John Taylor In the Pleasure Groove

Bass Player Live! 2012 hosted Duran Duran‘s John Taylor in an interview with journalist Tom Sykes followed by a reading, Q and A session and book signing in support of his just released autobiography, In the Pleasure Groove: Love, Death and Duran Duran at SIR Studios over the weekend in Hollywood, CA.

From Dutton, “With Duran Duran, John Taylor has created some of the greatest music of our time. From the disco dazzle of debut single ‘Planet Earth’ right up to their latest number one album, All You Need is Now, Duran Duran has always had the power to sweep the world onto its feet.

It’s been a ride – and for John in particular, the ride has been wild, thrilling… and dangerous. Now, for the first time, he tells his incredible story. A tale of dreams fulfilled, lessons learned and demons conquered.

A shy only child, Nigel John Taylor wasn’t an obvious candidate for pop stardom and frenzied girl panic. But when he ditched his first name and picked up a bass guitar, everything changed. John Formed Duran Duran with his friend Nick Rhodes in the summer of 1978, and they were soon joined by Roger Taylor, then Andy Taylor and finally Simon Le Bon. Together they were an immediate, massive global success story, their pictures on millions of walls, every single a worldwide hit.

In his frank, compelling autobiography, John recounts the highs –hanging out with icons like Bowie, Warhol and even James Bond; dating Vogue models and driving fast cars – all the while playing hard with the band he loved. But there were tough battles ahead – troubles that brought him to the brink of self-destruction – before turning his life around.

Told with humor, honesty and hard-won wisdom, and packed with exclusive pictures, In the Pleasure Groove is a fascinating, irresistible portrait of a man who danced into the fire… and came through the other side”

Below is a selection of images from the event.

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The book is available now via Amazon in hard cover, paperback and Kindle versions. Barnes & Noble also offers an e-book for Nook and of course Apple offers it for every “i” device known to Duran kind – iTunes, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch. Don’t forget the independent book sellers in your city either! I grabbed my copy from the historic Hollywood book seller, Book Soup. Why not pick a few copies for friends and start crossing items off the Christmas list?

John Taylor continues his promotional tour for the book this week in Los Angeles with additional stops listed below. Don’t miss your chance to have this tale of rock & roll signed by the author himself!

10/24- Los Angeles, CA @ Book Soup at Cinespace (Book Signing, Interview and Audience Q&A, with book co-author Tom Sykes)
10/25- San Francisco, CA @ San Francisco Art Institute (Book Signing, Interview and Audience Q&A)
10/26- Austin, TX @ The Scottish Rite Theater (Book Signing, Interview and Audience Q&A)
10/29- Toronto, ON, CAN @ Indigo Bookstore (Book Signing, Interview and Audience Q&A)
10/30- Chicago, IL @ City Winery Chicago (Book Signing, Interview and Audience Q&A)

Lenny Kravitz Offers New Song for FREE

Lenny Kravitz by Cindy Robinson

For two days only, Rolling Stone magazine and Lenny Kravitz are offering a FREE download of his new song “Rock Star City Life” from his forthcoming album, “Black and White America” which is currently scheduled for release on August 30th. The rocker has been on tour with U2 recently and will hit the road for a European tour this fall. Grab the free track while it’s available and don’t forget to check out his current single “Stand” available now via iTunes.

Brian Setzer Blows the Roof off the Belly Up

Brian Setzer

 Brian Setzer, the three-time GRAMMY Award winning sometime Stray Cat, and leader of the Brian Setzer Orchestra brought  his eighteen piece orchestra to the Belly Up Tavern in the Cedros Design District of Solana Beach, CA for a sold-out show on April 3, 2011.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra played a rescheduled show at Agua Caliente Resort in Palm Springs, CA on April 2nd, to make up for a cancelled New Year’s Eve performance from last year when Setzer became ill and added the Solana Beach show as Setzer prepares to launch his next musical venture, Setzer Goes Instru-Mental, out on April 19th via Surfdog Records with MP3 pre-order available now via Amazon with special edition vinyl and CD versions available from the Surfdog shop.

