5.27.2014

JIM HARPER'S BOOK REVIEW: DETROIT: AN AMERICAN AUTOPSY BY CHARLIE LEDUFF

 

If you were born here, and remember when Detroit was alive. If you just moved here and are curious how it got this way.If you're from somewhere else and want to understand..I highly recommend Charlie LeDuff's "Detroit an American autopsy".

The hipsters who think "everything's great! The city's comin' back!", won't like it, but if they read it, I think they'll learn a lot. Best book I've read in a long time.

The ending gave me chills and I wept. It will stay with you for days after you finish. If you can't afford to buy it, borrow it. But I strongly recommend it. Charlie is a very talented writer and this book does NOT exploit Detroit's misery. It explains it and puts a human face on it. And like it or not, it's truth. JIM HARPER


CLICK THE BOOK

Back in his broken hometown, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charlie LeDuff searches the ruins of Detroit for clues to his family’s troubled past. Having led us on the way up, Detroit now seems to be leading us on the way down. Once the richest city in America, Detroit is now the nation’s poorest.

Once the vanguard of America’s machine age—mass-production, blue-collar jobs, and automobiles—Detroit is now America’s capital for unemployment, illiteracy, dropouts, and foreclosures. With the steel-eyed reportage that has become his trademark, and the righteous indignation only a native son possesses, LeDuff sets out to uncover what destroyed his city. READ MORE

5.26.2014

REDD: RISING STAR DETROIT PUB MAY 31


REDD - (Jeremy Stewart) - Will be headlining the RocknRoll Hair Show this Saturday May 31 to benefit KNOW/RESOLVE.

REDD is from Detroit and we are excited to see his show along with a song he recorded recently with Rocquel Wallace...Both of these performers really bring the heat...Tickets are moving fast so grab your tix HERE



REDD - (Jeremy Stewart) - Born Jan 27 1992 Jeremy Stewart began playing drums for his elementary band in 5th grade. It was not long after that he began to start recording himself rhyming over beats he found on the Internet. By 13 years of age his catalog of early material included collaborations with rappers LilMor (Anthony Morales) and Quicksta (Kenny Quick).

2009 saw the forming of what would soon be Suburban Syndicate featuring REDD, LilMor and Quicksta. Suburban Syndicate's first release WiFi love sold out all 500 hard copies within 2 weeks time. The band signed a production deal while all 3 members were still in high school and went on to garner successes both in Detroit and in Nashville.

 
Releasing 2 mixtapes and the album 82316 a Rap/Rock fusion that grabbed attention both on the Internet and also lead to Suburban Syndicate playing the 2012 Rockstar uproar tour. The band suffered from issues with the musical genre change and member commitments and in early 2013 went on a hiatus. Although all three original members still work together it is no longer under the banner of "Suburban Syndicate".


Now working as a solo artist and making waves. REDD just dropped his first solo release Rising Star. With his videos receiving multiple awards online on sites such as Beat100.


REDD was also recently received the coveted Ultimate Musician Award on Beat100. Catch REDD on all his social media sites and for show/tour updates at any of the following links.



5.24.2014

MIDNIGHT RIDER ALLSTAR TRIBUTE TO THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND

 

Leon Russell, Steve Morse & Pat Travers Lead A Stellar Cast Of Music Superstars On This Tribute To The Legendary Allman Brothers Band!

Also features Commander Cody, Molly Hatchet, The Oak Ridge Boys, Artimus Pyle Band, Reese Wynans (Double Trouble), Tinsley Ellis, Robben Ford & more!

Los Angeles, CA - One of music’s biggest and most influential juggernauts gets the respect and admiration they so richly deserve on this brand new tribute album available May 27th from Cleopatra Records! Featuring an eclectic group of rock, country, and blues legends, Midnight Rider - A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band offers energetic new covers of the classic hits “Midnight Rider,” “Ramblin’ Man,” and “Whipping Post” as well as one of the most famous instrumental songs in all of rock music “Jessica,” alongside many more Southern fried favorites!

