Bon Jovi denounces online ticket scalpers
Mood:  accident prone
Now Playing: City of New York refuses to do anything to stop free ticket scalping
Topic: Hair Metal
Rocker Jon Bon Jovi is furious tickets for his band's free concert in New York this weekend are being sold for huge profit on the internet. The 60,000 tickets for the gig in Central Park were handed out to fans at no cost, but thousands have made their way onto online auction sites - selling for up to $1,000.

And the singer is fuming about the city's lack of response, after mayor Michael Bloomberg refused to enforce strict guidelines prohibiting third party sales on Wednesday.

Bon Jovi writes on the band's website: "We have always had the best interest of the fans at heart, and repeatedly... tried to educate (sponsor) MLB (Major League Baseball) and New York City about the fairest and easiest distribution of tickets. As I said before, 'No good deed goes unpunished.' There are reports in the media about tickets being scalped for... the free concert. I for one am not surprised, but our organization is sorely disappointed."

The posting was subsequently removed within hours without explanation.

A spokesperson for Bon Jovi has denounced the ticket-sellers as "lowlifes", adding: "It's a bad enough thing to suck money out of paid concerts. It takes unmitigated chutzpah to scalp free tickets."

Courtesy of www.starpulse.com

Yngwie Interview Excerpt
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Yngwie discusses his view on his music.
Topic: Heavy Metal

Kat Dibbits of The Bolton News recently spoke with legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. A couple of quotes from the interview follow.

Yngwie discussing being the sole composer and the main focal point of his band's live shows:
"It's been the whole situation that I've created for myself. In that I am the songwriter and I produce the records, and once I go on the road I always bring the best guys that I can have. I let them have all the freedom they can have, all the attention they can get. On stage we do a lot of the songs that people know, there's a solo spot and I do some improvisations, it's not like a one-man show. It's just that when it comes to making the records, I basically do all of it."

Yngwie talking about the accusation that he doesn't listen to any contemporary music:
"That's actually true, and that would actually include everything that's contemporary now and the last 25 years as well. Basically what it comes down to is that when you're that involved with creating music it's not something that you do for recreation. I have other hobbies. You only have that many hours in the day and I have a family, I like to do lots of other things. I work on cars and I drive race cars and I play tennis and lots of other things. It's not like I'm saying there's nothing good out there, it's just that if you get so consumed with creating something and you write a song and you write the lyrics and you're producing and arranging and touring, I don't have any interest in it. Plus when I was very very very young, the style that I decided on was formed then and it crystallized then, and I have no intention to go anywhere else with it. I found my way, my vision, and that's where I'm going. I think one of the reasons I'm still doing what I'm doing is because that's what I do. I don't follow trends and I don't mind what other people do. Having said that, I'm not saying it in an arrogant way, I don't mean it that way at all. It's not because I'm on some sort of high horse thinking that everything else is not good. But when I don't work on music then other things take my time."

Revealing details about the new Malmsteen album, which is due out around September:
"[It is] in the same vein I guess, but much more, you know? Much more powerful and much more faster and much more heavier. It's pretty extreme, so I'm excited about it."

source: blabbermouth.net

Ace Frehley Interview Excerpt
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: Space Ace on his new album and KISS
Topic: Hard Rock

Rock Against Diabetes moves to new venue
Mood:  bright
Topic: Heavy Metal
Due to the overwhelming response and growth of the August 23rd 2008 R.A.D. show, Deep Rock Drive and Rock Against Diabetes have decided that the only solution to handle the demand and offer the best experience for fans, was to move to a larger venue. This will also allow the show to run later, and give the artists longer sets to further entertain fans.

VIP tickets are STILL limited to the initial 100 people, and these ticket holders will retain ALL of the perks they were promised, but will have a much more comfortable setting in which to experience the show. A more intimate area will also be provided for the post performance meet and greets and autograph sessions for the VIP ticket holders.

We are currently in talks with 6 different properties in Vegas, and will have the venue locked down this week. Once the venue is locked in we will announce the new venue and the ticket prices. The show will consist of 8 bands, raffles, auctions, prizes, special guests and of course the host Evel Dick Donato.

At this time, there are 3 different companies interested in streaming and filming the show in HD, so the possibility of fans watching live from home is still very much in the picture.

