Feb 25, 2015

Nearly seven years after actor-director Colin Hanks began making it and four years after a hit Kickstarter campaign that helped finance it, the Tower Records documentary All Things Must Pass is set for its world premiere.

The South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, today announced the movie as part of its documentary program for 2015. All Things Must Pass chronicles the rise and fall of the Sacramento-based Tower Records, which grew into a global entertainment brand from its modest beginnings in a drugstore on Broadway in the 1950s.

The film, directed by Hanks and produced by Sean Stuart (both native Sacramentans), features interviews with Tower founder Russ Solomon, rock icons (and Tower devotees) Elton John and Bruce Springsteen, industry luminary David Geffen, and an assortment of former staffers who recount the go-go days of Tower’s ascendancy alongside the music business’ boom in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s—and its inexorable decline and eventual closure in the United States in 2006. (Tower Records still thrives today in Japan, a phenomenon also chronicled in the film.)

In addition to interviews and location footage shot at the since-demolished Watt Avenue Tower store in 2008, the documentary also comprises archival movies and photography gathered from the Tower Records Project in Sacramento.

All Things Must Pass was the beneficiary of a wildly successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in 2011, which raised more than $92,000 for the film’s research and production.

The movie’s premiere date in Austin is March 17, with additional screenings on March 19 & 20. SXSW's film component runs March 13-21. For more info and a list of other films showing at the festival, visit sxsw.com

The Tower Records story is about a man, his company and the unprecedented economic and cultural impact it had on the music industry and people around the world.  Tower Records begins with the man who created it… Russ Solomon.

From an early age, Solomon had a special love of music, a dynamic personality and the inventiveness of a crafty entrepreneur.  His first job was sweeping floors in his father’s drug store, located in the Tower Theater building, in the sleepy northern California town of Sacramento.  Still a teenager, Solomon had the idea to sell discarded record singles from the counter-top jukeboxes for 5 cents a piece. His father gave him a shelf in the back of the drug store and this became the training ground for Russ Solomon, the young man, who would one day create a Billion dollar a year music empire.

From the opening of the first Tower Records in 1960, Solomon empowered employees at each store to make the decisions necessary to help foster the local music taste.  This leadership style gave each Tower outlet a great sense of individuality and to its employees a great sense of responsibility and pride, not often found within the "corporate" environment.   Tower records helped lay the groundwork for what would become the modern music retail business and in the year 2000 alone, the company did over one billon dollars in business.

From a cultural standpoint, Tower Records had a monumental impact on millions of people, worldwide.   It was “the place” to escape for a few hours; a sanctuary, a haven. Tower Records was a place to meet your friends, your co-workers or a place to meet new friends who shared a common love of music, literature and all things cultural.

Yet, in 2004 the company filed for bankruptcy and by the end of 2006, Russ Solomon's Tower Records had shut the doors to nearly every one of its worldwide outlets.

Oct 21, 2014

Hal Leonard Books will release a softcover edition of '108 Rock Star Guitars' by photographer/author Lisa S. Johnson on November 11. This exquisite book, originally issued as an embossed, red leatherette-bound hardcover in limited quantity that USA Today called, “…a monster of a coffee table book…” will now be available to a much wider audience at a more affordable retail price of $54.

Hailed as “impressive,” “jaw-dropping,” “masterpiece” and “elegant” by media and artists alike when it was released in October 2013, 108 Rock Star Guitars received widespread accolades for its overall design and the artistry of the images—up-close portraits of the cherished guitars belonging to some of the world’s most iconic players. American Photo magazine named it one of the “Best Photo Books of the Year” for 2013, while Brian Setzer called it, “The classiest guitar book I have ever seen.”

Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Nancy Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Slash, Dave Mustaine, Phil Collen, Carlos Santana, Jack White, Ronnie Wood, Lou Reed, Ace Frehley, Billy Gibbons, Don Felder, Joe Walsh, Robby Krieger, Willie Nelson, Johnny Winter, and Les Paul, who also wrote the foreword, are among the rock stars whose instruments are featured.

