Simon & Garfunkel - Homeward Bound (Monterey 1967)
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Music News & Notes
Top selling vinyl for 2008
From Nielsen Soundscan, here are the top 10 vinyl sellers in 2008. I find it amazing that the legendary Beatles' LP "Abbey Road" is included, it says a lot for their music.
10. Radiohead, OK Computer, 1997.
9. Metallica, Death Magnetic, 2008.
8. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes, 2008.
7. Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, 1973.
6. Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, 1998.
5. Portishead, Third, 2008. See number 8.
4. B-52s, Funplex, 2008.
3. Guns 'n' Roses, Chinese Democracy, 2008.
2. The Beatles, Abbey Road, 1969.
1. Radiohead, In Rainbows, 2008.
-----------------------------------
Autopsy Records Two New Songs For New Vinyl 7" and "Severed Survival" Reissue
Autopsy has been "dragged from the grave and vomited out 2 brand new tracks" (according to the press release), their first in nearly 15 years. This will make up the new extremely limited vinyl single release of "Horrific Obsession" in January. "Horrific Obsession" will be limited to only 1000 units and will be available exclusively from peaceville.com on January 26, 2009, with pre-orders available now.
The two tracks will also be included on a special 2-disc 20th anniversary edition of the classic 1989 debut album, "Severed Survival," coming in March. The release includes a second disc of previously unheard rehearsal and live rarities, including two songs originally intended for "Severed Survival." The package also includes a booklet detailing the early history of the band, as documented by the guys themselves, plus unseen photos. This special 2-disc edition of "Severed Survival" will be available on February 23, 2009.
-----------------------------------
Southern Lord vinyl release
In February, Southern Lord will release the vinyl-only version of the new WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM EP entitled "Malevolent Grain", featuring two brand new tracks from the Pacific Northwest organic black metallers. Conspiracy Records will offer a limited-edition picture disc of the 12" for Europe, while Southern Lord will release a black 180-gram version worldwide. Additionally, the band will press a limited CD version for tour purposes only. The EP features the band's newly designed logo (see below) crafted by renowned artist Christophe Szpajdel, designer of black metal band logos for KULT OV AZAZEL, EMPEROR, MOONSPELL and other international acts.
The third WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM full-length, "Black Cascade" will follow on March 31 via Southern Lord. Both the EP and the full-length were recorded to 2-inch tape by Randall Dunn and Mell Dettmer in Seattle this winter. The new recordings are the first to feature the band's new guitar player Will Lindsay (MIDDIAN) who had previously served as the band's touring bass player, in addition to longtime members, brothers Nathan and Aaron Weaver.
The band will tour Europe beginning in late January.
-----------------------------------
Queen: More Details Revealed On Upcoming Vinyl Reissues
EMI Music and Queen are announcing the re-release over two years of the entire Queen studio album catalogue on long playing vinyl albums. The album packaging will include every detail of the original releases in their original 12” format. Bonus posters, extra pictures, and all the unique content of the original albums will be faithfully reproduced.
The first group of releases, out March 16th, will consist of four classic Queen albums Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night At The Opera and A Day At The Races.
Following in May 2009 will be come five further albums including the very first album, Queen, along with News Of The World, Flash Gordon, A Kind Of Magic and Innuendo, with successive releases coming approximately every 6 months.
In a deliberate move, the albums are not being released chronologically but instead sequenced over the twenty-two year period of release allowing buyers wider choice with each new batch of releases.
Queen’s original studio albums: Queen, Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night At The Opera, A Day At The Races, News Of The World, Jazz, The Game, Flash Gordon, Hot Space, The Works, A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, Innuendo, Made In Heaven.
-----------------------------------
Stax Reissuing Two Isaac Hayes Classics
Stax Records, now part of the Concord Group, will be reissuing two of Isaac Hayes' classic 70's album on February 24.
Up first is Black Moses, originally issued in 1971. This double-CD of Hayes' most critically acclaimed album includes a complete replication of the original album cover which folds out into a cross-shaped image of the artist. New to the set is liner notes by Rob Bowman who wrote Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records.
The album was notable for the fact that so many of the tracks were covers, including the Jackson 5's Never Can Say Goodbye, the Carpenters Close to You, and Kris Kristofferson's For the Good Times. Hayes took the songs and crafted soulful versions that, at times, ran upwards of ten minutes in length. The singer noted that the album came out of the pain of a divorce. Bowman says "Isaac's ability to take other people's material and make it so deeply personal is nothing short of brilliant."
The album went to number one on the R&B, number two on the Jazz and number ten on the Pop Album charts while Never Can Say Goodbye was a number five R&B and number 22 Pop single. It won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Also being released is 1976's Juicy Fruit (Disco Heat). The album was nowhere near as good or as big as most of his previous works, mostly attempting to tap into the current disco trend. It was also his third release of that year for his new label, ABC, and was one of his few albums on which he wrote all of the songs. The combination proved problematic with the songs being formulaic and non-descript.
The album peaked at 18 on the R&B and 124 on the Pop charts and didn't produce any hit singles.
-----------------------------------
Loretta Lynn Busy With Two New Albums
Country legend Loretta Lynn is preparing two projects this year to follow up her 2004 crossover hit, "Van Lear Rose."
Lynn, 74, is working on an album of new material that she says could be ready by late spring. The album will be in her traditional country style but will deal with modern issues. "(A friend) told me: 'Loretta, don't quit writing, because if you do, no one in Nashville is writing songs,'" Lynn tells Billboard. "I write about what's happening today and how I feel."
The second project, an album of re-recorded versions of her No. 1 hits from the past four decades, is being produced by John Carter Cash and could hit stores this summer.
From Nielsen Soundscan, here are the top 10 vinyl sellers in 2008. I find it amazing that the legendary Beatles' LP "Abbey Road" is included, it says a lot for their music.10. Radiohead, OK Computer, 1997.
9. Metallica, Death Magnetic, 2008.
8. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes, 2008.
7. Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, 1973.
6. Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, 1998.
5. Portishead, Third, 2008. See number 8.
4. B-52s, Funplex, 2008.
3. Guns 'n' Roses, Chinese Democracy, 2008.
2. The Beatles, Abbey Road, 1969.
1. Radiohead, In Rainbows, 2008.
-----------------------------------
Autopsy Records Two New Songs For New Vinyl 7" and "Severed Survival" Reissue
Autopsy has been "dragged from the grave and vomited out 2 brand new tracks" (according to the press release), their first in nearly 15 years. This will make up the new extremely limited vinyl single release of "Horrific Obsession" in January. "Horrific Obsession" will be limited to only 1000 units and will be available exclusively from peaceville.com on January 26, 2009, with pre-orders available now.
The two tracks will also be included on a special 2-disc 20th anniversary edition of the classic 1989 debut album, "Severed Survival," coming in March. The release includes a second disc of previously unheard rehearsal and live rarities, including two songs originally intended for "Severed Survival." The package also includes a booklet detailing the early history of the band, as documented by the guys themselves, plus unseen photos. This special 2-disc edition of "Severed Survival" will be available on February 23, 2009.
-----------------------------------
Southern Lord vinyl release
In February, Southern Lord will release the vinyl-only version of the new WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM EP entitled "Malevolent Grain", featuring two brand new tracks from the Pacific Northwest organic black metallers. Conspiracy Records will offer a limited-edition picture disc of the 12" for Europe, while Southern Lord will release a black 180-gram version worldwide. Additionally, the band will press a limited CD version for tour purposes only. The EP features the band's newly designed logo (see below) crafted by renowned artist Christophe Szpajdel, designer of black metal band logos for KULT OV AZAZEL, EMPEROR, MOONSPELL and other international acts.
The third WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM full-length, "Black Cascade" will follow on March 31 via Southern Lord. Both the EP and the full-length were recorded to 2-inch tape by Randall Dunn and Mell Dettmer in Seattle this winter. The new recordings are the first to feature the band's new guitar player Will Lindsay (MIDDIAN) who had previously served as the band's touring bass player, in addition to longtime members, brothers Nathan and Aaron Weaver.
The band will tour Europe beginning in late January.
-----------------------------------
Queen: More Details Revealed On Upcoming Vinyl Reissues
EMI Music and Queen are announcing the re-release over two years of the entire Queen studio album catalogue on long playing vinyl albums. The album packaging will include every detail of the original releases in their original 12” format. Bonus posters, extra pictures, and all the unique content of the original albums will be faithfully reproduced.
The first group of releases, out March 16th, will consist of four classic Queen albums Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night At The Opera and A Day At The Races.
Following in May 2009 will be come five further albums including the very first album, Queen, along with News Of The World, Flash Gordon, A Kind Of Magic and Innuendo, with successive releases coming approximately every 6 months.
In a deliberate move, the albums are not being released chronologically but instead sequenced over the twenty-two year period of release allowing buyers wider choice with each new batch of releases.
Queen’s original studio albums: Queen, Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, A Night At The Opera, A Day At The Races, News Of The World, Jazz, The Game, Flash Gordon, Hot Space, The Works, A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, Innuendo, Made In Heaven.
-----------------------------------
Stax Reissuing Two Isaac Hayes Classics
Stax Records, now part of the Concord Group, will be reissuing two of Isaac Hayes' classic 70's album on February 24.
Up first is Black Moses, originally issued in 1971. This double-CD of Hayes' most critically acclaimed album includes a complete replication of the original album cover which folds out into a cross-shaped image of the artist. New to the set is liner notes by Rob Bowman who wrote Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records.
