Tag: Billy Sheehan
2 THE WINERY DOGS: Special Edition & Deluxe Edition Of Self-Titled Debut Album Out Today; Headlining Tour Continues April 30 x
THE WINERY DOGS
SPECIAL EDITION AND DELUXE EDITION
OF SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM OUT TODAY;
HEADLINING TOUR CONTINUES APRIL 30 IN ENGLEWOOD, NJ
THE WINERY DOGS (Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Richie Kotzen) released their self-titled, self-produced and critically acclaimed debut album in North America on Loud & Proud Records today as two very special editions.
THE WINERY DOGS SPECIAL EDITION is comprised of two-CDs. Disc 1 is the standard album and Disc 2 is entitled UNLEASHED IN JAPAN 2013, comprised of 10 songs recorded live in Japan during their July ’13 tour, including “Criminal,” a track previously unavailable in the U.S., along with a 16-page booklet of live photos and lyrics. UNLEASHED IN JAPAN 2013 is also available as a stand-alone digital album. DOG TREATS: THE WINERY DOGS DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION, a limited edition release, is being sold in a box resembling a box of dog treats, and includes the SPECIAL EDITION collection of music, a DVD featuring four music videos and interview footage, demos from the original recording sessions, a “studio diary” written by Mike Portnoy, as well as some unique merchandise unavailable elsewhere. Portnoy recently gave fans a glimpse inside the packaging of the DOG TREATS on Revolver magazine’s website.
After THE WINERY DOGS was originally released on July 23, 2013 on Loud & Proud Records, it debuted on Billboard’s “Top Alternative Albums” chart at #3, “Top Independent Albums” chart at #4, “Top Rock Albums” chart at #5, “Top Internet Albums” at #8 and “Top 200 Albums” chart at #27.
The rave reviews poured in once it was released:
“…filled to the brim with hard-driving rock and roll…the overall effect is something like a proggier Grand Funk Railroad crossed with Soundgarden at their most accessible.” – Guitar World
“…a modern-rock melting pot of powerhouse hooks and plucking pyrotechnics, informed by ‘70s classic rock, ‘90s metal, R&B, and blues, and delivered through Kotzen’s nuanced vocals.” – Bass Player
“The Winery Dogs have chops galore and the maturity to rein in their mad skills with passionate execution. It’s an album melding blues-rock, soulful ballads, and contemporary hard rock with Kotzen bringing the soul in buckets. Highlights include, ‘Desire,’ ‘Elevate’ and ‘One More Time.’”
– Music Connection
“The self-titled debut Winery Dogs album is one of the most intriguing releases of the year. The all-star trio has delivered a blistering collection of soaring tunes.” – Loudwire.com
“Mike Portnoy is a lot of people’s favorite drummer, Billy Sheehan is a lot of people’s favorite bassist, and Richie Kotzen is a lot of people’s favorite guitarist. But as The Winery Dogs, they very well could be a lot of people’s favorite new band. Yes, their self-titled debut album is that kind of winner.” – Musicradar.com
Check out THE WINERY DOGS’ in-progress headlining tour at any of the following U.S. tour stops (with more dates to be added in the coming weeks):
DATE CITY VENUE
Wed 4/30 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center
Fri 5/2 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
Sat 5/3 New Brunswick, NJ State Theater
Sun 5/4 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak
Tue 5/6 Londonderry, NH Tupelo Music Hall
Wed 5/7 Alexandria, VA Birchmere Music Hall
Fri 5/9 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
Sat 5/10 Charlotte, NC Amos Southend
Sun 5/11 Winston-Salem, NC Ziggy’s
Wed 5/14 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
Thu 5/15 Largo, FL Largo Cultural Center
Fri 5/16 Jacksonville, FL Freebird Live
Sun 5/18 Little Rock, AR Juanita’s
Tue 5/20 Fort Smith, AR Neumeier’s Rib Room & Beer Garden
Sat 5/24 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
Tue 6/24 Ramona, CA Ramona Mainstage
Thu 6/26 San Juan Capistrano, CA Coach House
Fri 6/27 Beverly Hills, CA Saban Theater
Sat 6/28 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club
Mon 6/30 San Francisco, CA Yoshi’s
Tue 7/1 Oakland, CA Yoshi’s at Jack’s London Square
Sat 7/26 Buffalo, NY The Tralf
Mon 7/28 Amityville, NY Revolution Bar & Music Hall
About Loud & Proud Records:
Loud & Proud Records is an independent record label founded in 2007 by Tom Lipsky whose mission is to provide a true and transparent partnership between artists and their record label. Labels under Lipsky’s direction in the past (CMC International, Sanctuary Records Group) have been among the market leaders in the veteran artist space with releases by Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, Robert Plant, Morrissey, Earth Wind & Fire, The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Bad Company and more. In a previous joint-venture with Roadrunner Records, Loud & Proud was responsible for new albums by Rush, Lenny Kravitz, Rob Zombie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and The Steve Miller Band. Loud & Proud’s current roster includes five-time Emmy Award winning actor and musician Jonathan Jackson and his band Enation, supergroup rock band The Winery Dogs, renowned jam band The String Cheese Incident, multi-platinum country artists BlackHawk, Seattle’s alternative Walking Papers, critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter Willie Nile, powerhouse rockers KIX and the classic Starship featuring Mickey Thomas. Loud & Proud Records is a registered trademark of Lipsky Music, LLC, and is distributed in the U.S. and Canada by RED and in the rest of the world by earMUSIC/Edel AG.
0 THE WINERY DOGS Set To Release Special Edition And Deluxe Edition Of Debut Album
THE WINERY DOGS
RELEASE A SPECIAL EDITION AND A DELUXE EDITION
OF DEBUT ALBUM INCLUDING
LIVE SONGS, ORIGINAL DEMOS, VIDEOS, INTERVIEWS AND EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE
THE WINERY DOGS–Mike Portnoy (drums), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Richie Kotzen (lead vocals, guitars)— is getting 2014 started with a new round of tour dates and the release of two new special versions of their self-titled and self-produced debut album that debuted in the Top 10 on various Billboard charts.
Set for release in April, THE WINERY DOGS SPECIAL EDITION will be comprised of two-CDs. Disc 1 is the standard album and Disc 2 is entitled UNLEASHED IN JAPAN 2013, comprised of 10 songs recorded live in Japan during their July ’13 tour including “Criminal,” a track previously unavailable in the U.S., along with a 16-page booklet of live photos and lyrics. A deluxe package for die-hard fans will be released simultaneously. DOG TREATS: THE WINERY DOGS DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION will be sold in a box resembling a box of dog treats, and will include the SPECIAL EDITION collection of music, a DVD featuring four music videos and interview footage, demos from the original recording sessions, a “studio diary” written by Mike Portnoy, as well as some unique merchandise unavailable elsewhere.
After THE WINERY DOGS was originally released on July 23, 2013 on Loud & Proud Records, it debuted on Billboard’s “Top Alternative Albums” chart at #3, “Top Independent Albums” chart at #4, “Top Rock Albums” chart at #5, “Top Internet Albums” at #8 and “Top 200 Albums” chart at #27.
