On record, at least. Apparently Ray Manzarek has gotten his head out of his ass and stopped embarrassing himself by touring with a Doors cover band and gotten back to the real Doors. The final NYC concerts recorded with Jim Morrison before his death, will be released in a six-disc collection on November 10th. The shows were recorded on January 17th & 18th, 1970 at Madison Square Garden’s Felt Forum. Man, that takes it back. The Felt Forum was awesome. Sorry, got side tracked. In more Doors news, Rhino Records will also re-release all The Doors albums on vinyl on September 15th. Click through to the track listings for the live box set.
At least they’ve dropped the farewell tour bullshit. Kiss kicks off the Kiss Alive 35 tour, in Detroit……Rock City, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the classic live album, Kiss, Alive. Click through for tour dates.
Pearl Jam, playing a rare club gig last night at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire, wowed the 2,000 seat venue with a rip-roaring set, of classics, new songs and b-sides But the biggest surprise was the covers. When the band ripped into Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower”, Ronnie Wood rolled out on stage to join the band for what we hear was an incredible rendition. Also appearing was Simon Townsend, Pete’s older brother, as Pearl Jam launched into The Who’s “The Real Me” (check the short clip above). Pearl Jam continues their short jaunt through Europe, up next is Rotterdam.
Both Chicagoland newspapers, The Sun Times and The Tribune, are reporting that Bruce and the gang will perform their quintessential, E Street Blockbuster, 1975’s Born To Run, in it’s entirety at his Sept. 20th United Center show. No word if they plan to do any more albums during the rest of the tour. We’re praying for Lucky Town or Human Touch. Or not.
Neil Young has decided to cancel his show tonight at the LA Forum after he was advised that the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) union, Local 33, were planning on picketing his show. The union is in a contract dispute with the Faithful Central Bible Church, who own the venue. I can only imagine what kind of freaks make up that congregation. Neil released a statement saying, “I am extremely disappointed to have to choose between satisfying my fans or backing my brothers and sisters of the IATSE. I will miss playing in Los Angeles and apologize to my fans for the inconvenience this has caused.” Obviously ticketholders are disappointed but you gotta respect for Neil for not crossing the picket line. He’s still proud to be a union man.
40 years after the Beatles were banned from playing Israel, Paul McCartney got his Matzo Ball on when he played his first ever concert in Tel Aviv today in front of 40,000 fans. McCartney even busted out some Hebrew to wish the crowd a happy Rosh Hashanah next week. Check the setlist after the jump.
David Gilmour says there will never be a full on Pink Floyd reunion. The British rock icon and one of the wealthiest musicians in all of the U.K. raised fans’ hopes when the band performed at the Live 8 charity concert in London in 2005. It was the first time in almost a quarter of a century that Gilmour and estranged bandmate Roger Waters had appeared onstage together. But apparently once was enough. “The gig itself was excellent, really enjoyable,” said the 62-year-old guitarist and singer from The Astoria, his houseboat/recording studio on the River Thames. “The rehearsals were less enjoyable. The rehearsals convinced me it wasn’t something I wanted to be doing a lot of.”
He has a famously testy relationship with bassist and singer Waters, who walked away from Pink Floyd in 1985. “There have been all sorts of farewell moments in people’s lives and careers which they have then rescinded, but I think I can fairly categorically say that there won’t be a tour or an album again that I take part in”. “It isn’t to do with animosity or anything like that. It’s just that I’ve done that. I’ve been there, I’ve done it.” Gilmour’s latest project is a solo album and tour, captured on “David Gilmour Live in Gdansk,” a double concert album and DVD to be released Sept. 23 on Columbia Records. Gilmour says he’s happy these days to play the old Floyd songs. “I don’t like the idea of going out without a new album, without some new music to play,” he said. “But people have come long distances and paid a lot of money to see a show. I want to give them a bit of what they expect and will enjoy”. He says music is “one of the important things in my life, but it’s not the only thing. My family are more important. If I had to give one up, I wouldn’t be giving my family up”.
I couldn’t resist making this our classic clip. Check this performance out from Cal Jam 2 in March of 1978. Look at the size of the crowd! Other notables that performed at this show were Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, Santana, Dave Mason and Foreigner.
A live DVD documenting the Sex Pistols’ 2007 reunion will be released on October 14th. “There Will Always Be An England” features the band’s Brixton Academy concert from London as well as ninety minutes of bonus footage. Wow, 50-something anarchists, just what the world needs.
Hoping to win votes for Obama in the swing state of Pennsylvania, the surviving members of the Grateful Dead will reportedly stage a concert in the Keystone State on October 13th. No city has been named for the event, but the front runners appear to be Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. If the show does go on, it would mark the second Deadheads for Obama concert, as the reunited Dead previously played a San Francisco benefit concert in February (sans drummer Bill Kreutzmann). Anybody got an extra?
All star metal band Big Noize will rock the troops in Iraq and Kuwait in September. The tour includes a show on September 11 which will mark the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US. The band is made up of Vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple/Rainbow/Yngwie Malmsteen), Bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne), Guitarist Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot), Drummer Simon Wright (ACDC, Dio) and Keyboardist Alex Bubenheim. They will play in Kuwait on Sept. 5 and in Iraq on Sept. 7, 8, 10 & 11.
With the passing of the soul legend earlier this week, it was only appropriate for today’s Classic Clip to come from Black Moses himself. Check out this completely insane video of Isaac doing the Theme From Shaft from Spain in 1973. Not sure what’s crazier, his outfit or the fact that Rev. Jesse Jackson introduces him. Get funky y’all.
The Who announced that they’ll give all their earnings from an October 21st concert near Detroit to benefit charities in the Motor City. “The first gig we ever played in the U.S. was in Detroit and we have always had an affinity with this part of the country,” Roger Daltrey said. “Pete and I are very aware of the problems people are having in Michigan and feel we should give something back for all the support we have had over the last 40 years.” The Who ask people attending the concert to “Join Together With the Band” and contribute to the charities as well. Rockheap also cares about people in Detroit and urges them to wear flak jackets and helmets while attending The Who shows in Detroit.
To celebrate the Philadelphia Soul winning the Arena Bowl, Bon Jovi is expected to announce a free show. Jon Bon Jovi is one of the co-owners of the team. Expect more people to show up to the concert then the total attendance of the AFL for 2008.
The Clash will finally release their career ending 1982 Shea Stadium concert on CD. The band played Shea while opening up for The Who. Also being released is a DVD titled “The Clash Live – Revolution Rock”, which will collect many of the band’s best performances.
Remember when The Who were The Who? Not the pathetic shell of a once mighty rock behemoth. The VH1 Rock Honors gave us a real bad taste in our mouths. So we’re gonna wash it out with this classic clip of My Generation from Woodstock. Enjoy.