The album was notable for the fact that so many of the tracks were covers, including the Jackson 5's Never Can Say Goodbye, the Carpenters Close to You, and Kris Kristofferson's For the Good Times. Hayes took the songs and crafted soulful versions that, at times, ran upwards of ten minutes in length. The singer noted that the album came out of the pain of a divorce. Bowman says "Isaac's ability to take other people's material and make it so deeply personal is nothing short of brilliant."
The album went to number one on the R&B, number two on the Jazz and number ten on the Pop Album charts while Never Can Say Goodbye was a number five R&B and number 22 Pop single. It won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Also being released is 1976's Juicy Fruit (Disco Heat). The album was nowhere near as good or as big as most of his previous works, mostly attempting to tap into the current disco trend. It was also his third release of that year for his new label, ABC, and was one of his few albums on which he wrote all of the songs. The combination proved problematic with the songs being formulaic and non-descript.
The album peaked at 18 on the R&B and 124 on the Pop charts and didn't produce any hit singles.
-----------------------------------
Loretta Lynn Busy With Two New Albums
Country legend Loretta Lynn is preparing two projects this year to follow up her 2004 crossover hit, "Van Lear Rose."
Lynn, 74, is working on an album of new material that she says could be ready by late spring. The album will be in her traditional country style but will deal with modern issues. "(A friend) told me: 'Loretta, don't quit writing, because if you do, no one in Nashville is writing songs,'" Lynn tells Billboard. "I write about what's happening today and how I feel."
The second project, an album of re-recorded versions of her No. 1 hits from the past four decades, is being produced by John Carter Cash and could hit stores this summer.
Rock & Roll Tidbits
Brian Jones, the original lead guitarist of The Rolling Stones, is said to have fathered six illegitimate children before his untimely death on July 3rd, 1969.
Although Ernie K-Doe had a US number one smash with "Mother-in-law" in 1961, he failed to match that song's success with any other release. His career came to a halt in the 70s and 80s and he often wandered the streets singing for spare change. In the mid-90s he turned his fortunes around and opened a successful night club.
The husband and wife song-writing team of Felice and Boudleaux Byant have said that they wrote the Everly Brothers' 1958 number one hit "All I Have To Do Is Dream" in about 15 minutes.
According to legend, to add the authentic sound of a motorcycle engine to The Shangri-Las' "Leader Of The Pack", one was driven through the lobby of the hotel and up to the floor of the recording studio. However, in an interview four decades later, Shangri-Las lead singer Mary Weiss scoffed at this story and said that the motorcycle sound was simply taken from an effects record.
Bruce Springsteen was once the opening act for Canadian singer, Anne Murray, of "Snowbird" fame.
The Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian played harmonica on The Doors' recording of "Road House Blues". He is credited on the album as G. Puglese.
Although AM radio broadcasts were tested in 1906 and used for voice and music broadcasts up until WW1, it wasn't until 1916, when 8XK in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania began regularly scheduled broadcasts.
The first 'live' television satellite program to air worldwide was a two-hour show called Our World, in which The Beatles performed "All You Need is Love" on June 25, 1967.
The Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream" was included in John Lennon's personal jukebox along with "Do You Believe In Magic?". Paul McCartney later said that "Daydream" was a major influence on his composition "Good Day Sunshine".
Sam and Dave were a Soul singing duo who scored a half dozen hits on the US pop and R&B charts in the mid 1960s, including "Hold On, I'm Comin'". The two didn't get along very well and seldom spoke to each other off stage. Sam Moore said he lost all respect for his partner Dave Prater after Prater shot his own wife during a 1968 domsestic dispute, an incident for which he was never prosecuted.
There have been over 30 different members of The Drifters and two entirley seperate sets of singers known by that name. The first group of Drifters had a couple of hits on the R&B chart in the mid-fifties, but after Clyde McPhatter left in 1956, the remaining members had a falling out with their manager and were all fired. A new version of the Drifters featured Ben E. King on "There Goes My Baby", "This Magic Moment" and "Save The Last Dance For Me" before he quit. Rudy Lewis replaced King as lead vocalist for "Some Kind Of Wonderful", "Up On The Roof" and "On Broadway", but he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1964. Johnny Moore, from the original set of Drifters then re-joined to sing "Under The Boardwalk", as well as a series of moderate British hits.
Even though the members of the three piece band called America are all from the US, they actually met and formed the group while they were living in the UK.
Diana Ross has recorded 18 US number one songs, but has never won a Grammy Award.
Although Ernie K-Doe had a US number one smash with "Mother-in-law" in 1961, he failed to match that song's success with any other release. His career came to a halt in the 70s and 80s and he often wandered the streets singing for spare change. In the mid-90s he turned his fortunes around and opened a successful night club.
The husband and wife song-writing team of Felice and Boudleaux Byant have said that they wrote the Everly Brothers' 1958 number one hit "All I Have To Do Is Dream" in about 15 minutes.
According to legend, to add the authentic sound of a motorcycle engine to The Shangri-Las' "Leader Of The Pack", one was driven through the lobby of the hotel and up to the floor of the recording studio. However, in an interview four decades later, Shangri-Las lead singer Mary Weiss scoffed at this story and said that the motorcycle sound was simply taken from an effects record.
Bruce Springsteen was once the opening act for Canadian singer, Anne Murray, of "Snowbird" fame.
The Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian played harmonica on The Doors' recording of "Road House Blues". He is credited on the album as G. Puglese.
Although AM radio broadcasts were tested in 1906 and used for voice and music broadcasts up until WW1, it wasn't until 1916, when 8XK in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania began regularly scheduled broadcasts.
The first 'live' television satellite program to air worldwide was a two-hour show called Our World, in which The Beatles performed "All You Need is Love" on June 25, 1967.
The Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream" was included in John Lennon's personal jukebox along with "Do You Believe In Magic?". Paul McCartney later said that "Daydream" was a major influence on his composition "Good Day Sunshine".
Sam and Dave were a Soul singing duo who scored a half dozen hits on the US pop and R&B charts in the mid 1960s, including "Hold On, I'm Comin'". The two didn't get along very well and seldom spoke to each other off stage. Sam Moore said he lost all respect for his partner Dave Prater after Prater shot his own wife during a 1968 domsestic dispute, an incident for which he was never prosecuted.
There have been over 30 different members of The Drifters and two entirley seperate sets of singers known by that name. The first group of Drifters had a couple of hits on the R&B chart in the mid-fifties, but after Clyde McPhatter left in 1956, the remaining members had a falling out with their manager and were all fired. A new version of the Drifters featured Ben E. King on "There Goes My Baby", "This Magic Moment" and "Save The Last Dance For Me" before he quit. Rudy Lewis replaced King as lead vocalist for "Some Kind Of Wonderful", "Up On The Roof" and "On Broadway", but he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1964. Johnny Moore, from the original set of Drifters then re-joined to sing "Under The Boardwalk", as well as a series of moderate British hits.
Even though the members of the three piece band called America are all from the US, they actually met and formed the group while they were living in the UK.
Diana Ross has recorded 18 US number one songs, but has never won a Grammy Award.
This Date In Music History-January 10
Birthdays:
Michel Schenker (Scorpions) 1955
Pat Benatar (1953)
Cyril Neville -The Neville Brothers (1948)
Rod Stewart was born in London in 1945.
Scott McKenzie ("San Francisco") turns 70.
Donald Fagen of Steely Dan is 61.
Ronnie Hawkins is 74.
Drummer Aynsley Dunbar, who has played with Journey and Jefferson Starship, was born in Liverpool in 1946.
Brad Roberts- Crash Test Dummies (1964)
Matt Roberts- 3 Doors Down (1978)
Singer Shawn Colvin (1958)
They Are Missed:
In 2008, Rod Allen, the last remaining original member of The Fortunes, died of liver cancer at the age of 64.
Jim Croce was born in 1943.
Johnnie Ray ("Cry") was born in 1927.
Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler (worked with Ray Charles and many others) was born in 1917.
In 2001, Bryan Gregory, founding guitarist with the Cramps, passed away. He had suffered a heart attack weeks earlier and never fully recovered.
Delta bluesman Howlin' Wolf died at the age of 66 in 1976.
History:
In 1981, John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Double Fantasy" LP goes Platinum, a little over a month after Lennon's assassination. The album would be #1 in the US for eight weeks.
Vinyl records were introduced by RCA (45 rpm) and Columbia (33.3 rpm) in 1949.
In 1956, Elvis Presley recorded his first songs as an RCA Victor artist in Nashville. Elvis recorded "Heartbreak Hotel," "Money Honey," among others. Along with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, guitar-great Chet Atkins participated in the Nashville session. Floyd Cramer was on piano.
In 2003, a collection of 500 Beatles tapes known as the 'Get Back sessions', which were stolen in the 1970's, were found after UK police cracked a major bootleg operation in London and Amsterdam.
The first American Beatles' album, "Introducing The Beatles" was released in 1964 by Chicago's Vee-Jay Records.
In 1965, American promoter Sid Bernstein telephoned Beatles manager Brian Epstein to propose the Fab Four play Shea Stadium.
The trial over Paul McCartney's move to dissolve the Beatles partnership began today in 1971, in London's High Court. Ringo testified, "Paul behaved like a spoilt child."
In 1969, frustrated at Paul McCartney's dominance during the filming of Let It Be, George Harrison nonchalantly tells the rest of the band that he is quitting immediately and sarcastically says as he walked out, "See you around the clubs." George would later say that while he had a growing backlog of new material, he constantly had to work on Lennon and McCartney's songs before the group would work on his. John Lennon suggested getting Eric Clapton as Harrison’s replacement.
