Showing posts with label detroit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label detroit. Show all posts
9.22.2018
BLACK IRISH RECORD RELEASE PARTY WITH THE BLACK DROPS & DUDE
The DETROIT rock band Black Irish returns after a few years on sabbatical with a brand new line up and a new album at their official cd release party on Friday, September 28 at the Magic Bag.
The classic rock inspired band features Paul Barning on vocals, Elliott Moses on guitar, Matt LaPinta on bass and keyboards, Matt Hamann on guitar, Steve Nowicki on percussion and drummer Dylan McCarty who also produced the new album "Maybe...Tomorrow"
Guitarist Elliott Moses promises "Heavy hitting blues-infused rock with a Detroit twist!"
Tickets for the Magic Bag event are $12 and features The Black Drops and Dude as support, doors at 8pm. The Magic Bag is located in Ferndale at 22920 Woodward. " Maybe...Tomorrow" will also see a Digital release that day.
8.21.2018
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
8.17.2018
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
4.13.2018
AMERICAN DREAM: DETROIT NEW FILM BY MICHAEL BOLTON
AMERICAN DREAM: DETROIT
Some of you may remember when I set out to make my album Ain't No Mountain High Enough: Tribute to Hitsville, back in 2012, I made my very first trip to Hitsville Studio A! And that's where this journey of exploring Detroit's incredible history began.
Over the past 5 years, I have met some of the most amazing people who are all driven by a common mission, to bring back the new Detroit and with it to rebuild the American Dream. I will introduce them to you over the next several weeks and share with you our collective journey -- in cinemas on MAY 15!
I could only capture a window into all that is going on in the new city of Detroit but I hope you get a chance to visit yourself! And most importantly, I hope you get inspired by this film to create your own American Dream wherever you may live.
Here's a private link for you to pre-order tickets to the world premiere of AMERICAN DREAM: DETROIT, in a theater near you on MAY 15 ONLY!
Much Love, MB
4.10.2018
GRETA VAN FLEET ON KROQ 2018 COACHELLA HOUSE LINE UP
GRETA VAN FLEET
KROQ’s 2018 Coachella House Lineup Unveiled
Los Angeles, CA (April 9, 2018) —For the 9th year, KROQ 106.7 is hosting Coachella’s only official party house in the desert. The invite only three day bash taking place during Coachella Weekend 1, April 13-15, 2018, will bring fans poolside for an intimate setting to experience the festival’s biggest alternative acts!
This year’s star packed lineup includes performances and interviews with Portugal. The Man, Odesza (interview only), Bleachers, The Neighbourhood, BØRNS, Vance Joy, Greta Van Fleet, LP, Marian Hill, Sir Sly and many more (see below for full lineup and set times).
Friday, April 13 10am-7pm
PVRIS (Paris) – 10:30a
Declan McKenna – 12p
Sir Sly – 1:30p
Dreams – 2:15 INTERVIEW ONLY
Marian Hill – 3p
LP – 4:30p
Saturday, April 14 10am-5pm
The Regrettes – 10:30a
Bleachers – 12p
Odesza – 12:45p INTERVIEW ONLY
Tash Sultana (Natasha) – 1:30p
Neighbourhood – 2:45p
FIDLAR – 3:30p INTERVIEW ONLY
Greta Van Fleet – 4p
Sunday, April 15 10am-5pm
Portugal. The Man – 10:30a
Billy (A Perfect Circle) – 11:45a INTERVIEW ONLY
Nothing But Thieves – 12p
BORNS – 1:30p
Vance Joy – 3p
CONGRATULATIONS JACK WHITE!
BOARDING HOUSE REACH is the new solo album from Jack White, and is a testament to the breadth of the artist's creative power and his bold artistic ambition. This new material finds Jack White expanding his musical palate with perhaps his most ambitious work thus far, a collection of songs that are simultaneously timeless and modern.
Written and conceived while holed up in a spartan apartment with literally no outside world distractions, White exclusively used the same kind of gear he had when he was 15 years old (a quarter-inch four-track tape recorder, a simple mixer, and the most basic of instrumentation). The album explores a remarkable range of sonic terrain -- crunching rock 'n' roll, electro and hard funk, proto punk, hip hop, gospel blues, and even country -- all remapped and born anew to fit White's matchless vision and sense of restless experimentation.
