[Part 1] Iron Maiden Tour Announcement Today...

The Iron Maiden North American tour announcement is today at 3pm EST. Right now, no one knows who will hit the road with the band. Someone on Metal Sludge is saying they heard the rumor that Dream Theater is hitting the road with Maiden. I suppose that's possible. Then again, lots of bands are possible. I can't help but wonder why the Scorpions haven't announced their summer tour. Hey, just throwing that out there. I'm assuming we'll know the support band today. I'm also hoping to know about ticketing as soon as the routing is announced.

I've never seen Maiden - I will not miss out this time! As soon as the tour routing is announced, I'll post an update here and we'll talk. Until later...

Glam and Ribs on Memorial Day Weekend

If you're a little short on cash and are located in the middle part of America, you might consider the U.S. Cellular Rib Fest. Why? Because bands like Foghat, Jackyl, Montrose, L.A. Guns and Dokken are on the bill. Check out the full lineup.

The Rib Fest kicks off Friday, May 28 and runs through May 31st at Soldier's Memorial in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. There are several hours each day where admission is free. After the set "free" times, the cost to get in is just a few bucks. In fact, here's some ticketing lingo right off the official website:

Charter Media reserved seat costs are *$40 each for Saturday, and *$25 each for Friday, Sunday, Monday, and include $10 worth of Food, Beverage, and Game Tickets. Tickets purchased before May 21, 2009 include admission. Present your Charter Media reserved ticket at the Main Ticket tent and receive your $10 food & beverage tickets upon arrival. The U.S. Cellular Rib America Festival will be held rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable.

Be sure to let me know if you're planning on attending this event!

Preview Slash's Solo Album

Slash will be released in April via EMI. As you already know, a slew of guest stars helped Slash record his debut solo effort including Dave Grohl and Duff McKagan. The first single is "By the Sword" and it will hit radio in a couple weeks. Check out "By the Sword."

Here's a behind-the-scenes trailer for Slash. Looks and sounds cool if you ask me!

Hammerfall Goes Curling

I don't know how I missed this last week, but the guys in Hammerfall did a video with the female Swedish Olympic curling team. None of this has to do with Glam, but curling is my favorite Olympic sport and the Hammerfall video is completely ridiculous. The song is "Hearts on Fire."

Bang Tango and Others Play Cancer Benefit Next Week in Pennsylvania

My friend Sweet Lou asked me to pop this flyer up since the show is for a great cause: raising money to kick cancer's ass. Bang Tango, the Bulletboys and Chris Holmes will all play. If you're in or around Pittsburgh next week, check out this show. It's just $15 at the door at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Billboard Proves There Is Still Money in Music

Billboard just released their top 40 money makers in the music biz for the last year. Here is the top 10:

01. U2 - $108,601,283
02. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - $57,619,037
03. MADONNA - $47,237,774
04. AC/DC - $43,650,466
05. BRITNEY SPEARS - $38,885,267
06. PINK - $36,347,658
07. JONAS BROTHERS - $33,596,576
08. COLDPLAY - $27,326,562
09. KENNY CHESNEY - $26,581,141
10. METALLICA - $25,564,234

I'm not surprised by this list in the least. Touring always nets famous musicians of any genre a hefty payout. The only surprising fact at all is that U2 is so far ahead of their next competitor. I mean, good grief. I guess that's a good thing: Bono will have even more cash to donate to his charities.

The problem with the list above is that - at this point - every act is 'legacy.' By this I mean either longstanding in their genre such as Metallica or so hot like Pink that popularity is guaranteed for another decade no matter what. Sure, the music buying public is fickle but once you become so huge, your reputation can weather a lot of storms and you'll still earn mondo bucks regardless of new output or radio hits.

Pretty soon we'll be running out of long-standing legacy acts because they'll all be retired and then there won't be many (any?) stadium shows to speak of. Are there even any modern acts - besides Lady Gaga and Carrie Underwood - that could sell out a stadium right now? And I mean modern: as in, on the scene less than five years. I don't think so, but I hope I'm wrong. It's sort of like new rock bands never get a shot. When AC/DC and Aerosmith hang it up for good, the 80s bands we love will just roll up to the "classic band" status of touring and that pushes up the Nickelbacks of the world.

I just wonder if our new economy and ticket buying habits has changed touring forever? There's no chaotic need to rush online at a general on-sale to grab "great seats" when ticketing software doesn't work that way anyway. You can't camp out anymore and even if you are allowed to stand in lines at certain venues, being first doesn't guarantee front row. There's no real motivation to work for great tickets anymore. Sure, there's always bands on your "must see" list, but how often do shows sell-out these days? I saw AC/DC at a sold-out show and that was cool but I certainly didn't have any troubles getting tickets.

Thinking about the potential tours a decade from now makes me sad. No one can predict the future, but I can't imagine the live rock scene being fantastic then. Of course, I hope I'm wrong.

Like, OMG! Iron Maiden to Announce North American Tour?

Basically the title of this entry says it all: Iron Maiden will announce a North American tour...and soon! Or, that's what some people in the know seem to think. 

So how soon is the announcement? Like, this Thursday at 3pm ET.

This is the big one for me - I've still never seen Maiden live so I'm pretty excited about this. I wonder who they would take on the road with them? I find it interesting the Scorpions haven't announced their U.S. run yet...just sayin.' Maybe Heaven and Hell? Who knows, but it's fun to play the guessing game. Up the irons!