That’s just music

Solo album which was recently produced by ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash had conquered number three on the Billboard chart. The first week of sales brought him sixty thousand copies and had demonstrated the best debut within top-200. Very cool result for a solo career, even though Slash is not just a new guy on the block. The album “Slash” had unfortunately stepped back before Justin Bieber and Usher; they went onto the ‘gold’ and ’silver’ places. Bieber’s “My World 2.0″ was able to spread around with 102 thousand copies, and “Raymond v. Raymond” by Usher sold 92 thousand copies. For legendary Slash (”hat-man”) who besides GN’R was also participating in such projects as Velvet Revolver and Slash’s Snakepit, it turned to be the first solo work, and in order to record it he had invited a lot of famous musicians including Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmister, Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl and Ian Astbury. A lot of new musicians out there would like to co-operate and begin with these artists, and possibly their albums would hit number three on the American national chart as well. Session musicians who have also helped in the recording process were Jane’s Addiction and Nine Inch Nails musicians, bassist Chris Chaney and a drummer Josh Freese. The album itself was produced by Eric Valentine who had previously co-worked with Queens of the Stone Age and All-American Rejects.

Ex-Pink Floyd bassist Rodger Waters had announced his new concert tour in around the North America. As the Billboard said, this tour will be dedicated to Pink Floyd’s legendary “The Wall” (1979) and thirtieth anniversary of their first public performance. Particularly, the whole concert set-list will be consisting exclusively “The Wall” songs; absolutely great idea, especially for the new generation which did not hear this album live and generally speaking is pretty far away from this band’s music. For those who admire them it will be another great chance to see Waters on stage. This tour will start on September 15 in Toronto and will end  up in Anaheim on December 13; totally it will include thirty five venues. If following some informative rumors, in 2011 Waters will begin the same kind of tour in Europe, however there are no certain facts about such a plan. It’s not the first tour of this kind for Rodger Waters, in 2006-2008 the same tour was dedicated to another Pink Floyd’s legend - “The Dark Side Of The Moon” (1973). Conceptual album “The Wall” contains absolutely stunning songs as “Another Brick In The Wall Part 2″, “Comfortably Numb” and “Run Like Hell” and was performed by Pink Floyd only 31 times during their 1980-1981 tour. In 1990 Waters had performed “The Wall” with the invited musicians on the ruins of the Berlin Wall.

Recently, the leader of the British rock band Motorhead Lemmy Kilmister had radically criticized his American colleague Bruce Springsteen. He told Stay Thirsty that Springsteen is not the real rock musician and all his awards were not deserved at all. Well, it’s surely pretty radical and angry message, but quite expected from such a guy as Kilmister. He began to talk about Bruce Springsteen when a journalist had asked him about Motorhead’s fan base, it’s acceptance in the world and respect they’re receiving today. Lemmy said that the band was formed thirty five years ago and still did not get enough of respect in the world; basically the one they deserve. “So that really p***ed me off, you know. I’m standing there with a Grammy, what did I get this for? For a bad cover of ‘Whiplash’? And all the s**t we’ve done over the years, you know, and not a single thing for that so f**k them.”  ‘Whiplash’ is a Metallica’s song and it was always considered that guys from Metallica were actually learning from Motorhead, they were simply their biggest fans and students. Definitely, Kilmister is getting very angry these days that his band is not getting enough of fame, even though they were working on it and probably deserve way more. Springsteen on the other hand has twenty Grammy’s and many more other awards; in 1999 he was included into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Ex-member of the American rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers John Frusciante is now considered to be the best guitarist in the last thirty years. Such result was taken from polls which were carried out by the British BBC 6 Music among thirty thousand listeners. Frusciante is surely one of the most talented musicians today, his influence on riffs and styles is now can be noticed almost everywhere and within lots of modern groups or other guitarists. The second spot was conquered by ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash who had recently released his debut solo album. Third place went to Matthew Bellamy. All three seem to be absolutely great and well known guys, but there are way more guitar specialists who could have taken their places. Here is the full list consisting of ten musicians who seem to be more or less deserving their fame:

1. John Frusciante - Red Hot Chili Peppers

2. Slash - Guns n’ Roses

3. Matt Bellamy - Muse

4. Johnny Marr - The Smiths

5. Tom Morello - Rage Against The Machine

6. Kirk Hammett - Metallica

7. Jonny Greenwood - Radiohead

8. Prince

9. Jack White - White Stripes

10. Peter Buck - REM

If talking about John Frusciante, his name is strongly connected to the best moments in the Red Hot Chili Peppers career. Their most successful albums such as “Mother’s Milk (1989), “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” (1991), “Californication” (1999), “By the Way” (2002) and “Stadium Arcadium” (2006). However, the guy had decided to leave the band in 2008 in order to concentrate on his solo projects.

U2 legendary vocalist Bono had appeared on the greatest people of Ireland list, particularly within it’s first ten best representatives. Rates gathered through public interviewing process was announced by the national radio station RTE Radio 1. Besides Bono (forty more people could’ve been on his place!) the short list includes the following people:  Bono, Dr. Noel Browne, Michael Collins, James Connolly, Stephen Gately, John Hume, Phil Lynott, Padraig Pearse, Mary Robinson and Adi Roche. It’s not the worst result, hence Mr. Bono is really one of the best sons of Ireland if looking at his achievements and talents. RTE representative Miles Dunkan had noted that the results are practically revealing the fact that modern Irishmen are seriously interested in mass culture and economic issues because the list includes two socialist politicians. It’s really cool and interesting even though many will argue whether that is good or not to be involved in the socialist or left wing politics. Nevertheless, Bono would never believe that one day he will be on the level of James Connolly and Padraig Pearse. By September this list will be shortened down to five figures, and each one will receive an honor of a documentary film. The whole thing will be over in October this year when the only one greatest Irishmen will be left out. Curiously, is Bono really planning to get over there or not?

