: John Scofield

Image: Courtesy ATCO

Billboard Album Charts April 2008 and 1968: How Things Have Changed

This is a post that may have me branded an old man, a "rock curmudgeon", a "boomer triumphalist", etc, but....................

As April comes to a close I thought it might be interesting to compare the Billboard album charts now with 40 years ago:

Here's the Top Ten now:

1.Mariah Carey E=MC2

2.Leona Lewis Spirit

3.Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best Of Both Worlds Concert

4.Lady Antebellum Lady Antebellum

5.Various Artists NOW 27

6.George Strait Troubadour

7.Soundtrack Alvin And The Chipmunks

8.Soundtrack Juno

9.R.E.M.Accelerate

10. Taylor Swift Taylor Swift


There's maybe one album worth a listen and the rest aren't really music at all:

Here's the chart in the first week of April 1968


1. The Graduate by Simon & Garfunkel/Soundtrack

2. Blooming Hits by Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra

3. Aretha: Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin

4. The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding

5. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel

6. Valley of the Dolls by Dionne Warwick

7. John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan

8. Disraeli Gears by Cream

9. Axis: Bold As Love by the Jimi Hendrix Experience

10. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly soundtrack


At least four albums (in bold) that are historical milestones in rock and only one or two that are complete dross.

You could argue, maybe that the market has changed and alot of records go to tweens now rather than teens; lets have a look then at the current rock chart to see if we can avoid this:


1. R.E.M. Accelerate

2. Jack JohnsonSleep Through The Static

3. Daughtry Daughtry

4. ThriceThe Alchemy Index, Vol. 3 & 4: Air & Earth

5. RushSnakes & Arrows: Live

6. Children Of Bodom Blooddrunk

7. Panic At The DiscoPretty.Odd.

8. Colbie Caillat Coco

9. Tristan Prettyman Hello...X

10 The Raconteurs Consolers Of The Lonely

Any better ? Well, abit, any historical milestones, probably not.......

Armored Saint Reunite for Rocklahoma July 10-13 2008

No cookie monster voice, no nu-metal pretensions or scratching, no demons and devils, just pure heavy metal ! Armored Saint, have got to be one of the best metal bands there have ever been, with one of the best names, apparently thought up after the band got stoned and watched a video of the movie Arthur (what ?)

They band formed in the early eighties, released 4 albums before John Bush left the band to sing for Anthrax. They reformed in '99 and released the album revelation in 2000 and Nod to the Old School in 2001.

Both John Bush and bassist Joey Vera then joined a rejuvinated Anthrax only to leave again in 2005.

Armored Saint will once again reunite in July 10-13 of 2008 for the Rocklahoma Festival in Pryor Oklahoma. Bret Michaels, Cinderella, Warrant and Tesla will also play

The full line up is as follows

Thursday July 10th
Bret Michaels
Sebastian Bach
Dokken
LA Guns
Enuf Znuff
Vain
House of Lords
Jet Boy
Friday July 11th
Triumph
Extreme
Lita Ford
Night Ranger
Living Colour
Kingdome Come
Armored Saint
XYZ
Saturday July 12th
Cinderella
Warrant
KIX
Lynch Mob
Trixter
Black N Blue
Tora Tora
Every Mothers Nightmare
Pretty Boy Floyd
Sunday July 13th
Queensryche
Tesla
TBA
UFO
Zebra
Beautful Creatures
AXE.

Image: Courtesy Metal Blade

Will Cog's Album "Sharing Space" Reach Number One on the Australian Charts

Cog are an indie style prog rock band from Australia from excellent Aussie pedigree. One member, Lucius Borich the drummer, is the son of the greatest ever Aussie blues guitarist, Kevin Borich. Their new album, 'Sharing Space' was released this month and is currently number 2 in the charts. Not bad when your usually competing against Australian Idol.

Cog receives minimal airplay on mainstream radio but has built up an audiences through Triple J, the premier alternative youth sation in the country. .

Continous touring has also helped:

"We've always toured really hard and played a lot of shows in as many places as we can," Flynn Gower has said, the groups guitarist

"I think that's built the foundations for what's happened, for where we're at now, our fans have been really loyal and good to us in the past and it's a nice feeling."