In 1955, Alan Freed hosted his first New York stage show, featuring The Clovers, The Drifters and Fats Domino.
In 1976, Foghat's "Slow Ride" became the first of their five Billboard chart entries and the only one to crack the Top 20.
In 1984, Cyndi Lauper became the first female recording artist since Bobbie Gentry in 1967, to be nominated for five Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
In 2007, the Recording Academy announced the year's additions to the Grammy Hall of Fame. Albums inducted are "Who's Next" by the Who, "London Calling" by the Clash and "Cheap Thrills" by Big Brother & the Holding Company. Singles getting the nod are Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl."
Michel Schenker (Scorpions) 1955
Pat Benatar (1953)
Cyril Neville -The Neville Brothers (1948)
Rod Stewart was born in London in 1945.
Scott McKenzie ("San Francisco") turns 70.
Donald Fagen of Steely Dan is 61.
Ronnie Hawkins is 74.
Drummer Aynsley Dunbar, who has played with Journey and Jefferson Starship, was born in Liverpool in 1946.
Brad Roberts- Crash Test Dummies (1964)
Matt Roberts- 3 Doors Down (1978)
Singer Shawn Colvin (1958)
They Are Missed:
In 2008, Rod Allen, the last remaining original member of The Fortunes, died of liver cancer at the age of 64.
Jim Croce was born in 1943.
Johnnie Ray ("Cry") was born in 1927.
Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler (worked with Ray Charles and many others) was born in 1917.
In 2001, Bryan Gregory, founding guitarist with the Cramps, passed away. He had suffered a heart attack weeks earlier and never fully recovered.
Delta bluesman Howlin' Wolf died at the age of 66 in 1976.
History:
In 1981, John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Double Fantasy" LP goes Platinum, a little over a month after Lennon's assassination. The album would be #1 in the US for eight weeks.
Vinyl records were introduced by RCA (45 rpm) and Columbia (33.3 rpm) in 1949.
In 1956, Elvis Presley recorded his first songs as an RCA Victor artist in Nashville. Elvis recorded "Heartbreak Hotel," "Money Honey," among others. Along with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, guitar-great Chet Atkins participated in the Nashville session. Floyd Cramer was on piano.
In 2003, a collection of 500 Beatles tapes known as the 'Get Back sessions', which were stolen in the 1970's, were found after UK police cracked a major bootleg operation in London and Amsterdam.
The first American Beatles' album, "Introducing The Beatles" was released in 1964 by Chicago's Vee-Jay Records.
In 1965, American promoter Sid Bernstein telephoned Beatles manager Brian Epstein to propose the Fab Four play Shea Stadium.
The trial over Paul McCartney's move to dissolve the Beatles partnership began today in 1971, in London's High Court. Ringo testified, "Paul behaved like a spoilt child."
In 1969, frustrated at Paul McCartney's dominance during the filming of Let It Be, George Harrison nonchalantly tells the rest of the band that he is quitting immediately and sarcastically says as he walked out, "See you around the clubs." George would later say that while he had a growing backlog of new material, he constantly had to work on Lennon and McCartney's songs before the group would work on his. John Lennon suggested getting Eric Clapton as Harrison’s replacement.
In 1955, Alan Freed hosted his first New York stage show, featuring The Clovers, The Drifters and Fats Domino.
In 1976, Foghat's "Slow Ride" became the first of their five Billboard chart entries and the only one to crack the Top 20.
In 1984, Cyndi Lauper became the first female recording artist since Bobbie Gentry in 1967, to be nominated for five Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
In 2007, the Recording Academy announced the year's additions to the Grammy Hall of Fame. Albums inducted are "Who's Next" by the Who, "London Calling" by the Clash and "Cheap Thrills" by Big Brother & the Holding Company. Singles getting the nod are Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl."
Friday, January 9, 2009
Cover Art Stories
As always, I thank Michael Goldstein over at www.RockPoPGallery.com for the exclusive rights to reprint this material.
Cover Story - Korn's "Korn", with photography by Stephen Stickler
Cover Story for November 30, 2007
Subject - Ko?n – Korn, a 1994 release on Immortal/Epic Records, with cover photography by Stephen Stickler
With “grunge” music filling the airwaves and dominating music television, Bakersfield, California’s Ko?n was a band that stood out from everyone else in a number of different ways. They weren’t full of angst – they were an angry band of metalheads who had discovered hip-hop beats and had a lead singer that also played the bagpipes! After being discovered by an A&R exec while playing in a nightclub, they worked on their unique musical and lyrical stylings until late 1994, when they released their self-titled debut Korn on Immortal/Epic Records.
The release of Korn also established a new genre – called “nu-metal” that showed the way for a number of bands (Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Saliva, etc.) who had all wanted to give skate/surf kids the high-speed, beat-driven adrenalin rush that wasn’t found in the Seattle sound and to re-kindle the fire under many fans who thought that the metal genre had been buried alive or moved overseas. They toured relentlessly, opening for bands such as Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson, Danzig, Megadeth and Fear Factory and building a cult of mosh-crazy fans whose following has lasted through the years. Even with little/no radio or video support, their first album has since sold over 3 million copies (rising to #1 on the Billboard “Heatseekers” chart and as high as #72 in the Billboard “Top 200 Albums chart”) and their critical acclaim has handed them six Grammy nominations and two wins.
While Korn’s music is often filled with a sense of dark humor, the cover shot for their debut record did not tickle everyone’s funny bone for its seemed depiction of a young girl about to be lead away from her playtime at the park by a shadowy stranger (with the back-cover shot adding even more to the mystery). Brought in to use his artistic and photographic talents to develop this stunningly creepy image (and others used to illustrate the CD insert), photographer Stephen Stickler recounts what went in to making this memorable work of art in today’s Cover Story…
In the words of the photographer, Stephen Stickler (interviewed November, 2007) –
"At the time of this shoot, I was working with my friend Dante Ariola, who was a graphic designer at the time (now one of the top TV commercial directors in the world – a 2007 DGA award winner!). His company did a lot of work with Sony and Epic, and so we went up to meet the band at a recording studio in Malibu and to listen to some of the tracks. I knew right away that they were going to be huge - the music was so powerful and new sounding. And dark!
Jonathan, the singer of the band, had a pretty strange background – he had been schooled in mortuary science and had worked in the coroner’s office prior to joining the band - so his perspective was dark, to say the least. The cover concept may have been his idea, come to think of it. It was one of the few instances I can recall when the band's input was great to work with. The label was pretty hands-off on this one, surprisingly, perhaps because I had already done so much of work for them.
This shot was done specifically for the cover and the band’s management and label were involved, not conceptually, but in a supportive role. The band wasn't even there, if I recall correctly. The little girl in the shot is actually the A&R guy's (Paul Pontius) niece (8-year-old Justine Ferrara), and the shot took place in a playground located behind the label’s West Hollywood offices. ‘Uncle Paul’ and Justine’s mother were there to supervise, and I just told her to ‘look scared’.
I forget exactly where the specific idea came from, but the menacing shadow is actually Dante's. He was making strange shapes with his hands to get an eerie shape in the late afternoon sun - note the elongated shadows. You’ll note that the girl's shadow appears to hang from the shadow of the “K” in the Korn logo. We positioned it there on purpose, and the band was enthusiastic about the effect.
This was in the early days of Photoshop, so I used a manual technique of masking the film to reduce the color saturation and achieve a somewhat faded Ektachrome effect. I don't generally shoot a lot of frames, so the edit process was easy.
The shot taken for the back cover shows an empty swing swinging, and it completes the tragic story we were trying to tell. Our original submission was accepted, which again is rare. The label was happy with the outcome, but the covers we shot for their 2nd release were rejected because we pushed it too far that time out. Once the girl's parents saw the finished cover, Paul was in the doghouse for a while, or so I heard…
The band was pleased, too, which of course led to many nights of mayhem when we hung out with the band, moshing up in front, and drinking the sponsored Jagermeister backstage. I remember seeing Marilyn Manson at a Korn after party and wondering who that nerdy geek was who was trying so hard. Then a year later, he was huge!”
About the photographer, Stephen Stickler –
<- Stephen, on his way to work in one of LA's trendy neighborhoods...
Stephen Stickler has worked hard to establish himself as a photographer and photo-journalist with serious credentials, having served as the Executive Editor for Bikini Magazine (“ACTION. FILM. CARS AND ROCK N. ROLL”) from 1993-1996 and then as Fashion and Photography editor for Raygun Magazine. His work has been published in many magazines, including both general interest publications (Newsweek, Life and Alternative Press) and special interest pubs in the music and fashion world, including Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Playboy, Seventeen, Maxim, Revolver, CMJ and many others.
His record label packaging work has served to promote a wide range of artists on a "who's who" list of labels including Sony, Atlantic, Virgin, Warner Brothers, Tommy Boy, Elektra, Universal, Dreamworks, MCA, Mercury and A&M, while his fashion work has improved the fortunes of companies such as Fresh Jive, Ocean Pacific, Sketchers and many others.
He currently lives and works in the LA area and, sadly for fans of his past work in the record packaging area, he’s moved on to focus his efforts and talents in more supervisory roles, i.e., directing and producing. As he puts it (and to which this author must sadly agree) - “The glory days of album photography are over, as are the days of big cover budgets. I was lucky to catch the tail end of 12" vinyl covers. CDs are dying and, really, so is cover art. It's just not the same looking at a record cover on a 2" iPod screen, whereas I'll always have fond memories of putting on a new album I'd bought and studying the packing while listening to the record for the first time."
