Queensrÿche Salutes The Troops With American Soldier

THE EYES OF A SOLDIER

Queensrÿche Salutes The Troops With American Soldier

Queensrÿche envisions war through the eyes of a soldier with the band's twelfth studio release, the epic concept album AMERICAN SOLDIER. The ambitious album encompasses a dozen songs inspired by numerous interviews with veterans conducted by Geoff Tate, the group's singer and chief songwriter, who was intent on telling their story using their words.

After speaking with soldiers who served in various conflicts -- from World War II to Iraq -- Tate turned their firsthand experiences from the frontlines into an unflinching musical examination of the life of a soldier and the consequences of war. AMERICAN SOLDIER will be available from Atco/Rhino on March 31 for a suggested list price of $18.98 (CD) and $9.99 (digital).

Tate, Michael Wilton (guitar), Ed Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums) recorded the album in 2008 over the course of nine months. The idea for AMERICAN SOLDIER, Tate says, came from hearing stories from fans that are veterans, as well as his own father, who served in both Korea and Vietnam. "My father was a career military man, but until very recently he never spoke about what he went through. I think that reticence is true of a lot of veterans, which means most people never truly understand what it means to be a soldier at war. Hearing what he and some of our fans have endured made me want to share their stories with the world. This is an album about the soldiers, for the soldiers, as told by the soldiers themselves."

Those stories resonate at the heart of AMERICAN SOLDIER, imbuing each song with vivid details about both the emotional and physical impacts of war, evoking war zone battles ("Middle Of Hell"), sacrifice ("The Killer"), loss ("If I Were King"), the longing for home ("Remember Me"), and adjusting to society after returning from war ("Man Down!").

Tate recorded many of his interviews with the soldiers, and some dialogue from these discussions is mixed into several of tracks, allowing the soldiers' own words to help tell their compelling stories. The band also brought a few of the soldiers into the studio with them to record vocals. The verses of the track "Unafraid" feature the voices of Chris Devine, a Vietnam veteran, and Sean Lenahan, a veteran of Somalia, recalling their war experiences while Tate provides the anthemic chorus. Also making a guest vocal appearance is Tate's 10-year-old daughter Emily on the gripping duet "Home Again," which examines the emotional toll of war from two perspectives, with Geoff singing from the soldier's point of view and his daughter singing from the viewpoint of the child left behind.

Making the album, Tate says, was an enlightening process. "I was surprised to learn how little has changed through the generations. I spoke with a Vietnam vet whose experience wasn't all that different from a soldier who fought in Somalia almost 30 years later. But what surprised me the most was how antiwar most soldiers are. To me, that makes their sacrifices even more moving."

Soon after the release of AMERICAN SOLDIER, Queensrÿche will launch an extensive spring tour of the U.S., with international dates to follow later in 2009. The shows will be presented in three suites, with the band performing sets from AMERICAN SOLDIER, RAGE FOR ORDER, and EMPIRE. The first date of the tour will be April 16 at Snoqualmie Casino in the band's hometown of Seattle.

AMERICAN SOLDIER
Track Listing

1. "Sliver"
2. "Unafraid"
3. "Hundred Mile Stare"
4. "At 30,000 ft."
5. "A Dead Man's Words"
6. "The Killer"
7. "Middle Of Hell"
8. "If I Were King"
9. "Man Down!"
10. "Remember Me"
11. "Home Again"
12. "The Voice"

Queensrÿche U.S. Tour Dates

APRIL
16 Snoqualmie, WA Snoqualmie Casino
17 Snoqualmie, WA Snoqualmie Casino
18 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre
19 Chico, CA Senator Theatre
22 Anaheim, CA House Of Blues
23 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
24 Los Angeles, CA House Of Blues
25 Las Vegas, NV House Of Blues
26 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
28 Denver, CO Paramount Theater
29 Kansas City, MO Voodoo Lounge @ Harrah's
30 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theater