Lucius Borich recently make an appearance on Triple H 100.1, on the themed show The Common Thread. Noddy, the interviewer was speaking to his father, Kevin by telephone and Lucius happened to be round at his parents house for dinner. Seems like fame doesn't mean he has lost touch wiyh real life and speaking to the humble Triple H 100.1

Image: Courtesy Difrnt

Is October 28 2008 the Release Date For Metallica's New Album ?

Wel,l it seems Amazon.com have listed October 28, 2008 as the release date for Metallica's much anticipated new album, much sooner than was expected. Their has, however, been no corroboration from the band so it is still possibly an error on Amazon's behalf.

This will be the bands ninth album and last for Warner Brothers.

The band plans to explore all it's options for selling their music after their record contract expires, given Radiohead's great experience recently and the 360 deals that U2 and Madonna have recenty entered into.

Image: Courtesy Megaforce

Rock Revival's Ultimate Kids Rock Paylist: ldeal For Family Holidays !

Here's a post that is guaranteed to help with all those car squabbles about whose music to play: are you fed up with hearing Play School, The Wiggles or the latest from Hairspray or Nellie Furtado; are they fed up with Yes, King Crimson and Porcupine Tree. This list should keep all age groups happy and send you on a holiday singing (yes, I've tried it, it works)

1 The Monkees "Hey Hey We're the Monkees"
2 Black Betty "Ram Jam"
3 White Stripes "My Doorbell"
4 Ray Charles "Hit the Road Jack"
5 The La's "There She Goes"
6 The Police "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"
7 Beach Boys "Good Vibrations"
8 Blur "Song 2""
9 The Beatles "Yellow Submarine,"
10 The Beatles "Octopus's Garden,"
11 Leslie Gore " My Boyfriends Back
12 Del Shannon "Run Around Sue"
13 Ben Lee " Catch My Disease"
14 Don McLean "American Pie"
15 David Bowie "Changes"
16 The KInks: "Lazy Sunday"
17 Bob Marley "Three Little Birds"
18 Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
19 Manfred Mann- "Doo Wah Diddy"
20 The Kinks "Louie Louie"
21 T. Rex "Jeepster"
22 Bill Haley "Rock Around The Clock"
23 The Rolling Stones "I'm Free"
24 Rufus Wainwright "Hallelujah"
25 Sam Cooke "What a Wonderful World"
26 The Strangeloves "I Want Candy"
27 Harry Belafonte "The Lion Sleeps Tonite"
28 Richie Valens "La Bamba"
29 Lonny Donnegan "Buy a LIttle Water Sylvie"
30 The Cure "Love Cats"
31 Gene Chandler-" Duke of Earl"
32 Flaming Lips "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
33 The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man
34 Wings- "Let Em In"
35 THe Sweet- "Ballroom Blitz"
36 J Geils Band "Freeze Frame"
37 Rolf Harris "Stairway to Heaven"
38 Small Faces "Tin Soldier"
39 The Archies-" Sugar Sugar"
40 Creedence "Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog"
41 Beach Boys "Barbara Ann"
42 Velvet Underground "Sunday Morning"
43 Marc Bolan TRex- "White Swan"
44 Slade- "Come On Feel the Noise"
45 Lynyrd Synyrd: "Sweet Home Alabama"
46 Deep Purple: "Smoke on the Water"
47 Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
48 Beach Boys "LIttle St Nick"
49 The Beatles- " Ob-la-di Ob-la-da"
50 George Harrisson- "Ive Got My Mind Set on You"

Image: Courtesy Colgems

Sony BMG Release Original Album Classics Five-CD Sets June 16 2008: Ted Nugent, Jeff Beck, Blue Oyster Cult, Jefferson Airplane, Patti Smith

It's very hard to find out any more info on six 5 cd sets of classic albums due for release by Sony BMG June 16th, by Ted Nugent, Jeff Beck, Blue Oyster Cult, Jefferson Airplane, Patti Smith and Carole King.

