7.30.2014

DICK WAGNER HAS DIED: A TRIBUTE BY STEVE HUNTER

  Dick Wagner Photo credit BlueFat.Com

Sad news today...my old compadre Dick Wagner passed away this morning after a hard fought battle with a very bad lung infection. I know there are lots of you out there who know about the two of us and our history together. From 1973 until about 1978 Dick and I were lucky enough to play on some pretty cool records and some amazing stages all over the world with some incredible artists.

We had a thing when we played together like none other I’ve experienced. It might be because, for the most part, I think we were opposites. But I think that’s what helped us play so well together. We hardly ever had to work anything out...we just did it and it was always right. It was truly a phenomenon.

There was always mutual respect. After 1978 we went our separate ways but always stayed in loose touch. And we tried many times through the years to put something together as the Hunter/Wagner team again, but it just never seemed to work. We were at our best as a team I think, when we were focusing on the material of artists like Lou Reed and Alice Cooper.

That always seemed to be when the magic happened. Dick has written and co written some real Rock N Roll classics that will live on, as well as his playing. The stuff we did together back in the 70s was really and truly magical. With much love and respect, Rest In Peace my dear old Compadre...steve

7.27.2014

DETROIT URBAN DESIGN STUDIO


The new Detroit Urban Design Studiojust recently opened for business. They feature art by some of the most legendary rock artists all in one location online. To my readers around the globe...this is the place to buy real Detroit swag....cool posters. bags, shirts, watches and lots more cool stuff....


We have started a new company called Detroit Urban Design Studio. We are dedicated to supporting Detroit’s regional artists, and displaying their art on fashion and accessories called ArtWear. Each accessory we create is designed to take art to the streets, celebrate the local artists and support a living wage.




As we begin this exciting new business we would love for you to visit our website detroiturbandesignstudio.com, and we hope you like what you see! Word of mouth is so important as we start out so please ‘Like Us’ on Facebook. Please take a moment and share our story with friends and family. We are a work in progress; so check back often!

Stop by and see us at our permanent home at the Mt Elliott Park Fun Shop just off the newly transformed Mt Elliott Park on the Detroit River Walk at 200 Mt. Elliott #16 on Wight Street side and also at Detroit’s Eastern Market at the Sunday and Thursday Evening Market Days.


We are honored to represent some very talented local artists and will soon add several more including 2 local fine artists, a dynamic graffiti artist, a print-maker and more to offer a diverse product line. Our ArtWear will include silk scarves, metal wallets, messenger bags, leather handbags, jewelry and more.

Taking local art to the streets on each ArtWear item we design.




7.25.2014

NIGHT CLUB NEW VIDEO: NEED YOU TONIGHT


Let us take you on a trip back in time with a sexy and refreshed rendition of INXS' "Need You Tonight" by the L.A. synth-pop duo Night Club. With "sultry and full" vocals and harnessing "excess and exploration," this retro cover blows us all away. You don't even need a Delorean, just give them your eyes and ears and let Night Club work their magic with their new music video:


LA duo Night Club are a force to be reckoned with.They've just released a video for their sexy cover of the 1987 INXS hit, "Need You Tonight," featuring singer Emily Kavanaugh.




JON ANDERSON & JEAN LUC PONTY FORM NEW BAND!


The Anderson Ponty Band!

Los Angeles, CA - Music legends Jon Anderson and Jean-Luc Ponty announce the formation of a new ensemble - The Anderson Ponty Band! YES's original singer/songwriter for 35 years, Jon Anderson has had a successful solo career, which includes working with such notable music artists as Vangelis, Kitaro, and Milton Nascimento. International jazz superstar Jean-Luc Ponty is a pioneer and undisputed master of violin in the arena of jazz and rock. He is widely regarded as an innovator who has applied his unique visionary spin that has expanded the vocabulary of modern music. Together these two music icons form a musical synergy that is unparalleled!

