8.23.2018

BILLBOARD'S TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN


Today, Billboard magazine is honoring the late Aretha Franklin in their official post-humous tribute issue featuring Billboard’s obituary on the Queen of Soul as the main cover feature - written by Associate Professor of Journalism at Loyola Marymount University, Evelyn McDonnell titled “The Role of Struggle in Aretha Franklin’s Path to Greatness”:

Excerpt:
…To say that Franklin was one of the greatest female singers of all time is to miss the point. Aretha -- an original one-named diva -- was one of the greatest artists, period. Her talent and her impact transcended gender, race, genre and geography. 

This was a woman who could sing disco, gospel, rock, opera and, of course, soul. In addition to possessing astonishing vocal talent, she was a pianist, songwriter, arranger and performer. She was one of the towering figures whose talents expressed the seismic cultural shifts of a decade of momentous change. 

The only peer of similar import and impact is Bob Dylan, and I would argue that as the voice of the struggle for equal rights for blacks and for women, Franklin embodied her generation more. Her death on Aug. 16 marks a mighty loss….

Full Obituary HERE

8.21.2018

25 FAVORITE DETROIT ROCK TUNES FROM THE RETRO FILES

Bob Seger System

Rationals:  I Need You 
MC5:  Looking at You
Alice Cooper:  Ballad of Dwight Frye/Sun Arise
Amboy Dukes:  Migration
Bob Seger System:  2+2
Mitch Ryder:  CC Rider
Del Shannon: Runaway
Teegarden and Vanwinkle:  God Love and Rock n Roll
Third Power: Persecution
Frost:  Rock’n’Roll Music


Grand Funk Railroad:  Inside Looking Out
Pleasure Seekers:  What a Way to Die
Unrelated Segments:  Story of My Life 
Terry Knight & the Pack:  How Much More?
Woolies:  Who Do You Love?
Underdogs:  Love’s Gone Bad
SRC:  Up all Night
Flaming Ember:  Mind Body and Soul
Stooges No Fun


The Rockets: Desire
Savage Grace: All Along the Watchtower 
Southbound Freeway: Psychedelic Used Car Lot Blues 
Bob Seger Last Heard:  East Side Story
Tidal Waves: Farmer John
? & the Mysterians: Can't Get Enough of You Baby

THE ISLEY BROTHERS AT SOUND BOARD TICKETS ON SALE 9-13


The Isley Brothers - Ronald & Ernie Isley

Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 7:30 PM
2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48201
Performance Art Theatre
(313) 309-4700

8.18.2018

MICHAEL DAVIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY: HOW I TOOK DOWN THE MC5!


Michael Davis passed away February 17, 2012 and 6 years later Cleopatra Records has released this book... I read it and I have say it was unvarnished and highly readable. The title is appropriate, but it took all 5 members for the high performance group to stop.

There are all of the deadly sins and quite a lot of humor in the telling of the MC5 and Mike's life. It is as honest as any autobiography I have ever read. Mike is hard on everyone he meets but just as hard on himself...I give it 5 stars as it is light years better than any of these "Detroit" rock books of late. RK


New Book By MC5's Bassist Michael Davis “I Brought Down The MC5” Now Available!

Los Angeles - Famed bass player from MC5, Michael Davis, takes us on a rollercoaster ride of triumph and tragedy in his superb new 350-page memoir titled “I Brought Down The MC5”! The book includes rarely seen photos and original artwork by Davis!

“I basically wanted to be the MC5. The attack! They were really on! They were brilliant!” - Lemmy

MC5 was an American rock band from Lincoln Park, Michigan, formed in 1964. The band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson.

The MC5's ANTI-WAR political views, rebellious lyrics and complex music positioned them as emerging innovators of the activist musical movement in the United States. Their loud, energetic style of back-to-basics rock and roll included elements of  rock, rhythm and blues, and jazz fusion. Quite a feat for 1966!


MC5 had a promising beginning which earned them a January 1969 cover appearance in Rolling Stone and a story written by Eric Ehrmann before their debut album was released. They developed a legendary reputation for energetic live performances, one of which was recorded as their 1969 debut album Kick Out the Jams.

In 1972, just three years after their debut record, the group disbanded.  The MC5 is often cited as one of the most important American hard rock groups of all time.

Their three albums are regarded as classics, and their anthem “Kick Out the Jams” has been covered by Kid Rock, Presidents of the USA, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Blue Oyster Cult, Bad Brains,  and countless numbers of up and coming young bands.