Setzer will hit the road crisscrossing Europe during June and July with Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot featuring Stray Cat Slim Jim Phantom on drums, as well as Noah Levy on drums; Chris D’Rozario on bass; Brian Setzer on guitar and vocals; Kevin McKendree on Piano; and Johnny “Spazz” Hatton on bass. Double the stand up bass and the double the drums looks to be a rockabilly good time for Setzer’s fans in Europe this summer!

Back to the task at hand – Setzer, his Orchestra and his Vixens (back up singers Julie Setzer and Leslie Spencer) blowing the roof off the Belly Up Tavern last night. Wow, what a treat to see this guitar legend play such an intimate venue that only holds 600 people! Many of their shows of late have been to really big audiences such as the Doheny Blues Festival with an audience of about 20,000 blues loving fans and the Montreal Jazz Festival with well over 100, 000 swaying to the smooth jazz sounds music loving fans.

Setzer recognized a lot of faces in the crowd and told the audience it felt like he was playing in his living room at home as he called out hello’s to a few friends in the crowd. He was the consummate professional as a liquor loving lush with long blonde hair did her best Willow Smith Whip My Hair impersonations in the front row and tried to grab, many times, not Setzer, but his guitar. Yes, attempting to grab the Gretsch as Setzer’s fingers worked their magic! However, being a 30-year music veteran the guitar legend knew how to swiftly retreat from her many drunken advances.

Brian Setzer

There was also the muffin top baring, 49-year-old woman who nearly pulled him off the stage in her drunken super power strength to declare to him that she would be turning 50 the next day. Gracious as ever, Setzer wished her happy birthday over the microphone while reminding the audience he’s been 50 three times now.

I do digress on the drunken lot of women in attendance though, but seriously, do they even remember the awesome show they attended last night?

Back to the music. Setzer, and his fantastic band were in fine form last night. Really, really on fire figuratively, and almost literally as the Belly Up turned into a sauna for the searing one-hour and forty-five minute set that dealt nary a sour note the entire evening. The Brian Setzer Orchestra revved things up and got the audience boogie-ing to their energetic rockabilly sounds before they departed the stage and let the Brian Setzer Trio take over which includes Johnny “Spazz” Hatton on stand-up bass and fill in drummer, Danny Glass from Royal Crown Revue and Setzer rockin’ the roof off the joint!

The two versions of Setzer’s band covered songs across his illustrious 30 year, award-winning career including  the Stray Cats hit  Sexy & 17, The Dirty Boogie and Sleepwalk along with Red Hot and Gene & Eddie. The Brian Setzer Trio seamlessly brought the Orchestra back on stage to crowd pleasing roar as the band gave us a medley of the Stray Cat Strut with the Pink Panther theme.

The full band then brought the house down as they launched in early hits like Rumble in Brighton and Rock This Town along with the 90’s hit Jump Jive An’ Wail from the Dirty Boogie album. Setzer is the kind of musician that oozes love for his craft while playing on stage. You can see the smile spread across his face when he knows he’s hitting it out of the ballpark. He doesn’t look like just another musician getting through the live show. It was a stellar show of fine musicianship, one for the books as they say.

The always busy Setzer will also do his annual Christmas shows this year and has already confirmed a December 17th date at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.

He’s also got a new track from his forthcoming album Setzer Goes Instru-Mental, called Go-Go Godzilla on the soundtrack for the upcoming movie Soul Surfer starring AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid. Soul Surfer opens in theaters April 8th.

For a complete list of European tour dates and Christmas dates as they become available, check out Brian’s site.

Duran Duran Launch World Tour at SXSW Festival

John Taylor

by Cindy Robinson

When Duran Duran gets it right, they really get it right. The band kicked off their world tour at Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, TX last night to a crowd that left singing the band’s praises as part of the SXSW Music Festival.

The 80’s megastars have just begun to saturate the music market with their 13th album, All You Need Is Now, which is available now as a 9 track EP via iTunes with the deluxe CD package coming to a store near you on March 22nd. You can also pre-order the deluxe version from Amazon now, with delivery expected the day of release. 

