Tag: Festival
5 JON OLIVA – THE HARD ROCK HIDEOUT INTERVIEW!
JON OLIVA – has made quite the mark on the music industry. Since 1978, Jon Oliva has been involved in making music… after all, as you will later find out, Jon Oliva is a man of music. A founding member, along with his late brother Criss Oliva, of the influential and legendary Progressive Metal Band -Savatage. As Jon Oliva will elaborate, later in this interview, Savatage has since been transformed into the ultra world popular – Trans Siberian Orchestra, in which Jon Oliva is most personally proud of.
In the midst of of Jon Oliva’s music career, he has also founded and nurtured his Heavy Metal brainchild known as Jon Oliva’s Pain, with four studio albums released since 2004. Jon Oliva’s Pain has recently released a fourth studio album on AFM Records titled, “Festival”, this very same month on April 13th. Recently, Jon Oliva took the time from his busy schedule to talk to Hard Rock Hideout about his terrific new album and the music he has created and loves. Here’s what Jon Oliva had to say:
HRH: Jon, I can’t stop listening to “Festival”, I’m really hooked! An incredible album you made here!
Jon Oliva: Thank you, “Festival” really is an album that grows on you each time you listen to it.
HRH: As with all of the music you have created or helped to create, it’s always been a listening experience for me. “Festival” continues this trend. How did you prepare your thoughts and ideas for this new and amazing album?
Jon Oliva: There’s a lot of little things in the background. The last album, (“Global Warning”/AFM Records), was an experimental album and I pretty much got that out of my system. I wanted to play guitar, so when we were on tour in Europe, “Festival” was written. We had an amp and a 4-track riding around Europe! I wanted a darker, old school Savatage type album, a back to basics without losing any weird stuff that is heard in the songs.
HRH: “Festival” showcases your musical diversity, all the while maintaining a dark, hard and heavy style. Were there any last second double guessing happening while in the studio?
Jon Oliva: Not really, there was a plan. I was confident when we went in and prepared. “Festival” is different from the last three (John Oliva’s Pain) albums, every 
musical thing was written and ready to go. There was no searching for parts, no searching for keyboard parts, no stress. This was a very happy album to make.
HRH: The song “Now” has an uncanny Classic Rock feel to me, with a tad of ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) flavor and still it’s Jon Oliva’s Pain. Is that accurate for me to state?
Jon Oliva: Sure! A big influence on me is ELO, I love that band! Back when I was eighteen years old, my bother Criss and I wrote the chorus for this song in grandmas garage. After all those years, I pulled the tape out, wrote a new verse for it, inserted the chorus and this song, “Now”, is the result. “Now” was half written in 1978!
HRH: That’s really cool, the story behind “Now”.
HRH: “Death Rides A Black Horse” gives me goose bumps, such an epic power it delivers. How did this song come about?
Jon Oliva: From a nightmare. Lyrically based on nightmares are all my songs. I saw that guy with the long scythe, it was death coming through the clouds and he had fire in his eyes. What I remember from nightmares I elaborate on it, lyrically. I have nephews in the military and their slogan is this song title, so I thought it was a great name for a song! I wanted to do it for them, adding their slogan as the song title. “Now” and “Lies” are two songs not based on a dream or nightmare though. “Living On The Edge” is about being chased by something I cannot see, all I am seeing is blackness ahead of the lines in the road. The storyteller comes out in me through songs, I just improvise the ending of these nightmares I have.
HRH: It’s amazing and unique, these nightmares you have that eventually become songs.
Jon Oliva: Since I was a kid, I always have nightmares, every night. As a kid, I would watch “Creature Feature” (a Saturday morning/classic horror movie matinee on television) and my mom would warn me, “you’ll have nightmares if you watch this stuff!” My brain is having a party up there and this is what comes out in my sleep!
HRH: (Laughs)
HRH: Each time I listen to “Festival” I get the perception that there is no slowing down Jon Oliva. How true is my perception?