To see more of Stephen Stickler’s work, please visit his website at www.stephenstickler.com
For more information on Korn, please visit their website at http://www.korn.com/site.php
For more information on RockPoP Gallery, we invite you to visit our site at http://www.rockpopgallery.com
Cover images and S. Stickler photo Copyright 1994 and 2007 Stephen Stickler Photography - http://www.stephenstickler.com/ - All rights reserved. Except as noted, All other text Copyright 2007 - Mike Goldstein & RockPoP Gallery (www.rockpopgallery.com) - All rights reserved.
Cover Story - Korn's "Korn", with photography by Stephen Stickler
Cover Story for November 30, 2007
Subject - Ko?n – Korn, a 1994 release on Immortal/Epic Records, with cover photography by Stephen Stickler
With “grunge” music filling the airwaves and dominating music television, Bakersfield, California’s Ko?n was a band that stood out from everyone else in a number of different ways. They weren’t full of angst – they were an angry band of metalheads who had discovered hip-hop beats and had a lead singer that also played the bagpipes! After being discovered by an A&R exec while playing in a nightclub, they worked on their unique musical and lyrical stylings until late 1994, when they released their self-titled debut Korn on Immortal/Epic Records.
The release of Korn also established a new genre – called “nu-metal” that showed the way for a number of bands (Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Saliva, etc.) who had all wanted to give skate/surf kids the high-speed, beat-driven adrenalin rush that wasn’t found in the Seattle sound and to re-kindle the fire under many fans who thought that the metal genre had been buried alive or moved overseas. They toured relentlessly, opening for bands such as Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson, Danzig, Megadeth and Fear Factory and building a cult of mosh-crazy fans whose following has lasted through the years. Even with little/no radio or video support, their first album has since sold over 3 million copies (rising to #1 on the Billboard “Heatseekers” chart and as high as #72 in the Billboard “Top 200 Albums chart”) and their critical acclaim has handed them six Grammy nominations and two wins.
While Korn’s music is often filled with a sense of dark humor, the cover shot for their debut record did not tickle everyone’s funny bone for its seemed depiction of a young girl about to be lead away from her playtime at the park by a shadowy stranger (with the back-cover shot adding even more to the mystery). Brought in to use his artistic and photographic talents to develop this stunningly creepy image (and others used to illustrate the CD insert), photographer Stephen Stickler recounts what went in to making this memorable work of art in today’s Cover Story…
In the words of the photographer, Stephen Stickler (interviewed November, 2007) –
"At the time of this shoot, I was working with my friend Dante Ariola, who was a graphic designer at the time (now one of the top TV commercial directors in the world – a 2007 DGA award winner!). His company did a lot of work with Sony and Epic, and so we went up to meet the band at a recording studio in Malibu and to listen to some of the tracks. I knew right away that they were going to be huge - the music was so powerful and new sounding. And dark!
Jonathan, the singer of the band, had a pretty strange background – he had been schooled in mortuary science and had worked in the coroner’s office prior to joining the band - so his perspective was dark, to say the least. The cover concept may have been his idea, come to think of it. It was one of the few instances I can recall when the band's input was great to work with. The label was pretty hands-off on this one, surprisingly, perhaps because I had already done so much of work for them.
This shot was done specifically for the cover and the band’s management and label were involved, not conceptually, but in a supportive role. The band wasn't even there, if I recall correctly. The little girl in the shot is actually the A&R guy's (Paul Pontius) niece (8-year-old Justine Ferrara), and the shot took place in a playground located behind the label’s West Hollywood offices. ‘Uncle Paul’ and Justine’s mother were there to supervise, and I just told her to ‘look scared’.
I forget exactly where the specific idea came from, but the menacing shadow is actually Dante's. He was making strange shapes with his hands to get an eerie shape in the late afternoon sun - note the elongated shadows. You’ll note that the girl's shadow appears to hang from the shadow of the “K” in the Korn logo. We positioned it there on purpose, and the band was enthusiastic about the effect.
This was in the early days of Photoshop, so I used a manual technique of masking the film to reduce the color saturation and achieve a somewhat faded Ektachrome effect. I don't generally shoot a lot of frames, so the edit process was easy.
The shot taken for the back cover shows an empty swing swinging, and it completes the tragic story we were trying to tell. Our original submission was accepted, which again is rare. The label was happy with the outcome, but the covers we shot for their 2nd release were rejected because we pushed it too far that time out. Once the girl's parents saw the finished cover, Paul was in the doghouse for a while, or so I heard…
The band was pleased, too, which of course led to many nights of mayhem when we hung out with the band, moshing up in front, and drinking the sponsored Jagermeister backstage. I remember seeing Marilyn Manson at a Korn after party and wondering who that nerdy geek was who was trying so hard. Then a year later, he was huge!”
About the photographer, Stephen Stickler –
<- Stephen, on his way to work in one of LA's trendy neighborhoods...
Stephen Stickler has worked hard to establish himself as a photographer and photo-journalist with serious credentials, having served as the Executive Editor for Bikini Magazine (“ACTION. FILM. CARS AND ROCK N. ROLL”) from 1993-1996 and then as Fashion and Photography editor for Raygun Magazine. His work has been published in many magazines, including both general interest publications (Newsweek, Life and Alternative Press) and special interest pubs in the music and fashion world, including Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Playboy, Seventeen, Maxim, Revolver, CMJ and many others.
His record label packaging work has served to promote a wide range of artists on a "who's who" list of labels including Sony, Atlantic, Virgin, Warner Brothers, Tommy Boy, Elektra, Universal, Dreamworks, MCA, Mercury and A&M, while his fashion work has improved the fortunes of companies such as Fresh Jive, Ocean Pacific, Sketchers and many others.
He currently lives and works in the LA area and, sadly for fans of his past work in the record packaging area, he’s moved on to focus his efforts and talents in more supervisory roles, i.e., directing and producing. As he puts it (and to which this author must sadly agree) - “The glory days of album photography are over, as are the days of big cover budgets. I was lucky to catch the tail end of 12" vinyl covers. CDs are dying and, really, so is cover art. It's just not the same looking at a record cover on a 2" iPod screen, whereas I'll always have fond memories of putting on a new album I'd bought and studying the packing while listening to the record for the first time."
To see more of Stephen Stickler’s work, please visit his website at www.stephenstickler.com
For more information on Korn, please visit their website at http://www.korn.com/site.php
For more information on RockPoP Gallery, we invite you to visit our site at http://www.rockpopgallery.com
Cover images and S. Stickler photo Copyright 1994 and 2007 Stephen Stickler Photography - http://www.stephenstickler.com/ - All rights reserved. Except as noted, All other text Copyright 2007 - Mike Goldstein & RockPoP Gallery (www.rockpopgallery.com) - All rights reserved.
Music News & Notes
Rascal Flatts Plans New Album, Cover Contest
Rascal Flatts will release its sixth studio album, "Unstoppable," on April 7. The group made the announcement via text message to their fans. The new album, co-produced by Dann Huff and Rascal Flatts, is the band's first studio album since 2007's multi-platinum "Still Feels Good."
Meanwhile, the group, which took favorite group honors on the Jan. 7 People's Choice Awards, announced from the stage that fans could enter a contest to create and vote on the cover art for the set. Submissions will be accepted until Jan. 22 at the People's Choice Web site, pcaVOTE.com The winning designer and image will be revealed in February.
---------------------------------------------
Sixties pop star Dave Dee dies
Sixties British pop star Dave Dee has died (age 67) after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
He was the lead singer with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and enjoyed a string of chart hits including "The Legend of Xanadu," "Bend It, and "Save Me."
He died shortly before 6 a.m. on Friday at Kingston Hospital in southwest London with family members at his bedside, fellow band member Ian "Tich" Amey told Reuters.
Dee had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001, but continued to tour with the band, which had reformed in the 1990s.
---------------------------------------------
CS&N News
David Crosby spoke with Britain's Uncut Magazine about the new album Crosby, Stills & Nash are about to start with legendary producer Rick Rubin. One of the things that Rubin wants is for the trio to do a few cover songs.
"...come January, we’re going to pick and learn some songs. I can’t say which ones are going to make the final list, but we have about thirty. There’s all the people you might expect: some Jackson Browne, certainly several Beatles tunes,The Beach Boys, Joni, James, the Stones. There’s a whole shitload of records that we love and think are brilliant. I don’t know how Rick works yet, but I certainly know how we work, so I’m presuming there’ll be some pretty harmonies.
---------------------------------------------
Brits Bow to Mercury
A recent British poll surveyed more than 4,000 music fans and it revealed that Freddie Mercury is (in their opinion) the Ultimate Rock God. Second was Elvis Presley and third was Jon Bon Jovi. The top ten was filled out by David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne, Kurt Cobain, Slash, Bono and Mick Jagger.
---------------------------------------------
Dolly to Gospel Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame have announced that they will induct Dolly Parton, Michael W. Smith, Dr. Bobby Jones, the Dixie Hummingbirds and producer Lari Goss. The ceremony is February 2 in Nashville.
"This year's class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees have all achieved great professional and personal success in many different areas of the music and entertainment industries, but each shares a common heritage of the Gospels' powerful impact on their lives," said John Styll, president of the GMA.