It also landed on numerous “Top 10 Albums of 2013” lists, including the prestigious “2013 Pazz & Jop” critic’s poll in New York City’s Village Voice, EddieTrunk.com (#1), MetalExiles.com (#1), Examiner.com (#1), ZoiksOnline.com (#1), Hardrockhaven.net (#3), AmpsAndGreenScreens.com (#3), GuitarWorld.com (#6), BraveWords.com (#6), VintageRock.com (#8), ClassicRockRevisited.com (#17). The album’s first single, “Elevate,” was the #1 Most Played song of 2013 on WDHA-FM in New Jersey and it reached the Top 20 on Mediabase’s “Mainstream Rock Tracks” chart.
The four videos that have been released (“Time Machine,” the latest single currently being serviced to radio, “Elevate,” “I’m No Angel” and “Desire”) have garnered over 1.5 million views on their official YouTube page.
Check out THE WINERY DOGS at any of the following U.S. tour stops (with more dates to be added in the coming weeks):
DATE CITY VENUE
3/25 New York, NY B.B. King Blues Club and Grill
3/26 New York, NY B.B. King Blues Club and Grill
3/27 Chicago, IL Arcata Theatre
About Loud & Proud Records:
Loud & Proud Records is an independent record label founded in 2007 by Tom Lipsky whose mission is to provide a true and transparent partnership between artists and their record label. Labels under Lipsky’s direction in the past (CMC International, Sanctuary Records Group) have been among the market leaders in the veteran artist space, delivering Gold and Platinum albums and DVDs for Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Iron Maiden, Styx, Megadeth, Bad Company, REO Speedwagon and more. In a previous joint-venture with Roadrunner Records, Loud & Proud was responsible for new albums by Rush, Lenny Kravitz, Rob Zombie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, The Steve Miller Band and Ratt. Loud & Proud’s newest artist is five-time Emmy Award winning actor (currently on ABC’s Nashville) and musician Jonathan Jackson and his band Enation. 2013 releases include critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter Willie Nile, supergroup rock band The Winery Dogs and Seattle’s artistic envelope-pushers Walking Papers. The label is currently in an exclusive distribution, marketing and label services agreement for U.S. and Canada with RED Distribution, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. International distribution is via Sony Music Entertainment Germany, Sony Music Entertainment France, Sony Music Entertainment Australia, RSK Entertainment Ltd. (UK) and RSK Affiliates in select European countries. Loud & Proud Records is a registered trademark of Lipsky Music, LLC.
1 The Winery Dogs at The Mad Frog – Cincinnati, Ohio – 11/5/2013
By the time you read this, The Winery Dogs first tour has now been complete. The Sixxis and The Winery Dogs visited Cincinnati, Ohio’s Mad Frog on the second to last night of their tour last Tuesday night. The Winery Dogs have been drawing big crowds all over the United States, so I was pretty concerned about how many people would try to squeeze into the tiny Mad Frog to see the band play. Maybe it was due to the Black Crowes were playing down the street, or just for the fact that it was a Tuesday night, but the crowd at the Mad Frog was not unmanageable. Quite frankly, seeing a show of this caliber in this small venue, made this a magical night of live music.
I never heard of the opening band The Sixxis before, and I scanned their website to see what they were about. They bio states that their “music presents a core sound of influences ranging from Classical, Jazz, and Rock music coated in a powerful, heavy, seductive, and emotional shell of sound reminiscent of Rush, Muse, Soundgarden, System of a Down, Kings X, and Alice in Chains”. I could definitely hear a mix of these influences in their performance, and I thought these guys kicked ass. They could barely fit their 5 band members on the small stage, and they rocked it nonetheless. Major kudos to Mike Portnoy for helping to bring these guys out on tour. If you are unfamiliar with the Sixxis, visit the band’s website, and check out the clip below. I think you are going to hear a lot more about these guys in the future.
I knew before The Winery Dogs even took the stage that they would be awesome, I just don’t think I realized just HOW awesome they would be. Seeing Billy Sheehan, Richie Kotzen and Mike Portnoy play on a small stage like this was just pure hard rock magic. Sheehan was on fire all night with his acrobatic bass playing. Mike Portnoy was a joy to watch. He is very animated while playing the drums, and in this small club, he controlled the light show as well (that part was pretty comical). Richie Kotzen’s had me bewildered all night. I knew he was a tremendous guitarist, but getting to see him play, and sing for the first time had me stunned. This guy is one of the best unsung talents in hard rock music.
The Winery Dogs’ set list was mostly made up of music from the band’s debut CD, some Richie’s solo music, and the Billy Sheehan penned Talas classic, “Shyboy”. I loved their extended version of “Desire”, and was very impressed by Kotzen’s two songs they performed, “Doin’ What The Devil Says to Do” and “You Can’t Save Me”. This has inspired me to seek out Richie’s solo music. It is fantastic.
Overall, I was very glad that I got to see The Winery Dogs on a small stage. To see expert musicianship from a few feet from the stage was a pretty special experience. I have a feeling we will be hearing a lot more music from The Winery Dogs. This is probably the last time they will play on the smaller stages together. I was glad I was there to see them live.
( I snapped a few pics with my point and shoot camera. You can check them out below.)
2 The Winery Dogs – S/T (2013) CD Review
Respect. When I think of the musicians that make up the band The Winery Dogs, I have nothing but respect. Billy Sheehan, Mike Portnoy, and Richie Kotzen are amongst some of the best hard rock musicians to ever grace the stage. When I first heard about the Winery Dogs, I couldn’t wait to hear what the band had to offer. Sometimes when a so called supergroup comes out, the music isn’t quite what you expect it to be. That simply isn’t the case with the Winery Dogs. Every member of the the band shines on this release, and Richie Kotzen is the real X-factor, as his singing is far better than expected. Kotzen pushes his voice to the limit. His vocals are fantastic, and some of the best he has ever done.
The music on this CD oscillates between the decades, and gives the listener a nice voyage from the 70′s & 80′s classic rock, to some bluesier numbers, and some more modern offerings. If you have ever listened to some of Richie Kotzen’s solo releases, The Winery Dogs will seem pretty familiar to you. The music isn’t a far stretch from Kotzen’s solo material, and that is a great thing.
The major difference with The Winery Dogs, is you get the best rhythm section in hard rock, and you get the wicked solos from Mr. Sheehan, Mike Portnoy and Richie Kotzen.
The Winery Dogs give you great songs, and sophisticated jams that should satisfy even the pickiest hard rock fan. This is one of those albums that you can listen to from beginning to end, without the need to skip any songs. It really is that good.
