Source: http://www.nme.com/

Police arrested 50 people at an AC/DC gig in New Zealand last night (January 30).

Fans were held mostly for drunk and disorderly behaviour following the show at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

During the concert police arrested nine people at the venue and a further six were evicted.

Six ambulances were also called to assist people with alcohol or drug-related issues, reports the Otago Daily Times.

Source: http://undercover.com.au/

Red Hot Chili Peppers have performed their first public performance with new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer at the MusiCares Person of the Year dinner honouring Neil Young on Friday.

Klinghoffer is widely tipped to be the replacement for John Frusciante although an official announcement is yet to come.

Red Hot Chili Peppers performed the Neil Young classic ‘A Man Needs A Maid’ at the dinner but there was no announcement or explanation of Klinghoffer being the new member on the evening.

The band has been in the studio working on their 10th studio album with Klinghoffer. The follow-up to Stadium Arcadium will be released later in 2010.

Source: http://www.rollingstone.com/

In what was a staggering display of star power and rock & roll might, dozens of music luminaries gathered on Friday night to celebrate Neil Young as MusiCares Person of the Year. The pre-Grammy dinner and tribute concert, which starts at $1,250 per plate with proceeds going to musicians in need, boasted the best attendance yet since the annual fete had its first seating in 1989 (honoring Young's longtime friend and bandmate, David Crosby, appropriately enough), and featured 20 performances by heavyweights such as Wilco, John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne, Dave Matthews, Elvis Costello, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow and several supergroup combos, most notably, an all-star jam of Crosby Stills Nash and Young's "Helpless" comprised of Sir Elton John, Leon Russell, T Bone Burnett, Neko Case and Sheryl Crow that was, in a word, inspiring.

Check out all of Rolling Stone's Grammy coverage.

Host Jack Black kicked things off with a fawning introduction of the man who, not only inspired his own musical endeavor, Tenacious D, but "the best rockers out there for over 40 years." Black riffed: "You guys ever heard of the Nineties? Neil Young influenced that entire decade — even Ace of Bass."

Indeed, when it came to a sludgy onslaught of guitars, the evening boasted some of the best that modern day artistry can offer. Mellencamp, backed by a stellar house band consisting of Burnett, musical director Don Was, and longtime drummer Kenny Aronoff, kicked things off with a gritty version of "Down By the River," Silver Lake indie rockers Everest, who are signed to Young's Vapor Records, delivered "Revolution Blues" by request, while Wilco's gloriously brash rendition of "Broken Arrow" prompted Elton John to give a standing ovation, which he proudly pointed out to the band backstage following the performance. Earlier in the night, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy told RS,"We rehearsed this song for two days. The guys in our crew said it was the first time they'd ever seen us rehearse in three years." He added that they'd chosen "Broken Arrow" because it's "really episodic and strange and when you hear it, it's pretty obvious that Wilco has taken a lot from this one song."

Contemporaries and disciples alike, that sentiment was echoed throughout the evening. Crow, who joined Stephen Stills on accordion to perform "Long May You Run" then returned for the "Helpless" super-jam towards the show's end, noted that watching Young perform early in her career was a life-changing experience. "The first time I saw him sitting in a circle with his guitars and his harmonium behind him was a solidifying moment for me," said Crow. "There's something so soulful about that man. It's when I knew, ‘That's what I want to do some day — sit with my guitars and play songs.'"

Others, like Dave Matthews, Ben Harper and Elvis Costello, opted for a stripped-down approach, showcasing the simplicity and beauty of a Young song in its most basic form. Matthews played "The Needle & the Damage Done" on acoustic guitar, Costello preceded with "The Losing End (When You're On)" and Harper presented a stirring version of the CSN classic "Ohio" on slide guitar joined by three female background vocalists. Likewise, Norah Jones' breathy "Tell Me Why" offered a softer sojourn while the threesome of Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Patty Griffin was the perfect counter balance to all the male energy.

And the talent only grew exponentially as the program went along. Harper was followed by a true power trio, Keith Urban, John Fogerty and Booker T., for a rousing rendition of "Rockin' in the Free World," while a little later, James Taylor offered a true-to-the-original "Heart of Gold" and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, in their first gig with new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, impressed with "A Man Needs a Maid." Frontman Anthony Kiedis, sporting a Dennis Hopper circa Easy Rider look, complete with full 'stache, sunglasses and hat, delivered a gentle and nuanced performance that was the perfect preamble to Jimmy Fallon's now infamous Young-inspired spoof of "Pants on the Ground," which was shown on video and welcomed with cackles of laughter.

And while the jokes kept coming ("Rust never sleeps," said Black, "and neither does Neil, unless it's nighttime… or nap time… but all other times he's wide awake and making the free world a better place to rock in!"), there were also moments of emotional reflection: a mention of Young's near-fatal brain aneurysm, his annual Bridge School Benefit concert which has raised millions for children with disabilities, and his sons who both suffer from cerebral palsy.

To that end, Crosby, Stills and Nash's serenade of "Human Highway" couldn't have been a more fitting closer. "We've done that song with Neil probably 200 to 300 times so it has special significance that he'll know and we know," said Crosby, who called his friend of five decades "the real deal." "There's been too much focus in recent years on surface rather than substance," he said. "But Neil can really write a song that you'll remember 20 years from now. I've played some of the best music of my whole life on stage with that man, there were many moments that were pure magic, and I love him."

Crosby was not alone. Backstage, throngs of awestruck celebrities mingled while singing Young's praises. Crow and Costello kibitzed in the middle of all the action, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban held hands while catching up with Burnett, Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila Alves chatted with Beck and Tweedy while John, Burnett and a wheel-chaired Leon Russell, who are all currently in the studio together, posed for a photo nearby, and Rick Rubin and Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith discussed the band's recent rehearsals (vibe: good!).
And as the man of the hour came up for his final bow, his bandmates watched on from side-stage and took in every word. "I forgot how many songs I've written," Young cracked. "But I want you to know I'm working on a new album and I've already written four or five songs and I hope I'll be able to continue for a long time." Young noted the awkwardness in seeing his life played out in song and video. "You know how uncomfortable it is to see pictures of yourself 30 or 40 years ago," he said, "It's a funny feeling. I listen to some of those songs and go how, ‘How can I ever? What am I gonna do now? Who was that guy?' Bob Dylan once said of ‘Blowin' in the Wind:' ‘I don't even know that person is.' It's true, it's hard to go back."

Early in the night, Young declared to reporters that he was going to sit this one out. "I'm watching… so I don't have to remember the words," he joked on the red carpet. On the opposite tip was Jack Black, who had to keep things moving even if the show went nearly an hour past its allotted time. How did he rate his own performance? "I was pretty nervous and started off shaky, but I eased into it," Black told RS. "It was just a remarkable night of musicianship. You don't see a bill like that very often. Everyone was so incredible, and it's a testament to Neil's influence and awesomeness that so many people wanted to be part of this show."

Source: http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/

This week's must-buy-motor is an '89 Maserati 430, first owned by Eric Clapton.

Big miles at 149,000, but comes with a thick file of history, stainless steel exhaust and modified differential. eBay Buy It Now is 4,950gbp, which doesn't sound dear.

Source: http://www.contactmusic.com/

ROLLING STONES star RONNIE WOOD has checked himself into a rehabilitation centre in London in a bid to kick his alcohol problems once and for all, according to reports.
It will be the 62-year-old rocker's eighth stint in rehab, according to Britain's Daily Mail newspaper. Wood last sought professional treatment for his boozing in July 2008, shortly after he walked out on his wife of 23 years, Jo, to be with his then-lover, young Russian waitress Ekaterina Ivanova.

His latest rehab stint comes weeks after he was cautioned by British police following a violent altercation with now-ex, Ivanova. The troubled star was arrested in December (09) after allegedly choking his 21-year-old lover during a heated 30-minute argument outside a restaurant in Surrey, England. The subsequent split from Ivanova reportedly sent Wood over the edge - and back to rehab.

A source tells the Mail, "Ronnie has been in a bad state of mind since his split with Katia. They were in a terrible relationship, but since their break-up he has not been himself. He has been lonely and drinking... Jo and the entire family are just happy that he is seeking help again."
The tabloid report suggests Wood's bandmate Sir Mick Jagger had also advised the guitarist to get help with his drinking.

A close pal tells the publication, "Mick has always been helpful and supportive of Ronnie when he gets in trouble and falls off the wagon (starts drinking).

"The news (that) Ronnie's decided to go into rehab is really pleasing for Mick. He has always urged him to get help when he's had his problems - and this case was no different. Mick's just delighted he's taken heed and is trying to get himself straight."

A representative for the Rolling Stones had yet to respond to requests for a comment as WENN went to press.

A rehab stint might be just what the grizzled rocker needs after confessing he's tired of being the object of tabloid attention. He recently told Britain's Daily Star, "I wanted to have this year off to do whatever I wanted, but I'm getting so much attention all the time - it's annoying to see myself in the papers practically every day."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Carl Barat and Pete Doherty were one of the most memorable rock partnerships of the Noughties.

Now Barat, formerly of The Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things, is putting aside his guitar to make his acting debut in London.

In Fool For Love, Barat and Sadie Frost star as a couple in a tragic love-hate relationship.

The play, by Sam Shepard, is set in a motel room on the edge of the Mojave Desert and is described as a "bleak but savagely funny drama".

Frost made her West End debut last year in Touched, and has been nominated for for best solo performance at the Whatsonstage.com theatre awards.

Source: http://www.gibson.com/

Miss Pearly Gates and her kin from the Les Paul Standard class of 1959 have a little sister who's just as beautiful. And this week Gibson is celebrating her birthday by unveiling the Custom Shop's newest classic guitar reissue: the 50th Anniversary Les Paul 1960 Standard.

Like the fabled '59 Les Pauls played into rock history by Billy Gibbons, Duane Allman, Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Jeff Beck and Gary Moore, the 1960 Standard has also been closely held and well loved by some of the greatest performers in rock. Page, the Kinks' Dave Davies, Paul McCartney and, most notably, Eric Clapton, have all owned classic '60 sunbursts.

It was Clapton who led the 1960 Les Paul Standard's charge to fame when he acquired his first sunburst model in 1965. He earned the nickname "God" by using it to spray thrilling leads all over John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton album a year later. That album helped set the British blues revolution afire, and Clapton's terse, stinging version of fellow Les Paul slinger Freddie King's "Hideaway" became a litmus test for generations of blues guitarists.

The three versions of the 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standards being produced by the Gibson Custom Shop recreate the glory of the vintage 'bursts that inspired them. Although the original models' naturally figured maple caps were gorgeous and distinctive — the '60 Standard 'bursts' legend was built on more than great looks and famous players. The biggest attraction of the '60s Les Paul Standard has always been its impeccable tone — the same blend of richness, clarity, sustain and punch that makes the '59 so coveted.

Les Paul Standards from 1959 and 1960 have much in common. Nonetheless, '60 was also a transitional year for the guitar. There was a name change, from the "Les Paul Model" to the "Les Paul Standard." And those made in early 1960 were the same as the '59s, right down to the same cherry and dark sunburst finishes. But in mid-year the necks being made at the Gibson plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, began to evolve. They started to have a thinner, more elliptical profile that eventually became the slim, tapered neck most commonly associated with that year's Standards, allowing faster, lower action. Double-band tuners and insert tone and volume knobs also became the norm, and finally the darker cherry sunburst yielded to a brighter shade sometimes referred to as "tomato soup" 'burst.

It requires three versions of the 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard – built to exacting original specifications — to represent all those changes. The first is built to the same specs as the '59 Les Paul, but with a '60 serial number, to represent the early 1960 run. This version comes in heritage darkburst and cherry sunburst.

The second captures the transitional mid-year era. It features a thinner "transition" neck, based on painstaking research and scans of historic vintage models by the Custom Shop's historian and engineering team. This version comes in two faded colors, light iced tea burst and sunset tea burst, using Gibson's proprietary finishing process for a true vintage look. These colors represent the natural fading that occurred over time to the original historic models, due to exposure to sunlight.

And the third 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standard comes in the late-year cherry burst finish with the slim tapered profile neck, double band tuners, and insert volume and tone knobs, representing the last stage of the evolution of the first-year Standards.

All three sport Gibson's killer BurstBucker pickups, vintage tulip tuners, ABR bridges, rosewood fingerboards and, of course, one-piece mahogany necks for ringing, heavy-duty sustain.

When it comes to creating a variety of tones, the 50th Anniversary 1960 Les Paul Standards and the original models that inspired them are extremely versatile guitars. In fact, Clapton didn't set out to create the thick, creamy sound he captured in the studio on Bluesbreakers with his 1960 Les Paul Standard. In his 2007 autobiography, E.C. writes that he was seeking to emulate the thin, searing sound of Freddie King. But when he plugged the instrument into his Marshall combo with the amp's volume turned full up, set the Les Paul's pickup selector to the bridge position, and turned the bass up on his Les Paul's and his amp's tone knobs, it gave him a full rich tone that made his vibrato sing, sustain and simmer into feedback at his command.

