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This is the old "COLUMNS" page. The "2001 COLUMNS" are here

FROM: ROCK CITY NEWS, LOS ANGELES, VOL 18, NO 25

Legendary Road Songs Hit TheStreets
There are nearly a million people who own Harleys and countless others that wish they did. They are united by a common spirit that is characterized by a freedom and individuality which defies a single interpretation. Harley Davidson and rockÕnÕroll are both American icons. Together, they make a perfect combination, as both symbolize freedom and rebellion. This latest volume of Legendary Road Songs offers up 18 more songs about love, life and the lure of the open road. YouÕll find an eclectic roster of songs by such legendary artists as ZZ Top, the Steve Miller Band, Black Sabbath, Bob Seger, and Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

GodsmackÕs AwakeDebuts In The Top 5
GodsmackÕs new CD Awake (Republic/Universal) enters BillboardÕs Top 200 album chart at an impressive #5 this week, with SoundScan sales of 256.071. while the first single and title track, ÒAwakeÓ is #1 at active rock radio. Awake, produced by frontman Sully Erna and Mudrock, follows the bandÕs self-titled triple platinum debut and sits alongside new releases from Jay Z, Outcast, U2 and Limp Bizkit in the Top 5. Consistent roadwork is one element that has fueled GodsmackÕs success. The band were featured on the mainstage at this summerÕs esteemed rock extravaganza, Ozzfest, and then toured the country on MTVÕs ÒReturn of the RockÓ tour. Next up, Godsmack join Limp Bizkit for a leg of the ÒAnger ManagementÓ arena tour. These dates kick off as we speak, and wrap up around December 19th in Jacksonville, Fl., so the band can take a brief break for the holidays after which they are right back on the road, with dates to be announced soon. Meanwhile, Godsmack recently shot a video for the track, Òawake,Ó with director Troy Smith at Mansfield State Prison, just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. The vacant building was also seen in the film, ÒShawshank Redemption.Ó In the clip, Godsmack performs in a cage for prisoners in the midst of an uprising at the correctional facility.

Papa Roach Announce Headlining Tour
Papa Roach embark on their own headlining tour immediately after finishing their month-long stint with Limp Bizkit and Eminem on the ÒAnger ManagementÓ tour. These dates are in progress as we speak, and continue until the final show of this part of the tour, on December 19th, in Portland, OR. On the headlining tour, hed(pe) take the opening slot honors for the first half of this theatre tour, while Linkin Park join them midway through the trek. In order to keep their fans up to date on their touring activity, Papa Roach oversee the tour diary section on their website which provides a look at life on the road. The section is updated regularly by band member, Jerry Horton (guitar), who provides a first-person account if each nightÕs performance.
Greenday:
Overseas Tour Warning
Green Day have lined up three weekÕs worth of European headlining gigs in support of their critically acclaimed Warning album. Starting November 27 in Lisbon, Portugal, the trek will last through December 11th, and includes a sold-out show at Wembly Arena in London. Fans should stay tuned for news of a full scale headlining U.S. tour, which is scheduled to start January 11th in Dallas. Meanwhile, Green Day are continuing to enjoy the success of their current albumÕs first single, ÒMinority,Ó one of the groupÕs biggest radio hits, which was #1 for six weeks on BillboardÕs ÒModern Rock TracksÓ chart.

Blur Release Greatest Hits & New Single
Blur are back! A new single and an album of their greatest hitsÉ.blur: the best ofÉ..it is in the stores now as we speak. Set for release approximately ten years to the month after their debut single ÒSheÕs So High,Ó blur: the best of features eighteen tracks chronicling the bandÕs decade-long career. Beginning with early classics such as ÒThis Is A Low,Ó ÒGirls & Boys,Ó ÒThereÕs No Other Way,Ó and the favorite, ÒParklife,Ó through their US smash ÒSong 2,Ó to the present, the collection demonstrates how Blur have become one of the most influential bands of the ÒSecond British Invasion.Ó

FROM: ROCK CITY NEWS, LOS ANGELES, VOL 18, NO 3

2000 Years of Human Error
After releasing three previous independent records, touring extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, underground Goth/Industrial heroes Godhead have now truly arrived to the next level. They have become the first band signed to Marilyn MansonÕs newly formed label, Posthuman Records. For those who have followed GodheadÕs path, and have been patiently waiting for just a little taste of their Posthuman Records debut release, entitled 2000 Years of Human Error, well the end is near! No, not the end of the world, but yes, in January 2001, 2000 Years of Human Error will be unleashed to us all! And, Marilyn Manson will be taking Godhead on the road as an opening act for his U.S. tour which commences on October 27th. No dates are set as of now for Los Angeles, but we will keep you posted.

