10/3/2008:
KIP WINGER TO JOIN THE ‘ROCK & ROLL RAT PACK’
CELEBRITY ROCK GROUP ‘SCRAP METAL’ ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GUEST FOR FALL CONCERT:
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 Celebrity Rock Super Group SCRAP METAL announced Kip Winger founder of WINGER (“Seventeen” / “Headed for a Heartbreak”), and former bassist for legendary rock group ALICE COOPER will join them onstage to perform an acoustic set as their Special Guest Star at their upcoming fall rock concert event at the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den in Uncasville, CT on October 4, 2008.
SCRAP METAL, the celebrity rock super group whose members have sold over 50 million records worldwide, starsGunnar Nelson (NELSON /“After the Rain”); Mark Slaughter (SLAUGHTER / “Up All Night” / “Fly to the Angels”); and Matthew Nelson (NELSON / “Love and Affection”). This ‘Rock and Roll Rat Pack’ always features the original lead front men from MTV’s most popular metal bands of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
“"It's been way too long since we had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Kip Winger at the very first Scrap Metal concert," enthuses Scrap Metal co-founder Gunnar Nelson. "It'll be an honor to rock the house together. This is going to be a standout show, even given the auspic ious history of stellar Scrap Metal events."
Other special guest stars announced for the SCRAP METAL event include Eric Martin former lead singer of MR. BIG(“To Be With You”) and Jeff Scott Soto formerly of JOURNEY / STEEL DRAGON (Soundtrack for “Rock Star”).
“It’s about time we were able to get fellow Nashville rocker Kip Winger, as our special guest star,” raves band co-founder Mark Slaughter. “Plus, with special guest stars Eric Martin and Jeff Scott Soto it will definitely make it an unforgettable rock event.”
The SCRAP METAL live rock concert event is Saturday, October 4th at 8:00 pm at
The Mohegan Sun Wolf Den 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT 06382.
The Wolf Den is located in the center of the action, in Casino of the Earth.
For general information call Mohegan Sun at 1-888-226-7711 or visit www.mohegansun.com
Visit the official SCRAP METAL website at www.myspace.com/ScrapMetalBand
9/28/2008:
Helix Gears Up For A Great Christmas:
Dear Blast;
Just to let you know that the new Helix CD "A HEAVY MENTAL CHRISTMAS" is now available. You can check out some of the tunes at www.helixonmyspace.com and order it through our website at www.planethelix.com. 
It's going to be front racked at Wal-mart Canada and we'll be touring across the Great White North this fall to support it.
1.) “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”
2.) “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
3.) “Santa’s Back in Town” - (Elvis)
4.) “Wonderful Christmas Time”
5.) “Jingle Bell Rock”
6.) “Happy Christmas War is Over” - (John Lennon)
7.) “Sock it to me Santa” - (Bob Seger)
8.) “Jingle Bells”
9.) “Silent Night”
10.) “It’s Christmas Time Again” (original: Vollmer/Prior/Georgakopoulos)
The third week of October it will be available in all Wal-mart stores across Canada. Please support us on this new disc!
Thanks.
Yours truly,
Brian Vollmer
HELIX
9/20/2008:
Rock -n- Roll Loses A Legend:
Keyboardist Richard Wright a founding member of the rock band Pink Floyd lost his battle with cancer Monday. He was 65. Wright passed away at his home in Britain. A spokesman for the family says the family does not want to give any more details at this time.
The band released a series of commercially and critically successful albums including 1973's "Dark Side of the Moon," which has sold more than 40 million copies. Wright wrote "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "Us and Them" for that album, and later worked on the group's epic compositions such as "Atom Heart Mother," "Echoes" and "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.”
But tensions grew among Waters, Wright and fellow band member David Gilmour. The tensions came to a head during the making of "The Wall" when Waters insisted Wright be fired. As a result, Wright was relegated to the status of session musician on the tour of "The Wall," and did not perform on Pink Floyd's 1983 album, "The Final Cut."
Wright formed a new band Zee with Dave Harris, from the band Fashion, and released one album, "Identity," with Atlantic Records.