“A breakthrough feeling came as I sang with Jean-Luc's music, to be in a band again is very exciting on many levels, we will play and sing our way around the world and have fun, for music is pleasure, music is all that is, music is God” - Jon Anderson

The Anderson Ponty Band also includes Jamie Dunlap on guitars - well known as a film and television composer, most notably 'South Park'; Wally Minko on keyboards - virtuoso player and composer who has performed and recorded with many worldwide stars including Pink, Toni Braxton, Jean-Luc Ponty, Tom Jones and Barry Manilow; Baron Browne on bass who has played with Steve Smith, Billy Cobham and Jean-Luc Ponty; and Rayford Griffin on drums and percussion, who has played with Stanley Clarke Band, George Duke, Jean-Luc Ponty and Michael Jackson. The band will visit the music created by Jon Anderson and Jean-Luc Ponty over the years with new arrangements, virtuosic performances and new energy, while creating new compositions as well.

The Anderson Ponty Band have been writing and arranging old favorites during the past three months. They will be in residence for three weeks in September at Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado rehearsing, recording and playing a public performance on Saturday September 20th. An album will be finished in Los Angeles and is scheduled for release in early 2015. Also, a videography documenting the making of the album will be released as well as videos and performances. A world tour beginning in March 2015 is in the planning stages.

The Anderson Ponty Band announce the launch of a Kickstarter campaign today July 25th beginning at 2PM Eastern. The campaign will encourage fans and friends to become a stakeholder in the project. Numerous tiers of donations will be rewarded by album downloads, premium CD/DVD packages, VIP ticket access, merchandising, special one of a kind collectibles, special meet and greets with the band and much more.

7.24.2014

NEW ORDER CD ON CLEOPATRA RECORDS


Had a bit of a chat today with The Stooges' former bassist, Jimmy Recca. He told me about this New Order cd for sale on Cleopatra records. The songs were written by all three guys... Ron Asheton, Jimmy Recca and Dennis Thompson

You can get your copy HERE

The mythical mid-’70s proto-punk rock project featuring Stooges alumni Ron Asheton and Jimmy Recca with MC5 drummer Dennis "Machine Gun" Thompson!

This reissue of the group’s debut album features the underground classic “Rock ‘n’ Roll Soldiers,” which has been covered by The Hitmen and The Hellacopters, as well as a special bonus track!

7.23.2014

EDGAR WINTER: ROCK N BLUES TOUR CONTINUES


Johnny Winter Photo: Rick Diamond

Edgar Winter has announced the Rock n' Blues Tour that originally was to include his late brother Johnny Winter will now continue in his memory, according to a statement released July 22. The tour, which will kick off July 31, was to feature both Johnny Winter and his brother Edgar Winter, Vanilla Fudge, Peter Rivera formerly of Rare Earth and Savoy Brown's Kim Simmonds. READ MORE




7.22.2014

NEW CACTUS RELEASES FROM CARMINE APPICE!


Los Angeles, CA - Much to the excitement of music fans around the world, Cleopatra Records has joined forces with drum icon Carmine Appice's Rocker Records and will be releasing rare live and studio recordings by US rock legends Cactus featuring our favorite Detroit guitarist Jim McCarty , Tim Bogert & Carmine Appice and Pat Travers & Carmine Appice!

“I’m so excited that my label Rocker Records has partnered with Cleopatra Records to put out this collection of RARE and UNIQUE kick ass rock !!!” - Carmine Appice

CACTUS - AN EVENING IN TOKYO (CD)
Available Now!

The band referred to as America’s Led Zeppelin, Cactus, offer this stunning concert performance recorded in late 2012 at the Garden Shimokitazawa club in Tokyo! Features founding member and Vanilla Fudge/Ozzy Osbourne alum Carmine Appice plus Detroit blues legend Jim McCarty (formerly of Mitch Ryder’s backing band The Detroit Wheels), vocalist Jimmy Kunes (formerly of Savoy Brown), bassist Pete Bremy and harp player Randy Pratt!