Clapton's Bluesbreakers 1960 Les Paul Standard was stolen during early rehearsals for Cream, so he bought another Les Paul sunburst from Andy Summers, who would eventually help form the Police, but in the mid-'60s was playing with British bluesman Zoot Money. Clapton used that second six-string to make more history and magic with "Spoonful" and "I Feel Free," according to guitar authority Tony Bacon.

Source: http://www.theobserver.ca/

A Forest man who dropped off a stolen guitar at a friend's place just hours after thieves had ransacked parked vehicles was sentenced to five months in jail Wednesday in Sarnia court.

Michael Garner, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of the stolen guitar July 13, 2008 and violating a court-ordered curfew Feb. 27, 2009.

The guitar, which belonged to a musician performing in Forest, was stolen after windows were smashed in five vehicles. The vehicles were looted and debris scattered across the parking lot.

Garner had bought the guitar from an unknown person and left it with a friend in the expectation it could be sold, said defence lawyer Don Henderson. The friend testified during a trial, but medication he takes for anxiety attacks affected his memory.

He could recall little of the incident, except that the guitar was left at his apartment after he was awakened by Garner.

Garner was initially charged with thefts, damaging vehicles and possession of other stolen property, but after the friend's testimony the trial was halted and a plea offered on two offences.

It was a prudent move by assistant Crown attorney Randy Evans to accept the pleas, said Justice Mark Hornblower. There was no other evidence connecting Garner to the thefts beyond the friend's testimony.

Evans requested a nine-month jail sentence due to Garner's lengthy criminal record, which includes multiple convictions for property offences and court-order violations.

Hornblower called it an "absolutely horrendous" record that indicates when he wasn't committing property offences he was violating court orders.

Garner was also placed on 18 months probation.

Source: http://www.nme.com/

Around 120 fans were arrested last Wednesday (January 27) in Santiago when hundreds of ticketless fans attempted to storm a Metallica concert.

The rockers were playing a gig at the Club Hipico venue in Santiago when the incident occurred. Carabineros – military officials – used water sprays to keep fans back. This led to roughly 120 fans being arrested, while one police officer was injured, reports the Latin American Herald Tribune.

Watch video footage of the incident by clicking below.

Police said offences including disorderly conduct, drug possession and drinking in public had resulted in the arrests.

Source: www.limelife.com

Could he pull it off?

Johnny Depp has proven that he can pull off pretty much any role. But when I heard it's possible he could be playing Ozzy Osbourne in the upcoming biopic, I was a bit skeptical. But the more I think about it, the more I'm certain he would be perfect for it. Can you see Johnny as Ozzy?

Many people will argue that Johnny Depp is the most versatile actor around. Think about all the different roles he has played! From Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, Willy Wonka in Charlie in the Chocolate Factory, Roux in Chocolate, and many many more. Not to mention, we're all pretty excited to see Johnny Depp in the upcoming Alice in Wonderland as the Mad Hatter.

But could Johnny Depp pull of the role of Black Sabbath legend Ozzy Osbourne? According to Ozzy, the scripts are currently being worked on based off his memoir, I Am Ozzy, and casting decisions will likely be made soon. When asked who Ozzy wants to play him in the biopic, he mentions Johnny Depp and says, "He's one of the few actors who knows about rock ‘n' roll who does a really good English accent."

It's true. Not to mention, if Johnny grows his hair out a bit, throws on some glasses, and stars mumbling and looking confused, he really could look like Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy once named Johnny as his ultimate alter-ego, so we know that Ozzy is a big fan.

And really, can you think of an actor who would play Ozzy Osbourne any better? I have a strong feeling Johnny Depp is going to get the role!

Source: http://blog.cleveland.com/

From the Medina Police Blotter - A Medina resident told police that a group of children were smashing a guitar in the roadway near Continental Drive and Lipke Court around 1:33 p.m. Jan. 24. The caller was concerned that the debris would be left in the road. [emphasis added]

Upon his arrival, the responding officer determined that mess had been cleaned.

Source: http://www.ticketnews.com/

Iconic singer-songwriter James Taylor will spend the majority of the upcoming spring and summer months on a co-headlining tour with Carole King, but he also has some more intimate concert plans set for the future.

The "Carolina on My Mind" songman has announced a special four-part "Perspectives" concert series at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall, but fans will have to wait another year to experience it. Combining live music, guest appearances and discussions of his career, Taylor will take the stage on April 12, April 20, May 6 and May 9, 2011.

Each night at the Carnegie will have a different overarching theme, with special guests expected to step in throughout. The first evening will be a celebratory gala for the Carnegie's 120th anniversary, followed a week later by an exploration of Taylor's musical influences "from bluegrass and blues to Celtic music and church hymns," according to the official program.

The first event in May will focus on Taylor's instrument of choice, the guitar, with some of the musician's fellow guitarists joining him onstage for a discussion and performances. The four-part series will end appropriately as Taylor is joined by his backing band for a set that spans his catalogue and highlights his greatest hits.
Fall Free Nights Hotel Sale: Stay 3, 4 or 5 nights

Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium will be the backdrop for all events except May 6's "Guitar Conversations," which is booked instead for Zankel Hall. Information on ticket prices and Carnegie Hall subscriptions are available through the official Carnegie Web site.

However, for fans without a Carnegie subscription, Taylor's own Web site will be offering a limited presale for single tickets to the events. Details of those special ticket sales won't be announced until sometime over the summer.

In the meantime, U.S. audiences will have to make do with one of his nearly 30 concerts this year with fellow singer-songwriter Carole King. The musicians will travel the nation on their Troubadour Reunion Tour, which runs from May 7 at Rose Garden Arena in Portland, OR, through July 3-4 at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. Early ticket sales for the tour have already launched Taylor and King to the top of TicketNews' exclusive event rankings for the week ending January 24.

Source: http://screencrave.com/

How many of us can't forget the awesome guitar riff from the AC/DC track, "Back in Black" from the first Iron Man movie? It was in the trailer and everywhere in the film, so it's no surprise that Paramount wants to go back to that familiar place. According to Nikki Finke, the upcoming sequel Iron Man 2 will also feature tunes from the Australian rock band, but in an even greater capacity.

Today Marvel Studios and Columbia Records announced that AC/DC will be releasing the album AC/DC: Iron Man 2 on Monday, April 19th. It will feature 15 classic songs from the group's catalog, which will span from 1976 to as recent as 2008. The lead track off the album is titled "Shoot to Thrill," and the video has just been released on the internet. It features footage from Iron Man 2 and shows the world that AC/DC still knows how to rock. Seriously, how old are these guys? They've still got "it."

The complete tracklisting for the album is as follows:

• Shoot to Thrill
• Rock 'N' Roll Damnation
• Guns for Hire
• Cold Hearted Man
• Back in Black
• Thunderstruck
• If You Want Blood (You've Got It)
• Evil Walks
• T.N.T.
• Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
• Have a Drink on Me
• The Razor's Edge
• Let There Be Rock
• War Machine
• Highway to Hell

Iron Man 2 will hit conventional and IMAX theaters on May 7th, and is directed by Jon Favreau.

Source: http://www.chicoer.com/

OROVILLE -- The founder of a Chico medical marijuana collective pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday to charges he tried to trade some pot for an item listed for sale on Craigslist.

When the judge offered to refer the question of whether to grant a pretrial release to Joel Kelly Castle, 62, his lawyer stated the Chico man wanted to remain in custody.

Castle is the owner and founder of the Chico Cannabis Club and reportedly has a doctor's recommendation to use medical marijuana.

He was arrested Jan. 15 after allegedly responding to an ad on the Internet marketplace, and offering to exchange some marijuana for a guitar, according to Chico police.

Acting on a tip, a police officer posing as the seller arranged a meeting with Castle.

During the transaction, the suspect allegedly offered to trade two ounces of pot for the musical instrument, police said.

Castle was arrested after returning to his motel room, where police reported finding more than five pounds of marijuana, packaging material and a loaded semi-automatic pistol.

Assistant District Attorney Helen Harberts said Tuesday that increasingly, the "green" being offered for exchange through such Web sites is not cash.

Castle's court-appointed attorney, Larry Willis, entered pleas of not guilty for him in Butte County Superior Court to charges of possession and sales of marijuana plus a weapons allegation.

Advised the Chico defendant was not interested in being released on his own recognizance, assigned Judge William Lamb ordered Castle to remain held in jail pending a preliminary hearing in the case set for Feb. 9.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/

Two Oregon newspapers have reported that Eugene, Ore., police are investigating the theft of two laptop computers and a guitar from a University of Oregon fraternity house. The student who reported the incident accuses two Oregon football players, wide receiver Garrett Embry and star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who played at Serra-San Mateo before legal troubles here. The computers and guitar are valued at $4,400.

Fraternity member Max Wolfard made the allegations to police. The Oregonian newspaper of Portland reported Wolfard is adamant he has correctly identified the players, whom he encountered upon entering the house around 1 a.m. Sunday.

"The minute I stepped on the staircase I said to myself, 'Wow, Masoli and Embry are in our house right now,'" Wolfard told The Oregonian. "Masoli has a very distinctive face, very distinctive facial hair — not to mention I see him on TV all the time."

Wolfard said the players started to act suspiciously and appeared to be hiding something. When he demanded to know what they were doing, Wolfard says he noticed Embry was carrying what appeared to be Wolfard's digital projector.

Wolfard said the players ran out the back door and he gave chase. Blocks later, Wolfard told the Portland newspaper, Embry stopped running, handed him the projector and said, "You've got it back, now you better get out of here."

Masoli is from Daly City. After playing two seasons for the Serra football team, he spent his senior year at a high school in Hawaii and served jail time for armed robberies, the Eugene Register-Guard reported. He was one of several Serra players arrested in June 2005 and expelled for targeting individuals at San Mateo's Hillsdale Mall and bus stops, muscling them for money, the paper reported.

Eugene police say the players were named in a police report that says police responded to a suspected burglary at the frat house, but neither player is considered a suspect at this time.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and The Guitar Friends are staging the First Philippine International Guitar Festival beginning Thursday at the CCP. The Guitar Friends is a group of guitar aficionados of varying levels of expertise who share a common bond, their love for the guitar. The director of the event is Maestro Jose H. Valdez who is ranked by the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Arts as one of the pioneers of classical guitar in the country.

The Festival will be graced by various performers, including renowned international artist Steve Lin, artistic/music director and conductor of The Children's Orchestra Society Michael Dapap, Kasilag Guitar Quartet founding member Perfecto "Perf" de Castro, and respected guitarist Sixto "Butch" Roxas. Also performing are the Kasilag Guitar Trio, Tabs, UP Guitar Orchestra, Fundacion Centro Flamenco, and the winners of the Namcya 2009 Guitar Category competition.

The event will be highlighted by a concert performance of a Spanish guitar soloist to be brought in by Instituto Cervantes.

During the festival, master classes and lectures will be offered on topics such as "Building a Performing Career," "Flamenco," "A Guitarist's Pain," "Jazz Improvisation," "Ensemble Playing," and "Musicality, Intelligence and Technique." The Festival will also feature booths and displays by guitar makers and manufacturers.

Filipinos are by nature lovers of music. This is evident in the presence of various musical instruments in almost all communities in the country.

Perhaps the most popular of the instruments is the guitar. It was used by our forefathers to while away the time during the planting season and to serenade a fair maiden. We now also take great pride in our own guitar makers who have joined the export market.

Let us support the First Philippine International Guitar Festival, a showcase of our people's musical talent and ingenuity, and be proud of being Filipinos.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/

MEXICO CITY — The deposed Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, prepared to pack up his guitar and leave his refuge in the Brazilian Embassy for exile on Wednesday as the country inaugurated a new president, closing a curtain on Honduras's protracted political crisis.

Just a few minutes into his inaugural speech, the new president, Porfirio Lobo, stopped to sign an amnesty decree approved by Congress late Tuesday, pardoning any political crimes stemming from the June 28 coup that removed Mr. Zelaya.

"We are emerging from the worst political crisis in our history,” Mr. Lobo said to a crowd at the national stadium in the capital, Tegucigalpa, which blew soccer horns, clapped and occasionally booed at his references to the United States.

As Mr. Lobo spoke, Mr. Zelaya's supporters marched through the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, toward the airport, where the former president had asked them to gather to see him off on a flight to the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Zelaya was expected to leave Honduras Wednesday afternoon on a guarantee of safe passage signed by Mr. Lobo and accompanied by the Dominican president, Leonel Fernandez.

The amnesty lifts charges of abuse of power that had hung over Mr. Zelaya since he was ousted last June. But he still faces allegations of embezzling public funds during his presidency. The amnesty also prevents future governments from prosecuting anyone for planning and carrying out the coup.