MAY
1 Milwaukee, WI Northern Lights Theater
3 Walker, MN Northern Lights Casino
5 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
6 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues
7 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
8 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
9 Mt. Clemens, MI Emerald Theatre
10 Greensburg, PA Palace Theatre
12 Verona, NY Turning Stone Casino
13 Stamford, CT The Palace Theater
14 Sayerville, NJ Starland Ballroom
15 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
16 Atlantic City, NJ House Of Blues
17 N. Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues
19 Tampa, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
20 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues
21 New Orleans, LA House Of Blues
22 Houston, TX House Of Blues
23 San Antonio, TX Hemisfair Park
24 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
29 Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium
30 Phoenix, AZ Dodge

JUNE
4 San Francisco, CA Fillmore
5 Kelseyville, CA Konocti Harbor

Pre-order and receive an Autographed poster @ Queensrÿche.com

Chris Cornell No Longer A Slave To His "Scream"

As a 20-year fan of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell, I first saw the band rip my face off on the Louder Than Love tour. It was mind-melting! Since their dissolution, I hope each year that a reunion might take place though it seems as likely as a Smiths reunion, so in the meantime I continue to sift through the offerings as they seep out.


Matt Cameron's move to Pearl Jam made sense and Audioslave was a valiant attempt to create a bonafide 'Monters of Rock' supergroup. Looked great on paper and often lived up to the hype. "Moth" off of REVELATIONS is incendiary and requires maximum volume. Ultimately, the chemistry never fully gelled as Cornell continued to face his demons and seemed to be seeking a re-birth. Disengaging himself from Audioslave's bombast and circumstance, Chris also explored uncharted territory as he churned out EUPHORIA MORNING & CARRY ON, two moderately sucessful solo albums though the latter's sales were pretty dismal.

When Audioslave called it quits after three albums, I hoped yet again for a Soundgarden reunion but instead was met with the news that Cornell, at the suggestion of Rick Rubin, had struck up a creative partnership with producer Timbaland. After hearing "Long Gone," the first evidence of this collaboration last summer, I was hoping that this was a one-off and that Chris quickly purged these experimental desires. I was sorely mistaken as evidenced by SCREAM, Chris Cornell's 3rd solo album, due out on March 10th.

Looks and names can be deceiving. While the album's typography anchors the presence of a stark photo of Cornell in long, mangy locks and shiny new Docs set to smash a guitar portend a balls-out primal affair, it's actually a psychological dunk-tank. This new album smashes the guitar, not out of anger, but due to phat R&B beats and slick layered production that strip the need for guitar, other than for color.

The title track is a tasteful piece of middle-aged restraint but given Cornell's past pedigree of ROCK, it's like a sucker punch to sense and sensibilities. Granted, I have yet to hear the whole album, one which Cornell compares to Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon and Queen's A Night at the Opera, but the worth of those comparisons are etched in the annals of rock and given Cornell's recent solo output, it seems as if conjecture met hyperbole for some crumpets in between shots of wheatgrass and prune juice.

SCREAM, I may, but at this juncture, I'm not sure if it'll be for joy or in disgust. This new album with it's "new" direction seems like one that I'll anticipate modestly, scan through hastily and will ultimately cast aside without so much as a whimper.

I will reserve my final judgement until March 10th but my obvious bias is baked in. And like every Chicago Cubs fan, I'll retain hope for a better result next year. May "Get On the Snake" trounce us again.

SCREAM
Track listing

1) Part of Me (Background Vocals by Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, and Timbaland)
2) Time
3) Sweet Revenge
4) Get Up
5) Ground Zero
6) Never Far Away
7) Take Me Alive (Background Vocals by Justin Timberlake & Jim Beanz)
8) Long Gone (ft. Timbaland)
9) Scream
10) Enemy
11) Other Side of Town
12) Climbing Up the Walls
13) Watch Out
14) Two Drink Minimum (hidden track ft. production by John Mayer)

Two other bonus tracks called "Stop Me" & "Love Comes Down" were recorded during the sessions and may show up on an iTunes album-only bundle.

