You Decide: Living Colour vs. Tesla vs. UFO

I think Living Colour fits the Rocklahoma schedule much better than UFO. Moreover, I think Tesla can blow both bands away.

I suppose I'll be able to judge for myself when I see all three bands at Rocklahoma. While it's not clear, I'll go ahead and assume all three bands are playing on Sunday, July 13th. I thought it would be fun to pit them against each other here on Bring Back Glam!

The rules? Show a live performance from each band. Then you decide which band is better. Not which band has more "hits" or more famous members. Just which band performs better live.

Here's Living Colour performing their very famous song "Cult of Personality" around 1989.

Here's Tesla performing "Signs" in 2006.

Finally, UFO performing "Rock Bottom" in 1995. *Note: you will not see Michael Schenker at Rocklahoma lest there be any confusion!

So, what is your ranking? Who comes out on top - and why?

Hail to the Chief

Well, Nikki Sixx is now president of a record label. Yesterday, Billboard magazine confirmed that Nikki - the once baddest boy of the them all - will lead Eleven Seven music. You might recall Eleven Seven is under the publicity banner of Tenth Street Entertainment. Look for all Tenth Street bands when Motley Crue announces their tour (Cruefest?) April 15.

The announcement (promotion?) leaves me 100 shades of confused. How can Nikki run a label while on tour with Motley? Forget tour - how can he finish The Dirt while running a label, building a clothing brand, cultivating new talent and scouting for employees? Clearly, Nikki has insider knowledge and industry experience which will help in his new job. He's still going to need a lot of patience and good time management skills.

I guess at this point Nikki is at a crossroads. He's always been willing to take musical risks - and now he's taking a major career turn. I wonder how much one person can manage? It's hard for me to work full time, maintain this website (plus write for several others) and maintain a home so the EPA doesn't come knocking. Of course, Nikki is rich and has help. He also - now more than ever - has an immense amount of power to shape Metal acts within the music community. I'm interested to see how Eleven Seven grows under Nikki's watch. If you're not familiar, Eleven Seven has a roster of these acts:

Buckcherry
Deborah Harry
Drowning Pool
Everclear
The Exies
Jonny Lives
Marion Raven
The New Cars
SIXX: AM
Trapt
Chosen Son

So, what do you think of President Nikki?

Rocklahoma Bands Added

Eddie Trunk just announced two more bands for Rocklahoma 2008: UFO and Living Colour.

These bands surprise me much. In fact, I am a little stunned. There is one TBA left: the coveted Sunday headliner spot. Stay tuned.  

Trail of Tears

We all know our beloved Glam bands made some crazy videos back in the day. Some have stood the test of time...and others, well...not so much.

You remember Europe, right? You know "The Final Countdown." That's a good song - even if it's about aliens or traveling to Venus or whatever. So, we've established "bonkers" is the norm for the Swedish band - but what about Native Americans?

I don't know how it's possible - but I swear the first time I ever saw the video for "Cherokee" was about 12 hours ago. Oh, how did I live without knowing of this video's existence?

As a song, "Cherokee" is pretty good - but the video seems crazy to me. Maybe it's watching a Glam band playing during a stampede in the mountains?

I wonder why Europe isn't rumored for Rocklahoma? Every other band of the genre has at least been mentioned. I know Europe still have a lot of fans in the United States - and everyone knows the words to "The Final Countdown" and "Carrie." Here's some other food for thought: the band is curiously open during the weekend of Rocklahoma (and therefore the South Texas Rock Fest). They are playing Rockweekend in Sweden on July 18. Seems there would be plenty of time to jump to the States, play Rocklahoma (or South Texas) and fly back over to their homeland.

Speaking of crazy - Europe has the oddest website I've ever seen. It honestly made me jump the first time I clicked onto their page. Don't believe me? See for yourself by clicking here. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Return of the Pride

It’s been well over a decade since the last White Lion album was released. Now, Mike Tramp is back with a new band and new songs. Return of the Pride (Frontiers, March 2008) features these songs:

1. Sangre de Cristo
2. Dream
3. Live Your Life
4. Set Me Free
5. I Will
6. Battle at Little Big Horn
7. Never Let You Go
8. Gonna Do It My Way
9. Finally See The Light
10. Let Me Be Me
11. Take Me Home (European Bonus Track)

It’s very brave of the band to invoke the word “pride” in the title, isn’t it? The word is now synonymous with White Lion. It’s also synonymous with Vito Bratta, and he ain’t nowhere to be seen on this recording. The album features appearances by:

Mike Tramp - Vocals
Jamie Law - Guitar
Claus Langeskov - Bass
Henning Wanner - Keyboards
Troy Patrick Farrell - Drums

The album isn’t bad, but it didn’t strike me as phenomenal either. Return of the Pride is a long time coming. I’m not sure what I expected…except that I expected more. Mike Tramp’s voice sounds both familiar and gravely. That isn’t necessarily a good thing. The song writing didn’t really impress me either, but I do like “Finally See the Light” and “Live Your Life.” Almost nine minutes in length, “ Sangre de Cristo” blows every other album track out of the water. It’s long, dark and melodic – exactly what you want from a Glam band during reinvention mode. Above all else, the track has depth – which is appropriate for such an album. It’s pretty clear Tramp wants to be taken seriously and I can understand that wish. After all, he’s been in the music business for a long time – at the end of the day we all just want some respect.