The day's events marked a possible end to the political standoff that stalled the tiny Honduran economy and persisted for months despite attempts by the Obama administration to broker a solution.

Mr. Zelaya was overthrown as he attempted to hold a non-binding referendum on reforming the Honduran Constitution, a move his opponents said was aimed at allowing him to run for re-election. The Honduran Supreme Court, Congress and the attorney general had all declared the referendum illegal.

But the international community was unanimous in declaring the coup illegal, and no country recognized the de facto government that took over after Mr. Zelaya's ouster. Many countries have also refused to officially recognize the recent elections that brought Mr. Lobo to power. Mr. Lobo said one of his first tasks would be to win international approval for his new government.

In a region where the shadow of past coups still falls over weak democracies, the image of Honduran soldiers arresting and expelling an elected president raised fears it would embolden militaries in other countries.

The de facto government stood fast, promising to go ahead with elections that were scheduled long before the coup. Mediation efforts, first by the Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, and then by the United States State Department, failed to restore Mr. Zelaya.

Mr. Lobo, a wealthy conservative farmer who lost the 2006 presidential election to Mr. Zelaya, thanked Mr. Arias and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, among others, for trying to find a way out of the crisis. The mention of their names, however, brought boos from the crowd, a sign that some Hondurans resented what they considered to be outside interference in their politics.

After three months in exile, Mr. Zelaya slipped back into the country, where he sought protection from arrest in the Brazilian Embassy. He had remained there since September, talking on the phone to the media, supporters and negotiators, strumming his guitar and playing chess to pass the time.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

The music industry is suffering because financial pressures mean money is being put ahead of creativity, Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien has warned.

"I sense, and many artists sense, that it's become dominated by money, and the need to make more money," he said.

"And I think the problem with that is that the creativity's gone out of the industry, the fun."

O'Brien said the climate had changed in the last 10 years and "certainly it's changed since we were signed" in 1991.

O'Brien is a leading member of the Featured Artists' Coalition, a lobby group for artists' rights, which has often been at odds with the major record labels.

His band, who are currently in the studio, were signed to EMI until 2003. They released their last album In Rainbows via their own website as well as striking a one-off deal with independent label XL.

Making comparisons with the industry in the 1960s and 70s, O'Brien said: "You realise there's something hugely missing now.

"And I think that's fun and creativity. That was the main thing. And I think the problem is that in the last 10-15 years it's become about money and the money men are now running the companies, whereas traditionally it's always been the creatives.

"So I think that's a long-term thing and that's important for the general health of the industry."

O'Brien's comments were made in a video message to the Midem music conference in Cannes.

He said the music industry's current upheavals, however, presented big opportunities to bring creativity back.

"What's great about the moment is the very fact that we're living in this time of change, huge uncertainty, and of course these times are always accompanied by fear for some people.

"But I think there's huge scope for massive innovation and creativity and that's exactly what this industry needs, in my humble opinion."

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/

Bob Dylan, the legendary singer-songwriter whose angry lyrics formed a soundtrack for the 1960s protest era, will headline a White House celebration next month of music from the Civil Rights movement.

Starring alongside Dylan, 68, will be singers Natalie Cole, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend and Smokey Robinson. Morgan Freeman and Queen Latifah will emcee the evening, which will include readings of famous civil rights speeches.

The concert, on Wednesday February 10, to be broadcast a day later on US public television, is the latest in a series of musical evenings hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Obama, who frequently says he owes his position as America's first black president to the sacrifices of the Civil Rights generation, will make brief remarks at the concert.

Previous soirees have focused on Classical music, country music, Latin music and Jazz.

It will not be the first time that Dylan, who once raged "senators, congressmen, please heed the call," in his protest anthem "The Times They Are A-Changin" has been feted by the White House establishment.

In 1997, president Bill Clinton made Dylan a Kennedy Center Honoree for his contribution to US culture.

In an East Room reception, Clinton thanked Dylan for "a lifetime of stirring the conscience of the nation."

Source: http://www.nme.com/

DEVO are to perform at the official 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

The new wave band, who have recently been working on new material produced by Santigold, will play at the Whistler Medals Plaza venue on February 22, with the performance set to be broadcast on NBC.

Speaking about the gig, bandmember Jerry Casale said he was "really excited to have the opportunity to let everyone know that De-evolution is real!"

Singer Mark Mothersbaugh, writing under his alias Booji Boy Oxo, hinted that fans could expect to hear new material from the band at the gig.

"Now, more than ever before, it is time to disobey the mob and think for ourselves," he explained, adding that the band are aiming "to remind people that biology is destiny, and De-evolution is real! We are back with inspirational tomes of truth and neuro-simpatico sonic nuggets for the entire world, not just our species!"

DEVO's performance is part of the Whistler Victory Ceremonies, which runs from February 13-27 and features the likes of Feist, Usher and The Fray. For more information, see Vancouver2010.com.

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games run from February 12–28.

Source: http://www.nme.com/

Lou Reed has announced that he is set to bring his Metal Machine Trio to the UK for gigs this April.

The former man, along with musicians Ulrich Krieger and Sarth Calhoun, will be playing what he calls "a night of deep noise" at shows in the UK plus on the continent.

The music will be influenced by his 1975 album 'Metal Machine Music' – although the album itself will not be being played. No songs or vocals will feature, rather a series of improvisations.

As well as their own shows the trio will play the and the Domino Festival in Belgium on April 22 and Bergen Festival in Norway on April 27.

Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio will play:

• Cambridge Junction (April 17)
• Oxford O2 Academy (18)
• London Royal Festival Hall (19)
• Paris La Cigale (21)
• Oslo Sentrum (26)
• Mallorca Teatre Principal de Palma (30)

Meanwhile 'Metal Machine Music' itself is set to be reissued on April 5 on double vinyl, Blu-ray and DVD Audio.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/

Slash gear is banned from a Guns N' Roses concert in Canada. According to TMZ, G N' R security told fans that were wearing Slash gear to turn their Slash t-shirts inside out and to leave their top hats, the type that Slash loved to wear, outside.

According to a member of the Guns N' Roses security team who spoke to TMZ, a producer from the band issued the ban.

If you're a true Guns N' Roses fan, should you wear Slash gear to a G N' R concert? True Guns N' Roses fans know the history of Guns N' Roses. They know that Axl Rose, the frontman for Guns N' Roses, had a falling out with Slash, a guitarist for the band who left Guns N' Roses in 1996. Says Axl Rose, in an interview with Spin magazine, " Slash either should not have been in Guns to begin with or should have left after [1988's GNR Lies]. In a nutshell, personally I consider him a cancer and better removed, avoided -- and the less anyone heard of him or his supporters, the better."

Yes, Slash gear was banned from a Guns N' Roses concert, but if you know Axl Rose hates Slash, why make him mad by wearing Slash gear? Isn't it a slap in Axl's face, a slap to the frontman who you are paying money to see, to taunt him with Slash gear that he can see from up on stage?

However, not everyone would agree with Axl Rose on Slash's value to Guns N' Roses. Slash isn't just any guitar player, he is considered an excellent electric-guitar player, one of the best, good enough to be listed as one of The 10 Greatest Electric-Guitar Players in Time magazine. Jimmy Hendrix was listed as number one, and Slash was listed as number two. Is it unreasonable to say that Slash's contribution to Guns N' Roses was significant? Does Guns N' Roses have the right to tell fans what they can and cannot wear to one of their concerts?

When you attend a concert, you are told to not bring in drugs, alcohol and cameras. Typically, your purse and backpacks, if they are allowed, are checked. However, what about what you wear? Is it cool for a producer to tell fans they can't wear a particular type of clothing to a concert? Slash gear was banned from a Guns N' Roses concert. Most fans stayed, but some walked out.

Source: http://www.gibson.com/

One of Gibson Guitar's most accomplished and dedicated luthiers, James "Hutch" Hutchins, who spent 45 years at Gibson, passed away from an undisclosed illness surrounded by his family last evening. "Hutch" as many of his Gibson friends called him, had a career that's spanned two states, three changes of ownership, and thousands of priceless Gibson guitars. Hutch began his career in the original Kalamazoo, Michigan plant, making a name for himself there before transferring to Nashville in 1983. He had worked every job from maintenance to pattern making with an unflinching attention to detail and an abiding pride in the Gibson name. "Hutch" chose the Gibson family as his own often defining the company's legacy, heritage and tradition by the many guitars and people he touched on a daily basis. He was 72.

Many a times while he walked the Gibson plant floors he would tell his fellow workers of his clear recollection of the day he was hired by Gibson on March 25, 1963. While working as a cab driver in Kalamazoo, Hutch stopped by Checker Cab to pick up his paycheck one afternoon, and spotted the Gibson smokestack billowing across the way. He said to his wife 'I wonder what they do," and the rest soon became history.

Though he didn't play guitar Hutch was a well-trained machinist. His first interview for employment at Gibson was with Julius Bellson and Ted McCarty, two of Gibson's most legendary executives, known for heading the company during the years that Gibson produced the Les Paul, ES-335, Flying V, Explorer, and the humbucker.

On his first day at Gibson in 1963, Hutch was assigned a work station nine benches down from "the senior guy at the front of the line, who had been there over 39 years." He couldn't have imagined then that his own longevity at the company would eventually surpass his boss'. Hutch often recalled the close-knit Gibson team that connected inside of work and out—on bowling teams, canoeing trips, and get-togethers that still exists today. Musical members of the staff even formed a couple bands, among them the venerable Green Valley Boys, fronted by Ron Allers, who worked for Gibson for 26 years.

During a part of Hutch's tenure, Gibson was owned by the Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which acquired Gibson in early 1944. At the time there were nearly 1,000 employees stationed in several large plants in Kalamazoo but out of the 1,000 no one stood out more than "Hutch." His longtime dedication would have him working double shifts, six days a week and always with a smile.

Blessed with the esteem of McCarty and Bellson, Hutch became the plant's liaison for legendary artists who wanted custom guitars. He was integral to designing the Chet Atkins Country Gentleman, becoming friends with Atkins in the process. "Chet, I'll build you whatever you want. You tell me what you want, and we'll go from there'," said Hutch recently. "I think that was the part that really hooked Chet on coming to Gibson—that we were willing to do whatever he wanted, much like we tried to do everyday." Disenchanted after a partnership with Gretsch, Atkins met with Hutch over many a lingering lunch to determine the specs for the great Gibson signature model. During his tenure at Kalamazoo, Hutch saw the Atkins guitars through from design into their production in 1982. Over the years, Hutch also worked closely with archtop jazz giants like Howard Roberts, Johnny Smith, Wes Montgomery, and Herb Ellis to name a few.

In the meantime, CMI merged with Ecuadorian brewery ECI to form Norlin in 1969. Gibson's new ownership signaled the beginning of a dark period in company history. "Norlin didn't put anything in, just took everything out," Hutch once said. "All they were after was money." As the production naturally slowed, Hutch's commitment to the company went unrattled. Over the years Hutch would spread the word of Gibson's newfound dedication and commitment to quality when it was purchased in 1986 from Norlin by now Gibson CEO and Chairman Henry Juszkiewicz, Gibson President Dave Berryman, and Gary Zebrowski. Juszkiewicz rolled up his sleeves, and through hard work and determination, was able to restore the company to a position of unrivaled prominence in the industry. "Hutch was a remarkable man, with a talent all his own, said Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO and Chairman of Gibson Guitar. "His light will shine forever through every corner, every hall and with every team member of the company. His legacy will live on."

Hutch was quoted in an interview a few years back as stating "Henry put every penny right back into it. This company didn't grow by not putting a lot back in. Fortunately, when Henry bought Gibson he believed in the company and what it was going to take, which was the best people and the best wood. He said to me, 'What do you need?,' and I said, 'Well, we need help,' and Henry said, 'Get 'em, and hire the best you can, So I did."

Hutch's dedication and newfound leadership in management from the new owners fostered a rebuilt Gibson with a highly skilled team and ramped up its production numbers. "Hutch" took great pride in showing anyone who would listen the carving instruments that were dated back to the turn of century yet still used to create some of the world's best guitars. He took great pride in the product and his Gibson family. He never let the word "family" go away in anything he did. Hutch retired March 31, 2008.

"Hutch" loved to hunt and fish and spend time with his three grown sons, all of whom live in the Nashville area. He is survived by his wife Gail, sons Kim and Todd and grandsons Aaron and Jaimie. Many of Gibson team members and people across the industry agree that his contribution to the Gibson Guitar company was so incredible that it will take years to truly indentify all the ways he influenced it.

One can only imagine the depth of meaning in a recent quote Hutchins himself stated: "You've got to have pride. If you don't have pride in what you're doing, it's not going to come out at the end of the line. Ain't nobody ever gonna knock this name off," he said, tapping the headstock of a nearby Custom Shop Les Paul. "I don't know how much longer I'll be around, but I know Gibson, and I know that's a name that can't be beat."

