This Week’s SHAZAM Winner!!
Congrats to Jackie Plaisance in Lafitte, LA who listens to Bayou 95.7, and is this week’s Shazam contest winner, scoring a House of Hair t-shirt!
Be sure to Shazam the House of Hair Request of the Week when you hear it each week. Whip out your cell phone and open the Shazam app to get info on the song and register to win an official House of Hair t-shirt, too! One winner will be chosen randomly each week.
METAL NEWS
Bon Jovi Announce Contest For Opening Acts for Their Upcoming 2017 Tour
Jon Bon Jovi announced on Facebook Live that an opening act contest which allows bands to upload an audition for the chance to open an arena date on Bon Jovi’s upcoming 2017 This House Is Not For Sale Tour is in the works.
Jon Bon Jovi said, “Every great band starts small and builds their rep one show at a time. That’s the opportunity we were given and now we want to pay it forward. If you’re ready for the arena stage, submit your audition tapes and join us in playing for the best audiences in rock music.”
It is the third time that the band has invited local and regional artists to share the stage on tour. Ten different artist(s) will be selected to open for Bon Jovi on the Live Nation-promoted concerts listed here.
To enter, bands should upload audition videos beginning now on this website or the Bon Jovi Facebook page.
Judas Priest Stream Live Track From Turbo Anniversary Edition
Judas Priest have issued a live recording of “Out In The Cold” as a preview to the February 3 release of an expanded reissue of their 1986 album, Turbo, for its 30th anniversary. The expanded 30th anniversary reissue will be available as a 3CD set, LP and via digital download.
The track is from a May 1986 concert at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, MO that is featured in the revamped package, which also includes a remastered version of the original album.
Check out the full track listing for Judas Priest’s reissue of Turbo and to pre-order a copy.
Listen to the track on the HOH website, here.
Bobby Blotzer Blasts Ex-Bandmates’ “Misinformation and Lies” in War Over Ratt Trademarks
Ratt drummer Bobby Blotzer continues to insist that his former bandmates have no legal right to reunite under the Ratt name without him — in a lengthy Facebook post this week he points the finger at “misinformation and lies” coming out of the other side of the group’s latest messy public battle.
Battling against the contention that bassist Juan Croucier was illegally expelled from the business partnership controlling Ratt’s copyrights — thus invalidating the Blotzer-owned corporation that currently holds the reins — Blotzer stressed that there’s been “no final judgment” in the case and called Croucier “the biggest liar I’ve known” and “a fat bug on the windshield that looks like Danny DeVito with a headband on.”
The court has upheld Blotzer’s argument that the current Ratt corporation is legal, freeing him to book dates with his own version of the group without fear of having promoters scared off by cease and desist letters. “We win, we’re back out on tour soon,” he wrote. “We have six dates booked so far.”
“What I don’t get is that for five years I tried to rally these guys together, and NOW they’re good to go on tour? … I simply wanted to tour,” Blotzer notes. “They didn’t. They didn’t speak to each other till they saw the huge success we had this past year. We did 70 or so shows, and grossed more money on this tour than any tour Ratt has done in 20 years past. I tried to keep the originals and the rest together. This isn’t my undoing.”
With another hearing scheduled for January 23, the Ratt battle isn’t over yet. We’ll keep you updated on the continuing saga.
Meanwhile…The Original Reunited Ratt Members Prepare for 2017 Tour
The reunited Ratt lineup, featuring singer Stephen Pearcy, guitarist Warren DeMartini and bassist Juan Croucier, are at work on material for a new album, and will embark on the Back For More tour in 2017.
A message at Pearcy’s Facebook page states: “Pearcy/De Martini/Croucier already writing and recording song roughs for a new RATT record. When, where they record and release this new record TBA. It will happen, ready when ready.”
Vocalist Stephen Pearcy said, “Yeah… we are very fortunate enough to have a great fan base worldwide. You can’t have one particular person that had nothing to do with writing or anything go out and decide, ‘Hey this is it.’ He bad raps the guys who did it just in order to make a living. It is one thing to make a living, and anybody can play our music but, you know… you eventually have to pay up. To each his own… I really don’t discuss it because it is a matter of principal. It is a public matter but I don’t feel the need to address it. I just take another approach that we have better things to do and more constructive, positive things to do. The people have spoken so we are dealing with it. Ratt, today, is going to be a good thing. We have a lot of work to do, but it is good.”
