About Time: Alice Cooper Band to Rock Hall

Alice Cooper performing at Rock the BayouCould this have taken any longer? Alice Cooper has just confirmed that he and his original band will finally be inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held in March. According to the Arizona Republic, Alice was informed of the honor last week.

The inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 will be officially announced  today at 10:30 a.m. EST on the official website of the Rockhall. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Fuse. Now I can't wait to see who gets to induct Alice Cooper.

Cooper will reunite with his original band for the 10th edition of his Christmas Pudding charity concert this Saturday in Phoenix, Arizona.

Neil Diamond, Tom Waits, Dr. John and Darlene Love will also be inducted. This means Bon Jovi didn't get in...which surprises me to be honest. I figured out of all the Glam bands on earth, Bon Jovi were a lock to make it on the first shot.

Rock on the Range Ticket Layaway Plan

Is it me, or are we getting festival information earlier and earlier? I mean, Bang Your Head! and Sweden Rock are already announcing bands. Bonnaroo launched a ticket layaway weeks ago and now Rock on the Range has announced a ticket layaway program. To compete, I would assume festivals like M3, Rocklahoma and the rest would be announcing soon. Rock on the Range is in my native Ohio so it's a fest I do every year. Here's the info on that layaway plan in case you are interested. Apparently this year will also feature so-called throw-back bands and to me that means Glam.

Following the debut of their first-ever early layaway program, full details are now available for 2011 ROCK ON THE RANGE’s VIP, hotel and camping packages. The seven unique packages--available beginning Monday, December 13--offer a variety of amenities include hotel and camping options, plus tickets to Friday’s pre-festival ROTR Fifth Anniversary Party at Columbus Crew Stadium. This year, America’s premier destination rock festival will celebrate its Fifth Anniversary blowout, May 21-22, 2011 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Here are the full details of the 2011 ROTR VIP, hotel and camping ticket packages:

Ultimate Ranger VIP Package (2 people)
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
*Only available at Hyatt on Capitol Square
- 1 Hotel Room – King Bed (May 20, 21, & 22)
- Field General Admission Tickets (2)
- Friday Night 5th Anniversary Party Tickets (2)
- Festival T-Shirts (2)
- ROTR Commemorative Photo Album (2)
- Exclusive Access to the VIP Guest Lounge
- Lounge includes Catered Lunch and Dinner
- Exclusive Access to the VIP Viewing Area, Best House Location
- VIP Guest Laminated Credential
PACKAGE PRICE: $1599.00

Rock Star VIP Package (2 people)
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
*No Hotel Rooms included
- Field General Admission Tickets (2)
- Friday Night 5th Anniversary Party Tickets (2)
- Festival T-Shirts (2)
- ROTR Commemorative Photo Album (2)
- Exclusive Access to the VIP Guest Lounge
- Lounge includes Catered Lunch and Dinner
- Exclusive Access to the VIP Viewing Area, Best House Location
- VIP Guest Laminated Credential
PACKAGE PRICE: $1199.00

Platinum Package (4 people)
- 1 Hotel Room - 2 Double Beds (May 20, 21 & 22)
- Field General Admission Tickets (4)
- Friday Night 5th Anniversary Party Tickets (4)
- Festival T-Shirts (4)
- ROTR Commemorative Photo Album (4)
PACKAGE PRICE: $949.00

Gold Package (4 people)
- 1 Hotel Room - 2 Double Beds (May 21 & 22)
- Field General Admission Tickets (4)
- Friday Night 5th Anniversary Party Tickets (4)
- Festival T-Shirts (4)
- ROTR Commemorative Photo Album (4)
PACKAGE PRICE: $829.00

Silver Package (2 people)
- 1 Hotel Room - 1 King Bed (May 20, 21 & 22)
- Field General Admission Tickets (2)
- Friday Night 5th Anniversary Party Tickets (2)
- Festival T-Shirts (2)
- ROTR Commemorative Photo Album (2)
PACKAGE PRICE: $669.00

Bronze Package (2 people)
- 1 Hotel Room - 1 King Bed (May 21 & 22)
- Field General Admission Tickets (2)
- Friday Night 5th Anniversary Party Tickets (2)
- Festival T-Shirts (2)
- ROTR Commemorative Photo Album (2)
PACKAGE PRICE: $549.00