Deep Rock Drive has been integral in this process by understanding the demand, and helping find a great solution to make the show even more of a success, as well as locating a venue, and offering whatever production Rock Against Diabetes may need for the show.

Overall, bigger venue, more people can come, VIP's are STILL VIP's.

Courtesy of www.rockagainstdiabetes.org

Tesla's Comin' Atcha Live to be released on July 15
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: From www.teslatheband.com
Topic: Hair Metal

After 25 years, 12 albums, over 2,500 shows, over 16 million albums sold worldwide, Tesla is stronger than ever. Continuing on that momentum, Tesla--Jeff Keith (vocals), Frank Hannon (guitars), Brian Wheat (bass), Troy Luccketta (drums) and Dave Rude (guitar)-- will release their third DVD, Comin' Atcha Live! 2008, on July 15 on the band's Tesla Electric Company Recordings label (in partnership with Ryko Distribution).

"This DVD marks a new era creatively for Tesla because we put it all together ourselves, capturing the band's concert and life on the road," says lead guitarist Frank Hannon. "Nowadays, we are more involved in every aspect of our music career than ever before. We are very excited about the creative results and it really shows in the new DVD."

It's Tesla's first DVD in 17 years (since 1991's Five Man Video Band) and is filled with over two hours of live music, over an hour of special behind-the-scenes footage and never-before-seen material, including footage of Tesla interacting with fans, giving viewers a personal tour of Seattle, and an up-close look at their touring equipment and guitars.

Comin' Atcha Live! 2008 also marks the world premiere of "Dear Pvt. Ledbetter," a new song written in honor of the troops from the band's forthcoming album, which is currently being recorded at bassist Brian Wheat's studio, J Street Recorders with producer Terry Thomas (who was behind the boards on the band's 1994 Bust A Nut album) and will be released this September. More details to be announced in the coming weeks.

The DVD was filmed at the Myth Nightclub in Maplewood, Minnesota on February 22. At the sold-out show, Tesla treated fans to numerous classics such as "What You Give," "Signs," "Modern Day Cowboy," "Love Song" and "Little Suzi."

Tesla has been non-stop touring all around the world the past 12 months in support of their two-disc critically acclaimed Real To Reel covers album. After taking their current hiatus from the road to record the new album of all original material, they're getting right back out on the concert trail. Their 2008 worldwide tour started June 6 in Solvesborg, Sweden, at the Sweden Rock Festival. After the European dates conclude on June 27, they'll start a U.S. trek on July 12, lasting throughout the summer and well into the fall. Their summer trek includes a stop in Pryor, OK on July 13 as part of Rocklahoma.

Remaining Tour Dates:
Sat 7/12 Boerne, TX South Texas Rockfest
Sun 7/13 Pryor, OK Rocklahoma
Sat 7/19 Waukesha, WI Waukesha County Fair
Sun 7/20 Cadott, WI Chippewa Valley Rock Fest

Buckcherry on CrueFest
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: From www.detnews.com.
Topic: Hard Rock
Adam Graham of the Detroit News reports that Buckcherry is ready for battle.

"We're about to get on a plane to start the war," says Buckcherry frontman Josh Todd, on the phone from Los Angeles last month. It's just days before the launch of Crue Fest, at which Buckcherry is appearing on alongside M?y Crue and Papa Roach.

Todd says Crue Fest, which hits DTE Energy Music Theatre on Tuesday, is the only pure rock and roll fest hitting the circuit this summer.

"You've got the pop-rock festival with the Vans Warped Tour, and you've got the Mayhem festival, which is metal. But there's no rock and roll festivals, and there hasn't been for a long time, and hopefully this is something we'll be a part of again at some point down the road."

In fact, the last time such a potent rock lineup hit the amphitheaters was, well, last year, when Buckcherry hit the road with Papa Roach and Hinder, on the Bad Boys of Rock tour.

He says they're glad to be teaming with Papa Roach again, and look forward to running into the notoriously hard-partying Hinder boys on the road. "Oh, I'm sure we'll see them around," he says with a slight chuckle.

Buckcherry is currently enjoying a second life after imploding earlier this decade. The Los Angeles rock band -- Todd describes their sound as "AC/DC meets the Sex Pistols" -- emerged onto the hard-rock scene in the late '90s with its slick, sleazy strip-club rock, and the svelte, heavily tattooed Todd became an instantly recognizable figure on the hard-rock landscape. The band's self-titled 1999 debut included the hits "Lit Up" and "For the Movies," but the band's 2001 follow-up, "Time Bomb," stiffed. Following its release, three of the five band members up and quit Buckcherry, leaving only Todd and guitarist Keith Nelson.