Jon Oliva: Very true. There is a lot going on in my life. I am creating as much music as I can, while I can still do it. I’m not twenty one anymore and eventually it will all stop. I still have a lot of stuff on tape to pull out and work on. I like to get up and get out there! As I get older, I have acquired a sense of urgency. Trans Siberian Orchestra helps, I get lots of music through them that doesn’t suit John Oliva’s Pain, the Hard Rock and heavy side of Pain. The soft and more tender music I write suits Trans Siberian Orchestra.
HRH: Is there a North American tour on the horizon for Jon Oliva’s Pain?
Jon Oliva: I’m looking at a mid September to late September window, with a few dates in the Northeast and I’m working on setting this up. Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York would be the area for these dates. The economy is bad and the drinking age is twenty one. The club scene is killed with the drinking age of twenty one. The clubs lose fifty percent of their business with twenty one being the drinking age.
HRH: I always wonder, how much of a deterrent to alcohol this drinking age of twenty one really is.
Jon Oliva: It’s not a deterrent. When we were young, you would still gather somewhere to drink and play music.
HRH: Yeah, my buddies and I would set up in a remote field in the woods, crank up some Metal and let the keg beer flow!
Jon Oliva: Exactly! That’s what we did.
HRH: Who were your musical influences growing up and even now?
Jon Oliva: The Beatles and ELO. ELO’s music is so melodic. I saw ELO in concert in Florida, sometime in the late 70’s. ELO had this enormous spaceship on stage, it was like going to see Alice Cooper for the first time!
HRH: Was it the “Out Of The Blue” tour?
Jon Oliva: I believe it was. It was around 1977 and 1978.
Jon Oliva: Theater Rock is what I’ve always been into and inspired by. People get bored at a concert without entertainment on stage, you might as well stay home and listen to the album or CD instead. If you are really into ELO, Klaatu is a band you should look into. I’ve always loved this band’s music. They were a Canadian Progressive Rock band. Klaatu is named after a character in the science fiction movie “The Day The Earth Stood Still”.
HRH: Thanks Jon, I’ll have to definitely check out Klaatu.
HRH: Which instrument, that you play, gives you the most satisfaction?
Jon Oliva: The piano. There’s nothing like playing a real piano and singing. The guitar also, it’s a weird combination. I can get real emotion on the keyboards, yet it transposes better on guitar. Still, the touch and feel on a piano is something special.
HRH: Will Trans Siberian Orchestra return with a new Christmas theme in the future?
Jon Oliva: I’m not sure, it’s Paul O’Neill’s decision. Paul has lot’s of projects set up that he wants to get out.
HRH: Jon, you have seen and done it all in the world of music. What moment or moments in your career make you the most proud?
Jon Oliva: Becoming so successful with Trans Siberian Orchestra. Trans Siberian Orchestra is Savatage. We worked very long on Savatage and Trans Siberian Orchestra put a cap on Savatage, it’s all the same people. It was always as if we never could get over the hump, (with Savatage), where Savatage was a big name band, by changing the name to Trans Siberian Orchestra, it broadened the whole thing. Trans Siberian Orchestra was a natural progression to go to, there are no limitations, many musicians and singers are featured while the nucleus of Savatage is there. We have the same writers in Paul O’Neill and myself. The name and versatility of Savatage changed.
Living on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and trying to survive since 1980, we, (Savatage), would get beaten down and people would stomp on us! Then we got back up for another ten rounds with Mike Tyson and finally delivered that Buster Douglas punch with Trans Siberian Orchestra! Trans Siberian Orchestra is the biggest band, if not, one of the biggest bands in America today, two shows sell out a day! Currently, “Beethoven’s Last Night” is on tour.
HRH: Is music all about life or is life all about music?
Jon Oliva: Music is all about life! Music is personal experiences, desires, dreams, loves and losses. Music is life with a tune!
