Don't Touch That Dial

Why is it always special to hear a song by a favorite band on the radio? I mean, if they are a favorite, you most likely own the song in question that is playing, right? Still, I guess it's a little magical to think that thousands (millions?) are listening and enjoying the exact same song at the exact same time.

Mass communication really changed the music business. Can you imagine a world without radio - let alone television? I've only had my satellite radio for a few weeks now and I have now idea how I went a lifetime without such a convenience.

If you have satellite radio, then you know you get a digital display of the song title and artist name right in your car - I love that! Anyway, I was listening to a CD on my way to work when I noticed that The Boneyard was playing Danger Danger. I have Danger Danger on CD and my iPod - and I had both in my car! Still, I stopped the CD I was previously enjoying and clicked on the radio. Suddenly, my car was filled with the happy sounds of "Bang Bang."

At that exact moment, millions of other Glam fans enjoyed a collective smile - it's very special to hear Danger Danger on the radio - even if you have to pay a premium to enjoy the experience.

Remember way back before Internet and satellite radio and you had to wait through commercials? Stations in the 80s and 90s were much better about playing more songs per hour. As broadcasting costs continue to spike, expect to hear even more ads on your traditional dial.  

Anyway, I remember listening to the radio when I would go somewhere in the car with my parents. I was young and addicted to MTV - so I could literally name every song and band that hit the air waves as long as the genre was rock or pop. I even remember one time when the Cincinnati-based DJ misnamed the title of a Poison song and I went a little berserk. The DJ said "That was Poison with your Momma don't Jive and your Daddy don't boogie." I corrected the mistake out loud, and my mom said it was just the same as saying "Your Momma Don't Dance." Thank you, but it was not the same! Still, I was listening to that song at the exact same time as thousands of other Poison fans. I was so inspired I went straight home and popped in my tape of Open Up and Say...Ah! I'll call that cyclical marketing.

Would you stop what you're doing just to listen to a favorite song on your FM dial? 

Queeny Blast Pop

There is some good Glam news straight off the Sunset Strip today. My friend Gerry Gittleson tells me that the band Queeny Blast Pop is back - with a new record contract. The band just signed with Retrospect Records. I am going to assume that the band will play Retrospect's stage at Rocklahoma - but that is only a hunch, so don't quote me on that one!

Anyway, Gerry managed Queeny Blast Pop back in the day. If looking at a picture doesn't confirm the band's Glamness, then the fact that Lesli Sanders - also of Pretty Boy Floyd - formed Queeny Blast Pop should confirm the Glam goodness.  The new self-titled album of old material (the band only released demos - not an actual album) will feature these songs:

1. Forever
2. Somethin' They Don't Know
3. I Know What You're Thinkin'
4. So Kid
5. Crazy
6. Keep On Fallin' For You
7. The Last Time (Live)
8. The Blue Song (Live)

Gittleson swears up and down Queeny Blast Pop is one of the best Glam bands he's ever heard. People - he loves Glam as much as we do!  

Yes, Queeny Blast Pop has a Myspace page so you can check out some of the tunes in advance of the album release. Just click here to listen. Here's a clip of the band back in the day. The song is "I Know What You're Thinkin'"

Push Come to Shove

Life is short isn't it? You never quite know what will happen from one day to the next. Yesterday was troubling. I don't want to go into details, but I was clearly reminded about mortality and the fragility of human life. More importantly, I was reminded to live. You'll notice "live" is italicized for rhetorical emphasis. Remember, simply going through the motions isn't living - that is just existing. To live, we have to chase dreams, take risks, go our own way.

Those risks are not always easy and usually not popular.

I think musicians can teach us a lot about risk. I mean, who lives a more dangerous life than a rock musician? They leave their homes, their families, their jobs...to move across the country and chase a nearly unattainable dream.

Being a writer is nearly as unattainable. Sigh.

I guess that means I need to try a little harder. After all, everyone stared at Motley Crue the first few times they walked down the Sunset Strip in their leather pants and stacked hair. No one is staring now. These days, everyone wishes they had a quarter of Motley's success - both musically and financially.

Have you ever considered a world without Glam? I mean really consider this. What if the Sunset Strip scene never existed? What if there was no Motley Crue, W.A.S.P., RATT, Poison. Can you imagine? Those bands started because at least one person took a crazy risk. They refused to live their life the conventional way.

Sometimes I worry that I am never satisfied with the mundane because maybe I push myself too hard. Of course, if people didn't push themselves we wouldn't have the Internet, iTunes or commercial air travel.

It's sad that money seems to be the one issue that stands in the way of dreams. Let's say money is no object. I'll go one further: let's say you win the lottery today - and now you're an instant millionaire. Would you use that money to pursue a dream?

