VAN HALEN: "Frankenstein" Lives
Wolfgang Van Halen has once again used his late father's iconic "Frankenstein" guitar on his latest song, "The End." He has posted a video on Instagram of him tapping the guitar that opens the song, captioning it with, "Makes me feel closer to Pop that such an important part of his history can live with mine every time I record." When he released the song last week he said, "I’ve had the tapping idea on the intro for 'The End' since before Mammoth. I was able to fit it into this world. It’s still over-the-top and shreddy, but it’s also melodic and controlled. Overall, I was doing some different things on the record, and I knew this was going to be a big step. Once we finished 'The End,' it felt really special to me."
Wolf previously used the guitar on the self-titled debut Mammoth WVH album, which came out in 2021, playing the solos for "Mammoth" and "Feel" on it. At the time he said, "You feel the history. It's kind of terrifying holding it, just because arguably it is the most famous guitar in musical history. It's definitely quite the thing to hold it." While he might have felt the history, his dad didn't seem too attached to the guitar. "When we were pulling it out of its safe, Dad picked it up and he was just noodling with it for a second. He's like, 'Yeah, feels about the same,' and he tossed it onto the couch. Everyone just gasped when he did that. To Dad, it's just a little piece of junk that he built himself, but to us, it's the most famous thing in the world." And he played it on the second Mammoth WVH album, Mammoth II, saying he used it on the song "Take a Bow," along with his dad's original Marshall amp rig. Eddie built the original guitar in 1975, saying, "[It] was a result of me tinkering and experimenting with different elements of electric guitars that I liked... If I could combine those elements into one guitar, then I could have an instrument that enabled me to create and play what I heard in my head without any restrictions."
As for the guitar's iconic stripe design, David Lee Roth says he came up with it: "Alex Van Halen was there when I walked in with three rolls of tape. I said to Ed, 'an expanding linear pattern.' And within like four minutes I laid it out. Kaboom. So essentially, I say with a great big sense of humor, I invented coffee, they invented a cup. Later they added colors to it gloriously."
JOE PERRY: His Latest Project
With Aerosmith on a "permanent vacation," guitarist Joe Perry has once again put together The Joe Perry Project for eight dates in August. But this time, Perry says he's put together an all-star ensemble. “Well…it’s time to let the music do the talkin again. I’m really excited about the JPP line up this year!!!! Most of these guys played with me at The Roxy in L.A. at the debut event for my latest solo album [Sweetzerland Manifesto] in January 2018. They’re all busy as hell but thankfully they’re able to carve out some time for this run. And I’m not only lucky enough to have [Aerosmith's] Brad Whitford onstage with me but Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes [who sang ‘Fortunate One’ on Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII], Robert DeLeo and Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots, and Buck Johnson who plays keys and sings with Aerosmith, The Hollywood Vampires, and is also a solo artist in his own right.” And, with this diverse group of musicians comes a diverse set list as Perry says it will not only include songs from Aerosmith and some of his solo work, but also those of The Black Crowes and STP. The tour starts August 13th in Tampa and wraps up on August 23rd in Port Chester, New York. Ticket and tour info at joeperry.com.
·August 13 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock – Tampa
·August 14 – Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock – Hollywood
·August 16 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY
·August 17 – Muskoka, ON – Kee to Bala
·August 19 – Boston, MA – Wang Theatre
·August 20 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
·August 22 – Mashantucket, CT – The Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
·August 23 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
LED ZEPPELIN: Dazed and Sued ... Again
Jimmy Page has once again been slapped with a lawsuit by someone he's very familiar with.
Jake Holmes, who wrote and recorded "Dazed and Confused" in 1967 before Page and The Yardbirds got a hold of it and Page and Led Zeppelin recorded it in 1968 for their self-titled debut album in 1969, alleges that he hasn't received proper credit or royalties for early versions of the songs performed by The Yardbirds, including a recording featured in the new Zeppelin documentary, Becoming Led Zeppelin. The 85-year-old sent a cease and desist to Page and the other defendants last month, but it went unanswered so he filed a suit in California federal court.