The softcover, with French flaps, includes many of the same features of the original book in a slightly smaller size (9×10.5”): 396 pages, 486 gorgeous color images, reproduced using a six-color printing process, on high quality paper, and cover art that replicates the hardcover’s award-winning design.

“I am thrilled that Hal Leonard, with its global distribution channels, will publish the softcover edition of 108 Rock Star Guitars,” Johnson commented. “Even at a lower price, it was essential that this version maintained the style and beautiful quality of the hardcover edition, and I think anyone who sees this book will appreciate the care and detail that went into the new presentation.”

In 108 Rock Star Guitars, Johnson’s extreme close-up images capture the intimate details of her six-string subjects in a fresh and distinctive way revealing the beauty and art in these magnificent instruments, and giving insight into the personality of the musicians who play them. Additionally, she provides personal anecdotes describing her 17-year quest to photograph these guitars and documents her travels from the backstage hallways of some of the world’s most famous venues to the artists’ private homes.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of the softcover edition will benefit the Les Paul Foundation, which supports music education, engineering and innovation as well as medical research. Pre-order now at www.amazon.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa S. Johnson grew up in an artistic family, where she fell in love with melody and imagery and pursued a career in photography. After a successful 10-year stint working at Eastman Kodak, she met the owner of a vintage guitar shop in Memphis, Tenn., and began exclusively photographing guitars. She lives in Las Vegas.

ABOUT LES PAUL (FOREWORD)

Les Paul was a guitar player, inventor, and recording artist, and an innovator throughout his career. In 1941, he built his first solid-body electric, helping shepherd into existence rock music as we know it. A pioneer whose name graces some of the most beloved six-strings ever manufactured, Paul died in Mahwah, N.J., where he had spent much of his life, in 2009 at the age of 94.

ABOUT THE LES PAUL FOUNDATION:

The mission of the Les Paul Foundation is to honor and share the life, spirit, and legacy of Les Paul by supporting music education, engineering and innovation as well as medical research. The foundation awards grants to music, music engineering and sound programs that serve youth, establishes music-related scholarships at schools and programs for students, provides grants for medical research and programs related to hearing impairment, and supports public exhibits displaying Les Paul’s life achievements. www.lespaulfoundation.org

Check out a few video clips with Lisa sharing her interactions with some of the guitars featured in this fabulous book!

Apr 12, 2014

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies took place Thursday night (Apr. 10) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. An edited for broadcast showing of the ceremonies, will be airing on HBO this May 31, but in the meantime, check out the best of the video highlights we found on youtube, in sequence of show order.

Peter Gabriel Induction speech and performance


Cat Stevens Induction speech and performance


KISS Tom Morello induction speech and acceptance speeches with original members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley


Linda Ronstadt tribute with Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris and Carrie Underwood



Bruce Springsteen inducts The E Street Band and performance



Nirvana inducted by Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

Hall & Oates


Nirvana induction speeches by Dave Grohl, Krist Noveselic, Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain's relatives

Joan Jett, Kim Gordan, St. Vincent & Lorde with Grohl, Novoselic, and Pat Smear

Apr 3, 2014

Rock Picks of The Week are back! It's been a bit, so I'm bringing some tracks that have been out for a hot minute. First up is the latest track from Chevelle 'Take Out The Gunman.' It comes from their upcoming album 'La Gargola,' which was just released yesterday (Apr. 1). Brothers Pete Loeffler (lead vocals and guitar), Sam Loeffler (drums and percussion) along with Pete and Sam's brother-in-law, Dean Bernardini bring another quality lead track that is already Top 5 on the Active Rock charts. After the success of their last album 'Hats off to the Bull,' Chevelle recorded their seventh album once again with Producer Joe Barresi. Another great track from Chevelle that looks destined to go to #1 on the Rock charts!

Chevelle will begin a Spring U.S. tour on Apr. 4 with special guests Middle Class Rut on select shows.