This CD has been one of my favorites of 2013. If you haven’t picked it up, you should definitely give it a listen. I highly recommend it!!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Elevate
2. Desire
3. We Are One
4. I’m No Angel
5. The Other Side
6. You Saved Me
7. Not Hopeless
8. One More Time
9. Damaged
10. Six Feet Deeper
11. Criminal
12. The Dying
13. Regret
The Winery Dogs are:
Richie Kotzen – Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar
Billy Sheehan – Bass / Vocals
Mike Portnoy – Drums / Vocals
0 THE WINERY DOGS (Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan & Richie Kotzen) Launches Headlining Tour October 3; “Time Machine” Video World Premieres Today On Billboard.com
THE WINERY DOGS
(MIKE PORTNOY, BILLY SHEEHAN AND RICHIE KOTZEN)
LAUNCHES U.S. HEADLINING TOUR OCTOBER 3
“TIME MACHINE” MUSIC VIDEO WORLD PREMIERES TODAY ON BILLBOARD.COM
THE WINERY DOGS–Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold), Billy Sheehan (David Lee Roth, Mr. Big) and Richie Kotzen (Poison, Mr. Big)—will launch their latest U.S. headlining tour tomorrow in Agoura Hills, CA at the Canyon Club in support of their critically-acclaimed self-titled debut album, which was released in North America July 23 on Loud & Proud Records.
To further stir up excitement about the tour, the band world-premiered their latest video for the track “Time Machine” today on Billboard.com, which can be seen at http://bit.ly/15LGZSB. The clip was directed by Greg Kaplan and includes live rehearsal footage shot in Southern California, as well as concert footage shot during their recent sold-out tour of Japan. THE WINERY DOGS’ first-ever concert was in Osaka, Japan on July 15.
Fans can pick up the album on the band’s official website, iTunes, and Amazon. The band has already released three videos from the new album, “Elevate, “Desire,” and “I’m No Angel,” which can all be seen on their official YouTube page. “Elevate,” the album’s first single, debuted at #30 on Mediabase’s “Mainstream Rock” airplay chart and is currently bulleted at #17. It’s been the #1 most-played current song on WDHA-FM (The Rock of New Jersey, 105.5) for a number of weeks.
Of one of the band’s first-ever tour dates in August, Philadelphia’s Tell Magazine declared: “this band really is the Cream of 2013—three of the best musicians around grouped together and playing powerful music that takes full advantage of their virtuosity… their live show certainly exceeded my expectations. These guys are on fire. I don’t think anyone who attended that show wasn’t floored by the performance. I think the band members themselves were amazed by the power they’re putting out, and how much fun they’re having… It’s clear that this is a band with a great future ahead of them, and I implore you not to miss this combustible combination when they come to your town.”
During the upcoming tour, THE WINERY DOGS will make a special stop at the Hard Rock Café in New York City on October 23 to participate in a private star-studded celebration of Eddie Trunk’s 30th anniversary of his radio show. Trunk is best known as host of VH1 Classic’s “That Metal Show” and he played a key role in the formation of THE WINERY DOGS. The seeds of the band were planted in 2011 when Sheehan and Portnoy were working on music together with a different guitarist and songwriter. When that line-up didn’t gel, Eddie Trunk suggested they contact Kotzen and see if he was interested in forming a band. The rest is history. Tickets for the party are free and fans can enter to win them by clicking on the banner of www.EddieTrunk.com Fans who enter will be picked at random and notified by e-mail if they are selected to attend.
Check out THE WINERY DOGS at any of the following tour stops:
DATE CITY VENUE
Thu 10/3 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club
Fri 10/4 Las Vegas, NV Count’s Vamp’d
Sat 10/5 San Diego, CA Ramona Mainstage
Sun 10/6 San Juan Capistrano, CA Coach House
Tue 10/8 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s
Wed 10/9 San Francisco, CA Yoshi’s
Thu 10/10 Portland, OR Star Theatre
Fri 10/11 Seattle, WA Crocodile Café
Mon 10/14 Denver, CO Soiled Dove
Thu 10/17 Milwaukee, WI Potawatomi Casino
Fri 10/18 Palatine, IL Durty Nellies
Sat 10/19 Effingham, IL Effingham Performance Center
Mon 10/21 Pittsburgh, PA Altar Bar
Tue 10/22 Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance
Wed 10/23 New York, NY Eddie Trunk 30th Anniversary Party
Fri 10/25 Clifton Park, NY Upstate Concert Hall
Sat 10/26 Niagara Falls, NY Hard Rock
Sun 10/27 Allentown, PA Maingate Nightclub
Tue 10/29 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
Wed 10/30 Patchogue, NY Emporium
Thu 10/31 Pawtucket, RI The Met
Sat 11/2 Cleveland, OH Agora Ballroom
Thu 11/5 Cincinnati, OH Mad Frog
Wed 11/6 Ft. Wayne, IN Piere’s
About Loud & Proud Records:
Loud & Proud Records is an independent record label founded in 2007 by Tom Lipsky whose mission is to provide a true and transparent partnership between artists and their record label. Labels under Lipsky’s direction in the past (CMC International, Sanctuary Records Group) have been among the market leaders in the veteran artist space, delivering Gold and Platinum albums and DVDs for Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Iron Maiden, Styx, Megadeth, Bad Company, REO Speedwagon and more. In a previous joint-venture with Roadrunner Records, Loud & Proud was responsible for new albums by Rush, Lenny Kravitz, Rob Zombie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, The Steve Miller Band, Meat Loaf and Ratt. Loud & Proud’s current roster includes critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter Willie Nile, supergroup rock band The Winery Dogs and Seattle’s artistic envelope-pushers Walking Papers. The label is currently in an exclusive distribution, marketing and label services agreement for U.S. and Canada with RED Distribution, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. International distribution is via Sony Music Entertainment Germany, Sony Music Entertainment France, Sony Music Entertainment Australia, RSK Entertainment Ltd. (UK) and RSK Affiliates in select European countries. Loud & Proud Records is a registered trademark of Lipsky Music, LLC.
0 Two For Tuesday Videos – The Winery Dogs – Elevate & I’m No Angel
What do you get when combine the talents of Billy Sheehan, Mike Portnoy & Richie Kotzen? One badass band called The Winery Dogs.
Check out their clips “Elevate” and “I’m No Angel below.
1 THE WINERY DOGS, FEATURING ROCK VETERANS MIKE PORTNOY, BILLY SHEEHAN AND RICHIE KOTZEN, RELEASES SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM TODAY IN NORTH AMERICA ON LOUD & PROUD RECORDS
THE WINERY DOGS,
FEATURING ROCK VETERANS
MIKE PORTNOY, BILLY SHEEHAN AND RICHIE KOTZEN,
RELEASES SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM
TODAY IN NORTH AMERICA ON LOUD & PROUD RECORDS
APPEARING ON DIRECTTV’S “THE ARTIE LANGE SHOW” ON AUGUST 5 &
NATIONALLY-SYNDICATED RADIO SHOW “ROCKLINE” ON AUGUST 14
IN-STORE APPEARANCE AT VINTAGE VINYL, NJ ON AUGUST 6
The highly-anticipated and already critically-acclaimed self-titled debut album by THE WINERY DOGS (@TheWineryDogs) was released in North America today on Loud & Proud Records. The power trio–Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold), Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big) and Richie Kotzen (Mr. Big, Poison)—self-produced THE WINERY DOGS, which was mixed by Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour, Steel Panther).
