Vie’s Verses – What I’d Like To See In 2014
It’s a brand new year. A time for hopes, dreams, goals, and resolutions to be proclaimed and carried out. At the start of every New Year, I like to think about some of my favorite bands and wonder what they will deliver to their fans in the next 365 days. Will there be an amazing world tour? How about a box set of rarities or a greatest hits package? What about a brand new album? Join with me now as I speculate on what could be seen (or what I would like to see) from some of my favorite bands in 2014.
Kiss
There are rumors abound that Kiss will put out a monster box set of unreleased material sometime in 2014. The thought of this has saliva rolling down my chin, especially if it is going to include rare live performances (“Sweet Pain” live anyone?). If done properly, this could be the greatest collection of music ever released by the band. And with the added attention they will receive from being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the time is ripe for the release of a box set. Ideally, the band would include demos, outtakes, alternate versions, and rare live tracks. They should also be sure to include songs from every era of the band, not just the classic years or the recent ones. Rare Japan only B-sides would be a nice addition as well. Ideally, I envision a 6-disc set, a 128 page book with photos and stories, and perhaps a DVD documentary.
AC/DC
They aren’t getting any younger, but their last album (Black Ice) shows that they are still getting better. I would love to see a new AC/DC tour in 2014. Nothing excites me more than the thought of seeing Angus prance around the stage while playing his patented guitar shredding solos. And if the band isn’t ready to release a new album they should consider embarking on a hits tour. I know that AC/DC never released a greatest hits album and for the most part they are very opposed to it, but I would love to see a hits tour, especially if they pulled out some early hits. Could you imagine hearing their version of “School Days” or “If You Want Blood (You Got It)”? That would be an excellent sound, indeed!
Pop Evil
I know it’s a pipe dream, but I would love to see a new record from Pop Evil this year. Their current album, Onyx, is setting the charts on fire (two number one singles since its release) and it is certainly their best album to date. With the amount of heat this band has right now, 2014 is poised to be an exceptional year for Pop Evil. They should ride that momentum and release a new album in the fall. In lieu of that, a live album or DVD would hold me over nicely. If you’ve never seen Pop Evil live, make it your New Year’s resolution to do so. I promise that you will not be disappointed.
Dead Sara
It has been far too quiet in the Dead Sara camp lately. Their website hasn’t been updated since April of last year and there hasn’t been a lot of talk about what is happening with a new record. Their debut was astonishing (I ranked it best album of that year) but we haven’t heard much since then. It is definitely time for Dead Sara to show themselves and release some new material. Ideally they could follow that up with a tour. Perhaps they could open for Pop Evil on a summer club tour? Throw in Halestorm and now you’ve got a great bill working. Here’s hoping that 2014 is the year we hear the second record from Dead Sara.
Rise Against
It’s been a while since we’ve seen new music from Rise Against. Their last album of original material was released in 2011. Last fall, the band put out a collection of B-sides to hold the fans over, but it’s a new record that everybody wants. Currently, Rise Against is working on their new studio album and it is rumored that at some point in 2014 we will see new music from this band. And while I felt that Endgame was not as strong a record as 2008’s Appeal To Reason, it was still a terrific record. If the band has used their time off wisely to really tap into their creative genius, their next album could be their best one yet. And with the amazing body of work that Rise Against has, that thought really has me yearning to hear their new music.
Kix
One of the greatest live acts in all of the land is overdue to release a new studio album. It has been decades since Kix recorded a studio album. Their last official release was a live album collecting most of their big hits. It’s time for Kix to give us a new record. It may seem passé at this point, but I still believe that Kix could deliver one dynamite album if put up to the challenge. There is plenty of fire left in the boys and all of their albums are flat out fun. One more record from one of the greatest bands of the 80s would be a real gift to any fan. While I don’t know what the status of their new record is, or if it is even still in the works, I am certainly hopefully. I’ve always wanted just one more Kix record.
Glam Slam Metal Tour
Poison, Warrant, Stryper, Kix, Pretty Boy Floyd, Jetboy, Lynch Mob, Vain, Cinderella, et al. In the early 2000s there was a glam tour just about every summer. Usually headlined by Poison, a bunch of 80s metal acts would hit the road and do a proper summer tour across America. That just doesn’t happen anymore. Perhaps with M3 being the 80s metal stop for the summer, bands don’t think they would generate much in the way of ticket sales, but I think that’s ridiculous. If done properly and if the right acts were put together, a summer 80s metal tour would be a magnificent seller. Imagine seeing Stryper, Kix, and Night Ranger on the same bill. What about Warrant, Pretty Boy Floyd and Cinderella? I’d pay to see any of those shows and I am sure that a lot of others would as well. Perhaps this is the year that one, two, or more great 80s metal tours hit the road!
Iron Maiden
Up the Irons! Iron Maiden is due for a new studio release. The pattern that the band has been going through for the last ten years is to record a new studio album and tour behind it, release a DVD on their earlier history and tour behind it (performing only songs from that era), and then record and release a new studio album with a tour behind it. Since the band has just finished their Maiden England revival tour, it would stand to reason that it is time for some new Iron Maiden material. To see it in 2014 would make my year complete. Their last album, The Final Frontier was a stellar release and contained some of the greatest songs the band has ever recorded (“Coming Home” anyone?). Understanding that Steve Harris is a songwriting genius and knowing that he still has plenty of creativity left in his life tank, it is easy to state that the next Iron Maiden record will be better than the last and rival anything they’ve released in the last 15 years. The thought of a new Iron Maiden album just makes me giddy. Hopefully the band will make it a reality for this fan-boy at some point in 2014.
Foo Fighters
Last year, Dave Grohl proclaimed that 2014 will be the year of the Foo. I can only hope that he makes good on that statement. A new album and a tour would be fantastic. I have not seen Foo Fighters in concert since 1998 (when they opened for the Stones) so I would love to see a full concert from these guys. I have heard that they are amazing in concert and would love to confirm that for myself this year. A new album would be highly welcomed as well, as their last album, Wasting Light, was phenomenal. After taking some time off to rest, I can only imagine what the Foo Fighters could do now.
That is what I am hopeful for in 2014. What about you? Any bands that you wish would release a new album or go out on tour this year? Drop a line in the comments section and let us know!
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I would love to see WASP do a full U.S. tour. I’ve got to see them live just once before I kick the bucket. PLEASE!!!
W.A.S.P. and Krokus are on mine…. hope to see them this year!