At 2:58 in Hey Jude Paul McCartney can be faintly heard saying “Hit the wrong chord!”, followed by, “Oh, fucking hell!” after he made a mistake during the recording of the song
Until next time keep rockin’ The 0800 Jukebox crew. Share
2009 seemed to be a huge year for female fronted bands, with the likes of Paramore finally blowing up in terms of worldwide popularity and with VersaEmerge slowly but surely carving their very own path to the top. Formerly a five piece, VE lost two members over the course of the year – Anthony Martone (Drums) and Jerry Pierce (Guitar) – both due to personal reasons, yet the group continued and have come back strong ready to drop their highly anticipated debut album this summer. According to a couple of tweets, Chris Pollock is currently filling in as the drummer for the band. It has not been announced whether this is permanent or temporary.
Their experimental-style melodies teamed with Sierra Kusterbeck (Vocals) and Blake Harnage’s (Guitar/Vocals) almost classical style vocals have meant that critics are keeping a close eye on the band. Whilst some simply pass them off as ‘copycats’, most seem to have noticed that VE’s unique musical creations place them well above the average band of today, their dedication and professionalism have earned them much respect
Fixed At Zero Album is set to drop June 22nd
http://www.shrednews.com/ten-artists-to-watch
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
Share
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
Share
Ellie Goulding
23 year old Ellie Goulding has already achieved in 2010 what most artists struggle to achieve in a lifetime. Having won the prestigious BBC Sound of 2010 poll Goulding went on to win the critics choice Brit Award in February before her debut album had even been released. The ten-track full length Lights went straight into the UK chart at number one when it was released this March, knocking Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster from the top spot. Currently on tour with rockers Passion Pit, Goulding embarks on a UK headlining tour this March/April and has been confirmed for this years V-festival in August. Most of the upbeat pop-artists shows have sold out so be sure to get your hands on a pair of tickets next time she comes to a venue near you
http://www.shrednews.com/ten-artists-to-watch
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
Share
It’s almost exactly 43 years to the day since BBC suits heard The Beatles’ ‘A Day In The Life’ and deemed it too far out for the British public. It wasn’t the increasingly experimental band’s decision to bolt together a host of different sections, including the spectacular orchestral crescendo, that upset their ears.
What the network took great offence at were the lyrics, particularly John Lennon’s supposedly druggy refrain of “I’d love to turn you on”. Nowadays the landmark ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ track is little short of an unofficial national anthem and no one would dream of criticising, let alone outlawing, it.
yahoo.com’s top 10 banned songs.
10 ‘When I’m Cleaning Windows’ George Formby
The much-loved, ukulele-playing comedian’s finest moment was deemed too smutty for radio broadcast in 1936 because of these lyrics: “The blushing bride she looks divine / The bridegroom he is doing fine / I’d rather have his job than mine / When I’m cleaning windows.” Going on these rules, this week’s entire Top 40 would be empty.
09 ‘Lola’ The Kinks
Back in 1970, drunken romps with transvestites weren’t exactly all over the radio. However, it wasn’t the lewd backstory of this track that caused offence but the fact it mentioned “Coca-Cola”. The BBC’s strict advertising code forced The Kinks to change the offending lyric to “cherry cola” and the band found themselves with a smash hit on their hands.
08 ‘Honky Tonk Angel’ Cliff Richard
Imagine Sir Cliff’s utter horror when he realised that the subject of his 1973 cover was not a lovely little housewife with a keen eye on the kitchen but a brassy hooker with a bedroom fixation. The God-fearing pop star promptly banned the track himself and prayed day and night that it would not impact on his elevation to The Big House.
07 ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ The Beatles
Here they are again. The Beatles were on a rich vein of creative form during this period, inspiring many but upsetting others with their uncompromising vision. At the time of its 1967 release, Paul McCartney claimed this was inspired by a Julian Lennon drawing. Others, taking the song’s initials as a massive hint, insisted it was actually about LSD. We’re really not sure how they came to that conclusion…
06 ‘Love To Love You Baby’ Donna Summer
This unstoppable disco monster came out in 1975 with a pioneering Giorgio Moroder production, falling just shy of the 17-minute mark on the extended mix. However, it also featured a series of erotic groaning passages, taped as the US star writhed around the recording booth. In fact, the BBC later claimed it contained 23 “orgasms”. That must have been a long night in the studio.