Even though this album didn’t wow me, I still think you should give it a try. If you are a die hard White Lion fan, you probably already ordered a copy. I’d say Return of the Pride is above average – just don’t expect to hear anything as strong as “Wait.”

Haven't heard any preview tracks? Here's "Set Me Free." 

For more information, visit Return of the Pride online

Classic vs. Current

If you have cable, you probably get Vh1 Classic and that means you likely recognize the phrase "Classic Current."

I started really thinking about "classic" versus "current" yesterday after buying my George Michael tickets. Yes, I write about "modern" bands here from time to time: Crashdiet, Vains of Jenna, Bullet for My Valentine...We all know these are relatively new rock acts - but what happens when a band makes a comeback - or releases new material?

I told all the people I work with about George Michael. Most of them didn't recognize the name - and trust me, I am one of the youngest employees of the Fortune 500 company. So I was surprised at their confusion, but not bothered. Many  coworkers took the time to look up old George to put a face with the name. Then it started to click. Anyway, one of these coworkers kept referring to George as "current." Yes, she knew he had a lot of fame in the 1980s.

So, what makes a band or artist "current?"

I realize I deal in nostalgia here. I talk about the bands I love - you love them too. Here's a question: if (when) Motley Crue releases a new album this summer, does that make them a current band?

Can you be current without being popular among the Hot Topic set?

The members of Motley Crue are pretty famous. Much more famous than a whole lot of other musicians. Band members still get mentioned in Rolling Stone, People, The New York Times. Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee go to movie premieres. They stay in the spotlight.

Bret Michaels and the rest of Poison are pretty famous too. Bret is enjoying a resurgence of popularity thanks in part to Rock of Love on Vh1 Classic. When Rikki Rockett was arrested on a strong arm rape charge just days ago, the news circled the Internet, newswires and made national magazines. 

If bands stay in the limelight, continue to record new music and tour, are they current?

The Rolling Stones have a big movie coming out based on their live shows. When you think rock royalty, the Rolling Stones are clearly up there with the cream of the crop. Not many bands - save Led Zeppelin - are more famous. The Rolling Stones have been making music for more than four decades - but are they current?

Vh1 Classic uses the term "Classic Current" most commonly during Metal Mania video blocks. At this point I know that if a Motley Crue video pops on the screen it will be followed by SIXX: AM's clip for  "Life is Beautiful."  This is good marketing for both bands - but what sort of message does this send to fans?

Personally, I think if a band is making an effort, they are current. Current and new are two totally different things. Thoughts? 

Book Review: Straight Whisky

So I finally read Straight Whisky: A Living History of Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N Roll on the Sunset Strip by Erik Quisling and Austin Williams (Bonus Books, 2003). The book is about the history of the Whisky A Go-Go, The Rainbow Bar and Grill and the Roxy Theatre. Sadly, I was a little disappointed by the time I'd turned the last page on my hardcover edition.

Straight Whisky attempts to tell to the story of rock n' roll on the Sunset Strip over the past four decades. Some stories are interesting and others leave a lot to be desired. The book spends a ton of time on Johnny Rivers - explaining how he and the Whisky eventually became intertwined. That's fine - but no other artist gets nearly as much treatment in the book, save for maybe Led Zeppelin.

The stories about Led Zeppelin are probably my favorite part of the book. It's pretty cool hearing how the biggest rock band in the world traveled all the way from Europe just for a night of food and debauchery courtesy of the Whisky and the Rainbow.

There are factual errors and I don't really like the photos selected for the book either. There are many photos to be sure, but none of them are in color! I know color costs a little more when printing, but these are details that actually sell books.

The authors of Straight Whisky don't spend enough time on the 80s Glam scene. Of the decades of rock, 80s Metal is probably most synonymous with the Whisky A Go-Go, so the extra short chapter on this time period leaves me baffled. Sure, Poison is mentioned and Bret Michaels is quoted...but that's about it. There is one page on Motley Crue and about one sentence on Van Halen! Anyone who knows anything about 80s Metal knows that the Strip was the place to be seen - and be made. I would have loved a few more stories of bands getting discovered and signed in their natural habitat.

Maybe I'm too picky, but I have a lot of high hopes when it comes to books about sleazy rock n' roll.  This book didn't quench my thirst for rock history.

Another note: there is a giant historical inaccuracy surrounding Charles Manson and the Tate/LaBianca murders. I read Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi when I was in high school. I'm pretty sure Bugliosi - who prosecuted Manson and the rest of the Family - knows the facts surrounding the case. Straight Whisky describes an inaccurate timeline involving a confrontation between Mario Maglieri (Whisky owner) and Charles Manson. This is a large portion of the book - so I think a little fact checking is in order.

Despite the flaws, I appreciate the efforts of  Erik Quisling and Austin Williams. We need more books about rock n' roll on the Sunset Strip.

Someday I just might write a rock history myself.