Rascal Flatts will release its sixth studio album, "Unstoppable," on April 7. The group made the announcement via text message to their fans. The new album, co-produced by Dann Huff and Rascal Flatts, is the band's first studio album since 2007's multi-platinum "Still Feels Good."
Meanwhile, the group, which took favorite group honors on the Jan. 7 People's Choice Awards, announced from the stage that fans could enter a contest to create and vote on the cover art for the set. Submissions will be accepted until Jan. 22 at the People's Choice Web site, pcaVOTE.com The winning designer and image will be revealed in February.
---------------------------------------------
Sixties pop star Dave Dee dies
Sixties British pop star Dave Dee has died (age 67) after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
He was the lead singer with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and enjoyed a string of chart hits including "The Legend of Xanadu," "Bend It, and "Save Me."
He died shortly before 6 a.m. on Friday at Kingston Hospital in southwest London with family members at his bedside, fellow band member Ian "Tich" Amey told Reuters.
Dee had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001, but continued to tour with the band, which had reformed in the 1990s.
---------------------------------------------
CS&N News
David Crosby spoke with Britain's Uncut Magazine about the new album Crosby, Stills & Nash are about to start with legendary producer Rick Rubin. One of the things that Rubin wants is for the trio to do a few cover songs.
"...come January, we’re going to pick and learn some songs. I can’t say which ones are going to make the final list, but we have about thirty. There’s all the people you might expect: some Jackson Browne, certainly several Beatles tunes,The Beach Boys, Joni, James, the Stones. There’s a whole shitload of records that we love and think are brilliant. I don’t know how Rick works yet, but I certainly know how we work, so I’m presuming there’ll be some pretty harmonies.
---------------------------------------------
Brits Bow to Mercury
A recent British poll surveyed more than 4,000 music fans and it revealed that Freddie Mercury is (in their opinion) the Ultimate Rock God. Second was Elvis Presley and third was Jon Bon Jovi. The top ten was filled out by David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne, Kurt Cobain, Slash, Bono and Mick Jagger.
---------------------------------------------
Dolly to Gospel Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame have announced that they will induct Dolly Parton, Michael W. Smith, Dr. Bobby Jones, the Dixie Hummingbirds and producer Lari Goss. The ceremony is February 2 in Nashville.
"This year's class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees have all achieved great professional and personal success in many different areas of the music and entertainment industries, but each shares a common heritage of the Gospels' powerful impact on their lives," said John Styll, president of the GMA.
Rock & Roll Tidbits
In August, 2008, ABBA's "Gold" compilation rose to #1 on the UK album chart for the fifth time since being released in 1992, making it the oldest ever UK #1 album to return to the top of the chart, 16 years after release.
"For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield got its title when Stephen Stills first played the song for the group, saying "Here's a new song I wrote, for what it's worth." When he finished playing, he was asked what the title was. Stills said he didn't have one. Someone then replied, "Sure you do. You just said it."
David Rose, who had a Billboard #1 hit in 1962 with an instrumental called "The Stripper", also wrote the theme for the TV show Little House On The Prairie.
In January, 2005, on what would have been Elvis Presley's 70th birthday, "Jailhouse Rock" was re-released in the UK where it went straight to #1. At over 47 years after its original release, it became the oldest recording ever to top the UK charts.
The lightest Elvis ever weighed as a six foot tall adult was 170 lbs in 1960 following his discharge from the U.S. Army. The heaviest was at the time of his death, which was 260 lbs.
Helen Reddy's husband, Jeff Wald, was also her manager. He was also the manager for Sylvester Stallone, George Foreman, James Brolin, George Carlin, Elliot Gould, Deep Purple, Donna Summer, Flip Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Chicago and Crosby, Stills & Nash, to name only a few.
In 1959, Philadelpia's Overbrook Highschool boys basketball team won their league championship. Members of the team included future NBA stars, Walt Hazzard and Wally Jones, along with Len Borisoff, who would later change his name to Len Barry and become a member of The Dovells, who had a hit with "The Bristol Stomp" as well as having a solo hit with "1-2-3".
Chip Taylor is the stage name of American songwriter James Wesley Voight, brother of actor Jon Voight and uncle of actress Angelina Jolie. Besides writing The Troggs' hit "Wild Thing", he also penned "Angel of the Morning", by both Merrilee Rush and Juice Newton as well as "I Can Make It With You" by The Pozo Seco Singers and many other hit records.
When a poem called "Too Many Teardrops" was put to music, it was re-titled "69 Tears". Knowing that a song with such a name would never get any radio air play, it was re-named "96 Tears" and by October, 1966 became a number one hit for Question Mark and The Mysterians.
Vee Jay Records was the most successful Black owned and operated record company before Motown. The firm was founded in 1953 by Vivian Carter (the "Vee") and her husband, James Bracken (the "Jay").
"For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield got its title when Stephen Stills first played the song for the group, saying "Here's a new song I wrote, for what it's worth." When he finished playing, he was asked what the title was. Stills said he didn't have one. Someone then replied, "Sure you do. You just said it."
David Rose, who had a Billboard #1 hit in 1962 with an instrumental called "The Stripper", also wrote the theme for the TV show Little House On The Prairie.
In January, 2005, on what would have been Elvis Presley's 70th birthday, "Jailhouse Rock" was re-released in the UK where it went straight to #1. At over 47 years after its original release, it became the oldest recording ever to top the UK charts.
The lightest Elvis ever weighed as a six foot tall adult was 170 lbs in 1960 following his discharge from the U.S. Army. The heaviest was at the time of his death, which was 260 lbs.
Helen Reddy's husband, Jeff Wald, was also her manager. He was also the manager for Sylvester Stallone, George Foreman, James Brolin, George Carlin, Elliot Gould, Deep Purple, Donna Summer, Flip Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Chicago and Crosby, Stills & Nash, to name only a few.
In 1959, Philadelpia's Overbrook Highschool boys basketball team won their league championship. Members of the team included future NBA stars, Walt Hazzard and Wally Jones, along with Len Borisoff, who would later change his name to Len Barry and become a member of The Dovells, who had a hit with "The Bristol Stomp" as well as having a solo hit with "1-2-3".
Chip Taylor is the stage name of American songwriter James Wesley Voight, brother of actor Jon Voight and uncle of actress Angelina Jolie. Besides writing The Troggs' hit "Wild Thing", he also penned "Angel of the Morning", by both Merrilee Rush and Juice Newton as well as "I Can Make It With You" by The Pozo Seco Singers and many other hit records.
When a poem called "Too Many Teardrops" was put to music, it was re-titled "69 Tears". Knowing that a song with such a name would never get any radio air play, it was re-named "96 Tears" and by October, 1966 became a number one hit for Question Mark and The Mysterians.
Vee Jay Records was the most successful Black owned and operated record company before Motown. The firm was founded in 1953 by Vivian Carter (the "Vee") and her husband, James Bracken (the "Jay").
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Reunion Tours
Phish Reunion Tour Taking Shape
Although an official announcement has been made, Phish's first tour in five years is beginning to look like a reality.
LiveNation.com was listing a Jan. 30 on sale date for a Phish show on June 18 at the Post-Gazette Pavilion outside Pittsburgh, which coincides nicely alongside rumors of Phish making an appearance at the Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, Tenn., the previous weekend. The link has since been removed.
Meanwhile, a June 6 show at Great Woods outside Boston is up on Ticketsnow.com, a secondary ticketing company owned by Ticketmaster, but for now, the only confirmed Phish shows are March 6-8 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. This will be the band's first shows since August 2004.
-----------------------------------------------
Genesis Again?
Peter Gabriel has stated that he has "no real objection" to a reunion with Genesis. He claimed he didn't participate in the 2007 tour because he was busy with his own projects. Could this mean a Genesis reunion?
Although an official announcement has been made, Phish's first tour in five years is beginning to look like a reality.
LiveNation.com was listing a Jan. 30 on sale date for a Phish show on June 18 at the Post-Gazette Pavilion outside Pittsburgh, which coincides nicely alongside rumors of Phish making an appearance at the Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, Tenn., the previous weekend. The link has since been removed.
Meanwhile, a June 6 show at Great Woods outside Boston is up on Ticketsnow.com, a secondary ticketing company owned by Ticketmaster, but for now, the only confirmed Phish shows are March 6-8 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. This will be the band's first shows since August 2004.
-----------------------------------------------
Genesis Again?
Peter Gabriel has stated that he has "no real objection" to a reunion with Genesis. He claimed he didn't participate in the 2007 tour because he was busy with his own projects. Could this mean a Genesis reunion?
Cover Art Stories
As always, I thank Michael Goldstein over at www.RockPoPGallery.com for the exclusive rights to reprint this material.
Cover Story - Elvis Presley - "50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong", artwork by Bob Jones
Cover Story for August 17, 2007
Subject – 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong: Elvis' Gold Records - Volume 2 – a 1959 recording by Elvis Presley, released on RCA Records and featuring design and art direction by Bob Jones.
With the marking this week of the 30th anniversary of the untimely death of Elvis Presley, this week’s Cover Story will be presented in a slightly different format, with the details behind the making of this iconic record cover coming from a variety of different sources, most notably the descriptive literature produced along with a series of lithographs produced in the early 1990s by a now-defunct publisher called “Record Art”.
Released just prior to Elvis’ return from his stint in the Army, this record was the first “Greatest Hits, Volume 2” rock & roll compilation (with his first Greatest Hits album coming out in early 1958, just before he entered into his military service) and consisted of all five of his Top 5 singles released in ’58-’59 (both “A” and “B” sides). His records sold so well that even the “B” sides charted in the Top 40!