Apr. 4 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room
Apr. 5 - St. Louis, M) - The Pageant
Apr. 7 - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre
Apr. 8 - Springfield, MO - Gillioz Theatre
Apr. 10 - Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center
Apr. 12 - San Antonio, TX - St. Mary’s University
Apr. 14 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
Apr. 15 - Wichita, KS - The Cotillion
Apr. 17 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
Apr. 19 - St. Paul, MN – Myth
Apr. 21 - Grand Rapids, MI - Orbit Room
Apr. 22 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
Apr. 23 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
Apr. 25 - Tampa, FL - 98 Rock Fest
Apr. 26 - Jacksonville, FL - Welcome to Rockville
May 17 - Columbus, OH - Rock on the Range

The Winery Dogs were my number one album for 2013, and they are set to release two new special versions of that same self-titled and self-produced debut album on April 15. 'The Winery Dogs Special Edition' will be comprised of two CDs. Disc 1 is the standard album and Disc 2 is the live 'Unleashed In Japan 2013', with 10 songs recorded live in Japan during their tour this past July, The track 'Criminal,' previously unavailable in the U.S., along with a 16-page booklet of live photos and lyrics will also be a part of the release.

'Dog Treats: The Winery Dogs Deluxe Special Edition' will be sold in a box resembling a box of dog treats, a DVD featuring four music videos with interview footage, demos from the original recording sessions, a studio diary written by Mike Portnoy, and some unique merchandise unavailable elsewhere.

'Time Machine' comes from the original and special versions of the album, and while the video has been out for some time, it deserves to be recognized and receive significant rock radio airplay. Request this track and this band on your local rock stations!

The Winery Dogs just got off the boat on the Monsters of Rock cruise and will continue to tour the U.S. through June, followed by a seven date European tour that includes a set at the Sonisphere Festival. The Winery Dog Dog Camp will follow all that on Jun. 21-25 in Big Indian, New York. Get all the details on the upcoming camp here. You can also look for The Winery Dogs to perform on The Arsenio Hall Show this June 23.

Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society are back with their stellar new track and video for 'My Dying Time.' It comes from the new album 'Catacombs Of The Black Vatican,' the first all new album from the band since 'The Order of the Black' was released in 2009. The new album will be out on April 8.

Zakk and the band have a full slate ahead in 2014, with the project already off to a great start with this well received track. There are a variety of different bundles behind the album here: www.shop.blacklabelsociety.com. Watch for BLS headlining the Revolver Golden Gods Tour starting April 16 in Seattle with special guests Down, Devil You Know and Butcher Babies. Zakk will be presenting the Dimebag Darrel "Best Guitarist" Award along side new label-mate and 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ace Frehley. The award show will take place on April 23 at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.

BLS - Revolver Golden Gods Tour
Apr. 16 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Sodo
Apr. 17 - Portland, OR - Roseland
Apr. 18 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory Concert House
Apr. 19 - Missoula, MT - Wilma Theater
Apr. 21 - Billings, MT - Shrine Auditorium
Apr. 25 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
Apr. 26 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
Apr. 29 - Ybor City, FL (Tampa) - The Ritz
Apr. 30 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues
May 2 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City
May 4 - Silver Spring, MD - Fillmore
May 5 - Clifton Park, NY (Albany) - Northern Lights
May 7 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
May 8 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
May 9 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
May 10 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theater
May 12 - Norfolk, VA - Norva
May 13 - Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theater
May 15 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
May 17 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Piere's
May 19 - Sioux Falls, SD - The District
May 20 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
May 21 - St. Paul, MN (Minneapolis) - Myth
May 23 - Grand Prairie, TX (Dallas) - Verizon Theater
May 27 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
May 28 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
Jun. 1 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
Jun. 2 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex -- Rockwell
Jun. 4 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theater
Jun. 5 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl
Jun. 6 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom
Jun. 7 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theater

Blackberry Smoke - 'Shakin' Hands With The Holy Ghost'

