The Babys Schedule Comeback Show

I receive about 300 press releases a week. This one caught my eye. A little bit different from what we usually discuss here, but I know some of you are big fans of The Babys. Here's the release:

One of the world’s most beloved classic-rock bands - the Babys - are back together with a comeback show scheduled for July 18 at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, Calif., and there are plans for a new CD and extensive tour through America and Europe.

The British group made a massive impact back in the 1970s with hits such as “Isn’t it Time,” “Head First,” “Midnight Rendez-Vous,” “Every Time I Think of You” and “Back on My Feet Again.” Original guitarist Wally Stocker and original drummer Tony Brock are back, and the Babys have found an incredible new singer in John Bisaha, who sounds just like John Waite, who is not participating but has given his blessing.

The new Babys have instant credibility with a new song, the aptly named “Not Ready to Say Goodbye,” which has all the classic Babys elements – amazing vocals, thoughtful lyrics and a chorus that lodges itself on your brain and refuses to leave for days; the song can be found on the band’s web site – babysofficial.com – and there is already an instant buzz.

“It’s very exciting. I’m really pleased with the new lineup,” Stocker said. “These songs bring back a lot of good memories.”

Through the years, Brock and Stocker went on to play with such acts as Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck and Air Supply, and both are thrilled with the reformation and particularly the addition of Bisaha, a renowned studio singer who first has made his mark in theatre and is now ready to make a worldwide impact.

How Bisaha is not already a huge star is one of Rock’s great mysteries, but the instant you hear his voice it’s clear the Californian is a worthy replacement for Waite, who would go on to chart-topping success as a solo artist with “Missing You” and as a member of supergroup Bad English with “When I See You Smile.”

“I’m telling you, it sounds like the original band. It’s fantastic,” Brock said. “The magic is still there. John Bisaha is going to get some pressure, but we hired him because he’s fantastic. It’s going to be
really good. I love his attitude, and he’s incredible. He’s a winner.”

The July 18 show at Canyon Club is a benefit, and proceeds benefit the Santa Clarita Food Pantry charity. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster – while they last.

Several record companies and booking agencies are bidding for involvement, as the reformation of the Babys is among the biggest stories in rock in 2013.

Former Babys keyboardist Jonathan Cain cannot be a full-time member because he is in Journey, of course, but the man who would go on to write “Don’t Stop Believing” – the most downloaded song in history – has vowed to sit in when he can, and Cain, still a great friend to Brock and Stocker, even helped choose Bisaha over other finalists for the lead-singer spot.

“I think the possibility of catching on is endless,” Bisaha said. “We’re just getting ripe but it’s great from a nostalgia point of view just to see and hear the Babys again.”

The Babys, originally signed to Chrysalis in what was purported to be one of the most lucrative record deals of all-time, released five studios albums including classics “Broken Heart,” “Head First” and
“Union Jacks” plus a greatest-hits package called “Anthology.” Their radio hits continue to be played every day throughout the world.

“I would love to think we have one more album in us. A lot of people still hold us in high regard,” Brock said. “It’s not like we’re starting a new band, not from scratch. We have a cult following, and every one of us are great players, and we’re still alive after all these years.”

The Babys feature a second guitarist named J.P. Cervoni plus two female backup singers. The band is just getting re-started, and more official news is expected soon. You can check out the Babys at thebabysofficial.com.

Winger To Play Debut Album Live In Its Entirety

This little nugget of news just crossed the BBG! news desk. I think a few of you will be very excited about this - and I have to admit, I'd love to see Winger performed live from top to bottom! Here's the news release:

This August will mark the 25th anniversary of Winger's self-titled debut album. To commemorate this milestone the band will perform & record the first Winger album live in its entirety. 

This full reunion concert will take place on August 30th at The San Felipe Casino in Algodones, NM with Special Guests Warrant & Head East.

In addition to the current line up of Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Rod Morgenstein & John Roth, the band will also be joined by original keyboardist Paul Taylor for this show.

A limited amount of VIP Meet & Greet passes and full line of all new commemorative merchandise are available at wingertheband.com.

Winger is currently hard at work in the studio recording a new album.