The future of the group was in doubt, and Todd nearly joined the band that would go on to become Velvet Revolver. Looking back, he says he just needed a little perspective.

"I knew we needed to take a step back," he says. "It seemed like we had been trying too hard, and we weren't getting the results we know we were capable of. So it was time to look at it from afar, and I'm glad we did. In retrospect, it was very hard going through it, but the time away made me really respect and understand our chemistry and our songwriting ability, and how special Buckcherry was."

Todd and Nelson hired three new members, hit the studio and recorded "15," which thanks to singles "Sorry" and "Crazy B----" became the band's biggest album to date.

After playing 300-plus shows behind "15," Buckcherry recorded its fourth album, "Black Butterfly," in May, and will release the album in September.

"Black Butterfly's" first single is due out in a few weeks, and it's "going to be a good rock and roll party song, a party anthem," says Todd, 37. "Nobody's writing party anthems in the rock genre. There's a huge void there, and sometimes I feel only Buckcherry can fill it."

Only-Rock Updates
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Only-Rock is going to have some major updates.
Topic: Only-Rock News

It has been almost two years, but Only-Rock is finally back up and running. Plans are going full blast to completely update Only-Rock.

The plans are to make all information time-current, delete unneccessary pages, and add new pages and information.

These major updates will continue until September, 2008.

More details are on the way. Be sure to keep checking back!

Paul Stanley & Gene To Be On TRL
Mood:  not sure
Topic: Misc.
KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons will make a "surprise "visit to the MTV show "Total Request Live" on October 31st to promote the "Kissology: Volume One 1974-1977" DVD collection. They will appear in full makeup and costume!

KISS, VH1 and MTV want the KISS fans there in the "TRL" pit area, which is the area outside right in front of the window. They are requesting fans also come decked out in makeup and if possible costumes.

After their appearance on "TRL," Paul and Gene will come down to the pit before leaving.

As previously reported, Stanley and Simmons will be at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square on October 31st to sign copies of "Kissology: Volume One 1974-1977". The autograph session begins at 11 p.m., but only those who buy a copy of "Kissology" at the Times Square location that day will get a wristband allowing them into the meet-and-greet.

"Kissology: Volume One" is a two-DVD set with six hours of live footage, including four complete shows and rare and unreleased material from the band's early history with the original lineup of Stanley, Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss.

Volumes Two and Three will be released next year.

Rob Halforfd Discusses New Priest Album
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: The Judas Priest Frontman contacts Eddie Trunk to chat about their upcoming album.
Topic: Heavy Metal
JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford was the featured guest on Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM last night Friday, October 27. Speaking on the phone from his San Diego, California home, Rob discussed PRIEST's upcoming concept album about the legendary 16th-century French prophet Nostradamus and his forthcoming flurry of HALFORD and FIGHT reissues that will hit Apple's iTunes Music Store at the end of November via Halford's new label, MGE (Metal God Entertainment). A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

On the upcoming JUDAS PRIEST album:

"I'm taking kind of a little break away from the ongoing 'Nostradamus' sessions in England. Everybody is in the studio slaving away there. I think Glenn [Tipton] and K.K. [Downing] are probably not hard at work this time of night — they're probably partying somewhere. But, yeah, I'm back in San Diego. I'm here working on all of the monster lyrics for the 'Nostradamus' metal opera, which will be coming out sometime in 2007.

"All the songs are done — I would say 99.9 percent — but we've still got some ideas we're working on. The bulk of the opera is complete as far as the writing goes, and I can't begin to tell you how excited we are about this. It's gonna be an absolutely spectacular moment for PRIEST to follow up the incredible reunion record 'Angel of Retribution'. We're just really, really pumped about this new music that we're making. It's colossal PRIEST — some things that you've never heard before from this band are taking place. We've just got our nose to the grindstone and we're working as fast as we can to get this all completed and wrapped up and released and out in 2007 along with some special-event shows, which we'll talk about as we get closer to that. You know, we're gonna be playing the entire opera from beginning to end. That in itself will be a unique moment for PRIEST to show to our fans around the world, and a stage show that you will not believe. . . I'm gonna kind of take on that role of the character and we're basically gonna be telling the story of his life. He had an incredible life as a man besides making these prophecies that he did. It's a great life story about the things that he went through as an individual on a personal level, so we're obviously discussing that. But we're surrounding his life lyrically with some phenomenal PRIEST music — stuff that we're just so excited about, and as I said, music that will just blow everybody away. I can't begin to discuss it, because my mind is full of the music even as I'm talking about it. So get ready for it. The PRIEST is gonna follow up after 'Angel of Retribution' with something that's gonna be bigger and better and stronger and more metallized than you've ever heard from the band."

