Rock Recap: Led Zeppelin, Ace Frehley, Beatles

I've finally graduated college a week or two ago, so you might be seeing more blog posts from me. I'm going to something a little different here and recap the news stories I haven't done posts on.

Led Zeppelin sued
As many of you might know, Led Zeppelin were sued by the management for psychedelic rock band. Spirit's attorney has filed a lawsuit against Zeppelin for copying Spirit's 1968 instrumental "Taurus" in the beginning of Zeppelin's 1971 classic "Stairway to Heaven." This is most likely being done now due to the fact that Jimmy Page is starting a series of Led Zeppelin reissues, starting with the band's first three albums. Next year, it's likely we will see the reissue for Led Zeppelin IV- which is the album "Stairway" can be found. I've talked about this incident before. As a Spirit fan, it makes me angry that Page never at least gave Randy California co-writing credit but Randy didn't think to do anything while he was alive, as he passed in 1997. As of now, singer Jay Ferguson and bassist Mark Andes are the two surviving original members of Spirit's original line-up- with California, keyboardist John Locke and drummer (as well as California's step-father) Ed Cassidy all deceased).

Recently, a judge in Pennsylvania called the lawsuit "unprofessional." It turns out the lawyer in this lawsuit has filed several other lawsuits relating to song plagiarism, one including Usher. Jimmy Page has also chimed in on the news, calling it ridiculous.

Ace Frehley
Former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley will have a new studio album out next month. The album, Space Invader, will be the guitarist's first studio album since 2009's Anomaly. Today, a single called "Gimme A Feelin'" premired on Rolling Stone.com. Click here to listen.  The album will be released on July 8.

Beatles
As mentioned before, A Hard Day's Night will be re-released on DVD and Blu-Ray through the Criterion Collection on June 24. The movie will also be seeing a re-release in theaters. Late last month, it was announced that the movie will be in theaters during the 4th of July weekend, most likely trying to release it as close to the movie's original release date- July 6, 1964.

Judas Priest announce new studio album- Redeemer of Souls

British heavy metal legends Judas Priest have announced today that they will be releasing a brand new studio album. The album, Redeemer of Souls, will be the band's first studio album since 2008's conceptual Nostradamus.  This will be Priest's first album without co-founding member and guitarist KK Downing, who left the band in 2011 before the band embarked on their Epitaph Tour which had been promoted as their farewell tour and/or the last world tour. The band seems to have changed their mind, now with guitarist Richie Faulkner taking Downing's place. The album will be released in the US on July 15 and in the UK the day before.

I'm happy to see that Priest are back. I think the whole "farewell" thing was going to be a farewell tour, but I remember Rob Halford saying that they might remain a recording band only. I wouldn't be surprised if their next tour has a small amount of tour dates. As for the new song, it's pretty good. I'm not blown away by it or anything but Halford sounds pretty good at his age, I must admit. I will be getting this album for sure.

You can listen to the new song right here.

AC/DC confirm ill bandmate and deny retirement

Despite the rumors, AC/DC will continue although without one of their founding members. 

At the beginning of this week, it was rumored that AC/DC rhythm guitarist and founding member Malcolm Young had suffered a stroke three weeks ago- making him unable to perform. As a result, the band would retire. 

Singer Brian Johnson shot down the rumors of retirement yesterday, saying the band are still going into the studio to possibly record material for a new studio album. Earlier this year, Johnson stated that the band would go into the studio and arrange a tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Johnson did confirm that a band member was seriously ill, though he did not identify who this member was. He also stated that a 40th anniversary tour- 40 dates in 40 cities- would be a nice way to go out. 

Hours after Johnson's interview, AC/DC's Facebook page made a statement saying that Malcolm Young would be "taking a break" from the band. The rest of the band, however, will go on without him and start recording new material.

I try my best to not have any rumors on my blog. I wait until I hear from a reliable source. I waited to see how this one played out and this is what it looks like. It's sad to hear that Malcolm will not be with the band for sometime. Still, the way the Facebook post was written makes it sound like he's not coming back to the band. If Malcolm has suffered from a stroke, I would think he'd decide to retire- even though he and Angus are the sole original members left. 

However, I will look forward to seeing a new AC/DC album in the future. 

Whether or not he returns, get well soon Malcolm. 

Steel Panther- All You Can Eat album review

 

Steel Panther

All You Can Eat

Rating: ****

Whether you’re ready or not, Steel Panther are back with a brand new studio album. The comedic head bangers have released their third studio album, All You Can Eat. Like their first two albums, Steel Panther deliver the goods with catchy hooks 1980s style while still managing to be funny. Though their humor is very explicit, Steel Panther have found their audience within the last couple of years.

            The album opens with a surprisingly thrash metal sounding “Pussywhipped”. Guitarist Satchel opens the track with a small acoustic instrumental bit before the band gets down and dirty. It’s a monster of a track, with Metallica-like drumming. The lyrics warn fellow male listeners, as their “balls don’t have a chance.” This is followed by “Party Like Tomorrow Is The End of the World”, the lead single off the album. The song is a typical “party-hardy” glam metal track that suggests to “bone your step sister” or even “don't worry ‘bout the HIV” as the end is near.

            While the band are trying to be funny, this does not stop them from creating/composing actual music. “Bukkake Tears” is an example of this: it has a very melodic feel and sounds pretty at times. The lyrics and subject matter, however, are gross (if you don’t know get the song title, you’ll find out by the end of the song). Another example is “F*cking My Heart In The Ass”: the chorus is catchy but the same can’t be said about the lyrics (although not as bad as “Bukkake Tears”). The band can certainly chug out some heavy tunes. The opening for “Gloryhole” is downright heavy while the Van Halen guitar work on “Ten Strikes You’re Out” is impressive.