More info @ AMAZON

Queensrÿche's 2009 Tour To Encompass Three Separate Musical Suites

Queensrÿche have announced the following headline dates in support of their forthcoming 12th studio album, AMERICAN SOLDIER, due March 31st from Rhino. The show will feature the band performing extended suites from Rage For Order, American Solider & Empire.

This is a tour you won't want to miss. Many of the shows go on sale this Saturday January 24th.

APRIL
16 - Snoqualmie Casino - Seattle, WA
16 - Insania Wine Tasting - Walla Walla, WA
17 - Snoqualmie Casino - Seattle, WA
18 - Roseland Theater - Portland, OR
19 - Senator Theater - Chico, CA
22 - House of Blues - Anaheim, CA
23 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
24 - House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
25 - House of Blues - Las Vegas, NV
26 - The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT
28 - Paramount - Denver, CO
29 - Voodoo Lounge - Kansas City, MO
30 - Potawatomi - Milwaukee, WI

MAY
1 - Potawatomi - Milwaukee, WI
3 - Northern Lights - Walker, MN
5 - Intersection - Grand Rapids, MI
6 - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
7 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
8 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
9 - Emerald Theatre - Mt. Clemens, MI
10 - Palace Theater - Greensburg, PA
12 - Turning Stone Casino - Verona, NY
13 - Palace Theatre - Stamford, CT
14 - Starland Ballroom - Sayerville, NJ
15 - Nokia Theater - New York, NY
16 - House Of Blues - Atlantic City, NJ
17 - House of Blues - N. Myrtle Beach, SC
19 - Ruth Eckerd Hall - Tampa, FL
20 - House of Blues - Lake Buena Vista, FL
21 - House of Blues - New Orleans, LA
22 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
23 - Hemisfair Park - San Antonio, TX
24 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX
29 - Kiva Auditorium - Albuquerque, NM
30 - Dodge - Phoenix, AZ

JUNE
4 - San Francisco, CA Fillmore
5 - Kelseyville, CA Konocti Harbor

For all the latest tour / ticket info, visit queensryche.com/tour

Diamond Dave Is Runnin' With The Tyser...AHH HAAAAA YEAAAAH!

Of course, anything & everything goes on the Internet and sometimes it's a brilliant slice of inanity. 30 years after the fact comes a page filled with 37 isolated vocal parts of Diamond David Lee Roth sarcastically delivering his performance on 'Runnin' With The Devil,' the bass-heavy masterpiece that kick starts Van Halen I.

Where o where? Who coulda? With the craze of remixes of every classic song ever made, it's possible that a freelance producer got the parts to do a remix on spec or maybe the VH catalog was being remastered for the reunion tour last year. Doesn't really matter though because I Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love with its three apostrophes. Just be glad that the light bulb went on in someone's head.

Obviously, there will be many people that will go to The Tyser because it's damn funny but there will also be an enormous number of people who will reminisce about the 1st Van Halen opus and how it was about as cocksure of an album as has ever been released. Everyone knows about the introduction to Eddie Van Halen's legendary erupting but this mock tribute page also showcases the big fat personality of class clown Diamond Dave and that he could actually belt it out once upon a time. The rock 'n roll party train had left the station!

Although The Tyser went live about a year ago, may it continue to find new unsuspecting souls in need of the Southern Californian comfort of a page full of AHHHYAAAAAHH!

Check it out and turn it up @ THETYSER.COM

Goddamnit Baby You Know I Ain't Lyin' To Ya. I'm Only Gonna Tell You One Tiiiiime...AHHHHHHHHHHHYEEEAH!!!

The Eleven Commandments of Pearl Jam's TEN

Has it really been 18 years since TEN came out? Damn! Having already been a fan of Soundgarden, Mother Love Bone and the subsequent side project Temple of the Dog, I was on the Pearl Jam tip from the get-go and they quickly became one of my favorite bands. I regret not catching PJ on the 1992 Lollapalooza tour though I have a show on video tape during that run from Alpine Valley, WI that is spiritually absorbing.