Canadian progressive-rock trio Rush had announced the dates of their 2010 tour. As their official site notes it’s going to be called “Time Machine Tour” and will take place in thirty seven American and Canadian cities in June-October this year. The whole set-list was not published yet, but it’s known for sure that their most famous album “Moving Pictures” (1981) will be fully performed during each concert. This disk was able to sell four million copies in the US alone and till this day is considered to be the best example of progressive rock record while setting up the standards of this kind of music. Musicians Neil Peart, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson will surely perform such infamous tracks as “Tom Sawyer”, “Red Barchetta” and “Limelight”. Before the tour Canadian guys are also planning to release a documentary “Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage” produced by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn. The first presentations of this film should take place on April 24 in New York and in Toronto on April 29. Previously, guitarist Alex Lifeson had told Canadian press that Rush is planning a small tour in the nearest time and later the release of a new album; only after these activities the band may be presenting the grand tour. If following his words, the new album should be experimental in it’s nature.

Guitarist, vocalist and a songwriter from the now legendary New York band Sonic Youth Thurston Moore is going to tell children about such a phenomenon as “noise”. As the Paper says, this event should take place on April 11 at the New York gallery Partners & Spade. This person is surely a big specialist on sounds, noises and music in general, his talents and abilities to create good music are well known. During the lecture under the name of “A Dissertation on White Noise” children from the age of eight to twelve will be welcomed to hear his great knowledge on sound for only thirty dollars. Gained money shall be used on development of programs that center upon studies on art and culture. Surely one of the greatest ideas, so far so good. Basically, Thurston Moore is not only known to his fans for being a member of Sonic Youth, but also as an independent artist. Thus, he had recorded a number of solo albums and was participating in production of the “noise” projects. In 2006 he has recorded an album “Flipped Out Bride” on the independent record label called Blossoming Noise; the release was very short in number, only five hundred copies. Practically, the guy is a scientist who learns about sounds, noise or even the physics of it. Noise is one of the oldest genres within the industrial music, it mainly uses artificial or techno sounds which may be unpleasant or even painful for a human ear. Relating this genre to music is very speculative because the noise itself is traditionally rejected in music, especially while recording it. Amplifiers, wires and other music equipment are usually producing such noises and of course they’re almost always removed from the record. However, some people love it and consider it to be the music.

For the first time in his career bassist Peter Hook is going to perform live all the songs from the Joy Division’s debut album “Unknown Pleasures”; it will bring him and his fans way back into 1970’s when the whole story of this band was getting started. As the New Musical Express notes, Hook will dedicate his performance to the memory of a Joy Division’s vocalist Ian Curtis who had committed suicide. This memorial concert will take place in Manchester at the Fac 51 Hacienda club which was once opened by the heads of the Factory Records company; the one which released “Unknown Pleasures”. The whole event is planned on May 18; it’s going to be exactly thirty years since Curtis was gone. Before this evening of memory in Manchester, Hook is going to tour Britain within the frames of “An Evening Of Unknown Pleasures” project were bassist is planning to present the unreleased tracks and videos of Joy Division and New Order. Also, musician will answer  many questions that may be related to his work on “Unknown Pleasures”. This album was the first Joy Division’s full blown studio work which is considered to be the beginning of post-punk. It came out in June, 1979. However, on May 18, 1980 the band’s frontman Ian Curtis had killed himself right before his first American tour, he was only twenty three years old. After his death the band had released one more album “Closer”, and later the band fell apart to form another group New Order. “Unknown Pleasures” is now seen as the classic post-punk record.

Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan and his not less famous colleague, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi have decided to make a few charity records in order to help Armenian children, said Iommi in his recent interview to Metal Hammer. As he has underlined, together with Gillan they’ve already made some productive work and hopefully the release will be successful and above all money bringing too. A few months ago both musicians have visited Armenia and were deeply saddened by the situation which ruled in one of the local music schools. They’ve gifted a number of instruments to them because children did not even have such a basic thing as a music instrument in their school. Therefore, two musicians will try to collect enough money to buy a new building for that local school; good idea and gives a lot of respect to both of these guys. In 2009 Iommi and Gillan were awarded with the Armenian Order of Honor directly from the prime-minister for their distinctive work in the country. A singer and guitarist were noted for twenty years of work in Armenia; not just one particular visit. Also, Iommi had mentioned that him and Gillan will try to organize a number of shows in Armenia, but so far this question is not solved due to his difficult schedule. Musician had specifically highlighted the fact that the main obstacle on the way of making the Armenian show is his upcoming Heaven & Hell tour.

U2 is going to release the video version of their famous concert at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California, which took place on October 25, 2009 within their tour in support of “No Line On The Horizon” album. As their official website says, a disk under the name of “U2360° At The Rose Bowl” should come out on Mercury Records label in DVD and Blu-ray format on June 7 this year (US release will take place a little bit earlier on June 3). U2’s Pasadena concert is already a part of history because they were able to gather ninety seven thousand people, something none other band was able to do in the past. Additionally, the whole thing was aired live through YouTube, so totally ten million people could enjoy U2 marking another remarkable page in the history of music. Their performance was caught up by twenty seven cameras and totally the whole process was directed by Tom Krueger who was previously co-working with them during the release of “U23D”. “U2360° At The Rose Bowl” will be available in the regular and gift versions, and it must include a documentary “Squaring The Circle” Creating U2360°”; some new videos should be in there too. Practically, the band is truly addicted to big things, massive rock n’ roll spectacles and so far not too many groups were able achieve that level of magnificence and the totality of music. In June the band will re-start it’s “360° Tour” in US and Canada and by August the band plans to travel Europe.