ALBUM REVIEW: The Struts – Pretty Vicious


 

The Struts’ new album Pretty Vicious (Big Machine Records/John Varvatos Records) starts with the strutting, tongue-in-cheek tale of hedonism “Too Good at Raising Hell” – done in their signature mix of The Darkness, Queen and the Rolling Stones.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Reef – Shoot Me Your Ace


Nineties brit-rockers Reef are back with Shoot Me Your Ace (Raging Sea), their second album since their 2018 reunion. With original members Gary Stringer (vocals) and Jack Bessant (bass) joined by newer members Jessie (Ronnie Wood’s son) on guitar, Luke Bullen on drums, and the production and guitar work of Andy Taylor, Shoot Me Your Ace shows a band firing on all cylinders.

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Four Year Strong Shares Their Cover of “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve


Rockers band Four Year Strong have released their cover version of The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony.” The classic 1990s anthem interpolated The Rolling Stones “The Last Time’ and was based on a sample from the Andrew Loog Oldham orchestral cover of the track, resulting in a controversy. Four Year Strong will be touring the US this September on the Pure Noise Tour. The tour also features label mates State Champs, Real Friends, Just Friends and Bearings.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Saxon – Inspirations – Silver Lining Music


With no less than twenty-two studio albums behind them, NWOBHM legends Saxon are back again but with something a little different this time. Instead of just rummaging around in the attic for an old live recording, or throwing together a contractually obliged “Best Of…”, Barnsley’s finest have taken their time during lockdown to produce something a little more imaginative. Looking to the past, the band has recorded Inspirations (Silver Lining Music/Militia Guard), a collection of songs by artists who made an impact on them at the start of their musical journey. Continue reading


A Celebration Concert Marking David Bowie’s Life will feature Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, Gavin Rossdale, Perry Farrell, Joe Elliot, and More!


To mark not only the birthday of Rock icon David Bowie, but five years since his untimely death from cancer, a legion of rock stars influences but the music giant will gather on January 8, 2021, for a concert. Mike Garson and producers Stacey Sher and Kerry Brown have joined forces with Rolling Live Studios to produce “A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day!”, bringing together dozens of Bowie alumni band members spanning Bowie’s career from his 1969 self-titled album to his final album, “Blackstar”, along with many of the world’s most famous voices for a very special experience. The concert will feature performances from Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Bowie’s good friend and Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman, Gavin Rossdale (Bush), Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction), Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Grammy-winning Singer Macy Gray, Ian Astbury (The Cult), Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie, Lenny Kravitz), Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones), Corey Glover (Living Color), Tony-winning rocker Lena Hall, vocal phenom Judith Hill (Grammy winner for “20 Feet From Stardom”), and many more to be announced. Watch a trailer for the event here:

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Season 2 of The Boys Features the Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, Goo Goo Dolls, U2, and Billy Joel


The anti-heroic Superhero series, The Boys, based on the popular comic created by Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Punisher) and co-created, designed, and illustrated by Darick Robertson (Wolverine, HAPPY!) just saw the first three episodes released to Amazon Prime Video this week. As was the case in season one, the show is a blur of action sequences, bloody gore, cursing like a sailor, sand social commentary, and smart musical choices. Already heard in season two so far are The Rolling Stones (“Sympathy for the Devil”), Talking Heads (“Psycho Killer”, U2 (“Where the Streets Have No Name”, Goo Goo Dolls (“Iris”), and Billy Joel, who was one of the signature artists heard in season one (“Pressure”, “Piano Man”, “You’re Only Human”). The first three episodes and the post-show hosted by Ayesha Tyler are all streaming now. New episodes arrive every Friday through early October. Continue reading


Queen is Facing Legal Hurdles Trying to Stop Donald Trump From Using Their Music


According to a published report, the management for Queen described the band’s attempts to stop Donald Trump from using its music in social media campaigns as an “uphill battle.” Earlier this week, Trump’s campaign used their classic song “We Will Rock You” in a video on TikTok competitor Triller. The video has not yet been taken down.A spokesman for Queen told BBC News said it has “repeatedly taken issue with the Trump campaign,” adding that “the band itself has been quite outspoken on the subject.” This is not the first time Queen and Trump have clashed over his unauthorized use of the band’s music. Last October, the band filed a copyright infringement notice over the unauthorized use of “We Will Rock You” in a another Trump campaign video. The clip was eventually removed from Twitter “in response to a report from the copyright holder.” Queen also clashed with Trump four years ago on the campaign trail when then-Republican presidential hopeful Trump for using the band’s 1977 song “We Are The Champions” without permission.Continue reading


Led Zeppelin Great Jimmy Page Says It’s ‘Really Unlikely’ The Band Will Ever Reunite Again


In a new interview with BBC Radio 2 (and transcribed by Blabbermouth) Jimmy Page says that it’s “really unlikely” that Led Zeppelin will ever play any more concerts. The guitarist discussed the possibility of a reunion of his legendary band during an appearance this morning (Wednesday, July 22) on BBC Radio 2 after his previously unreleased collaboration with The Rolling Stones, “Scarlet”, premiered on the “Zoe Ball Breakfast Show”.

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A Fan-Made Donald Trump Ad Using Linkin Park’s Classic “In The End” Has Been Banned from Twitter


A fan-made video ad Tweeted by and promoting President Donald Trump was posted to Twitter on Saturday (July 18) was removed from the social media platform due to a claim by the copyright owner, Linkin Park. The video used LP’s all-time classic hit single “In The End”. The video comes on the near three-year anniversary of the death of frontman Chester Bennington. The two-minute, fan-made clip revolved around quotes from Trump’s 2017 inaugural address, including his vow to start “transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people.” The video painted presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden negatively. Within hours, Twitter pulled the video from Trump’s feed and replaced it with a message that reads, “This media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner.”

UPDATE: Linkin Park officially filed a cease and desist order over the song’s use.

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Neil Young Derides President Trump Over Use of His Music at Mt. Rushmore Rally


Neil Young has joined the ranks of Adele, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Village People, R.E.M. and the estates of Tom Petty and Prince are among a raft of other artists to demand Trump stop using their tracks at his rallies. The iconic multiple Rock N Roll Hall of Famer took to social media via several of his accounts to voice his anger after his songs were played at Trump’s Independence Day celebration at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Young, who is Canadian but became an American Citizen in January 2020, does not want his music played at Trump events, as “Like A Hurricane,” “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Cowgirl in the Sand” ― were played during Trump’s Independence Day celebration at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial on Friday night.

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