HomeRock NewsQuick Takes: Slash, Mammoth WVH, Foreigner, Record Store Day Book, Kiss, Tears For Fears
Quick Takes: Slash, Mammoth WVH, Foreigner, Record Store Day Book, Kiss, Tears For Fears
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Although he has said only days ago that he wouldn't be including any Guns N' Roses tunes in his current shows — Slash went back on his word when he welcomed bassist Duff McKagan onstage for a Guns classic. McKagan guested with Slash, Myles Kennedy &The Conspirators at their February 9th Seattle stop at the Paramount Theatre to perform the Appetite For Destruction favorite, "Night Train."
Bassist Todd Kerns handled vocals on the tune — and earlier in the show sang a cover of Lenny Kravitz' "Always On The Run." Myles Kennedy was back on the mic for the band's take on Elton John's "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)." (Ultimate Classic Rock)
Mammoth WVH has just dropped the latest single and video from its self-titled Grammy-nominated debut album. Leader Wolfgang Van Halen spoke about the release of "Epiphany," explaining, "'Epiphany' is the song that I always say best represents the core sound of Mammoth WVH. The song was easily the biggest unreleased track and has resonated most with the fans since the album was released last June. That was why it made sense to be a single now. It is also one of the most fun to play live and I can’t wait to get back out on the road and play it on the Young Guns tour." (Ultimate-Guitar.com)
Ian McDonald, a founding member of King Crimson and Foreigner, died at age 75 on February 9th in his home in New York City, surrounded by his family. MacDonald, who was revered in the prog circles, contributed keyboards and woodwinds to King Crimson's debut album In The Court Of The Crimson King, which is considered one of the most influential albums of the genre. He was also featured on T. Rex's signature hit, "Get It On (Bang A Gong)."
MacDonald joined foreigner in 1976 playing guitar, keyboards, and woodwinds on the band’s first three albums: Foreigner, Double Vision, and Head Games. His work is featured on such iconic hits as "Feels Like The First Time" "Cold As Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Double Vision," and many others. McDonald's final band was the Manhattan-based Honey West. (Press release)
Coming on April 12th is the new book, Record Store Day – The Most Improbable Comeback Of The 21st Century, author Larry Jaffee. The tome, "tells the story (of Record Store Day) in the voices of the artists who love (records), the people who founded Record Store Day, and the people who make up a record store: those who run them, those who shop in them and those who make the music they love in them."
A limited edition version with a special vinyl album will be available on April 23rd featuring tracks recorded live at in-stores by Paul McCartney, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Imagine Dragons, Mudhoney, and Brandi Carlile, among others. (Best Classic Bands)
Kiss "Dynasty" collectible figures will hit the market as soon as this spring, with pre-orders now available for the limited run of 3,000. The four figures — available as a set of four or separately — are based on the band's colorful 1979 Dynasty tour stage personas and sell for $159 each.
The officially licensed statues are "hand-painted and numbered and come with a certificate of authenticity printed on the base of each collectible statue." (Blabbermouth)
Tears For Fears have just released the new video "Break The Man" from the band's upcoming album, The Tipping Point, which drops on February 25th. Curt Smith said of the new tune, "'Break The Man' is about a strong woman and breaking the patriarchy. I feel that a lot of the problems we’ve been having as a country and even worldwide to a certain degree has come from male dominance. It’s a song about a woman who is strong enough to break the man. For me, that would be an answer to a lot of the problems in the world — a better male-female balance." (Rock Cellar)