Tracks:
1. Swim
2. One Way...Or Another
3. Bro. Bill
4. You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover
5. Alaska
6. Electric Blue
7. Muscle And Soul
8. Evil
9. Parchman Farm
10. Rock N’ Roll Children


CACTUS - LIVE IN THE U.S.A. (DBL CD)
Available August 5!

Drum legend Carmine Appice reunites with his fellow rock n’ roll superstars Tim Bogert & Jim McCarty for a very special Cactus reunion show at B.B. King’s in New York - June 2006! Includes powerful performances of Cactus’s live favorites “Parchman Farm,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Evil,” “Bro. Bill” and more! Like a fine double-barreled bourbon, this group has only grown stronger and better over the years!

Tracks:
DISC 1
1. Long Tall Sally
2. Let Me Swim
3. One Way...Or Another
4. Cactus Music
5. Bro. Bill
6. Muscle And Soul
7. Oleo (Bass Solo)

DISC 2
1. Part Of The Game
2. Evil
3. Cactus Boogie
4. Parchman Farm
5. Rock N’ Roll Children
CACTUS - TKO TOKYO - LIVE IN JAPAN (DBL CD/DVD)
Available September 2!

A blockbuster multi-media 2CD+DVD live set recorded in 2012 from the mighty Cactus! Features one single, mind blowing concert performance captured on both audio CD and crystal clear digital video, and includes some of the band’s finest versions of “Bro. Bill,” “Parchman Farm,” “Evil” and more! This show was recorded the night after Evening In Tokyo at the very same venue.

DISC 1
1. Long Tall Sally
2. Let Me Swim
3. One Way...Or Another
4. Bro. Bill
5. You Can’t Judge a Book By The Cover
6. Alaska
7. Muscle And Soul
8. Electric Blue

DISC 2
1. The Groover
2. Evil / Drum Solo
3. Big Mama Boogie
4. Parchman Farm
5. Randy’s Song
6. Rock N’ Roll Children
7. Part Of The Game

DVD
1. Long Tall Sally
2. Let Me Swim
3. One Way...Or Another
4. Bro. Bill
5. You Can’t Judge a Book By The Cover
6. Alaska
7. Muscle And Soul
8. Electric Blue
9. The Groover
10. Evil / Drum Solo
11. Big Mama Boogie
12. Parchman Farm
13. Randy’s Song
14. Rock N’ Roll Children
15. Part Of The Game

BOGERT & APPICE – FRIENDS (CD)
Available August 19!

Longtime partners in crime and one of the tightest rhythm sections in all of rock music, bassist Tim Bogert & drummer Carmine Appice, team up with musical friends and family for this special studio album! Features Vanilla Fudge alumni Bill Pascali, Teddy Rodinelli, and Vince Martell PLUS special guests T.M. Stevens (James Brown / The Pretenders) & Brian Auger (Rod Stewart)!

Tracks:
1. Bye Bye Love
2. Falling
3. Black Box
4. Eternity
5. The Star-Spangled Banner

BONUS TRACKS
6. Falling (with Brian Auger)

TRAVERS & APPICE - LIVE IN EUROPE (CD)
Available September 16!

Together again on this very special live album recorded in 2004, guitarist Pat Travers and drummer Carmine Appice, along with special guest bassist Tony Franklin (The Firm), bring the house down with some of the realest, rawest classic rock you’ve ever heard! Includes Travers’ biggest hits “Snortin’ Whiskey” and “Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)” as well as a supercharged version of the mega hit Appice co-authored “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” and lots more!