0 JON OLIVA’s PAIN To Release Fourth Full-Length This April
Festival, the fourth full-length from JON OLIVA’S PAIN, will be released in North America on April 12, 2010 via AFM Records! The CD, issued in Europe on February 19, entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 87. Festival was recorded at Morrisound Recording with Tom Morris. Check out video footage of OLIVA commenting on the recording and the first three tracks here (cover art included): http://tinyurl.com/ycxgbuy. Festival track-listing:
01. “Lies”
02. “Death Rides A Black Horse”
03. “Festival”
04. “Afterglow”
05. “Living On The Edge”
06. “Looking For Nothing”
07. “The Evil Within”
08. “Winter Haven”
09. “I Fear You”
10. “Now”
In related news, the Savatage mastermind and his bandmates — guitarist Tom McDyne, former Circle II Circle members Matt LaPorte (guitar), Kevin Rothney (bass), John Zahner (keyboards) and Chris Kinder (drums) — have begun to announce their headlining Fall tour in support of the new release. Highlighting the trek will be the live-DVD concert filming at the 013 in Tilburg, Holland on October 15. Tentatively due in early 2011, it will mark the first official live DVD release with OLIVA handling all the vocal duties. It promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime show featuring an assault of Savatage classics and the four JON OLIVA’S PAIN CDs.
The band has two US dates confirmed later this month with more TBA. The JOP summer festival season is also taking shape with Graspop and Bang Your Head confirmed (and more to come).
4/24/2010 Bourbon Street Nightclub – New Port Richey, FL
4/30/2010 – 5/01/2010 Triton Power Cruise
5/15/2010 – 5/16/2010 Wacken Rock Brazil (Sao Paulo)
6/26/2010 – 6/27/2010 Graspop Metal Meeting Festival (Belgium)
7/06/2010 – 7/07/2010 Bang Your Head Festival (Germany)
10/01/2010 Prog Metal Night, Bamberg
10/02/2010 Turock – Essen, DE
10/05/2010 New Ballroom – Hamburg, DE
10/06/2010 Colos-Saal – Aschaffenburg, DE
10/09/2010 Kaminwerk – Memmingen, DE
10/10/2010 Werkstatt – Köln, DE
10/12/2010 Grillen – Colmar, FR
10/13/2010 Z7 – Pratteln, CH
10/15/2010 013 – Tilburg, NL
10/16/2010 Biebob – Vosselar, BE
http://www.jonoliva.net
http://www.myspace.com/jonoliva
http://www.afm-records.de
0 NEW JON OLIVA´S PAIN ALBUM WILL BE RELEASED ON FEBRUARY, 19, 2010!!!
JON OLIVA’S PAIN will release their fourth studio album “Festival” on February, 19, 2010. A bombastic title for a bombastic record, indeed.
After the more experimental last JOP album “Global Warning” from 2008, the songs of the new album are going “back to the basics” again. Less slow tracks, more Metal!
Like the master announced it some time ago, “Festival” could be described as a mix of “Hall Of The Mountain King” (Savatage) and the second JON OLIVA’S PAIN album “Maniacal Renderings”. Epic compositions encounter with rough, heavy rockers, all melt together by Jon´s unique style of composing. This album marks the next step in the continuing legacy of the “Mountain King”. It´s once again a unique and unmatched piece of work by one of the scene´s last originals.
0 New White Lion DVD Gets European Release Date!
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of WHITE LION “Bang Your Head Festival 2005” DVD on December 5th 2008.
White Lion left its musical mark in the late 80’s with a series of highly acclaimed albums including “Mane Attraction”, “Big Game” and the million seller “Pride” which spawned such hits as “Wait” and “When The Children Cry”. The band was also recognized for its signature album tracks that transcended socio-political themes such as “Lady Of The Valley”, “Cry For Freedom”, “Lights N Thunder” and “Warsong”.
White Lion originally disbanded in 1991 and it wasn’t until 2005 when singer Mike Tramp decided to handpick a handful of musicians (including Jamie Law on guitar, Troy Patrick Farrell on drums, Henning Wanner on keyboards and Claus Langeskov on bass) to carry again the flag of White Lion in a long European tour that culminated in a successful apparition at the “Bang Your Head Festival”. In Tramp’s own words “this concert was the definitive turning point and event that finally convinced me that it was worth going on with the next chapter of White Lion and that rock fans had not forgotten and still appreciated the music of White Lion”.