“For me, Michael was the original cool guy... He belongs in the Hall Of Fame, along with his whole group, for their contributions to American music and its politics.” - Iggy Pop

CHAPTERS:
Intro
Sandals And Needles
The Apple Bites Back
Like A Rolling Stone
Everybody Must Get Stoned
I Can Only Give You Everything
Getting Down
The New York Minute
The Promise Is Broken
Atlantic Crossing
Out Of The Frying Pan
Into The Fire
The Bridge To Nowhere
Delirious Alcoholic Megalosaurus
Play With Fire
The Oven
The Mind Shifts
The Road With No Name
My Time After Awhile
Epilogue

To purchase Michael Davis's “I Brought Down The MC5” book 

CLICK THE LINK BELOW:


UNITED SOUND SYSTEMS MEMORIAL FOR ARETHA FRANKLIN TOMORROW


USS is honoring the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin this Sunday at United Sound Systems Recording Studios from 4-6 pm. All are welcome, there will be no admission charge.

8.17.2018

GRETA VAN FLEET: NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR “WHEN THE CURTAIN FALLS"


LOS ANGELES, CA - With the band’s new single “When The Curtain Falls" already Top 10 at Rock Radio and nearly eight-million streams to its credit, Greta Van Fleet presents the companion music video, a performance piece that finds the band in an esoteric foreign landscape filled with mystical symbolism, celestial events and otherworldly psychedelia.


Filmed in Southern California and conceived and directed by acclaimed visual effects artist Benjamin Kutsko (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Iron Man”), you can check out the video here!



Greta Van Fleet - Josh Kiszka/vocals, Jake Kiszka/guitar, Sam Kiszka/bass & keys, and Danny Wagner/drums - resume their tour schedule on September 7.

Dates are below.

SEPTEMBER
7 The Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA*
8 The Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA*
9 Skookum Festival, Vancouver, BC Canada**
11 Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, AB Canada*
12 BMO Centre, Calgary, AB Canada*
14 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR*
17 Fox Theatre, Oakland, CA*
18 City National Civic, San Jose, CA*
19 The Masonic, San Francisco, CA*
22 iHeart Radio Festival, Las Vegas, NV**
23 The Observatory North Park, San Diego, CA*
25 Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZ*
26 Marquee Theatre, Tempe, AZ*
28 Union Event Center, Salt Lake City, UT*
29 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO*

OCTOBER
1 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO*
3 South Side Ballroom, Dallas, TX*
5 Austin City Limits Festival, Austin, TX**
6 Cal Jam, San Bernardino, CA**
11 The Sylvee, Madison, WI*
26 Elysee Montmartre, Paris, France*
27 Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium*
29 013, Tilburg, Netherlands*
30 Mehr! Theatre, Hamburg, Germany*

NOVEMBER
1 Palladium, Cologne, Germany*
4 Berns Salonger, Stockholm, Sweden*
5 Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark*
7 Columbiahalle, Berlin, Germany*
9 02 Kentish Town Forum, London, UK*
11 02 Kentish Town Forum, London, UK*
14 02 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham, UK*
15 Academy Manchester, Manchester, UK*

* - headline date
** - major music festival

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GRETA VAN FLEET
Taylor Vaughn
Taylor.Vaughn@umusic.com

Beau Benton
Beau.Benton@umusic.com

ARETHA FRANKLIN FUNERAL SERVICE ANNOUNCED AUGUST 31, 2018


Dates announced for Aretha Franklin's visitation, funeral services in Detroit Funeral services to be held Aug. 31 at Greater Grace Temple.

Franklin's body will lie in repose from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, which is located at 315 East Warren Avenue in Detroit.

The funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Aug. 31 at Greater Grace Temple, which is located at 23500 West 7 Mile Road in Detroit.


It will be a four-day event to celebrate her life.

For two days, Franklin's body will lie in repose at Charles H. Wright Museum for African American History. The viewing will be open to the public.

The funeral will be held at Greater Grace Temple and will only be for close family and friends. Organizers are working on a musical tribute with major recording artists. The venue is still being decided.

Right now, Franklin's body is being held at Swanson Funeral Home in Detroit.

View all Aretha Franklin coverage here.




By Katherine J. Wu

Aretha Franklin was no one’s understudy. But when the Queen of Soul took the stage at the 1998 Grammy Awards, she was not the singer audiences expected. At the eleventh hour, operatic legend Luciano Pavarotti had called to cancel his long-awaited headliner performance of “Nessun dorma” (None Shall Sleep) due to illness—and with no warning or preparation, Franklin agreed to step in.