05 ‘Give Ireland Back To The Irish’ Wings
Sir Paul McCartney was never one to shy away from controversy in his post-Beatles career. Let us not forget this is the man who penned the ‘Frog Chorus’. But before that, he marked his departure from The Fab Four with this 1972 single. So inflammatory was the subject manner that BBC Radio 1 DJ Alan Freeman had to refer to it as “a record by the group Wings” on the chart show ‘Pick Of The Pops’.
04 ‘Glad To Be Gay’ Tom Robinson Band
Originally written for 1976’s London gay pride parade, this went on to make the top 20 in 1978. It may have dissected every aspect of British society’s views on homosexuality with wit and style, becoming the era’s official “gay national anthem” according to infamous activist Peter Tatchell, but that didn’t stop the BBC refusing to play it. Ironically, Robinson now works for the corporation as a DJ.
03 ‘Ebeneezer Goode’ The Shamen
“He created the vibe / He takes you for a ride and as if by design / The party ignites like he’s comin’ alive / He takes you to the top, shakes you all around / Then back down, you know as he gets mellow.” What on earth were The Shamen singing about back in 1992!? ‘Ebeneezer Goode’ was banned and eventually withdrawn, but not before it had gone to number one during the BBC’s drug awareness week.
02 ‘God Save The Queen’ The Sex Pistols
When Queen Elizabeth II was planning her Silver Jubilee in 1977, it’s unlikely she was hoping to receive a special present from the ghastly punk movement or its obnoxious figureheads. But that’s exactly what happened with this untouchable Sex Pistols protest anthem, which told the UK we had “no future”. The public reacted by sending it to number two although the BBC were less impressed and refused to play it.
01 ‘Relax’ Frankie Goes to Hollywood
When Radio 1 DJ Mike Read decided to draw his listener’s attention to the debut single from a new band from Liverpool, it’s unlikely he was intending on making them one of 80s’ pop’s most famous and infamous bands. But that’s what happened in 1984 with ‘Relax’, which the BBC banned only to see it go to number one for five weeks as Frankie Goes To Hollywood became household names. Good work Mike!
That was yahoo.com’s top ten, do you think they missed any?
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
Share
The Rock have just finished their top 100 Kiwi rock songs. Here is the top ten.
| # | Song | Artist | Last Year |
| 1 | Home Again | Shihad | 1 |
| 2 | Bliss | Th’ Dudes | 7 |
| 3 | Pacifier | Shihad | 3 |
| 4 | Nil By Mouth | Blindspott | 8 |
| 5 | Phlex | Blindspott | 4 |
| 6 | Slice of Heaven | Dave Dobbyn/Herbs | 9 |
| 7 | Why Does Love Do This To Me | The Exponents | 2 |
| 8 | One Day | Opshop | 12 |
| 9 | Rain | Dragon | 29 |
| 10 | City Limits | I Am Giant | Debut |
Check out the rest here therock.net.nz
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
Share
You might know his songs form The Boat That Rocked, Watchmen, “CSI: NY”, The King of Kong, “House M.D.”, “Without a Trace”, “The West Wing”, “Scrubs”, Shrek, Natural Born Killers, and Pump Up the Volume to name a few and Leonard Cohen is returning to New Zealand for a three-date tour in October and November, two years after his last sell out tour here.
Cohen will perform three dates in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch later this year
before heading to Australia. His last tour received overwhelmingly positive reviews, and received the Helpmann Award for the Best International Concert in 2009.
Stuff.co.nz reviewer Michael Field said Cohen was in fine form during last year’s January show in Auckland.
“That distinctive voice is unchanged and powerful … the songs sounded fresh and new.”
Tickets for the shows go on sale on May 31.