Fans can pick up the debut on the band’s official website, iTunes, and Amazon. The band has already released three videos from the new album, “Elevate, “Desire,” and “I’m No Angel,” which can all be seen on their official YouTube page. “Elevate,” the album’s first single, debuted at #30 on Mediabase’s “Mainstream Rock” airplay chart last week.
To celebrate the new album, drummer Mike Portnoy invades websites across the Internet—including Musicradar.com, Revolvermag.com, Loudwire.com/Noisecreep.com, GuitarWorld.com, Drummagazine.com and ARTISTdirect.com–premiering video clips discussing new songs and THE WINERY DOGS’ new place in the music community.
THE WINERY DOGS kicked off their first-ever tour in Japan last week to sold-out crowds. After wrapping up the successful stint in Japan, they’ll head to South America before returning to the States for their first shows on home soil starting August 3 in New York City at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. While they’re in the Big Apple, THE WINERY DOGS will appear on “The Artie Lange Show,” which will air Monday, August 5 at 10pm ET on DirectTV and is streamed live on the show’s website. On Tuesday, August 6 at 7pm, the band will take part in an in-store performance and signing session at Vintage Vinyl in Fords, NJ. For more information, visit www.vvinyl.com.
In radio news, THE WINERY DOGS will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show, “Rockline,” with host Bob Coburn on Wednesday, August 14 at 8:30pm PT/11:30pm ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with the band that night by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The show will be streamed on Rocklineradio.com for two weeks beginning the afternoon after the live broadcast.
Even before today’s release, THE WINERY DOGS has been racking up rave reviews:
“The self-titled debut Winery Dogs album is one of the most intriguing releases of the year. The all-star trio has delivered a blistering collection of soaring tunes.” – Loudwire.com
“Mike Portnoy is a lot of people’s favorite drummer, Billy Sheehan is a lot of people’s favorite bassist, and Richie Kotzen is a lot of people’s favorite guitarist. But as The Winery Dogs, they very well could be a lot of people’s favorite new band. Yes, their self-titled debut album is that kind of winner.” – Musicradar.com
“…a cohesive, well-rounded classic-sounding trio with blazing songs that defy expectation. The group’s self-titled debut is filled with straightforward rock and roll inspired by some of their favorite bands, and their music transcends any of the styles they’re best known for and melds their collective talents into a magnificent brew.” — Icon Vs. Icon
“Free-wheeling, jamming and cohesively playing on 13 equally stellar songs as if they’ve been a unit for 20 years, The Winery Dogs self-titled release should easily stand up at year’s end as one of hard rock’s top albums. And carve a niche for years to come.” – Examiner.com
“The talents of these three artists found throughout their previous bodies of work is well known and hugely well respected, but put the three of them together in one band, and the result is nothing short of spectacular! The Winery Dogs debut album, for me is the album of the year, and I don’t think anyone who has followed these three throughout their careers will disagree. Do yourself a favor, buy this album and put on the second to last track ‘The Dying,’ close your eyes and listen to three masters at their craft…and then tell all your friends to buy it too!” — Jammagazineonline.com
Check out THE WINERY DOGS at any of the following tour stops:
DATE CITY VENUE
Sat 8/3 New York, NY B.B. King Blues Club and Grill
Sun 8/4 Lancaster, PA Chameleon
Tue 8/6 Fords, NJ Vintage Vinyl (in-store)
Wed 8/7 Newton, NJ The Newton Theater
Thu 8/8 Chicago, IL Reggie’s Rock Club
Thu 10/3 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club
Fri 10/4 Las Vegas, NV Vamp’d
Sat 10/5 San Diego, CA Romana Mainstage
Sun 10/6 San Juan Capistrano, CA Coach House
About Loud & Proud Records:
Loud & Proud Records was founded in 2007 by Tom Lipsky, and is currently in an exclusive distribution, marketing and label services agreement with RED Distribution, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. The label’s mission is to provide a true and transparent partnership between artists and their record label. Labels under Lipsky’s direction in the past (CMC International, Sanctuary) have been among the market leaders in the veteran artist space, delivering Gold and Platinum albums and DVDs for Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Iron Maiden, Styx, Megadeth, Bad Company, REO Speedwagon and more. In a previous joint-venture with Roadrunner Records, Loud & Proud was responsible for new albums by Rush, Rob Zombie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, Lenny Kravitz, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, The Steve Miller Band, Collective Soul, Meat Loaf and Ratt. Loud & Proud’s current roster includes critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter Willie Nile, supergroup rock band The Winery Dogs and Seattle’s artistic envelope-pushers Walking Papers. Loud & Proud Records is a registered trademark of Lipsky Music, LLC.
2 BILLY SHEEHAN of MR. BIG – The Hard Rock Hideout Interview!
BILLY SHEEHAN – Since those loud, bright and colorful Arena Rock days of the late 1980’s, I equate Billy Sheehan to bass playing excellence. From his early 80’s days with Talas, to stalking the stage alongside Steve Vai for David Lee Roth’s momentous tours, in some of the world’s most prolific venues, Billy Sheehan has wowed his fans and peers. After decades of honing his signature bass sound, Billy has earned the respect and accolades that so very often are spilled upon him in the press and behind closed doors.
The standouts are stacked high within the legendary music career of Billy Sheehan and Mr. Big is a huge exclamation point in what Billy has achieved as a musician. Mr. Big defines what great Hard Rock can sound like, when Pop song structures are played heavy, resulting in a unique accessibility that stretches from mainstream to Metal. Billy Sheehan and his band are old school, yet Mr. Big and their comeback album “What If…” (released on Frontiers Records this past winter of 2011), have ignited a new-found fire within their original lineup, which also boasts: Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar) and Pat Torpey (drums).
Make no mistake, “What If…” may very likely be the best Mr. Big album ever and Billy Sheehan couldn’t be happier. Honestly, a feel-good story like this couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy like Billy Sheehan and exemplary Hard Rock band like Mr. Big. Ten years have passed since the last Mr. Big studio album and after one thorough listen to “What If…” I never could tell. Billy Sheehan took the time from his busy touring schedule recently, to talk to Hard Rock Hideout about Mr. Big’s reunion, their comeback album, their fans and of course, David Lee Roth. Here is what Billy Sheehan had to say:
HRH: How amazing the new album sounds! Eric, Paul, Pat and yourself sound like you’re all at the top of your game on “What If…”. How close were you guys during the off years?
BILLY: Pat, Paul and I live in L.A., so we saw each other a lot and we all rehearse at the same place. Eric is in San Francisco and we always send messages to each other. We never thought the band would be together again.
HRH: What moment sparked the band into creating a new studio album?
BILLY: We were always asked by everybody when is Mr. Big gonna play again? So really it’s the fans that are responsible for Mr. Big getting back together, making a new album and touring. We had done a reunion tour back in 2009. It was a great time and run for us. We had a conference call with our manager and he posed the question, do you want to do a record? We all agreed to do a new record, only like our early records where everybody contributes. While making this record, we were all hanging out and enjoying our time with each other. We got lucky! Honestly, this is the best reviewed record I’ve ever played on! You never know what is going to happen when you make a new record.
