In a time where people tend to throw around the word “legend”, I had the great fortune to experience an incredibly intimate evening with a true legend at Sony Hall last week. Ann Wilson, the undeniable and unmistakable voice of Heart, delivered the goods on the New York City stop of her tour. She’s supporting her new release Fierce Bliss. The album, like so many others to come out this year, was a product of the abundance of time off courtesy of Covid. Ann used her time very wisely and enlisted the help of a wide variety of heavy hitters including Vince Gill, Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
In 2019 things were on the up for the independent LA quartet Dirty Honey; their debut single ‘When I’m Gone’ topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts, they toured with Alter Bridge, Guns n Roses, and The Who and sold out their first headline tour in the first two months of 2020 but then covid reared its ugly head put life on hold. Finally things are opening up again and their debut album Dirty Honey is out, and its sound is firmly rooted in 1970s rock.
Ghost Cult scribe Lorraine Lysen caught up with the great Arjen Lucassen of Ayreon for a wide-ranging interview a few months ago. They chatted about The Electric Castle Live project, the visuals of Ayreon Universe live, working with John de Lancie, rock operas, concept albums, Vin Diesel, Star Trek TNG, upcoming new music, and much more. Continue reading →
As we previously reported, Heavy Metal legend Dee Snider hashelped launch a Change.org petition to get the NFL to hire classic rock legends and recently reunited AC/DC to perform at the SuperBowl Halftime show. Originally started by a fan, Gina Di Lecce, the petition grew from fan outcry and Dee’s criticism on social media following this year’s halftime show performance from Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Heavy music is used constantly in sports, especially the NFL. Famously rock and metal bands such as Metallica, Foo Fighters, Avenged Sevenfold, and Guns N Roses (2020)have all performed on the NFL’s pre-game concert the day before. Anyone performing at the big game performs for free and must pre-record and lip-sync their performance, which is why some groups like Metallica have said definitely no to performing, while The Red Hot Chili Peppers infamously made fun of themselves lip-synching in 2014, with Flea being the most notorious culprit. They also were a guest of Bruno Mars and not a headliner themselves that night. The last real rock act to perform at the SuperBowl Halftime Show was The Who in 2010. in 2009. Anyway, sign the petition and let’s unite for rock and metal at The SuperBowl!
If you are like us at Ghost Cult, you go to a lot of concerts every year. We actually pay for many shows we cover, and the fees on top of the tickets, especially for major festivals, event-type shows and tours are astronomically over-priced. And the company that owns the most venues and puts on the most tours in the entire world thinks we are getting away cheap! According to a new report by Marketwatch, Ticketmaster and their parent Live Nation feel they have been charging fans too little and there is a “great opportunity” to earn more money by charging more for tickets in 2020 and beyond. According to the report, the average ticket price for the largest worldwide tours has increased by more than 20% in the past five years and is approaching $100 per ticket. This timeline coincides with the biggest bands and tours in the world, including major tours the last few years Guns N Roses’ “Not In This Lifetime Tour”, Metallica’s “Worldwired World Tour”, Slipknot’s “Slipknot Roadshow”, The Eagles, The Who, Elton John’s farewell tour, KISS’ “End of the Road” tour, Slayer’s “The Final Campaign Tour” on their way to retirement, Tool’s new tour, and next year’s big-ticket tours from My Chemical Romance, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. This is not counting the secondary and resale market, which includes Ticket master’s murky relationship with resellers and bots (see Metallica’s S&M2 ticket debacle last summer), StubHub and other companies that gouge fans for profits. Continue reading →
When Axl Rose waxed romantically about cold November rain in back in 1992, he clearly wasn’t singing about Leeds on a Saturday morning. A cold, depressing day darkened by oppressive black clouds showering their misery relentlessly from above, there is nothing romantic about Leeds city centre. However, above the sound of rain pelting against umbrella canopies, and cars splashing through ankle-high lakes of dirty water, there is hope. Somewhere out there is Damnation Festival.Continue reading →
As we previously reported, Live Nation’s annual summer sale of tickets Live Nation National Concert Week takes off with seven days of savings on concerts and festivals. You will notice your favorite bands and venues sharing sales to specific local events just for you as well as major events with relevance to your taste in bands. During the week over 2 Million Tickets To 2,800 concerts are on sale For $20, plus taxes and fees. Live Nation is also celebrating National Concert Week around the world in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, UK, and Latin America at the link below. Continue reading →
A 40th-anniversary tour is nothing to sniff at in times of such disposable music, so a back catalogue like Stiff Little Fingers have is certainly nothing to sniff at. With support from the Eddie and the Hot Rods crowd, a trip to Birmingham is on the cards for a gig of two high octane punk acts, with the rather more punk n roll nature of the support being a good foil to the energy and pip of our headliners. A delayed journey later, I arrive in time to get into the venue and a drink before our support act. Continue reading →
Fifty years ago this week, The Jimmy Hendrix Experience exploded on the scene with the release of their début album Are You Experienced (Track Records), and changed music forever. A critical and commercial success at the time, the album stands today as one of the most innovative and enduring records ever released, with a musical shadow that is still inspiring new guitar players today across every genre of music. Continue reading →
According to a news report from Billboard Magazine, Desert Trip, the music festival jokingly called “Oldchella” will not be making a return in 2017. The festival made a huge return on their investment, and drew an audience of over 150,000 for a high-end festival experience and had the likes of Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Who, Roger Waters, and Neil Young at the Empire Polo Club in Coachella Valley, Indio, California is officially not coming back for round two.Continue reading →