October 29: Vector Arena, Auckland
October 31: TSB Arena, Wellington
November 3: Westpac Arena, Christchurch
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
Share
The lineup was announced today for the festival known as G-TARanaki 2010, a five-day musical celebration of the guitar to be held in New Plymouth.
The headline act is ex-Guns ‘N Roses/Velvet Revolver axe-man Slash. He will be joined by Alter Bridge vocalist Myles Kennedy along with bassist Todd Kerns (Sin City Sinners, Static in Stereo, Age of Electric), rhythm guitarist Bobby Schneck (Green Day, Weezer) and drummer Brent Fitz (Alice Cooper, Vince Neil).
Also visiting from overseas is Uli Jon Roth ex-Scorpions. The classically trained German rock guitarist appeared at the 2008 G-TARanaki summit. He’ll offer workshops and masterclasses and lead an all-star jam session as part of the Friday night concert.
Jennifer Batten, who was Michael Jackson’s live guitarist across three world tours and worked with Jeff Beck in the late 1990s, will perform at G-TARanaki also. Batten is a class player with chops that allow her to move from metal shred to world music, to funk, fusion and electronica.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/blogs/blog-on-the-tracks/3737795/G-TARanaki-2010
Vinnie Moore is also on the bill. He was discovered due to a demo tape he sent to Guitar Player magazine. From there he became an influential shredder then toured and recorded with Alice Cooper and is currently playing with UFO.
Hail! is a metal supergroup with a shifting lineup. For G-TARanaki it will be Scott Travis of Judas Priest banging the skins, Scott MacAlpine (from Steve Vai’s band) on lead guitar and Tony Franklin Jennifer Batten(The Firm, Quiet Riot, Blue Murder) on bass.
From Mountain – and from work with the likes of Van Halen, Mick Jagger and Billy Joel – Leslie West will be on board.
California Guitar Trio will work through almost every genre of music.
Joining the California Guitar trio and performing solo is bass legend Tony Levin. You would know his work from King Crimson, from touring and recording with Peter Gabriel – from his Chapman Stick playing as well as his bass playing; possibly even from his inclusion on John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s Double Fantasy album.
Another great bass player making the trip is Guy Pratt. Pratt took on the role of bass player for Pink Floyd for the post-Roger Waters albums and tours. He has also toured (including New Zealand) with Bryan Ferry and has played extensively with Robert Palmer, was a member of Icehouse and played on the tour behind the Coverdale Page album. In 2007 he published a memoir – filled with great touring and recording stories – My Bass and Other Animals. And from there he has gone on to a sideline career in standup comedy – touring with his music anecdotes.
Oli Brown Band features Britain’s newest blues guitar prodigy, Oli Brown. He released his debut, Open Road in 2008. He was just 19. From there Mike Vernon, producer of early John Mayall and Fleetwood Mac albums, came out of retirement to produce the Oli Brown Band’s follow-up, Heads I Win, Tails You Lose.
Speaking of young stars, Desiree Bassett is just 17. Here’s a clip of her, aged 15, covering Jimi Hendrix. From here she has gone on to release three CDs and play alongside Jimmie Vaughan and Sammy Hagar. She is from New Haven, Connecticut.
There are New Zealand bands performing as part of G-TARanaki also.
The Checks will be there. In Dread Response is an Auckland metal band. For the cheekier side of metal try Shotgun Alley. And there’s also The Thomas Oliver Band from Wellington, Kara Gordon Trio, an Auckland group that performed at 2008’s G-TARanaki, and Blue Monkey Racket, a Taranaki blues band.
So, how does this all work? And what’s happening?
A Friday night concert at the TSB Stadium will see The Checks, Desiree Bassett and Oli Brown Band as well as Tony Levin with the California Guitar Trio. This evening will be headlined by the Uli Jon Roth All-Star Jam with Leslie West, Desiree Bassett, Vinnie Moore and Jennifer Batten.
On Saturday there will be a concert at the TSB Stadium that kicks off with Shotgun Alley and In Dread Response. Then there will be sets by Vinnie Moore, Jennifer Batten and Hail! Finally, Slash will close the evening. There’s a chance the likes of Batten and Moore may join him for an all-star jam to conclude.
