Archive for the Rock Shop Category

Aerosmith, America’s Greatest Rock Band, Return to South America and Europe Opening South American Date – May 18th in Caracas – Tickets on Sale March 13th South American Dates Will Precede Previously Announced European Tour in June

Aerosmith - the biggest, most enduring and thrilling band in rock history will make a spectacular return to South America for the first time since 2007 beginning in Caracas, Venezuela on May 18th with the COCKED, LOCKED, READY TO ROCK TOUR! spawning what will be the ultimate music event of the new decade. America’s greatest rock and roll band will then go to Europe for 11 more knock out shows.

“Back by popular demand with more spit and fire than ever before, we’re coming across the pond and parting the waters as we go,” says Steven Tyler.

“Aerosmith is going to be rocking in South America, the UK and Europe this summer,” adds Joe Perry. “Enough BS – we’re coming and everything is going to be set at eleven.”

For more than 30 years Aerosmith, four time Grammy winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees (2001), recipients of 12 MTV Video Music Awards and countless other awards have performed electrifying sold out concerts around the world for decades along with selling well over 150 million albums.

Drummer Joey Kramer says, “Aerosmith is back! Bigger, better and stronger than ever! So look out South America and Europe, cuz we’re comin’ to get cha.”

Guitarist Brad Whitford added, “I’m not sure who is happier, the band or the fans. Can’t wait to get started. We’ll see you this summer.”

Aerosmith and their shared passion and commitment to continue to rock the world with the COCKED, LOCKED, READY TO ROCK TOUR! is set to be a phenomenal and unforgettable return to the stage.

It is left to bassist Tom Hamilton to sum up: “One thing we all agree on is that we love this band and it’s time to get out there and freakin’ PLAY!”

COCKED, LOCKED, READY TO ROCK TOUR! SOUTH AMERICAN DATES:
Venezuela – Caracas – La Rinconada Hippodrome – May 18
Colombia – Bogota – Simon Bolivar Park – May 20
Peru - Lima – Peru/Explanada Monumental – May 22
Chile - Santiago – Estadio Nacional – May 25
Argentina – Buenos Aires – Hippodromo San Isidro – May 27
Brazil - Sao Paulo – Palmeiras – May 29

VIP experience packages (which may include opportunities to meet band members, backstage tours, early entry passes, premium seating and/or merchandise) are available through www.AeroForceOne.com.

Album Launch to Coincide With New Documentary ‘Stones in Exile’

Universal Music Group is pleased to announce the re-release of The Rolling Stones album Exile on Main Street with an additional 10 never-before-heard tracks. Regarded as one of the greatest albums in rock ‘n’ roll history and one of the most defining of the Stones’ catalogue, Exile will be available May 17, 2010, in the U.K. and May 18, 2010, in the US.

Upon its release more than three decades ago, Exile on Main Street innovatively wove varying musical genres, instruments and even artists into a compelling rhythmic masterpiece. This new compilation features 10 tracks originally recorded during the Exile era and only recently discovered while working on the reissue project. The unearthed tracks which include such titles as “Plundered My Soul,” “Dancing in the Light,” “Following the River” and “Pass The Wine” have undergone a unique evolution, while staying true to the essence of the 1972 album. Alternate versions of “Soul Survivor” and “Loving Cup” also are a part of the Exile bonus materials.

As a complement to the release of Exile on Main Street, a documentary, “Stones in Exile,” has just been completed for fans to view on US Network television and through BBC Worldwide internationally. The documentary features rare, never-before-seen archival film, photos and interviews as well as new conversations with the band and the artists they influence. Produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker John Battsek and directed by Stephen Kijak, who is known for award-winning work on Cinemania, and Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, “Stones in Exile” offers an uncommon glimpse into the lives of the band as they created one of the greatest albums of all time.

The original 18-track double-album was recorded in various stages at multiple locations, including Olympic Studios in London, Keith Richard’s mansion Nellcote in France, and in Los Angeles where the literal “Main Street” influenced the album title. These atypical circumstances surrounding the recording process greatly affected the album’s outcome which was highly reflective and influenced by the sociopolitical turbulence that marked the late `60s and early `70s. The Stones nixed the influences of a flower-child era and directed their creative process with the edgier, excessive, “more is more” approach of the `70s. Exile reveals a sprawling mix of genres with undertones of blues, country, R&B and gospel mixed with lyrics that fervently demand for release and liberation.

The album pulled together an electric array of talent including Dr. John, the late Billy Preston and pianist Nicky Hopkins. Guitarist Mick Taylor, who replaced Brian Jones in the band shortly before Jones died in 1969, is a magnificent blues player who brought an intensity and elegance to these epic tracks. At times, these musicians and others lived on the recording studio premises with the band creating an extremely open and creative collaboration for the album.

“The album’s riveting portrait of artists pushed – by the times, by themselves – to the very limits of their creativity has provided inspiration to every musical generation that has come along since Exile was released in 1972,” said author Anthony DeCurtis. “Every song on Exile on Main Street is elevated by its relationship to the music that comes before and after it. The album’s irresistible power is unlikely to diminish any time soon.”

Exile on Main Street will be available in two CD formats: the original 18 track release; a deluxe CD edition with the 10 special bonus tracks; and a super deluxe package that also includes vinyl, a 30-minute documentary DVD with footage from Cocksucker Blues, Ladies and Gentlemen… the Rolling Stones and Stones in Exile, and a 50-page collector’s book with photos from the Exile era. The 10 unreleased tracks were produced by Jimmy Miller, The Glimmer Twins and Don Was.

Source: Universal Music Enterprises

The Second Companion Disc to the Original Live Concert Film ‘Live In Minneapolis: Where The Wild Things Are’

Triple GRAMMY Award winning guitarist Steve Vai will release a new album, “Where The Other Wild Things Are,” on April 13, 2010 on his own Favored Nations Entertainment imprint. The 12-track album is the second companion CD to be released alongside the 2009 concert film “Live In Minneapolis: Where The Wild Things Are,” which is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray. The DVD made a #4 debut on Billboard’s Top Music DVD Chart, went Gold in both the USA and Canada and the track “Now We Run” was nominated for a 2010 Grammy® Award for Best Rock Instrumental. This new album features songs from the DVD that were not previously released on the first CD.

Vai explains: “The original CD release for ‘Where the Wild Things Are‘ consisted of songs from the concert DVD that had never been released in a live format before. It’s a robust CD! The other songs that were performed at the concert but were not released on the CD were burning a hole in the hard drive and beckoning me for the light of day, so I thought, even though these songs have been released in live versions with other bands from the past, my new band gives them a whole new life. So we decided to release a second disc that contains all the tracks that were not on the first disc. And there you have it, “Where the Other Wild Things Are,” and it’s even ‘robuster’ than the first one.”

The live concert featured on the DVD and CDs was filmed and recorded at the historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, MN before a sold-out crowd during Vai’s acclaimed 2007 String Theories World Tour. Vai chose the State Theatre for its lush acoustics and equally inspiring interior–his unprecedented guitar wizardry amazes throughout the film, as do the talents of the stellar band, an ace group of players, including two violinists, Vai put together and called String Theories.

2010 marks Steve Vai’s 30th Anniversary in the music business. Vai first stepped into the spotlight in 1980 as a touring member of the legendary Frank Zappa’s touring band but his indelible contribution to music came during his solo career, which includes combined sales of nearly six million albums over the last three decades.

Vai is currently in the studio recording his next solo album for Favored Nations Entertainment. He will then embark on a World Tour that will take him through all of 2011.

For more information: www.vai.com/wildthings

Source: Favored Nations Entertainment