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Grammy® Award winning guitarist Steve Vai struck gold twice recently as his latest concert film, “Live In Minneapolis: Where The Wild Things Are,” went Gold in both the USA and Canada.

“After 30 years in this business it’s very rewarding to see that your contribution is still being recognized. Thanks to the fans … really!” said Vai.

In addition, “Now We Run” from the live DVD, is nominated for a Grammy® Award for Best Rock Instrumental.

“Live In Minneapolis: Where The Wild Things Are” is available on double DVD, Blu-ray and a single CD. Later this year, Favored Nations will release “Where The Other Wild Things Are,” a 10 track CD of songs from the concert that did not make the first CD.

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.

In January, Vai will enter the studio to record his next solo album for Favored Nations and later this year, he will embark on a World Tour that will take him through all of 2011.

Source: Favored Nations

Golden Globe(R) and Multiple Primetime Emmy(R) Nominated Motion Picture Starring Kurt Russell, Shelley Winters, Season Hubley, Bing Russell, Pat Hingle, Robert Gray, Joe Mantegna and Ed Begley Jr. THE ACCLAIMED BIOPIC FINALLY COMES TO DVD FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

Few figures in popular culture have endured in our collective consciousness as has multi-Grammy® Award-winning artist Elvis Presley. Crowned as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Presley’s revolutionary rockabilly music and captivating performances were as much a part of his legend as his uninhibited hip swivels, blue suede shoes, his charm and good looks. There have been motion pictures, television specials and books chronicling the roller-coaster life of Elvis Presley, and one of the most successful of these properties came in the acclaimed 1979 film ELVIS, starring Golden Globe nominee Kurt Russell in the title role, directed by John Carpenter. This highly regarded production captures the essence of The King at a time when his many fans were still mourning his passing. Hailed by audiences as one of the most powerful and moving biographical films, ELVIS garnered a Golden Globe nomination and multiple Emmy® nominations, including one for Kurt Russell as Outstanding Lead Actor for his incandescent performance as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The film also marked Carpenter and Russell’s first collaboration in what would become a legendary pairing.

Timed closely to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth, Shout! Factory, in association with dick clark Productions, present ELVIS on DVD for the first time March 2, 2010. This collectible DVD features the main presentation of the movie restored from the original film elements as it was meant to be seen, as well as an array of bonus features including: “Bringing A Legend To Life,” a featurette with archival interviews of Kurt Russell and John Carpenter (1979); commentary by “The Voice Of Elvis,” Ronnie McDowell, and author Edie Hand; rare clips and captivating photo gallery. Even 33 years after his passing, Presley continues to burn a powerful image of rock stardom and still conquers new legions of fans through his indelible mark in worldwide pop culture. Available for the first time in the home entertainment marketplace, this long-awaited DVD debut of the film ELVIS is priced to own at $19.97.

Directed by John Carpenter, the biopic of Elvis Presley stars Kurt Russell and features the voice of ’70s country music hitmaker Ronnie McDowell re-creating Presley’s signature vocals. Tracing Presley’s life from his impoverished childhood to his meteoric rise to stardom to his triumphant return to Las Vegas, this film boasts an all-star ensemble including Academy Award® winner Shelley Winters (A Place In The Sun) as Elvis’ mother Gladys; Season Hubley (All My Children) as his wife Priscilla; Kurt Russell’s real-life father Bing Russell (The Magnificent Seven) as Elvis’s father Vernon Presley; Pat Hingle (Batman) as Colonel Tom Parker; Robert Gray (Murder She Wrote) as Red West; Golden Globe nominee Joe Mantegna (Searching for Bobby Fischer) as Memphis mafia member Joe Esposito; and Golden Globe nominee Ed Begley Jr. (St. Elsewhere) as D.J. Fontana.

IN-DEPTH DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
– “Bringing A Legend To Life” Featurette With Archival Interviews Of Kurt Russell And John Carpenter (1979)
– Commentary By “The Voice Of Elvis” Ronnie McDowell And Author Edie Hand
– Rare Clips From American Bandstand
– Photo Gallery

Source: Shout! Factory

KISS on Facebook via a Ustream streaming link live from their show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles at 9 pm PST on Wednesday, November 25. This is the first-ever live web concert for one of rock’s most iconic bands as KISS celebrates the release of their new, three-song Guitar Hero track pack featuring Modern Day Delilah, I Was Made for Loving You and Lick It Up.

Users can watch and interact by visiting the official KISS Facebook page at facebook.com/KISS or on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kiss-live to connect with other KISS fans for a personal chat and live video experience in real-time during the show.

KISS chose Ustream (www.ustream.tv), the leading live video platform on the web, because of its powerful platform and scalability in reaching a global audience of unlimited size. The band wanted to connect with their legion of fans that might not have had the chance to catch them during the North American leg of their 35th-anniversary KISS/Alive 35 tour, a 44-city tour that continues through December 15.

“For 35 years, KISS has rocked all over the world to sold-out crowds and set the standard for what a rock show should be. This tour will solidify our place in history for having the loudest, most entertaining and hardest rockin’ show in all of music,” said Gene Simmons.

Users who own an Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft can click the Guitar Hero banner at the bottom of the screen and go directly to Xbox LIVE Marketplace on Xbox.com to purchase the KISS three-song track pack and queue it up for download to their Xbox 360 console. PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ owners can purchase the track pack through the in-game music store in either Guitar Hero 5 or Band Hero