There are three midnight sessions at Puke Ariki. Thursday’s will see The Thomas Oliver Band, Guy Pratt, Levin with the California Guitar Trio, Oli Brown Band and Desiree Bassett.
Friday will feature Kara Gordon Trio, Leslie West, Desiree Bassett, Guy Pratt, Vinnie Moore and then Tony Levin solo.
Saturday’s midnight session will be the Brian Hatcher Band, Jennifer Batten, Uli Jon Roth, Hail! and Slash.
At the Sky Academy on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Uli Jon Roth will be sharing his knowledge with music students in afternoon sessions (1.30-5.30).
There are forums and clinics across the Friday and Saturday – everything from local bands showing how to shred to Dominion Law discussing the legal side of the music business. One of the highlights will surely be Tony Levin discussing working with the likes of Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, John Lennon and King Crimson.
There’s also a G-TARanaki Guitar Exhibition.
Tickets go on sale to the public from Monday, May 31. Visit here (official G-TARanaki site) to sign up for e-newsletters and to receive further information.
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
Share
If most of your guests are of an age where they will have children, plan a few activities for the children in attendance.
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
Share
Cirque Du Soleil Elvis style
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/international/3732007/The-King-comes-back-to-Vegas
When it comes to Elvis Presley and Las Vegas you might have thought you’d seen and heard it all.
The King’s name is synonymous with the City of Sin – from the countless impersonators, Elvis-inspired wedding chapels, and numerous dedication shows.
But a new Cirque Du Soleil extravaganza, playing in the city Elvis spent so much time in as an entertainer, is injecting new life into the late star – more than 30 years after his death. Called Viva Elvis, it is based on Elvis’s music, career and personal life, taking in his humble beginnings, army service, death of his twin brother, marriage to Priscilla, and of course his Vegas show days.
It features about 30 Elvis songs, but in a respectful twist, there’s no vocal impersonator. Rather the songs feature Elvis’ vocals backed by a live band, sped up to give a modern edge with some sung by a woman. Emotion is the theme of the day with this show as you can’t help but feel something, Elvis fan or not. There are video montages with some never seen before footage. His personal life and relationship with Priscilla dominates as she had a lot do with the show as an adviser and collaborator.
There’s a building-sized wedding cake with Priscilla and Elvis labelled across the bottom and a female singer standing on the top, while there’s also a ballet performed inside wedding rings to illustrate their love, to the song Can’t Help Falling In Love. An acrobatic number on a huge guitar represents the sadness Elvis felt at never knowing his twin brother, who was stillborn, played to the ballad One Night. There’s also colour, action, and high energy, with Jailhouse Rock, and Viva las Vegas, featuring 40 Elvis impersonators.
Traditional Cirque Du Soleil fans, however, may be disappointed as it is more about storytelling than acrobatics. But playing at the new 2000 seat Elvis theatre at the new Aria Resort & Casino at City Center in Las Vegas – since February – there is no better place for this show. This is the city where Elvis spent many of his performing days. He first played in Las Vegas at the age of 21 in 1956, at the New Frontier Hotel, where he was billed The Atomic Powered Singer. Then in the early 1960s he spent weeks in the town filming the movie Viva Las Vegas. But it was his appearances there over the years 1969 to 1976 that cemented his legendary status and eternal link with the City of Sin.
Cirque shows, from the famous Canadian circus entertainment company, have been playing in Vegas since the early 1990s, finding their natural home.
The Elvis show comes as the acrobatic circus shows diversify to take on legendary musicians following the success of Love, which features the music of The Beatles.
Next on the cards is a Cirque show as a tribute to the late king of pop Michael Jackson.
But for now, it’s all about Elvis – especially as the King would’ve celebrated his 75th birthday this year.
Expectations are that it will become one of the longest-running Cirque shows.
Viva Las Vagas! Viva Elvis! Long Live the King!
Until next time keep rockin’
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
Share