Rest assured, however, that you can pre-order them with the good people at Spin CD's

Here are the only details available

Ted Nugent - 'Original Album Classics' (5 CD Set)
Contains the following albums: 'Ted Nugent', 'Free-for-All', 'Cat Scratch Fever', 'Weekend Warriors' & 'Scream Dream'.

Jeff Beck - 'Original Album Classics' (5 CD Set)
Contains the following albums: 'Rough & Ready', 'Jeff Beck Group', 'Blow By Blow', 'Wired' & Jeff Beck Group with Jan Hammer Live'.

Blue Oyster Cult - 'Original Album Classics' (5 CD Set)
Contains the following albums: 'BOC', 'Tyranny & Mutations', 'Secret Treaties', 'Agents of Fortune' & 'Mirrors'

Jefferson Airplane - 'Original Album Classics'
A 5 CD Set of original albums containing the following albums: 'Jefferson Airplane Takes Off', 'Surrealistic Pillow', 'After Bathing At Baxters, 'Crown Of Creation', 'Bless Its Pointed Little Head' (Live).

Patti Smith- 'Original Album Classics' (5 CD Set)
A five CDset of original Patti Smith albums from Sony/BMG.
Contains the following albums: 'Horses', 'Radio Ethiopia', 'Easter', 'Wave' & 'Dream Of Life'

Carole King - 'Original Album Classics' (5 CD Set)
A fantastic oportunity to get the following Carole King albums: 'Writer', 'Music', 'Fantasy', 'Rhymes & Reasons' & 'Wrap Around Joy'

Image: Courtesy Epic

Classic Albums ? Three 1950's Rock and Roll Cover Albums by John Lennon, The Everly Brothers and Sid Vicious (well kind of)

By coincidence I heard about three albums for the first time this week, all rock and roll cover albums, by John Lennon, the Everly Brothers and Sid Vicious (Kind of)

John Lennon's album, Rock 'n' Roll is (1975) has a pretty interesting history. Lennon was threateed with a lawsuit by Roulette Records for borrowing from Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me" on his song Come Together and copying the line "Here come old flat-top" from the song. The company agreed to drop the suit if Lennon recorded at least three songs from their catalogue. When Lennon found out they were all 50's rock and roll numbers he decided to do a whle album. The album includes, "Be-Bop-A-Lula" (Gene Vincent), Rip It Up (Little Richard), "You Can't Catch Me" (Chuck Berry) and "Ain't That a Shame" (Fats Domino)
.
The Everly Brothers also released a classic rock and roll cover album in 1964 called Rock N Soul. The country tinged harmonies of the Everly Brothers were enourmously significant in the history of rock, influencing both the Beatles and the Beach Boys, but for this album they relied on classic rockabilly and Rhythmn and Blues numbers like"That'll Be the Day", "I Got a Woman", "Hound Dog" and "Susie Q"

Last but not least (well maybe least) is Sid Vicious's contribution, Sid Sings, released in 1979. It features lo-fi punk versions of "Something Else" , "C'mon Everybody" and 'My Way" of course and stuff by the Stooges and the Ramones. It also has the very poor taste Pistols track Belsen Was a Gas. If you listen carefully you can also hear the sound of a fan who happened to be present for the recording shouting "yeah, yeah, yeah" much too often. Mick Jones from The Clash is also rumoured to be on it but their are no liner notes to speak of.

Image: Courtesy Apple/EMI

ACDC's Brian Johnson Releases Three New Free Tracks to Promote New Movie Totally Baked

AC/DC's Brian Johnson has released three new songs to promote the new DVD Totally baked, a pot comedy. Theyt are called "Who Phoned the Law","Chain Gang" and :Who Phoned the Law". For a listen go to http://www.totallybakedmovie.com/. The last song is about a zoo, where all the animals are stoned

"The dog's got the munchies, the cat ate the stash. The chicken and the tuna's lying, laughing on their ass. The monkey's in the kitchen, and the donkey's in the hall. Hey! Hey! Who phoned the law?"

Still no news on his musical, Helen of Troy, originally said to be starring Cranberry Dolores O'Riordan, postponed due to funding problems.

Rock Revival's Top Ten Banned Album Covers

Images: Courtesy Polydor, Capitol, American, Apple, Decca, Elektra, EG, RCA, MCA

Phil Collins Dramatically Announces Retirement.