Source: http://blog.seattlepi.com/

Crews installed a giant model of a Fender Mustang guitar along the side of Seattle's new Hard Rock Cafe at 116 Pike St. today.


Pretty much every restaurant in the global chain shows one of these to the world, but Seattle's model guitar has a mark of distinction: It's modeled after the guitar Kurt Cobain played in the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video, marketing manager Amy Bauer said.

The chain is still not ready to announce an opening date, she added, though her Twitter account pointed to Feb. 10 as a possible contender. The restaurant's Facebook page says the retail store "should be fully stocked with all Hard Rock items, including shot glasses, on Feb 8."

Since its founding in 1971, Hard Rock Cafe has become a global tourist phenomenon, selling T-shirts and displaying rock 'n' roll memorabilia as far as Argentina, Kuwait and Thailand and as close as San Diego, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

It took the company this long to get to Seattle because, according to a spokeswoman, it took this long to find the right spot.

"About dang time," wrote a Facebook fan.

Source: http://nashville.bizjournals.com/

Gibson Guitar Corp. is embroiled in a series of lawsuits accusing the Nashville manufacturer and various other organizations of rigging prices across the country.

Gibson is a defendant in at least five lawsuits filed in California and Washington D.C., part of a spate of legal action dating back to last year that targets industry groups, according to court records.

The suits, listed under various defendants who bought guitars in recent years, allege that the National Association of Music Merchants, an industry group, held discussions at meetings of manufacturers and retailers encouraging cooperation among competitors to artificially boost prices. Plaintiffs' attorneys say that's a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

"The Sherman Act was enacted to promote competition (in) the U.S. market, because competition provides consumers with the best price possible," said Hollis Salzman, a partner at New York law firm Labaton Sucharow, which is representing plaintiff Craig Kennedy.

The suits focus largely on national instrument retailer Guitar Center, as well as the association, but Gibson and fellow manufacturers Fender and Yamaha appear as co-defendants. Caroline Galloway, a spokeswoman for Gibson, could not be reached for comment.

The industry association, however, denies violating the Sherman Act or other laws, according to attorney Paul Cuomo of the Washington D.C. law firm Howrey LLP. He said the association was unable to comment further because of the pending litigation, including on whether it hosted discussions as described in the lawsuits.

Statements by the association since September, however, have said the suits are without merit and contain misinformation about the association and its members.

"They are a detriment to the music industry, to music makers and to music lovers everywhere," the association said in a September statement.

The lawsuits are widespread, whether legitimate or frivolous. Scott Robertson, a spokesman with the industry group, said he was aware of nearly 30 lawsuits making similar allegations.

Some stem from a Federal Trade Commission investigation which ended with a 2009 agreement between the government and the industry group. The group agreed not to in any way encourage the sharing of price information or other cooperation on such matters, according to the agreement, which stipulates that it is not an admission of guilt.

Authorities are in the process of consolidating the various allegations into one class-action lawsuit, for pre-trial proceedings in California, attorneys said.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Former Clash stars Mick Jones and Paul Simonon have revived their punk partnership by recording together for the first time in almost 30 years.

The pair reunited for a guest appearance on the new Gorillaz album after being approached by the band's creator, Damon Albarn.

They worked on the title track of the third Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach.

Guitarist Jones told Q magazine: "It's a few years since Paul and I last played together and that was at a wedding. It was a nice experience to look over my shoulder and see him.

"We didn't argue as much as we used to. We were wrapped up on our track in a day, no nonsense, and then went down the pub for a pint."

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

After four decades of guitar solos and tight trousers, Scorpions are packing it in. The German power-metal group have "reached the end of the road" and will release their final album, Sting in the Tail, in March.

"We want to end the Scorpion's [sic] extraordinary career on a high note," the band said. Their new record is "one of the best we have ever recorded", and their forthcoming world tour will be their last. And yet Scorpions will still be rocking us like hurricanes for quite some time, as their tour will last "the next few years".

"We're not getting any younger," guitarist Rudolf Schenker told MusicRadar. "We don't want to hear our fans saying, 'Back in the day they made great records.'"

Scorpions were founded by Schenker in Hannover in 1965. He and singer Klaus Meine are both 61, with the group's three other members in their 40s and 50s. Despite success throughout the 1980s, their biggest hit was 1990's Wind of Change. The band have remained a popular and lucrative touring act, wowing fans even as their members went grey.

Two "snippets" from Sting in the Tail are now online at the band's MySpace page. Despite the songs' exuberance, we must admit that they send a mixed message. Raised On Rock seems straightforward enough. But the other one? It's called The Good Die Young.

sleazeroxx.com


Rehabbing rock star Steven Tyler treated a bunch of shoppers at a Home Depot to an impromptu concert this weekend -- by singing two of Aerosmith's biggest hits a cappella over the store's loudspeaker.

TMZ spoke to multiple employees at the H.D. in Rancho Mirage, CA., who tell us Tyler randomly picked up the microphone on Saturday and belted out snippets of "Dude Looks Like a Lady" and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" for all the weekend warriors to enjoy.

And get this: We're also told Tyler took a hit from a helium machine and kept singing Bee Gees style while signing autographs for anyone who asked.

sleazeroxx.com

"I have at least 50 ideas for some new songs for Motley. Everybody in the band writes on their own and has their own thing. Tommy's doing his solo album, Nikki is doing Sixx:AM again and Vince is touring. And I'm writing songs for a solo album as well. But we've got a bunch of ideas we can collaborate on some time", Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars told The Toronto Sun's Darryl Sterdan in a recent interview.

The timing of Motley Crue's aptly titled Dead of Winter Canadian tour is all Santa's fault, laughs guitarist Mick Mars.

"He started it," cracks the 58-year-old glam-rocker from sunny Southern California. "He said he was going to have us delivered by Dec. 25 and he lied, so now we gotta make it up, to make him look good."

And just to stick with the Yuletide theme, the Crue -- which also includes bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee and singer Vince Neil -- have been making a set list, and checking it twice.

"The original plan was to do the full Dr. Feelgood album as a 20th anniversary thing," Mars says. "It was a thing a lot of bands were doing -- Judas Priest did British Steel all the way through on their last tour, and Iron Maiden did their whole new album. So it seemed like a good idea. And we tried it, and it was cool. But I felt it had too many ups and downs; I felt we lost the crowd.

"So now we're doing kind of a mixture of everything -- but mostly, it's the heavier songs from every album. Not too many ballads or mid-tempo songs. It should be a good show."

Before packing his sleigh and heading to their first date in Victoria on Saturday, Mars -- who suffers from the degenerative orthopedic condition ankylosing spondylitis -- took a few minutes to talk to us about his health, touring with his hero Joe Perry, and how he and his Cruemates are getting along these days.

sleazeroxx.com

Scorpions have announced that they plan to retire after the tour to promote their upcoming CD 'Sting In The Tail'. Two new song samples from the new CD have also been posted online, Raised On Rock (listen here) and The Good Die Young (listen here). 'Sting In The Tail' is set for a March 19th release.

The band states, "It was always our pleasure, our purpose in life, our passion and we were fortunate enough to make music for you - whether it was live on stage or in the studio, creating new songs.

While we were working on our album these past few months, we could literally feel how powerful and creative our work was - and how much fun we were still having, in the process. But there was also something else: We want to end the Scorpion's extraordinary career on a high note. We are extremely grateful for the fact that we still have the same passion for music we've always had since the beginning. This is why, especially now, we agree we have reached the end of the road. We finish our career with an album we consider to be one of the best we have ever recorded and with a tour that will start in our home country Germany and take us to five different continents over the next few years.

We want you, our fans, to be the first to know about this. Thank you for your never-ending support throughout the years!

We uploaded the very first snippets from our new album on our website www.the-scorpions.com for you.

And now... let's get the party started and get ready for a "Sting in the Tail"!"

Six String Bliss episode 170. Pipes and PT are back!!! The guitarist of the week for this episode was born about 20 miles from PT's hometown. Must be something in that Northern Illinois water...

http://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=574213

Source: http://news.uk.msn.com/

Two guitarists from a British heavy metal group drowned while swimming at a beach in north-eastern Brazil, officials said.

The body of 21-year-old Leon Villalba washed ashore shortly after he was seen struggling in heavy waves in Sergipe state on Thursday, according to a police spokesman in the city of Aracaju.

The following day, searchers found the body of Tim Kennelly, 18, about 12 miles south of where he and Villalba drowned, the spokesman said.

Miguel Freitas, managing director of the Death Toll record label, confirmed the drowning of the members of the band After Death.

The BBC reported Kennelly had gone to the aid of Villalba.

Drummer Barry O'Connor told the BBC that all five band members were at the deserted beach when the incident occurred.

"The waves started getting heavier and I came out, but Tim and Leon went out further and looked really confident," O'Connor said. "The next thing I know, I heard Leon screaming 'help, help, help.' Tim heard him and turned around and swam toward him, he exerted lots of energy doing that and by the time he got to Leon, he was struggling also."

Other members of the band include lead guitarist Marc Yacas and singer Kendo Ken.

They had just begun a 23-date tour in Brazil.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/

The man known as the 'Godfather of Grunge Rock', Neil Young, closed out Conan O'Brien's tenure as host of the Tonight Show tonight with a gripping version of "Long May You Run". Young was slotted in the middle of the show, and, true to his reputation, all Young needed was a
Neil Young Closes Out the Conan O'Brien Tonight Show
guitar and a spotlight.

Aslo true to his reputation, Neil Young did not go for the obvious. 'Heart of Gold', and 'This Note's For You', both would be more transparent selections to end Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show.

While Young looked noticeably aged, he has not lost anything off of his vocal abilities. Probably more importantly, his guitar playing is as forlorn and plaintive as ever. Neil Young is one of those older rock stars that somehow are household names while still being underappreciated.

Conan O'Brien's first Tonight Show in 2009 featured Seattle grunge rockers Pearl Jam. Neil Young was one of the biggest influences on Pearl Jam and the fact that he closed the show, at least from a "serious" musical perspective, brings a certain and special closure to the unfortunate era of NBC late night.

Conan, in living up to his reputation as a class act, gave a very gracious farewell to NBC and the Tonight Show after Young finished his song. While choking back tears, O'Brien asked that his viewers reject cynicism and work hard to achieve the best that they could.

Will Farrell, himself the opposite of cynicism, closed the show as he impersonated (scarily well) Lynyrd Skynyrd singing 'Free Bird'. Conan joined the "band', playing one of the lead guitars, all the while with a big smile.

The irony of the lyrics were not lost. The delivery of, "Lord, I cannot change", a lyrical staple of classic rock, was not lost on the millions viewing at home.

Conan O'Brien is who he is...he not only does not want to change, he will not. But as offbeat and at times marginal as his brand of humor is, this is only the beginning for Conan.

As Neil Young paid him a serious tribute in "Long May May You Run", and as Will Farrell paid him one less so in his Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute, the audience wondered what Conan O'Brien's next move would be.

durangoherald.com

Country music star Charlie Daniels is recovering from a mild stroke he suffered while snowmobiling in Beaver Meadows east of Bayfield.

Daniels, 73, was treated Friday at Mercy Regional Medical Center and then flown to Swedish Medical Center in Denver. He has since been released and was seen Wednesday at the Durango Sports Club, where he is receiving therapy.

Daniels owns a home in La Plata Canyon, where he typically spends a couple of months each year after Christmas, said friends. He arrived this year on Dec. 27.

The medical emergency occurred Friday while Daniels was snowmobiling with Cy and Jeanne Scarborough of Durango. Cy Scarborough is founder of the Bar D Wranglers and is good friends with Daniels.

"Charlie's condition is very good, and he's back home," Jeanne Scarborough said Wed-nesday in an interview with The Durango Herald. "We were glad we were there and could help."

Cy Scarborough said Daniels has good movement and no problems with speech or activity.

A statement on Daniels' Web site says he doesn't plan to cancel any concert dates. His next appearance is set for Feb. 27 in Fort Pierce, Fla.

In a blog entry titled "Different Strokes," Daniels explains the incident in detail: "The day was magnificent," he wrote. "The snow was smooth and deep and the trail had just been groomed. We were skimming across the snow at a good clip doing one of my favorite things in the whole world, snowmobiling in the beautiful Rocky Mountain backcountry with our snowmobile buddies Cy and Jeanne Scarborough and some other friends."

He felt his left hand go numb, then the left side of his mouth grew numb, and finally his left foot became hard to control.

"I knew something was happening to me," Daniels wrote. "I knew I'd better get back down the mountain and get some help."

The group turned around and headed 15 miles back to the trailhead. He was then driven 30 miles to Mercy.

"I had so little coordination on my left side that I needed a wheelchair to make it to the emergency room where the staff hurriedly started diagnostic procedures," Daniels wrote.

The doctor told Daniels he was probably having a stroke in the right side of his brain, which controls the left side of the body. The stroke was probably caused by a blood clot in the brain, he wrote.