HRH: I’ll agree with being a best reviewed record! Hard Rock Hideout considers “What If…” to be one of the best Hard Rock albums of 2011.
BILLY: Well thank you! I appreciate that! We were pleasantly surprised!
HRH: Were you ever concerned about how the new album would be received by the media and the fans?
BILLY: It was not so much concern, we just didn’t know! With all the rehearsing, recording, mixing, mastering and other work that goes into making the album… we do the best we can. We are all Hard Rock fans ourselves, so we know what we expect from our favorite bands. We try to incorporate what we do as fans, we know what we like, we know what we think sounds cool and try to put it into our music. There is a disconnect between what the artist likes and what the fans accept and expect as well. That can’t be denied.
HRH: How big of an asset is Kevin Shirley in the studio?
BILLY: Kevin was a big asset! He insisted on a certain way we would play it and sing it “live”. Kevin told us in a nice way but a stern way, he said c’mon, let’s see it! Bring it! This was pressure we didn’t expect! Our song “All Around The World, we played it like hundreds of times! We arrived at the studio super early in the morning. It wasn’t easy being under that kind of pressure. This was pressure we didn’t expect! We had to kick ass and hit it hard! Still, it is a good thing to be under pressure. There’s no room for a blunder doing it live! Kevin had us make a record like The Beatles did in the old days, a bunch of takes being played live. We do a bunch of takes and just get it right.
HRH: While “What If…” was being written, how democratic was the band?
BILLY: Very, very democratic. Very much like the original records were written. It just makes more sense to listen to what each other has to offer. We all threw ideas around. We’re selfless and use the other guys idea if yours isn’t working. We wrote one hundred and twenty-eight pieces of music, while writing this new album. There was a lot of versatility and cool changes from all the pieces that were written. We had a lot to choose from.
HRH: With all the pieces of music written for “What If…”, will there be a couple more albums from Mr. Big in the future?
BILLY: Back in the day it was tour, do a record, tour and do another record. There is no MTV now, so records take longer to sink in these days. Maybe we’ll tour for another year and next Summer we’ll do festivals. It’s hard to predict what we’ll do in the future. We’re just enjoying what is happening now.
HRH: How has the current tour of the States been?
BILLY: It’s been a blast! The tour has been easy and really cool. We started in Southern California, then went north, then went back west and down to San Diego. We have packed houses everywhere we play right now. We’re hitting it hard everywhere we go to play. It’s been great business for us, especially when bands are suffering on the road at the present time. After all these years, the Mr. Big records are still being played and people want to see us. There’s a lot of people who are happy to see us. After the shows, I hang out with the fans and sign photos, shake hands and we share our time.
HRH: After all these years, how important has Japan been to the success of Mr. Big?
BILLY: Very important. We sold more records in the U.S. and Europe than we did in Japan. Many people think that it’s easy to go there (Japan) because we are Americans. I feel people are fixated on the mythological aspect of Japan due to Spinal Tap! (laughs).
HRH: (laughs)
BILLY: Japan is a very different marketplace, as is Taiwan and Korea where we have many fans. I get more fan mail from Indonesia than anywhere else in the world! We hit it hard in Japan. A lot of bands toured there (Japan) and never got asked back again! We love Japan and are very grateful to the fans there for their support over the years. We hit it hard in Japan like everywhere else we go. We didn’t change our method of operation the way we approached Japan. We shook hands, signed photos and took the time to meet the fans.
HRH: Is Eric Martin an underrated vocalist of Hard Rock?
BILLY: I guess he may be underrated by some and other moments very celebrated by many. The first time I heard Eric sing, I said that is exactly what I want! That is the voice I’m looking for! Eric has that smokey tonality about him, he is from the Paul Rodgers mold.
HRH: What other instrument can you play that the typical fan wouldn’t know about?
BILLY: The sax. I do know where to put my fingers and I will play the sax, even if it sounds terrible! (laughs) So I do try the sax.
HRH: Will you ever consider reissuing any of the Talas titles?
BILLY: There was a couple that Metal Blade Records reissued in the past. I have a zillion demos and unreleased tracks, plus live bootlegs. I would love to sell them on the net or as a super cheap download. I have many early demos and tracks of Mr. Big. I have David Lee Roth “Eat ‘Em And Smile” and “Skyscraper” demos, minus the vocals. Of course there would be some legal issues to sort out with Dave on these. I have tons of live videos that no one has ever seen before too. I would love to release some of those some day. These videos are all professionally done.
HRH: Can you reveal the funniest or craziest moment you experienced while touring with David Lee Roth?
BILLY: The “Dave Tour” was a string of craziest and funniest moments! That was one big and amazing time of my life. That whole part of my life is a book in itself! Dave was and still is my hero. I will always be thankful for Dave giving me that opportunity. Steve (Vai), Gregg (Bissonette) and I like to reunite for Christmas. We once reminisced about it all. We called Dave once when we were together and couldn’t find him! (laughs).
HRH: As you tour with Mr. Big in 2011, does it feel like old times or is there a new-found fire burning?
BILLY: Definitely a new-found fire burning. I believe all of us (in the band) are people enjoying our lives now. When we were younger, there was more pressure on us to succeed. I spend more time now playing and working on my bass, than any other time in my life. It’s the same with Paul and Pat, they would tell you the same thing. We absolutely love what we’re doing right now, we feel very lucky and fortunate. We rolled the dice and it came up sevens!
0 MR. BIG Embarking on U.S.Tour
Their First U.S. Tour by the original band in 15 years!
New Release “What If… ” Out Now!
MR. BIG will once again unleash their brand of brutal fury on their first U.S. tour in 15 years starting July 30th, in SanDiego at the 4th & B. Returning fresh from a successful run of tour dates overseas, vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey, will be hitting the road in the United States this summer in support of the band’s new album, WHAT IF… “Man, it’s been a long time,” states guitarist Paul Gilbert. I can’t wait to play our first show in AMERICA in about 15 years. It’s gonna be huge!”
«What If… » is MR. BIG’s first all original album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of « Hey Man », the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
Guitarist Paul Gilbert said: “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of, since fourteen years and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan “It’s so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs”. Pat Torpey adds ““Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.
Their hits included “To Be With You” (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), “Wild World”, Green-Tinted sixties Mind”, “Just Take My Heart”, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy”, “Addicted to that Rush”, “Colorado Bulldog”, and “Take Cover”.
“What If…” is released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.
“What If…” track-listing includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain’t Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won’t Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America – not on vinyl edition).
The DVD will include the video clips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.
In other Mr. Big news, the next single from the new album, “American Beauty,” will ship to radio in July in support of the tour.
MR. BIG on tour:
JULY
30 San Diego, CA 4th & B
31 Agoura Hills, CA The Canyon Club
AUGUST
2 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
4 Santa Ana, CA Galaxy Theatre
5 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
6 Modesto, CA Xclamation Festival
8 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
9 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall
12 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
13 Columbus, OH Al Rosa Villa
16 Pittsburgh, PA Trib Total Media Amphitheatre
17 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
19 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom
20 Detroit, MI Harpo’s
23 New York, NY BB King’s
24 Foxborough, MA Showcase Live
26 N. Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
27 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
30 Houston, TX House Of Blues
31 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
For more information please visit: www.mrbigsite.com
4 Video – Mr. Big – Green Tinted Sixties Mind
No, it isn’t a new clip, but I am very excited about seeing Mr. Big in less than two weeks. “Green Tinted Sixties Mind” is a pretty cool tune in my opinion. I am hopeful that this is one of the songs in the Mr. Big set list at the M3 Rock Festival.
