Music News & Notes

Take an inside look at the new state of the art stage set for The Steve Miller Band's upcomming tour in support of their much anticipated June 15th release "Bingo!".



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The Rendering, 'Protector' -- Album Art of the Week

Arizona's the Rendering just signed on to the Authentik Artists roster, and their debut release, 'The Protector' EP, is out June 6. The three-headed dog battling the snake seen on the release's cover was created by 19-year-old artist Edgil Pagaduan. "We didn't really give him any specifics at all for this art," Rendering vocalist Erik Van Acker told Noisecreep. "We just told him that the CD was called 'Protector,' and a few weeks later the art arrived and we were so stoked. He is an incredible artist and a very awesome dude."

Pagaduan is a native of Sydney, Australia, and despite his youth, he has five years of hard experience in the art world. Besides selling non-commissioned art, he has done designs for bands like Vegas in Ruins, Resist the Thought and In the Midst of Lions.

"Well, the story behind the art is the guys' new CD is called 'Protector,'" Pagaduan told Noisecreep. "So I drew Cerberus, the three-headed dog who protects hell in Greek mythology. What really inspired it was me watching Hercules at my friend Martee's house one night and the idea clicking in my head!"

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This from noisecreep.com:

Ozzy Osbourne Makes Museum Visitors Scream -- Video

With a new album called 'Scream' due on June 22, what better promotional campaign for the Lord of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, than to film ordinary people screaming? And if you can have a good laugh while you're at it, all the better.

That's why, during a recent press visit to New York City to promote the upcoming album, Ozzy stopped off at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and sat motionless on a display bench until visitors got too close. Of course, a camera crew was there to film all the fun.



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Paper + Plastick Records Announce Summer 7" Series

Paper + Plastick Records has announced that they are partnering with some of the biggest names in modern punk rock to collaborate on a series of 7" splits. For the vinyl nerd in all of us, there will be exclusive artwork, special b-side etchings, and a choice of multi-coloured vinyl options. The first release in the series, released on Tuesday features a brand new track from Anti-Flag entitled Queens and Kings (white or rainbow vinyl). Also available is Jonxer b/w Get Up and Go (Root Beer or Violet vinyl) from St. Alvia.

Head of P+P, Vinnie Fiorello of Less Then Jake, explains his reasoning behind the releases and relationship with the vinyl record, “Out of all the formats of vinyl, I have the most love for the 7” record. This was the easiest way to get to know a band when I was getting into punk music. It was a trophy, and a badge of honor. If you were in a band and had a 7” record coming out, you felt like you made it”

Bands on deck for the rest of the summer include The Ataris and Weatherbox. A shortlist of the announced bands and release dates can be found below.

Click here (http://interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=181455&amp ) to pre-order or to the Anti-Flag and St. Alvia releases!

May 25 – Anti-Flag / The Second Coming Of Nothing

May 25 – St. Alvia / Jonxer B/W Get Up And Go

July 6 – The Ataris / All Souls Day

Aug 24 – Weatherbox / Christpuncher

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Santana Collaborates With Nas and Chris Cornell for Classic Rock Covers Album

It's being reported that music legend Carlos Santana has enlisted a number of stars to perform on his forthcoming new album of classic rock covers, including Nas, Chris Cornell, Joe Cocker and Ray Manzarek. According to Contactmusic, in what is surely one of the oddest combinations in recent times, Nas will take on AC/DC's classic track "Back in Black" with Santana in tow on guitar.

Soundgarden frontman Cornell is tasked with producing vocals for Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," while Cocker will perform on a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing."

Former Doors keyboard player Manzarek meanwhile will collaborate on a remake of his old band's song, 'Riders on the Storm'.

Santana revealed to Rolling Stone magazine that he tried to ensure the new album was especially pleasing for females.

He said: "I paid special attention to the groove so the females would get completely aroused."

The guitarist has been keeping a relatively low profile in recent years, although in 2009 he called upon President Obama to legalize marijuana, claiming that all the money made could be reinvested in teachers and education.

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The Complete DIO Vinyl Collection Due Out Later This Year

Due out before the end of the year is 'For The Record: The Complete DIO Vinyl Collection,' featuring 16 Dio LP's all on 180 gram vinyl, each LP on different color vinyl with a deluxe book and 16 different tour laminates all in a deluxe album carrying case.