Papa Roach Slotted For Limp Bizkit/Eminem Tour Following Headlining European Trek
With their debut CD Infest (Dreamworks) already multi-platinum in the U.S., Papa Roach have headed out to conquer Europe with a headlining jaunt, which ran from October 4th through October 14th. This seven city trek comes on the heels of constant touring in the U.S. and Canada, as well as a key performance on the MTV Video Music Awards last month. Later this month, Papa Roach Ð Coby Dick (vocals), Jerry Horton (guitar), Tobin Esperance (bass), and David Buckner (drums) Ð will take heir powerful live show to arenas when they join Limp Bizkit and Eminem on the ÒAnger ManagementÓ tour, kicking off October 19 at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ and wrapping up in mid-December. Papa Roach continue to infiltrate radio and television. Their new single ÒBroken HomeÓ which theyÕll be performing (or will have performed by the time you read this) Monday, October 16th on the Tonight Show, breaks into the Billboard ÔModern Rock TracksÕ chart this week, where it sits alongside ÒLast Resort,Ó which held the #1 spot for seven consecutive weeks. Meantime, the video for ÒBroken HomeÓ once again shot by Marcos Siega, is in rotation on MTV. Papa Roach also graces the current cover of Alternative Press, the October issue. In the feature, singer Coby Dick reveals the personal, and cathartic nature of writing the lyrics for ÒBroken Home,Ó as well many other interesting points about the band. Check it out!

Green Day Explode With ÒMinorityÓ Marking The Fastest Rising Song In BandÕs History
As Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass, vocals) and Tre Cool (drums), continue promotion following the release of their sixth album Warning, on October 3rd, their anthemic ÒMinorityÓ exploded into the #1 slot for the week of September 22nd, on BillboardÕs ÔModern Rock TracksÕ after only four weeks, which marked the bandÕs fastest-rising #modern rock hit in their history. Tre Cool describes ÒMinorityÓ as a song whose Ôguitars are percussive, almost like a drum. TheyÕve got big balls. BillieÕs guitar got big olÕ balls.Õ Green Day, just back from Europe, were seen on MTV in a ÔFirst ListenÕ special on Friday, September 29th at 4:30 PM ET/PT; where it was recently taped in NYC for an audience of radio contest winners. For the special, portions of seven new songs were played, the band held a Q&A session with the audience and also performed ÒMinorityÓ as well as the new albumÕs ÒBlood, Sex and Booze.Ó Once the taping was completed, Green Day stuck around to play an impromptu concert fro the fans. In a whirlwind of promotional appearances, the band also performed ÒMinorityÓ live on the Late Show With David Letterman, Tuesday, October 3rd, the date of the albumÕs release, and on October 9th Green Day performed the song on Farmclub.com. While in NYC for Letterman, Green Day appeared on the Howard Stern Show, the morning of October 3rd, where having listened to the show, we can attest they were in fine form, and they stopped by MTVÕs ÒTRLÓ on October 4th. After the U.S. promo tour is completed, Green Day will head to Australia for appearances and concerts lasting through the end of October. The band will take a break in November, followed by a round of European tour dates, and a US tour to start in early 2001.

Styx and REO Speedwagon Release Arch Allies Ð Live at Riverport
Straight from Styx and REO SpeedwagonÕs sell-out ÒBattle of the BandsÓ summer tour comes Arch Allies Ð Live At Riverport, a double album on CMC International Records featuring the classic rock hits that established the careers, and rivalry, of these two Chicago supergroups. The album documents two classic jam sessions with both bands, as well as a catalogue of the music that trace back the Midwest rivalry between these groups that began nearly thirty years ago. The 23-song, double album was recorded at Riverport Amphitheatre in St. Louis, MO on their sell-out summer tour and includes all the electric guitars, crashing cymbals, thundering bass and pounding drum hits that span their nearly three decades of hits. Arch Allies Ð Live at Riverport includes REO SpeedwagonsÕs ÒKeep On Loving You,Ó ÒTake It On The Run,Ó and CanÕt Fight This Feeling,Ó as well as Styx hits including ÒLady,Ó ÒCome Sail Away,Ó and ÒRenegade.Ó Fans will also enjoy Styx and REO SpeedwagonÕs mega jams ÒBlue Collar ManÓ and ÒRoll With The ChangesÓ performed by both bands together on stage and recorded for the album as a special highlight from their ÒBattle of the BandsÓ tour. The album was released September 26th on CMC International Records with a DVD and VHS version of the Riverport show scheduled for a November release.

FROM: ROCK CITY NEWS, LOS ANGELES, VOL 8, NO 3

THE DAYLIGHTS are on the road again.... They've just completed their 2nd CD, Next. ESPN is using a track from it, and "The Road Rules" and "Real World" will be using tracks for next season. If you've not caught them live before, or its been a while, come out and see them live when they play at The Joint on February 11.' And check out their web site at http://www.thedaylights.com.

