.
Day in Rock logo

Day in Rock Report for 09/11/2017


Today's Day in Rock Stories


Van Halen Rocks Eruption For 40th Anniversary Video

(hennemusic) Wolfgang Van Halen marked the 40th anniversary of his father's groundbreaking instrumental, "Eruption", by sharing new video footage of himself playing the iconic track.

"In honor of Eruption being recorded 40 years ago today," Wolfgang tweeted on September 9th along with the visual, "here's me playing it on the guitar it was recorded on."

The bassist can be seen performing the tune on Eddie Van Halen's original red, white and black-striped Frankenstein (aka "Frankenstrat") guitar, which was used to record the tune on September 8, 1977 for inclusion on Van Halen's 1978 self-titled debut album.

A regular staple of Eddie's live guitar solos dating back to his band's club days on the California circuit, "Eruption" introduced the rocker's use of "two-handed tapping" as a regular part of his sound while expanding the musical vocabulary of the instrument on a mainstream basis moving forward.

While the history of "tapping" on instruments dates back centuries in a variety of musical genres, Van Halen says he stumbled onto it when watching Led Zeppelin perform in Los Angeles in 1971.

"I was watching Jimmy Page going [sings hammering guitar lick], like that, with one hand, in 'Heartbreaker'," Eddie told Rolling Stone in 2008. "I thought, 'I can play like that, and you wouldn't know if I was using this finger [points to left hand] or this one' [points to right hand]. But you just kind of move it around, and it's like, 'You got one big hand there, buddy. That's a hell of a spread!'"

Eddie and Van Halen have been on an extended break following the end of a 2015 North American tour in support of "Tokyo Dome Live In Concert."

Wolfgang recently shared a brief audio clip of music from his forthcoming debut solo album, although no timetable for the project's release has been revealed to date. Watch the video here.

More Van Halen News - Van Halen Music, DVDs, Books and more - Van Halen T-shirts and Posters

Video Of Rolling Stones Playing Rarities At Tour Kick Off Goes Online

(hennemusic) The Rolling Stones delivered a series of rarities during the September 9 launch of their No Filter European tour at the Stadtpark in Hamburg, Germany, and video from opening night is available online.

The 22-song set featured three tunes the band haven't played in years, including the first appearance of "Play With Fire" since 1990, the "Goats Head Soup" track "Dancing With Mr. D" was last performed in 1973, and "Under My Thumb" won the fan song vote after last being heard in 2006.

The Stones opened their first show in almost a year with 1968's "Sympathy For The Devil", and played "Just Your Fool" and "Ride 'Em On Down" from 2016's blues covers record, "Blue & Lonesome", early in the evening.

Keith Richards took his usual lead role mid-set by delivering "Slipping Away" and "Happy" before the show kicked into overdrive with a string of iconic tunes - "Midnight Rambler", "Miss You", "Street Fighting Man", "Start Me Up" and "Brown Sugar" - and the main set wrapped up with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

The group returned for an encore of "Gimme Shelter" before the finale of "Jumpin' Jack Flash." The No Filter trek will see the band play fourteen concerts across the continent over the month-long run, which includes stops in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Holland, Denmark and Sweden before it wraps up with the third of three shows at the U Arena in Paris, France on October 25 - which also marks the very first concerts at the new venue. Watch videos from the show here.

More Rolling Stones News - Rolling Stones Music, DVDs, Books and more - Rolling Stones T-shirts and Posters

Stone Temple Pilots Star Remembers Chester Bennington

(Radio.com) During an interview detailing the Stone Temple Pilots' upcoming 25th anniversary reissue of debut album Core, bassist Robert DeLeo opened up about the tragic death of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington.

Bennington took over as the frontman of Stone Temple Pilots from 2013 through most of 2015 before leaving the band to refocus on Linkin Park. "It's sad, really sad. I lost a great friend," DeLeo told Billboard. "We're part of the same community here. We took our kids to school and took our kids to baseball, and he was a great human being. He was there for us when we needed it. It's hard to talk about him in the past tense, still. He was a really great person, and I miss him every day. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him and think about why he did what it did. Obviously it made sense to him, but I'm baffled by that. And always will be."

DeLeo also said that STP have been actively looking for a new singer, holding open call auditions that have yet to turn up the band's next frontman. Read more here.

More Chester Bennington News - Chester Bennington Music, DVDs, Books and more - Chester Bennington T-shirts and Posters

Kid Rock Releases New Song 'Tennessee Mountain Top'

(Radio.com) Kid Rock continues to flirt with country music on his new single, "Tennessee Mountain Top." The twangy tune finds Rock at a bar with Johnny Depp playing guitar, although he wishes "Ol' Keith woulda taught him how to keep in tune," an obvious reference to Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards.

Kid Rock is currently preparing to open Detroit's new Little Caesar's Arena with a string of concerts. Rock will also leave a more indelible mark on the arena by opening his own "Made in Detroit" restaurant at the venue.