TEN is as complete and utterly immersive of an album as has ever been in rock 'n roll. For me, it's physically impossible to put it on and not listen to the entire album at full volume, though it's the only album of theirs that I believe this about.

Pearl Jam got too big too fast and my enthusiasm began to wane after the Vitalogy album, but TEN, to this day, is one of my Top 10 all-time favorite albums, probably closer to Top 3, one of the only few which I know every word to every song, singing along any time I need to recharge.

Although I'm a little tardy in posting about this Deluxe re-issue, I was stoked to learn of its impending release. Included will be a copy of the original "Momma-Son" demo which Epic sent out months before TEN was released. I still have a copy on cassette.

Here's the official word from PearlJam.com in its extensive glory:

PEARL JAM ANNOUNCES THE REISSUE OF BAND’S DEBUT ALBUM, TEN: FOUR SPECIAL EDITION PACKAGES IN STORES MARCH 24, 2009

Album extras include:
Remaster of original Ten album + remix by producer Brendan O’Brien •
DVD of previously unreleased 1992 Pearl Jam MTV Unplugged performance with 5.1 surround sound audio remix • LP of the band’s 1992 “Drop in the Park” concert • Replica of Pearl Jam three-song demo cassette with Eddie Vedder’s original vocal dubs • Recreation of Eddie Vedder composition notebook • Never before seen memorabilia • Bonus tracks and more.

Ten, the debut album that sold 12 million copies and introduced the world to Pearl Jam in 1991, will be reissued in four (4) new and expanded editions. Pre-orders of the Super Deluxe Edition begin today, through the Ten Club at PearlJam.com. All four editions will be available for purchase on March 24, 2009. The reissue of Ten serves as the launch of a planned two-year catalogue re-release campaign leading up to the band’s 20th anniversary in 2011.

Each Ten package will include two versions of the album: the remastered version of the original album PLUS an accompanying remixed version done by the band’s long-time producer, Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Audioslave). Details on specific extras for each of the four packages are listed below.

“The band loved the original mix of Ten, but were also interested in what it would sound like if I were to deconstruct and remix it,” says producer Brendan O’Brien. “The original Ten sound is what millions of people bought, dug and loved, so I was initially hesitant to mess around with that. After years of persistent nudging from the band, I was able to wrap my head around the idea of offering it as a companion piece to the original – giving a fresh take on it, a more direct sound.”

TEN RE-DESIGN

Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament, who served as the art director for the original Ten packaging, reprised his role for the reissues collaborating with designer, Andy Fischer, of Cameron Crowe’s Vinyl Films (Into the Wild soundtrack LP, Vanilla Sky soundtrack LP, Harold and Maude anniversary edition soundtrack LP).

"The goal was to assemble the ultimate fan-piece,” explains Fischer. “Something Pearl Jam lovers could pore over as they experience an indelible record all over again, in an entirely new way."

“The original concept was about really being together as a group and entering into the world of music as a true band...a sort of all-for-one deal,” says Jeff Ament. “There were some elements of the original Ten artwork that didn't turn out the way we had hoped, due to time constraints. With this reissue, we’ve been able to take our time and invest resources into making the design the way we had originally intended.”

REPLICA OF PEARL JAM 3-SONG DEMO CASSETTE IN SUPER DELUXE EDITION

In the process of digging through his archives for this project, Ament came across an old cassette marked “Momma-Son” – the fabled original Pearl Jam demo tape featuring the first recorded versions of “Alive,” “Once” and “Footsteps.” Ament and guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready had recorded instrumental tracks of these songs to help solicit a singer for their newly formed band. Mutual friend - and then Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer - Jack Irons suggested they send the tape down to San Diego surfer and little-known singer Eddie Vedder.

Completely inspired by what he heard from these musicians that he then only knew by name, Vedder quickly wrote lyrics, put these vocals to the music tracks and shipped the tape back to Seattle. Upon hearing how Vedder had transformed the songs, Ament, Gossard and McCready asked him to come up to Seattle so they could meet and have an official “tryout” together. Shortly thereafter, Pearl Jam was born. (A replica of the “Momma-Son” cassette will be included in the Super Deluxe Edition of Ten.)