On Great, New Music

Something occurred to me the other day.  I can't remember the last time I listened to Motley Crue.  Or Poison.  I think I've spun Def Leppard once in the last year or so.  I don't even remember the last time I listened to Ozzy (before the new Black Sabbath CD came out). 

Don't get me wrong, of the 4000+ CDs in my collection, most of them came out before 'Nevermind' did.  I love all that stuff.  If it comes on the radio, I'd turn it up and sing along.  But there is so much great new music happening today, that I struggle to find the time to listen to it all, without going back to the songs of my teen years.  And I work from home, I listen to music ALL DAY.

Part of this is that, as a guitar player, I've started to discover some of the amazing pickers in the realm of country guitar.  Brad Paisely may be mainstream and have some pretty awful songs, but when he starts shredding, he leaves a lot of rock players in his dust.  John 5's solo albums have a lot of amazing country picking in them, and Johnny Hiland is just flat out amazing ( he is an instrumental country player whose albums feature Stu Hamm ( who played on "Surfin with the Alien") and Billy Sheehan ( do I need to tell you who he is ?) on bass.  But, this is BBG!, so I don't expect many of you want to hear about that...

As far as rock and metal is concerned, for me I think it started with 'Nightmare', that's the album when I went back and realised how brilliant Avenged Sevenfold are.  They have a new album coming this year.  From there I had another listen and realised I really love Rob Zombie.  He has a new album out, called 'Venomous Rat Regeneration Machine.'  It's really, really good.  Of course everyone hear knows that I think Stone Sour's 'House of Gold and Bones' part 1 and 2 are some of the best music I've ever heard. They are only recently falling off my play list, because I have so many other things I want to listen to.

Of course, everyone knows that Black Sabbath have a new CD.  I bought the deluxe edition box set, but I admit, I expected nothing but glowing reviews for a lacklustre product.  Thankfully, I was wrong.  I preferred Dio in Black Sabbath in the past, but, I think 13 is way better than 'The Devil You Know'.  I've been listening to it a lot. On top of that, Black Star Riders CD is finally out ( for those who don't know, this is the band that contains Scott Gorman and has been touring as Thin Lizzy ).  It's fantastic.  If you like Thin Lizzy, then you'll love all of this.  Not to mention the new Deep Purple (which I only bought because Bob Ezrin produced it, and it's their best in decades ), the new Avantasia (a band created by Tobias from Edguy. They do only concept albums, they are Euro metal with a lot of guests), and so on.

The new Megadeth was not great to my ears but I admit, I have so much to listen to, it's still in my pile for me to give it a better chance than it's had so far. Of course, Tom Keifer has finally released new music, and it's excellent.  On top of that, Five Finger Death Punch are on the verge of a new CD (in fact, they are copying Stone Sour and releasing two with a gap between), and I've just discovered 'Burning Rain', a band started by Doug Aldrich in 1999, they have a new CD and the two older ones have just been reissued.

And then there is Airbourne.  My first intention was to write a review of their new CD,' Black Dog Barking.' A lot of people have written to compare this band to AC/DC, which is not an invalid comparison. I've seen newer reviews trying to compare the new CD to other bands, like Def Leppard.  I don't hear that at all.  I don't think Airbourne were ever just ripping off AC/DC, they are simply starting from the same tradition, Aussie pub rock.  They are still in that tradition, they are just growing within that framework, the same as AC/DC did, and I still don't hear anything that I think would be out of place on a Bon Scott era AC/DC album.  That doesn't mean they don't have their own sound, they do, and it gets better with every CD.  The song 'Black Dog Barking' is a predictable stab at 'Idol' type competition winners, who have 'nothing on the inside' and 'never learned to play'.  I'm not sure I agree, but, they sure know who their audience is, and know how to please.  I'm very much looking forward to seeing them in Canberra later this month.  The deluxe edition has a handful of extra songs (all good) and a live CD (to my ears, not a good mix, I doubt I'd play it again ).  If you really want to 'Bring Back Glam!', I recommend buying some of the CDs I've mentioned, and seeing these bands when you get a chance.

Petition to Launch Les Paul Stamp

Happy Independence Day!