“The Allman Brothers were a central part of my roots,” proclaims guitarist Steve Morse, who shreds his way through a smoldering version of “Whipping Post” on the album. “Living in Georgia much of my life, they were the local legends that everybody loved. They had the swing, the inventive double guitar parts, the ability to jam just long enough to keep the audience, and that golden voice of Greg’s! When my instrumental rock band, the Dixie Dregs, played, we often played ‘Jessica,’ which automatically makes any audience start moving and smiling. I’ve been lucky enough to sit in with many of the members at various times, and we have shared a lot of common ground. I’m still a fan!”

Duane Allen, lead vocalist for country legends The Oak Ridge Boys, declares, “‘Ramblin’ Man’ is the national anthem of Southern Rock & Roll, so it is a huge honor to be asked to be a part of this tribute.” Allen’s sentiments are echoed by several other participants including blues guitarist Eric Gales who considered it a “great honor” and Tinsley Ellis who also speaks enthusiastically of the group as “one of a handful of musical acts, along with Ray Charles and Willie Nelson, that are considered to be a genre unto themselves. It is a great honor to be among the other stellar acts paying tribute to such a legendary and influential American band.”

Speaking for a next generation of blues rock artists, Eli Cook offers both high praise and a word of advice: “The Allman Brothers’ story of talent, hard work, and blind devotion to creating an honest and unique sound is one that every artist should study and imitate. Just as they cut their teeth on Taj Mahal, Cream, Elmore James, and all the great early R&B artists, today’s players are wise to woodshed with the Eat A Peach and Live At The Fillmore albums.” Or just pick up a copy of Midnight Rider - A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band and let these boys show you how it’s done!

1. Midnight Rider - Pat Travers
2. Ramblin’ Man - Oak Ridge Boys, Tinsley Ellis & Kevin McKendree
3. Melissa - Molly Hatchet
4. Blue Sky - Artimus Pyle Band
5. Whipping Post - Jimmy Hall & Steve Morse
6. Jessica - Roy Rogers, John Wesley & Jim Eshelman
7. One Way Out - Robben Ford & Martin Gerschwitz
8. Soulshine - Debbie Davies & Melvin Seals
9. Statesboro Blues - Eli Cook
10. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed - Eric Gales
11. Southbound - Commander Cody & Sonny Landreth
12. I’m No Angel (Greg Allman solo) - Leon Russell, Reese Wynans & Ronnie Earl

To pre-order the CD at Amazon,


5.21.2014

FENDER LUCITE DRAWS ATTENTION


NM, with clear plastic strap, tweed-covered OHC, custom-ordered by Garry Beers of INXS, made in Fender Custom shop by John Page and Michael Stevens, serial number P003 (001 was a Strat, 002 was a prototype body for this instrument), used in "Suicide Blonde" video and promo photos for X album, a one-of-a-kind instrument, with letter from Beers. in Nashville Show


Found this very cool photo of a custom Lucite Fender P bass and shared it on Facebook...a lot of people commented and shared the photo above.....here is some of the buzz....

Stan B. Mikelsavage Sweet but I bet it weighs a ton.

Damian Moss I've never seen one with a plexiglass neck!!!!

Brian Tourville That's Instant Collectible as it's a Fender ..

Michael Segler Damian, me either.. have seen the plexiglas body, but not w/the neck.

Retro Kimmer I had no idea how much these solid plastic guitars weigh....I went to pick up Deniz Tek's Dan Armstrong and almost fell over with the beast.....

Damian Moss They are heavy kim..... also what concerns me is plexiglass is porous. ...over time I'd worry about yellowing....not to mention the fact about resonance. .looks awesome no doubt. ..but I'd have to know more

Benjamin Borden I would be very surprised if it stayed in tune for long ,,the Dan Armstrong Ampegs with the plexi glass body were terrible

Michael Segler I would have to agree w/Damian.. I can't imagine the acrylic is much of a good 'sound body'... that's the reason they only use certain types of wood for the guitar body construction.

