Journey Tour 2012...

JOURNEY 2012 TOUR LAUNCHING JULY 21

JOURNEY is returning to the road on July 21 for their 2012 tour kick-off in San Bernardino, California at the San Manuel Amphitheatre with concert dates through December. Special guests Pat Benatar featuring Neil Giraldo and Loverboy will appear on most tour dates.

Scheduled 2012 tour information is listed below.

Tickets for some concerts are already on sale with additional onsales starting Friday, April 13, at all the usual online, phone and physical retail outlets, including select Walmart Ticketmaster locations across the country.

Since its formation in 1973 in San Francisco, JOURNEY has earned 19 Top 40 singles and 25 gold and platinum albums. The band's Greatest Hits album is certified 15 times platinum, bringing Journey into the elite club of Diamond-certified album holders. Journey was awarded the prestigious "Legend Of Live Award" at the 2011 Billboard Touring Awards in honor of the band's significant and lasting contributions to live music and the touring business, and in acknowledgement of their commitment to the fans and the art of performing live.

The 2011 Eclipse World Tour was of the band's most successful tours ever, drawing nearly a million fans and ranked in the Top 15 Tours of the year. 2011 also marked the 30th anniversary of the band's seminal anthem, Don't Stop Believin', which was honored as the top-selling digital classic rock song in history by Nielsen SoundScan. The group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

PAT BENATAR AND NEIL GIRALDO changed the face of music forever when their debut album, 'In the Heat of the Night,' exploded in 1979. Pat emerged fearless, fighting and forging a path for future female rock stars around the world. With Neil's innovative vision creating the signature "Benatar" sound, hits like Heartbreaker, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Love Is A Battlefield and We Belong led to platinum album after platinum album. Benatar won an unprecedented four consecutive GRAMMY Awards, as well as three American Music Awards, establishing her as one of America's leading female rock vocalists. With over 30 million albums and 19 Top 40 singles to their name, Benatar/Giraldo remain a rock 'n roll powerhouse today, selling out concerts and wowing audiences, after more than three decades of making music together.

With trademark red leather pants and bandanas to match their huge rock sound and high-energy live shows, LOVERBOY has sold more than 10 million albums and earned multi-platinum plaques for albums such as their self-titled debut LP, Get Lucky, Keep It Up and Lovin' Every Minute of It. The string of hits include the band's smash anthem Working For The Weekend, as well as Hot Girls In Love, Turn Me Loose, and Lovin' Every Minute Of It. Loverboy's continued pop culture relevance is alive and well in 2012, with recent references to the band in episodes of NBC's hit show '30 Rock' and Comedy Network's popular 'Regular Show.'

Members of Journey will be attending the premiere of  Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey, a new documentary that tells the real life rock-n-roll fairy tale story of Arnel Pineda, who was discovered on YouTube to become the band's new lead singer. Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey, a film by director and producer Ramona S. Diaz, is a rare behind-the-scenes look at Pineda's early life's struggles and the challenges involved in becoming front man for one of America's most beloved rock groups. The documentary premieres April 19 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and also will be shown at the San Francisco International Film Festival 2012 on May 3.

VIP Packages for the 2012 tour will be available through VIP Nation, including premium seats, exclusive merchandise and more. For more information please visit www.VIPNation.com. Journey is also teaming up with www.Tickets-for-Charity.com to offer fans some of the best seats in the house for this tour to benefit outstanding charities helping to make wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses. These exclusive seats will be available only at... 
www.ticketsforcharity.com

Scheduled 2012 Tour Dates (more to be announced):

July 21: San Bernardino, CA - San Manuel Amphitheater

July 22: Stateline, CA- Harvey's Outdoor Arena

July 24: Paso Robles, CA - Main Grandstand, California Mid-State Fair

July 26: Cheyenne, WY - Cheyenne Frontier Nights

July 28: George, WA - Gorge Amphiteatre

July 29: Spokane, WA - Northern Quest Casino Amphitheater

August 3: Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre

August 6: Sturgis, SD - Buffalo Chip Campground Amphitheatre*

August 15: Canandaigua, NY - Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center

 August 17: Louisville, KY - Freedom Hall

August 18: Des Moines, IA - Grandstand, Iowa State Fair

August 24: Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

August 25: Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion

September 18: Youngstown, OH - Covelli Centre

September 21: Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center

September 22: Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center

-Chambersofrock.blogspot.com

The Fixx...