And indeed this DVD reflects the magic of an unforgettable night with amazing renditions of all the band’s hits and signature songs. A testament of what was and a statement for the future who brought the successful studio return album “Return of the Pride” released in March 2008.
DVD contents include:
Bang Your Head Festival 2005 concert: Lights And Thunder; Hungry; Lonely Nights; Broken Heart; Fight to Survive; Little Fighter; Living on the Edge; Tell Me; Wait; Radar Love.
Full length interview (Mike Tramp)
Slide show (Lady of the Valley)
Lights and Thunder across the USA (Live performance of song from the USA tour)
Easter Eggs: Hungry; It’s Over (Live in the USA)
94 What Bands Would You Choose to Play in Cruefest’09 ?
Cruefest ’08 is now over and has been deemed a success.
If you could pick your own Cruefest bill for 2009, what 4 bands would you
choose to open for Motley Crue?
My Four choices are:
Airbourne
Hinder
Sixx A.M.
Tesla
Also, if they want to turn this into a true festival environment, how about adding a second stage for 3 or 4 bands to play on?
Who would you pick for Cruefest 2009?
3 Rock The Bayou Festival
Mammoth “Rock The Bayou” Music Bash Unites Legends at 4-Day Texas Festival, featuring Sammy Hagar, Alice Cooper, Bret Michaels, Queensryche, Twisted Sister, Skid Row, Warrant, Ratt, Dokken, Great White and More www.RocktheBayou.com
40+ Bands to Unite with Celebrated Rockers at Former Houston AstroWorld Site for Nation’s Premier Labor Day Concert, August 29 – September 1, 2008
HOUSTON, July 2, 2008 – Some of rock’s most legendary and notorious hair bands will join emerging stars for the massive Rock The Bayou music bash, featuring four days of music, food and family fun on the former grounds of Houston’s AstroWorld theme park. The site is being transformed into a 100-acre festival playground for those who love to rock. The Rock The Bayou festival features rock legends Sammy Hagar, Alice Cooper, Bret Michaels and his Rock of Love Tour, Queensryche, Twisted Sister, Skid Row, Great White, Ratt, Dokken, Warrant (with its original lineup), Yngwie Malmsteen, Slaughter, Y&T, Dangerous Toys, Little Caesar, Jetboy, Bullet Boys with Steven Adler, Lynch Mob, Britny Fox, Pretty Boy Floyd, Enuff Z’Nuff, Black ‘n Blue, Gilby Clarke, Firehouse and Broken Teeth. All told, more than 40 bands will play two stages over four days.
One of the most affordable summer music bashes in the country, Rock The Bayou offers a $99 single admission, early-bird ticket for all four days of the music festival. Active U.S. military (with ID) will be admitted for half-price. For tickets and information, charge by phone at (713) 629-4747, or visit RockTheBayou.com or OnlineTickets.com – the festival’s exclusive ticket seller.
Buzz-generating Lineup
Rock The Bayou intends to be one of the nation’s largest and most accessible summer concert fests, says Ali Fazeli, president of The Fazeli Group, which is promoting and producing the event. Some 50,000 people a day are expected to attend. Festival wristbands will allow people to come and go as they wish.
“We’ve got an unbelievable lineup that celebrates rock’s top legendary artists,” Fazeli explains. “We’ve designed an event with a family flavor and the most affordable ticket price of the large summer music festivals.” Plus, $1 from every Rock The Bayou ticket purchased will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter, says Fazeli.
Homegrown Labor Day Vacation Alternative
With climbing gas prices putting the chill on Labor Day getaways, Rock The Bayou offers Texans a close-to-home alternative. “Rock The Bayou gives them a unique ‘stay-cation’ option – a chance to celebrate the end of summer without breaking the bank,” explains Fazeli. For family fun, a Ferris wheel is being brought in, along with a towering drive-in like screen that will play movies after nightly band performances. A second stage will feature Texas bands for continuous music. Rock The Bayou will
also offer a VIP area, parking, safe campgrounds and RV facilities. For Fazeli, the long days and nights putting together a legendary rock lineup has been energizing. The self-professed workaholic is also a big
music fan.