Atlanta, Georgia's own Blackberry Smoke have been around for over 13 years now perfecting their brand of country-rock and doing it right. Their latest album, 'The Whippoorwill' was recorded in just five days in an old Methodist church in Ashville, North Carolina and is full of great southern vibed rock and country tinged tracks. The band are signed to Zac Brown Band's record label Southern Ground, and have done extensive touring supporting the Zac Brown Band. They are currently on a headlining U.S. tour that will take them into August. The U.S. tour includes stops at the Bonaroo Festival in June, and The Peach Music Festival in August. They'll head over to Europe in October and November, before wrapping up their touring year on Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man Cruise from Nov. 16-20.

Blackberry Smoke shot a video for their track 'Shakin’ Hands With The Holy Ghost' in London last year, after playing the Classic Rock Awards after-show party. Watch the kick ass results. These guys are the real deal and deserve to break big in the U.S.

Jake E. Lee's Red Dragon Cartel - 'Deceived'

It is good to have Jake E. Lee back. Let me repeat...it is good to have Jake E. Lee back. His new project's self-titled debut album has been out for a bit on Frontiers Records, and it really is a quality collection with many different guest vocalists as well as main man DJ Smith.

Big-name guests on the album like Paul Di’Anno (ex-Iron Maiden), Rex Brown (Kill Devil Hill, ex-Pantera), Todd Kearns and Brent Fitz (Slash), Scott Reeder (ex-Kyuss), Maria Brink (In This Moment), Jeremy Spencer (Five Finger Death Punch), Robin Zander & Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick) and Sass Jordan (SUN) help make it an interesting album to listen to, but it comes down to the core band. Bassist Ronnie Mancuso and drummer Jonas Fairley join Jake and Smith on this pick, and this may just be the best song on the album.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band - 'Just Like Fire Would'

One of the better tracks on the 'High Hopes' album from the Boss, who will be inducting his own E Street Band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next week. The album was panned a bit by critics for not being a completely evolved project, as most of the tracks were left over from his previous album. The addition of Tom Morello to the band has added a new dynamic, but I would to hear what more new music with his involvement will sound like, as I hope he can bring Bruce a little more rage with the next project. Morello will also be a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, as he has been tapped to induct KISS.

Bruce and The E Street Band will be back on the road in the U.S. starting April 6 in Dallas. The tour will continue through May and include a stop at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 3.

HBO will premiere 'Bruce Springsteen’s High Hopes,' chronicling the making of his 18th studio album, tomorrow night (April 4) at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.

The half-hour documentary by Grammy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny delves into the making of 'High Hopes,' which reached the No. 1 position in 20 countries after its January release. The film features rare behind-the-scenes studio and rehearsal segments, exclusive E Street Band tour footage and revealing interviews with Springsteen and album collaborator Tom Morello, guitarist for Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. The two discuss their artistic choices for the project and how Morello brought a distinctive twist to Springsteen’s material.

Dream Theater - 'The Enemy Inside'

This great Dream Theater cut comes from the band's self-titled 12th studio album. It’s the second record to feature Mike Mangini on drums after Mike Portnoy’s departure in 2010, and the first time Mangini has had the contributed as a writer, since the material for 2011 album 'A Dramatic Turn Of Events' was already completed before he joined the band.

Guitarist John Petrucci says about the album, "This is the first self-titled album of our career and there is nothing I can think of that makes a statement of musical and creative identity stronger than that. We’ve fully explored all of the elements that make us unique, from the epic and intense to the atmospheric and cinematic.”

The latest track and video highlights the epidemic of returning U.S. war veterans suicide rates. More U.S. military personnel and returning veterans have died by suicide since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began than have died fighting there. The video includes actualities from actual returning vets, and shows the difficulty of adjusting back onto society after dealing with the atrocities of war. The video concludes with an update on the soldiers featured, and the www.saveawarrior.org webiste link, which you can go to and find out how you can help.

Dream Theater are currently on a U.S. tour until April 20, with dates continuing in Mexico, with European and South American dates keeping them busy until the end of July.