Artist/Band For the Day

 

Lyrics...

Red skies at night

Wo oh oh oh oh

Red skies at night

Wo oh oh oh oh

Should have taken warning it's just

People mourning

Running, hiding, lost

You can't find, find a place to go

Red skies at night

Wo oh

Should have taken warning it's just

People mourning

Running, hiding, lost

You can't find, find a place to go

Red skies at night

Wo oh

Red skies at night

Wo oh oh

Someone's taking over

And it look like they're aiming

Right at you

Someone said we'll be dead by morning

Someone cries leaving

Red skies at night

Wo oh oh

"Red Skies" is a song by new wave rock group The Fixx. Released in 1982, it was the third single from the band's debut album, Shuttered Room. The song charted in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States, and was re-recorded for the band's 1987 album, React.

The lyrics of "Red Skies" warn of an imminent nuclear holocaust. The song appeared on the Fixx's 1982 album Shuttered Room. According to drummer Adam Woods, MCA Records requested the band to re-record the song for their 1987 React album. "Nobody at MCA was really interested in the new things we wanted to do," Woods said. "They told us to re-do 'Red Skies,' and we gave in. We figured, 'All right, we'll give them exactly what they want, and it will bomb.' And sure enough, it did."

-Wikipedia.com

Biography...

Hailing from England, The Fixx has been often heralded as one of the most innovative bands to come out of the MTV era. The style and substance of the band has always created a special connection with its audience. The Fixx’s themes are often complex, introspective and thought-provoking and it’s also been mass appeal with three #1 hits, five in the Top Five, a dozen reaching the Top Ten and millions of albums sold worldwide.

Instantly recognizable, The Fixx sound is unmistakably unique and stands out among the thousands of artists filling the airwaves. Songs such as “One Thing Leads To Another”,

“Red Skies” and “Saved By Zero” remain everyday staples on the playlists of the rock, Hot AC and alternative radio stations that continue to break new acts inspired the era that The Fixx helped to define.

It is rare for an audience to experience a band that has continued to thrive for twenty-five years. The Fixx were, and still are- Cy Curnin on vocals, Rupert Greenall on keyboards, Jamie West-Oram on guitar, Adam Woods on drums, and bassist Dan K. Brown.

Currently working on songs for its ninth studio release, The Fixx began their career with MCA Records and the gold selling album “Shuttered Room” which spent an entire year on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned the hit single “Stand Or Fall”. Next came 1983’s ground breaking “Reach The Beach”, a double-platinum selling effort which including the singles “Saved By Zero” and “One Thing Leads To Another”. They also embarked on a North American tour with The Police, which earned The Fixx critical acclaim and lifelong fans for their songs and captivating performances.

A surprise hit for The Fixx on Billboard’s Hot Club Play chart was “Deeper and Deeper” from the soundtrack of the 1984 film “Streets Of Fire”. The band continued ahead with a string of top selling albums, “Phantoms” included “Are We Ourselves?”, and “Walkabout” produced the hit single “Secret Separation”.

Departing MCA for RCA Records, The Fixx release “Calm Animals” featured the single “Driven Out” which soared to the top of the charts and ended the year as the #4 most played rock song of 1989 according to Billboard. MCA then release a greatest hits package which sold more than two million copies.