BOARDING HOUSE REACH was produced by Jack White III and recorded at Third Man Studio in Nashville, TN, Sear Sound in New York, NY, and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, CA. The album was mixed by Bill Skibbe, Joshua V. Smith, and White at Third Man Studio in Nashville, TN. The album features White on vocals, acoustic and electric guitars and drums, organ, and synthesizers.
He's backed by a remarkable new lineup of musicians that includes: drummer Louis Cato (Beyoncé, Q-Tip, John Legend, Mariah Carey), bassists Charlotte Kemp Muhl (The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger) and NeonPhoenix (Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z), synthesizer players DJ Harrison and Anthony "Brew" Brewster (Fishbone, The Untouchables), keyboardists Neal Evans (Soulive, Talib Kweli, John Scofield) and Quincy McCrary (Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Pitbull), percussionists Bobby Allende (David Byrne, Marc Anthony) and Justin Porée (Ozomatli), and backing vocalists Esther Rose and Ann & Regina McCrary of Nashville's beloved gospel trio, The McCrary Sisters, as well as longtime collaborators like drummers Daru Jones (Nas, Talib Kweli) and Carla Azar (Autolux, Depeche Mode, Doyle Bramhall II). Singer-songwriter C.W. Stoneking also appears, contributing a stirring spoken word performance to the album's "Abulia and Akrasia."
Jack White is a 12-time GRAMMY® Award-winner and 35-time nominee. His most recent full-length release, 2016's JACK WHITE ACOUSTIC RECORDINGS: 1998-2016 (Third Man Records/Columbia), collected 26 acoustic-based songs from throughout White's wide-ranging musical career, spanning album tracks, B-sides, remixes, alternate versions, and previously unreleased material from The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and White's groundbreaking solo career. The collection debuted at #1 on Billboard's "Vinyl Albums" chart upon its September 2016 release - a position also achieved by 2012's RIAA gold certified solo debut, BLUNDERBUSS, and 2014's chart-topping LAZARETTO, both of which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 as well.
Purchase click the links below
7.17.2017
THE ROMANTICS' MIKE SKILL TO RELEASE SOLO SINGLE
The Romantics Guitarist/Vocalist/Songwriter Michael Skill To Release New Solo Single “67 Riot”
New song evokes time when Detroit burned during“Summer of Love”
Detroit - From the man who crafted such hit singles as “What I Like About You,” “Talking in Your Sleep,” and “One In A Million,” comes a new gritty blues-rock single about the riots that forever changed his hometown of Detroit in 1967. Michael Skill, who has played both bass and guitar for the power-pop rock 'n' roll band The Romantics, was a budding teenager in 1967 when five days of racially charged riots tore apart Detroit in July. When it was over, 43 people lay dead, 1,189 had been injured, more than 7,200 had been arrested and more than 2,000 buildings had been destroyed.
Skill lived on Detroit's East Side and says that although the violence took place several miles from his home, he nonetheless saw its effects up close. “I remember the National Guard right down the street from my house,” he says. “People watching the riots on TV were afraid that rioters would come into our neighborhood. People were freaked out.” The riots changed his beloved Motor City forever. “A lot of my friends' families took off for the suburbs after that,” he says, noting his family chose to stay in the city.
The riot's effects – and the fact that many of the issues they raised, from police brutality to economic decay – stayed with Skill, culminating in his desire to write “67 Riot.” Loud, powerful and evocative of tough tunes by such rockers as Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix and Skill's fellow Detroit rockers, The MC 5, “67 Riot” is both a haunting look at the past as well as a timely allusion to the present, in a world where racial and social tension still threaten to rend our nation in two.