Retro Kimmer but...it looks so cool!

Michael Segler yea, like those see through, engine models they used to sell in the back of the comic books;^)


John Entwistle Fender Lucite P-Bass

CINETOPIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL GUIDE JUNE 4-8 2014


The Cinetopia International Film Festival is honored to welcome groundbreaking auteur Spike Lee for a special 25th anniversary screening of his film Do the Right Thing at the Michigan Theater on Friday, June 6. This invite-only event is made possible by a generous Michigan Theater …

Retro Kimmer

5.20.2014

IRON BUTTERFLY: LIVE AT THE GALAXY 1967

 

Recently was asked to review an upcoming release by Iron Butterfly, “Live At The Galaxy 1967”. I jumped at the opportunity to review one of my favorite bands of all time.

This album has been dug out of the vaults some place not yet known and was most likely done from a late ’60s sound board/mixer or even a table top reel-to-reel recorder. With that said, the quality reflects that recording procedure and the time frame. The actual recording date was November 9, 1967. Although this show has been around a number of years as a full blown bootleg this is its first release as a true recording with all the pomp and circumstance it really deserves.


The set list this particular night included:

Real Fright
Possession
Filled With Fear
Fields of Sun
It’s Up To You
Gloomy Day To Remember
Evil Temptation
So-Lo
Gentle As It May Seem
Lonely Boy
Iron Butterfly Theme
You Can’t Win

The album is dirty, grimy and heavy…everything we have come to expect and love about Iron Butterfly. It has that high quality bootleg feel, but don’t let that fool you. It feels live and truly gives you the aural experience of a late ‘60s club concert! You can almost smell the reefer wafting through the air and clink of glasses and bottles in between songs. Don’t expect the quality of your favorite boy band’s new release though or you’ll be absolutely disappointed.

This set encompasses 6 songs from their 1st album, “Heavy” which hadn’t been released yet. You can hear the future being born in these 6 songs. “Iron Butterfly Theme” is here in still an unpolished state but still very recognizable and moving. Many of the songs will cause you to listen to them several times to understand how much more work went into them to bring them to the final form we saw upon release of the “Heavy” album.


Even more amazing is the fact 3 songs found here weren’t released until their 3rd album, “Ball”, which went to #3 position on the USA music charts in 1969. That’s a full 2 years after they recorded them in this performance. You may have to listen close to recognize them but the development will stun you.

There are also 3, still unreleased songs, in this set list. They are “It’s Up To You”, Gloomy Day To Remember” and “Evil Temptation”. One has to wonder why they didn’t spend more time to polish and complete them at some point. I will go out on a limb and speculate that maybe the large amount of band member changes did not let that happen. That is unfortunate for Iron Butterfly fans around the world.

With all this said this is not an album for your typical radio listener or non-rock fan. What this album is though is a historical account of one of rock’s most famous and favorite bands. If you are a Iron Butterfly collector, music history aficionado or just someone who is interested in the growth of your favorite Iron Butterfly tune than this is a MUST HAVE ALBUM for you. I found it to be a great listen and will add it to my music collection when the vinyl version is released on June 10, 2014. The CD version is being released on May 27, 2014 for those of you who can’t wait for the vinyl. All I can say is…we miss you Iron Butterfly!

“Electric Mike” Langford

5.19.2014

DENIZ TEK BUYS FRED "SONIC" SMITH'S CRESTWOOD

Deniz Tek with The Crestwood in Radio Birdman

Deniz Tek tells the history of his Epiphone Crestwood Deluxe that was once owned by Fred Smith during the MC5 days.