The 1990’s represented a turning point in music and for The Fixx. The decade began with the release of “Ink” from which the single “How Much Is Enough?” climbed into the Modern Rock top ten. But then, after a decade together, with the then-burgeoning grunge scene dominating music, and with families to raise the band decided to take time apart from one another and finally pursue other interests, while letting the musical world decide where it was going. 

After a hiatus, the band returned to the studio in 1997. “Elemental” marked a new, contemporary evolution in the band’s history, blending the familiar Fixx signature sound with a fresh, compelling, modern feel. 2003’s “Want This Life” became the eighth studio album and included the singles “Are You Satisfied?” and the infectiously danceable, “You Don’t Have To Prove Yourself”.

Live, in concert, the band delivers that same sonic authenticity fans have come to expect from their performances because The Fixx is the genuine article, the real deal. Concert-goers, whether longtime fans, or experiencing The Fixx for the very first time, are thrilled by the band’s dynamic stage presence and trademark sound.

Having celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a DVD and 2-disc CD set, the imminent release of an all-new studio album will allow The Fixx to prove once again that they are always evolving and seeking new musical horizons. With their combination of classic hits, and innovative new music, The Fixx continues to excite and inspire, both recorded, and in concert. 

-Theagencygroup.com (2007)

Warren DeMartini...

"Happy 49th Birthday

Warren DeMartini...

Warren Justin DeMartini (born April 10, 1963), nicknamed Torch, is the lead guitarist for Ratt, a popular American band during the mid-to-late 1980s Los Angeles glam metal scene. 

Early life

DeMartini was born on April 10, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of six children. The family later relocated to San Diego, California. He became interested in rock music due to the influence of his older brothers Bernard and James, whose band rehearsed in the family basement. DeMartini's grandmother was also a musician of note, playing piano accompaniment to silent movies in Preston, Minnesota.

DeMartini's mother bought him a guitar at his request when he was seven years of age. As he struggled early on learning to play it, he became frustrated and smashed the instrument as he had seen Pete Townshend of The Who do onstage. His mother, angered, refused to buy a replacement. At age 15, he received enough money for Christmas to purchase a new electric guitar. He took lessons to learn basic guitar technique, learned quickly, and formed a band called The Plague. Later he formed another band known as Aircraft.

By 1979, he played his first concert in front of a small crowd at San Diego's La Jolla High School. By this time he was emerging as one of the San Diego area's most talented and sought-after young guitar players, winning the Guitar Center contest in Mira Mesa the year he signed up. He graduated from high school in 1981. DeMartini began taking classes at a local college, but in the first semester was invited up to Los Angeles to join Mickey Ratt; the band that would eventually become the highly successful 1980s metal band, Ratt.

DeMartini replaced Jake E. Lee in the band, who had recently been hired by Ozzy Osbourne. DeMartini was at one point the roommate of Lee, and each greatly influenced the other's styles.

DeMartini's lead guitar became one of Ratt's most recognizable aspects, and he would co-write several of the band's best known songs, including "Round and Round", "Lay It Down", "Dance", and "Way Cool Jr.". Ratt would ultimately become one of the top-selling and most popular glam metal acts of the decade, issuing four consecutive platinum albums and one EP in the 1980s before disbanding in February 1992.

 

After-Ratt

After Ratt broke up, DeMartini had a short stint with the band Dokken before briefly becoming a touring guitarist for hard rock band Whitesnake in 1994. After that, he released two solo projects; the EP, Surf's Up! in 1995, and his only full-length album to date, Crazy Enough To Sing To You in 1996. Ratt re-united in 1996 and released two albums, Collage in July 1997, and a self-titled album in July 1999, which was a critical and commercial failure. In 2003, DeMartini was hired to replace guitarist Doug Aldrich in the band Dio but after several rehearsals he decided to leave the band due to musical differences with band leader Ronnie James Dio. Ratt reformed again in 2007 and began a tour in the summer of that year.