He'll continue to cozy up to the country music community Oct. 6 & 7 by hosting the third annual Kid Rock Fish Fry in Nashville. Check out "Tennessee Moutain Top" here.

More Kid Rock News - Kid Rock Music, DVDs, Books and more - Kid Rock T-shirts and Posters

Metallica Release Video For Rarity Performance

(hennemusic) Metallica performed the 1991 rarity, "Through The Never", at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands on September 4, and the band are sharing professional footage from the event.

The band delivered the first appearance of the "Black" album track in four years during their September 2 gig in Copenhagen, Denmark on the opening night of their fall arena tour of Europe in support of "Hardwired�To Self-Destruct."

The first of two dates in Amsterdam made headlines when frontman James Hetfield fell into an open trap door in the stage during the 2016 track, "Now That We're Dead."

The rocker took a tumble into the stage where one of four rectangular percussion tables would soon appear, before being quickly assisted by crew members while continuing to play the song.

"Is everybody ok?" Hefield asked the crowd after the tune. "Yes, I'm ok. My ego, not so much. But we're fine. Hurt my feelings, maybe, a little bit." Metallica's fall trek will wrap up with two dates in Antwerp, Belgium in early November before resuming with a spring 2018 leg next February. Watch the video here.

More Metallica News - Metallica Music, DVDs, Books and more - Metallica T-shirts and Posters

Singled Out: Four By Fate's Amber Waves

Four By Fate, which features members of Frehley's Comet, will be playing a one off show with Ace Frehley this Friday. To celebrate we asked Tod Howarth to tell us about the song "Amber Waves", which plays a part in both band's histories. Here is the story:

Many years ago I wrote and video taped a song live in my own rehearsal studio titled 'Amber Waves' It was originally another 'love song' type theme, a darker, brooding composition that eventually led itself away from the esoteric 'love lost' course. While singing the melody in the chorus I sang out randomly 'And this is for the stars�' followed by - so very automatically 'And this is for the stripes�' hence the song became a personal 'thank you' anthem to our American flag. This was in 2010.

The ending lyric is a salute, respect for those who gave their lives in order for the remaining people to live and enjoy life as they wish. I believe a sentiment that has sadly lost its value and meaning, increasingly so over the years.

While years later recording the FOUR BY FATE debut CD a fan of mine who's a veteran as well found the song on YouTube and begged me to record it for the new band. We did and consequently acquired more fans because of it - veterans and civilians. It is still waiting to be released as a single - video(s) done - I'm still hopeful, but not so much for the song but for the acknowledgement of just how the country struggled and for those who served and sacrificed so we all could live lives that other people only dream about.

When we play it live it still resonates with the meaning and passion that far surpasses the simple love tune.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about this week's special show with Ace right here!

More Four By Fate News - Four By Fate Music, DVDs, Books and more - Four By Fate T-shirts and Posters

U2 Rock Classic Song For Late Night TV Appearance

(hennemusic) U2 performed a "Joshua Tree" classic and their new single, "You're The Best Thing About Me", on NBC-TV's The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on September 7, and video from the program is streaming online.

The band delivered "Bullet The Blue Sky" from their 1987 album before Bono and The Edge joined the host to discuss the lead single from their forthcoming release, "Songs Of Experience", before playing it to close out the show.

"We call it a sort a punk-Motown," explains Bono. "It's like The Supremes, a punk Supremes. It's defiant joy, is what we call it. It's a love song to my Mrs., and in these difficult times it's important to tell your loved ones how you feel."

"I think," added The Edge, "maybe even more important than ever in these times, it's important to have that joy because that's the best response."

The companion release to 2014's "Songs Of Innocence", the group's new album will be available on CD, vinyl and digital download, with the release date and pre-order details to be announced soon. Read more and watch the TV performance here.

More U2 News - U2 Music, DVDs, Books and more - U2 T-shirts and Posters

Queen Preview News Of The World 40th Anniversary Box Set

(hennemusic) Queen are previewing the November 17 release of a 40th anniversary box set edition of their 1977 album classic, "News Of The World", with a new video trailer for the package.

The group's best-selling studio record peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 on its way to worldwide sales of 6 million copies, including 4 million in the States alone. The set featured classic Queen singles like "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions", "Spread Your Wings" and "It's Late."

The 40th anniversary reissue presents Bob Ludwig's 2011 remaster of the album alongside two discs of bonus tracks, a DVD of a new one-hour documentary, and a pure analogue re-cut of the original vinyl LP direct from the unmastered analogue master mix tapes.

Queen performed a number of tracks from "News Of The World" on their recently-completed summer tour of North America with Adam Lambert. The pairing will begin a European tour in the fall in Prague, Czech Republic on November 1; the trek will include the band's first full British tour in almost three years. Watch the trailer here.

More Queen News - Queen Music, DVDs, Books and more - Queen T-shirts and Posters

The Who Icon Pete Townshend's Late Night TV Performance Goes Online

(hennemusic) Pete Townshend performed The Who classic, "Love Reign O'er Me", on NBC-TV's The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on September 8, and video from the program is streaming online.