Lynam - 'Cold'

The Birmingham, Alabama rockers Lynam, led by frontman and songwriter Jacob Bunton, were originally formed in 2001, and have released multiple albums over the years. The band released 3 albums independently from 2002 - 2004 (White Trash Superstar, Bling! Bling!, and Life In Reverse), then in 2005, Lynam signed a deal with DRT/Universal Records and released the critically acclaimed album 'Slave To The Machine' in 2006. This album peaked at #21 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and #19 on the Heat- seekers chart. The first single ‘Tanis’ went to #1 on both the active rock independent and main-stream rock independent charts. The band’s album 'Tragic City Symphony' (Megaforce/Mascot Records) featured the radio singles ‘Save My Soul’, ‘Lindsay Says’, and ‘Porn Star’. All three singles reached the top 10 on the active rock independent chart with ‘Save My Soul’ reaching top 5 with over 10 million in audience. Several of the album’s songs also were used in motion pictures, MTV, VH1, HBO, and video games. A Live album entitled 'Thank You Goodnight!' was released in November 2010 through Island Def Jam/New Ocean Media.

Bunton branched out, recording and joining Steven Adler's lastest project, Adler, but that project is in limbo for the moment. Jacob's Adler band mate Lonny Paul has since joined Lynam, along with returning bassist Mark Dzier. Their newest E.P. 'Halfway To Hell,' includes the blistering rock track 'Cold.' Lynam will be on the road all Summer long and into the Fall. Check out the band's facebook page for all the upcoming dates and check them out if they will be rocking near you!

Heaven's Basement - 'Nothing Left To Lose'

The UK rockers already made some inroads in the U.S. with their first track 'Fire, Fire' from their debut album 'Filthy Empire,' and now they have ascended even further up the charts with 'Nothing Left To Lose.'

The band consists of Aaron Buchanan (Vocals), Sid Glover (Guitar), Rob Ellershaw (Bass) and Chris Rivers (Drums). They are currently on their first major headlining tour of Europe, after touring the U.S. at the tail end of last year and earlier this year with the likes of Alice Cooper, Papa Roach, Bullet For My Valentine, Pop Evil and The Pretty Reckless. The band will follow the Europe tour with gigs in Latin America, then return to the U.S. starting May 6 in Pittsburgh for a slate of shows that will include Rock On The Range in Columbus, OH. and Rocklahoma in Pryor, OK.

Heaven's Basement's high octane brand of rock is certain to carry them even further in U.S. popularity. Their latest album is full of potential radio tracks and I can see Heaven's Basement headlining U.S. gigs at some point in the near future.

Jan 4, 2014

While there were so many worthy tracks in 2013, I have compiled what are my Top 25 for the year of 2013. Check them out and see what you think.

25. Heaven & Earth - No Money, No Love

24. Otherwise - I Don't Apologize (1000 Pictures)

23. Black Star Riders - Bound For Glory

22. Alter Bridge - Addicted To Pain

21. Halestorm - freak Like Me

20. Stryper - No More Hell To Pay

19. Beware Of Darkness - Howl

18. Bruce Springsteen - High Hopes

17. Korn - Never Ever

16. Monster Truck - Sweet Mountain River

15. Devour The Day - Good Man

14. Sound City Players (Dave Grohl, Corey Taylor, Rick Nielsen, Scott Reeder) - From Can To Can't

13. Nine Inch Nails - Came Back Haunted

12. Motorhead - Heartbreaker

11. U2 - Ordinary Love

10. Alice In Chains - Voices

9. Black Sabbath - God Is Dead?

8. S.U.N. (Something Unto Nothing) - I'm The One

7. Pop Evil - Trenches

6. Tom Keifer - Solid Ground

5. Stone Sour - Do Me A Favor

4. Pearl Jam - Mind Your Manners

3. Sound City Players featuring Stevie Nicks - You Can't Fix This

2. Stone Sour - Tired

1. The Winery Dogs - Elevate