Jeff Ament describes the experience of re-visiting that tape with singer Eddie Vedder: “I think the first time that Ed or I had opened any of those boxes was a few weeks ago. I knew that the original ‘Momma-Son’ cassette was somewhere, but I hadn’t listened to it in 17, 18, 19 years. It was cool to sit down and play it for the first time with Ed and see his reaction. And to find that 90% of it stayed exactly the same as what ended up on the record. A lot of elements were identical. There was some energy flying around at that point even from 1,300 miles away from Seattle to San Diego.”

THE FOUR EDITIONS OF TEN: ALBUM EXTRAS PER PACKAGE

1. Legacy Edition (2-disc set in mini-LP style slipcase):
· Disc 1: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered (original mix)
· Disc 2: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered and remixed by Brendan O’Brien, plus six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat”
· Re-designed packaging

2. Deluxe Edition (2-disc set plus DVD specially designed hardbound package):
· Disc 1: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered (original mix)
· Disc 2: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered and remixed by Brendan O’Brien, plus six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat”
· DVD of Pearl Jam’s previously unreleased 1992 MTV Unplugged performance including never before seen bonus performance of “Oceans” with 5.1 surround sound audio remix

3. Vinyl Collection (2-LP set)
· LP 1: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl
· LP 2: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl and remixed by Brendan O’Brien

4. Super Deluxe Edition (2-disc set plus DVD, 4 LPs and replica cassette in linen-covered, slip-cased clamshell box):
· Disc 1: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered (original mix)
· Disc 2: original Ten tracklisting digitally remastered and remixed by Brendan O’Brien, plus six bonus tracks: “Brother,” “Just a Girl,” “State of Love and Trust,” “Breath and a Scream,” “2,000 Mile Blues” and “Evil Little Goat”
· DVD of Pearl Jam’s previously unreleased 1992 MTV Unplugged performance including never before seen bonus performance of “Oceans” with 5.1 surround sound audio remix
· LP 1: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl
· LP 2: original Ten tracklisting remastered for vinyl and remixed by Brendan O’Brien
· LP 3 & 4: Drop in the Park – Live at Magnuson Park in Seattle on September 20, 1992 (audio mixed by Brendan O’Brien)
· Cassette: replica of original “Momma-Son” Pearl Jam demo cassette featuring “Alive,” “Once” and “Footsteps”
· Package also includes an Eddie Vedder-style composition notebook filled with replica personal notes, images and mementos from the collections of Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament, a vellum envelope with replicated era-specific ephemera from Pearl Jam’s early work and a two-sided print commemorating the Drop in the Park concert.

I'm pyched for all 4.

Super Deluxe version is $140, available for pre-order at the Ten Club Store

2-CD/1 DVD Deluxe version of TEN available for pre-order at Amazon for $31.99

Pat DiNizio Pays Tribute to Lubbock Legend Buddy Holly

Smithereens frontman and avid pop music historian Pat DiNizio is set to release his new album Pat DiNizio/Buddy Holly, a heartfelt tribute to the legendary rock and roll pioneer, on January 27th, 2009, in honor of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Holly’s tragic death in a Clear Lake, Iowa plane crash.

“Buddy Holly changed and saved my life!” says DiNizio. “Upon hearing Buddy’s one and only solo album for the first time back in the late 1970s, I was so moved, and found his music to be so incredibly touching and poignant… I knew right then and there that this was what I wanted to do.”

DiNizio is hitting the road to support his new album Pat DiNizio/Buddy Holly. He has embarked on a nationwide ‘LIVING ROOM TOUR’where he’ll be performing solo acoustic concerts in the homes, living rooms, and backyards across the U.S.A.

“One of the most remarkable and wonderful experiences of my life was the ‘LIVING ROOM TOUR’ that I did several years ago… NOW IT'S TIME TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN!” - DiNizio

For more info, go to Pat DiNizio.com

For more info on the Legend of Lubbock, visit The Buddy Holly Center