Kelly Osbourne to Release Memoir, Reveals Ozzy Osbourne Overdosed While Sharon Osbourne Fought Cancer
Kelly has detailed her life in a new memoir, titled, “There Is No F**king Secret: Letters From a Badass B–ch”.
The book is written in the form of a series of letters as Kelly confronts a variety of issues from her personal experiences. She details a troubling time for the family as her father nearly died from an overdose as Sharon was battling cancer. According to excerpts obtained by Page Six, Kelly writes, “Dad was there in his boxers and I watched him scoop his hands into a bowl of pills, swallow a handful of something and then wash it down with vodka” after learning that Sharon had suffered a seizure while receiving cancer treatments.
In the ambulance on the way to the hospital, Kelly recalled, “[Ozzy] leaned over to put his hand out to see if mum was breathing. Then he passed out with his hand over her mouth… The EMTs tried to pull him off, and Dad, not knowing where he was or what he was doing, started to resist out of habit. They pulled over the ambulance and started to call the police.”
She stated, “Dad could not handle the thought of losing mum” and that a doctor was on site at the house to “shoot him up with whatever he wanted while the [doctor’s] son sat in our dining room and played video games.”
Kelly told The Wrap, “The book isn’t just a memoir, they’re letters to the people, places, situations, circumstances, things I’ve been through, to make me who I am, so people stop asking me what my secret is, and hopefully with me going through what I went through in my life and sharing what I’ve learned can help other people. It’s ok to be different.”
The book is due for release on April 25.
Def Leppard Frontman Joe Elliott Pays Tribute To David Bowie at London Concert
Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott was among the singers who performed at the Celebrating David Bowie concert on Sunday, January 8 at the O2 Academy Brixton in London, England.
Other performers paying tribute to the late David Bowie on the occasion of what would have been his 70th birthday included La Roux, Keane’s Tom Chaplin, Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, and members of Spandau Ballet, as well as Bowie collaborators Earl Slick and Adrian Belew.
Watch the video of Joe Elliot performing “All The Young Dudes”, backed by The London Community Gospel Choir.
Deep Purple Sue Longtime Accountant Over Missing $5 Million
Deep Purple are suing longtime accountant Dipak Shanker Rao after discovering that nearly $5 million dollars is missing following a review of their company’s books last year after former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore sued, alleging that he was owed £750,000 in unpaid royalties.
The Times reports principal band members Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice and the estate of Jon Lord have filed a lawsuit in London accusing Rao of siphoning off up to £4 million in royalties from their financial companies, HEC Enterprises and Deep Purple (Overseas) Ltd. Only £477,000 has been recovered so far, while both companies went into bankruptcy a year ago.
ON TOUR
Foreigner Turning 40 with Worldwide Summer Tour; Gramm to Appear
Foreigner is turning 40 this year, and they’re celebrating with a worldwide tour, set to launch in Syracuse, NY on July 11. For the US shows presented by Live Nation, Foreigner will share the bill with Rock and Roll Hall Of Famers Cheap Trick, who are also celebrating 40 years since the release of their debut album, and special guest Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience. Tickets go on sale January 13 at livenation.com.
“I never could have imagined when I set out to create Foreigner forty years ago, that we’d still be touring around the world and performing the music we love all these years later,” says founding member and lead guitarist Mick Jones. “I can’t express the gratitude I feel when fans share stories of how our songs have been woven into their milestones and memories over the years. This summer we are going to celebrate these songs, and I can’t imagine a better group of friends to share this monumental tour with, than Cheap Trick and Jason Bonham who are sure to make it a true tribute to the everlasting power of rock and roll.”
Former Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm has confirmed he will make a guest appearance. Gramm said on Twitter:
“After 24 hours of some crossed wires and miscommunication, I can confirm that I and the rest of the original band have been invited to join Foreigner for a song or two at any show during this 40th anniversary year. Dennis Elliot (drums) and Rick Wills (bass) will be in St. Augustine, FL on 2/24. Ian McDonald (multi-instrumentalist), Al Greenwood (keyboards) and I will perform on a date yet to be determined.”
