GRETA VAN FLEET ANNOUNCES DEBUT LP, ANTHEM OF THE PEACEFUL ARMY

New York, NY - (September 7, 2018) - Greta Van Fleet - Jake Kiszka/guitars, Sam Kiszka/bass & keys, Josh Kiszka/vocals, and Danny Wagner/drums - is very proud to announce the upcoming release of the band’s debut album, Anthem of The Peaceful Army, due out October 19 on Lava/Republic Records. The album is available for pre-order now by going here HERE. Fans who pre-order the album will receive an instant grat track, the brand new song “Watching Over,” that you can check out here HERE.

Collectively written by all four band members, the ten original songs explore a variety of topics that include fresh starts, love, integrity, innocence, adventure, diversity and peace, the life cycle and its inherent responsibilities, courage, masked deceptions, revolution, and truth. Blending rock, soul and blues, Jake’s blazing guitar riffs, Josh’s soaring, powerful vocals, Danny’s thunderous drums, and Sam’s swaggering baselines and keys create a menagerie of musical elements throughout.

Anthem of the Peaceful Army was produced by Marlon Young, Al Sutton and Herschel Boone (The Rust Brothers) and recorded earlier this year at Blackbird Studios in Nashville and Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan.

The first single from Anthem of the Peaceful Army, “When The Curtain Falls,” arrived at rock radio on August 15 and is already a Top 10 track with more than 13-million total audio streams. The song's companion music video has surpassed 1.7-million views and can be seen here HERE.

Music fans were first introduced to Greta Van Fleet in March 2017 with the release of the band’s debut single “Highway Tune” that held the #1 position on U.S. Rock Radio Charts for five consecutive weeks and on Canada’s Active Rock Radio Charts for nine straight weeks.

 For Greta Van Fleet, 2017 went on to be a wild ride of sold-out concerts in North America and Europe, glowing press, accolades from a slew of fellow artists from Elton John to Nikki Sixx to Justin Bieber, millions of YouTube video plays and Spotify streams, two #1 EPs, and most importantly, the genesis of an extraordinary connection with their fans.

Anthem Of The Peaceful Army

The track listing for Anthem of the Peaceful Army is as follows:

1. Age of Man
2. The Cold Wind
3. When The Curtain Falls
4. Watching Over
5. Lover Leaver (Taker Believer)
6. You’re The One
7. The New Day
8. Mountain of the Sun
9. Brave New World
10. Anthem

BANG! THE BERT BERNS STORY: NEW DOCUMENTARY

Bert Berns with Van Morrison

We have Bert Berns to thank for some of the greatest soul music ever made.

Bert Berns was an amazingly unknown (to the mainstream) soul/pop songwriter/producer during the early 1960s from the Bronx. He literally wrote the soundtrack of my life to be sure!! Here is a short list of his music legacy, click on each one to hear the song, you'll be glad you did!

"You'll love this movie!" -- The New York Times

BANG! now available for the first time on DVD!

Exclusively at www.bangthebertbernsstory.com

Atlantic braintrust: Jerry Wexler, Bert Burns, Nesuhi and Ahmet Ertegun

Songwriter/producer

"A Little Bit of Soap", The Jarmels (1961)

"Cry to Me", Solomon Burke (1962)
"Twist and Shout", The Isley Brothers (1962)
"Cry Baby", Garnet Mimms (1963)
"Tell Him" The Exciters" 1963
"Under the Boardwalk", The Drifters (1964)
"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love", Solomon Burke (1964)
"Hang on Sloopy", The McCoys (1965)
"Piece of My Heart", 1968 Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin "Twenty Five Miles", Edwin Starr (1968)

Producer:

"Nobody but Me", The Isley Brothers- Human Beinz (1963)
"Here Comes the Night", them (1964)
"Baby I'm Yours", Barbara Lewis (from Detroit) (1965)
"Make Me Your Baby", Barbara Lewis (1965)
"Brown Eyed Girl", Van Morrison (1967)
"Are You Lonely for Me Baby", Freddie Scott (1967)

Whew!! What a list of music!! I loved him all my life and never knew his name until last week!  So folks if you love Bert's music like I do, please buy the DVD and share this story with your friends..