Deniz Tek: I was in Ann Arbor in 1973, home to visit family and friends on my first visit back after moving to Australia in '71. By then I was in a band called TV Jones, and I was always on the lookout for cool guitars. Anyway, I was at the Campus Corners store on South University, looking at the notice board. There was a handwritten ad that read something like "MC5 Epiphone Crestwood guitar" and a phone number. I knew the band had split up and was selling stuff.
 
Fred "Sonic" Smith

Being a huge fan of the MC5, and a lover of great guitars, I called the number. It was a middle man, selling the stuff. I think his name was Fred Stoll. I knew his sister in school. So I went down and bought the guitar, I wont say for how much but it was a good deal even for those days. The guitar came with a case with the MC5 stencil painted on it. I took the guitar back to Australia, and it being the finest guitar I had ever owned, I began playing it as my main axe. I've played it ever since.
 

The Epiphone Crestwood Deluxe was the top of the line solid body Epiphone back in the days when Epiphone was owned and built by Gibson. It was the Cadillac. It featured 3 mini-humbucking pickups, and a 3 position selector switch where you could get the neck pickup alone, the bridge pickup alone, or the bridge and middle pickup together. The way it was wired you couldn't get all three at once.

  photo by Kevin O'Rafferty

It had an oversized batwing headstock, bindings, Grover machine heads. The particular model that Fred had was a very rare version that had a factory-installed Bigsby tailpiece instead of the standard Epi tailpiece. This conversion left a couple of extra screwholes in front of the bridge. To cover those up, a little black plate was put on that said "Custom Made". Apparently they only made 200 of that model. Mine was made in 1966.

photo by Kevin O'Rafferty

I am pretty hard on guitars onstage. The Epiphone had the neck break off 3 times. It was never deliberate, but just from the way I play, plus the fact that the neck-body joint on those guitars is a bit flimsy ... it was that model's only design flaw. The last time it happened, in the early 90's, I left it with Dan Erlewine. He was the guitarist in the Prime Movers when Iggy was the drummer, and he was also at the same time my first guitar teacher at Herb David Guitar Studio in Ann Arbor in 1964. Dan later became a world renowned guitar luthier and repairman. He used to write the guitar repair section of Guitar Player magazine. Dan did an amazing repair job on that guitar and fixed it up so the neck joint was bulletproof. I never had a problem with it from then on.
 
Photo: Tim Bugbee

I became friends with Fred Smith a couple of years after I bought his guitar, and he would occasionally ask me to bring it along and play as a guest with Sonics Rendezvous on the song City Slang, which features a lot of guitar. Fred was always happy to see his old Crestwood.


In 1978 I was in London with Radio Birdman, and we ran into Iggy and his touring band which at that time included Fred Smith, Scott Asheton, Gary Rasmussen and Scott Thurston. Fred had some extra cash on hand, and asked me if I would consider selling the guitar back to him. By then I had played that guitar on several hundred shows and some recordings ... it felt like part of me. I wouldn't sell. He was understanding and good humored about it. We went out to dinner that night. Much later, after Fred passed away, my pal Scott Asheton told me that Patti wanted to get the guitar back as part of Fred's estate. Again, I had to respectfully decline.

I went to photograph the legendary Radio Birdman at Manning Bar last night. The band had fun on stage and the crowd loved it. The show was awesome.
Here is a photo of half of Deniz Tek and his beloved Epiphone Crestwood Deluxe as they get ready to launch.
Photo Emmy Etié Photography

When I was touring with DKT-MC5 in 2004, I played that guitar. It was a great, great honor to fill in with them. Of course, no one can ever fill Fred Smith's shoes, or play like him. I asked Wayne what he wanted me to do, exactly. He said "I'm hiring you to play your ass off". I said: "I can do that"! Wayne remembered Fred's guitar well. He said that around the time I bought it, they also tried to sell his world famous American flag Stratocaster. And he told me that no one bought it! Unsold, it went into storage. He went on to say that he never found out what happened to it after that.


