Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Music News & Notes

KISS: First Look At New Stage Outfits

The first photos of the brand new KISS outfits, taken on the set of last week's photo shoot for the new KISS Alive 35 tour book, can be viewed below (all pictures were taken by Dean Snowden for KissOnline.com).

KISS' new album, "Sonic Boom", will be released in Europe on October 5 via Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records. The CD will be made available on October 6 in the U.S. and Canada exclusively via Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club retail locations.

"Sonic Boom", produced by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley in Los Angeles, is the centerpiece of a three-disc set that also features a completely re-recorded greatest hits CD (previously available in Japan) as well as a live DVD shot in Argentina during the band's recent, record-breaking KISS Alive 35 South American tour. The CD set will retail for $12, with pre-orders starting in September on Walmart.com.

Wal-Mart, one of America's largest music retailers, is finalizing its exciting plans now for its in-store and online destinations for KISS fans surrounding the launch of the new album and tour, and will host various KISS products in addition to their music in its stores this fall. More details on Wal-Mart KISS activity, announcements regarding album pre-sales, sweepstakes and KISS appearances will be shared shortly.




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Original ANGEL Bassist MICKIE JONES Loses Battle With Cancer

Mickie Jones, original bassist and founding member of the '70s rock band ANGEL, passed away Saturday, September 5 in San Dimas, California after a long battle with liver cancer. His family said he died "peacefully and beautifully."

Mickie performed on four ANGEL albums — "Angel" (1975), "Helluva Band" (1976), "On Earth As It Is In Heaven" (1977) and "An Anthology" (1992; compilation). He toured extensively with ANGEL in the United States for several years and took part in the band's infamous Japanese tour. Before ANGEL, he played in the rock group BUX, which included guitarist Punky Meadows (ANGEL) and singer Ralph Morman (JOE PERRY PROJECT, SAVOY BROWN). BUX released one album on Capitol Records, "We Come To Play", in 1976. Both Jones and Meadows were asked to join the NEW YORK DOLLS but declined. After leaving ANGEL, Jones formed the L.A. band EMPIRE (which also included L.A. GUNS drummer Steve Riley), in which he handled lead vocals. Over the years, Mickie became interested in film production and later worked in the film industry.

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Reggae Star Dies

Jamaican reggae producer and recording artist Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson passed away on last Tuesday in New York at the age of 47. His producing partner, Cleveland "Clevie" Browne said that Johnson had a heart attack. He was also being treated for kidney failure since December. Johnson had worked with Bob Marley, Sean Paul and No Doubt among others.

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INXS Recording With Guest Vocalists

Last year, INXS unceremoniously (at least by some reports) rid themselves of Canadian singer J.D. Fortune who had joined the band after winning a reality show. At this point, there is no new lead singer but that hasn't stopped the group from entering the studio. They are rerecording many of their best songs with the help of a variety of lead vocalists, including Rob Thomas, Brandon Flowers of the Killers, Gabriella Cilmi, Kav Temperley of Eskimo Joe and others.

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Public Image Ltd Reforming

John Lydon (the former Johnny Rotten) is reforming the band Public Image Ltd. for a run of dates in the U.K. There have been no performances under that name for 17 years.

Lydon will be the one returning member from their original lineup, instead bringing in two members from the late 80's, guitarist Lu Edmonds (the Damned, the Mekons, Billy Bragg) and drummer Bruce Smith (the Slits, Guided by Voices), along with Scott Firth who plays multiple instruments.

the tour will mark the 30th anniversary of Metal Box but the band will cover music from their entire catalog. In talking with England's Guardian newspaper, Lydon spoke of the new lineup and their sound. "We'll see where we can go. Some things may be quite similar. Some may not."

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Bee Gees Reunite

Robin Gibb tells the BBC the Bee Gees will reunite for live shows in the near future. Gibb says he and Barry have “got through the breakwater of emotions” after the 2003 death of their bandmate and brother Maurice.

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Top Ten Sales last week at Vinyl Collective.com

1 WHATEVER 292 copies
2 AUSTIN LUCAS “Somebody Loves You” LP silkscreened tour-edition black vinyl 32 copies
3 THE METHADONES “Exit 17″ 7″ green vinyl 16 copies
4 CHUCK RAGAN “Break Our Bread” 7 14 copies
4 CHUCK RAGAN “Gold Country” LP black vinyl 14 copies
4 GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV “This Empty Northern Hemisphere” LP brown vinyl 14 copies
7 Suburban Home Pick 5 for $25 Sale + 5 FREE CDs (CDs, Vinyl, Pint Glasses) 13 copies
7 THE METHADONES/ THE COPYRIGHTS split LP pink vinyl 13 copies
9 7” Record Jacket Sleeves (20) 7-1/4″ x 7-1/4 12 copies
9 THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM “The 59 Sound” 7″ (RE-RELEASE) 12 copies
11 DRAG THE RIVER “Get Drunk” Pint Glass 11 copies
11 THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM “The 59 Sound” LP black vinyl 11 copies
11 HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW “Turtle Nipple…” LP brown/pink 11 copies
11 TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET “They Came From The Shadows” LP 11 copies
11 TIM BARRY/ FRANK TURNER split 7″ black vinyl 11 copies
11 CHAD PRICE “Smile Sweet Face? LP Transparent Brown vinyl 11 copies
11 EVERY TIME I DIE “Hot Damn” LP silver/black 11 copies

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Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd Legends Slam Rock Band, Guitar Hero

Ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Bill Wyman and Pink Floyd star Nick Mason have attacked computer games like Rock Band for deterring youngsters from picking up real instruments.

Speaking on the eve of the release of 'The Beatles: Rock Band', both the music icons believe such music games have a negative effect on children.

72-year-old Wyman, The Rolling Stones' guitarist from 1962 to 1992, said of the games to the BBC: "It encourages kids not to learn, that's the trouble.

"It makes less and less people dedicated to really get down and learn an instrument. I think is a pity so I'm not really keen on that kind of stuff."

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason echoed the sentiment saying of Guitar Hero and Rock Band: "It irritates me having watched my kids do it - if they spent as much time practising the guitar as learning how to press the buttons they'd be damn good by now."

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