Tour dates are on the HOH website.
And check out this hilarious tour promotion video, where vocalist Kelly Hansen of Foreigner surprises elevator riders in a sing-a-long of their hits!
Rocklahoma 2017 Lineup Announced
A massive music lineup has been announced for the 11th year of Rocklahoma, May 26, 27 & 28, 2017 at “Catch The Fever” Festival Grounds in Pryor, Oklahoma, just outside Tulsa.
The current Rocklahoma band lineup is as follows: Soundgarden, Def Leppard, The Offspring, The Cult, Ratt (featuring Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, Juan Croucier and Carlos Cavazo), Jackyl, Suicidal Tendencies, Buckcherry, Zakk Sabbath, Slaughter, and many more.
Pre-sale weekend tickets and layaway packages, as well as hotel, camping and VIP packages, are available for purchase starting Tuesday, January 10 at 10:00 AM CST at Rocklahoma.com.
NEW RELEASES
To coincide with their 40th Anniversary summer tour, Foreigner – Mick Jones (lead guitar), Kelly Hansen (lead vocals), Jeff Pilson (bass, vocals), Tom Gimbel (rhythm guitar, sax, vocals), Michael Bluestein (keyboards), Bruce Watson (guitar) and Chris Frazier (drums) – will be releasing a celebratory 40th anniversary album that features forty Foreigner tracks throughout the years entitled 40 – Forty Hits From Forty Years. This album is a comprehensive compilation of original hits and several tracks from the current lineup with Kelly Hansen on vocals.
KISS bandmates Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons will team up with the Kaw Nation to build a new rock ’n’ roll-themed casino and resort complex in Oklahoma. Simmons and Stanley are set to bring their Rock & Brews restaurant concept to the Kaw Nation Casino, which is about 15 miles south of the Kansas state line on Interstate 35. A groundbreaking ceremony is set for January 12, where more details about the project will be announced. Get more details at TulsaWorld.com.
Anthrax will release a limited tour edition of their For All Kings album on February 17. The set will include the track “Vice Of The People” (previously only available in Japan), as well as a bonus disc of demos.
Drummer Charlie Benante said: “We’ve included some of the demos from For All Kings in this package. We wanted to show the evolution of the songs. The idea of a song can start from a guitar riff or a thought in your head. It then takes shape and goes from my music to Scott’s lyrics to Frank and Joey’s ideas and melodies to Jon’s lead guitar. This is our way of making Anthrax music – ENJOY!”
Rock guitar legend Michael Schenker will release Michael Schenker Fest “Live” Tokyo on March 24. Filmed and recorded at the Tokyo International Forum on August 24, 2016, it features guest appearances from some of the greatest rock vocalists who have worked with Schenker including MSG’s Gary Barden and Graham Bonnet, and Robin McAuley.
Says Schenker, “It’s a miracle that after all these years, something like this took place with the original band members of MSG. Being able to go back to those days and celebrate the music is an exciting experience for us, as well as for old and new fans. To being able to re-experience, and for the new audience to get a feel of what it was like, is incredibly enjoyable.”
Check out the official trailer, here.
Slayer’s first comic book in the three issue Dark Horse Comics series, “Slayer: Repentless,” is due out on January 27.
The debut issue of the thrash-metal stalwarts’ first official comic book has its story building off the mysterious, eyepatch-wearing convict in their recent music videos. The group drafted Twilight Zone comic artist Guiu Vilanova to give the story its gory look and Metalocalypse writer Jon Schnepp to pen a tale gruesome enough to be worthy of the band’s lyrics. Check out a 6-page preview at RollingStone.com.
Metalheads Say The Damnedest Things
Q: In your book, Living Like A Runaway, you credit your friendship with Eddie Van Halen with motivating you to give your all as a guitarist and musician. This was in 1979, four years after The Runaways. Can you give us more detail?
A: “I was starting to get frustrated and was going to give up. He talked me out of it and said “f**k them, Lita you can play guitar, go f**king play guitar.” He was like my big bro. Coming from him, it gave me a lot of confidence to tell the world who didn’t believe in me to f**k off. And I did.”
~ Lita Ford, in a new interview with The Women’s International Music Network, who will be presenting her with a 2017 She Rocks Award at the upcoming NAMM Show in January.