“I wrote the song from a sense of frustration that people never came together after the riots to really address what happened, to look each other in the eye and say, 'How can we repair this? How can we move forward?'” The song's lyrics are written from this point of view. “4 AM/Down the street/Cops roll in/With all the heat/Blind pig roaring/Kickin' their heels/Soldiers home/Just gettin' real,” the song opens. “Rooftop sniper/Set the sight/Burning cocktails/Flash in flight/Broken city/Broken dreams/Things aren't always what they seem/67 Riot!”
Recorded in Skill's own studio, the song features him on guitar, bass and vocals, and also features drummer Russell Ayers, who engineered the tune. The co-producers sought to create an aural equivalent of what it was like to live through this violent time, Skill says, but he adds that he wanted the song to end on a note of hope because Detroit has rebounded in recent years.
“Try to warm your heart/Dream your dreams/Break the chain/Let's start clean,” he adds in his song, noting it’s time to break the chain of racism that has shackled generations before, during and after “67 Riot.”
The Romantics are still touring, still recording and currently feature 3 original band members on the front line up, Rich Cole, Wally Palmar and co-founder Michael Skill. Drummer Brad Elvis joined The Romantics in 2004 and has been the longest seated drummer with the band. Rich Cole rejoined the band in 2010, reviving the band's 3-part harmony allowing The Romantics to perform songs from their first two albums live for the first time since his departure.
Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/mike. skill
https://twitter.com/MikeSkill2 @mikeskill2
https://www.instagram.com/ mjskill/ @mjskill
https://www.facebook.com/ 67Riots/
https://www.facebook.com/ romanticsdetroit/
5.25.2017
★FREE★ PRE-VIEW OF UNTOLD STORY OF TUPAC SHAKUR BIO-PIC
DATE: THURSDAY, JUNE 1st
LOCATION: EMAGINE THEATER - 200 N. MAIN STREET - ROYAL OAK, MI 48067
OPEN: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
ADMISSION: FREE
ABOUT ALL EYEZ ON ME:
All Eyez on Me, in theaters June 16, chronicles the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur, including his rise to superstardom as a hip-hop artist, actor, poet and activist, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, controversial time at Death Row Records. Against insurmountable odds, Shakur rose to become a cultural icon whose career and persona both continue to grow long after his passing.
All Eyez On Me, helmed by Director Benny Boom, and produced by LT Hutton (Morgan Creek Productions), stars Demetrius Shipp Jr., Danai Gurira, Kat Graham, Dominic L. Santana and Jamal Woolard. #ALLEYEZTOUR
RSVP: FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE
ll Eyez On Me, helmed by Director Benny Boom, and produced by LT Hutton (Morgan Creek Productions), stars Demetrius Shipp Jr., Danai Gurira, Kat Graham, Dominic L. Santana and Jamal Woolard. #ALLEYEZTOUR
4.20.2017
KEEPING UP WITH TOSHA OWENS: THE HARDEST WORKING SINGER IN DETROIT!
Every Tuesday night Tosha hosts the Pub Froggy open jam with Tosha Owens &The Stable Dudes
4-22-17 Mark Pasman's Super session at Boo's in Royal Oak 9pm
5-15-17 Private Party at Cobo Playing the network & drinks portion of the Plastipak 50th Anniversary Celebration. Ron Carter to perform after dinner.
5-16-17 Private Party at Cobo. Plastipak day 2 50th anniversary. Playing the after party of the Smokey Robinson performance.
6-01-17 Motor City Casino Chromatics Lounge with Tosha Owens &The Essentials 7-11pm
6-03-17 Clio Blues Fest with Erich Goebel & The Flying Crowbars time tba
6-04-17 Hosting the Blue Goose jam with The Stable Dudes 8-12
6-18-17 Ferndale Brews, BBQ & bourbon Fest 4:30-6pm main stage
7-01-17 Stars & Stripes with Joey Farner & The Tribe 3:45-5:00
7-09-17 Red, White & BBQ Fest in Livonia 1:30-3pm
7-14-17 Windsor Blues Fest with the Bobby Murray Etta Tribute 6:15pm
7-08-17 Blues show in Sarnia with the Bobby Murray Band time tba
7-30-17 Hosting the Blue Goose jam 8-12 with the Stable Dudes
8-30-17 Hug Detroit Fest time TBA
The following song and video was written and directed by a gentleman named Keith Lauren. Tosha was asked to sing the song and be a representative for it and it's campaign. The song 'Detroit Strong', is a wonderfully written song about Detroit that highlights what we represent now and always have, including the people and vibe of Detroit.