“We’re thrilled to have such a great group of performers at one, huge festival for the first time in Houston,” he says. “This kind of event has been long overdue for such a diverse and acclaimed city.”
For tickets and information, visit RockTheBayou.com or OnlineTickets.com. To charge by phone, call (713) 629-4747.
1 ROCKLAHOMA ADDS FIFTH DAY TO FESTIVAL
PRYOR, OK— Catch the Fever Music Festivals announced that due to the overwhelming response from members of the rock community and their fan, a fifth day has been added to Rocklahoma.
Director of Operations of the Pryor Creek Music Festival Dave Giencke enthusiastically stated, “ Rocklahoma is bringing to the world what cannot be found at any other festival in the world!”
Details of Wednesdays’ events will be announced in the upcoming days.
Over 100 bands will be performing on three giant stages over the five days.
Rocklahoma’s current lineup on the main stage is:
Thursday (Opening Night for those who have bought three day tickets) Bret Michaels, Sebastian Bach, Dokken, LA Guns featuring Tracii Guns, Enuf Z Nuff, Vain, House of Lords and Jet Boy.
Friday: Triumph, Extreme, Lita Ford, Night Ranger, Kingdom Come, Armored Saint and XYZ.
Saturday: Cinderella, the reunited Warrant, Kix, Lynch Mob, Trixter, Black N Blue, Tora Tora, Every Mother’s Nightmare and Pretty Boy Floyd.
Sunday: Steelheart, Axe, Zebra, Tesla and Queensryche performing Operation: Mindcrime.
The current lineup is subject to change as bands are added in the upcoming weeks.
An additional sixty bands are going to be playing on two giant side stages courtesy of Retrospect Records and Tri-Label Group.
Rocklahoma is the world’s largest Rock Festival of its type featuring bands from the eighties. Attendance for the upcoming festival has sold tickets in all fifty states and every continent in the world with Antarctica being the only exception.
Located four miles north of Pryor, OK, off Highway 69, the Catch the Fever facilities include over 6,200 assigned and numbered seats, as well as general admission on the lawn for over 50,000 people. The grounds also feature over 4,000 campsites, on-site parking, bathroom facilities, a convenience store, and overnight security provided by Mayes County Sheriff’s Department. Rocklahoma features a Picture Alley that allows anyone in attendance to approach the stage during any performance and take photographs of a favorite artist at close range.
Discounted General Admission Tickets to Rocklahoma are available through Tuesday, May 27th along with V.I.P.
Get Tickets by calling toll free 866-310-2288 or by going online at www. feverfest. com.
1 Steelheart to Play at Rocklahoma Sunday Night
Due to an overwhelming amount of emails/requests sent to the promoters of the festival demanding the return of Miljenko Matijevic’s STEELHEART, Rocklahoma has asked the band to come back this year to perform on Sunday, July, 13th.
Miljenko and the boys have agreed to do the show and will hit the stage at 6 PM.
Rocklahoma’s 2008 lineup on the Main Stage is now as follows:
Thursday, July 10th: (Pre Party for those who have bought three day tickets) BRET MICHAELS, SEBASTIAN BACH, DOKKEN, L.A. GUNS featuring Tracii Guns, ENUFF Z’ NUFF, VAIN, HOUSE OF LORDS and JET BOY.
Friday, July 11th: TRIUMPH, EXTREME, LITA FORD, NIGHT RANGER, LIVING COLOUR, KINGDOM COME, ARMORED SAINT, XYZ.
Saturday, July 12th: CINDERELLA, WARRANT, KIX, LYNCH MOB, TRIXTER, BLACK N BLUE, TORA TORA, EVERY MOTHER’S NIGHTMARE, PRETTY BOY FLOYD
Sunday, July 13tth: QUEENSRŸCHE, TESLA, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, ZEBRA, AXE, STEELHEART and two more acts tba.
