Tag Archives: music

Thought: Why do people attack Guitar Hero videogames?

I have noticed a lot of negativity and hatred toward this videogame by musicians and guitarists that play the real thing. Basically because they don’t want a fake toy taking over the industry of the real guitar. If you honestly think that the real guitar has been taken over by a videogame, then you’re absolutely wrong.

Like it or not, Guitar Hero is the next big thing in guitar playing. Sure, it’s a fake toy being runned by batteries but the game has inspired young kids to pick up the real guitar. Imagine if your son or daughter was playing Guitar Hero and they say to themselves, “Gee, I want to play the real guitar and be a real guitar hero when I grow up.” Guitar Hero is a success because it gets kids out of violent games like first person shooting stuff and Grand Threft Auto games. Plus, it introduces kids to rock music.

The game is not only for kids, adults play Guitar Hero too. Even profesional musicians in the national industry from Slash to Joe Perry even play the game (they wouldn’t be part of the Guitar Hero games if they hated it, believe me). I’ve read an interview with them Slash and Joe Perry in Guitar World with Guitar Hero cover story, Slash and Joe Perry both admitted they suck at the game even though they play good guitar for real. The game is also a good marketing tool to get bands music out there.

I really enjoy Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. I haven’t been playing it that much since I’m trying to beat the other games for the PSP, but I will get back to Guitar Hero III soon. I’m not even good at the game at all, I’m pretty horrible at “Guitar Hero III”. The new Guitar World magazine out now has a cover story on the videogame, they try to defend it by inspiring videogamers to get into the real thing and they teach you how.

Guitar Hero is a great game for the whole family. If you’re not much of a music fan, the game will get you into music. It’s a good thing for everyone. Those who hate on the game are probably coming from people who never played it before, just give it a try, and I assure you, it’ll change your mind and you’ll become immediately addicted to the game. Just because you already play guitar does not mean you’ll be good at the videogame both are totally different.

I’m looking forward to picking up the “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” when that comes out. I’m definitely getting it. Give the Guitar Hero games a chance. Even if  you’re already a musician, the game can even give you musical inspiration, it did with me. It helped me play better lead guitar solos on the real guitar for sure. Guitar Hero is great and will change the world of music.

Kev

Report: The Tenacious D to open for Metallica in Ireland…

Metallica just announced on the band’s official website, that the Tenacious D, a comedy acoustic project brought to you by Jack Black and Kyle Gass will open a show for Metallica in Dublin, Ireland on August 20th at Marley Park.

From Metallica.com:

http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=600772

Jack Black has always been a huge Metallica fan and always been talking about them his whole life. I’m sure Jack is thrilled and psyched that he will be sharing the stage with the gods of rock. Congrats to Jack and Kyle!

Kev

 

Report: Guns N’ Roses finish “Chinese Democracy” and new reality TV show coming?

Guns N’ Roses label, Geffen Records just confirmed that Guns N’ Roses finally finished their album “Chinese Democracy” after 14 long years of making it. Look like Dr. Pepper was a success at their goal! However the band is still having trouble with money and copyright issues for the album. While it’s good news that the album is finally finished, the next thing we should do now is keep our fingers crossed in hopes of the album getting released this year so we can have our free can of Dr. Pepper and celebrate!

Rumours are swirling that a Guns N’ Roses reality TV show will soon be hitting your tubes.

More on it here:

http://www.therockradio.com/

Pretty sweet news. Hopefully “Chinese Democracy” comes to a reality this time around.

Kev

 

Report: U2 releasing remaster editions of 3 classic albums…

The legendary Irish rock band, U2, is set to release 3 remaster editions from 3 of their classic albums. The band will be re-releasing: The Joshua Tree, October and War. All 3 set for release July 21. Each disc will feature extra b-sides, live recordings, and rarities. The albums will also have extended CD booklets with full lyrics and never before seen photos. They have been restored and expanded.

From U2’s official website:

http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?mode=full&news_id=2216

Three of my favorite albums! I’m definitely buying all 3 of them. I’m such a die hard U2 fan, I love them to death and I can’t wait for their new record as well.

Here’s a couple of youtube videos of one song from each of those three albums:

“Gloria” from October

“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” from the Joshua Tree

“New Year’s Day” from War

Report: Singer Toni Braxton hospitalized…

The R&B singer Toni Braxton has been admitted to a local hospital in Las Vegas. No one knows why she was there, but she does have a heart condition called pericarditis. She was going to perform at a venue called the Flamingo in Las Vegas but her concert there may be postponed depending on her condition. Toni Braxton was well known and famous for her popular hit “Unbreak My Heart”.

More on it here:

http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/15824104/detail.html

Get well Toni!

Here’s the video to the song to refresh your memory on who she is.

Report: Stone Temple Pilots perform their first reunion gig in Los Angeles…

The reunited Stone Temple Pilots played their first intimate reunion gig at a small club in Los Angeles. It is a club called the Harry Houdini Estate. They played the show last night actually.