Buy Detroit Strong Below with Link or Click the Photo
The song is also on sale on ITunes, CD Baby. Not only they striving to make this a solid Detroit anthem, they are donating all online sales to the charity called CATCH (Caring Athletes Team & Children) & Henry Ford Hospitals
Connect with Tosha
4.17.2015
3.21.2015
ROCKTROPOLIS REPS MICHIGAN PROG WITH 3113 AND DOES IT VERY WELL
I'm pleasantly surprised at the amount of keyboards that grace these tunes: as a keyboard player myself, I'd like them louder because they really fit well but hey, that's me! The production is stellar and consistent across the tracks with very tight drums and bass laying a solid background where the many guitars (and apparently a whole lot of fingers) of Pete builds his own signature soloing identity.
My only beef - I understand the less expensive (and sometimes labeled "green") single sleeve packaging that this disc comes in but it leaves no room for all the extra information one might want to know: where recorded, who did the writing…and who's in the band! But that's really my only complaint and that might just be my opinion only.
Good job gents - it's apparent you know what you're doing. Highly recommend.
Submitted by Nightcrier.
Follow Rocktropolis on Facebook
3.13.2015
TOSHA OWENS: WEEKEND LINE UP
Had a good time last night performing with The Essentials. (Blues & Soul) who's members include: Ray Goodman, Glenn Giordano, guest bassist Tony Suhy and guest keyboardist Phillip J Hale. We decided against featherbowling this time due to the fact that we don't know how. But it sure looks like fun. One day I will actually read the rules and give it a try. And that's just the beginning...
TOSHA AND KIMMER |
Saturday night, March 14th I will be performing for you with Constant Velocity (Rock & Blues) who's members include: Mike Smith, J T Monroe, Jeremy Kanouse and Mike Bertrand at The Fowling Warehouse located at 3901 Christopher in Hamtramck. Fowling is the activity that is sweeping the Detroit area. The only way I can describe it is that it is like bowling but instead of using a bowling ball, you use a football. The lanes are wooden and dirt. It looks like a lot of fun. You can bring in food and they supply the beverages including a bar. We will be hitting the stage at 9:00pm and go till 1:00 am. Come and listen to the band and watch or get on the list for an available lane for only $10.
Anyway, have a great weekend everyone and stay blessed.
3.10.2015
OPEN JAM FEATURING TOSHA OWENS!
Open jams and open mics and running rampant in the Detroit area. Some are good and some are great. With the insurgence of musicians that are coming out of and to the area, they are great avenues to just do what you do as a musician and a wonderful opportunity to network. I will periodically be investigating some of these events (there are several you can find any day of the week) and report my findings to you. The first one I will report on will be happening tonight at Pub Froggy located at 16420 E13 Mile Road in Roseville, MI from 8pm till 12am.
This open mic is hosted by Detroit Blues and Rock singer Tosha Owens and her Unstable Dudes (David A Watson - drums, John Abraham - bass, Jimmy Alter - guitar, Carlton Washington - guitar). Some of the buzz about this open mic (and the buzz is spreading) is that it is very relaxed, a fun time and very diverse! One person even said its 'big ole party with some of the best musicians I have ever heard'. I would have to agree. You can hear everything from blues, rock, rap, spoken word to original, alternative and punk.
All musicians are welcome to bring themselves or their whole band to get a few tunes in and listen to others. One night 11 drummers showed up and then it got creative. They put all of them on stage with different percussion pieces and just let them jam for 4 minutes straight. That was great. Some legends and familiar local musicians have graced the 'Doing it Froggy Style' jam as well. Artists like Jim McCarty, Cee Cee Collins, Niecy Blues, Chris Brantly, Gabe Gonzalez, Dezi McCullers, R J Spangler and his planet D nonet band, Terry Thunder, Phil Hale and many more. Can't wait to see who they have in store for us tonight!
