The Coolest Newspaper Article Ever: How Bands Got Their Names

The Daily Mail recently ran an online article explaining how some bands got their crazy names. Now, obviously, some of the stories we already know (AC/DC) but others were new to me (ZZ Top). The list has a lot of rock bands like Iron Maiden, Green Day, Led Zeppelin and more. Definitely check out the list.

Now, this article was a great thought provoker for me. Obviously, I know how Damn Yankees and Motley Crue got their names...but I can't say the same for Bang Tango. I don't know about Steelheart or Thunder. Babylon A.D. is another band with an awesome name...but I've got no clue where it came from! The thing about Glam Bands is that they just generally have awesome – or awesomely kooky – names. No music genre can touch Glam when it comes to band names. Sure, it's fun to mock the names of emo bands (because, let's be honest, some of their names are just too much) but still. Poison. W.A.S.P. Judas Priest. All are awesome names for metal bands.

A lot of you that read this site have – or have had – your own bands. How did you pick the name? I mean, it's sort of like naming a child – a band's name is of the utmost importance. After all, it will be splashed across T-shirts from here to infinity. Plus, these days you have to worry how a band name will look in a web address and on a Facebook page.

So, can anyone tell me how Steelheart got their name? Or even better, Steeler? How about Kick Axe? Are you a musician...and do you regret your band name?

It's finally Friday, people! Rock on!

Finally, 'American Idol' Confirms Steven Tyler - My Thoughts

So, finally, after months of speculation, Steven Tyler was officially confirmed as a judge for the upcoming season of American Idol. Sitting beside him will be new judge Jennifer Lopez as well as Randy Jackson. First, when this was a rumor, I was a little freaked out by the prospect. I've changed my tune.

I have decided Steven Tyler judging American Idol is going to be awesome. Here's why: I get to see the lead singer of my favorite band a whole lot come spring and it isn't going to cost me a dime. Plus, the addition of Tyler might bring a whole lot of rock to Idol!

Here's something else: I think all the smack talk between Tyler and the rest of Aerosmith is going to be epic. Already Tyler says the rest of Aerosmith is jealous. And they probably are! I would be! Now I suspect Joe Perry will issue a grouchy statement about Tyler and then things will settle down. I can already foretell an awesome Aerosmith performance on the season finale of American Idol come May. Just wait.

Okay. Give it to me good. I'm sure all of you hate this or will say American Idol sucks or whatever, but that is missing the big picture: anytime one our favorite rockers is in the limelight for something major - and this is major - it's great. Mark it.

Roll Call: Jägermeister Fall Music Tour

Okay, who is planning on attending the Jägermeister Fall Music Tour featuring Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax? The tour will hit 20 cities in America and it seems pretty cool. I've only ever seen Anthrax live...I'm not a big Slayer fan but I would love to see Megadeth. Dave Mustaine made some remarks about the tour:

The current tour dates are as follows:

SEPTEMBER

24 Superpages.com Center, Dallas, TX
25 AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
26 Verizon Wireless Theatre, Houston, TX
28 Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, LA
30 Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, TN

OCTOBER

1 The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Atlanta, GA
2 Hard Rock Live, Orlando, FL
3 Bayfront Park Amphitheatre, Miami, FL
5 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA
6 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD
8 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, NY
9 Toyota Pavilion @ Montage Mountain, Scranton, PA
10 LC Pavilion, Columbus, OH
12 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY
14 War Memorial Coliseum, Ft. Wayne, IN
15 DeltaPlex, Grand Rapids, MI
16 Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI
19 Maverik Center, Salt Lake City, UT
20 The Pearl, Las Vegas, NV
21 Gibson Amphitheatre, Hollywood, CA

So who is going? I'd like to make the Columbus show...have to see how the finances look I guess.  

Bad Moon Rising

Who remembers Bad Moon Rising? The band featured guitarist Doug Aldrich and his Lion bandmate vocalist Kal Swan. The band intersects with a lot of other Glam faves including Hericane Alice and Bangalore Choir.

