Peep Show Sure are Glam

I first heard the Scotland-based band Peep Show on Glamnation Vol. 3 (and yes, I owe Metal Express Radio a review of that disc. I'm getting there!) and I was instantly impressed.

Peep Show sound like a mix of early Motley Crue and later W.A.S.P. The sound is melodic with an edge and it's all good.

So, just who the hell is in Peep Show? Johnny Gunn (vocals), Rusty Gill (guitar). Kenni Black (bass) and Charlie DeVille (drums). I haven't spoken with the band, but I'm sure these are Glam stage names. I also have to wonder if Charlie is a big fan of Poison? I digress.

The band has a self-released album called Out for Blood. I don't have a copy or I would have reviewed it by now. From what I can tell on the official Peep Show Myspace page, the songs are quite promising. Of the few selections, I really enjoy "Turn It Up" and "I Want You."

My friend Joe says he's heard rumblings that Johnny Gunn could be in chats with Crashdiet. You might recall Olliver Twisted just parted ways with the Swedish band. I must admit Johnny Gunn sounds a lot like Dave Lepard, the late original singer of Crashdiet. Perhaps I should dig around and investigate that a bit more, eh? (Martin Sweet and Peter London of Crashdiet apparently helped with Out for Blood).

Peep Show is just another example of how the current state of the music industry is in the toilet. The quartet is pretty talented, have good songs and are attractive - which does help sell albums. Yet, Peep Show remain unsigned. I'm not sure how much longer a lot of these new Glam bands can last without some form of sustainable income. At the end of the day, baby gotta eat.

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Here's Peep Show live

Photo credit: Monkeytwizzle Photography

Make Rock History

The members of Motley Crue are making a big announcement at the Guitar Center on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles tomorrow. The announcement is to launch a contest for musicians to live out their fantasies of fame and fortune.

The announcement is at noon - and if you're in the area, I think you can go right to the Guitar Center and see the band.

AC/DC Get Ready for the Road!

AC/DC are going to tour - so count me in for sure! According to Blabbermouth, the big tour starts in October.  The tour will coincide with the release of the new album Black Ice. 

I'm not sure it's possible to top Back in Black, but I hope Black Ice is just as good. Back in Black was released in 1980 and has since sold something like 22 million copies. That makes Back in Black one of the best selling albums of all time.   It's even still a top seller on Amazon.com when it comes to classic rock.

I can't really listen to "You Shook Me All Night Long" anymore because radio ruined it for me, but every other track on Back in Black is still golden. My favorite song on Back in Black is "Rock and Roll  Ain't Noise Pollution."

I wonder how long AC/DC will play during the Black Ice tour? Even more pressing - who will get the honor of being the opening act? I imagine that opening for AC/DC could be a career defining moment for an up and coming band. Hell, it could be big for an established band.

Since this is a full fledged world tour, I'm hoping AC/DC play at least two shows in Ohio. I like traveling to other states to see shows, but the money well is just about dry. Of course, AC/DC won't be hitting the U.S.A. for quite a few months, so there is time to save.

Here's AC/DC performing "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" live in 1996.

Experience(s) of a Lifetime

How do you define an experience of a lifetime?

I suppose there are different categories: weddings, births, landing a career- defining role. There are special events like proms and concerts. Sometimes "experience of a lifetime" is just a phrase. If you checked-in to Bring Back Glam! over the weekend, then you probably know that I was in Philadelphia to see George Michael. That concert was 13 years in the making for me - and yes, it was an experience of a lifetime.

You notice I didn't use the quantifier "the." After all, there is no way any of us can possibly know the single event that will define an entire lifetime. That's decided by someone else, much older, much wiser, much more important.

Thirteen years is a long time to wait for anything, let alone a concert.

My love for George Michael is pretty bizarre considering I spend 99% of my time listening to Glam or Metal. That other 1% is reserved for George. I don't like much pop music and I can't stand rap but I've listened to George for years and years. I can remember listening to his music while writing papers when I was an undergraduate. I did the same when I was a graduate student. I've listened to George through my headphones at each of my frustrating, "real-world" jobs.

Finally seeing George Michael in concert Saturday night was an experience of a lifetime - a truly magical experience. Perhaps one of the best concerts I've ever seen. I was actually *nervous * for George before the concert. Yes, I'm one of the few that still get a stomach flutter when the lights gown down and the band starts to play, signaling the start of the show. All those years of expectations are a lot for anyone to live up to - how could George be as good as I imagined? I don't have an answer, but he was - and that's the point. Sometimes, things we wait the better part of a lifetime for disappoint us - then, in rare instances, our expectations are met - and surpassed.

I love concerts where my expectations are exceeded. Quite frankly, it doesn't happen very often. Van Halen met (but did not exceed) my expectations on the recent reunion tour. Kix more than exceeded my expectations at Rocklahoma. I love that rare moment when the artist and crowd become one.