Two side stages adjacent to the main stage feature over twenty-eight regional artists on each stage.
The Retrospect Records stage includes the following bands: JESTER, SIDEKIXX, PAIR-A-DICE, FRONT RUNNER, TOMMY HAD A VISION, VALOR, GYPSY BLUE, WHITEFOXX, BLUE TIGER, WILD AUGUST, MESSANG, PAUL SHORTINO, MARIAH, WARRYOR, BAD CANDY, LORRAINE, NASTY NASTY, REAL STEEL, CUTTLASS, VYPER, MASS, BAD CANDY, ONEY, STRIKEFORCE, HERAZZ, RECKLESS, HEARTLESS, RON KEEL, WARRYOR and ALIBI.
On the Tri-Label Group stage has: ASPHALT VALENTINE, AZRAEL’S BANE, BONESHAKER, COCKPIT, DANGEROUS INC., DEATHRIDERS (NEIL TURBIN), DIRTY PENNY, DRIVE A, EXIT 27, GODS OF KANSAS, GYPSY PISTOLEROS, KARNEVIL (DARIO LORINA), KRUCIBLE (featuring Lance King), LIPSTICK MAGAZINE, MINDFLOW, ODIN, ORDER OF NINE, POWND, SACRED DAWN, SEX DPT., SHADOWSIDE, SWEET F.A., THE JAKALS, TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION, WARMACHINE.
0 70’s Hard Rock Festival in North Lawrence, Oh
CLAY’S PARK PRESENTS THE 5TH ANNNUAL ROCK N RESORT MUSIC FESTIVAL’s NATIONAL LINE-UP FEATURING 7 LEGENDARY ROCK BANDS; GIN BLOSSOMS, MOLLY HATCHET, SWEET, SANTANA ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER GREGG ROLIE, NAZARETH WITH MANNY CHARLTON, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVISITED AND BLUE OYSTER CULT.
MOLLY HATCHET – FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2008.
In the early 1970’s a new form of music was emerging in the south. A mixture of blues, country, gospel and the English invasion of rock and roll that later was to be coined the phrase “Southern Rock.” The music was filled with style and emotion and with bands in the forefront such as the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and a band from Jacksonville, Florida called Molly Hatchet. Named after a famous 17th century axe murderess Hatchet Molly who would behead her lovers with the hand tool Lizzy Borden made famous.
Their self-titled debut album which included Danny Joe Brown, Dave Hlubeck, Duane Roland, Steve Holland, Banner Thoman and Bruce Crump in the lineup was released on Epic records in 1978 and reached multi-platinum status as the band established their reputation of working hard, playing tough and living fast through intense touring with such bands as Aerosmith, Bob Seger, The Rolling Stones and many more.
In 1979, Flirtin With Disaster was released and history was in the making. The band continued touring on the road with an average of 250 live shows per year and like the first album it also achieved multi-platinum status.
After the death of lead singer, Danny Joe Brown the band claims to now draw inspiration from form him as they continue the spiritual, emotional and hard driving southern rock tradition the band is so well known for.
GIN BLOSSOMS – FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2008.
Gin Blossoms, the inventive and instantly appealing smart rock band of the early nineties has reunited after a difficult breakup, and stirring reunion to complete their latest album, Major Lodge Victory. Other hits include “Hey Jealousy”, “Found Out About You”, “As Long As It Matters”, “Follow You Down”, “‘Til I hear It From You”, “Until I Fall Away” and “Allison Road”.
NAZARETH WITH MANNY CHARLTON – SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008.
According to Manny Charlton, he was there FROM THE BEGINNING and was the guiding light that wrote the original material and recorded the demos of Nazareth’s early songs which landed management and ultimately their major record deals which led to their smash hits “Hair of the Dog”, “Razamanaz”, “Expect No Mercy” and “Love Hurts”. The rest as they say is history.
Charlton wrote, produced and defined the NAZARETH sound that was so successful in the 70’s. Five of Nazareth’s albums, produced by Manny in the 70’s, all achieved Gold or Platinum status in various countries throughout the world. Deep Purple’s Roger Glover, one of the band’s earlier mentors, identified Charlton as “THE SOUL OF NAZARETH”.