Early Neil Diamond hits like “Cherry, Cherry” and “Kentucky Woman” were on Bang, as was Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” The Strangeloves’ “I Want Candy” and “Night Time” were on the label, too, as were the McCoys’ hits “Hang On Sloopy” and “Fever.”

Bert Berns produced Barbara Lewis a chart topper here in Detroit back in 1965. His touch made magic with Barbara...

The film celebrates Bert Berns' talent and joy for living. He knew his time was limited and he certainly gave it his all. He had the magical ear to hear just the right note and he pushed those singers to perform their best. Yet they all seemed to love him.

Music meets the Mob in this biographical documentary, narrated by Stevie Van Zandt, about the life and career of Bert Berns, the most important songwriter and record producer from the sixties that you never heard of. His hits include “Twist and Shout”, “Hang On Sloopy”, “Here Comes The Night” and “Piece Of My Heart.”

Here are some of the musicians that were interviewed for the film: Ronald Isley, Ben E. King, Solomon Burke, Van Morrison,Cissy Houston, Keith Richards and Paul McCartney. Narrated by Stevie Van Zandt

BUY THE DVD HERE

Bert helped launch the careers of Van Morrison, Neil Diamond and produced some of the greatest soul music ever made. Filmmaker Brett Berns brings his late father's story to the screen through interviews with those who knew him best and rare performance footage.  Directors Brett Berns and Bob Sarles

Bang: The Bert Berns Story
Soundtrack

BLACK IRISH LIVE AT THE MAGIC BAG SEPT 28!

Elliott Moses September 1, 2018:

The Black Irish name comes from a movie called Lady from Shanghai made in 1948 . A film Noir starring Orson Welles ,and his than wife Rita Hayworth . His character Michael O’Hara, nicked names Black Irish , falls for the wrong woman . Salvador Dali did the set designs. A great flick.

BLACK IRISH LINE UP

Paul Barning - lead vocal and Hammond
Matt La Pinta - Bass -vocals -piano - organ
Elliott Moses- vocals - Guitar
Matt Hamann - Guitar - Pedal Steel - Banjo - vocals
James Dylan McCarty -Drums
Steve (Staires ) Nowicki percussionist

Video Produced and Directed 

by Robert Sergott, 

Sergott Productions.

© 2018

As far as the band’s music is concerned , our influences are Americana, Blues, Folk, and from the boom of all that generation and we try to write great songs infusing all that to have a unique sound that comes from a combination of all that and our own musical stamp . Writing is something we all share a great passion for.

I (Elliott Moses) have been playing in bands in Detroit since age 16 , “I’ve seen a lot of crazy things musically happen and been in few bands but this is hands down the best group of musicians I’ve ever had the pleasure to be in the company of .

Thanks to Skip who introduced me to Matt La Pinta and Matt Hamann.“ We started to dig on each other musically, started having writing sessions at La Pinta’s house, and songs just started pouring out!

Elliott Moses with our pal Chris Taylor: Fuzz Fest Promoter

It got to moving so fast that we decided to try to put a band together . So we could play them live. I asked Paul who since the original line up had broke up a few years ago to come in and put some vocals down and everything just started falling in to place.

Dylan McCarty has been my go to for skins for 10 years. He’s a beast on drums but even more so then that is his attention to detail. Steve Nowicki finishes up the on percussion.

Maybe Tomorrow is title of the Black Irish EP and is the title of one of our songs. We are looking for a local label to work with but haven’t found one yet. We are still hoping to find one here instead of out of town . Detroit really needs a fresh Kick in the Ass and we’re that Band!

Heavy hitting blues-infused rock with a Detroit twist! Black Irish celebrates the release of their brand new album at the Magic Bag on Friday, September 28. The doors open at 8pm and tickets are $12 in advance. The Black Drops and Dude kick off the festivities.

BLACK IRISH

Magic Bag in Ferndale

Friday, September 28 at 8 PM – 11:59 PM

22920 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, Michigan 48220

Tickets

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

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

Sound Board

2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48201

Performance Art Theatre

(313) 309-4700

info@soundboarddetroit.com

Get Directions

Tickets · On Sale September 13 at 10 AM

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:

I Brought Down The Mc5

READ MORE ABOUT THE MC5 HERE
READ MORE ABOUT DENNIS THOMPSON HERE