He began physical therapy Wednesday to relieve the stiffness and numbness in his left hand and arm.

Daniels is best known for his 1979 hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," which won a Grammy. The singer, fiddler and guitarist played a concert March 25 at Fort Lewis College - his first in Durango.

Billboard.com

Guitarist Joe Perry told Canada's QMI Agency that the group is "already getting the word out there. The word's been out there for a while."

After his Canadian swing with Motley Crue -- which ends February 5 in Montreal -- Perry said that Aerosmith will "start having some auditions, making some phone calls. Hopefully, we'll have found a new singer by the summer, and Aerosmith will be able to go back out on the road."

Tyler is currently in rehab for an addiction to painkillers after a tumultuous last few months of 2009. In his December 22 announcement, Tyler indicated that he planned to "enthusiastically be writing, recording and performing with Aerosmith as soon as things are handled."

Perry, however, contends that it may take a while for those things to be handled, longer than he and the rest of Aerosmith -- guitarist Brad Whitford, bassist Tom Hamilton and drummer Joey Kramer -- care to wait as they gear up for the group's 40th anniversary in 2011.

"It's kind of hard to get a straight answer about what's going on," Perry said. "He has to have leg surgery and foot surgery and it's basically going to take him out of the picture for about a year, year and a half. So, in the meantime, the rest of the band wants to play. And I want to play with the other guys in Aerosmith. So the four of us are just making our plans. We're gonna find somebody to get in there and fill that spot. Just like when Tom was sick -- we got David Hull to come in and play bass. When Brad was sick, we got somebody else to come in and play for him. That's basically how I look at it; we need another singer to fill in."

Perry would not mention any candidates for the job yet but did say there are "a few people we've talked to, and we'll see how it goes ... As far as auditions go, we'll probably just sit around and have a couple of drinks and see if we get along. Because we're already gonna know that they can sing."

He also said he felt it would be "appropriate" for the new configuration to work under the Aerosmith name, though he expressed hope for Tyler's eventual return to the lineup.

"I'm ready to write with him, to play on stage with him anytime he's physically ready and wants to do it," Perry said. "But it's really up to him ... And the last things he said to the press were that he wanted to work with the band and sing with the band, so we'll see."

The guitarist, meanwhile, is keeping busy with the Joe Perry Project. After the Canadian run Perry is expected to play more U.S. dates (a handful have already been announced) before heading to the U.K. in April to open for Bad Company.

Source: http://www.gazettenet.com/

Her voice still husky from inhaling smoke, one survivor of the Dec. 27 fires will apply music as a balm tonight.

Elaine Yeskie's voice still catches recalling the fire that killed her husband and son. But to thank her community, she will plug into an amplifier and crank up a country song.

Yeskie and a companion managed to escape when their home, at 17 Fair St., was one of several dwellings targeted in an arson spree on the last Sunday of 2009. Her husband, Paul W. Yeskie, and her son, Paul W. Yeskie Jr., did not make it out.

Amid her belongings, Elaine Yeskie lost a trove of musical instruments, including a hollow-body electric Gibson guitar, a model called the Chet Atkins Tennessean; a concertina; an amplifier; a keyboard; two violins and many harmonicas, including a set once owned by her father. One of the guitars had also belonged to her father.

Yeskie, who is now in her 70s, says she started playing guitar as a little girl. "It's all by ear. I don't know how to read music," she said. Her public performances have been limited to events like weddings. She says she used to play for people out on a big dance floor at a hotel on West Street in Hadley that's no longer there.

Soon after the Dec. 27 fire, Yeskie invested some of her insurance proceeds in a new electric guitar. "I told my insurance man, 'I need to replace my guitar or I'll go crazy.' I'd play it two or three hours every night. It keeps me from crying."

When an organizer of one of Northampton's many fire relief benefits contacted her, Yeskie agreed to bring her new guitar and amplifier along and to share her love of country music, particularly the songs of Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson.

That event is a spaghetti supper today at the World War II Club on Conz Street, with seatings at 5:30 and 7 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association.

At first, Yeskie warned organizer Steven J. Connor her voice had suffered from smoke inhalation. She is still taking bronchial treatments, nearly a month after the fire.

"I said, 'Don't worry about singing,'" Connor said. "She said, 'I would love the distraction and I'd love to give back.' It would be really cool for people to come and see Elaine play. She'd like to get her mind on something else."

Yeskie will perform for both seatings at today's dinners, joined by a new friend, John Griffin. She met Griffin while staying with a relative in Colrain after the fire.

Griffin came in and admired Yeskie's new guitar, a Les Paul model, also by Gibson. She shared the story of the fire. "He had tears in his eyes when he heard what happened," she said.

Soon, they were sharing music, with Griffin inventing a ballad about the tragedy. "There are songs he just sings - and makes words up. He had me and my niece crying. 'We're gone but we still love you,' he sang. It was really sad."

She and Griffin were not scheduled to rehearse before tonight's gigs. It's not that kind of concert. Today, the music is about being together and appreciating being alive. She plans to invite people at the dinners to sing along to her favorite country tunes.

"You get what you get," she said of the show. "I might mess up on the words on some of them, but I know a lot of songs. My voice is lousy because of the fire. It's made my voice kind of funny. If I don't sing loud, it might be OK."

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students 12 and under. Toddlers eat free. Businesses have donated prizes for a raffle; organizers plan drawings at each 125-person seating. Tickets are available at the World War II Club and Serio's Market and from members of the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association. Seating is limited and advance ticket purchase is suggested.

Hi guys and gals... I'm back at the news desk, where I belong!

sleazeroxx.com

Gilby Clarke, of Guns N'Roses and Slash's Snakepit fame, has returned home from the hospital after sustaining injuries in a hit n' run accident on January 10th. While riding his motorcycle Gilby was cut off at an intersection by a pick-up truck that fled the scene, he suffered 3 broken bones in his left foot and 1 broken bone in his right foot during the accident. He has returned home from the hospital following surgery, but more are upcoming.

Gilby states, "M first surgery went well and I'm home from the hospital. If everything looks good Friday I can have the second surgery next week. Thanks again for all the kind thoughts and prayers, they're working..."

Source: http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/

Slide guitar afficianados are in for a treat as the first British Slide Guitar Festival takes place in the Midlands this weekend.

The event features an evening concert from world famous slide guitarist Michael Messer and his long-time accompanist Ed Genis, while Tom Doughty will perform solo with support from Lucy Zirins.

There will also be workshops and tuition talks, demonstrations and discussions.

The event will be held at the Red Lion Hotel, in Long Street, Atherstone, Warwickshire, tomorrow (Sat Jan 23), with doors opening at noon.

Entry is 25ukp for an all-day ticket or 12.50ukp for the evening concert.

More information is available by telephoning the pub on 01362 688388 or emailing perce@percyparadise.com.

Source: http://www.metalunderground.com/

Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick has issued the following statement about laying down his guitar for a few weeks while he recovers from accidentally cutting his hand:

"Hey Everyone, how many times have you been told safety first? I always felt like I was being nagged, but now I am the one advocating safety. Last night I was breaking down boxes to put in the recycling bin, and the unthinkable happened. I cut my thumb on my right hand with a box cutter (razor blade). Instantly I knew I needed to get to the emergency room to make sure I hadn't cut my career along with my thumb. Luckily I didn't cut any tendons and will only have to lay off the guitar for a couple weeks. If you are squeamish at all don't look at the pictures. Here was the initial cut (link), at least a 1/4" deep. I feel very lucky that I could take this picture (all is well that ends well), hopefully you guys will take notes from my mistakes."

"P.S I'm bummed I didn't get to play with my brothers at the NAMM jam. I was told no one in Megadeth was playing and decided not to go to that party. Needless to say I missed out on a great time."

Source: http://www.startribune.com/

When he was just 19, feeling so depressed he contemplated taking his own life, Diedrich Weiss checked himself into the mental health unit of Fairview Southdale Hospital. He was scared, but hopeful he would get help.

"I didn't," Weiss said. "But that had a lot less to do with the hospital than about where psychiatry was at the time."

But it was there, in the alternately frightening and comforting confines of the psych ward, that something transformative began. His brother, Garth, bought Weiss a guitar, even though he'd never played one before.

Weiss quickly found out he had an innate aptitude for music as he started picking out songs from the radio. It kept him company during the dark days as he was medicated, then moved back into society.

"Discovering I had the ability to play guitar was a life shift," Weiss said.

It would not be a seamless Hollywood transition, however. Weiss had apparently been misdiagnosed, and used the strong medications in his suicide attempt a year later. Garth found him unconscious, and Weiss was in a coma for 48 hours before waking up surrounded by family.

The next two decades would be a circuitous life arc that would weave in and out of the Twin Cities music scene, long bouts of soul searching, drug abuse, mental illness, diagnosis and finally, at age 40, a tenuous sense of peace -- and health.

"I think back on these years and wince a little to know that I was as vulnerable as a dog on the highway -- cars and semis whizzing past me -- yet thankfully never being hit straight on," Weiss explained in a biography on his website (www.diedrichweiss.com).

Through the years, Weiss said, two things have always been present in his life: the undertow of his bipolar disorder, and the restorative powers of his music. He now teaches guitar, and performs occasionally, such as a Feb. 5 performance at the Unity of the Valley Spiritual Center in Savage.

Weiss told his story in a soft voice in a small cafe at Fairview Southdale, where he had just performed his weekly gig in his most unusual venue: the hospital's mental health unit. He's bright and contemplative, often funny and always forthright. A few minutes before, as he finished a song that put his mental illness to poetry, a woman asked, "Is this your story, or mine?"

The answer, of course, was both.

"Today, I feel like I have integrity with myself," Weiss said. "I'm acting on my values of having my relationship with music make a difference for other people."

As a founding member of a popular regional band "Push on Junior," Weiss had experienced the buzz of local adulation. But it wasn't enough and didn't last long, and so began what he calls the "archaeological dig of Self."

"I got bankrupt playing in bars," he said. "Music only in the context of trying to sell drinks."

Three years ago, Weiss asked if he could perform at Fairview. They started him out with cancer patients, which had its own rewards, but later allowed him to sing for those with mental illness, many from the same bipolar disorder that Weiss has.

"It's a fabulous commitment," said Pamela Mills, director of volunteer services at Fairview. "I think it brings it home to patients. A lot of times they feel like the world is closing in on them. He's taking an ordinary experience and making it an extraordinary opportunity."

Many patients are at a point where they see their lives are ended, said Mills, but Weiss' story shows it can be a beginning.

When he performs, patients are often wary at first; a half dozen crammed into a small room with this big guy and his guitar. They think he might be uncomfortably bad. Or, "they just think he's going to sing sunshine up my butt," Weiss said.

People who have struggled with mental illness "can smell a fraud," he said. "They know when someone is hiding themselves. That inspires an artist to courage. This is a place where pretension doesn't appear."

Instead, they hear his baritone voice, and they focus on the stories, which talk candidly about bi-polar illness, depression, suicide and perhaps even redemption. "This is a song about us," he sometimes begins.

Some patients cry. Others leave the room. Often, they find universal themes in the music, in the words.

"It's important for these people to feel compassion for themselves," Weiss said. "It is NOT feeling sorry for yourself."

It is more about understanding yourself, and recognizing life can not only be "salvaged," but also "lead you to do what you really wanted to do."

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/

Guy Myers worked for Hewlett-Packard for 19 years.

But later in life, his family said, the 58-year-old Sunnyvale man drank too much. He lost his job. He lost his home. And Sunday, he lost his life.

For some reason, Myers ran along Highway 101 south of Lawrence Expressway about 10 p.m., and was killed when a Dodge Neon struck him.

His family wonders if drinking had anything to do with Myers' behavior.

"He liked to drink," said Myers' son, Aaron. "He was a musician and had his guitar with him. The driver said he held up his guitar over his head right before he died. In fact, the guitar made it, even though my father didn't."

The Santa Clara County coroner's office typically takes about six weeks for a toxicology report to come back to determine the cause of death, including what was inside someone's system before death. The California Highway Patrol did not arrest the driver of the Dodge.

"I feel sorry for the man," Aaron Myers said of the driver. "I'd like to let him know that."

Similar sentiments are shared by Myers' other two children and four grandchildren. Aaron Myers said he kept a "good relationship" with his father despite his life choices.

Myers was twice divorced and homeless, and frequented the 7-Eleven on Wildwood Avenue, next to one of his other favorite spots, Bogart's Lounge, his son said.

Myers earned a small living through tips from playing his guitar outside the convenience store.

"People called him the Guitar Man," Aaron Myers said. "Everyone loved him."

Myers was let go from HP about 10 years ago, his son said, when the company offered to pay for a substance abuse rehabilitation program and his father declined. He said his father had worked in the shipping and die-casting departments.

Myers slept in several spots. Often, he camped out at a Sunnyvale park near Cat Smith's home, and the legal secretary said Myers had a friend who sometimes lived along the freeway where he was killed.