Produced by Mark Ronson, their latest album takes the listener on a synthesizer infused journey down memory lane with Nick Rhodes to the height of 80’s pop music while the grooves of drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Taylor keep us dancing in modern times. Singer Simon Le Bon, who has often been criticized in the media for his quirky voice, sounds smooth &  melodic, demonstrating his vocal skills and a voice that has stood the test of time.

As a producer Ronson carefully guarded the bands existing, unique sound while moving them forward into new territory at the same time. He doesn’t try to make a band sound like his own records.

Duran Duran will hit Los Angeles next week for a round of appearances on American TV shows the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Late Night with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The band will also play a one-off concert in Los Angeles to kick off the 2nd season of the American Express Unstaged Concert Series which will be directed by critically acclaimed director David Lynch and broadcast live online courtesy of YouTube and Vevo.

All You Need Is Now

Duran Duran have proved their staying power with tickets to a handful of North American warm-up concerts selling out in mere minutes as the band criss-crosses the USA in preparation for their slot at the upcoming always sold out Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, CA April 15-17, 2011. The massive music festival which annually draws approximately 90, 000 visitors to the California desert will also offer a live webcast of music acts throughout the weekend.

They will then head home to the UK & Europe for concerts in May and June, and a tour of Australia in December with more worldwide dates to be announced as they become available via Duran Duran’s website. You can also check in with Duran Duran’s Roger Taylor, John Taylor and Simon Le Bon on Facebook and Twitter as they check in from their daily lives, from rehearsals and on the road.

George Michael covers New Order for Comic Relief

courtesy of http://www.georgemichael.com/

Singer George Michael has covered New Order’s True Faith for Comic Relief. The singer will donate all proceeds from the sale of the single to Comic Relief which supports local communities in the UK and across the globe assisting young people who are battling mental health & substance abuse issues, sexual exploitation, and domestic violence. They also help our elders, support refugees from war-torn countries and support sports for change.

George Michael is offering a preview of the single, now available for listening on his website . The haunting rendition of this classic dance song will be available for purchase via iTunes on March 13th with a physical CD package available March 14th.

A new album tentatively titled, Fatherhood is expected this year and the singer will announce a world tour soon.

Please connect with George via his website http://www.georgemichael.com/ on his Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/georgemichael or via Twitter http://twitter.com/georgemichael to watch for more information on his new album and world tour.

Win a Trip to see Duran Duran in Austin, TX at SXSW

by Cindy Robinson

Southwest Airlines, Urban Outfitters and Thrillist have teamed up to offer a lucky winner and their guest a VIP trip to Austin, TX and two badges to South by Southwest (SXSW) 2011 Music & Film Festival to see the best new bands out there along with guest appearances and concerts by Ozomatli, the Strokes, possibly Snow Patrol and Duran Duran.

Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes

Duran Duran are currently doing promotional appearances around the globe to promote their latest album, All You Need Is Now, which is currently available in a 9 song EP on iTunes with a physical CD Deluxe Edition due out in the USA on March 22nd. The band will embark on a world tour in March including a stop at SXSW on March 16 to headline the Time Out showcase at Stubb’s  and give a Featured Interview at the Austin Convention Center on March 17.

The band has also scheduled a stop in Los Angeles to visit the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 22nd. Limited tickets are available now for the TV show taping via the Tonight Show’s site.

Go to Thrillist’s contest page to sign up now! The winner will receive a VIP Trip to Austin during the SXSW Festival , March 14th-19th, featuring:

• $500 Urban Outfitters Shopping Spree
• (2) Roundtrip Tickets to Austin on Southwest Airlines
• (2) Music Festival Badges
• (5) Nights Deluxe Hotel Accommodations
• VIP Access to Thrillist Austin’s Party @ Antone’s
• Guaranteed Access to UO’s “Live in Austin 2011” Performances
• Dinners at Thrillist-curated Restaurants
• Lifetime Subscription to Grooveshark Anywhere

Jude Law and Sienna Miller split…again

 by Cindy Robinson

 

People magazine  confirms that actors Jude Law and Sienna Miller have split…again. Newsworthy? Not particularly, just another day in the on again off again relationship for these two. A friend of Laws’ states the cliché, “it is mutual and amicable and they are still friends”.

