Search Results for: Rock am Ring

Showing his deep admiration for Ryan Adams, Sir Elton John addressed the young rock and roller as “fabulous one” during a taping Tuesday night for “CMT Crossroads.” In Studio A at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, John told an invited audience how Adams’ 2000 solo debut, Heartbreaker, prompted him to reassess his own approach to recording. “If I hadn’t heard Heartbreaker, I’d probably be lost in overproduction somewhere,” John said during a question-and-answer segment of the show, which explores the common country music roots of artists from diverse backgrounds. “I was completely and utterly floored by the simplicity… Read more »

Two of the surviving members of legendary rock band Queen have teamed with actor Robert De Niro to answer the venerable questions: Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Fantasy, apparently. On May 14 at the Dominion Theatre in London, the futuristic new musical “We Will Rock You” will bring the music of Queen to the stage, producers Brian May and Roger Taylor – the former guitarist and drummer for Queen, respectively – and De Niro announced in a press conference Tuesday (March 26). Rather than tell the story of Queen, which came to an end when singer… Read more »

After making an “Unplugged” performance with the Roots, it seems that Jay-Z can’t get enough of performing with big-name backup. Korn bassist Fieldy, Limp Bizkit drummer John Otto and Static-X guitarist Wayne Static will back up Jigga when he performs at the ESPN Action Sports & Music Awards ceremony, which will be held on April 13 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. The de facto group will perform under the moniker “the All-Star Band” at the ceremony, which will also feature performances by Unwritten Law, X-ecutioners featuring Xzibit, 3rd Strike and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Chili Peppers… Read more »

Well, all they need now is Gary Cherone. In what could be the most dynamic pairing since, well, since either of ’em last hung out with Eddie Van Halen, former Van Halen frontmen David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar are reportedly discussing a possible summer tour together. That’s right, the power-lunged singers-who each fronted the rock group during two distinct eras (party metal and adult-contemporary, respectively) and each ended up splitting from the band-have met for the first time and are now in talks to team up. Hagar broke the news this week on his official Website, RedRocker.com, saying, “Believe… Read more »

A mohawked Eddie Vedder put the regal Waldorf-Astoria hotel in a punk rock state of mind Monday night when he inducted the Ramones into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Nearing the end of his 17-minute speech, Vedder said, “After this, I’m sure the evening will move quickly, but it’s the Ramones and it’s punk rock and I’m just about finished and I hope you’re OK with that.” The crowd’s response included some jeers and boos. “Apparently you’re not. F– you,” he replied. But overall, the night was filled with special moments – including a Talking Heads induction and… Read more »

If Republicans, “Dukes of Hazzard” reruns and an abundance of heavy metal weren’t enough to convince you, No Doubt’s Rock Steady road show leaves little doubt that the 1980s are back. On the tour’s opening night, the Orange County ska-popsters mined flavors from across the retro-’80s spectrum, mixing driving hardcore and rasta riddims with slap-bass funk, new wave synth and pop queen balladry. With a punked-out rhythm section, two dread-stylie horn players, a guitarist straight out of a Duran Duran video and bare-bellied, necktie-wearing Gwen-just-wanna-have-fun-Stefani up front, they even looked the part. The drum set glowed under the Memorial Auditorium’s… Read more »

They represented the anti-establishment, so it was a bit odd to see the Ramones so happy to become part of the music establishment as members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But for the remaining members of the punk rock originators – whose lead singer, Joey Ramone, died last year – Monday night’s induction at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel represented long-overdue respect for the band that helped revolutionize rock with their rapid-fire, guitar-heavy songs. “I’d like to congratulate myself, and thank myself, and give myself a big pat on the back,” joked Dee Dee Ramone. “Thank you Dee Dee,… Read more »

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame welcomed its first members from the new wave and punk eras on Monday night, inducting The Ramones and Talking Heads along with classic rockers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, soul and R&B icon Isaac Hayes, versatile vocalist Brenda Lee and singer/songwriter Gene Pitney. Legendary guitar sideman Chet Atkins was also inducted, as was Jim Stewart, founder of and driving force behind revolutionary soul music label Stax Records. The hall’s 17th annual induction ceremony got off to a rousing start with Hayes performing his Oscar-winning “Theme from ‘Shaft.”‘ Hayes, who saw eight of his… Read more »

There was no floor collapsing this time, and the only damage was the broken red guitar belonging to Mest’s lead singer, Tony Lovato. Mest and Unwritten Law played to a sold out crowd last Wednesday in Houston, Texas, and although entertaining, it is also a little frightening for an audience who didn’t exactly know what to expect when a musician expresses his temper on stage. During their fifty minute set, afraid that he was going to get hurt, Lovato warned crowd surfers to watch where they were landing and to not hit his microphone stand. As luck would have it,… Read more »

Facing a fusillade of legal attacks from an irate entertainment industry, free file-sharing Netco Streamcast Networks – like Napster before it – is seeking legitimacy by reaching out to independent artists with technology to help them distribute their music themselves. Franklin, Tenn.-based Streamcast says its new digital rights management software, dubbed Content Into Application, or CIntoA, will let artists choose the level of access that users will have to songs that they upload into the company’s Morpheus file-sharing network. The tracks can be programmed to offer a limited number of plays before a fee is required, or only a snippet… Read more »