Category Archives: music

The Allman Brothers not splitting up due to Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes departure…

Earlier this year the two longtime guitarists for the Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes (pictured above) have both announced that they are leaving the band for good. This sparked rumors that the band maybe be breaking up. Greg Allman just squashed the breakup rumors and wants you to be sure that they are continuing on. Greg says he is still replacing Derek.

See the article here:

Gregg Allman: Allman Brothers Are Not Breaking Up, Derek Trucks To Be Replaced

I can understand why people would think the band will be breaking up since it will no longer seem like it’s the Allman Brothers without Derek and Warren but people don’t stay in bands forever. Musicians have to move on. The Allman Brothers have to move on too.

I just read Greg’s memoir, “My Cross To Bear” and he made it pretty clear that he’s going to keep the Allman Brothers going until he’s dead.

It maybe sad and disappointing that two of their guitarists are leaving but make no mistake about it… I’m sure Greg will find great replacements. He has dealt with too many members of the Allman Brothers over the years. They all come and go so I’m sure he’s used to replacing them by now.

It is actually kind of cool that Derek and Warren are moving on. Derek could go on with his wife’s project, The Tedeschi Trucks Band full time and Warren can go on with his other project, Govn’t Mule full time. I think that’s what they’re planning to do.

Derek and Warren have no personal grudges with Greg or any members of the Allman’s, their split is amicable.

This could be a good time to hopefully get Dickey Betts back in the band, though. I don’t know. Dickey and Greg don’t get along with each other and I don’t know if they still hate each other or not. Dickey was never fired from the band, although they kicked him out. They couldn’t fire Dickey ’cause he was one of the main founders of the band. Greg said in his memoir that he’ll let Dickey back in the band if he’ll straighten up his attitude and sober himself up (Dickey was a drunk and short-tempered). I doubt Dickey will ever be back in the band but ya never know. Never say never for now. Maybe Greg and Dickey will bury the hatchet someday.

I can’t believe that I’ve been getting into the Allman Brothers pretty heavily. They are really amazing… of course, back in the days when Duane was alive… that was when the Allman’s were at their best. Derek and Warren are sick guitarists too, though. I’ve been reading a lot about them lately and bought 7 of their albums from Itunes. I’m trying to collect as much of their music as possible. I pretty much want all of it.

Greg Allman is quite a guy. I’m looking forward to seeing his biopic film that Hollywood is currently planning too.

Kev

Neil Young releases new song “Needle of Death” (a cover song)…

Neil Young is going to release a new album on May 27th titled, “A Letter Home” which is produced by Jack White. This is a new track from the album that Neil dropped this morning and it’s called, “Needle of Death” which is a cover song written by Bert Jansch.

Sounds like Neil is going back to acoustic folk music for his next album. Neil switches back and forth from hard rock to acoustic stuff all the time. I love Neil’s acoustic music. I love his rock n’ roll stuff too. I love it when he does both.

Looking forward to the new album. I’ve been a huge Neil Young fan for years. I have a lot of his albums in my music collection. He’s a big inspiration in my own songwriting.

Kev

Prince and Warner Bros. finally buries the hatchet… the Purple One will release re-issues and new album…

Prince and Warner Bros. have feuded for years over some legal bullshit which I don’t know much about but the two finally decided to kiss and make-up. For a long while now, Prince have been releasing albums independently and now it looks like he is on a major label again. The deal will include a new album with new original songs, a re-issue of “Purple Rain”, and albums of unreleased material.

I wasn’t much of a big fan of Prince but I did like the “Purple Rain” album, though. Prince have been out of the mainstream spotlight for years now and looks like he’s about ready to make a huge comeback.

Will a world tour follow the new releases? A full fledged tour haven’t been announced yet but I wouldn’t surprised if that’s coming.

I’m sure his fans are excited and thrilled. He still has a huge fanbase out there.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/04/18/prince-signs-with-warner-bros/7862473/

Kev

Album Review: Animals as Leaders “The Joy of Motion”

Animals-as-Leaders-Joy-of-Motion

 

I know I don’t do album reviews too much but I would only write an album review of a national album if I feel if it’s worth writing and this one is it. I’ve been reading a lot about Animals as Leaders through Guitar World magazine. The hype of that band have been going through that magazine and I’ve been interested in checking these guys out for a while… thanks to Guitar World. I used to dislike musicians who play 7 to 8 string guitars ’cause I always thought it was pretty silly and gimmicky to me but after hearing this album, I’ve grown a change of heart with musicians who plays guitars with more than 6 strings.