Holmes first filed suit against Page in 2010, and it was settled out of court with the songwriting credit indicating the song was “inspired by Jake Holmes.” In the film, the Led Zeppelin-version of the song is properly credited as "Written by Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes,” but the version by The Yardbirds is credited only as “Written by Jimmy Page.” According to the lawsuit, “The Yardbirds performance of ‘Dazed and Confused’ in the film is a performance of the Holmes composition. Defendants have thus committed multiple acts of willful infringement by continuing to use the Holmes Composition without authorization and in the face of both specific knowledge of Plaintiff’s rights and Plaintiff’s cease and desist demand.” Page has not commented on this latest legal headache.
Ozzy Osbourne Says He's Finally Giving Up 'Rock Star Lifestyle'
Ozzy Osbourne is preparing for his final show with Black Sabbath and as a solo artist on July 5th, marking the end of his rock star lifestyle. The 76-year-old, known for his wild antics, has shifted away from the partying and excess of his younger years due to health issues and age. Ozzy plans to retire to spend time with his family and grandkids, emphasizing that he no longer indulges in the rock star lifestyle. The upcoming concert will feature a limited setlist from Ozzy and Black Sabbath, with proceeds going towards Parkinson's disease research and children's charities.
Steve Miller Announces 2025 Tour Dates
The Steve Miller Band has announced summer and fall tour dates for the band's current tour. The tour consists of 22 dates in all, and starts on August 15th in Bethel, New York. Along the way, the band will visit Tampa, Scottsdale, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Los Angeles before it concludes the run on November 8th in Anaheim, California. Presales start today ahead of the general sale on Friday at 10AM local time. See the first ten dates of the trek below, and visit the band's website for more tour and ticket info – stevemillerband.com.
·August 15 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
·August 16 – Grantville, PA – Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
·August 19 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
·August 22 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
·August 24 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
·August 26 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
·August 28 – Saint Paul, MN – Minnesota State Fairgrounds
·August 30 – Salamanca, NY – Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino Outdoor Venue
·August 31 – Mashantucket, CT – Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
·September 19 – Memphis, TN – Radians Amphitheater at Memphis Botanic Garden
JOE SATRIANI And STEVE VAI Recruit GLENN HUGHES For Debut SATCHVAI Band Song 'I Wanna Play My Guitar'
Rock guitar legends Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have released their debut single as the SatchVai Band, titled "I Wanna Play My Guitar." The track features vocals from Glenn Hughes. Satriani initially envisioned the song with two vocalists, including Justin Hawkins, but ultimately collaborated with Hughes. Vai told Guitar Player the song describes the way he and Satriani felt as teenagers, saying it depicts "All of the things we loved about pounding rock and roll and the glorious guitar." The SatchVai Band will embark on the Surfing with the Hydra Tour starting June 13.
Gene Simmons delivers rock classics, and one-liners, at the Basie in Red Bank
Gene Simmons, the Demon from Kiss, rocked the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank with his Gene Simmons Band this week, delivering a night of music and humor. Simmons engaged the audience with his stream of consciousness talk and shared his unique Gene-isms throughout the show. The 75-year-old rocker showcased his strong raspy voice and impressive stage presence on Kiss classics and deep tracks along with some interesting covers. Fans were also brought on stage to participate in the show. Simmons emphasized the importance of happiness and freedom, delivering a message of gratitude for life and American values.
ROLLING STONES: No Satisfaction 23 Years Ago
The Rolling Stones typically stage an event when announcing a tour and that was the case 23 years ago this Wednesday, May 7th, 2002, when they descended upon Van Cortlandt Park in The Bronx, New York in a blimp to hold a press conference for their Licks tour. A few hours after the landing, drummer Charlie Watts told us he was never fond of these events. "I don't like standing up there on a stage with everyone talking. If you're gonna talk to somebody you should talk to them. But, it's not done for that, you know. It's done to get on the news and a bit of whatever, you know."