DREAM THEATER 's fifth studio album... is called Scenes From a Memory, and is something they've always wanted to do... write and produce a concept album. Says drummer Mike Portney, "We've always wanted to write a concept album. All my favorite albums have been concept-driven: PINK FLOYD's The Wall, THE WHO's Tommy, QUEENSRYCHE's Operation Mindcrime - all have been big influences." Guitarist John Petrocci picks up the story. "The biggest challenge was to write about something interesting enough to encompass a whole album. We picked a storyline about reincarnation, which enabled us to deal with our curiosity about the afterlife, a phenomenon that almost everyone wonders about." The story surrounds a character named Nicholas, who, according to Mike, " ... haunted every night by his dreams about another lifetime." A psychotherapist uses regression therapy with Nicholas and discovers that he is indeed the reincarnated soul of a young girl named Victoria who lived - and died - earlier in the century. Sounds like it could be interesting! The band just finished two nights at the Palace, so they're a hot ticket.

MR. BIG... are back from a 2-year hiatus and have just released their much-anticipated Get Over It, termed the start of a self-described new chapter in their careers, and the formal introduction of new guitarist Ritchie Kotzen, following the departure of original guitarist Paul Gilbert. As vocalist Eric Martin remembers it, "I called Billy (Sheehan, bassist) and said, 'You know, we ought to do it again. I miss playing rock'n'roll. Let's get back to it." "It was coming up on a 10-year anniversary for the band, so it seemed like the perfect time to start it up again, said Sheehan.

The new LP was staged at the Sound City Complex here in Los Angeles, and was produced by Pat Regan. As has been the band's history from day one, the album and its dozen new songs were composed as a complete band effort. Kotzen, drummer Pat Torpey, and Sheehan wrote individually and as a team. Martin wrote on his own, added lyrics to tracks composed by the rest of the band, and also teamed with long-time collaborator Andre Pessis, who has written for previous Mr. Big albums and Martin's most recent solo album.

With regards to sound and style, Get Over It moves boldly from the down-n-dirty groove of "Electrified" to the heavy Hendrix-styled Martin/Kotzen duet "Static" to the bright and bluesy "A Rose Alone" and the soaring "Superfantastic" ballad. Sounds great!

BUCKCHERRY have just released a new single and video called "Check Your Head," directed by David Meyers. Its a well-done video, and features the band's own rather irreverent charm.

Florida band THEOADORE MUDDFOOT is an all original hard rock/heavy metal band that is the self-proclaimed 'hottest group in Florida.' Check out Slash's (Guns'n'Roses) review at http://www.cdbaby.com/muddfoot, or give them a listen at http://www.virtualtunes.com/metal/heavy/MUDDFOOT-2219.

STROKE 9 VAULT INTO THE TOP 5.... on Billboard's modern rock track chart, while CD Nasty Little Thoughts breaks into the top 100 of Billboard's pop albums chart amid sold-out club dates. Having topped the 200,000 mark in sales, the album is bulleted this week at #94 on Billboard's Top 200 Album chart, while the first single "Little Black Backpack" is currently bulleted at #6 on Billboard's Modern Rock Track chart and #4 on Radio & Record's Alternative Top 50 chart. Meanwhile, Nasty Little Thoughts has been nominated for Outstanding Debut Album at this year's Tower Records California Music Awards set to take place in April. Look for STROKE 9 to release the new single and video for "Letters" which is the follow-up to "Little Black Backpack" in March.

WONDERLAND blend tight musicianship, cohesive storytelling and a flair for the dramatic - and will soon be releasing their debut CD entitled The End of Bliss April 18 on Jericho Records/Sire Records group/WEA. The CD was produced by John Porter (The Smiths, Roxy Music), and features first single "Wonderland" which is scheduled to hit the airwaves in late March. The band - Scott Kail, vocals; Stephen Ferrara, guitar; John Dixon, keyboard/piano/organ; John Risti, bass; and Rodger Carter on drums - skillfully balance British and American influences with mature and heartfelt lyrics. Standout tracks on the CD include "Jimmy," "Wait Until the Morning Comes," "Carrie Loves the Dark," "Peppermint Girl," and "Daniel's Down." In the meantime, vocalist Kail was recently named Best Male Vocalist at the 9th annual LA Music Awards and the group received the award for Best Songwriting by our very own Rocky City News magazine.

Rock's exploding SLIPKNOT will make their late-night television performance debut when they invade the New York City studios of Late Night With Conan O'Brien Friday, February 25 to perform their latest single "Wait and Bleed." The song is also set to be featured on the soundtrack for "Scream 3," due out in late February on Wind-Up Records.

GREEN DAY are set to hit the road as part of this year's "Warped Tour" which launches in late June. The marks GREEN DAY's return to the road in more than two years, since their last headlining tour in support of their double-platinum and critically acclaimed NIMROD album. In studio news, GREEN DAY - Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (bass, vocals) and Tre' Cool (drums) - will enter a Bay area recording studio with producer Scott Litt (R.E.M.) in March. The as-yet-untitled LP is due for release in October on Reprise Records.


Bite On Hollywood - Fade To Black - For Immediate Release - L.A. Scoop - Welcome to the Jungle - Inside the Industry - Metal Ledge - In My World - Blues News - Igneous Rock - Industrial Strength - Supersonics - Special

Staff - Columns - Interviews - Reviews - Live Photos - Demo Line - Classifieds
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