Their setlist for that show was:

Big Empty

Plush

Vasoline

Lady Picture Show

Big Bang Baby

Interstate Love Song

Tripping On A Hole In a Paper Heart

http://www.nme.com/news/stone-temple-pilots/35738

Sounds like a good show. Lets hope the band goes back in the studio for a new album after their summer tour!

Kev

Report: Clint Black eyeing to become a comedian…

Country music star and icon, Clint Black is getting more interested in comedy and is very interested in becoming a stand up comedian. Clint Black is set to perform stand up comedy for the CBS TV series, “Secret Talents of the Stars” tomorrow night at 10 p.m. Clint has already been practising stand up comedy at small comedy clubs in Los Angeles and Nashville. The TV show “Secret Talents of the Stars” is a show where celebrities can perform talents that people don’t know about.

From Country Weekly:

http://www.countryweekly.com/clint_black/scoop/2951

In other Clint Black news, he just released a new internet album available for via-internet only titled “The Long Cool EP”… check http://www.clintblack.com/ for more info.

I’m a big Clint Black fan, I have several of his albums in my CD collection and I’m curious on how he’s going to do standup comedy so I will definitely watch this tomorrow night. Clint is the man. Talented musician and talented songwriter.

I’m not into country music much, but I do enjoy some of it. I listen to the genre because I grew up in a small town of Greenwich where the town is obsessed with country music. I don’t like every country artist I listen to only certain ones that impact me. Clint writes amazing songs.

Kev

 

Report: Radiohead, Kanye West, and Wilco to be the big headliners for “Lollapalooza 2008″…

Radiohead has been booked to be the big headliner for “Lollapalooza 2008” along with rapper Kanye West and Wilco. The historic music festival will take place Aug. 1st in Chicago’s Grant Park near Lake Michigan. Perry Farrell the former frontman from Janes Addiction and Porno For Pyros calls this year’s lineup the best ever.

The Associated Press reports:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hkHQ3s5dPHGaNVy0jSeTMuTkI0FQD8VT5O4O2

And Perry is right. This is the best lineup with some of the most amazing talent. A decent Lollapalooza show finally.

But…don’t expect Radiohead to be playing all their old classic songs from “Creep” to “Paranoid Android”. Ever since Radiohead left major labels years ago, they’ve been staying away from their old hits. Radiohead will probably wind up playing everything on “In Rainbows” in it’s entirety.

Amy Winehouse should have been on the lineup, oh well, there’s always next year for her.

Kev

Edit to add: I just remembered that Amy Winehouse was at last year’s Lollapalooza so she was already part of the festival once. Forgot.

 

Report: Another old band reunion…”James”…’memba them?

Since there has been a lot of bands from the past reuniting lately, I can definitely confirm another band is coming back for a reunion full time. A band called James. They are a rock band from the U.K. signed under Mercury Records major label. The band has been around for many many years but they didn’t get well known and huge until the album “Laid” came out with the title track of the song becoming a huge mainstream hit.

Where have the band been after all these years? According to the website, the band never broke up, they apparently went on a hiatus since lead singer Tim Booth left the band way back in 2001 and the band has dissappeared from the music industry since. They reformed in 2007 and they are releasing a new album this year titled “Hey Ma” set to hit stores April 7th this Monday in the UK first but not sure when the band will release the album in the USA. 

Go to http://www.wearejames.com/, for more info on the band.

Glad to see them back. “Laid” was a killer album.

Kev

 

Thought: The Rolling Stones is the most overrated band on this planet…

I love Rock n’ Roll music, don’t get me wrong. It’s the genre that I grew up listening to. And rock n’ roll music is what turned me on to become a musician myself. I love classic rock from bands like Led Zeppelin, the Doors, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Rush, The Beatles, etc. I never liked the Rolling Stones. They have always been the most overrated band on this planet. Rolling Stones, the best rock n’ roll band in the world that people say? Not a fuckin’ chance! Mick Jagger is a horrible vocalist and the bands lyrics can get really lame and silly that it doesn’t mean anything. I’ve always admired Keith Richards as a guitarist, he’s a brilliant guitarist, I’ve always thought the Stones wrote the crapiest songs though.

Just the other day, the entire front page of youtube was all Rolling Stones videos ’cause the band just launched their official youtube account. My belief just to build up the hype for the upcoming Martin Scorsese film “Shine a Light”. I will not see that film at all.

I’m sick of all the hype of the Rolling Stones. The only reason the band is so popular and legendary is that Mick Jagger is god’s gift to women. The Rolling Stones would never be this popular if the band had a different lead singer.

I’m not into that “rock n’ roll” pop stuff, I don’t want to hear rock n’ roll music where it’s fun to dance to and sing alongs. I want to hear something tight, intense and powerful, something that knocks me out cold. The Rolling Stones does not do that to me.

I would prefer a big Led Zeppelin comeback over the Rolling Stones anytime.

Kev