Phil Collins, brilliant in Genesis, excellent on solo album Face Value, pretty MOR ever since, dramatically announced his retirement 2 days ago.

That may not be such a bad thing, given his penchant for writing Disney Soundtracks, compiling hip hop hits (2001's Urban Renewal album) and for bringing us "Groovy Kind of Love", "Two Hearts" and "Another Side of Paradise"

He told the The Times newspaper that he has no plans to Tour again or make any further albums

In explanation he quoted the great Basil Fawlty

“Zoom! What was that?” Collins said. “That was your life, mate. Do I get another? No, sorry that was your lot.”

He was also asked how he felt about'In the Air Tonite being used in a recent chocolate ad.

“Do I mind? Well, if you’re ever remembered at all, it’s only usually for one or two things. With me, it’ll be: ‘He faxed his wife a divorce’, which is actually bollocks, but that’ll be on top of the headstone".

Source: Gigwise.com
Image: Courtesy Virgin, Atlantic, WEA

Roger Waters Continues Dark Side of the Moon Live Tour in North America and Europe 2008/ Hints at Two Potential New Albums

For the past 2 years Roger Waters, of Pink Floyd has been touring the world with his Dark Side of the Moon Live tour where he plays the complete album plus many other Floyd and solo songs.
This years marks the 35th Anniversary of this seminal album.

He is touring North America and Europe at the moment (he played Coachella yesterday)

* 30 April - Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado, USA
* 02 May - SuperPages.com Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
* 04 May - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, Texas, USA
* 09 May - Campo de Futbol de Atarfe, Granada, Spain
* 11 May - Megaland, Landgraaf, The Netherlands
* 13 May - Fionia Park, Odense, Denmark
* 15 May - Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
* 18 May - O2 Arena, London, England
* 19 May - O2 Arena, London, England
* 06 June - The Palace Square, Saint Petersburg, Russia

The set list is expected to be as follows:

Set One

1. In the Flesh
2. Mother
3. Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
4. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts II - V) (abridged)
5. Have a Cigar
6. Wish You Were Here
7. Southampton Dock
8. The Fletcher Memorial Home
9. Perfect Sense (Parts I - II)
10. Leaving Beirut
11. Sheep

Set Two (The Dark Side of the Moon)

1. Speak to Me / Breathe
2. On the Run
3. Time / Breathe (Reprise)
4. The Great Gig in the Sky
5. Money
6. Us and Them
7. Any Colour You Like
8. Brain Damage
9. Eclipse

Encore

1. The Happiest Days of Our Lives
2. Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)
3. Vera
4. Bring the Boys Back Home
5. Comfortably Numb


A few days ago he was interviewed on KLOS, the Los Angeles based radio station, hinting that he had started thinking about new solo releases.

"Intermittently. I've got a bunch of songs, and when I get some time something will develop. I've just come back from Brazil where we had a performance of Ca Ira, which is my opera about the French revolution. That took a lot of time, and travel, and effort..."

I've got a lot of songs, and it might be that it's two albums; it might be one political album, and it might be one album that's about love. Or they might be connected."

Rock Revival's Top Ten Album Covers of All Time

Images: Bronze, Reprise, Atlantic, RCA, DGC, Parlophone, Casablanca, Geffen, Epic

Who Loves the Alan Parsons Project ? Tour Dates May to Sept 2008

There are not many musicians who had a more prestigious start to their musical career than Alan Parsons. He worked as an engineer on the Beatles Let it Be album, on Paul McCarteny's early solo records and on the brilliant All Things Must Pass by George Harrison.

"I couldn't have asked for a better grounding in recording - after all not many engineers got to work the greatest rock act of all time".

He also worked with the Hollies, including He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother and The Air That I Breathe and most famously was the engineer behind one of the greatest albums of all time: Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon

His 'band', the Alan Parson's Project, debuted in 1976 with Tales of Mystery and Imagination (based on Edgar Allan Poe's work) and went on to release I, Robot (Isaac Asimov), Pyramid, The Turn of a Friendly Card, Games People Play, Eye in the Sky and many more pop infused concept albums.