SANTANA ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER GREGG ROLIE – SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008.
Gregg Rolie is responsible for co-founding two phenomenally popular, multi-platinum many times over super groups that indeed are, SANTANA and JOURNEY. In 1998, the world class keyboardist-vocalist-producer was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame as part of the original Santana band. In addition to launching- along with Carlos Santana- the now legendary act, Rolie also co-produced their first four ground-breaking albums. What’s more, his singing talents will forever be immortalized by his unforgettable lead vocals on classic Santana greatest hits including “Black Magic Woman”, “Evil Ways” and the Tito Puente composition “Oye Como Va”.
Thirty-five years after Gregg and Carlos fortuitously met in San Francisco, the year 2001 marked the release of Rolie’s third solo album ROOTS, featuring the lead track “Give It To Me”. The first-ever release on Bay Area-based Tower Records’ new proprietary label 33rd Street, and Rolie’s first CD following a several year personal hiatus. ROOTS find Gregg revisiting the incredible brew of sounds he helped conjure up in the late ’60’s. Recalling those heady days, he remembers “It was an amazing time. We created something that no one could fathom…it was about the rhythms and solos more than the songs. It wasn’t Latin music, rock music, the blues—not any of the above. It was a combination of all of them”. Rolie calls ROOTS’ twelve original selections “Latin rock plus… the instrumentation is Latin percussion, with organ, guitar, horns, and lots of great solo work and songwriting”, adding that “I really wanted to go all the way back to my Santana roots”.
SWEET– SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008.
The Sweet, originally formed by bassist Steve Priest, vocalist Brian Connolly & drummer Mick Tucker, rose to fame in the 70’s with such hits as “Ballroom Blitz”, “Fox on the Run”, “Love is Like Oxygen”, “Little Willy”, “Hellraiser”, “Teenage Rampage”, “Blockbuster”, “Action” and many others, has reformed in the States led by bassist/vocalist Steve Priest.
Steve is joined by guitarist Stuart Smith who was taught by Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore and went on to play in a version of “Sweet” with Steve Priest in the late 80’s and then with Keith Emerson in a band called “The Aliens of Extraordinary Ability” before forming his own band “Heaven & Earth” in 1997.
In 1998 Smith released a critically acclaimed album called “Heaven & Earth featuring Stuart Smith” with guest appearances by Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Kelly Hansen (Hurricane/Foreigner), Carmine Appice (Rod Stewart/Jeff Beck/Vanilla Fudge), Bobby Kimball(Toto) and Steve Priest. This album won Stuart the “Best Guitarist” and “Album of the Year” award two years in a row at The Los Angeles All Access Music Awards”.
On drums is renowned drummer Richie Onori who, as well as playing with Stuart Smith in “The Aliens of Extraordinary Ability” and “Heaven & Earth” has also played with Louis Johnson, Bobby Kimball and Rick Derringer. Rounding out the line up is powerhouse vocalist Joe Retta from Queen Nation, and keyboard player Stevie Stewart from The World Classic Rockers.
Sweet promises all the hits and more played as they were meant to be heard and with an energetic stage show that is second to none.
BLUE OYSTER CULT– SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008.
For nearly three decades, Blue Oyster Cult has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. Indeed, the Long Island, NY based band is revered within the hard rock and heavy metal scene for its pioneering work.
That tradition continues with the June 5, 2001, release of Curse of the Hidden Mirror on CMC International Records, a division of the Sanctuary Records Group.
Blue Oyster Cult occupies a unique place in rock history because it’s one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim as well as commercial success. The band is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as Metallica, and BOC was listed in VH1’s countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.