0 MR. BIG Unleashed The Rock & Shred @ The Hollywood House of Blues
Iconic rock band Mr. Big played to a sold out show at the Hollywood House of Blues Saturday, April 2nd – The crowd went wild and sang to every song~ Read all about the show here:
www.noisecreep.com/2011/04/04/waiting-on-a-line-for-the-mr-big-reunion-live-review/
This is the first U.S. show as the original line up in over 15 years – This was also in support of thie current new release “What If… “. This is MR. BIG’s first all original album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of “Hey Man “, the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
For more news and information go to www.mrbigsite.com
2 Sin-Atra (2011)
Call me an old soul if you will, but I have always liked Frank Sinatra. When I first heard about the Sin-Atra CD , I knew I would have to add it to my collection when it came out. This CD features the vocals of some of the best singers in hard rock including Dee Snider, Robin Zander, Glenn Hughes, Joey Belladonna, Geoff Tate, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Eric Martin, Jani Lane and dUg Pinnick.
This collection is put out by the same folks who did the We Wish You A Metal X-Mas Christmas CD. That CD has become a metal staple during the holidays at my house, so I knew this had to be good. Sin-Atra is not just another cover CD. The musicians involved in this project put their own unique spin on Frank Sinatra’s songs making it a must have for most hard rock fans.
Former Deep Purple, and current Black Country Communion singer, Glenn Hughes shows off his impressive vocal range on the Old Blue Eyes classic “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”
“It Was A Very Good Year” features Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider on vocals. This is a really cool, heavy version of this song. Bob Kulick’s guitar work is awesome, and Dee Snider gives this song a great vocal performance.
Mr. Big’s Eric Martin takes the Sinatra staple, “Lady Is A Tramp” and helps turn it into a real rockin’ tune. This version is 100% different from the original, but is a very fun spin on this song.
Tim “Ripper” Owens takes the song “Witchcraft” to new heights with an over the top metal vocal.
Do I dare say that I like the version of “High Hopes” from Scars of Broadway front man, Franky Perez better than the original? I do….this version is less cheesy than the original version.
I can’t hardly hear “Love And Marriage” without thinking about the TV Show, “Married With Children”. This version is a very heavy, up tempo number. Nonpoint front man, Elias Soriano does a pretty good job with it.
The CD closer “That’s Life” features the blazing guitar work of Richie Kotzen, and a solid vocal performance by former Warrant front man, Jani Lane.
Overall, I have been enjoying Sin-Atra, and I think many of you will too. Long time fans of Frank Sinatra will probably hate this, and I am pretty sure Frank Sinatra (god rest his soul) is probably rolling around in his grave. Hard rock and metal fans will be sure to enjoy these unique spins of the classic Sinatra tunes!
You can listen to this CD in its entirety for a limited time at this link. Check it out!!
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing
- New York, New York (Devin Townsend)
- I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Glenn Hughes)
- Summerwind (Geoff Tate)
- It Was A Very Good Year (Dee Snider)
- Witchcraft (Tim “Ripper” Owens)
- Fly Me To The Moon (Robin Zander)
- Lady Is A Tramp (Eric Martin)
- Strangers In the Night (Joey Belladonna)
- High Hopes (Franky Perez)
- I’ve Got The World On A String (Dug Pinnick)
- Love And Marriage (Elias Soriano)
- That’s Life (Jani Lane)
Band Lineup:
Bob Kulick – guitar
Brett Chassen – drums
Billy Sheehan – bass
Doug Katsaros – keyboards & orchestrations
Richie Kotzen – Lead Guitar on “That’s Life”
0 MR. BIG at the HOLLYWOOD HOUSE OF BLUES SATURDAY, APRIL 2ND
Their First US show by the original band in 15 years!
New Release What If… Out Now!
MR. BIG will once again unleash their brand of brutal fury to the masses in Hollywood, Saturday April 2nd at the House Of Blues with their very first US show in 15 years! “Man, it’s been a long time,” states guitarist Paul Gilbert. I can’t wait to play in L.A… actually, I can’t wait to play our first show in AMERICA in about 15 years. It’s gonna be huge!”
What If… is MR. BIG’s first all original album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of Hey Man , the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
Guitarist Paul Gilbert said: “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of, since fourteen years and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan “It’s so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs”. Pat Torpey adds ““Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.
Their hits included “To Be With You” (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), “Wild World”, Green-Tinted sixties Mind”, “Just Take My Heart”, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy”, “Addicted to that Rush”, “Colorado Bulldog”, and “Take Cover”.
What If… is released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.
What If… tracklisting includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain’t Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won’t Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America – not on vinyl edition).
The DVD will include the videoclips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.
For more information go to www.mrbigsite.com.
0 MR. BIG HIT IT BIG (AGAIN) WITH STRONG CHART DEBUTS ABROAD FOR NEW ALBUM “WHAT IF…”
ALBUM FINDS ALLFOUR ORIGINAL BAND MEMBERS REUNITED
“WHAT IF…” NOW SET FOR FEBRUARY 15TH RELEASE IN NORTH AMERICA
Shredder rock-pop metallers Mr. Big are back with brand new album WHAT IF…The new studio release finds all four original band members reuniting for their first album in 14 years. Produced by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Rush, Iron Maiden), WHAT IF…will now be released in North America on February 15th. The first single from the album, “Undertow,” will impact at radio this week. Released last month overseas, WHAT IF…has hit the European album charts with strong respective debuts including: #36 in Switzerland, #50 in Germany, #71 in Austria, #71 in Italy and #75 in Sweden.
WHAT IF…will be released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia. The DVD includes videos of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the four band members. Please see below for the complete album track listing.
In other Mr. Big news, the band will play their first U.S. show in more than 14 years on April 2nd at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, CA. More U.S. tour dates will be announced later this year.
Formed in 1988, Mr. Big forged its place in hard rock history by combining trademark virtuosic musicianship with stellar vocal harmonies. The original (and now reunited) line-up features vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey. The quartet produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres, including the ubiquitous “To Be With You,” which was a Billboard Hot 100 #1 single in 15 countries for weeks, propelling the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions.
WHAT IF… track listing:
- Undertow
- American Beauty
- Stranger In My Life
- Nobody Left To Blame
- Still Ain’t Enough For Me
- Once Upon A Time
- As Far As I Can See
- All The Way Up
- I Won’t Get In My Way
- Around The World
- I Get The Feeling
- Unforgiven
4 Mr. Big – What If… (2011)
The album cover really says it all. It depicts a flying pig, which indicates when fans thought that a fully reunited Mr. Big would release a new record. Much to their surprise, the band did reunite with all of the original members, and returned with one rocking record. What If… is the first album with all of the original bandmates since 1996. That’s quite a lot of time gone by. Mr. Big makes up for it in a big, big way, with a solid release that is ear pleasing and juice squeezing!