The guitar has become iconic over the years. People associate it with me, with Radio Birdman, and with the MC5. In Australia, Epiphone guitars became sought after. Players wanted that sound, and that look! By 2006, the last time I toured with it, it was so beat-up and had lost so much paint that it began to have some tone problems when the bare wood would get soaked. I had it dried out and clear coated, and decided to allow it to retire gracefully. Deniz Tek

★Deniz Tek, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a 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.★

GLAM MEETS JAM: 2014 ROCK N ROLL HAIR SHOW MAY 31 @ DETROIT PUB!

 

Detroit Rock n Roll Magazine is happy to help sponsor this fabulously glamorous gig to help prevent teenage suicide. Beth Walker the manager of Boncidello Salon & Spa contributed the story today. The show has some great musical talent for your entertainment along with hair stylists with their models walking the runway between bands...we can't wait... and to the guys ...all the girls will be at this gig!

THE BONCIDELLO SALON & SPA, is blessed with a very talented staff who are excited to participate in helping our local charities . Last year we were able to support a local family whose child had brain tumor by holding a hair show event at a local bar.

 
This year we are able to support the charity KnowResolve. This charity helps with suicide prevention in teens. The founder hosts talks at our local school educating the students about depression and suicide .

  CRISIS LINE 1-800-273-TALK

KnowResolve is an important non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health and reducing youth suicide through outreach, advocacy and education. Their goals are to increase help-seeking behavior, connect teens and young adults to available resources, promote the development of healthy coping skills and promote relationship-building among students on school campuses.

The Boncidello Salon Team
 
The Boncidello Salon & Spa Team organized their 2014 RocknRoll Hair Show to raise funds and awareness for this very important teen suicide prevention campaign.


The evening will showcase four local bands with Boncidello Salon & Spa models rocking the runway with the hottest hair styles of 2014 between sets.

   ROQUEL  
(formerly of 34 Bliss)

5.18.2014

AN ENDLESS SPORADIC: DERPULOUS


Los Angeles, CA - One of the most talked about up and coming prog groups of 2014, An Endless Sporadic, is releasing a new single on the heels of their appearance on the Progressive Nation 2014 cruise hosted by Transatlantic's Mike Portnoy!

The new single, featuring Zach Kamins on guitar, Eloy Palacios on bass, Tony Solis on additional guitar, and Andy Gentile on drums, is titled “Derpulous”; a short instrumental piece about the journey of an alien seahorse in treacherous seas.



Watch the video for “Derpulous' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKveX9039bM

“A wild progressive sonic ride. It's thrilling to hear progressive rock that is fresh and inspiring. These guys are obviously very skilled and their music is brimming over with youthful creativity and vitality.” - Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)

Originally formed the band in 2005 in Houston, TX through a series of random jam/improv sessions by Zach Kamins and Andy Gentile. Eventually, AES's song “Sun Of Pearl” was featured in Tony Hawk's American Wasteland video game. The track “Impulse” was added as a bonus song in Guitar Hero 3, and the track “Anything” has been featured in Guitar Hero: World Tour as free Downloadable Content in the Neversoft Track Pack.

The band has a wide range of musical influences, which can be heard throughout their work, and include ELP, King Crimson, Dream Theater, The Flower Kings, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Dillinger Escape Plan, Sikth, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Primus, Mr. Bungle and Ozric Tentacles.

For more information: www.anendlesssporadic.com

To purchase the “Derpulous” single: http://bit.ly/1m32F8Y

BASSIST ERIK SCOTT'S NEW LP: "AND THE EARTH BLEEDS"


Former Alice Cooper / Flo & Eddie Bassist Erik Scott 
To Release Second World Music Album 'And The Earth Bleeds'

“A rocking bassist takes trips down unconventional musical roads, with apparently no rules or signposts. Medieval gypsy violin, Celtic melodies, steel guitars….. surprises.”