The couple was first engaged in 2004, split in 2006, reunited & it feels so good in 2009. Will the ladies be lining up now that Jude is single again? Is anyone really surprised by this split? Comment? Thoughts? Do share!

The actor is currently filming Sherlock Holmes 2 in London with the happily married Robert Downey Jr.

Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance and Thirty Seconds To Mars Reveal 2011 Tour Dates

Chester Bennington of Linkin Park

2011 is shaping up to be a busy year in rock music. Seriously, who needs socks in their stockings this Christmas when tickets to these great rock shows are available? I can see that my new Iron Man 2 calendar that Santa is sure to bring is rapidly filling up for next year! Who’s on your must see list for 2011?

Linkin Park will hit the road in the USA to support their latest release, A Thousand Suns, out now. The Prodigy,  Pendulum and Does It Offend You, Yeah? are slated to open select dates on the tour. Fan club pre-sale tickets are available now via Linkin Park’s site with public on sales scheduled for this weekend via Live Nation/Ticketmaster.

Dates for Linkin Park’s 2011 tour:

Jan 20 Sunrise, FL @ Bank Atlantic Center
Jan 22 Tampa, FL @ St Pete Times Forum
Jan 23 Atlanta, GA @ Phillips Arena
Jan 25 Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena
Jan 26 Chicago, IL @ United Center
Jan 28 Minneapolis, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
Jan 29 Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
Jan 31 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
Feb 1 Boston, MA @ TD Garden
Feb 4 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
Feb 7 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
Feb 8 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
Feb 10 Washington DC @ Verizon Center
Feb 11 Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
Feb 15 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Feb 17 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
Feb 19 Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand – Garden Arena
Feb 20 San Diego @ Viejas Arena
Feb 23 Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
Feb 25 Salt Lake City, UT @ Energy Solutions Arena
Feb 26 Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center

Gerard Way of MCR

My Chemical Romance will launch Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, on November 22nd with a record release party at the House of Blues on Sunset in Hollywood, CA. The sold out concert will be broadcast live on MTV. MCR will play a handful of Christmas shows across the USA, including the world famous KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas before launching into their World Contamination tour in 2011. Pre-sale tickets are currently available to fans via the bands website with public on sales scheduled for this weekend via Live Nation/Ticketmaster.

 

 Dates for My Chemical Romance’s The World Contamination Tour:

APRIL
1                Portland, OR  @ Roseland Theatre
2                Vancouver, BC  @ Center for Performing Arts
3                Seattle, WA @ Showbox Sodo
5                Edmonton, AB  @ Edmonton Event Centre
6                Calgary, AB  @ MacEwan Hall
8                Salt Lake City  @ In the Venue
9                Denver, CO @ Fillmore
10              Des Moines, IA  @ Val Air Ballroom
12              Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
13              Milwaukee, WI  @ Eagles Ballroom
15              Chicago, IL  @ Aragon 
17              Cleveland, OH  @ House Of Blues
20              Montreal, QC  @ Metropolis
22             New York, NY @ Terminal 5

MAY
5               Boston, MA  @ House Of Blues
6               Philadelphia, PA @ Tower Theater
7               Sayreville, NJ   @ Starland Ballroom
10             Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
11             Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
17             West Palm Bch, FL  @ Revolution
18             Orlando, FL  @ House Of Blues
20             Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
21             Dallas, TX   @ House Of Blues

Thirty Seconds To Mars also announced their 2011 U.S. tour, presented by HP and Live Nation which will kick off in San Diego at the House of Blues on January 11th. Tickets will be available via Live Nation/Ticketmaster on November 19th.