Waters left Pink Floyd in 1985 and Wright began recording with Mason and Gilmour again, releasing the albums "The Division Bell" and "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" as Pink Floyd. Wright also released the solo albums "Wet Dream" (1978) and "Broken China" (1996).
In July 2005, Wright, Waters, Mason and Gilmour reunited to perform at the "Live 8" charity concert in London — the first time in 25 years they had been onstage together.
Wright also worked on Gilmour's solo projects, most recently playing on the 2006 album "On an Island" and the accompanying world tour.
Gilmour paid tribute to Wright on Monday, saying his input was often forgotten. "He was gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognized Pink Floyd sound," he said. "I have never played with anyone quite like him."
9/8/2008:
WARRANT Once Again Serves Papers On Jani Lane:
"It is with the deepest regret that we have to announce that Jani Lane will no longer be performing with Warrant. From the beginning of our reunion talks to the last note of our last show together in Houston this past weekend we have had nothing but good intentions of bringing a quality original Warrant show to our fans and friends. We wish Jani nothing but the best and remain friends.
We are very excited that we have found an unbelievable voice in Robert Mason, an old friend of the band. We have three dates confirmed, come out and judge for yourself…we don't think you will be disappointed!
September 9th Tucson, AZ – Casino Del Sol w/ Alice Cooper
September 19th Maplewood, MN – The Myth w/Trixter
October 17th Tyler, TX – The Oil Palace w/Queensryche/Kip Winger
Thanks for reading, The Down Boys.
www.WarrantRocks.com / www.myspace.com/warrantband.
Steelheart Good 2B Alive:
Press Release / Miljenko Matijevic / SteelHeart / SteelHeart Records, LLC sign with Red Eye Distribution (N.A.) and Cargo Distribution (EUR).
Charlottesville, VA (USA), September 5, 2008: SteelHeart's new album, Good 2B Alive (G2BA), written, produced and recorded by Miljenko Matijevic, is slated for European release October 24, 2008, immediately followed by its U.S. release on November 11, 2008. Preceding the album's opening in both markets by Cargo Distribution and Red Eye Distribution, respectively, is the European release of SteelHeart's live DVD entitled, “SteelHeart Still Hard,” on September 19, 2008.
Miljenko Matijevic's distinctive, powerful, multi-octave vocals return on G2BA, an album chronicling the journey of a lifetime. Traversing personal experiences and the evolution of SteelHeart while weathering tragedy and triumph, Matijevic covers the gamut of human emotion, allowing listeners a vivid glimpse into his past, present and future. A creative work ten years in the making, G2BA emerges from the depths of anger, peace and patience, resurrecting SteelHeart with a modern, edgy sound while remaining loyal to its rock roots. From the fervent passion of “Samurai,” guttural “LOL” (in which Matijevic sings the guitar solo through a wah wah pedal) to the lush, heavenly vocals of the acoustic title track, G2BA is an album yearning not just to be heard but experienced. With radiant power and live string sections (“Twisted Future”) recorded at Sky Walker Sound, G2BA is an epiphany of the soul, taking listeners on a sonic journey best described as a “Modern day Zeppelin.”
To understand where Matijevic is and where he is going, one must study his past. From his childhood in Croatia to touring the world with SteelHeart… To that fateful night in 1993 when a Page 2 SteelHeart: Good 2B Alive PR 1,000-pound lighting rig collapsed onstage, nearly crushing him to death in front of thousands of shocked fans. Such a journey has led him to be lyrically on top of his game, melding introspection into prose (from "Twisted Future"): "...There will come a day, when freedom will come to reign and all the pain that surrounds us, we will anchor to the wind. Now there is no need for crying, let it go. There is so much more to come… I know."
Since the early 1990's, Matijevic's stunning vocal abilities have been showcased in a string of hits, one of which is his legendary performance on the massively successful, “I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes).” Additionally, he provided the extraordinary singing voice and the theme song “We All Die Young” for Mark Wahlberg's character in the 2001 blockbuster film “Rock Star.”