Upon the release of BOC’s self-titled debut album in 1972, the band was praised for its catchy-yet-heavy music and lyrics that could be provocative, terrifying, funny or ambiguous, often all in the same song. BOC’s canon includes three stone-cold classic songs that will waft through the cosmos long after the sun has burned out: The truly haunting “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” from 1976’s Agents of Fortune, the pummeling “Godzilla” from 1977’s Specters’ and the hypnotically melodic “Burnin’ for You” from 1981’s Fire of Unknown Origin. Other notable BÖC songs include “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll,” “Then Came the Last Days of May,” “I Love the Night,” “In Thee,” “Veteran of the Psychic Wars,” “Dominance and Submission,” “Astronomy,” “Black Blade” and “Shooting Shark.”
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVISITED – SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008.
Stu Cook and Doug “Cosmo”, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rhythm section (bass and drums respectively) from the legendary group Creedence Clearwater Revival launched the Creedence Clearwater Revisited project in 1995 to once again perform live Creedence Clearwater Revival hits – touchstones of a generation. Though the pair initially only planned to play private parties, Creedence Clearwater Revisited now performs up to 100 shows a year and has released the album “Recollection.”
Creedence Clearwater Revisited brings to life, with authentic integrity, the classic hits that made CCR legendary including, “I Put A Spell on You”, “Bad Moon Rising”, “Proud Mary”, “Down on The Corner”, “Who’ll Stop the Rain” and “Travelin Band”.
The 5th Annual Rock N Resort Music Festival is a three-day, nonstop music festival, reminiscent of the great festivals of the past. Rock N Resort takes place on 500 acres at Clay’s Park Resort, just 20 minutes south of Akron off Rt. 21. Held on July 18-20, 2008, primitive (festival) or RV camping is welcome. Early camping opportunities are also available. Past RNR performers include, Grand Funk Railroad, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Starship with Mickey Thomas, Edgar Winter, Bad Company’s Brian Howe, John Kay and Steppenwolf, FogHat, Kansas, The Outlaws, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Southside Johnny and George Thorogood.
Unlike anything in the country, this festival combines the pure energy of great classic rock in an outdoor amphitheatre with the relaxing amenities of a full service RV resort and water park. Event manager, Margie Centrone said, “We will will round out the event with 30-40 strong regional acts to perform on our other 3 stages. We provide non-stop music and interactive fun for every music lover. With all this beautiful location has to offer, Rock N Resort provides an unforgettable vacation opportunity.” Tickets are available now with early reservations recommended to ensure first preference on camping locations.
Click here to order tickets online or phone 1.800.860.4FUN (4386) and Experience all the Magic of The Fifth Annual Rock N Resort Music Festival.
4 Helstar and Snake Skin Prison Join South Texas Rock Fest
South Texas Rock Fest – HELSTAR, SNAKE SKIN PRISON Confirmed For New Second Stage
HELSTAR and SNAKE SKIN PRISON are the lastest acts confirmed for the South Texas Rock Fest, which runs from July 11th – 13th at the Javelina Harley Davidson Festival Grounds in Boerne, TX. Both acts are confirmed for the new Second Stage.
Organizers comment: “Due to the overwhelming response on the South Texas Rock Fest, we have decided to bring in a second stage and give all indie and up and coming bands the opportunity to play!”
The running order for the Main Stage is as follows:
Friday, July 11
QUEENSRYCHE – 10:00 PM
DOKKEN – 8:30 PM
SKID ROW – 7:00 PM
BULLET BOYS – 5:30 PM
PRETTY BOY FLOYD – 4:30 PM
HOUSE OF LORDS – 3:15 PM
AXE – 2:15
Saturday, July 12
TESLA – 10:00 PM
Y&T – 8:30 PM
STEPHEN PEARCY OF RATT – 7:00 PM
UFO – 5:30 PM
FASTER PUSSY CAT – 4:15 PM
LA GUNS – 3:10 PM
BANG TANGO – 2:05 PM
ZERO HOUR – 1:00 PM
MAD MARGRITT – 11:55 AM
Sunday, July 13
JACKYL – 8:30 PM
FIREHOUSE – 7:00 PM
HELIX – 5:30 PM
THE GODZ – 4:00 PM
OZZ KNOZZ – 2:30 PM
JOKESTER – 1:15 PM
For more info click here.
Hard Rock Hideout 