Vie’s Verses – What Metal Tours Would You Like To See in 2011?
Another summer has come to an end and another season of travelling package tours has closed out. This summer brought us some great combination tours such as Shinedown/Puddle of Mudd; Avenged Sevenfold/Disturbed; and The Scorpions/Cinderella, just to name a few.
As the summer of 2010 comes to a close, it’s already time to start looking ahead to next year. What packaged hard rock tours would make you run out and buy tickets in 2011? What bands should get together and hit the road next summer? Here’s a list of what I would love to see in the summer of 2011.
Buckcherry/Black Robot
How cool would it be to see a former member of Buckcherry touring with the new incarnation of BC? Black Robot is a kick ass rock and roll band that can hold their own, and to see them open for Buckcherry would be an astounding experience. Add in the opportunity for JB Brightman to perform some classics with his former band mates, and I see a sold out tour.
Chances of this tour happening: 8%. Brightman hasn’t really made up with Josh Todd and Keith Nelson, and though the fans may want this bad, some scars are too hard to heal.
Papa Roach/Hinder/Airbourne
Papa Roach just released a live album with 5 brand new tracks and Airbourne is still touring behind this year’s No Guts, No Glory. There are rumors that Hinder is in the studio working on their third LP for a 2011 release, so why not take three of the greatest modern hard rock acts and put them together on one bill? Both Hinder and Papa Roach are ready to headline, so deciding who would close out this show could be a bit of a challenge, but other than that, there are not many conflicts. Airbourne would benefit from the mainstream exposure, and this tour would sell. Perhaps not arenas, but definitely amphitheaters, and in the summer there’s no better place to see a concert.
Chances of this tour happening: 59%. Papa Roach and Hinder have toured together before, so they aren’t strangers. Airbourne, however, rarely makes the states, and I’ve yet to see them on a major bill, so that could be the broken link in the chain.
Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society/Anthrax
Ozzy, former Ozzy guitarist Zak Wylde, and the bad boys from Anthrax – all on one bill. How amazing would that be? Both Ozzy and BLS are supporting new albums and Anthrax has been touring recently, so adding them to this bill would be relatively easy. This would be an exceptional hard rock tour that would be up there with the Megadeath/Slayer/Testament tour from earlier this year. Ozzy, BLS, and Anthrax are some serious heavy metal for your ear drums.
Chances of this tour happening: 83%. Ozzy and Black Label Society were on the road this summer for the latest incarnation of Ozzfest (along with Motley Crue), so to have all of them band together for an extensive tour wouldn’t take much. Ozzy and Zak still get along – it would just be a matter of convincing Anthrax to join the tour, which shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.
Nickelback/Theory of a Deadman/Skillet
Known for their endless tour schedules, both Nickelback and Theory of a Deadman have been on the road for over two years supporting their latest albums. Nickelback’s Chad Kroger produced Theory’s first album, so they have a connection there. Both bands are also from Canada, for whatever that’s worth (maybe this is a Canada only tour). Skillet is a band that has been around for a long time, but really needs some mainstream exposure to push them over the top. Touring with Nickelback and Theory would provide just the audience they need to give them the exposure that would catapult their name into a more well-known circle. Skillet is a fantastic band and seeing them open for Nickelback and Theory would provide an amazing three band platform.
Chances of this tour happening: 22%. Theory is off the road and resting before recording a new record. Nickelback is currently on a fall tour and then they are rumored to be taking some time off. That’s not to say that they wouldn’t record a new album and get back out on the road by next summer, but it’s more likely that they would like to take some time off.
Poison/Cinderella/Ratt
Take three of the best hair metal bands from the 80s, put them on one bill, and let them go out on the road for the summer. That sounds like a recipe for a huge summer success. Ratt is supporting a new album, Cinderella and Poison need to record new albums, but even if they don’t, both bands draw fans to their live shows. Since these bands have all toured together before, it wouldn’t be difficult for a promoter to package this tour for next summer.
Chance of this tour happening: 47%. Poison is the big question mark here. Cinderella was on the road this summer with The Scorpions, and on the strength of their reception, I could see them touring again next summer. Ratt has been touring behind their latest album all year and they’ve always been amenable to package tours. That leaves Poison. What are the chances they’ll get together next year and hit the road?
These are the packaged hard rock tours that I would pay cash money to see next year. What travelling package tours would you like to see?
I would love to see a tour with nothing but the new bands, I know this would never work without a headliner, but my fantasy tour would be Million Dollar Reload, Taddy Porter, Black Robot, The Answer, Black Stone Cherry, & Airbourne.
Let Airbourne & BSC co-headline and play for 90 minutes a piece or so since they have the most music out right now.
I would also love to see a classic Metal package with W.A.S.P., Anthrax, & Megadeth.
Bust out a package tour with some cool bands like UFO or MSG, Europe, Saxon & Judas Priest.
It is only a pipe dream, but one can hope.
These are hypothetical, here goes:
As far as Rock goes… I would love to see Heart and Goo Goo Dolls together, wow would that be cool.
For Hard Rock… Papa Roach opening, then Buckcherry… then Godsmack takes the stage. Look out!
A Super Power Metal Festival would be fabulous, with Edguy, Hammerfall, At Vance, Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray and Helloween. Honestly, I could get carried away and go on here with the Power Metal.
Ahh… now for my “Dream” Metal show. I so want to see… W.A.S.P. and Murderdolls together! Whoa. Um, make that a double Metal whoa.
BTW… Vie’s Verses… ROCKS.
Stone