Many bonds are formed from these jams and also new bands and projects come out of these events. I will continue to support them as long as I can. Will you? I gotta go and get ready for tonight!
Always be grateful for your blessings and they will never stop coming. Peace Family!!!
ReeRee Rocker
2.26.2015
MACHINEGUN THOMPSON AND RETROKIMMER ON TAPDETROIT TOMORROW NIGHT!
Machinegun and Kim Maki aka Retro Kimmer be live in the studio with T Money Green on his 5Xl L Radio Show on February 27...Check out the show by clicking the photo or link....talking about REAL DETROIT MUSIC!
LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE HERE
T MONEY is the owner at hyped international records/tmoneygreen productions
T MONEY is the owner at hyped international records/tmoneygreen productions
2.06.2015
WHO REALLY PLAYED GUITAR SOLOS ON TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN
STEVE 'The Deacon' HUNTER
‘Train Kept A Rollin’, was written by Tiny Bradshaw in 1951. The song was given new life by The Yardbirds in 1965 then again by the inimitable Aerosmith when they recorded it for their second album ‘Get Your Wings” in 1974.
Their version is actually a two-part song, the first has a slower groove arrangement, while the second uses that of the Yardbirds. Aerosmith turned it into a hard rock standard and a staple of classic rock radio; it remains one of their most popular tunes.
But few people know that they had a little help along the way when, during the recording, Record Producer Jack Douglas saw the now legendary session man Steve Hunter sitting outside the studio taking a cigarette break from a different session and he asked Steve to play a solo over the first half of the track.
It was very quick Steve recalls, he got his own guitar which he thinks would have been a 1959 Les Paul TV Special. They took some time to get a sound, then, ran through the track. But, as he did not have the vocal in his headphones they ran through it again this time with the vocal in, and Steve nailed it.
He got paid about $750 for doing it, then, as it turns out, 'Train' had a huge impact on the career of the young, inexperienced Aerosmith. They went on to bigger and better things, becoming one of the highest paid, most domineering bands in Rock Music.
Unbeknownst to Steve, Douglas also enlisted his session companion Dick Wagner to play the solo over the second half simulated live ‘Yardbirds’ section.
Neither Hunter or Wagner got a credit on the album, as ‘ghosting’ as it’s sometimes called was fairly common practice at that time.
Hunter has no idea why he was asked to record the solo; as he says, it was none of his business. The rest of the band we’re all there, they were very nice to him and he was never asked to teach anybody what he played.
In 2013 Joe Perry played a solo on Steve's solo album 'The Manhattan Blues Project' (The Brooklyn Shuffle) alongside his buddy Johnny Depp, so clearly there are no hard feelings and why should there be.
Statement from Steve Hunter
"Aerosmith was in Studio C of The Record Plant and I was doing work with Bob Ezrin in Studio A. I had a long wait between dubs and was waiting in the lobby. Jack Douglas popped his head out of Studio C and asked "Hey, do you feel like playing? I said sure, so I grabbed my guitar and went in" "I had two run thru’s, then Jack said "great' that's it! That turned out to be the opening solos on 'Train Kept A Rollin’ " steve hunter 2/1/2015
Here is a selection of other classic solos from Steve Hunterer
11.23.2014
THE RETURN OF MADAM X!
“We had no idea what to expect when we hit the stage. It had been almost 30 years since we played together. We new this could be either the end, or the new beginning.” The Petrucci sisters,
Bret Kaiser (Vocals)
Maxine Petrucci (Guitar)
Chris "GODZILLA" Doliber (Bass)
Roxy Petrucci (Drums)
FROM JACKIE WALLACE:
Like many people, I love to hear a good comeback story. I had the opportunity to meet with the band members of Madam X. Their journey was and continues to be a fascinating one. This is a story within many stories they have to tell…
Going Against the Norm…
Madam X was formed in the late 1970’s /early 1980’s by two sisters from Detroit, Maxine and Roxy Petrucci. The two girls were into heavy metal music. Maxine played guitar, and Roxy played drums. They were not your typical high school girls. They didn’t hang out in dress shops, or go to school dances. Instead, their free time was spent playing music and hanging out in music stores. Their obvious obsession with music made them somewhat of misfits among the high school student body, even though they had both earned music scholarships to Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Maxine and Roxy had auditioned many musicians for their band before they finalized their lineup, which included Chris Doliber on bass and Bret Kaiser on vocals. After a year of gigging every night in Detroit, the foursome packed up and left for New York. They had no plans on how they were going to survive; they just knew their ultimate goal was to be in California and have a record deal, so the how didn’t matter.