1. Taken
2. Better From A Distance
3. I Don’t Care
4. Crash And Burn
5. Livin’ Alone
6. Tony Solo
7. Gotta Have Ya
8. Keep On Rockin’
9. Snortin’ Whiskey
10. Can’t Escape The Fire
11. Evil
12. Do Ya Think I’m Sexy
13. Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)
14. Stand Up

7.17.2014

TEXAS BLUES ICON JOHNNY WINTER DEAD AT 70


Guitarist Johnny Winter a Detroit favorite passed away while on tour....

Texas blues icon Johnny Winter has passed away on July 16, 2014 in his hotel room in Zurich, Switzerland.

His wife, family and bandmates are all saddened by the loss of one of the world's finest guitarists.


Winter rose to fame in the late 1960s and '70s with his performances and recordings that included producing his childhood hero Muddy Waters.

"I love blues. I don't mind a little rock and roll, too, as long as it's blues-based rock and roll," he told Guitar World in 2010. He was the older brother of Edgar Winter — also a music legend.

Winter's representative, Carla Parisi, confirmed Thursday to the Associated Press that Winter died Wednesday in a hotel room in Zurich. A Facebook note says "his wife, family and bandmates were all saddened by the loss of one of the world's finest guitarists."

He had been on an extensive tour that took him to Europe for his last performance Saturday at the Lovely Days Festival in Wiesen, Austria. He performed in May at the annual Jazz Fest in New Orleans. READ MORE

7.15.2014

KEITH EMERSON & GREG LAKE NEW RELEASE: LIVE FROM MANTICORE

 

Keith Emerson and Greg Lake NEW Release 'Live From Manticore Hall' CD

London, UK – Welcome to Manticore Hall! Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, two of the founding members of prog legends Emerson Lake & Palmer, will be releasing their highly anticipated new CD 'Live From Manticore Hall' on July 14, 2014 on Manticore Records, via Cherry Red. The duo's forthcoming live album captures their unique two-man versions of a selection of well known material from ELP’s celebrated catalog, including the hit “Lucky Man”. These recordings were taken from a live show during their 2010 world tour and presented here for the first time!

“ 'Live At Manticore Hall' is an introspective revisit to some of the music of ELP. I think Greg and I gave it a personal touch with our Q&A sessions midway through the show. It was a delicate transformation that we present now.” - Keith Emerson

“I think this album offers a very interesting perspective upon how Keith and I work and create together.” - Greg Lake

Track Listing:

1. FROM THE BEGINNING
2. INTRODUCTION
3. I TALK TO THE WIND
4. BITCHES CRYSTAL
5. THE BARBARIAN
6. TAKE A PEBBLE
7. TARKUS
8. C’EST LE VIE
9. PIRATES
10. MOOG SOLO / LUCKY MAN

Click the Link below to purchase!


Greg Lake official website: http://greglake.com/

7.10.2014

DETROIT 313: TILTED AXES PERFORMERS AND SCHEDULE INFO


The Detroit Historical Society presents
“TILTED AXES: DETROIT (313)”
Music for Mobile Electric Guitars


A musical procession through Midtown Detroit, a performance outside & inside of the Detroit Historical Museum, and a Grand Finale at Comerica Park in celebration of The City of Detroit’s 313th Anniversary created and produced by composer Patrick Grant and performed by electric guitarists and featured artists from the Detroit Metro Area.

FREE and open to the public...

This presentation kicks off a week's worth of events celebrating the "313th of the 313" at the Detroit Historical Museum. For a complete schedule of these events, click HERE.

In 2011 Patrick Grant, a New York City-based composer/performer and Detroit native, created Tilted Axes: Music for Mobile Guitars for the Make Music New York celebration of the first day of winter. The title of the project refers to the axial tilt of the Earth that brings about seasonal change as well as playing upon the word “axes” which is slang for one’s guitar or other musical instrument. Since then Tilted Axes has had a number of manifestations in NYC, one in Detroit in 2013 for the first day of spring, and now looks forward to European versions beginning in September.