Now that I've achieved my goal of seeing George Michael in concert, I need to look ahead to other life experiences. Top of the list is (naturally) Sweden Rock Festival as well as catching AC/DC live. I imagine watching AC/DC live is sort of like talking directly into the ear of God - if she exists.

**Tell me: what is the longest you've waited to see an artist/band in concert?

One Meeting, One Chance

Right now, MasterCard is running a promotion called "Roots of Rock." Maybe you've seen the commercials that feature the music of Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton and Kenny Chesney. Anyway, the crux of the matter is that MasterCard is offering a chance to travel to the places where either Jon Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton or Kenny Chesney got their musical start. You'll also get to meet your selected rocker...which brings me to today's article: if you could meet anyone in the music industry - and yes, they must be alive - who would it be, and why?

Talk about a complicated question. First let me say that of the above choices for the MasterCard promotion, I would select Eric Clapton. I mean, he was in Cream. 

Back to my question.

Heather and I had a debate about this last night. It's hard to choose just one person, so you don't want to make a mistake with your meeting of a lifetime. A lot of musicians are very open to meeting fans, so I'd want someone completely obtuse. Someone so famous it makes my head spin just thinking about the possibility of a meeting. At first, I threw out names like Paul McCartney and Robert Plant. I mean, when you mention those names, you're talking about musicians in a league of their own. Problem is, they are not Glam. 

There's no rule in the book that says my meeting of a lifetime must be Glam  - I just think it makes more sense. After all, I know a lot of people might get excited to meet Yo Yo Ma or Miley Cryus or Garth Brooks. It's all relative and what you love I suppose.

So, the debate continues and Heather says she might want to meet Slash. No, I don't just choose Nikki Sixx by default. I'm pretty confident Nikki and I will have a face to face meeting someday soon. After all, we've already spoke over telephone so I'm almost there! Then, as if the clouds parted and skies turned blue, it dawns on Heather that the perfect person to meet is Axl Rose.

Of course the meeting must be with Axl Rose.

Can you imagine the material I could glean from just ten minutes in a room alone with Axl? I could drill him on all things Guns n' Roses - and demand to know when the real lineup will (if ever) play together again. I'd ask him if he feels any responsibility toward Steven Adler's addictions and demons. I'd also want to know if he really is best friends forever with Sebastian Bach. Oh, can you imagine? I get excited just thinking about it all. Of course, I probably have a better chance getting struck by lightning than meeting Axl. Talk about a recluse. Still, a girl can dream.

Breaking News: Kix added to Rock the Bayou

My new favorite band Kix have just been added to Rock the Bayou. The festival takes place next month in Houston, Texas.

Kix will play Monday, September 1  right before Twisted Sister and Bret Michaels. The band was confirmed less than 24 hours ago.

Remember, I'll be at this festival, so stop by and say hello if you're also in the crowd. Go to www.rockthebayou.com for more information.

Keep On, Keeping On

Today is Mick Jagger's birthday. It suddenly dawned on me that he was born in 1943 - and that means he's in his mid sixties! Moreover, he's still rocking with the Rolling Stones.

Truth be told, I'm not a giant Rolling Stones fan but I appreciate and respect their position - and importance - in the rock world. This article isn't about the Rolling Stones or even Jagger himself - it is about longevity.

How long will our favorite Glam bands tour?

I've had a lot of people (recently) say to me "I'll spend the money on these shows now because I don't know how much longer these bands will be around." Point taken. I love Motley Crue. You know this. I didn't see their debut at the Starwood in the early 80s. You also know this. Nikki Sixx is old enough to basically be my dad. Ok, you know this too - so, how long will our favorites keep on, keeping on?

I've written before that I hate fake farewell tours. KISS is a great example of the faux goodbye. In life, you're either in or you're out. That pretty much applies to every scenario you could encounter. So, how long will Motley Crue (or Poison, Aerosmith, Kix, L.A. Guns...) keep performing live.

Some bands face different situations. Tracii Guns' new version of LA Guns features members in a broad range of ages. Poison is all original members, as is Motley Crue. When you start a career in 1981 and the year is 2008, you're probably starting to look toward retirement.

Will my life end when my favorites retire? It's possible.

The issue isn't necessarily the end of live shows or the possibility of new music - it's the ending of an era - but would the music end? I don't think so. I would argue that Glam will remain relevant ten, twenty - even thirty years from now.

Think about that: you, listening to Glam in the year 2030. Will we have personal flying machines by then? I doubt it, but who knows. One thing I can guarantee: diehard music fans like you and me will  remain...and we'll still be debating the merits of Girls, Girls, Girls versus Look What the Cat Dragged In.

Whoa, what a ramble. You can tell I'm tired. I spent the day wandering the streets of Philadelphia  and I'm worn out.  Yes,  Eric, Heather and I saw the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and took a carriage ride to see the sights. I'll have pictures on Myspace soon.