Rock Never Stops (Redux)!

Holy Glam! Check out this ad-mat. Rock Never Stops is apparently returning and will feature Dokken, Quiet Riot, Firehouse, Y&T, and Trixter! The tour dates/stops haven't been announced yet... the dates are coming soon. This is going to rock. I love traveling festivals!

I Want To See the REO Speedwagon, STYX and Ted Nugent Tour!

This summer is shaping up to be awesome for tours. Yesterday, another tour I want to see was announced: STYX, REO Speedwagon and Ted Nugent. I sort of wonder if these bands could fill the TBA slots on Rock Fest? I wish this tour was part of M3, but oh well I guess. Also, I think it would be hilarious to get front row seats for this and wear my "LIBERAL" shirt just to mess with the Nuge. In normal times, I'd go ahead and get some tickets for the Cincinnati show when the on-sale begins next month... but since Aerosmith is supposedly touring this summer I have to wait to make plans (there's only so much money after all). Are you waiting for any bands to announce before planning your summer concert schedule?

Here's the tour details:

February 22, 2012 – Over 80 million albums sold worldwide.  12 Top 10 smash hit singles.  Thousands of concerts performed.  The time has come for the ultimate convergence of Rock’s finest from the Midwest.  REO Speedwagon, STYX and Ted Nugent will join forces for “The Midwest Rock ‘n Roll Express” 30-date U.S. tour.  Rolling out May 1 in Hidalgo, TX, tickets for various cities will go on sale starting February 22.

 

“Forget all those TV shows with glee clubs singing Rock songs,” exclaims STYX guitarist/singer James “JY” Young.  “It’s time for mega-Platinum Illinois bands STYX and REO Speedwagon in a battle to the end of the Mayan Calendar with the Motor City Madman!” 

 

"I am a Midwest boy, born and raised with Midwest values,” continues REO Speedwagon singer/guitarist Kevin Cronin.  “In the Midwest we work hard, play hard, and rock hard.  I am proud to join my brothers in STYX and Ted Nugent to celebrate Midwest rock 'n roll and represent the greatest rock fans in the world.  I am ready to climb aboard the ‘Midwest Rock 'n Roll Express!’  Rock On baby!"

 

As STYX singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw proclaims, “It's gonna be a Twang Fest of screaming guitars and big, sing-along choruses that continue to be the soundtrack for the misbehavior of our collective fan base.  In other words, a real good time.”

 

Ted Nugent couldn’t agree more.  “The heart and soul of American R&B&R&R has always gushed forth from the heartland of America.  REO, STYX and The Nuge have always celebrated the power of our special music and on the mighty ‘Midwest Rock ‘n Roll Express,’ the energy, attitude and spirit is more intense than ever.  This is the soundtrack for the hardcore.”

 

Check out “The Midwest Rock ‘n Roll Express” at any of the following stops.  Ted Nugent hits the stage at 7:00pm at every stop unless noted otherwise.

May:

1 Hidalgo, TX State Farm Arena
3 Albuquerque, NM Hard Rock Casino Albuquerque Presents The Pavilion
4 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Amphitheatre  (no Ted Nugent)
5 Las Vegas, NV Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
6 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
8 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
10 Council Bluffs, IA Mid America Arena
11 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre
12 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (no Ted Nugent)
13 Corpus Christi, TX Concrete Street Amphitheatre
17 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
19 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live Amphitheatre
20 Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

June:

21 Kansas City, MO Starlight Amphitheatre
22 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
23 Ft. Knox, KY Godman Army Airfield
24 Chicago, IL Charter One Pavilion
26 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
28 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
29 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
30 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center

July:

1 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Event Ctr
3 Verona, NY Turning Stone Resort Casino
5 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
6 Big Flats, NY Summer Stage
7 Gilford, NY Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion

So Bret Michaels Is Suing Tony Producers for $50 Million

I guess I gave away the story in the headline, didn't I? Bret just filed a $50 million lawsuit against award bosses and CBS network executives for neglecting to censor an accident during the 2009 Tony awards when a piece of staging bonked him on the head. Bret says the incident caused him "pain and humiliation."

Basically, it comes down to the seven second delay... and Bret thinks that the producers and executives in charge could have bleeped the accident from the live broadcast, but didn't block it for personal (ratings) gains.

Here's an excerpt from the court filing:

“(CBS officials) could have prevented the footage… from airing via the standard seven-second broadcast delay. The defendants took no such measures – presumably because the incident could lead to greater publicity and ratings for the show.”

The bolding is mine.

You might remember that Bret tried to sue the Tony Awards once before. Last year he lawyered up, arguing that the Tony Awards accident (and thus the people in charge of the show) were responsible for the 2010 brain hemorrhage he sustained several months after the show. Who knows where this one will go... but one thing is for sure, Bret isn't giving up his grudge against the Tony Awards anytime soon.

What do you think about this?

U.K. Version of Sonisphere Announced

This rules. The lineup for the U.K. version of Sonisphere was just announced and the headliners include KISS and Queen + Adam Lambert! I'd love to see Adam with Queen but unless the band brings the show to America, it won't be happening.

Here's a question though... why was Skid Row listed as the special guests with KISS at one point... and now they've been removed? Is something going on with Skid Row? Will Sebastian Bach be reuniting with the band? I find this all very odd... I guess time will tell.

In case you're lucky enough to be able to to attend, Sonisphere will go down in Knebworth July 6-8. Tickets go on sale Thursday.

Ryan Adams Covers Dio

Ryan Adams recently performed a concert at the Walt Disney concert hall in Los Angeles. During the show he covered the Dio classic "Holy Diver." I'll admit I wasn't expecting much, but I was impressed. The cover is acoustic and Ryan does it justice. Watch.

Niki Barr Records Theme for Investigation Discovery Show 'Scorned'

Singer Niki Barr is probably best known for fronting the Niki Barr Band. Lately she's been taking some creative risks and doing other projects. She recently covered "All Along The Watchtower" for Nat Geo's Border Wars. The viral popularity of the cover led to an all new project.

Niki recently lent her voice to the Investigation Discovery show Scorned. It's a cool little song and you can download it for free. The song is called "Take You Down."

The 2012 Rock Fest Lineup Is Amazing

Holy. Crap. The lineup for Rock Fest, held annually in Cadott, Wisconsin is freaking amazing. The festival is slated for July 19 - 22.

Here are the bands:

Thursday:
Buckcherry, TBA, Art of Dying and a headliner TBA

Friday:
Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, Hollywood Undead, Halestorm, Ten Years

Saturday:
Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Papa Roach, Adelitas Way

Sunday:
Def Leppard, Poison, TBA, TBA, Firehouse

I wish I could go to this... in fact, this might just be too good to pass up. It's time to get my glam friends together and plan. My gut tells me that all those TBAs will be bands we love -- especially on Sunday.

Tickets are on sale now. VIP packages are available. Let's do a roll call on this one: if you are attending, leave a comment. Let's get a BBG! contingent together - this could rule.