Over the five years that she knew him, Smith said, she bought Myers cat food for his pets, and sometimes ordered pizzas for him and his friends. She and her neighbors occasionally paid Myers to move furniture or help string Christmas lights. She said he watched out for her kids when they played outside.

"He never panhandled," she said. "And if you hired him for a job, he was there on time and did the work."

She, too, enjoyed Myers' guitar playing on the weekends in front of 7-Eleven.

"He played and sang for people," she said. "We all watched out of him. He was family to everyone in the neighborhood."

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Paul Weller has reunited with the Jam's bassist, Bruce Foxton. The former band mates, who reportedly went more than 20 years without speaking, collaborated on two songs for Weller's forthcoming solo album, Wake Up the Nation.

"It came about because we had both lost loved ones last year," Weller told NME this week. "[Bruce] lost his wife at the early part of the year, and I lost my dad, and it opened up a bit of a dialogue, and it seemed like a nice thing to do at the time. In fact, it was a wonderful thing."

After Weller dissolved the Jam in 1982, he and Foxton reportedly went decades without speaking. They met again at a Who concert in 2006, chatting for 10 minutes – and finishing with an embrace. Last year, Foxton revealed that they had again become friends, but that a reunion of the Jam seemed out of the question. "I don't even discuss it with him, I know the answer," he told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Weller previously expressed some hostility toward From the Jam, Foxton's touring act with former Jam drummer Rick Buckler. "I'm not mad about the idea," he told NME. "It's a bit cabaret to me. I thought we were against all that." Weller and Buckler are not said to be on speaking terms.

On his website, Weller described one of the new songs featuring Foxton, Fast Car Slow Traffic: "It's a real London tune. It's a pretty full-on. We played this on the last tour and people were really mad for it. It was really interesting to hear Bruce playing on it. You can instantly tell it's him."

Wake Up the Nation also includes a cameo by My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields. The album will be released on 12 April.

This is it - the last Retro Zone Episode - and it's super-sized for your maximum listening pleasure!

We're treated to an original song by PT, Guitarist of the Week Joe Satriani, and Pipes inaugurates the Bliss' quintessential signout. Plus an in-depth interview with JMan, mystery riff, and just a little backstory on Clint and Alicia. We serve up extra helping of tunes as well with tracks by Alfie Llanos, JMan and PT, Drive Choir, and Clint Searcy himself.

You can subscribe to Six String Bliss at http://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/rss or, using iTunes, at itpc://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/rss.

You can download the episode from http://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=571322

Source: http://www.musicradar.com/

Rock guitar legend Slash appeared at the Marshall booth at the 2010 NAMM show to unveil an exciting new amplifier. Dubbed the AFD100, it recreates the fabled 100-watt JCM2203 the behatted one used to record Guns N' Roses seminal 1987 debut Appetite For Destruction, an album that reenergised rock music and reinvented rock guitar in the process.

Slash told Guitarist mag editor Mick Taylor, "That amp has been subject to a lot of talk of the years. It was an amp I originally rented from SIR, and of all the amps I tried out, it just sounded amazing. So basically I stole it! Then I left it in the back of the truck one day when we were rehearsing at SIR and they kinda' took it back.

"Over the years, there have been a lot of people out there trying to replicate this amp, so we gathered all the information and put it out as the Marshall AFD100."

Paul Marshall added: "Slash is going in to the studio for his new solo album which will be available from April 6. It's such an exciting opportunity for all of us to recreate that Appetite tone, that we couldn't keep quiet about it.

"Fans of Slash and Marshall will be able to go online and follow the amp's development." Paul Marshall

"So for the very first time, fans of Slash and Marshall will be able to go online and follow the amp's development; the concept, the work by the designer, the circuit, Slash trying and testing it… right through to the launch later this year. We have a dedicated website set up at www.afd100.com. We'll be uploading progress updates, video content and more."

Source: http://www.premierguitar.com/

Anaheim, CA (January 16, 2010) -- Peavey has introduced two new electric guitar amps at NAMM 2010: the 6534+ and Butcher, and expanded their Vypyr line with the Vypyr 30 Mini Stack and Vypyr Nano.

6534+
Peavey proudly announces the new 6534 Plus guitar amplifier, the next evolution of the high-gain 6505 Series, which has defined the sounds of aggressive guitar music since 1991.

The Peavey 6534+ Head is a two-channel, 120-watt amplifier designed with EL34 power tubes to give this American legend a British flavor. The extreme high gain and legendary tone of the 6505 Series is here in excess, but with a special new design to minimize the noise that high-gain tube amps generate. In addition, the amp’s Rhythm channel is voiced to clean up nicely while still retaining its raw saturation.

Six select 12AX7 preamp tubes provide the tonal foundation for the 6534+. Both the Lead and Rhythm channels feature independent three-band EQ, pre and post gain controls and Peavey’s patented Resonance and Presence controls, which provide low-end enhancement and high-end boost, respectively. The Rhythm channel also includes a bright switch and footswitchable Crunch boost. Additional features include footswitchable effects loop and preamp output.

The Peavey 6505 artist roster includes Machine Head, Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine, The Devil Wears Prada, Black Tide, Evergrey, All That Remains, Story of the Year, Bleeding Through, Job For A Cowboy, Black Stone Cherry, In Flames, The Black Dahlia Murder, Daath, Divine Heresy, The Red Chord, Bury Your Dead, Demon Hunter and many more.

The Peavey 6534+ Head will be available from authorized Peavey retailers in Q1 2010.

Features

• 120 watts RMS into 16, 8 or 4 ohms
• Six 12AX7 preamp tubes and four EL34 power amp tubes
• Footswitchable Lead/Rhythm channel select
• Three-band EQ on each channel
• Resonance and Presence controls on each channel
• Pre Gain and Post Gain on each channel
• Footswitchable Crunch boost on Rhythm channel
• Bright switch on Rhythm channel
• Preamp output
• Effects loop
• Bias test point
• Footswitch included
• Made in the U.S.A.
• U.S. MSRP $1399.99

Butcher
Peavey proudly announces the new Butcher guitar amplifier, a 100-watt, all-tube head that specializes in innovative versatility and timeless, brutal British tone.

The Butcher is a two-channel amplifier with five 12AX7 preamp tubes and four EL34 power amp tubes. Both the Clean and Crunch channels feature independent three-band EQ, plus master volume and preamp gain controls so guitarists can adjust the interplay between the preamp and power amp on each channel for an array of gain possibilities. Both channels include a separate, footswitchable gain boost, while the Crunch channel also has a 12-way Punch selector that adjusts the low-end attack of the amplifier—a handy feature that helps match the head to various speaker enclosures.

The master section widens the range of possibilities with two footswitchable master volumes, so players can set one as a default and use the second as a solo boost; a patented Presence control that boosts the extreme high frequencies, giving the amp extra cut; and high and low gain inputs.

On the rear panel, the built-in Peavey MSDI microphone-simulated XLR direct interface eliminates the need for miking by allowing users to send the amp’s signal directly to a recording device or mixing console. Additional controls include a line out with level control; active effects loop with send and return level control; impedance selector; half-power switch; and a tube bias adjustment jack.

The Peavey Butcher amplifier will be available from authorized Peavey retailers in Q2 2010.

Features

• Two independent channels, Clean and Crunch
• 100 watts into 16, 8 or 4 ohms
• Half-power switch drops the output to 50 watts
• 4 x EL34 power amp tubes
• 5 x 12AX7 preamp tubes
• Three-band EQ on each channel
• Global Presence
• Two Master Volume controls
• Global Master Volume Boost with switch and level control
• 12-way Punch attack control on Crunch channel
• Pre-gain Boost switch on both channels
• Built-in MSDI™ microphone-simulated direct XLR output
• Line out with level control
• Active effects loop with send and return level control
• Tube bias adjustments on back panel
• Four-button footswitch included
• Made in the U.S.A.
• U.S. MSRP $1499.99

Vypyr 30 Mini Stack and Nano Vypyr
Peavey proudly announces the new Vypyr 30 Head and Mini Stack, giving guitar players two new ways to get the award-winning tones and advanced technology of the Peavey Vypyr Series.

The Vypyr 30 Head features 24 amp channel models—two channels of 12 popular amps for the first time anywhere—plus 11 editable preamp “stomp box” effects and 11 editable post-amp “rack” effects with dual-parameter control. The Vypyr 30 Mini Stack includes the full-featured Vypyr 30 Head plus two specially voiced enclosures loaded with one 12” Blue Marvel loudspeaker each.

With twice the processing power, models and effects of competitive modeling amplifiers, the Vypyr Series dramatically redefines the power and scope of modern guitar amplification. Vypyr amplifiers are built on powerful 32-bit, floating-point SHARC processors that enable vastly enhanced flexibility and features than ever before available in guitar amplification. Peavey's patented, analog TransTube circuitry creates the amp models’ overdrive tones, so all 32 bits of processing power are devoted to creating highly detailed, accurate models of the amps and effects.

Amplifier models included in the Vypyr Tube 120 Head include Peavey 6505, JSX, Triple XXX and Classic Series models, as well as B-Kat, Brit, Plxi, Dlx, Twn, Dzl, K-Stein and Rec models. Preamp stomp-box models include TubeScrm, XR Wild, X Boost, Fuzz, BC Chorus, Analog Phase, Analog Phase, Auto Wah, Squeeze, MOG and Ring Modulator, while rack effect models include Tremolo, Chorus, Envelope Filter, Slap Back, Flanger, Octaver, Phaser, Rotary Speaker, Reverse, Pitch Shifter and Looper.

The new Peavey Vypyr 30 Head and Vypyr 30 Mini Stack will be available from authorized Peavey retailers in Q1 2010.

Vypyr 30 Head

• 30 watts into 8 ohms
• 24 amp models
• Three-band EQ, master volume and pre- and post-gain controls
• 11 editable rack effects
• 11 editable stomp-box effects
• Up to 5 effects simultaneously with optional Sanpera II footswitch
• Onboard chromatic tuner
• Onboard looper with optional Sanpera I or II footswitch
• 12 programmable presets, plus up to 400 presets with optional Sanpera II footswitch
• Tap tempo
• Studio-quality headphone output
• Patented TransTube technology in preamp and power amp
• WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) interface
• U.S. MSRP $249.99

Vypyr 30 112 Enclosure

• Two 1x12” open-back loudspeaker enclosures
• Two speaker outputs with impedance selector
• U.S. MSRP $199.99

Vypyr Mini Stack (Vypyr 30 Head and two cabs): U.S. MSRP $649.97

The Peavey Nano Vypyr advances the tones and technology of the award-winning Vypyr Series in a compact modeling guitar amp that can be powered by AC adapter or four D batteries. This 15-watt amp houses a 6 ½” loudspeaker in a 10” cube enclosure engineered with a sophisticated, true transmission line porting system that greatly enhances bass response, sound projection and volume.

The Nano Vypyr features 11 exclusive analog amp models—two clean models, two overdrive models, two rock models, two metal models, two lead models and one acoustic model—plus global bass, mid, treble and gain controls to adjust the tones of each model. The amplifier also has a built-in DSP section that includes chorus, wah, compression, compression/chorus, flanger, octaver, tremolo, rotary speaker, reverb, and delay with tap tempo, with 32 possible combinations. An effects control knob adjusts multiple parameters for each effect at once, while the optional expression pedal gives users real-time parameter control over the effects.

Additional features include a microphone input with level, chromatic tuner, auxiliary input, headphone output, adjustable handle, and strap buttons on each side for grab-and-go playing.

Source: http://www.sonicstate.com/

Fender has launched a pair of Dick Dale Malibu guitars. Here's what Fender have to say...

Dick Dale Limited Edition Malibu CE (above)
To commemorate the 45th anniversary of the release of genre- and generation-defining 1962 album Surfer's Choice by the "King of Surf Guitar" himself, Dick Dale, Fender is pleased to present the unique and most-hip Dick Dale Limited Edition Malibu CE.

Features modeled after Dale's own signature Malibu a include 3"-deep body, onboard preamp with built-in tuner and reverse headstock. Coolest of all, the guitar bears Surfer's Choice album artwork designed by Dale and photos of the man himself in action atop the stage and atop the waves. An instant classic--just like the album that inspired it.


Dick Dale Signature Malibu (below)
Two words--Dick Dale. The man whose cresting, crashing surf music defined a sound and a generation is at it again with his new signature Malibu. Designed by Dale himself with painstaking attention to detail, this amazing instrument is gloss-finished in beautiful "Surfin' Red" and features dual matching pickguards, 3" body depth for a more comfortable playing and less feedback when plugged in, Fishman pickup system with onboard tuner, and of course a reverse headstock.