What is Tilted Axes? It is a body of musical works that are performed as a procession by approximately 30 guitarists with portable mini-amps worn by each performer. They are accompanied by drums and percussion and are led by standard-bearers holding a banner. The ensemble, whether in NYC, Detroit, or Europe, is made up of local musicians, in this case, musicians from the greater Detroit area, who receive the music and improvisational structures that Grant creates in advance via MP3s and PDF files. They workshop and rehearse days prior to the event, customizing it and adapting it to the nature of the ensemble and to the requirements of the event and its featured performers.

Tilted Axes has always been event specific, whether it was to celebrate the first days of winter or spring, the mayoral inauguration in NYC, or the opening of the performing season in Europe.

For this year, the Detroit Historical Society has asked Grant to bring the project back to Detroit to celebrate the city’s 313th anniversary on July 19th. Dubbed “Tilted Axes: Detroit (313),” the event is in three parts; the first starts at the Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI at 1:00pm. It consists of a procession through Midtown Detroit with stops at various locations (the DIA, the Science Museum, etc.). A detailed map of the procession route can be seen HERE.

The second part begins when the procession returns to the Detroit Historical Museum.
The players will perform outside in a circle within the museum’s Legends Plaza.

The Third part consists of a procession within the museum and culminates in its auditorium. The events presented at the Detroit Historical Museum will conclude at approximately 5:00pm.

As an added bonus to the day, beginning at 6:00pm, the musicians will be performing another processionat the entrance to Comerica Park before the Detroit Tigers game.

The Music: For this event, Grant will add to the current Tilted repertoire by introducing new variations on the Tilted Axes themes that reflect the musical history of Detroit:

1950s - Jazz/Blues
1960s - R&B/Motown
1970s - Rock/Proto-Punk
1980s - New Wave/Techno
1990s - Hip Hop/Hardcore
2000s - 21st Century ~ Synthesis

7.06.2014

RON ASHETON AND NIAGARA VISIT DENIZ TEK/HAWAII 1984

 
 Niagara with Deniz's Helmet

DENIZ TEK ORIGINAL POST JAN 2010

Sunrises are often spectacular on the north shore of Oahu. This dawn was exceptional ...The pale seashell pink glow, with bright crimson borders, was almost painfully beautiful. There were splashes of mauve, deepest gentian, and even subtle shadings of celadon green against a gentle milky background.
The only difference was that today the sun was shining on a different background - not sea and sky - but skin. It was the skin of Niagara; skin normally so pale and translucent that the faint criss-crossings of underlying veins often gave it a disturbing blue tint. Today, as the sun rose over Kaneohe, its golden rays highlighted yet another overlay of bruises and welts, the traces of activities left by the night before...

At the Officers Club things were starting to heat up. It was a Friday night squadron party, and the theme was “Sixties”. The F-4 Phantom pilots and RIO’s of VMFA 212 were drinking. They’d be letting their hair down if they had any, and no one ever accused Marines, much less Marine aviators, of being less than totally gung ho at these sort of gatherings. These guys flew hard, fought hard, and played hard. I was their flight surgeon, and flew with them in the back seat. In my cut-off denim jacket with Radio Birdman logo emblazoned, spinning 45’s, playing DJ and feeling very happy. I had an endless supply of local Primo beer and Jack Daniels coming my way, as long as the hits kept spinning on the turntable. Namu, Bone, “Evil” Frog, and some of the other squadron “class clowns” had shown up in long hair wigs with mock drug paraphernalia. Even “Pack”, the cigar chomping, hard as nails skipper, was relaxing ... just a bit.

Lt.Col J.J. “Pack” Barta had a right to be a tough customer. He had spent a fair amount of the late sixties in the jungle living on bugs, dodging AK-47 rounds and avoiding booby traps as a recon Marine. He had a little different perspective on that decade than us younger dudes. Ron Asheton, who was visiting me and my wife of three years, Angie, in the Islands, had yet another perspective on the sixties based on several operational tours of duty with the Stooges. Niagara had flown out with Ron for the holiday. They had gotten over jet lag and climate shift, and the carefree couple were beginning to enjoy a taste of squadron life.