The Les Paul Foundation has received approval from the United States Post Office for a stamp for Les Paul honoring his 100th birthday. In order for the stamp to become a reality, the foundation needs a lot of people to sign the official petition to make the stamp final.

To sign the petition, please visit www.LesPaulFoundation.org/spotlight.

Les Paul died at age 94 in 2009. The proposed U.S. stamp will be issued for Les Paul's 100th birthday on June 9, 2015.

Skid Row: Still Humble and Hungry

I'm a freelance music writer for the Dayton City Paper now. Yesterday, my first piece was published. I wrote about Skid Row coming to Dayton and our famous rock club called McGuffy's House of Rock. Here's some of the piece, which I think you'll like, and then you can jump over to the DCP site to finish up the article! Be sure to let me know what you think!

“Music keeps you young. I’ve always believed that. It gives you energy that doesn’t exist in other arenas in life,” Skid Row guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo told Dayton City Paper. “The essence of me is a 16-year-old kid standing in front of mirror with a guitar, pretending to be Ace Frehley [of KISS] or Joe Perry [of Aerosmith] or Eddie Van Halen [of Van Halen]. Everything else has sprouted from that. When you get to my core, that’s who I am. That essence hasn’t been jaded.”

Skid Row is coming to Dayton next month, stopping at McGuffy’s House of Rock on Friday, July 12. It’s been a wild ride for the band over the past 27 years and for fans that have lost touch with the band since its late ‘80s and early ‘90s heyday may be surprised at the lineup: larger than life sex-god Sebastian Bach is gone. Country-boy-cum-rocker Johnny Solinger is in. Solinger, who packs an amazing range and can hit all the famous high notes, has been with the Skids for 14 years now, meaning the band has had plenty of time to gel as a new unit. There will always be those die-hards screaming for a classic Skid Row reunion with Bach, but that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon – if ever. And it isn’t as if the guys in the band are worrying about it.

Instead, Skid Row is pushing full steam ahead with writing, recording and touring. Skid Row will hit the cobblestones in Europe in the fall, touring with Ugly Kid Joe, another early ‘90s metal favorite. It will be the first time the two bands have traveled together and Sabo is looking forward to it. But for now, it is summer and that means touring America on the back of the newest Skid Row release, United World Rebellion: Chapter One. Skid Row released the mini-album back in April via Megaforce and will release two more mini-albums over the course of the next 18 months or so. For Sabo, the change in the way music is released is both straight business and amazingly creative: constant writing is good for the chops and having new albums to promote means booking a lot of gigs.

Keep reading now...

So Basically The Winery Dogs Rock

The Winery Dogs features Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Richie Kotzen. Basically, anything that Kotzen is involved in or with, I love. He's a great singer, guitar genius and so underrated. I wish more people knew of his talent.

I've heard a lot of fans of Portnoy (and old Dream Theater) are having trouble getting used to the simpler drum patterns of The Winery Dogs. The Winery Dogs are just a straight up rock band and I dig it. The world needs more stripped down rock n' roll without a million gimmicks. Do you agree?

ShipRocked 2014 Cabins On Sale Today!

If you've never done a music cruise, you should really consider one as your next vacation. Non-stop music, food, friends and sun make for great times and it's super convenient to travel once and then have all the shows and other entertainment right in one place. To that end, ShipRocked cabins go on sale today. Some of the bands already confirmed include Five Finger Death Punch, Sevendust, Papa Roach and a slew more. Here's info on how to book:

Cabins onboard ShipRocked, the ultimate rock music cruise vacation, will go on-sale tomorrow, Monday, July 1st at 12:00pm-Eastern!

The fifth fantastic voyage, fueled by Monster Energy, will set sail January 26-30, 2014, from Miami, FL, onboard the spectacular Norwegian Pearl. Ports include Great Stirrup Cay in The Bahamas for beachside concerts and plenty of wet and wild fun!

This one will be bigger and better than ever, with a ship ton of concerts every day, from the morning light all through the night! Getting ShipRocked is an experience like no other.

Book cabins online at www.ShipRocked.com or by phone at 877-GET-WHET (438-9438).