The Warren DeMartini Signature San Dimas® Models were designed to the Ratt guitarist's demanding specifications and built to be no-nonsense, high-performance tone machines. Three classic Dan Lawrence graphic finishes are available-- "Crossed Swords", "Skull w/blood" and the "Bomber". 

 -Themusiczoo.com

Influences

Over the years, DeMartini has cited many legendary guitarists or other musicians as his primary musical influences such as Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Robbin Crosby, Steve Lukather, Uli Roth, Joe Walsh, Jake E. Lee, Joe Perry, Tommy Bolin, Miles Davis, Eddie Van Halen, George Lynch and Randy Rhoads.

According to Allmusic, Demartini was heavily influenced by Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick as a teenager.

Technique

DeMartini has often been praised for his technique and ability. Website Xtreme Musician labeled him as one of the most under-rated guitarists of his era. His playing often incorporates 4 note per string passages, which is still fairly unorthodox and some chromatic runs give DeMartini an almost jazz fusion sound for some solos. Along with that, his playing includes fast minor scales and wide vibrato.

Warren uses finger vibrato, similar in style to George Lynch. This technique features moving the finger/wrist rapidly back and forth along the length of the string to alter the pitch (like a violinist), as opposed to bending the string. 

-Wikipedia.com

In This Moment...

Video for Today...

Lyrics~

Welcome to the gun show

Hey cowboy how's it going tonight?

Come on in and you can buy me a drink

Hey cowboy I see your pistol is cocked

And you got a look on your face like you want to rock

Welcome to the gun show

Tonight we get wild

Welcome to the gun show

Where the dead come alive

(Where the dead come alive)

Hey cowboy I hope you're fast

'Cause I'm the baddest gunslinger ever was

Hey outlaw, follow me outside

And keep your fingers on the triggers while we put you under

Welcome to the gun show

Tonight we get wild

(Tonight we get wild)

Welcome to the gun show

Where the dead come alive

(Where the dead come alive)

It all comes down to a single moment

The strong will fight and the weak will run

Slide the bullet in the barrel

Let me see you count to ten and draw your guns

Showdown

May the best man win

May the best man win

May the best man win

Welcome to the gun show

(Welcome to the gun show)

Tonight we get wild

(Tonight we get wild)

Welcome to the gun show

(Welcome to the gun show)

Where the dead come alive

(Where the dead come alive)

Welcome to the gun show

(Welcome to the gun show)

Welcome to the gun show

(Welcome to the gun show)

Welcome to the gun show

(Welcome to the gun show)

Welcome to the gun show

(Welcome to the gun show)

Come on cowboys

Come on cowboys

"The Gun Show" represents the bands return to a heavier sound. Guitarist Chris Howorth says, "we just wanted to come out with a really heavy metal track to show everybody that In This Moment is back in metal and we’re embracing that part of ourselves." It contains screaming by lead vocalist Maria Brink throughout the song with no clean vocals, a first for the band.

-Songfacts

Music video

On May 1, 2010, the band posted a flyer on their Twitter and Myspace asking their Los Angeles area fans to come out in full cowboy costume for the music video. The video was directed by David Brodsky and debuted on Revolver TV June 23.

Brink describes the song and video shoot: "It's kind of a western ranch feel video for sure. I dressed up as a cowgirl and have these cowgirls in the video with me. We had so much fun doing it. It's just, I think it's one of the heaviest songs and we really love it, and its just a fun, awesome, summertime kick ass song."

Personnel

In This Moment

Vocals - Maria Brink

Guitar, Vocals - Chris Howorth

Bass - Kyle Konkiel

Guitar - Blake Bunzel

Drums - Jeff

 It is the first promotional single released from their third studio album, A Star-Crossed Wasteland. The song was released to iTunes on June 1, premiered on Sirius XM Radio Liquid Metal channel, and was also available for streaming on their Myspace page for 24 hours.

A teaser trailer was released on May 19 containing a small snippet of the song. A few weeks later, a new trailer was released featuring a extended clip of the song and a first look at the music video.