The Gritty Road…
There is no better way to describe their early years of work other then to call it gritty. The word “gritty” means “having strong qualities of uncompromising realism,” and that just about summarizes their journey early on. With little income, the foursome lived the life of “starving artists.” When they weren’t sleeping in their vehicles on tour, they slept on the floors of roach infested motels. They would take turns going to eat at cheap buffet restaurants, paying for one meal and then sneaking food back for the other members to eat. The band had a grueling schedule of performing every night which gradually led to a loyal following of metal heads. They had no manager, no marketing team, and no money. They did all the bookings, promoting, and negotiating, themselves.
Chance Encounter…
After building a following in New York, and elsewhere, they scheduled a tour that included their ultimate destination, California. They booked a show at the Troubadour Nightclub in Las Angeles. After their performance, which ended at about midnight, they were approached by a woman who introduced herself as an agent in the music business. The woman suggested that the band go to the venue next door, called the Rainbow Room, to mingle.
The Rainbow Room was the hangout for major national bands such as Motley Crue, Poison, Alice Cooper, and many others. With some hesitation, the band decided to go check it out. As they walked into the venue, their “larger then life” hairstyles caught the attention of everyone in the room, including one of the A&R representatives from Jet Records. The A&R representative asked them who they were and the band introduced themselves. He then asked for a promo pack. Luckily, the band was always prepared and gave him one. Within a week after, the band received a call from Jet Records asking where they were playing next.
Preparation…
The audience at their next gig included, the president of Jet Records, Don Arden. The band performed with their usual level of passion, energy and integrity to their music. Immediately after their performance, Don Arden told them their lives were about to change. He offered to sign Madam X to Jet Records that night.
Shattered Dreams….
After the initial explosion of excitement from getting signed, the band quickly began settling into the realization that they were no longer in control of their destiny. They had to adjust and conform to having little creative control. They were under the impression that being signed to a record label meant things were going to happen quickly and on a big scale. The problem was Madam X had already made things happen quickly and big, without any help. Their level of speed was much greater than what a label could offer them.
Hence, began the negativity with the label and then within the band. Eventually, both the band and the label were dealing with separate as well as some mutual issues that caused the band to break up and the label to dissolve. At this point, the members were emotionally drained, and their energy was depleted. They walked away from the Madam X experience and all went their separate ways. Each member continued to pursue music, Maxine started her own band called Maxine; Roxy became the drummer for the popular all female metal band, Vixen; Bret began his own band called Band ’56; and Chris continued to play bass and write music.
As the Years Go By…
Aside from getting back together in 1991 for one show, the band had little or no contact after the break up. Some 28 years later, while on tour in England with the Vixen band, Roxy was at a “meet and greet,” signing autographs after her gig. She found herself repeatedly answering questions about Madam X and also signing Madam X paraphernalia. Roxy realized that although the members of Madam X had moved on, their loyal fans did not.
Roxy contacted Maxine, Brett, and Chris to share her experience and suggested they get together to write and record one song. With the help of producer Kevin Sharpe of Metro 37 Studio, the band reunited and began working on one song to release. As word got out, via social media, the band found that their fans were waiting with excitement. They were contacted by one of the founders of The Sweden Rock Festival, the biggest festival in Sweden, and invited them to perform at the 2014 festival.
The Comeback…
With some reservation, the band agreed to do the show. When they arrived in Sweden, they were interviewed by on one of the local magazines, who asked them if they had any idea how big they were in Sweden. The band had no idea. The moments before the show, as the band walked toward the stage, they described the halls leading up to the stage as a “maze” with tall walls so that you couldn’t see out. They described being somewhat nervous, hoping that maybe at least a couple hundred people would show up.