A fearless warrior in today's music industry, Matijevic is not only the consummate rock vocalist, but also a businessman, venturing into other facets of the business in order to provide a platform for emerging artists brave enough to go against the grain of commercial mediocrity. Matijevic is the founder of SteelHeart Studio, SteelHeart Television, SteelHeart Wear and, of course, SteelHeart Records, LLC. Inspired and maverick, Miljenko Matijevic is back: Strong, determined and with his best album to date. It is definitely Good 2B Alive.
WebLinks: www.steelheart.com / www.steelheart.tv.
9/2/2008:
TESLA's Forever More:
Thunder Goes BANG!:
The up & coming new release from UK rockers Thunder their new CD will be titled, ‘Bang!’ and will hit the stores on November 3rd. The tracklisting is as follows: 'On The Radio', 'Stormwater', 'Carol Ann', 'Retribution', 'Candy Man', 'Have Mercy', 'Watching Over You', 'Miracle Man', 'Turn Left At California', 'Love Sucks', 'One Bullet', 'Honey'.
According to an update from the band’s webmaster: "The record was recorded at Walton Castle in Clevedon, near Bristol, in the sunny South West of England, at various times during the spring of this year. The place is not a studio as such, but the band thought the 2 foot thick stone walls and large selection of rooms and turrets would work brilliantly, so they moved all their recording kit, all the equipment, tons of cables and pipes, and their swimming trunks down to the place, and guess what? They were right! As he who controls all things, I have heard it, and it sounds fab! All songs were written by Luke, except 'Watching Over You' (which he wrote with Andy Taylor Jr and Mike Keen). As is tradition, I'll be uploading a short audio clip each week, between now and the release date. Click here for the first one. Spread the word babies, the campaign begins NOW! You know what you have to do, and please don't let me down."
From The Desk Of The Editors:
Attention all bands/artists, management/record companies, promoters, and venues:
We recently sent out a memo to all of our business contacts with regard to unapproved media requests and requests made by individuals not or no longer associated with Blast to gain access to bands and concerts, but it has come to our attention that some issues still exist. Please be aware that the only media requests from Blast Magazine that should be considered legitimate are those presented by one of the editors Darrell Finley (editor) and/or Meredith Ballou (asst. editor), and we will NOT accept responsibility for the publishing of any work that has not been specifically requested or authorized by one of us. In the event that you do receive requests from anyone claiming to be a photographer, writer/journalist, etc, from Blast, please don’t hesitate to let us know so we can deal with the situation immediately. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and we apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.
TNT Discovers Atlantis:
Tony Mills current lead vocalist with TNT checked-in to give us the track listing of the band’s up and coming release titled, ‘Atlantis’ - 1.) “Hello Hello”, 2.) “Peter Sellers Blues”, 3.) “Baby's Got Rhythm”, 4.) “Bottle Of Wine”, 5.) “Had It, Lost It”, 6.) “Love Of My Life”, 7.) “Missing Kind”, 8.) “Tango Girl”, 9.) “Taste Of Honey”, 10.) “Me and Dad”, 11.) “Atlantis” Bonus Tracks includes “June” and “Seven Seas”(Recorded in 2007 with the Norwegian Naval Woodwind Orchestra at Rockefeller, Oslo.)
Bonham No Longer With Foriegner:
"Friday morning (August 22) on a Detroit radio station, drummer Jason Bonham revealed that he is leaving Foreigner at the end of this month. Since Jason filled the seat once occupied by his late father John Bonham at the Zeppelin show in London last December, does this raise the likelihood of a full-fledged Led Zeppelin reunion?
Jason, who was (obviously) born in England, now lives in Florida. He said, "I've been over [to England] a couple of times, I've been working with Jimmy [Page] and John Paul [Jones] and trying to do just do some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something."
Jason says, "My time with Foreigner is coming to an end. This is the first time I've talked about it. I leave at the end of this month so, I mean, I'm looking forward to taking some time out to be with the family really. Since I moved to America I've been on the road, so my first priority is to go and watch my kids grow up, because they've grown up way to fast in the last four years."