It was the official theme song of TNA Against All Odds 2011, and was later re-used by the promotion for their show Xplosion. 

-Wikipedia.com

Happy 50th Birthday Izzy Stradlin...

Happy Belated 50th Birthday

Izzy Stradlin...(4-8)

Izzy's Bio...

Influenced by  Alice Cooper ,  Led Zeppelin , asked his parents to buy a  battery . It was drummer until  1983 , when exchanged for the  guitar . Izzy learned the first chords of the guitar playing songs of the  Ramones . In high school he founded a band with friends in Lafayette, including Axl Rose. After graduation he moved to  Los Angeles . There played drums and  bass  in some bands and started a musical career that would make him known throughout the world. In Los Angeles, through the friend Tracii Guns, Izzy met guitarist Chris Weber California, and along with him and Axl, formed the band  Rose , who later would change its name to  Hollywood Rose . Izzy was one of the composers of Hollywood Rose and had a style "speed metal", with powerful riffs. The band came to record some original songs in the studio, including songs that would later be re-recorded by Guns N 'Roses as "My Way, Your Way" (which received a further letter and was renamed "Anything Goes"), "Wreckless Life" ( rewritten as "Reckless Life" without the third verse of the original lyrics), "Shadow of Your Love" and "Back Off Bitch" (re-recorded by Guns N 'Roses in its entirety). Other songs written by Hollywood Rose were not exploited by Guns N 'Roses and remained unknown for nearly two decades, as revealed by a (a) a fan of Guns N' Roses bought a tape of the band containing four original songs and released on the internet and later with the release of the album "Hollywood Rose - The Roots of Guns n 'Roses," which contained the previously unreleased "Rocker" and "Killing Time". Hollywood Rose eventually ended, but Axl and Izzy and returned to play together again in Guns N 'Roses. Several musicians have passed through the band, but the formation is stabilized with Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin,  Slash ,  Duff McKagan and Steven Adler . Although Slash is undoubtedly the most famous guitarist of the band, Izzy can be considered the main responsible for the composition of the songs from Guns N 'Roses. A curious story that proves it is on the composition of "Sweet Child o 'Mine," the biggest success of Guns N' Roses. Slash was playing the opening riff of the song "a joke" and Izzy began to accompany him. Izzy asked Slash to stop, saying something like "you do not want to do a song with that riff, is not it?". Izzy says yes, the riff was very good and urged him to play again.  

The band became famous in 1986 in Los Angeles circuit, passing quickly from unknown to the main attraction of bars like  Roxy ,  Whisky a Go Go ,  Troubadour  and other clubs of the famous "Sunset Strip" in Hollywood. Izzy was a sort of mentor of the band at that time, and argued strongly that the Guns N 'Roses adopt the look "glam" strongly inspired by the band Hanoi Rocks. In 1986, Guns N 'Roses released an EP titled "Live! Like a Suicide," which featured four studio recordings sounding audience recording superimposed to simulate a live show. Nobody knows what the view Izzy about this "deception."

In 1987, Guns N 'Roses released Appetite for Destruction, with 12 tracks, Geffen Records. In an interview about the album, the band named the song "Think About You" as "the music of Izzy," probably because Izzy had composed the entire song before presenting it to the band. The band toured the United States to promote "Appetite ..." and also did a mini tour of Europe with shows in England, Germany and Holland. After a year of touring, the band became world famous with the hit "Sweet Child o 'Mine", "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City".

In 1988 the band released their second album, which would be called "The Fri, The Drugs, The Shocking Truth", but eventually had his name changed to "G N'R Lies." This album contained four songs released on the EP "Live! Like a Suicide" and four acoustic songs, including the controversial "One in a Million." The ballad "Patience", the biggest hit from that album, was practically written by Stradlin, and Axl made a point of saying that in almost all the band's concerts. That year, the band continued touring the U.S. opening shows for bands like Aerosmith and also played in Japan and Australia.