And the one he liked least was that blimp ride, using Ronnie Wood to shield him from looking down. "Ugh. I wasn't looking. I was hiding. It's horrible for me, but, you know, it's something we had to do ... I suppose. But I don't like being up in the air. I mean it's not Mel Brooks vertigo sort of stuff, but it's high anxiety. I get that. And when the wind blows with them they move about a lot, which is all horrible. It's a cross between being on a fairground ride and a yacht in a bit of a breeze. You just want it to end really."
Today (Wednesday) also marks the 54th anniversary of the Stones releasing "Brown Sugar" in the U.S., three weeks after its British release. About three weeks later, it will hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100.
JERRY GARCIA: Getting His Own Shakedown Street
This August 9th marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Grateful Dead leader, singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia at 53. To commemorate the anniversary, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has approved a resolution to rename Harrington Street, a one-block street in the Excelsior District, Jerry Garcia Street. Harrington Street is where his grandparents used to live, where his mother was born, and where he spent a lot of time as a child. Chyanne Chen, who represents San Francisco’s 11th District where the house is located and who introduced the resolution, says “Over the course of his lifetime, Jerry would become one of the most influential and revered musicians of all time, whose memory continues to unite people in their love of music. [He] believed in making music more accessible and giving back to his community, and his memory still brings the neighborhood pride and a sense of camaraderie.”
The yellow house on Harrington still stands, which many fans still visit.
Today (Wednesday) is also Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann's 79th birthday.
Smokey Robinson Accused Of Sexual Assault
Famed Motown singer Smokey Robinson is being accused of sexual assault by former employees. Four women, all employed as houskeepers, submitted a 50-million-dollar lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday. Among their allegations are sexual assault, false imprisonment and creating a hostile work environment. The lawsuit also named the 85-year-old's wife, Frances Robinson.Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
IN OTHER NEWS
Pink Floyd are on target for their seventh number-one album in the U.K. as the soundtrack for their film Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII is sitting atop the Official Charts. They previously topped the U.K. albums chart with Atom Heart Mother (1970), Wish You Were Here (1975),
The Final Cut (1983), The Division Bell (1994), Pulse (1995), and The Endless River (2014).
Sammy Hagar will host the 21st Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic on May 30th and 31st at Keith’s Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma. Hagar was good friends with the country singer, who succumbed to cancer on February 5th, 2024 at 62.
Timothée Chalamet, who portrays Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown, is rumored to be performing an acoustic set with the Dylan tribute band Not Completely Unknown at the Glastonbury festival on June 28th.
Queen will release their self-titled debut album, 1973’s Queen, as a limited-edition Dolby Atmos Audiophile Blu-ray on June 13th. Guitarist Brian May says, “I’m particularly excited about this new Dolby Atmos version of what we now call Queen I. There are now a few nice adventurous Easter eggs in there, which those who know the album intimately will hopefully enjoy. Nobody has ever heard our first album quite like this!” Drummer Roger Taylor adds, “At last we get our first album to sound as we imagined it should sound … phew!”
Bryan Adams will release today (Wednesday) “Never Ever Let You Go,” the third single off his new album, Roll With the Punches. The video, also out Wednesday, features model and actress Elizabeth Hurley. The two album’s previous singles were the title track and “Make Up Your Mind.” Roll With the Punches will be out on August 29th.
Cruise To the Edge, which was created for Yes (but who no longer participate) has announced its initial line-up for next year’s cruise. Marillion will headline with support from former
Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, Adrian Belew, Queensryche, Wishbone Ash, and the Pete Roth Trio featuring original Yes drummer Bill Bruford. It will depart from Miami on March 4th with stops in Key West, Florida and Nassau in the Bahamas.