CAMPING PACKAGES
Vehicle Camping Package (4 people)
LIMITED AVAILABILITY
- Ohio Expo North Campground (May 20, 21 & 22) - Onsite
- Field General Admission Tickets (4)
- Friday Night 5th Anniversary Party Tickets (4)
- Festival T-Shirts (4)
- ROTR Commemorative Photo Album (4)
Camping not available separate from package
PACKAGE PRICE: $729.00

Meanwhile, pre-sale layaway tickets are available through January 31. Weekend Field GA and Stadium GA layaway tickets can be purchased for $129.50 (Field GA) or $99.50 (Stadium GA), plus layaway, service and transaction fees, with a four ticket minimum per layaway order. Regular tickets will go on sale in early 2011. The Saturday and Sunday line-ups for ROCK ON THE RANGE 2011 will be announced early next year.

'Need Your Lovin' - A Fantastic Tesla Video!

I posted the video for Tesla's “Need Your Lovin'” on my Facebook over the weekend but I think it's worth sharing here. I consider the video for “Need Your Lovin'” fairly obscure. The song is from the 1994 album Bust a Nut. Despite timing, the album charted fairly high on the Billboard chart – but by the time “Need Your Lovin'” became a single in 1995, MTV wasn't exactly playing bands like Tesla in hot rotation.

Popular or not, I have to say the video for “Need Your Lovin'” is basically fantastic. Watch as Tesla mocks every rock n' roll cliché.

Gifting Music?

Are you planning on gifting any music this holiday season? And by "gifting" I really mean creating a mix CD of the favorite songs you love for someone you care about.

The more I reflect on Christmas, I can't help but shake my head. I don't know about other parts of the world, but in America, we've all been taken hostage by the marketing machine. It seems only now, "post" massive recession, that people are waking up to the fact that charging a zillion dollars in December doesn't make a holiday better or more memorable.

The things that are memorable, however, are gifts that take quite a lot of personal thought. It dawned on me that if someone created a mix CD just for me - with all my interests in mind - it just might be the best gift ever. Then I thought "You could decorate the case with rhinestones and be very Glam!" I know most guys don't like arts and crafts, but the thought of doing anything with rhinestones gets me very excited.

It's funny when you think of it. You probably know your significant other or best friend or sibling very well. I bet you can pick out bands they would like - bands they've never heard before! You could easily print out a little info about the band, type the web address next to the band's name and song title and completely open a whole new world for that special gift recipient. Best yet, a mix album made from the heart costs very little, but it does take time. Such a gift can't be purchased in five seconds from Amazon - but the imapct is far greater.

So - and I'm not dropping hints or anything - if I received a mix CD of the most obscure Glam around, I'd probably have to dedicate an entire post to talk about it and to review the songs. Just think if we all received obscure Glam mix albums for Christmas. We'd have topics galore through 2011 and beyond!

I'm Making a Donation to MADD Because of This Video

You know MADD, right? The acronym stands for Mother's Against Drunk Driving. Reporters caught Vince Neil in Hollywood this week outside some overpriced restaurant. It's pretty clear Vince is inebriated - which is fine - until he gets behind the wheel of his car. And then his new girlfriend climbs in the passenger seat. It's both devastating and maddening at all once. Doesn't he realize he could hurt himself or others? Doesn't he care? And to be fair, I don't know if he's really drunk. After all, I wasn't with him inside that restaurant. But still. The video causes concern.

Incidentally, December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. Watch the video...if you can stomach all the way through.

Reckless Loves Does Christmas!

If you'll recall, I despise Christmas music. In fact, too much Christmas music makes me crazy. As in, I start to sweat and twitch and I get really agitated. But, I can take a tune here and there. Especially if the song is in Glam fashion. Enter Reckless Love and their version of “Jingle Bells.” Check out the glory note!

Reckless Love recorded “Jingle Bells” in 2009. What do you think?

'This Is Gonna Hurt...'

This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography And Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx is the new book project by Nikki Sixx. Like the Heroin Diaries, SIXX:AM will record a new album with some songs drawn from Nikki's new book.

Here's the first official look at This Is Gonna Hurt. As you'll soon see, this is a true teaser - not much revealed at all.

Get This Is Gonna Hurt: Music, Photography And Life Through The Distorted Lens Of Nikki Sixx on April 26 via HarperCollins/William Morrow.