San Francisco, CA - Much to the excitement of music aficionados worldwide, bassist/composer Erik Scott will be releasing his sophomore CD 'And The Earth Bleeds' on May 8, 2014. Best known for his work with Alice Cooper, Sonia Dada, and Flo & Eddie, Erik's newest release takes the listener on an aural voyage through ethereal and otherworldly musical landscapes. 'And The Earth Bleeds' adds some vocals, gypsy violins, Celtic melodies, a dash of steel guitar, a wisp of French horns and other surprises to the soulful and mystic brew of his first 'solo' album, 'Other Planets'. And Erik continues to stretch convention with his melodic playing and bass-generated SFX.

Says Erik, “There are people who carefully plan out the direction of their music...smart. Then there's me. I pretty much have no idea at the start. I get in the music room and start messing around on something; bass guitar, chord changes on the keyboard, or a beat on the beat programmer. If I like something, it just starts to build. The lyrics on the five songs with lyrics on this CD...well, they happened later, when it seemed that the music alone wasn't saying all that I wanted.”

Among the eclectic mix, there is a definite Scottish influence in the music – especially on the tracks “Free”, “The Battle For Neverland” and “Run”. Erik explains, “I went to the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh last August 2013. I had completely written and recorded 'Free' as an instrumental, when I was reminded of the price some people have paid for their freedom, in this case William Wallace of Scotland. It seemed that I needed to say a few words...not a lot...just a few. After returning from the Highlands, I found the trip had helped me complete the Scottish inspired pieces. The melody, originally played on bass, took on such a haunting beauty when played on the veille (medieval violin) by Shira Kammen, that I decided it was the music to which I should write the lyrics that became 'Free'.”


“Free” is inspired by, and dedicated to William Wallace. “The Battle For Neverland” is inspired by J.M. Barrie, the Scottish creater of 'Peter Pan', and “Run” is decidedly influenced by traditional Celtic melodies. Also the bridge to “Battle” is inspired by a traditional Scottish melody “The Haughs of Cromdale”.

Watch the promotional video for “Free”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mjAUnayIb8

Erik Scott's first real break in the music business came in mid 1974 when he was hired to play bass for former Turtles/Frank Zappa's Mothers members Flo & Eddie (Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan). Erik recalls, “We toured and recorded constantly for about three years, making the 'Illegal, Immoral and Fattening' and 'Moving Targets' records. Flo and Eddie shows were known for alot of great hit songs from their career as 'The Turtles', cool stuff from the Flo & Eddie albums, some stuff from the Zappa years, and their usually profane and hysterical tirades about the excesses of pop stars and the music business in general.
 

That's how I first met Alice, onstage with Keith Moon at the Troubadour in LA singing 'Happy Together' (Turtles Hit) and 'Wooly Bully'. We went out in '75 with Jefferson Starship, whose 'Red Octopus' album went to #1 five different times, and in '76 we were out with the Doobie Brothers, whose 'Takin' It to The Streets' was also #1. In between we did a tour with Steven Stills, and gigs with Fleetwood Mac, among others. These tours, and the albums with Flo & Eddie, still stick in my memory.”

In 1980, Erik began working with the legendary Alice Cooper after a short stint with drummer Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Erik Scott, first hired as bass player on the 'Flush The Fashion' tour, later became a co-writer on 'Special Forces' and co-producer as well on 'Zipper Catches Skin', touring extensively behind the 'Special Forces' album.

After Alice, Erik spent some years as a session player in LA, with artists as diverse as Kim Carnes, Peter McIan, Franne Golde, Tonio K, and others. He also found time to co-write and play on the title song from Pops Staples' 'Father Father' album, which won the Grammy as Best Contemporary Blues album in 1994. He also played on the title song from Mavis Staples' album 'Have A Little Faith", which was recognized by the WC Foundation in the Gospel-Blues category for the year 2004.