Pricing and Availability:

Dick Dale Limited Edition Malibu CE: $450 MSRP
Dick Dale Signature Malibu: $850 MSRP

Source: http://www.guitargearheads.com/

PRESS RELEASE: Building on the success of their immensely popular G1 effects pedal, Zoom has taken functionality and tone to the next level with the new G1u. Designed to offer more than your typical effects pedal, the G1u is also a USB audio interface, allowing you to record your favorite tones right to your computer. For practicing, performing or recording, the G1u has endless possibilities for any style of playing.

The G1u provides eight modules for a collection of 67 different effects, along with a harmonized pitch shifter and long delay settings. There's also 100 pre-programmed patches that model legendary sounds from the sixties and seventies as well as contemporary tones and famous artist styles. Plus, with 100 user patches, you can program your own sounds.

“Zoom is known for innovation and originality," says Mark Wilder, Director of Marketing. “It's tough to overstate the convenience of an effects pedal that's also a USB interface. “Having a powerful effects processor that can also record right to your computer makes the G1u the perfect solution for today's guitar players, no matter their level of experience."

With its 32-bit ZFX-3 engine, the G1u offers sophisticated processing power. And Zoom's authentic sounding models are made possible by high-resolution signal processing with 24-bit A/D/A conversion and 96kHz sampling. It even houses a drum machine and auto-chromatic tuner.

Source: http://www.hofmag.com/

Led Zeppelin guitarist and Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Jimmy Page along with up-and-coming guitar prodigy Orianthi are in Beijing launching the world's biggest live music event, the free 'Show of Peace' Concert scheduled for April 17, 2010. The concert will take place on a special stage to be erected outside of Beijing's Bird's Nest and is expected to be heard via television, radio and Internet broadcasts by more than two billion people around the world. The groundbreaking concert will be part of a yearlong awareness campaign to create a more peaceful and greener planet for future generations.

Page will be honored with the Global Peace Award from the United Nations' Pathways to Peace organization, presented by UN Pathways to Peace representative Michael Johnson. Returning to Beijing after his appearance during the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Page said: “Music has been the most powerful language to reach the hearts of people around the world.”

Top artists from around the world will perform in an unprecedented cultural exchange in front of Beijing's Bird's Nest, the iconic stadium that became the global image of the 2008 Olympics in China with second stage set up at the Forbidden City. The concert was the brainchild of US television and music producer Rick Garson will be produced ZZYX Entertainment. Award-winning director Hamish Hamilton whose credits include specials with the Rolling Stones, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, as well as the Academy Awards, Super Bowl and the MTV Music Awards will direct the event.

Video messages of peace and commitment from worldwide celebrities will be shown during the concert, and viewers will also contribute their messages through social networks.

The Show of Peace Foundation is being formed with the goal to help improve the quality of life for all and protect our planet for future generations by empowering the youth of the world as a voice for change, and by encouraging socially responsible leaders to take positive action. Further concert details and information and ticket availability go to www.showofpeace.com.

Source: http://www.livedaily.com/

Jay Reatard was found dead in his Memphis home on Jan. 13. The garage rocker died in his sleep, according to local reports. He was 29.

Reatard, whose real name is Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., was found in bed by his roommate at about 3:30 a.m., according to The Commercial Appeal.

An investigation into his death is under way, although foul play isn't necessarily suspected, a police spokesperson told the Memphis newspaper.

An autopsy reportedly was performed and the results are pending.

Reatard first gained regional attention as the leader of the late '90s punk band the Reatards. After that, he became a member of the cult-favorite act Lost Sounds.

Of Reatard, one journalist wrote: "Since 1998's 'Teenage Hate,' Memphian Jay 'Reatard' Lindsey, 29, has spit enough pissed-off, low-fi garage punk to become DIY royalty," according to a Rolling Stone report.

In the past few years, Reatard's talent began to expand beyond Memphis.

His most recent release, the Matador Records album "Watch Me Fall," followed a series of high-profile recordings with several well-respected artists; he recorded a cover version of Beck's "Gamma Ray," which was released in 2008 as a B side to Beck's original version of the song. And his song "Hang Them All" was featured on a split 7" vinyl with Sonic Youth's "No Garage." That disc reportedly was recorded for last year's Record Store Day.

Reatard also gained much exposure last year when he opened for the Pixies during the band's run of "Doolittle" concerts.

Source: http://www.music-news.com/

Director Robert Zemeckis has named the four new Beatles who will play John, Paul, George and Ringo in his Yellow Submarine remake.

Peter Serafinowicz (Shaun of the Dead) will be Paul McCartney. Dean Lennox Kelly (Robin Hood, Shameless) will be John Lennon. Adam Campbell (Date Movie, Epic Movie) will be Ringo Starr and Cary Elwes (Hot Shots, The Princess Bride) will play George Harrison.

Robert Zemeckis is best known as the director of Back To The Future and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

In August, 2009 he announced he would remake The Beatles classic cartoon movie Yellow Submarine with Disney.

His other animated movies were The Polar Express, Beowulf and A Christmas Carol.

Yellow Submarine is expected to be released in 2012.

Source: http://blog.limewire.com/

Anybody who thinks Tom Morello is all talk and no action has got another thing coming. The Rage Against The Machine/Street Sweeper Social Club guitarist recently took up a cause close to his heart, joining System of a Down’s Serg Tankian in supporting the rights of Korean workers who’ve been under the thumb of musical equipment manufacturer Cort Guitars.

According to Morello, Cort closed its entire Korean plant in 2007, firing all workers in order to “avoid paying proper wages…and fix deplorable working conditions.” Cort provides equipment for American guitar giants like Fender, Ibanez, and Gibson, and Morello is calling out those companies to step up and support the folks who are helping to make their instruments.

“Guitars should be a means to liberation, not exploitation,” said Morello. “All American guitar manufacturers and the people that play them should hold Cort accountable for the awful way they have treated their workers. Without us, they go out of business. Simple as that.”

Apparently, Fender is at least getting the message. Sukjong Hong, the US Cort Action Coordinator who sent them a letter on behalf of Cort and Cor-tek Guitar Workers, said “Fender indicated that they were taking the matter very seriously and would conduct an investigation.”

Going a step further, Morello played a protest concert during this week’s 2010 NAMM Show, using his industry prowess as both The Nightwatchman and with Street Sweeper Social Club to bring the Cort situation to light. Asked what kind of guitar he’d be playing for the concert, Morello said, “I’m definitely going to be performing with a guitar that was made when all of these good people were fully employed.” Rocking in the name of the workers who make the rock possible – it’s a full circle of musical activism with Tom Morello’s heart at the center, and in the right place.

Source: http://www.musicradar.com/

PRESS RELEASES: Taylor Guitars is inviting players to "rock it your way" with the introduction of customizable SolidBody guitars. Fans of the Classic, Standard and Custom SolidBodies can now tailor their choice of pickup configurations, colors, and have the option of a Taylor-designed tremolo, all to dial in their perfect tone and look.

"By adding a variety of pickups and configurations, players have a multitude of options available, literally, at their fingertips, to reflect their personalities and tonal preferences," shared David Hosler, vice president. "Beyond mere color choices, we wanted to offer players the opportunity to customize their SolidBody from the top down."

For the perfect tone, the company has expanded its popular, guitar player friendly, plug and play loaded pickguards across the SolidBody models. Totally solderless and easily swapped with just a screw driver, the new pickup combos come ready to rock in 11 different combinations on a choice of four different pickguard colors, including black, tortoise, and black or white pearl.

Players have the option of two mini or full-sized high gain (HG) or high definition (HD) humbuckers, two or three mini HD or HG humbuckers, three single coils, or a two single coil and one full-size HG pickup split. Offered for the first time in the SolidBody line, players will also have the option of a Vintage Alnico (VA) loaded pickguard.

The VA pickups, a familiar and welcome sound to the electric guitar enthusiast, pay homage to the tradition of classic humbuckers but impart its own unique identity in the world of electric pickups. Hosler explains: "I've always liked that big wooly tone that comes with PAF (patent applied for) humbuckers. The goal was to create a pickup that was a more modern version of that type of sound."

Custom and Standard SolidBody players will also have a choice of pickguard-free, swappable, modular pickups, including two mini or full-sized HG or HD pickups, as well as a two full-sized VAs.

Fans of the whammy bar will now have an option of adding the Taylor tremolo to their SolidBody. Sitting on top the sleek, yet comfortable Taylor-designed fulcrum vibrato bridge, the tremolo features a modern design, one that Hosler calls "inspiring". "One of the most unique things with this tremolo is that is has a very modern feel," he explains.

Traditional tremolo users will be impressed with the feel and the easy-to-engage action of the bar. Hosler shares, "On top of looking cool, this trem feels good and sounds even better."

Exclusive to the SolidBody Classic model, the company has added a variety of vibrant colors to the line including Lava Red Pearl, Jewelescent Orange, Purple Flake, Blue Metallic, Viper Blue, Magenta Pearl, Sublime, Tobacco Sunburst, Sage Green Metallic and Titanium Pearl. The Classic will continue to be offered in Black, Natural, Trans Red and Trans White.

Each SolidBody features a five-way pickup switch, comfortable tone and volume control knobs, Taylor's proprietary T-Lock single bolt neck, and comes ready to rock in a Taylor hard case. The suggested retail prices for the SolidBody Classic options start at $1,748, for the SolidBody Standard at $2,398, and for the Custom at $3,098.

The models will be available at authorized domestic and international Taylor dealers in early spring. The complete line of the company's swappable and solderless loaded pickguards and modular pickups is currently available at TaylorWare, the company's online merchandise and electronics store.

Source: http://namm.harmony-central.com/

Born from a love of tone and a passion for innovation, Taylor Guitars has expanded the possibilities of guitar voicing in its new model, the Baritone 8-String. With a bold, fresh sound, the Baritone 8-String broadens the tonal spectrum, giving players a rich musical palette that promises to uncork new inspiration of musical harmony.

Featuring a Grand Symphony body with a richly hued back and sides of Indian rosewood topped with Sitka spruce, the Baritone 8-String embodies the spirit of a traditional baritone guitar paired with Taylor's quality craftsmanship and product innovation. The model features a longer-scaled 27-inch neck and Taylor-designed baritone bracing. The guitar is tuned from B to B and features additional octave strings paired along with the third and fourth (D and A) strings. This feature gives players an extended range of sounds, without compromising tonal integrity or playability.

The Baritone 8-String came to be as Taylor's product development team was deep in the throes of designing several series of 35th Anniversary guitars, including a 6-string baritone (XXXV-B) and a 9-string guitar (XXXV-9). The team decided to experiment by creating a hybrid of the two, as Bob Taylor explains. "We loved the traditional baritone, but missed having some of that upper register. We thought, what if we turned it into a 9-string baritone? So, we made one. But after deciding it was a little too jangly, we pulled off the [doubled second] string, leaving the third and fourth octave strings. It sounded awesome."

Adding the two octave strings, Taylor says, transformed the baritone. "It's a whole new ballgame. It's really, really cool because you can either accentuate those octaves or stay away from them. The beauty of this guitar is that it goes low and those two strings brighten it up, but they don't sound too 'octave-y'. It doesn't give you that 12-string effect as much as it really just extends the range because, as a baritone, the octaves aren't really high. It fills the guitar out and gives it a nice (tonal) spread."

The Baritone 8-String is tuned a fourth below standard guitar tuning, allowing the player to play songs in a lower register. In terms of the playing experience, Taylor's David Hosler, a member of the product development team, compares the tonal properties of the 8-string baritone to a blend of three different instruments. "When I hear it, I feel like I'm hearing a 6-string, a bass, and a bit of 12-string all in one guitar," he says. "In giving it a good listen, it sounds like standard and alternate tuning at the same time."

The product development team at Taylor isn't the only group excited about the new model. Taylor-strumming dealers, from metal players to singer-songwriters, are lining up to play and share the experience with their customers. Matt Clancy, from Craig's Music in Weatherford, Texas sampled the 8-string during a fall Taylor Road Show event. As a heavy metal musician, he was blown away with the "bigness of the tone." In fact, he says his favorite thing about the guitar is the tonal fullness he gets from a single strum. "When you're playing regular chords on the 8-string, there's so much more body, especially with octave strings," he elaborates. "It opens up the way minor chords sound, and they sound huge on it. It's a great guitar for guys who do metal and some acoustic rock, as it's perfect for power chords, and for some jazz too, especially if they like playing in low B. It's a guitar that's filled with big, tonal goodness. It adds a depth that you can't get from any other guitar on the market right now."

Evan Carmen, a Taylor dealer from Morgan Music in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, had the chance to play an 8-string prototype during a recent visit to the Taylor factory. As an acoustic singer-songwriter, Carmen is sure this guitar will be an addition to his collection. "There is practical application in nearly every style and genre I can think of," he says. "It's only a matter of time before it starts changing music forever. I can't wait to see how people react to it right out of the gate. No doubt, we'll be hearing it used frequently after people catch wind of what it's capable of. I can't wait to have one of my own."