Animals as Leaders, “The Joy Of Motion” is a pretty sick album. It’s all instrumental music. Animals As Leaders is known as an instrumental prog-metal. Tosin Abasi, is the main guy of the band. Tosin plays the 8 string guitar for this album. In my opinion, I think Tosin is one of the best guitarists alive in the industry today and I think he’s gonna be the Hendrix of this generation. This album is more than just prog metal. It has a little bit of everything on it. Jazz, fusion, rock, blues, classical, etc. I like instrumental guitar albums and this is one of the best instrumental records I’ve heard in a long time. This album, “The Joy of Motion” will be looked at as a classic years from now.

Tosin Abasi is a black guy, by the way. Not all black dudes are into rap/hip hop music, lol. Some of them are even into rock and heavy stuff like a lot of us.

I would recommend you check out this album. You may not be into this type of music that much but I’d think you’d like it. Instrumental guitar music haven’t been that popular over the years and I think Animals as Leaders can make that genre big again. I was blown away with this album and this makes me want to buy the first two Animals as Leaders records. Tosin is a talented guitarist and makes me respect the guy.

This album makes me want to make instrumental guitar music myself someday. I’ll do it when I’m ready. I just gotta improve my lead guitar chops and then I’ll consider a guitar-only album with no vocals.

Kev

Why are so many people acting like Malcolm Young is gonna die??? Settle down people…

It’s pretty insane how so many Ac/Dc fans are going nuts about Malcolm’s health. Some even went as far as putting Malcolm tributes on their facebook pages and shit like that. Giving Malcolm their well-wishes and all that stuff. I mean, everyone is acting like Malcolm is gonna die or something. I’m like seriously?

The band made it pretty clear today that Malcolm is only gonna take a break so that probably means his illness is not all that serious and he could recover from it easily. He’s just taking a break until he feels better again and then he will re-join the group.

Malcolm have taken breaks from the band many times before so this is nothing new. They won’t get into details of his illness but that doesn’t mean his illness is life-threatening. Malcolm is probably okay enough to record in the studio with them but he won’t be able to tour with them for a while. I think that’s what they mean.

It’s okay. Nothing’s gonna happen to Malcolm! I give him my well-wishes too!

Kev

Ac/Dc releases official statement…. squashes retirement rumors but confirms Malcolm is sick…

Welp. Here you have it. Ac/Dc just released statement, squashing retirement rumors totally but they confirm Malcolm is sick. So it’s looking like Ac/Dc will go on without Malcolm for a while. Look like they got Malcolm’s blessing to do so. I’m sure fans are gonna be all ignorant and have negative opinions of them moving on without Malcolm but they have to. They’re not just a band. They’re an institution. A brand. They’re a business. So the show must go on. The band still have plenty of music left in them. The band can’t hang it up ’cause that’s what they do. They’re musicians and Ac/Dc is a family like Brian Johnson just said in a previous article.

I’m glad the band never changed their image and style of music. A lot of bands change their style of music every album but Ac/Dc refuses to do that. Their next album will probably have the same sound they had for the last 40 years. Their usual simplistic power chord riffing that they’ve always been known for.

Will Ac/Dc get a guitarist replacement for Malcolm for a while or is Angus gonna be the only guitarist for the band for now??? We’ll know more soon.

Kev

Ac/Dc NOT retiring, says Brian Johnson…

Brian Johnson, the frontman of Ac/Dc,  squashes retirement rumors to the Telegraph. He does confirm; however, that Malcolm is “debilitating” sick but the band is still planning a possible new album and a possible 40 Year Anniversary tour.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/10769783/ACDC-We-are-not-retiring.html

See? Told ya so. When you get the news from someone else, it’s probably not true. The news will be official once you hear it from the band themselves. So there you have it, folks. Ac/Dc, not going away anytime soon. It’s look like they still have a lot of music left in them. 🙂

Why are they taking so long to release an album and tour? Maybe they’re just taking a break and relaxing. Spending time with their families and stuff. I’m sure Angus and Malcolm are still making music and jamming together, though.