After two years of nonstop touring to promote "Appetite for Destruction" and "GN'R Lies", Izzy and his bandmates had reached the top of the rock n 'roll. Guns N 'Roses could then afford a life of excess fueled by too much sex and drugs. Izzy became a cocaine user and has developed an addiction to heroin.  

-Heavymetalcenter.net

He left Guns N’ Roses on their Use your Illusion world tour in November, 1991. 

Following his departure, Izzy formed a new solo band, Izzy Stradlin And The Ju Ju Hounds. Their self-titled debut album was released in the autumn 1992. Following the release the band went on tour, and returned to the studio to record the follow up. Without the album finished, however, they disbanded and the album was not released. 

Izzy left the public eye until 1997, when he released 117º. This country rock style album contained a cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Memphis’. In 2000, he released ‘Ride On’ but, disappointingly, only in Japan. He managed another few shows, before releasing ‘River’, this time worldwide. 2002 saw the release of ‘On Down The Road’ and his most recent album, came back in 2003 under the title “Like a Dog”. This was only released over the internet though, but a petition from a fan ensured more copies were made. Izzy recently released a new album in 2007, entitled “Miami” over the internet. Soon after a remixed version appeared, as well. After he left Guns N’ Roses he has played straight forward rock n’ roll. 

Izzy appeared on stage with Guns N’ Roses on their 2006 Chinese Democracy tour, 15 years after having left the band as a full-time member.

Izzy Stradlin’s birth name is Jeffrey Isbell. He was born in Layafette, Indiana, and was a childhood friend of Guns N’ Roses frontman, Axl Rose. 

-Last.fm 

Date of Birth

8 April 1962, Lafayette, Indiana, USA 

Birth Name

Jeffrey Dean Isbell 

Height

5' 11" (1.80 m) 

Trade Mark

Long black hair

Frequently wears a cap on-stage

Trivia

Left Guns N'Roses in November 1991 due to "creative differences" with longtime bandmate Axl Rose.

Former guitarist for Guns N'Roses.

Arrested in August 1989 for causing public disturbance during a U.S. Air flight, which involved urinating on the floor, verbally abusing a stewardess, and smoking in the non-smoking section.

Left Guns 'N Roses soon after a massive drug overdose in New York City in 1991.

Attended high school with former longtime bandmate W. Axl Rose.

His third solo album, "Ride On", was released in Japan in December 1999, but never officially released in the U.S.

After Guns N Roses won Best Hard Rock video at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept 11, 1989, Izzy was sucker punched by Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil. Suffered a cut lip from Vince's ring but was otherwise unhurt.

Despite quitting Guns N Roses in 1991, stepped in to play five shows with his former band in late April/early May 1993. Replacement Gilby Clarke was too sick to play those shows, so Axl Rose called Izzy and asked him to step in and play.

-Is the only member of Guns N Roses to have graduated High School.

Is also a college graduate.

Duff McKagan played the bass guitar on his latter four solo albums "117°", "Ride on", "River", and "On Down the Road".

Recorded "Memphis", one of Chuck Berry's biggest success, on his second album

As of 2004, has released five albums after Guns n' Roses: "Izzy Stradlin' and the Ju Ju Hounds", "117°", "Ride On", "River", and "On Down the Road". Only the first two were released in the U.S. "Ride on" was only released in Japan, and the latter two were only released in Europe.

Played a couple of shows with Axl Rose's new Guns N' Roses in May 2006 including the songs "Think About You" and "Patience".

Is of English, French, and Scottish descent.

Personal Quotes

Axl isn't really 24, he's a million of years... he's seen everything.

I knew deep inside that it didn't feel right. I didn't understand any more what was happening or what direction it was taking. - On leaving Guns N' Roses

Where Are They Now

(January 2002) Just finished making an album with former Guns N Roses bandmates Slash and Duff McKagan. 

-Imdb.com

"Sweet Caress", one of Izzy's solo songs...