On what inspired him to write an entire album about Nostradamus:

"I just think this is a great opportunity for me as a lyricist, because I've talked about these characters — the Painkiller and the Sinner and the Sentinel — and I've been in that world as a lyricist, and now I'm having the opportunity as a lyricist to talk about this man, this real figure from the 16th century and the great things that he did — his prophecies. Some people are very skeptical about them, some people believe them emphatically. There are schools of Nostradamus where you can attend and learn about his teachings and so on and so forth. People say that some of his predictions actually came to be real occurrences from the past and as we look into the future. So I was just fascinated by this man. He went through a lot of grief. Without getting too heavy, he lost his wife and kids during the Black Plague — he was able to save a lot of other people, but he couldn't save his family. So he lost the loves of his life and he was put into… he was banished from the Roman Catholic church. He went through a lot of tough stuff, but he was a very strong, resilient man. Besides being a prophet, he was an advocate of certain kinds of medicine that revolutionized the world of medicine at the time, and many, many, many things. So yeah, it's been fascinating to really try and cover that man's life and put it into lyrics to the music of PRIEST."

On PRIEST's touring plans once the new abum is released:

"We're gonna do two things. We're gonna do specialized event shows in special venues for the 'Nostradamus' production. And then, of course, we'll be doing another set of touring dates throughout the world as covering all the PRIEST classics, so you'll be getting PRIEST in two dimensions next year — you'll be getting PRIEST playing the whole 'Nostradamus' piece, which I'm sure the fans will embrace and love and wanna see, and then of course, we'll come back around and do a PRIEST show with all the great things that you love — 'Painkiller', 'Living After Midnight', 'Breaking the Law', 'The Sentinel', [and] whatever else we decide to play. So you'll be getting PRIEST in every manner that you love to see the band. We made everybody aware when we did the press release sometime ago that that was out intent, so we're not gonna blindside the fans and let them think they're coming to the show to hear all the wonderful PRIEST classics. We're gonna let everybody know well in advance that it'll be a multi-dimensional experience — you'll get the 'Nostradamus' tour, and then you'll get the PRIEST tour — PRIEST classics and everything else."

Lemmy Talks
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: The Motorhead frontman does a short interview.
Topic: Hard Rock
The Pitch recently spoke with Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister. A couple of excerpts from the interview follow:

The Pitch: L.A. seems too fake for you. What do you get out of being there?

Kilmister: It's isn't fake. There's a lot of really talented people here, too, don't forget. And anyway, home is in your head. You live inside your head. If you ain't comfortable there, it doesn't matter where you live. And if you are comfortable there, it doesn't matter where you live. So I'm quite happy. I've made a lot of really good friends in the States. I like Americans, apart from the government. I'm having a good time over here, so why shouldn't I live in L.A? It's no worse than anywhere else. There's a lot more fakes in New York, I think, because of that fuckin' artistic scene. All them wine-and-cheese parties in the afternoons. Painful.

The Pitch: You mentioned the U.S. government.

Kilmister: I don't like any government, truly. I hate all politicians just by definition. If somebody wants to be a politician, there's already a serious question mark next to them. Imagine wanting to kiss other people's babies! Fuckin' hell, it's hard enough kissing your own, you know! You have to be two-faced. That's the first requirement. In case the party changes its stance on something, you gotta be able to turn straight around 180 degrees and lie.

The Pitch: What's your take on 9/11?

Kilmister: September 11th was George Bush's Reichstag fire. It's exactly the same. Politician seizes disaster and takes away civil liberties in the name of freedom. It's just crap. The American people are no safer than they were before. It's just difficult to get on a plane.

Read Lemmy Kilmister's entire interview at http://www.pitch.com/Issues/2006-10-26/music/bonus.html.