The rocker was joined by singer Alfie Boe, house band The Roots and a small orchestra for the track from his 2015 CD, "Classic Quadrophenia", which delivered a new orchestral version of The Who's 1973 concept album based around lead character Jimmy's search for an identity amongst the mods and rockers in mid-60s Brighton.

Townshend, Boe and Billy Idol are currently bringing the project to fans on a five-show mini-tour of the US, with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder set to make a guest appearance during the Chicago, IL stop on September 13.

"Melding the contrasting sounds of Quadrophenia with a symphony has been a really unique and powerful way to reach a wide audience of classical and pop music lovers alike," says the guitarist. "I couldn't be more excited to see it continue in the U.S."

Townshend will regroup with Roger Daltrey as The Who to launch a series of South American dates later this month; the run includes an October 1 stop in Buenos Aries, Argentina opening for Guns N' Roses. Watch the TV performance here.

More Pete Townshend News - Pete Townshend Music, DVDs, Books and more - Pete Townshend T-shirts and Posters

Rock Legends Supergroup Supersonic Blues Machine Announce Album

(Gibson) Supersonic Blues Machine releases its new album Californisoul on October 20. The loose-lineup "supergroup" features Billy F. Gibbons, Steve Lukather, Eric Gales, Robben Ford and Walter Trout.

The core of the band is bassist/producer Fabrizio Grossi and Les Paul/Flying V/Firebird-toting guitarist/vocalist Lance Lopez, plus veteran drummer Kenny Aronoff. They are joined by the string of stellar guest guitarists. The new album was recorded at Fab's Lab in North Hollywood, California, and is the follow-up to 2016 debut West of Flushing, South of Frisco.

Fabrizio Grossi explains, "Lots of people have been saying to me 'why does Supersonic Blues Machine always bring guests around? You guys can stand your own ground?' And there are three answers to that: 1) we're all super friends and we're having a blast, 2) most of them don't give lessons and for us it's only way to learn their secret 'ways', and 3) because the inspiration and the challenge they bring to the table!"

Guests on Californisoul include Billy F. Gibbons, who returns with pen and guitar on "Broken Heart"; Steve Lukather plays on "Hard Times"; Eric Gales contributes to "Elevate"; Robben Ford brings his bag of sophisticated chops to "Somebody's Fool" and Walter Trout plays on the slow blues, "What's Wrong." The album is released via the Provogue/Mascot Label Group. here.

More Supersonic Blues Machine News - Supersonic Blues Machine Music, DVDs, Books and more - Supersonic Blues Machine T-shirts and Posters

David Gilmour Shares Live Video For Pink Floyd Classic

(hennemusic) David Gilmour is streaming video of his performance of the 1971 Pink Floyd classic, "One Of These Days", from his forthcoming concert film, "Live At Pompeii."

The opening track on Pink Floyd's sixth album, "Meddle", was the only song Gilmour delivered in his 2016 series of shows at the Roman amphitheatre that was also performed by his former band in the same venue in 1971 for Adrian Maben's film, "Pink Floyd Live At Pompeii."

Due September 29 and directed by Gavin Elder, "Live At Pompeii" sees Gilmour mix solo tracks and Pink Floyd classics, including the rarely-played "The Great Gig In The Sky" from "The Dark Side Of The Moon."

"It's a magical place," explains Gilmour, "and coming back and seeing the stage and the arena was quite overwhelming. It's a place of ghosts and I couldn't help but think of playing there - with [late Pink Floyd keyboardist] Rick [Wright] - it's a sense of revisiting history.

"What I like to do is to play in beautiful places where people have a sense of the majesty of the building that is being performed in and that will add to the memories they take away and retain thereafter." Watch the video here.

More David Gilmour News - David Gilmour Music, DVDs, Books and more - David Gilmour T-shirts and Posters

Green Day Release 'Too Dumb To Die' Video

(hennemusic) Green Day have issued a lyric video for "Too Dumb To Die", a track from their latest album, "Revolution Radio." Green Day are currently playing dates on a North American tour that will wrap up at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, CA on September 16, and followed by an appearance at the Global Citizen Festival in New York's Central Park on September 23.

"Oh hey look, we turned 'Too Dumb To Die' into a video, and it rules!," says the band. "Thanks to Joseba Elorza AKA MiraRuido for creating this masterpiece."

The group recently pledged $100,000 to Americares to assist those affected by Hurricane Harvey, in sync with a special September 5 live afternoon concert backstage in Tampa, FL that was streamed by hennemusic.

The event saw Green Day perform a series of rare tracks not regularly featured in their 2017 tour setlist, including material from their 1989 debut EP "1,000 Hours", 1990's "Slappy" EP, 1991's "Kerplunk!", and 1994's "Dookie", among others.

Following a six-week break, the band will return to live action with a series of dates in South America in November. Check out the video here.

More Green Day News - Green Day Music, DVDs, Books and more - Green Day T-shirts and Posters