Included in the compilation were a number of songs that showed just how mature a performer he had become while still being able to rock the socks off his competition. All the more impressive was the fact that these songs were recorded while Elvis was in the Army (when the set was re-released in the late 1990’s, the re-mastered recordings improved the sound dramatically), so you’d think that he’d have been slightly distracted, but cuts such as “I Need Your Love Tonight” and “A Big Hunk of Love” proved that he’d be even more formidable once he was out of the Army and back in the studio.
According to Bob Jones, who served as art director for RCA Records for this (and many other) recordings – “To the best of my knowledge, Elvis was indifferent to his image and to the graphics on his covers…the overwhelming number of Elvis Presley’s album covers were produced according to a formula – a large color photo of his head; a bold, horsey hand-lettered ELVIS, a title and the repertoire. During my brief and infrequent visits with him, the subject of covers never came up. It was just another matter of business that The Colonel (Tom Parker) took care of.
For several years during his career, the sales of Presley product accounted for well over 20% of all of RCA Victor Records’ gross income. At the time, RCA had at least one hundred contract recording artists on the label, and my department was producing over 400 LP and 45EP covers each year. The “man behind the man” was Colonel Thomas A. Parker, and he was a far more interesting and complex character than his artist. As the music and motion picture industry knew, he was an aggressively shrewd and calculating man. He sensed from the beginning that Elvis was “product”. The Colonel was a master of promotion, merchandising and exploitation.
Of the more than 70 combined LP and 45EP covers I was responsible for, the only departure from the Parker formula was the 50,000,000 Elvis Fans cover. My final stab at trying to bring a fresh look to Presley’s covers came when I took samples of some big name illustrators to the Colonel in L.A. I took portraits by Bob Fawcett, Austin Briggs, Al Parker, Victor Kalin and even young Andy Warhol. I had hardly started my pitch when it was brought to a screeching halt. ‘Damn it, I’ve told you I don’t want any of your artistic stuff!’ However, The Colonel had been unable to come up with a single gimmick to promote the album. He then gave me a picture of Elvis in a gold lame suit and told me to come up with something.
While Tom and Harry Jenkins – the RCA V.P. – started discussing merchandising schemes, I started making a few thumbnail sketches for a cover. The Colonel looked over to me and asked to look at what I had been doing. With barely a glance at the sketches, he chose the one with the full figure surrounded by the six or eight smaller ones. He said ‘That’s it, but I want at least a couple of dozen of the little pictures in there’. I later sent him a mechanical and he approved the image with less than two dozen figures (ed. note – there are 16 pictures of Elvis on the record cover).
The album sold well over $1,000,000 worth of product. The Colonel loved that gold lame suit. He kept it in one of his closets in his home for years. Elvis Presley hated the damned suit from the first time he put it on…”
The now-famous cover photo montage of multiple Elvises (or would that be Elvi?) dressed in his gold lame’ “Nudie Suit” – as well as the record’s title - has inspired many knock-offs record packages, including (in descending order) Bon Jovi’s 100 Million Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong, 1,000,000 People Can’t Be Wrong by Blues Traveler, 50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong by The Fall, and Phil Och’s 50 Phil Ochs Fans Can’t Be Wrong!.
About the artist - Bob Jones -
Bob Jones – Art Director, RCA Records – won a Grammy Award in 1965 for “Best Album Cover, Photography” for Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts, an RCA recording featuring a shot by photographer Ken Whitmore. Other credits include covers for Hall & Oates (Rock ‘n Soul: Part 1 – Greatest Hits) and many other RCA artists. He is considered one of the early pioneers of LP/45 cover design, working at various points with other classic cover artists such as Jim Flora and Alex Steinweiss.
To see more of the Bob Jones lithograph that is available for sale at the RockPoP Gallery, please follow this link –
http://rockpopgallery.easystorecreator.com/items/gifts~50~100/elvis-presley-50-million-elvis-fans-ltd-edition-s-n-litho-print-lep-vggh1-detail.htm
Interview tex Copyright 1991 - Record Art
All other text Copyright 2007 - Mike Goldstein & RockPoP Gallery - All rights reserved.
“Elvis” and “Elvis Presley” are Registered Trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Cover Story - Elvis Presley - "50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong", artwork by Bob Jones
Cover Story for August 17, 2007
Subject – 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong: Elvis' Gold Records - Volume 2 – a 1959 recording by Elvis Presley, released on RCA Records and featuring design and art direction by Bob Jones.
With the marking this week of the 30th anniversary of the untimely death of Elvis Presley, this week’s Cover Story will be presented in a slightly different format, with the details behind the making of this iconic record cover coming from a variety of different sources, most notably the descriptive literature produced along with a series of lithographs produced in the early 1990s by a now-defunct publisher called “Record Art”.
Released just prior to Elvis’ return from his stint in the Army, this record was the first “Greatest Hits, Volume 2” rock & roll compilation (with his first Greatest Hits album coming out in early 1958, just before he entered into his military service) and consisted of all five of his Top 5 singles released in ’58-’59 (both “A” and “B” sides). His records sold so well that even the “B” sides charted in the Top 40!
Included in the compilation were a number of songs that showed just how mature a performer he had become while still being able to rock the socks off his competition. All the more impressive was the fact that these songs were recorded while Elvis was in the Army (when the set was re-released in the late 1990’s, the re-mastered recordings improved the sound dramatically), so you’d think that he’d have been slightly distracted, but cuts such as “I Need Your Love Tonight” and “A Big Hunk of Love” proved that he’d be even more formidable once he was out of the Army and back in the studio.
According to Bob Jones, who served as art director for RCA Records for this (and many other) recordings – “To the best of my knowledge, Elvis was indifferent to his image and to the graphics on his covers…the overwhelming number of Elvis Presley’s album covers were produced according to a formula – a large color photo of his head; a bold, horsey hand-lettered ELVIS, a title and the repertoire. During my brief and infrequent visits with him, the subject of covers never came up. It was just another matter of business that The Colonel (Tom Parker) took care of.
For several years during his career, the sales of Presley product accounted for well over 20% of all of RCA Victor Records’ gross income. At the time, RCA had at least one hundred contract recording artists on the label, and my department was producing over 400 LP and 45EP covers each year. The “man behind the man” was Colonel Thomas A. Parker, and he was a far more interesting and complex character than his artist. As the music and motion picture industry knew, he was an aggressively shrewd and calculating man. He sensed from the beginning that Elvis was “product”. The Colonel was a master of promotion, merchandising and exploitation.
Of the more than 70 combined LP and 45EP covers I was responsible for, the only departure from the Parker formula was the 50,000,000 Elvis Fans cover. My final stab at trying to bring a fresh look to Presley’s covers came when I took samples of some big name illustrators to the Colonel in L.A. I took portraits by Bob Fawcett, Austin Briggs, Al Parker, Victor Kalin and even young Andy Warhol. I had hardly started my pitch when it was brought to a screeching halt. ‘Damn it, I’ve told you I don’t want any of your artistic stuff!’ However, The Colonel had been unable to come up with a single gimmick to promote the album. He then gave me a picture of Elvis in a gold lame suit and told me to come up with something.
While Tom and Harry Jenkins – the RCA V.P. – started discussing merchandising schemes, I started making a few thumbnail sketches for a cover. The Colonel looked over to me and asked to look at what I had been doing. With barely a glance at the sketches, he chose the one with the full figure surrounded by the six or eight smaller ones. He said ‘That’s it, but I want at least a couple of dozen of the little pictures in there’. I later sent him a mechanical and he approved the image with less than two dozen figures (ed. note – there are 16 pictures of Elvis on the record cover).
The album sold well over $1,000,000 worth of product. The Colonel loved that gold lame suit. He kept it in one of his closets in his home for years. Elvis Presley hated the damned suit from the first time he put it on…”
The now-famous cover photo montage of multiple Elvises (or would that be Elvi?) dressed in his gold lame’ “Nudie Suit” – as well as the record’s title - has inspired many knock-offs record packages, including (in descending order) Bon Jovi’s 100 Million Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong, 1,000,000 People Can’t Be Wrong by Blues Traveler, 50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong by The Fall, and Phil Och’s 50 Phil Ochs Fans Can’t Be Wrong!.
About the artist - Bob Jones -
Bob Jones – Art Director, RCA Records – won a Grammy Award in 1965 for “Best Album Cover, Photography” for Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts, an RCA recording featuring a shot by photographer Ken Whitmore. Other credits include covers for Hall & Oates (Rock ‘n Soul: Part 1 – Greatest Hits) and many other RCA artists. He is considered one of the early pioneers of LP/45 cover design, working at various points with other classic cover artists such as Jim Flora and Alex Steinweiss.
To see more of the Bob Jones lithograph that is available for sale at the RockPoP Gallery, please follow this link –
http://rockpopgallery.easystorecreator.com/items/gifts~50~100/elvis-presley-50-million-elvis-fans-ltd-edition-s-n-litho-print-lep-vggh1-detail.htm
Interview tex Copyright 1991 - Record Art
All other text Copyright 2007 - Mike Goldstein & RockPoP Gallery - All rights reserved.
“Elvis” and “Elvis Presley” are Registered Trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Rock & Roll Tidbits
Set to Ronald White's tune, Smokey Robinson was inspired by his wife Claudette to write the lyrics to one of music history's greatest love songs, "My Girl". Smokey's personal problems lead to their divorce in 1986.