The band will probably release an official statement squashing retirement rumors on their official site and their official facebook page soon.

Kev

Don’t be quick in believing those Ac/Dc break-up rumors…

Now I know how the rumors of the Ac/Dc breakup started, it amazes me how quickly people believe everything they read on the internet. The rumors started on twitter by guys who claim to be close friends of the band. Sure enough, a lot of people are actually believing it. Sending Malcolm their well-wishes and thanking the band for a good 40 years. I’m like scratching my head like, huh? They really believe those guys from twitter who claim to be friends of the band? What if they aren’t really close to the band at all and they’re just trying to stir up controversy for attention to themselves?

I think there’s a 100% good chance that the band is gonna squash the breakup rumor and the Malcolm health problems. I think the band is gonna put out a statement calling the rumors a bunch of bullshit and that the band vows to make a new album and go on tour. That’s what I’m thinking.

Anyway, you guys… you’ll know when a band is done when you hear from the band themselves. If the news comes from somebody else, you can’t believe it. I’m not believing the break-up rumors until the band says so themselves.

The band will probably address these rumors this week… hopefully tomorrow. They’re an institution much like Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones, etc. If it turns out true that Ac/Dc is breaking up ’cause of Malcolm’s health, then my bad. I don’t think it’s true if the news came from someone else and not them, ya know? Are people really this naive?

Kev

I don’t think Ac/Dc is breaking up, they’ll keep playing until they’re dead…

Rumors hit hard on the internet today that the legendary Australian rockers, Ac/Dc, maybe breaking up due to Malcolm Young’s rumored health problems. Ac/Dc is not just an iconic rock n’ roll band. They’re an institution. Bands like those usually never break-up. They’ll keep playing until they can’t.

Things like this happens when legendary bands take long hiatus’s from the music business. “Break-up” or “retirement” rumors will start.

I love Ac/Dc. Always did.  I loved both the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras.

Malcolm Young is a great rhythm guitarist too. He has always been overlooked and underrated. Malcolm is the one who created most of the big Ac/Dc riffs and rhythm parts to well-known songs such as “Highway to Hell”, “It’s A Long Way To The Top”, “Back In Black”, “Shook Me All Night”, “Thunderstruck”, etc. If it turns out true that he has health problems, I don’t think they’ll hang it up because of it. They’ll keep going.

The band haven’t released a new album since 2008’s “Black Ice” and they haven’t toured in a long time.

I’m sure the band will address the rumors soon. They’re an institution. They can’t hang it up. Not yet, anyway. They’ve been around for 40 years. They’ve been around longer than Metallica. I think they got some music left in them. There are also rumors of a new album coming and full tour in support of their 40th Anniversary so hopefully the band will respond to that too.

The band Ac/Dc is always criticized for their sound. How they are always using nothing but power chords and simple-riffs but that’s not always true. Some of their songs can be pretty challenging. Brian Johnson’s vocals are always criticized too. I think Johnson is a good singer. I like his raspy singing which no other singer could sing like that which makes Johnson different and unique. Johnson’s voice is great for rock n’ roll. I loved Ac/Dc for years and even their newer stuff is great too.

I’m looking forward to their next record if they’re planning one that is. I’m almost sure the band is making another comeback.

Kev

Nirvana and Joan Jett perform “Teen Spirit” @ the Hall of Fame…

Here is Nirvana and Joan Jett performing together for the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Bootleg video but you can still hear it pretty good. I really liked their performance quite a lot. Joan’s voice has similarities to Kurt’s. Joan is still sexy as hell looking and I would totally date her, don’t care how old she is now. I’ve been a Joan Jett fan for years and glad she collaborated with Nirvana. I think Nirvana and Joan Jett should go on tour together or play a few shows to play a full concert performing Nirvana songs. That’ll be pretty sweet. I doubt more shows with Joan is planned but ya never know. Nirvana seems to be collaborating with other artists lately so you may never know what they’re planning.

It sucks that Kurt is not around. If Kurt was still alive, I’m sure he would have been on stage instead of Joan and Lorde.

Kev