One point of amazement is how solid and sharp Eric Martin’s voice still sounds. Even after rocking the scene for more than three decades, his vocal prowess would put most (younger) modern rock singers to shame. Martin’s ability with his pipes is clearly evident and decorates What If… with class, making it a noteworthy record, not some lame reunion rehash that tends to happen when 80s hair metal bands “reunite”.
Slapping the bass like it’s the late 80s all over again, Billy Sheehan still has a unique, undeniable style. His funk-o-matic, slap bass, party sound is still going strong and even more enjoyable than can be remembered. What If… gives Sheehan a chance to really show off his talent while not stealing the spotlight entirely. That is a big part of what makes Mr. Big’s latest album so enjoyable.
Paul Gilbert is definitely back at home with Mr. Big. His guitar work never sounded better and his tantalizing solos were all crafted with an elegance meant to compliment Billy Sheehan’s bass playing like no other guitarist can. It’s a true win for the fans to see these wizards back in action again. The finger picking exchange and solo trade off, follow the leader, of guitar and bass on “Around The World” make this album worth the money spent to own it. It’s an amazing moment of musical record and one that demands repeat listens. Without a doubt the best track on What If… and one of the best songs in Mr. Big’s career.
While What If… may not contain a monster hit like “To Be With You” or “Green Tinted Sixties Mind” what is apparent is the fact that Mr. Big has released a record of solid tracks that all have merit. What If… is an album that not only feels right mixed in with the other glam bands, it also fits in with mainstream radio and modern rock releases. The album was well thought out, well performed, and well recorded. Mr. Big has a big hit in What If… as long as they can get a little bit of promotion behind the record. Long time fans are going to love this record. For those of us that may have forgotten all about Mr. Big, it’s time to pay them another visit.
Key Tracks: Stranger In My Life, As Far As I Can See, Around The World
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
- Undertow
- American Beauty
- Stranger In My Life
- Nobody Left To Blame
- Still Ain’t Enough For Me
- Once Upon A Time
- As Far As I Can See
- All The Way Up
- I Won’t Get In My Way
- Around The World
- I Get The Feeling
Mr Big Is:
Eric Martin – Vocals
Paul Gilbert – Guitars
Billy Sheehan – Bass
Pat Torpey – Drums
0 Rotosound presents Billy Sheehan Hollywood Guitar Centre workshop
Rotosound are proud to announce an exclusive workshop with the legendary bassist Billy Sheehan at the Hollywood Guitar Centre on the October 21st, 2010, 7PM-10PM
Known for his work with Steve Vai, David Lee Roth and Mr. Big, Billy has won many Best Bass Player awards and continues to be one of the most in demand players on the planet. He will demonstrate his jaw dropping technique with the use of chording, two-handed tapping, right hand “three finger picking” technique and controlled feedback as well as giving an incite to the industry and his career.
The evening includes a question and answer session, an opportunity to meet Billy to get his autograph and will be an amazing opportunity to see up close one the worlds most technically accomplished players in a comfortable and intimate setting.
Billy has been a Rotosound endorsee for over 25 years and his signature stainless steel roundwound strings have helped shaped his unique sound. He will also be playing further masterclasses in association with Rotosound across the Atlantic at the Bass day UK in October 2010 plus a further three dates at the PMT stores in Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester.
To find out more about the Rotosound Strings visit http://www.rotosound.com/
0 Rockstars & Actors Donate In Support of Humanity Thru Music In Benefit of Fur & Feather Animal Sanctuary
STEVE VAI, OZZY OSBOURNE, JOHN 5, BLASKO, PAUL GILBERT,
TYLER MANE, MARKY RAMONE, BILLY SHEEHAN AND MORE
DONATED INSTRUMENTS FROM IBANEZ, YAMAHA, ERNIE BALL, SCHECTER GUITARS, STAGE CLOTHES AND THEATRICAL PROPS UP FOR AUCTION
EBAY AUCTION NOW!!
Besides the love of music, rockstars have a soft spot for our four legged furry friends. With the help from so many artists and actors with their charitable donations of instruments and signed memorabilia, FUR & FEATHER ANIMAL SANCTUARY comes closer to breaking ground in the next year for the first fully solar and wind powered, no-kill animal sanctuary. The sanctuary will also provide the community with a low-cost animal clinic, education and cultural center.
Currently on the eBay auction block is a Yamaha bass signed by Bass-master BILLY SHEEHAN, guitar virtuoso JOHN 5’s famous 666 strap by Red Monkey from 5 tours with Rob Zombie signed and dated, OZZY’s autobiography “I AM OZZY” signed by OZZY, legendary ax-slinger STEVE VAI’S custom made silver outfit by famed rockstar couturier Terri King. It was worn on the Ultra Zone tour in the late 90’s, HALLOWEEN 2’s movie prop w/ signed Michael Myers photo from TYLER MANE, and a Schecter Diamond Series Delux guitar signed by ALL the mainstage bands from OZZfest 2006 including OZZY, ZAKK WYLDE, BLS, HATEBREED, DISTURBED, LACUNA COIL, SYSTEM OF A DOWN and more!
Shop eBay NOW! http://shop.ebay.com/furfeather/m.html
Adding in the next week to the auction will be 2 signed Ibanez guitars one from PAUL GILBERT and one from STEVE VAI, an Ernie Ball bass signed by BLASKO from Ozzy Osbourne’s band, and a Schecter Diamond Series guitar signed by horror Icons TYLER MANE (Michael Myers/Halloween 1&2) and DEREK MEARS (Jason Voorhees/Friday the 13th). More items coming!! Keep an eye out for additions of cool signed memorabilia from your favorite rockstars!! All items come with signed letters of authentication for your collection!
Did you know?
-Between four million and six million pets are euthanized every year because they are homeless.
– An animal in a shelter is killed every 1.5 seconds.
– Only one animal in 10 born in the U.S. gets a good home that lasts a lifetime.
– There is a direct correlation between animal abuse and neglect and child abuse and neglect.
FUR & FEATHER ANIMAL SANCTUARY is a 501(c)(3) that was organized exclusively for charitable, and educational purposes, more specifically for helping homeless and un-wanted animals with medical care, adoption in a no-kill safe environment.
For more information go to www.furfeather.org (almost finished) or visit them on Facebook now! Just search for Fur & Feather Animals Sanctuary and look for the happy Pit-bull~ To donate to the cause use Paypal and email to donations@furfeather.org or email to get address to send checks~
0 New Video – Mr. Big – Next Time Around
Mr. Big released a video “Next Time Around” in support of their live CD, Back To Budokan. “Next Time Around” is one of the two new songs that can found on their new CD. Check out the video below.
0 Billy Sheehan – Holy Cow (Release Year – 2009)
Billy Sheehan is back with a brand new solo CD. This time around Billy brought an all star cast with him. Holy Cow features Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), Dug Pinnick (King’s X), and Ray Luzier (David Lee Roth, KORN).
