Whitesnake drummer Brian Tichy is a big John Bonham fan and each day this week he is posting videos teaching how to play like the late Led Zeppelin beat keeper. His first lesson was “Rock and Roll,” which, ironically, is one of the hardest songs for John’s son,Jason Bonham, to play. Jason tells us, “It’s a two-handed shuffle all the way through and not many people who play ‘Rock and Roll’ do that.” He adds that he finally figured out how his father was playing it when the Zeppelin at Knebworth festival video was released. The drum beat is same one used on Little Richard’s “Keep A-Knocking (But You Can’t Come In).”
Tichy replaced Jason Bonham in Foreigner in 2009 before leaving for Whitesnake in 2010.
One of John Bonham’s drumsticks recently sold for more than $1,600 on eBay. Bonham’s name is embossed in scripted silver print across the stick. –Sal Cirrincione
Holy cow, can David Lee Roth go on and on about a subject. The latest example is another video he has made in conjunction with the documentary he says is being put together on the making of Van Halen’s new album, A Different Kind of Truth. Wearing the same “Super Mario” costume he donned for the band’s New York City club show earlier this month, “Diamond Dave” spends more than six minutes talking about the lyrics of the song “Tattoo.” He talks about his favorite tattoos, why people get tattoos, the fact that it hurts when you get a tattoo and on and on and on. Watch it at your peril.
A Different Kind of Truth comes out February 7th. –Sal Cirrincione
Judas Priest will release their second box set in four months Tuesday when The Complete Albums Collections sees the light of day. This 17-CD set contains every studio and live album that features the classic line-up of Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downingand Ian Hill. Each album comes in a replica mini-LP sleeve reproducing that album’s original cover art, and their first two albums, 1974’s Rocka Rolla and 1976’s Sad Wings of Destiny, have been re-mastered. Also contained in this set is a 40-page booklet with photos, album credits and liner notes. The Complete Albums Collection will be available exclusively via Popmarket.com.
The Complete Albums Collection will contain:
Rocka Rolla (1974)
Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)
Sin After Sin (1977)
Stained Class (1978)
Killing Machine (1978)
Unleashed in the East (1979)
British Steel (1980)
Point of Entry (1981)
Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
Defenders of the Faith (1984)
Turbo (1986)
Priest…Live! (1987)
Ram it Down (1988)
Painkiller (1990)
Angel of Retribution (2005)
Nostradamus (2008)
A Touch of Evil…Live (2009)
In October, Priest released Single Cuts, 20-disc collection of all of their U.K. seven-inch and 12-inch A- and B-sides from 1977 through 1992 — a total of 51 tracks.
Priest starts the 2012 leg of their Epitaph tour on February 4th in Seoul, South Korea. –Sal Cirrincione
A copy of AC/DC’s debut single, “Can I Sit Next to You, Girl,” recently sold on eBay for more than $1,200. The song, released only in Australia, features original vocalist Dave Evans. The B-side was “Rockin’ in the Parlour.” They were the only two songs AC/DC recorded with Evans, who was replaced by Bon Scott in 1974. They re-recorded “Can I Sit Next to You, Girl” with Scott for their second album, TNT.
AC/DC shot a performance video for the song at The Last Picture Show theatre, near Sydney, Australia. Evans says, “That is the only video of me with AC/DC that I know of… The venue was closed to visitors at the time so that we could shoot it.”
In addition to Evans and AC/DC founders Malcolm and Angus Young, this third incarnation of the band also featured Rob Bailey on bass and Peter Clack on drums. –Sal Cirrincione
Jimmy Page turned 68 yesterday, but it was he who gave his fans a gift. He posted a video of the first song Led Zeppelin performed on January 9th, 1970 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. “We’re Gonna Groove,” co-written by Ben E. King, was finally released on Zeppelin’s last studio album, Coda, a collection of outtakes put together in 1982 following drummer John Bonham’s death in 1980.
As for the Albert Hall performance, Page says, “Every member of the band was nervous and for good reason. We had played the Albert Hall previously on the Pop Proms, but today in 1970 we were to headline our own show at the most prestigious venue at that time. During the previous year we had been putting in a lot of time in America and recorded the second album, released on October 22nd, 1969. It was going to be a critical test of our ability; not only to our fans, but to the press and our families and all in attendance that evening. That evening I met Charlotte, my daughter Scarlet’s mother.” –Sal Cirrincione
Led Zeppelin’s set list on January 9th, 1970 at the Royal Albert Hall:
Van Halen’s new single makes its debut today as they unveil “Tattoo,” the first track from their first studio album with David Lee Roth in 28 years, A Different Kind of Truth, in stores February 7th. “Tattoo” is the first new VH material we’re hearing with Roth since “Can’t Get This Stuff No More” and “Me Wise Magic,” which were recorded for 1996’s Best of Van Halen, Volume One. A video for “Tattoo” will be posted today on Van Halen’s website and their official YouTube channel.