If I won the lottery today, I would quit my job to build a media empire. That empire would include a record label, magazine, an online presence (duh!) and maybe a cup cake shop. I could tell you more about the cup cakes...but then I would have to kill you.

So, time is up. Tell me your dream. I bet you a dollar to a cup cake, it's music related.

Since this is my website, I feel like posting some random videos that have nothing to do with today's topic. I just happen to be in a Bullet For My Valentine sort of mood.

Here's a clip of the song "Say Goodnight." It's on the new release Scream, Aim, Fire

Now, here's "Waking the Demon." This is another favorite.

Remember when I originally posted about Bullet's Glam roots? I used the song "Hearts Burst Into Fire" as my example. The band now has an official video to support that track. Watch it. Learn it. Love it.

Angel Down

Add Sebastian Bach to the list. The former lead singer of Skid Row will perform the opening night of Rocklahoma 2008.

I saw this one coming a mile away. After all, Bach will tour this summer with both Poison and Dokken. Now, that tour hasn't been officially announced, but it is rumored all over the place, so we might as well take it all for gospel. Personally, I'm thinking Thursday is shaping up as the best night of Rocklahoma so far. If you don't remember, here's the Thursay line-up:

L.A. Guns (Tracii's version)
Enuff Z' Nuff
Jetboy
VAIN
House of Lords
Bret Michaels (headline)

At this point,  I'm not sure where Bach falls in this line-up, but my guess would be right before Bret Michaels, considering the summer tour deal. I say add Dokken and call it a day.

Do you own Angel Down? Bach released the disc in November. I received a copy for Christmas and I have to admit, the album is surprisingly heavy. The title track is probably the best of the entire disc. The only song I don't like is the cover of "Back in the Saddle." Most important, this album proves that both Sebastian Bach and special guest Axl Rose can still sing.

You can hear more samples here. Here's a live clip of Bach performing "By Your Side."  I would assume his appearance at Rocklahoma means he's getting in touch with his past. I also hope this means he no longer hates Glam association.

Big Motley Crue Announcement

Remember when I posted that Motley Crue would make their summer tour announcement April 15th? This was confirmed to me this morning via 10th Street Entertainment. Here's my email from one of the 10th Street employees:

"I’m am one of the new media managers for Mötley Crüe and I wanted to let you know that all four ORIGINAL band members of America’s most notorious rock band will make a colossal announcement in Los Angeles on April 15 (location tbd). This will by far be one of the biggest music announcements of the year!!

Mötley Crüe will fly out one lucky grand prize winner from each major city across the country for a once in a lifetime opportunity to cover this announcement in Los Angeles and the chance to interview the band and have it broadcast live. Fans can visit here for all of the details."

Sweet Savage

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Glam fans! I'm Irish - maybe that explains the hot temper. At any rate, I wanted to write about an Irish Glam band. The pickings are slim, but there is one band with a really strong Glam tie: Sweet Savage.

What is the Glam connection you ask? Vivian Campbell of course. About a million years ago I wrote an article playing "six degrees" with Vivian Campbell. The guitarist has played with just about everyone: from Sweet Savage, to Dio to Whitesnake to Def Leppard.

At any rate, Sweet Savage formed in Belfast, North Ireland right before the dawn of the 1980s. Since today is all about the patron saints of Ireland, it's only fitting we pay tribute to an Irish band. And green beer. And the pot of gold. And green beer. And leprechauns. And green beer...

Anyway, some diehard soul recently posted a bunch of Sweet Savage clips. As you can imagine, the clips are rare - and it's hard to come by Sweet Savage albums, too.   

Here's a live clip of Sweet Savage performing "Sweet Surrender."

Tell me, how will you celebrate St. Patty's Day? Will your celebration be Glam? At any rate, remember to have fun but please be careful.

Wrathchild U.K.

My good friend Chey reminded me of a great English band: Wrathchild U.K.

This band is over-the-top glam. I mean, just look at the hair! The band formed in (or around) 1980 in Evesham, England. According to Wikipedia, the band was one of the first to grab hold of the Glam genre. The same Wiki article takes a small jab at Motley Crue. Of course that didn't necessarily go over well with me, but I always keep an open mind. I will also admit there are amazing similarities between the "Stakk Attak" video and the Motley clip for "Live Wire." The band released three albums:

Stakk Attak
The Biz Suxx
Delirium

It would be cool to see a Wrathchild U.K. reunion. I'm not sure we'll ever see that happen, though.

Here's Wrathchild U.K. performing "Stakk Attak."

For comparison sake, here's Motley Crue performing "Live Wire."

So, who made who?