From clay tablets and other forms of pictures, historians have determined that stringed musical instruments were developed in ancient Egypt and Rome over 3,300 years ago. The first six string guitar, called a vihuela, was developed in Spain in the 17th century.
In February 1949, after RCA Victor introduced the first 45 rpm phonograph, they put together a promo package of seven 45s that were sent to US disc jockeys and retailers. The records were color coded for classification of music. Popular - Black; Classical - Red; Popular Classical - Midnight blue; Children's - Yellow; Country and Western - Green; Rhythm And Blues - Cerise; International - Sky blue.
John Fogarty's comeback album, 1985's "Centerfield", included a couple of songs titled "Zantz Can't Dance" and "Mr. Greed", which were believed to be attacks on Fogerty's former boss at Fantasy Records, Saul Zaentz. Zaentz responded with a lawsuit, which forced Fogerty to issue a revised version of "Zaentz Can't Dance", changing the lead character's name to Vanz.
The Knack's lead vocalist, Doug Fieger, is the older brother of famed attorney Jeffrey Fieger, who defended doctor-assisted suicide advocate, Dr. Jack Kervorkian.
Three Dog Night's 1972, #1 hit "Black And White" was written in the mid-1950s about the 1954 US Supreme Court's landmark decision banning segregation in public schools. Some of the verses were changed in the Three Dog Night version. The original second verse went "Their robes were black, Their heads were white, The schoolhouse doors were closed so tight. Nine judges all set down their names, To end the years and years of shame".
Diane Renay, who was born Renne Diane Kushner, initially wanted to be billed as Renay Diane. She chose the "Renay" spelling to keep it from being mis-pronounced as "Ree-nee". Unfortunately, Atco Records misunderstood and printed early copies of her first recordings that said "Diane Renay". Rather than make an issue out of it, she decided to leave it that way. The record, "Navy Blue", went on to reach #6 in the US in 1964.
Joey Scarbury, who reached #2 on the Billboard chart with "Believe It Or Not" in 1981, was discovered by singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb's father, who wandered into a furniture store and heard the 14 year old's mom praising her son's singing ability. His initial recordings were not successful and it took another 12 years for Joey to have his big hit. Although he never cracked the Top 40 again, he did record the soundtracks for ER, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Fahrenheit 9/11.
By 1968, around eighty-five different manufacturers had sold over 2.4 million cassette players world wide and in that year alone, the cassette business was worth about $150 million.
From clay tablets and other forms of pictures, historians have determined that stringed musical instruments were developed in ancient Egypt and Rome over 3,300 years ago. The first six string guitar, called a vihuela, was developed in Spain in the 17th century.
In February 1949, after RCA Victor introduced the first 45 rpm phonograph, they put together a promo package of seven 45s that were sent to US disc jockeys and retailers. The records were color coded for classification of music. Popular - Black; Classical - Red; Popular Classical - Midnight blue; Children's - Yellow; Country and Western - Green; Rhythm And Blues - Cerise; International - Sky blue.
John Fogarty's comeback album, 1985's "Centerfield", included a couple of songs titled "Zantz Can't Dance" and "Mr. Greed", which were believed to be attacks on Fogerty's former boss at Fantasy Records, Saul Zaentz. Zaentz responded with a lawsuit, which forced Fogerty to issue a revised version of "Zaentz Can't Dance", changing the lead character's name to Vanz.
The Knack's lead vocalist, Doug Fieger, is the older brother of famed attorney Jeffrey Fieger, who defended doctor-assisted suicide advocate, Dr. Jack Kervorkian.
Three Dog Night's 1972, #1 hit "Black And White" was written in the mid-1950s about the 1954 US Supreme Court's landmark decision banning segregation in public schools. Some of the verses were changed in the Three Dog Night version. The original second verse went "Their robes were black, Their heads were white, The schoolhouse doors were closed so tight. Nine judges all set down their names, To end the years and years of shame".
Diane Renay, who was born Renne Diane Kushner, initially wanted to be billed as Renay Diane. She chose the "Renay" spelling to keep it from being mis-pronounced as "Ree-nee". Unfortunately, Atco Records misunderstood and printed early copies of her first recordings that said "Diane Renay". Rather than make an issue out of it, she decided to leave it that way. The record, "Navy Blue", went on to reach #6 in the US in 1964.
Joey Scarbury, who reached #2 on the Billboard chart with "Believe It Or Not" in 1981, was discovered by singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb's father, who wandered into a furniture store and heard the 14 year old's mom praising her son's singing ability. His initial recordings were not successful and it took another 12 years for Joey to have his big hit. Although he never cracked the Top 40 again, he did record the soundtracks for ER, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Fahrenheit 9/11.
By 1968, around eighty-five different manufacturers had sold over 2.4 million cassette players world wide and in that year alone, the cassette business was worth about $150 million.
This Date In Music History-January 8
Birthdays:
In 1935, Elvis Aron Presley was born to Gladys and Vernon Presley in a two-room cabin on North Saltillo Road in East Tupelo, Mississippi.
David Robert Jones, a.k.a. David Bowie, was born in Brixton, London in 1947.
"Little" Anthony Gourdine is 68.
Shirley Bassey ("Goldfinger") turns 72.
Robby Krieger (The Doors) 1946
Terry Sylvester (Hollies) 1947
The Donnas’ drummer Torry Castellano (Donna C.) and bassist Maya Ford (Donna F.) are born in 1979.
Mike Reno (Loverboy) 1955
They Are Missed:
Bill Graham was born in Berlin, Germany in 1931 (died October, 1991).
Sara Carter, of the famed Carter Family of country singers, died in 1979 (age 79).
Steve Clark, guitarist for Def Leppard, died in 1991 from an accidental mixing of prescription drugs and alcohol at the age of 31.
Laura Webb of The Bobbettes died of cancer in 2001 at the age of 57. The R&B quintet scored a Billboard #6 hit with "Mr. Lee" in 1957.
History:
In 2004, on what would have been Elvis Presley's 69th birthday, it's announced that he's the biggest selling solo artist in American history. His label RCA says Presley has sold 117.5 million albums to date.
"Elvis Presley Day" was declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia in 1981.
An Elvis Presley stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 1993 and became its best-seller to this day, with over 500 million sold.
1955- Elvis Presley celebrates his twentieth birthday by performing his weekly spot on the KWKH radio show, Louisiana Hayride.
In 2007, officials from the National Archives announced that their most requested document is a photo of a cloaked and bejeweled Elvis Presley shaking hands with President Nixon at The White House on December 21st, 1970.
Nirvana’s last U.S. show was a hometown gig at the Seattle Center Arena in 1994.
The Canadian government names Rush the country’s “Ambassadors of Music” in 1979. Whatever happened to the Guess Who?
Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut achieved multi-platinum status in 1988.
The Who and the Kinks performed on the last "Shindig" show on ABC-TV in 1966.
The TV dance show "Hullabaloo" debuted on NBC in 1965.
In 1974, KISS gave a special dress rehearsal after being signed to Casablanca Records. It was their first recording contract.
Yoko Ono released Approximately Infinite Universe in 1973, a double album whose highlights included songs like "I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window." Ono explained she felt she should make a double LP because "if George Harrison can put out a triple album, then I can put out a double album." Uh, Yoko, you are no George Harrison.
Tickets for three Led Zeppelin concerts at Madison Square Garden went on sale in 1975. The box office had to call on other ticket outlets to help cope with demand and sold out their 60,000 tickets in four hours.
The Beatles started a six week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1966 with "Rubber Soul", the group's seventh US chart topper.
Queen went to #1 on the UK album chart in 1977 with "Day At The Races.” The album title was taken from 1937 Marx Brothers movie.
Lou Christie recorded the original, uncensored version of "Rhapsody In The Rain,” in 1966.
In 1935, Elvis Aron Presley was born to Gladys and Vernon Presley in a two-room cabin on North Saltillo Road in East Tupelo, Mississippi.
David Robert Jones, a.k.a. David Bowie, was born in Brixton, London in 1947.
"Little" Anthony Gourdine is 68.
Shirley Bassey ("Goldfinger") turns 72.
Robby Krieger (The Doors) 1946
Terry Sylvester (Hollies) 1947
The Donnas’ drummer Torry Castellano (Donna C.) and bassist Maya Ford (Donna F.) are born in 1979.
Mike Reno (Loverboy) 1955
They Are Missed:
Bill Graham was born in Berlin, Germany in 1931 (died October, 1991).
Sara Carter, of the famed Carter Family of country singers, died in 1979 (age 79).
Steve Clark, guitarist for Def Leppard, died in 1991 from an accidental mixing of prescription drugs and alcohol at the age of 31.
Laura Webb of The Bobbettes died of cancer in 2001 at the age of 57. The R&B quintet scored a Billboard #6 hit with "Mr. Lee" in 1957.
History:
In 2004, on what would have been Elvis Presley's 69th birthday, it's announced that he's the biggest selling solo artist in American history. His label RCA says Presley has sold 117.5 million albums to date.
"Elvis Presley Day" was declared in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia in 1981.
An Elvis Presley stamp was issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 1993 and became its best-seller to this day, with over 500 million sold.
1955- Elvis Presley celebrates his twentieth birthday by performing his weekly spot on the KWKH radio show, Louisiana Hayride.
In 2007, officials from the National Archives announced that their most requested document is a photo of a cloaked and bejeweled Elvis Presley shaking hands with President Nixon at The White House on December 21st, 1970.