As for the remainder of the album, in addition to “Tattoo” and the re-working of “She’s the Woman,” which they demoed in 1976, the rest of the songs are:
“You and Your Blues”
“China Town”
“Blood and Fire”
“Bullethead”
“As Is”
“Honey Baby Sweetie Doll”
“The Trouble With Never”
“Outta Space”
“Stay Frosty”
“Big River”
“Beats Workin’”
A deluxe version will contain a DVD with four new acoustic-performance videos. Titled The Downtown Sessions, it includes clips for “You Really Got Me,” “Panama,” “Beautiful Girls” and one of the new songs, “You and Your Blues.” A tour in support of the album starts on February 18th in Louisville, Kentucky.
Van Halen played a rare club show last night when they took the stage at the legendary Cafe Wha in a tiny basement on MacDougal Street in New York’s Greenwich Village. The club was once owned by David Lee Roth’s uncle, Manny Roth, who, at 92, was in the audience, along with 300 members of the media and such celebrities as Jimmy Fallon and John McEnroe.
With ceilings no higher than nine feet and even lower above the very small stage, the band played an 11-song set in advance of next month’s release of its first album with Roth in 28 years, A Different Kind of Truth (changed from The Future), and the announcement of a tour.
Roth said, “Welcome to Occupy Van Halen” before they started with The Kinks‘ “You Really Got Me.” They finished a little more than an hour later with “Jump.” The set offered a selection of hits — “Running with the Devil,” “Everybody Wants Some,” “Dance the Night Away,” “Panama” — and a new song, “She’s the Woman.”
Wearing brown overalls and a tweed cap, Roth talked about how nervous he was to play the club he first visited in 1961 at the age of seven, whose stage has been graced by Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen and countless others. He said playing a club meant there was “no hiding, no fake vocals, no fake anything,” perhaps lending some truth to Sammy Hagar’s claim that Michael Anthony’s taped backing vocals were used on their 2007 tour with Roth and Wolfgang Van Halen in place of Anthony.
On stage, Roth rambled about being an EMT in New York way too long. Wolfie tried to cut him off by playing a few notes on his bass, to which Roth said, “Hold on kiddo,” and then Eddie riffed on his guitar, but to no avail. Eddie appeared to be having a good time, even going over to Wolfie’s side of the stage to kiss his son on the cheek. The show was filmed, but no word yet on if, how and when it will be released.
A Different Kind of Truth is out on February 7th. The first single, “Tattoo,” and its accompanying video are debuting simultaneously on Tuesday. The North American arena tour starts on February 18th in Louisville, Kentucky and runs through June 26th in New Orleans. –Sal Cirrincione
Set list:
1) “You Really Got Me” 2) “Running With the Devil” 3) “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” 4) “Everybody Wants Some” 5) “She’s the Woman” (new song) 6) “Dance the Night Away” 7) “Panama” “Hot for Teacher” 9) “Ice Cream Man” 10) “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” 11) “Jump”
Van Halen will hit the road in support of their new album, A Different Kind of Truth, in stores February 7th. The North American arena tour will start on February 18th in Louisville, Kentucky and run through June 26th in New Orleans. Joining them on select dates will be Kool & The Gang. Tickets go on sale January 14th at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.
The first single, “Tattoo,” and its accompanying video will be debuted simultaneously on Tuesday. –Sal Cirrincione
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL TICKETS FOR SHOWS THROUGH APRIL 1ST GO ON SALE JANUARY 14TH:
2/18 - Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center (Jan. 16)
2/20 — Auburn Hills, MI — Palace
2/22 - Indianapolis, IN - Bankers Life Fieldhouse
2/24 - Chicago, IL - United Center
2/28+3/1 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
3/3 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
3/5 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
3/9 - Buffalo, NY - First Niagara Center
3/11 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
3/15 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
3/17 - Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
3/21 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place
3/24 - Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall (TBA)
3/28 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
3/30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Consol Energy Center
4/1 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
4/10 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Bank Atlantic Center
4/12 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
4/14 - Orlando, FL - Amway Arena
4/16 - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Arena
4/19 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
4/21 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
4/25 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena
4/27 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
5/1 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
5/5 - Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome
5/7 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
5/9 - Calgary, AB - Saddledome
5/11 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
5/17 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
5/19 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
5/22 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
5/24 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
5/27 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
6/1 - Los Angeles, CA — Staples Center
6/3 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
6/5 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
6/12 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
6/14 - San Diego, CA - Viejas Arena
6/16 - Phoenix, AZ — U.S. Airways Center
6/20 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
6/22 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
6/24 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
6/26 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
ALL DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
“Hot for Teacher”