The amazing thing about APP is that while Alan occasionally played keyboards and guitar it was essentially a forum for a wide range of brilliant musicians, including Arthur Brown, ex-Zombie Colin Blunstone, Cockney Rebel's Steve Harley, the Hollies' Allan Clarke and guitarist Ian Bairnson. Alan's job was as producer and writer, leaving the musicianship to the experts.

Since his heyday in the late 70's and early 80's he has continued to record ( On Air in 1996 and The Time Machine in 1999), toured globally and played live with Ringo Starr, Yes, Kansas, Alice Cooper, John Entwistle and Ann Wilson.

In 2004 he also made A Valid Path, an album that ventured into electronica with guests, The Crystal Method, Shpongle, and Uberzone and Pink Floyd guitarist, David Gilmour.

His current tour schedule is as follows:

May 3 - Seoul, Korea - Olympic Stadium - Flower Power Festival
June 6 & 7 - John Ascuaga’s Nugget, Reno, NV
July 1 - Barcelona, Spain - Luz De Gas
July 3 - Heerhugoward, Netherlands - Waerdse Tempel http://www.waerdsetempel.nl
July 4 - Nijmegen, Netherlands - Concertgebouw De Vereeniging
July 5 - Ulm, Germany - Ulmer Zelt
September 12 - APLP Humphreys by the Bay, San Diego CA
September 13 - Boulder Station Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV
September 25 - Porto Alegre, Brazil - Pepsi on Stage
September 26 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Vivo Rio
September 27 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Tom Brasil
September 28 - Curitiba, Brazil - Teatro Guaira

For more info go to Alan Parsons website

Image: Courtesy Arista

Rock Revival's Top Twenty Rock Vocalists Singers of All Time

It's with great trepidation that I post this, people can be very protective of their own favourites, but here goes...........

1-Ronnie James Dio ('Children of the Sea' ? Best performance ?)
2-Robert Plant (listen to Kashmir off the Unledded album, woahh !)
3-Paul Rodgers (white soul at it's greatest, spoiled with Queen, go solo mate !)
4-Janis Joplin (Summertime blows them all away)
5-Roger Daltrey (powerpacked on Baba O'Reilly)
6-Rod Stewart (ok, sucks now but pure dirty rock with The Faces)
7-David Coverdale (Plant called him "David Cover-version" for copying him, VERY unfair)
8-Bon Scott (straight from the pub to you)
9-Joe Cocker ('With a Little Help From My Friends" @ Woodstock)
10-Freddie Mercury ("Somebody to Love")
11-Johnny Cash (on the American Series it's simple, moving, a grown man not a teenager)
12-Klause Meine (check out Acoustica, great recent live album)
13-Ian Gillan ("Child in Time" is brilliant)
14-Ann Wilson (another one who has been compared to Plant)
15-James Hetfield (maybe just on cd, saw them live and very shaky)
16-Ian Astbury (love the album Ceremony)
17-Phil Lynott (say no more)
18-Eddie Vedder (serious, deep, powerful)
19-Jimmy Barnes (great aussie shouter)
20-Zakk Wylde (versatile, from southern rock, to metal ballad to flat-out)

Image: Swan Song

Aussie Rock 101: Punching Above It's Weight

In the 1950's Aussie rock served mainly as a response to developments in the UK or US: Johnny O'Keefe was the aussie version to Elvis and Bill Haley, the Atlantics and Denvermen responded to the Shadows and the Ventures and the Easybeats offerred a taste of Merseyside in Sydney.

The mid to late 60's was pretty similar, offerring the great bluesman Billy Thorpe and the Masters Apprentices (who made the transition from bubble gum to hard prog by the early 70's).

Sunbury, Australia's Woodstock, held in Melbourne between '72 and'75, marked a critical turning point. Queen were famously brought in in 1972, but aussie audiences were becoming more confident in their own musicians, telling them to 'go back to pommyland you pooftahs"

In this period new and exciting acts came fast and thick: Daddy Cool, Chain, Max Merritt and the Meteors, Russell Morris, ect cementing aussie music as something to be proud of.