Nirvana’s last U.S. show was a hometown gig at the Seattle Center Arena in 1994.
The Canadian government names Rush the country’s “Ambassadors of Music” in 1979. Whatever happened to the Guess Who?
Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut achieved multi-platinum status in 1988.
The Who and the Kinks performed on the last "Shindig" show on ABC-TV in 1966.
The TV dance show "Hullabaloo" debuted on NBC in 1965.
In 1974, KISS gave a special dress rehearsal after being signed to Casablanca Records. It was their first recording contract.
Yoko Ono released Approximately Infinite Universe in 1973, a double album whose highlights included songs like "I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window." Ono explained she felt she should make a double LP because "if George Harrison can put out a triple album, then I can put out a double album." Uh, Yoko, you are no George Harrison.
Tickets for three Led Zeppelin concerts at Madison Square Garden went on sale in 1975. The box office had to call on other ticket outlets to help cope with demand and sold out their 60,000 tickets in four hours.
The Beatles started a six week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1966 with "Rubber Soul", the group's seventh US chart topper.
Queen went to #1 on the UK album chart in 1977 with "Day At The Races.” The album title was taken from 1937 Marx Brothers movie.
Lou Christie recorded the original, uncensored version of "Rhapsody In The Rain,” in 1966.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Music News & Notes
Uh, No Thank You Queenie
The Beatles were honored with the MBE (Member of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965. Four years later, John Lennon returned his medal to Buckingham Palace in protest of a number of issues as outlined in the note that was attached to the award.
"Your Majesty,
"I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts.
"With Love, John Lennon."
About 40 years have past since the return of the medal, but it has recently been found by officials at St. James Palace in London. Included in the find was the infamous letter.
St. James Palace officials have contacted Yoko Ono to ask about disposition of the find. A palace spokesperson said:
"John Lennon's MBE is being taken good care of and is in storage at the Central Chancery. It has been retained since the day Mr Lennon returned it, but in order to decide whether the medal could go on display in a museum, we would have to establish ownership first. It could be up to Yoko Ono as she is the custodian of John Lennon's estate."
--------------------------------------------
Zeppelin To Carry On without Plant
According to the manager for Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin are planning to tour and record a new album, without vocalist Robert Plant.
Although Plant remains on good terms with his former band-mates, he confirmed that he is not interested in the reunion. So Page’s manager Peter Mensch has stated that the band would indeed carry on-if they can find the right singer.
“Jimmy Page has been playing guitar professionally since he was 16 years old,” said Mensch. “Jimmy likes being a musician. That’s what he does! He doesn’t want to be a race car driver or a solicitor.”
“So they (Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham) did the show (at London’s O2 Arena in 2007) with Robert Plant; they had a really good time rehearsing, the three of them, before Robert showed up. And they decided that if they could find a singer that they thought would fit their bill- whatever their bill was at this stage in their career-that they’d make a record and go on tour,” explained Mensch.
“John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page enjoy playing with each other, Jason Bonham is a really good drummer so why not? We just need to find a singer,” he said.
Rumors have swirled as to who the next singer will be, from Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell to Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, but Mensch has remained tight-lipped as to who the replacement singer may be.
--------------------------------------------
New Aerosmith Material?
According to information on Aerosmith’s official website, Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton are hard at work on some new music.
“Happy New Year!” the post reads. “Today is the first day Tom and I are getting back together. We just rehearsed for 2 hours and it feels so good. We can’t wait to get back into the studio and get back out on the road and to do what we do best. We’ll check in from time to time and give you progress on how things are going.”
If they do record a new album, it would be the band’s first original material since “Just Push Play” in 2001.
--------------------------------------------
Happy Birthday!
On January 12, legendary Country artist Ray Price will celebrate his 83rd birthday with all his fans at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and Tex Ritter Museum in Carthage, Texas.
--------------------------------------------
Frehley Solo Project
KISS veteran Ace Frehley is naming his new solo album “Anomaly.” It will be his first release in more than 18 years and includes songs that he has been writing and collecting over the past twelve.
The Beatles were honored with the MBE (Member of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965. Four years later, John Lennon returned his medal to Buckingham Palace in protest of a number of issues as outlined in the note that was attached to the award.
"Your Majesty,
"I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts.
"With Love, John Lennon."
About 40 years have past since the return of the medal, but it has recently been found by officials at St. James Palace in London. Included in the find was the infamous letter.
St. James Palace officials have contacted Yoko Ono to ask about disposition of the find. A palace spokesperson said:
"John Lennon's MBE is being taken good care of and is in storage at the Central Chancery. It has been retained since the day Mr Lennon returned it, but in order to decide whether the medal could go on display in a museum, we would have to establish ownership first. It could be up to Yoko Ono as she is the custodian of John Lennon's estate."
--------------------------------------------
Zeppelin To Carry On without Plant
According to the manager for Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin are planning to tour and record a new album, without vocalist Robert Plant.
Although Plant remains on good terms with his former band-mates, he confirmed that he is not interested in the reunion. So Page’s manager Peter Mensch has stated that the band would indeed carry on-if they can find the right singer.
“Jimmy Page has been playing guitar professionally since he was 16 years old,” said Mensch. “Jimmy likes being a musician. That’s what he does! He doesn’t want to be a race car driver or a solicitor.”
“So they (Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham) did the show (at London’s O2 Arena in 2007) with Robert Plant; they had a really good time rehearsing, the three of them, before Robert showed up. And they decided that if they could find a singer that they thought would fit their bill- whatever their bill was at this stage in their career-that they’d make a record and go on tour,” explained Mensch.
“John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page enjoy playing with each other, Jason Bonham is a really good drummer so why not? We just need to find a singer,” he said.
Rumors have swirled as to who the next singer will be, from Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell to Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, but Mensch has remained tight-lipped as to who the replacement singer may be.
--------------------------------------------
New Aerosmith Material?
According to information on Aerosmith’s official website, Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton are hard at work on some new music.
“Happy New Year!” the post reads. “Today is the first day Tom and I are getting back together. We just rehearsed for 2 hours and it feels so good. We can’t wait to get back into the studio and get back out on the road and to do what we do best. We’ll check in from time to time and give you progress on how things are going.”
If they do record a new album, it would be the band’s first original material since “Just Push Play” in 2001.
--------------------------------------------
Happy Birthday!
On January 12, legendary Country artist Ray Price will celebrate his 83rd birthday with all his fans at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and Tex Ritter Museum in Carthage, Texas.
--------------------------------------------
Frehley Solo Project
KISS veteran Ace Frehley is naming his new solo album “Anomaly.” It will be his first release in more than 18 years and includes songs that he has been writing and collecting over the past twelve.
Stooges Guitarist Asheton Dies
Seminal punk rockers, The Stooges, lost a valued member of the band when Ron Asheton was found dead on Tuesday. The influential guitarist was found at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan and appeared to have been dead for several days. The Ann Arbor police do not suspect foul play in the 60 year-old rocker’s death.
Along with his brother, Scott (drummer), the pair were the founding members of the Iggy Pop-lead Stooges. The band was known for their often violent and primitive style that featured over-the-top theatrics by Pop. The band partied hard and played hard and backed by Asheton’s legendary guitar riffs, their music has been credited as a powerful influence on many punk bands; including the Sex Pistols and the Ramones. In fact, Asheton is ranked as the 29th greatest guitar player by Rolling Stone Magazine.
The Stooges broke up in 1974 after just three albums and limited commercial success. They were also limited by the antics and drug problems of Pop. Their concerts were legendary and Pop’s outlandish behavior only fueled audience behavior. Pop would force himself to vomit, jump chest-first into broken glass and on one occasion told the audience to beat him up and they obliged.
After the Stooges broke up, Asheton tried to break into acting and was cast in several low-budget horror films in the 1980s and 1990s. He rejoined the Stooges when the group reformed in 2003 and for the 2007 album “The Weirdness.” Asheton loved his music and had no intention of laying his guitar to rest.
“You’re a professional musician,” he explained. “You can’t be forced to retire. Look at B.B. King, what is he 80-something? That’s the beauty of being a musician. They can’t take it away from you. It’s your music, and you’re pumping it out. You just play ‘til you drop.”
Along with his brother, Scott (drummer), the pair were the founding members of the Iggy Pop-lead Stooges. The band was known for their often violent and primitive style that featured over-the-top theatrics by Pop. The band partied hard and played hard and backed by Asheton’s legendary guitar riffs, their music has been credited as a powerful influence on many punk bands; including the Sex Pistols and the Ramones. In fact, Asheton is ranked as the 29th greatest guitar player by Rolling Stone Magazine.
The Stooges broke up in 1974 after just three albums and limited commercial success. They were also limited by the antics and drug problems of Pop. Their concerts were legendary and Pop’s outlandish behavior only fueled audience behavior. Pop would force himself to vomit, jump chest-first into broken glass and on one occasion told the audience to beat him up and they obliged.
After the Stooges broke up, Asheton tried to break into acting and was cast in several low-budget horror films in the 1980s and 1990s. He rejoined the Stooges when the group reformed in 2003 and for the 2007 album “The Weirdness.” Asheton loved his music and had no intention of laying his guitar to rest.
“You’re a professional musician,” he explained. “You can’t be forced to retire. Look at B.B. King, what is he 80-something? That’s the beauty of being a musician. They can’t take it away from you. It’s your music, and you’re pumping it out. You just play ‘til you drop.”
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