I have always had a lot of respect for Billy Sheehan. He blew me away when I saw him when he was a member of the David Lee Roth band in 80’s. Since then I have always considered Billy to be one of the top bass players in hard rock. I must admit that I had low expectations with Holy Cow. I haven’t had a whole lot of luck with the solo CD’s I have picked up in the past. They are typically hit or miss, and they usually get shelved fairly quickly. I don’t think that is going to happen with Holy Cow.
Sheehan has crafted some pretty cool tunes on this disc. I wouldn’t consider Billy Sheehan a great singer but he does do good job on the tunes here. His music is far better than his vocals, and his bass work as well as guitar playing is superb on this disc.
“In A Week or Two”, “A Lit’l Bit’l Do It To ‘Ya Ev’ry Time” (with Billy Gibbons on guitar), and “A Bloodless Casuality’ are amongst Holy Cow’s best moments.
The instrumental tracks are better than I expected them to be. “Dynamic Exhilarator” features Sheehan’s long time Mr. Big band mate, Paul Gilbert on guitar. “Theme From An Imaginary Sci Fi” is fun, only to hear Sheehan go off on his bass.
There are a few songs that I prefer to skip through as they just didn’t do it for me. I think a couple of instrumental tracks is fine, but five is a bit overkill in my opinion.
The Bottom line: this isn’t a perfect CD by any means, but it does have some good songs and definite replayability. It is definitely a CD that will appeal to Billy Sheehan’s long time fans.
For more information on Billy Sheehan, and “Holy Cow”, check out the Billy Sheehan myspace page.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. In A Week or Two
2. A Lit’l Bit’l Do It To ‘Ya Ev’ry Time
3. Dynamic Exhilarator
4. A Bloodless Casuality
5. Make It To Another Day
6. Just Another Humanoid
7. Turning Point
8. Theme From An Imaginary Sci Fi
9. Another Broken Promise
10. Two People Can Keep A Secret
11. Cell Towers Listen
12. She Goes from Cruel To Missionary
13. Sweat on an E String
14. Swimming Underwater
0 Win A Signed Yamaha Bass From BILLY SHEEHAN
Win a signed Yamaha bass from Billy Sheehan courtesy of Yamaha Guitars and F.Y.E. – click and sign up!!!
0 BILLY SHEEHAN Performs Special Record Release Party @ GIT In Hollywood Thursday, April 30th, 2009 – Open To The Public
Get A Chance To WIN Signed BILLY SHEEHAN BASS From YAMAHA
Big Bad Billy Sheehan, bassist extraordinaire will perform songs from his latest release HOLY COW [Mascot Records USA] at GIT in Hollywood, CA. This special performance will be held in the Musicians Institute Amphitheatre and is open to the public. First 500 fans will be guaranteed seating up close to see Sheehan play, ask questions and meet Sheehan one-on-one. Doors open @ 5:30 pm, show starts 6:00 pm, admission is free so get there early!
***Special addition for this show – Be one of the first 200 to buy Sheehan’s new CD – HOLY COW – at the show and have your name added to the drawing list for a autographed bass from Yamaha – Sheehan will sign right there on the spot!
Legendary Bass Master Bill Sheehan has released his much anticipated third solo album entitled “Holy Cow!” on Mascot Records U.S.A. April 14th, 2009. The albums tracks showcase Sheehan’s immense talents as both a singer/songwriter and instrumentalist.
Sheehan pulled in top-notch arsenal with guest performances by Billy Gibbons on “A Lit’l Bit’l Do It To Ya Ev’ry Time”, Paul Gilbert (who played with Sheehan in Mr. Big) on “Dynamic Exhilarator”, Dug Pinnick (Kings-X) on the song “Turning Point” as well as Ray Luzier on drums and shred master Tony MacAlpine.
For more information go to www.billysheehan.com or www.myspace.com/billysheehan
0 Video – Mr. Big – Wind Me Up
Last night I was inspired by Hard Rock Nights interview with Billy Sheehan. I started looking for some old Mr. Big videos and stumbled on one that I don’t remember seeing.
Check out “Wind Me Up” below. This is the second track off of Mr. Big’s 1989 debut.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
0 Billy Sheehan on Hard Rock Nights this Saturday!
Legendary bass player Billy Sheehan will be the special guest on Hard Rock Nights this Saturday, March 21. Sheehan, who has worked with some huge names in the hard rock world, from Talas to UFO to David Lee Roth to Mr. Big, has released his third solo album entitled “Holy Cow!” Sheehan will chat with JT about the new disc, touring with David Lee Roth, the upcoming Mr. Big reunion tour, and working with one of his heroes, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
Hard Rock Nights airs every Saturday night at 9 pm EDT on WMWX in Cincinnati, simulcast on http://www.classxradio.com. More information about the program can be found at http://hardrocknights.wordpress.com and http://www.myspace.com/jtshardrockradio.
1 Billy Sheehan To Release “Holy Cow”
Legendary Bass Master Bill Sheehan is releasing his much anticipated third solo album entitled “Holy Cow!” on Mascot Records U.S.A. April 14th, 2009. The albums tracks showcase Sheehan’s immense talents as both a singer/songwriter and instrumentalist.
Sheehan pulled in top-notch arsenal with guest performances by Billy Gibbons on “A Lit’l Bit’l Do It To Ya Ev’ry Time”, Paul Gilbert (who played with Sheehan in Mr Big) on “Dynamic Exhilarator”, Dug Pinnick (Kings-X) on the song “Turning Point” as well as Ray Luzier on drums and shred master Tony MacAlpine.
Sheehan has played over 4,000 gigs with a career that includes stints with Talas, David Lee Roth, Mr Big, and Steve Vai. Voted the “Best Rock Bass Player” 5 times in Guitar Player magazines Readers Poll, an honor which placed Sheehan in their “Gallery of Greats” (alongside Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee and Eddie Van Halen to name but a few). With cumulative sales of over 4 million records in his career, Billy Sheehan has made the album his fans have been waiting for, over the top playing with strong songs.
Sheehan continues to stretch the boundaries of the bass guitar while showcasing his immense talent as a guitarist (Baritone 12 string and 6 string 
guitars) and singer. Look for a Billy Sheehan solo tour to promote this album in the very near future.
“Holy Cow” track listing:
01. In A Week Or Two (I’ll Give It Back To You)
02. Dynamic Exhilarator
03. A Lit’l Bit’l Do It To ‘Ya Ev’ry Time
04. A Bloodless Casualty
05. Make It To Another Day (I Keep Rolling On My Way)
06. Another Broken Promise
07. Just Another Humanoid
08. Turning Point
09. Two People Can Keep A Secret (If One Of Them Is Dead)
10. Theme From An Imaginary Science Fiction
11. Cell Towers
For more information go to www.billysheehan.com or www.myspace.com/billysheehan
0 Video – David Lee Roth – Yankee Rose
It has been a long time since I seen the David Lee Roth video, “Yankee Rose”, and thought this one was worth another look.
“Yankee Rose” was released in 1986 on his solo album, Eat ‘Em and Smile.