            Steel Panther can be very funny, though you have to be in the right mood to fully appreciate the jokes. “Gangbang at the Old Folks Home” tells an outrageous story of a pizza delivery gone wrong (“These golden girls have been around the block/I got a rim job from one while knitting some socks”) while “B.V.S.” warns listeners to avoid the titular latest disease (apparently meaning Big Vagina Syndrome). The album’s closer, “She’s On the Rag”, is simply flat-out hilarious hard rocker about how much periods suck.

            My favorite song from the album, however, is “The Burden of Being Wonderful.” The song sounds similar to Def Leppard’s “Hysteria”, given the string section featured. In the song, singer Michael Starr wonders why he’s so beautiful when everyone else isn’t. “I’m just a Maserati in a world of Kias” sings Starr. “Genius would describe any of my ideas.” This is an impressive song coming from Steel Panther overall for one particular reason: there aren’t any dirty jokes.

            All You Can Eat is simply a good album. I think people who were fans of the glam metal scene of the 1980s will get a kick out of this album. However, Steel Panther isn’t for everyone. As mentioned before, Steel Panther’s humor is explicit. Those who are easily offended by this humor are best off not listening to them. As for everyone else, feel free to explore the world of Steel Panther.   

Uriah Heep's new studio album set for June release

English prog rockers Uriah Heep have announced more details on their upcoming 24th studio album. The new album, entitled Outsider, will be released in June on Frontier Records. This will be the band's first studio album after the passing of longtime member, bassist Trevor Bolder, last year. Bassist Davey Rimmer is Bolder's replacement. Outsider will be Rimmer's first album with Heep.

I'm excited by this news. This year has been pretty slow in terms of new releases, so I'm very 'appy (and very 'umble) to hear that the new Heep album with come out in just a few months! I will definitely review it here when it comes out.

A Hard Day's Night to be re-released on DVD & Blu-Ray AND back in movie theaters

The Beatles' 1964 classic movie A Hard Day's Night will be re-released on DVD and Blu-Ray on June 24. This is being done in celebration of the movie's 50th anniversary. Not only will be movie be re-released but it's also seeing a limited run in selected movie theaters. The re-release will be coming from the Criterion Collection, with the film newly remastered. As expected, the DVD and Blu-Ray will feature a load of special features. The movie has been released on both formats before, the last times being in 2002 and 2009 respectively. This new release will have both new and old features on the Fab Four's first motion picture.

I'm excited to hear about this. A Hard Day's Night is not only my favorite Beatles movie but it's also one of my favorite movies of all time. Seriously- it's my third favorite movie of all time (with This Is Spinal Tap and The Godfather following it as my second and first favorites). I do own the 2002 DVD, which already had bunch of special features. The one main criticism in the Amazon reviews for the 2002  version was that the movie's aspect ratio was incorrect- cutting the picture down. I'm sure this movie was shot in widescreen but I guess they did something wrong with the 2002 one.


Click here to read more information from the Criterion about the release.

Scott Asheton dead at 64

Scott Asheton

August 16,  1949 - March 15, 2014

Scott Asheton, original member and drummer for proto punk band the Stooges, died Saturday from unknown causes. Asheton was 64 years old. 

Asheton was one fourth of the original line-up for the Stooges, a rock band coming out of Michigan. With Asheton was his brother and guitarist Ron, singer Iggy Pop, and bassist Dave Alexander. The band were signed to Elektra Records in 1968 along with fellow Michigan-ers the MC5. The band released their self-titled debut album in 1969. After the 1970 follow-up Funhouse, the band were dropped from Elektra due to their drug and alcohol addictions. The band stayed quiet until 1972 when David Bowie came to the rescue. Although the original plan was to form a new band for Iggy, the Stooges ended up getting back together sans Alexander, who had been fired a few years earlier. The Asheton bothers regrouped with Iggy but Ron Asheton was "demoted" to bassist since Iggy already had new guitarist James Williamson. Bowie would help produce the highly influential Raw Power, which was released in 1973. The band split a year later. 

Asheton was involved in various other projects after the Stooges' split. For a period of time, he was a member of the supergroup Sonic's Rendezvous Band- formed by former MC5 guitarist Fred "Sonic" Smith. The Stooges would reunite in 2003 with Iggy Pop and the Asheton brothers intact. The band made a reunion album. That album, 2007's The Weirdness, was met with mixed reviews. Still, the band continued to perform. In January 2009, Ron Asheton suddenly passed away from a heart attack. The band recruited Williamson to replace him in 2010. In June 2011, Asheton suffered from a severe medical injury while on a flight to a Stooges gig. Later that year, Pop told Rolling Stone that Asheton almost died right then and there.  While Asheton did temporarily retire from touring, he did play on last year's Ready to Die.

I'm very sad to hear about Scott's passing. It isn't too surprising, given that both Iggy and James have hinted that Scott's health wasn't the best. Earlier this year, it was announced that James will be taking old Stooges songs and make an album out of them- with a different lead singer on each track. I'm sure Scott's passing will have no impact to the making of this album. As for the Stooges, I think the name should be laid to rest with Dave Alexander, Ron Asheton, and now Scott. With Scott's death, Iggy is now the sole surviving member of the original line-up of the Stooges. I wouldn't be surprised if the Stooges name wasn't used again but then again, I wouldn't be surprised if the name was still used. 

Meanwhile- Rest in peace, Scott. Say hello to Dave and Ron for us.