Bt the mid to late 70's aussie music was on the move, not just by ACDC, who came to dominate the world, but by Skyhooks,

Sherbert, Dragon, John Paul Young, spurned on by the music show Countdown, a virtual religion amongst Aussie youth. The formation of the double Jay radio station in '75 also guaranteed the longevity of aussie rock, still creating taste to this day as JJJ.

Cold Chisel, The Angels and Rose Tattoo established aussie pub-rock and hard rock during this time, as did the Saints as the best aussie punk band there has ever been. By the late 70's, however, the Little River Band and Split Enz would be the only bands apart from ACDC to have made it is any signifiant way overseas.

Things did not slow down in the 1980's: post-punk provided Nick Cave and the Church and Kylie and INXS were unleashed on the world. Midnight Oil provided political rock and Cold Chisel (Australia's Bruce Springsteen) provided some of the best songwriting ever to come from down under.

This was certainly the boom period for aussie rock; from the lesser known brilliance of Paul Kelly (Australia's Bob Dylan) to the aboriginal band Yothu Yindi.

Since the 80's Australia has punched well above it's weight: teenage grunge stars, from the pop of Savage Garden to the garage rock of the Vines aussie music has been an essential part of the international scene.Silverchair have become a highly influential art-rock outfit, Jet, Wolfmother and Airbourne have revived classic rock and many more bands are waiting in the wings.

Here's 20 Brilliant Tracks

The Angels: Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again
Masters and Apprentices: Because I love You
Midnight Oil: Short Memory
Hunters and Collectors: Throw My Arms Around You
The Whitlams: Aphrodisiac
Rene Geyer: It's a Man's World
The Divinyls: Aint Gomma Eat My Heart Out
The Saints: Stranded
Billy Thorpe: It's Almost Summer
Spectrum: I'll Be Gone
Paul Kelly: From LIttle Things Big THings Grow
Augie March: ONe Crowded Hour
The Go Betweens: LOve is a Sign
Nick Cave: The Mercy Seat
Silverchair: Tomorrow
Wolfmother: The Joker and the Thief
Baby Animals: Rush You
The Sunnyboys: Alone With You Tonite
Cold Chisel: Khe San
Hilltop Hoods: The Nosebleed Section

Image: Courtesy Elektra

Everclear Release "The Vegas Years" Classic Rock Cover Album April 15 2008

Everclear is a well known indie rock band from Portland, Oregon,1992, a band that actually came a cropper down here in Australia ten years ago and never returned.

Audiences threw a shoe at the band, breaking teeth and a lit explosive, of all things, nearly causing the band to break up.

Their new album, The Vegas Years was released April 7, 2008, an album of covers that clearly demonstrates their love of classic rock

Some tracks have been released before: "American Girl (Tom Petty)" "Our Lips Are Sealed (Go-Go's)", "Bad Connection", and "Pocahontas (Neil Young)". "The Boys Are Back in Town (Thin Lizzy)

The rest were recorded for the album.

1. Rich Girl- Hall & Oates
2. Our Lips Are Sealed- The Go-Go's and Fun Boy Three
3. The Boys Are Back in Town- Thin Lizzy
4. Bad Connection- Yazoo
5. Kicks- Paul Revere & the Raiders
6. Pocahontas- Neil Young
7. Night Train to Memphis- Roy Acuff
8. This Land Is Your Land (Guthrie)
9. American Girl- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
10. Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
11. Southern Girls- Cheap Trick

Image: Courtesy Capitol

Massive Haul of Grateful Dead Memorabilia Donated to UC Santa Cruz:

Wow, Grateful Dead Heaven is set to happen with 30 years worth of correspondence, business records, merchandise and memorabilia being donated to University of California Santa Cruz.

Items include including stage backdrops, a large "Blues for Allah" stained-glass artwork, life-size skeletons of the band members for the 1987 "Touch of Grey" video.

Much of this is donated by Eileen Law, who started working for the band in 1972, in charge of the fan club, Dead Heads and continued for 34 years.

They sent in letters, postcards, Christmas cards, gifts and handmade artwork. And Law, who worked for the band for the next 34 years, saved everything.

"I was just the person that never shredded," says Law . "It started off in my little closet and it kept growing and growing, and now it fills up a warehouse."