It was neither her genre nor her typical vocal range. But Pavarotti was Franklin’s dear friend, and she had performed a heartfelt tribute to him earlier that week. With only 20 minutes notice, Grammy producers burst into Franklin’s dressing room with an outrageous request—and moments later, they were anxiously ushering her on stage. Read More Here



Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. She began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was minister. In 1960, at the age of 18, she embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but achieving only modest success.

After signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as "Respect", "Chain of Fools", "Think", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", and "Spanish Harlem".

By the end of the 1960s she was being called "The Queen of Soul". Franklin recorded acclaimed albums such as I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967), Lady Soul (1968), Young, Gifted and Black (1972) and Amazing Grace (1972), before experiencing problems with her record company by the mid-1970s.

After her father was shot in 1979, she left Atlantic and signed with Arista Records, finding success with the albums Jump to It (1982) and Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985), and her part in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.


On August 13, 2018, Franklin was reported to be gravely ill at her home in Riverfront Towers, Detroit. She was reported to be under hospice care and surrounded by friends and family. Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson, and ex-husband Glynn Turman, among others, visited her on her deathbed. Franklin died at her home on August 16, 2018, aged 76. The cause was reported to be pancreatic cancer.

Aretha Franklin's family continues to coordinate memorial and funeral plans following her death Thursday morning in Detroit.

Details will be announced in coming days, likely early next week, said Gwendolyn Quinn, spokeswoman for the singer's family. Multiple events will be held in Detroit, Quinn said.

Arrangements are being handled by Swanson Funeral Home of Detroit.

8.13.2018

GRIT NOISE ROCK N ROLL AUTHOR DAVID CARSON MAKING APPEARANCE IN DETROIT!

(photo Leni Sinclair) 

From Author David Carson:

Ahh - I wince at self-promotion BUT Cary Loren and the folks at Motor City Muscle: Rock 'n' Muscle Car Festival have asked me to come up and do a multi-media presentation on Detroit's late sixties/early seventies music scene based on Grit Noise & Revolution. I'll be at the Underground Stage downtown at Hart Plaza this Friday (17th) at 5:15. Such a convenient time. It's all free. Jeez - I hope somebody shows up!

Buy a copy of Dave's book to have him sign!



8.02.2018

FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS ANNOUNCE SUMMER TOUR DATES!


BAND CELEBRATING TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF CHANGES ALBUM

NEW ALBUM SIX OUT NOW VIA RISE RECORDS

For the Fallen Dreams have announced their Summer 2018 tour plans. The band will hit the road for a North American trek, which includes stops in Canada, this August. The dates marks the first leg of the Changes tenth anniversary tour. The band's album of the name dropped in 2008. To celebrate, For the Fallen Dreams will perform Changes in its entirety.



The trek will also feature Sworn In, who are celebrating the fifth anniversary of their Start/End EP. The band will perform the EP in its entirety on the tour. Also performing will be Bodysnatcher, who jump on the tour on the fourth date. Stay Sick Recordings artist Sleep Waker will appear on the first three dates Bodysnatcher's stead. An additional support act will be announced shortly. Confirmed dates are below.

About the trek, singer Chad Ruhlig said, "It's hard to believe it's been a decade since the release of Changes. We've made a life time's worth of memories playing these songs with fans all over the world and we couldn't be more excited to announce this run 10 years later."



He continued, "I still remember where we were when this record came together. The feeling of uncertainty of where music would take us and the drive as young musicians, packed in a van to play our music to whoever would listen.

That's the point, to reflect on how far you've come, to enjoy the journey, and to connect with those who remember where they were and how they felt the first time they heard this album. We look forward to reliving some of those memories and establishing new ones with all of you. Thanks for sticking around — see you soon!"

For the Fallen Dreams released their latest album Six, through Rise Records earlier this year.

FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS ON TOUR:
WITH SWORN IN + BODYSNATCHER

8/3 — Lakewood, OH — The Foundry*
8/4 — Dayton, OH — Rockstar Pro Arena*
8/5 —Pontiac, MI — The Pike Room*
8/6 —Toronto, ON — Hard Luck
8/7 —Montreal, QC — Ritz
8/8 —Buffalo, NY — Rec Room
8/9 —Albany, NY — Jupiter Hall
8/10 —Worcester, MA — Palladium
8/11 —Brooklyn, NY — Kingsland
8/12 —Trenton, NJ — Champs
8/14 —Easton, PA — One Centre Square
8/15 —Richmond, VA — Canal Club
8/16 —Greensboro, NC — Blind Tiger
8/17 —Atlanta, GA — Masquerade (Purgatory)
8/18 —Jacksonville, FL — 1904 Music Hall
8/19 —Orlando, FL — Soundbar
*No Bodysnatcher; Sleep Waker appears instead,

FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS ONLINE:


  

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