In 1989, Erik formed the rock band Signal and released the album 'Loud and Clear' on EMI Records. The album was largely lost in a regime change at EMI USA, but gathered acclaim as an AOR melodic rock hit internationally…a bit of a classic actually. Three commemorative packages were released overseas: Japan, France (Axe-Killer Records), and South Korea. 'Loud and Clear' made many 1989 year end Top Ten and Top Twenty charts for AOR and melodic rock.


In the early 90's Scott became an original member of the band Sonia Dada. The group featured eight members: three African-American soul singers and five European-American players with backgrounds ranging from rock, folk, jam, psychedelic, jazz and R&B, all of which brewed up quite a genre-busting stew. Erik spent 15 years, and recorded 6 albums with the ensemble, “where a diversity and collision of styles awakened all kinds of possibilities in me, probably helping to inspire the unconventionality of my solo work”.

Although Erik is originally known for his work in the rock field, he has recently pursued a path in 'world' music. In 2009, he released the critically acclaimed solo album 'Other Planets'. John Diliberto, producer/host of the radio show 'Echoes', is quoted: “To say that his solo debut 'Other Planets' is a bass guitar album is to miss what a powerful, cinematic release he's created. It's an album that is more Pink Floyd than Jaco Pastorius.”

And now, Erik has taken his enchanting and mystical music a step further with the release of 'And The Earth Bleeds'. He explains, “Again, no plan... I premeditated nothing. The melodic nature of it, any chilled out nature of much of it, came mostly from the fact that the music was birthed in my studio with just me. Rock music generally happens when you have more than one person...a gang...a rock gang. These solo projects come more from a melodic and chilled-out rhythmic place, and a desire to experiment with the potential of the electric bass as a major melodic voice, in combination with violin, steel guitar, and other less-expected partners.”

In closing Erik has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “I guess I hope that listeners appreciate the soulfulness, nuanced performances, and spacey honesty that probably leaks all over the stuff.”

For more information: http://erikscottbass.com/

To purchase Erik Scott's 'And The World Bleeds' CD

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

5.17.2014

DR DRE SELLING BEATS ELECTRONICS TO APPLE FOR BIG $$$

 

Dr. Dre is reportedly close to becoming the richest man in hip-hop. According to NBC News on Friday, a proposed deal from Apple to purchase Beats Electronics could make Dr. Dre the world’s first billionaire rapper.


The bid from Apple is reportedly valued around $3.2 billion and if the deal goes through, Dr. Dre will be a wealthy man as the co-founder of the headphone business. Currently the hip-hop entrepreneur, whose real name is Andre Young, is ranked second on Forbes’ list of the wealthiest hip-hop artists of 2014. The sale of Beats Electronics would propel him past Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs.


DRAG RACING LEGEND: BIG DADDY DON GARLITZ IN MILAN FOR REUNION!


BIG DADDY, Don Garlits, 82, gets some help Friday from grandson Rodney Garlits, 25, both of Ocala, Fla., as he prepares his 426 Hemi dragster for the Detroit Dragway Reunion at Milan Dragway. / Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press

Garlits, 82, drove up from Ocala, Fla., this week for the reunion. Despite his age and the loss of his wife of 61 years, Patricia, to Parkinson’s disease this February, Garlits has not retired. Instead, he is setting his mark with electric dragsters now. He said as recently as April 30, he hit 184 m.p.h. with an electric dragster at a track at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida and is shooting to make 200 m.p.h. READ FULL STORY ON THE FREEP

READ MORE:

5.16.2014

THE ROCKETS AND THE TORPEDOS: JOHNNY A AND JOHNNY BEE

The Rockets

The seventies rock & roll in the Motor-city... An amazing time to be playing in the bar scene. Between Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Toledo there where only a handful of clubs and they would be packed every night.

I started a new band called The Rockets featuring Jim McCarty on guitar who was also a band mate from our first band Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels. And on bass was John Fraga, and Marc Marcano on keyboards. We had no vocalist at the time and so I sang from behind the drums.