Ronnie James Dio's wife/manager Wendy Dio comments: "We hope to have this very special item out for Christmas! Ronnie came up with the title!"

In other news, the first release from the Niji Entertainment Group will be Super Rock Japan: Live 1985 on August 31st from Dio on both DVD and CD.

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 31, 2010


DEAR JERRY: Most would say that the music of a song is more important than its lyrics.

Can you think of any hit songs that became popular more because of words rather than music?
— Barry Wise, Milwaukee

DEAR BARRY: In a general sense, I would rate both components equally, which would likely exclude me, and most lyricists, from membership in your club. There are thousands of hits in each category — made by lyrics and made by music — and just as many popular thanks to a combination of the two.

Immediately coming to mind are songs that tell a story, a tiny sampling of which are: “Candle in the Wind” (Elton John); “The Battle of New Orleans” and “North to Alaska” (Johnny Horton); “My Way” and “It Was a Very Good Year” (Frank Sinatra); “Me and Bobby McGee” (Janis Joplin and Jerry Lee Lewis); “Creeque Alley” (Mamas and the Papas); “In the Ghetto” (Elvis Presley); “Garden Party” (Rick Nelson); “Like a Rolling Stone” (Bob Dylan); “Harper Valley P.T.A.” (Jeannie C. Riley); the poems of Rod McKuen put to music; and most anything by Marty Robbins or Tom T. Hall.

Novelty and teen tragedy hits, such as these, almost always owe their success to the lyrics: “M.T.A.” and “Tijuana Jail” (Kingston Trio); “The Purple People Eater” (Sheb Wooley); “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron” (Royal Guardsmen); “The Name Game” (Shirley Ellis); “Tell Laura I Love Her” (Ray Peterson); “Last Kiss” (J. Frank Wilson); “Teen Angel” (Mark Dinning); “Ebony Eyes” (Everly Brothers); etc.

Most holiday, inspirational, message, and protest hits rely entirely on words to make the point: “Sleigh Ride” (Ronettes); “Pretty Paper” (Roy Orbison); “Amen” (Impressions); “Turn, Turn, Turn” (Byrds); “If I Can Dream” (Elvis Presley); “Everything Is Beautiful” and “Mr. Businessman” (Ray Stevens); “Eve of Destruction” (Barry McGuire); “For What It's Worth” (Buffalo Springfield); etc.

Then there are countless garden variety tunes whose sales soared because of some marvelous lyrics, for example: “Too Many Rivers” (Brenda Lee); “The Long and Winding Road” (Beatles); “King of the Road” (Roger Miller); “The Tracks of My Tears” and “Shop Around” (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles); “Everybody Needs a Rainbow” (Ray Stevens); “Help Me Make It Through the Night” (Sammi Smith); “Life” (Marty Robbins); “My Eyes Adored You” and “Can't Take My Eyes Off You” (Frankie Valli); “Rock N' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)” and “I'll Paint You a Song” (Mac Davis); “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” and “Rose Garden” (Joe South); “The Glow Worm” (Mills Brothers); “For the Good Times” (Ray Price); “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (Tony Williams and the Platters); “Crazy” and “I Fall to Pieces” (Patsy Cline); “A Change Is Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke); “What a Difference a Day Makes” and “Manhattan” (Dinah Washington); “Operator” and “Time in a Bottle” (Jim Croce); “Photographs” and “There's a Place in My Heart” (Nana Mouskouri); etc. There are thousands more.


DEAR JERRY: Based on my fondness for the 1982 hit, “Everybody Wants You,” I decided to search eBay for more records by Billy Squier.

I was surprised to find about a hundred listings that identify him as Billy Squire. Are those dealers just not reading their records right, or is he really credited both ways?

What are his biggest hits?
—Jessie Garcia, Flagstaff, Ariz.

DEAR JESSIE: Billy's last name is definitely Squier. Transposing the last two letters is a typo caused by sellers not looking closely at the record they hold in their hands.

The two homophonic names sound the same, but most folks are far more familiar with the “squire” spelling.

Besides “Everybody Wants You,” his other Top 40 hits are: “The Stroke” (1981); “In the Dark” (1981); and “Rock Me Tonite” (1984).


Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column.  Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368  E-mail: jpo@olympus.net


Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com 
All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.
Copyright 2010 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Permission