The drinks flowed freely, the conversation got louder, the music and dancing grew wilder as the Marines and their Michigan guests partied on into the night. Niagara was constantly surrounded by Marines bringing drinks, like courtly slaves at the beck and call of a princess in ancient Egypt. She was completely in her element, as self-assured, and in control as a 6000 hour veteran Navy or Marine jet fighter jock making a carrier landing in daylight and good weather. The young pilots had never seen anything remotely like her. Usually fearless, often loud, they were now not only polite, but a little bit ... shy! They didn’t know what to do when she spoke to them in “that” voice. They were even less certain of the outcome when confronted by a pale white breast spilled momentarily from the low cut dress. This was at home, mind you, not the Phillipines! There were wives around, and there was no emergency procedure checklist for that!!



Ron had acquired the honorary call sign, “Sixpack”. He knew his military history, and he loved airplanes. Ron’s father had been a Marine aviator in the Pacific in World War 2. Ron rode to work with me, and had been spending plenty of time hanging around the squadron. Once Ron was in the ready room, and had taken over the base radio. He was actually communicating with Phantom crews out on a mission, when The Skipper walked in, shook his head in disbelief. Without removing the cigar from his mouth, he yelled “ASHETON! IN MY OFFICE NOW!!” Both Ron and the duty officer, who had taken a break leaving Ron in charge, took a verbal beating. Ron prided himself on this later. Being disciplined by the Skipper made him feel like he was really part of the team! Tonight he was drinking hard, enjoying conversation with the squadron guys but always had one concerned eye on Niagara and was feeling a little bit of anxiety over some of the indiscretions of the evening, and where it all might lead.

Finally things wound down and Marines with three sheets to the wind drifted out into the balmy tropical night. On the way out of the club, the laws of gravity overcame high heels and equilibrium. To the horror and fascination of onlookers, Niagara murmured “Ohhhh, Ronnie!” and then plunged head first down a long flight of stairs. She swapped ends two or three times, long legs and thin arms violently slamming corners, rails and steps all the way down. She landed in a piteous heap at the bottom of the landing, knickers exposed, moaning. The crash was spectacular, but Ron had seen this scenario many times before and knew what had to be done. After a quiet “God DAMN it” from between clenched teeth, he looked around at the shocked audience, lit a cigarette, and smiled. He said, “Hey, its OK, she’ll be all right, could you guys just help me get her in the car?”.

We did just that and drove the 10 miles northwest up the King Kamehameha Highway to our townhouse on Hui Kelu Street in Temple Valley. Everyone went straight to bed ... because in an unbelievable lapse of planning wisdom, I had organized fishing for the next day. It would require an early start.

Three hours later Niagara, Ron, 7 months pregnant Angie and I had climbed into the green ’72 Olds Cutlass-S and were heading for the pier. We were all tired and (except Angie, who wasn’t drinking) hung over, that was a given. Ron, beyond tired and hung over, was barely able to speak. Niagara was even worse, and seemed very close to needing to be placed on life support. Niagara’s external injuries were bad enough, but there was also inner damage to that slender wraithlike 50 kilogram body. The mix of fermentation by-products and toxins from the alcohol were taking an even greater toll from the inside. The weary pair only wanted to be unconscious, better yet fully anesthetized, but being the good sports that they are, tried very hard to stay present and awake. It didn’t work out that way.


★Deniz Tek, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a prolific guitarist, singer and songwriter currently based in Sydney, Australia. His career in music, grounded in late-60's Detroit, extends through several decades and across continents. He is best known as a founding member of the influential Australian independent rock band Radio Birdman.

In 2007, Deniz was inducted into the Australian Music Hall of Fame, and in 2012 was voted number 7 in the top 100 Australian guitarists of all time.★


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