Thirty Seconds To Mars Tour Dates

Jan 11 San Diego, CA House of Blues
Jan 12 San Diego, CA House of Blues
Jan 14 Pomona, CA The Fox
Jan 15 San Jose, CA San Jose Events Center
Jan 16 Davis, CA Freeborn Hall
Jan 18 Seattle, WA Paramount Theater
Jan 21 Denver, CO Fillmore
Jan 23 Dallas, TX House of Blues
Jan 24 Dallas, TX House of Blues
Jan 25 Austin, TX Austin Music Hall
Jan 26 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater
Jan 28 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
Jan 30 Louisville, KY Expo Five
Jan 31 Richmond, VA The National
Feb 2 Niagara Falls, NY Rapids Theater
Feb 3 Rochester, NY Armory
Feb 4 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
Feb 5 Wallingford, CT Oakdale

My Chemical Romance Debut “Danger Days” at the Apollo in London

by Cindy Robinson

My Chemical Romance returned to the UK for their first show in three years to debut songs off their new album Danger Days: the True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys on October 23rd. A rapturous sold out crowd at London’s Hammersmith Apollo rocked out to a host of new songs from the forthcoming album mixed in with everyone’s old favorites. MCR started the night off with a bang by opening with their first single from Danger Days, Na Na Na.

My Chemical Romance by Alessia Cifali

The night included fan favorites like Welcome to the Black Parade, Mama and I’m Not Okay along with new songs like The Only Hope For Me Is You and Honey, This Mirror Isn’t Big Enough for the Two of Us.

The band also debuted new drummer Mike Pedicone, who is from Tucson, AZ and a longtime friend of the band.

A complete slideshow of last night’s gig by photographer Alessia Cifali can be viewed here 

Danger Days: the The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys will be released on November 22nd. It looks like 2011 is going to be a very busy year for My Chemical Romance!

The 90 minute setlist included:

Na Na Na
Thank You For The Venom
Dead!
Cemetery Drive
Planetary (GO!)
I’m Not Okay (I Promise)
Give ‘Em Hell, Kid
Our Lady of Sorrows
I Don’t Love You
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison
The Only Hope For Me Is You
Honey, This Mirror Isn’t Big Enough for the Two of Us
This Is How I Disappear
Welcome To The Black Parade
Helena
Mama
Teenagers
The Ghost Of You
Famous Last Words
Sleep
Cancer
The Kids From Yesterday

How To Train Your Dragon – out now on DVD/Blu-ray

Cover via Amazon

Dreamworks How To Train Your Dragon is out today on DVD/Blu-ray.

This movie is the perfect mixture of adventure, comedy and friendship that leaves you wanting your own dragon by the end of the movie.

Hiccup (voice by Jay Baruchel) is the skinny, inquisitive boy who constantly fails at all attempts to be a proper Viking.  His father, chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), has pretty much given up on his teenage son and apprenticed him to blacksmith Gobber (Craig Ferguson). Worse, Hiccup knows the village loser hasn’t a chance of impressing Astrid (America Ferrera), the girl of his dreams and a formidable dragon fighter in her own right. When one of Hiccup’s inventions actually works, he hasn’t the heart to kill the young dragon he’s brought down. He names it Toothless and befriends it, although he’s been taught to fear and loathe dragons.  Hiccup uses his newly found knowledge to help his village fend off a dragon attack and change the minds of some stalwart old Vikings.

This movie is rated PG: suitable for ages 8 and older, violence, some intense action and scary dragons so preview and/or discuss it with younger children before allowing them to view it.

Vons/Safeway have a great deal going on now for the DVD.  They have the How To Train Your Dragon DVD plus one Izze Fortified Beverage 4-pack, any flavor + one Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn (2, 3 or 4 pack, select varieties) + two Kraft Macaroni + Cheese Dinners, any 5.5 oz “fun” shapes. All for $16.99 with Safeway/Vons card! I haven’t checked Albertsons yet but they typically offer these DVD deals as well.

Valid 10/15/10 – 10/31/10 on single DVD only (not Blu-ray).

Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart always have great sales the first week of a DVD/Blu-ray release as well but the best deal by far is the grocery store deal that includes free snacks with your movie.

It’s going to be Dragon movie night at our house for sure tonight! This is one kids movie you definitely want in your collection for all to enjoy for many years to come.