“We had no idea what to expect when we hit the stage. It had been almost 30 years since we played together. We knew this could be either the end of Madam X, or the new beginning.”
Once they hit the stage and saw the “sea of heads,” a crowd of about 20,000 fans, chanting for them, they were overwhelmed. The band portrayed the experience as being “surreal” and “invigorating.” As they began playing, “the nerves settled and it felt like home,” as Roxy put it. At one point, during their performance of their song, High in High School, Bret pointed the microphone at the audience and the band listened to the crowd sing all the words to the song they wrote some 30 years ago. This moment proved that this was, in fact, the new beginning for Madam X!
The Next Chapter…
The band is now recording a new CD with Kevin Sharpe at Metro37 Studio. They have plans to release the CD with a big comeback party right here in Detroit, where it all started. They hired an agent and are planning on a tour in the summer of 2015.
It is amazing how the universe works. When the time is right, and the dream is big enough, the universe will bring it back around.
Welcome back Madam X!
10.08.2014
ELIZA NEALS WITH T MONEY GREEN; PJ LAGER HOUSE OCT 31!
Here's the latest from Eliza Neals and the crew..they are playing Halloween for some tricky fun plus a costume contest.
Her new album is coming together in an unreal way and Eliza would like to send our fans a free download of my the Detroit Diva's single "sugar daddy" go grab her tune at ModernMotown.com
Eliza Neals aka The Detroit Diva Website: http://ElizaNeals.com
FaceBook: http://TheDetroitDiva.com
Eliza Neals aka The Detroit Diva Website: http://ElizaNeals.com
FaceBook: http://TheDetroitDiva.com
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/ElizaNeals
Also on the bill is our favorite funk Bass master T MONEY GREEN!
The legendary bass player best known for his work with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, Warren G., and The Dramatics.
Also on the bill is our favorite funk Bass master T MONEY GREEN!
6.12.2014
T.M. CALDWELL'S RARE FILM SCREENING AT THE PAINTED LADY JUNE 26!
Detroit artist/archivist T.M. Caldwell will be the programmer for an exclusive night of rare 16mm films at the Painted Lady Lounge (formerly Lilli's 21).
Thursday June 26th 2014
in Hamtramck. 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.
The Painted Lady Lounge
2930 Jacob St. off Joseph Campau Ave.
Hamtramck,MI 313 874-2991
A night of genuine ol' school style audio/visual tech geek for celluloid purists. These will be in actual motion picture film reels shown on former public school 16mm A.V. projection equipment onto a linen screen.
Jump
1969-71 (?)
An anti-recreational drug film by William Dear and Robert Dyke w/ legendary Detroit music afficianado Anthony 'Tony' Fusco in a cameo role. Great fuzzed out garage/psychedelic score, rag top sports car, dope-in with dum-dum boys and gals, sporting classic beat ray bans & wrap around shades,
late '60's hip stoner hair and clothes. A twisted, scared-straight, moralistic tale.
WXYZ Detroit Radio Promo Film
1969-70
With revered local disc jockey personalities Dick Purtan
(post CKLW & Keener & pre- mustache)and Tom Shannon.
Phone pranks, near subliminal shot of John Sinclair, many scenes of Detroit. All to the sounds of musicians from
Johnny Cash to Thunderclap Newman.
Good Life
1968-70
A hippie outsider nature retreat (Alaska/California./Washington commune?),back-to-the-wilderness getaway,
documentary.Gorgeous forest nature imagery,
blue grass banjo pickin',skinny dippin',good clean (?) fun.
Untitled
1965-70 (?)
Unidentified jazz ensemble performing several numbers
with commentary by leader of group. B&W kinescope film shot by Jam Handy Studio of E. Grand Blvd. Detroit.
Javelin
1970-72
Classic Detroit muscle/sports car, action packed, auto racing promo film. Vehicle is painted red,white and blue
in patriotic manner of Evel Knievel's bike & MC5’s Brother Wayne Kramer's axe.
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