The collection contains many historic documents, including band's first recording contract, with Warner Bros. minutes from band's weekly meetings.

Image: Courtesy Warner Bros

Oh God ! More Rock Star Statues: Jimmy Page, ACDC, Black Sabbath

All available at Knicklebonz.com

Rock Revival's Top Post-Punk Revival Playlist: 25 of the Best

In the late 70's and early 80's, after punk, came Psychedelic Furs, Gang of Four, Joy Division, XTC, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Raincoats and many more bands that retained the punk ethos while adding complexity and an art school mentality known as Post-Punk.

The last ten years has seen a revival of this form, dominating indie rock, all spiky guitars and attitude, often from the North of England (Tokyo Police Club are a UK exception from Canada).

Here is Rock Revival's Top 25 Tracks

1 Kill the Director- The Wombats
2 Fake Tales of San Francisco- The Arctic MOnkeys
3 Good Weekend- Art Brut
4 Citizens of Tomorrow- Tokyo Police Club
5 Decent Days and Decent Nights- The Futureheads
6 Is This It- The Strokes
7 Cassius- The Foals
8 Apply Some Pressure- Maximo Park
9 Brainiac- Bonsai Superstar
10 The Rakes- Capture
11 Love and Pain- Clor
12 Man's Needs- The Cribs
13 Skinny Girls- The Fratellis
14 Indie Rock and Roll-The Killers
15 Do You Want To- Franz Ferdinand
16 Girls on TV- Be Your Own Pet
17 The Maccabees- Colour It In
18 The Faint- Danse Macabre
19 Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt-We Are Scientists
20 Interpol- Turn on the Bright Lights
21 Life Without Buildings- Any Other City
22 New Young Pony Club- Fantastic Playroom
23 Editors- An End Has a Start
24 Dogs Die in Hot Cars- Please Describe Yourself
25 A-Punk- Vampire Weekend

Image: Courtesy Mute

Alice Cooper's New Album 'Along Came the Spider' Due in August 2008

Alice Cooper is clear evidence that you don't have to put your life on the line for rock and roll: "I don't think you need to die for your art"

He recently recieved the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award at the MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert, the fund supports addicts of many kinds through recovery

"I've made myself very available to friends of mine, they're people who would call me late at night and say, 'Between you and me, I've got a problem.'"


"I think the older bands are a lot hipper than the younger bands when it comes to the drinking and drug thing, because we've been through it,all you need is for one guy to drop dead next to you until you get a real clear picture of it."

Cooper's latest album "Along Came A Spider," is said to be 75% complete and most likely for release this August

"It's a real 'Alice' album, conceptually, it's going to be pretty interesting."

The release will be a concept album, based on the life of a serial killer called Spider who kills his victims using a silk web.

Image: Courtesy Warner Bros

Joe Cocker To Release New Album 'Hymn For My Soul' May 13 2008

Joe Cocker might actually redeem himself on his new album, Hymn for My Soul, to be released May 13.

His guests include Rufus Wainwright, Emmylou Harris, Ryan Adams, Razorlight, Kings of Leon, and Ray LaMontagne, proving that he may have gotten back in touch with the taste he showed in the early 70's, before 'You Can Keep Your Hat On" and whats come since

The musicians he has asssembled are pretty impressive too;

- Jim Keltner (drummer who has played with John Lennon and Bob Dylan)
- Benmont Tench, pianist with Tom Petty
- Dave Palmer, keyboars with Jethro Tull
- Bob Babbitt, bassist, member of Motown Records' studio band The Funk Brothers
- Mike Finnigan, Hammond organ (played with Hendrix on Electric Ladyland).

Covers include:

- Bob Dylan track (Ring Them Bells)
- Stevie Wonder (You Haven't Done Nothin)
- George Harrison (Beware Of Darkness)
- John Fogerty's (Long As I Can See The Light).
- Solomon Burke (Don't Give Up On Me)
- Beatles (Come Together)

"I can hardly begin to tell you how good I think Hymn For My Soul is. Let's just say it's the most emotional and even spiritual project I've worked on in a long while."

Joe will be on tour to support the album in the US May to August

Image: Courtesy EMI