There were many musician friends who would always stop by and wanna sit in, we only allowed the musicians we knew who could play to sit in. There was a young lad that would always be hanging out and asking us to let him sit in, he had a cropped haircut like the English musicians ala The Faces and he always had on a Burgundy Velvet suit.



He was like the Mick Jagger of Detroit. Before he would sit in he'd walk into the restroom and wrap wads of toilet paper around his neck and as we started to play he would grab the mike and start singing while ripping piece's of the paper off from around his neck and he'd be throwing piece's of it at the girls on the dance floor.


 Johnny Angelos (photo) Sue Rynski

And believe me I'm talking about a lot of toilet paper. The dance floor would be covered. He had it all, a rock star in the making. At the time The Rockets were managed by John Sinclair and Pete Andrews who lived in Ann Arbor.


Johnny Angelos and Robert Gillespie
(photo courtesy of Robert Gillespie)

After playing the Red Carpet one night and Johnny sitting in with us, the next day I had to go to a band meeting in Ann Arbor. It was early afternoon and I was in heavy traffic, as I was flying down I-94 just passing Metro Airport I did a double take because out of the corner of my eye....

I saw Johnny Angelos hitch-hiking on the side of the freeway with his Burgundy Velvet suit on and messed up hair in the hot sun, and I'm thinking damn that's one crazy mf. He never even went home yet and the man is heading out to sing on another gamble with love in his eyes. Johnny was a bad-ass singer who never reaped the awards he was due.

RIP my brother. Much love, Johnny Bee Badanjek



From Ricky Ratt's Article: Fallen Angelos


Detroit Guitarist Robert Gillespie and Johnny Angelos formed the Torpedos in October 1978, fusing their love of classic Motown soul and blues with elements of Heartbreakers and Sex Pistols punk. Gillespie says the Torpedos stood out from an emerging pack of new bands because “we had killer songs and a excellent front man in Johnny, who was like Rod Stewart, but more deviant.”

They developed a following, label interest and landed choice shows with the Romantics at venues such as Cleveland’s Agora ballroom and Detroit’s Masonic Temple. They got some radio support from Doug Podell and Steve Kostan. Yet it was not enough.

The Torpedos broke up shortly after Angelos split in 1981. He went on to form the Reputations with guitar slinger Bobby East. The Torpedos tried to continue with Thomas Anonymous, a singer from New York.


Thanks Bee and Robert!! xxKim

Stay tuned for more...

Post from: Retro Kimmer is a talented and widely-respected writer, show promoter and multi-media event designer. Kimmer's blog, Retrokimmer.com,  is about pop culture and it's evolution into today's hottest trends.

5.14.2014

MURUGA & THE COSMIC HOEDOWN BAND: NEW CD AND PERFORMING LIVE MAY 30!

Muruga

Muruga & The Cosmic Hoedown Band featuring P-Funk alumni Tony "Strat" Thomas on guitar have just released their first record "Changing The Sound of Your Room" currently on Bandcamp and CD which folks can get at live shows. Soon to be on Amazon, iTunes, etc. This album goes back to Muruga's roots in Rock & Blues and he wrote many of the songs in the late 60's and early 70's. "Changing The Sound of Your Room" also features cover versions of "Woodstock", Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun", and Funkadelics "Maggot Brain". Making a guest appearance is legendary harmonica player Peter "Madcat" Ruth.


GET CD ON



Muruga & The Cosmic Hoedown Band will be performing at The Ypsilanti Funky Town Blowout on Friday, May 30th The Cross Roads Bar & Grill. Also on the bill is Peter "Madcat" Ruth, P-Funk lead guitarist Mike Hampton, P-Funks Louie "Babbling" Kabbabbie, and Hiawatha Bailey of The Cult Heroes, and DJ Scotty D. Other special guests to be announced.

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