Here's one of my faves "Blood on the Streets"

The song is from the 1993 album Blood and also the EP Blood on the Streets and both are (usually) very hard to find. There's an auction on eBay for Blood right now - the price is around $36.

So, who owns anything by Bad Moon Rising?

FrenchKiss: Real Glam from France

Let's be honest: France isn't really known as a hot bed of Glam Metal. But, I've come across a young little band called Frenchkiss and they seem to have some potential. There's some accent issues, but they definitely have that signature Glam guitar tone down.

I suspect singer Franky Fackerz got all his moves from Bret Michaels - there's a lot of similarities in the vocal phrasing also. Not surprising, the band covered Poison. The band played "Talk Dirty to Me" in some club in Paris and the crowd looks *huge.* I swear, the people in France must be desperate for metal, right? There just isn't much good music to go around over there in the land of awesome food, clothes and wine. I'd share more biographical details, but the Facebook bio is written in French and I can't read that language.

Here's the demo of "Nice to Me"

And one more. Here's "Sexpectations"

Win Lunch with Marky Ramone -- eBay Auction For Charity

If you're a fan of the Ramones (who isn't?), this might interest you: a Marky Ramone drum scholarship at Musician's Institute. Here's a release:

HOLLYWOOD, CA (September 18, 2010) – Get two chances to win lunch with Rock Hall of Fame and legendary drummer Marky Ramone. You will get to meet the star and hang with him while lunching at some of Hollywood’s favorite restaurants – The brand new Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood or Bubba Gumps, (of movie Forrest Gump fame), on Universal City Walk. Both restaurants have made generous donations to help fund the Marky Ramone Drum Scholarship at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. So, click here and get a shot to hang for an afternoon lunch with a Rock legend:

MARKY RAMONE LUNCH AT HOLLYWOOD HARD ROCK CAFE

MARKY RAMONE LUNCH AT BUBBA GUMPS

Marky will also perform a special all-star fund-raising concert on Friday, October 8, 2010 at 8pm in the Musicians Institute Concert Hall. Doors open at 7:30pm. The concert is a benefit for the newly created Marky Ramone Drum Scholarship at Musicians Institute (MI) in Hollywood, CA. “I am much honored to be chosen as an artist for the scholarship program. Music for kids is very important to have,” explains Marky. 100% of the event proceeds will fund the Marky Ramone Drum Scholarship at MI.

ONLINE ADVANCE SALE: General Admission seats (festival seating) are $30, VIP seating is $45 (guaranteed first 3 rows), $99 VIP Backstage (First 3 rows seating guaranteed | Backstage Pass | After-Show Meet & Greet | Special Marky Ramone Gift bag).

WALK-UP (day of show): General Admission seats (festival seating) are $35, VIP seating is $50 (guaranteed first 3 rows), VIP Backstage not available. Musicians Institute Concert Hall 1655 N. McCadden Place Hollywood, CA 90028

Marky Ramone is a member of the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame, and is best known for the 15 years he spent drumming for The Ramones. The Ramones formed in 1974, and are often cited as the first punk-rock group. Marky is the only living member of the longest running Ramones line-up – which featured Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, and Marky. He has performed over 1700 shows and more than 15 album releases during his tenure (starting in 1978) as a member of The Ramones.

'The End of Heartache'

The band Killswitch Engage is included on Guitar Hero: Van Halen. I've never played that version of Guitar Hero so I didn't know that until last night.

I was on YouTube, listening to Killswitch Engage when I thought “The End of Heartache” sounds awfully familiar. Then, it hit me like a ton of bricks:”Panama!”

After some fierce Google work I realized that KsE is on the Van Halen game so the song similarity makes sense...or does it?

I mean, the more I listened to “The End of Heartache” the more obsessed I became. I'm convinced the root of the song – the main riff basically – is the key hook from “Panama” just in a lower octave. Here, listen:

Now, compare to “Panama.”

See what I mean? Realize I'm not saying the songs are the same – they are not. Rather, they share a similar riff structure. I think this was KsE's way of paying tribute to the mighty VH. Thoughts?