As enchanting as the guitar is to play and listen to, it's equally attractive visually. The model's appointments include a mother-of-pearl peghead inlay and delicate diamond-shaped fretboard inlays, a three-ring abalone rosette, and abalone-dotted bridge pins. Premium features include Indian rosewood binding, a bone nut and saddle, and an all-gloss finish. Amplified with the Taylor Expression System?? pickup and strung with ELIXIR?? Baritone strings, the model is also offered in a standard 6-string version.

Visit the Baritone 8-string product page at: http://www.taylorguitars.com/Guitars/Specialty/Baritone/Baritone-8/

Available at authorized domestic and international Taylor dealers in mid-winter, the Baritone 8-String will be offered at a suggested retail price of $3,998 and the Baritone 6-String at $3,798. Players looking to keep their baritone guitar equipped with ELIXIR strings?? can purchase them through TaylorWare, the company's online store of Taylor-branded clothing, accessories and gear.

To experience the company's new guitars, artist performances, or to learn more about Taylor Guitars, please visit the Taylor Guitars booth on the second floor of the Anaheim Convention Center, Room 213

Source: http://www.musicradar.com/

PRESS RELEASE: Gibson Guitar will offer guests of NAMM a special sneak peek advance showing of the upcoming release of the latest Slash 2010 Appetite Les Paul.

Inspired by the axe that the legendary Guns and Roses guitar hero played on the multi-platinum selling Appetite for Destruction album and practically every recording since, this may be the most highly anticipated guitar launch of the year.

As a result Gibson is offering a sneak peek preview of this amazing work in progress at the Gibson/Monster Booth #4242 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Take a good look at the latest in a series of prototypes being skillfully constructed by the Gibson USA Division luthiers for Slash's, and your, inspection.

Slash will be visiting the Gibson/Monster booth on Saturday 16th January at 3:30pm to check out the guitar, take a few pictures and sign some autographs.

Included are the features one would expect to be included in a guitar of this magnitude from the traditional style weight relief mahogany body with AAA figured maple top to the new Seymour Duncan Slash Signature Alnico II pickups.

Special capacitors have been selected by Slash to create the vintage Les Paul sound he demands and "Tone Pro" hardware with historic machine heads, locking bridge and tailpiece to keep it all in tune and performing like a star.
Features

• Traditional style weight relief
• Mahogany body with AAA Figured Maple top
• Unique neck profile made for Slash features rounded 60's shape
• Rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays
• Un-burst top with faded cherry back lacquer finish
• Slash signature smoking skull with top hat artwork for peghead face
• New Seymour Duncan Slash Signature Alnico II pickups
• Special capacitors selected by Slash for vintage tone
• Tone Pro hardware with historic machine heads, locking bridge and tailpiece

The Slash Appetite for Destruction Les Paul will be released in the coming weeks in limited quantities from Gibson USA, Gibson Custom Division and from Epiphone. Check Gibson's official site for further information and launch dates for this important series of guitars from the ultimate Guitar Icon.

Source: http://www.musicradar.com/

PRESS RELEASE: Of all the artists for whom C.F. Martin & Co. has built Signature or Custom Artist Edition guitars, perhaps none plays such a range of settings as guitarist extraordinaire Laurence Juber.

In just the past two years, using his various "LJ" Martins he wrote and recorded his new, all solo album "Wooden Horses," played scores of television, movie, and album sessions that ranged from solo guitar and small combos to big bands and full orchestras, and performed dozens of concerts.

Such a variety of experience spurred Juber - whose career path has evolved from lead guitarist for Paul McCartney and Wings to composer, arranger, and world-class fingerstyle guitar virtuoso - in the development of his previous Martin guitars, so it is no surprise that it would inspire his new OMC-LJ Pro Laurence Juber Custom Artist Edition guitar, which features big leaf maple as its primary tonewood.

"The initial inspiration came when I was playing a movie scoring session and contemplating the dozens of maple-bodied instruments in the orchestra string section," Juber recalled.

"I became curious as to why maple is so fundamental to that family and yet less common in the flat-top guitar world. With its clarity and projection, maple creates a quite different sonic palette than rosewood and mahogany."

The impressive tone and understated elegance of the OMC-LJ Pro Laurence Juber Custom Artist Edition features a graceful rounded cutaway, and scalloped Adirondack spruce top braces to assure impressive resonance and dynamic range. The Adirondack spruce top, providing the full bottom associated with vintage Martin tone, combined with flamed big leaf maple back and sides, the bass is much more defined and the midrange more prominent and complex.

Deftly accented by a Style 28 wood fiber rosette, fine herringbone top inlay, fine black/white wood fiber back inlay, HD-style zigzag center strip purfling, and grained ivoroid binding. The grained ivoroid endpiece is framed by fine black/white wood fiber inlay. The ebony belly bridge is fitted with a compensated saddle

The two-piece maple neck, like that on many archtop guitars, contributes generous sustain and features a "Modified V" profile and a diamond volute at the base of the headstock. The handsome black ebony headplate bears the classic Old Style gold "C.F. Martin & Co." decal and nickel Waverly tuners with butterbean knobs. The ebony fingerboard is unadorned - with no position markers.

A grained ivoroid heelcap and chrome strap button complete the neck. In the fingerstyle guitar tradition, this Custom Artist does not have a pickguard. Aging toner on the body and neck, and Martin's polished lacquer finish give this guitar unique, vintage-style patina.

The OMC-LJ Pro Laurence Juber Custom Artist Edition comes factory-equipped with D-TAR Wavelength electronics, which Juber has been using in his prototype for more than a year. Delivered in a hardshell case, each Martin OMC-LJ Pro Laurence Juber Custom Artist Edition guitar bears a uniquely positioned interior label personally signed by Laurence Juber and numbered in sequence.

Authorized C.F. Martin & Co. dealers will take orders for the currently open-ended OMC-LJ Pro Laurence Juber Custom Artist beginning immediately and participating dealers will be listed at the Martin website.

Source: http://www.sys-con.com/

Famed Italian luthier Fabio Ragghianti today announced a new U.S. company, Ragghianti Guitars, based in Boulder, Colorado to distribute his new line of hand-crafted instruments which incorporate the most progressive features of his custom guitars at a more affordable price.

The Radical Classical line features lattice top bracing and a thinner soundboard for more powerful resonance. The guitars employ a multi-scale fret system for improved tonal balance, a raised fingerboard for easy access to the higher registers plus a personal side sound port. Each of the new instruments is built under the strict instructions and supervision of Mr. Ragghianti by an experienced luthier team in China which he personally visits to inspect the building process. The new model is handcrafted by this team using the same techniques as his custom guitars but now made available to a much wider market.

With a retail price starting under $2,500, each of the new Ragghianti models is hand crafted to the award winning luthier's uncompromising standards, using only high quality solid woods. The soundboard can be chosen in Canadian Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata) or in Canadian Sitka Spruce (Picea Sitchensis). The back and sides are in solid Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia Latifolia).

"Until now only a small group of professionals had the opportunity to own one of Fabio's superb instruments," said Bob Lang, Co-Founder of Ragghianti Guitars. "We are now able to offer the results of Fabio's 30 years of guitar-building experience, with its unique blend of tradition, research, and innovation, to many more players."

A native of Tuscany, Italy where he trained and works today, Fabio Ragghianti has gained the respect of many renowned musicians, among them Italian composer and guitarist, Alessio Monti. Commenting on Fabio Ragghianti's guitar design, Mr. Monti stated, "Ragghianti guitars have the sound I've always wanted, powerful and sweet at the same time. It is perfect for both classical and avant-garde music. This is the true voice of the modern guitar."

Fabio and his new line of guitars will be at The NAMM show, booth 1423, in Anaheim, CA from January 14-17. Ragghianti Guitars are currently available from the maker's website and will be available soon in guitar shops nationwide.

For more information about Ragghianti Guitars, please visit www.ragghiantiguitars.com

Source: http://www.broadwayworld.com/

The Iridium is pleased to announce that legendary guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society Zakk Wylde will celebrate Les Paul Monday, January 25th at 8 & 10PM.

In the two decades since Ozzy Osbourne hired him away from his job at a New Jersey gas station to become his new guitarist, Zakk Wylde has established himself as a guitar icon known and revered the world over. Writing and recording with Osbourne led to multi-platinum success, inspiring him to create the now legendary Black Label Society in 1998. In the decade since, BLS has turned the notion of what a rock band should be upside down by inspiring legions of fans (known as Berserkers) all over the world to follow the mantra: Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever. SDMF for short, the Berserkers, along with Wylde have created a heavy metal institution true to his vision of uncompromising, unfiltered and unrestrained rock and roll. Wylde's inspiration comes from not only the fans, but from such notable guitarists including Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, Frank Marino, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and AlBert Lee , as well as the vocal stylings of Elton John, Gregg Allman and late Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie VanZant. Wylde has won nearly every guitar award imaginable, and is a major influence to a new battalion of rock guitarists currently popular today. One thing is for certain, wherever Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society travels: brewtality is sure to follow.

For more information please visit www.blsnation.com or www.blacklabelsociety.com

Source: http://www.musicradar.com/

PRESS RELEASE: Forget the old days of string-by-string tuning – it's time to join the PolyTune revolution. TC Electronic's PolyTune is the quickest and easiest way to tune your guitar. Simply strum, tune… and rock!

TC Electronic has just revolutionized guitar tuning at a stroke – or strum – with PolyTune, the world's first polyphonic guitar tuner. This cutting-edge tuning technology revolutionizes tuning and accomplishes what has been deemed 'impossible' until now: tuning all strings simultaneously! Simply strum – PolyTune will tell you which strings need tuning – tune up and you're ready to rock!

PolyTune obviously has a chromatic tuner as well, rivaling the best current tuning technology out there, with an amazing +/- 0.5 cent accuracy. MonoPoly, another unique new TC Electronic technology, recognizes whether you play one or more strings and seamlessly switches between the polyphonic or the chromatic tuner on the fly.

PolyTune offers unprecedented visibility using an ambient light sensor, which automatically matches the intensity of the super bright LEDs to its surroundings. This ensures that the PolyTune display can be seen in any lighting conditions. So whatever the gig, whatever the light, whatever the situation, guitarists can now strum, tune and rock in an instant.

True Bypass makes sure that PolyTune preserves the integrity of your precious tone. It allows for the signal to flow unaffected when the pedal is bypassed and for silent tuning once engaged.

The PolyTune pedal chassis features a diecast aluminum box, heavy duty footswitch and 100 LED display, all built to endure life on the road.

Quite simply, PolyTune is the greatest innovation in guitar tuners for over 30 years. Tuning could not be easier or quicker.

Price: 85EUR Available: February 2010

Source: http://knac.com/

Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke has been hospitalized after breaking his leg, reportedly in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident.

Clarke was riding his bike on Sunday when the crash occurred. The other driver involved in the accident allegedly failed to stop at the scene, and Clarke is now said to be resting comfortably in a local hospital.

Source: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/

Two rock legends will be sitting down together, one as an interviewer, one an interviewee.

Bruce Springsteen is scheduled to appear on the Sundance Channel music talk show "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with?" The Boss will be the subject of the show's season finale in a two-part episode, the first half of which will air at 10 p.m. ET/PT Jan. 20, the second on January 27 at the same time.

"Pump It Up" singer Costello has interviewed numerous musical personalities in recent episodes of his show, including U2's Bono and The Edge, Sheryl Crow, Lyle Lovett and more.

Among the topics of conversation on the two-parter is Springsteen's solo career.

"I got to a place where I said, I gotta be able to make do with just the guitar and my voice at some point," the artist said. "Now, I was a good guitar player, you know, I could accompany myself alright. In the first band I was in they wouldn't let me sing at all so I said, well the words better be good, the songs better be good."

He also discusses his songwriting.

"Theatre is drama, I think songwriters and film makers are drawn to conflict," he said. "It's one of the things that people go to music for, I think. Any kind of art force is like we're all conflicted inside, so how do you begin to contextualize some of that conflict? How do you make sense out of it? How do you build something out of it instead of letting it destroy you?"

In the interview, Costello also brings up the reaction to Springsteen's song "41 Shots," which he said falls into a category of songs with "explicit, unambiguous statements," in this case the controversy surrounding the Amadou Diallo shooting.

"I didn't think a lot about it, I just thought it was part of my body of work like "Promised Land" or anything else," Springsteen said. "I played it in Atlanta and you could tell it went over well, people listened to it. But then Steve [Van Zandt] came running into rehearsal and said, 'Man, did you see the front page of the newspaper?' I was getting letters from people asking me not to play it."

Springsteen also mentioned his musical inspiration during the interview.

"You hope to become a part of the fabric of someone's life beyond the fact that you want to make people dance and laugh and be entertained and have something to vacuum the floor to," he said.

Source: http://www.webwire.com/

New Jimi Hendrix 4knob vintage Fuzz & 2nd Channel Octave in one Guitar Effects Pedal.

New dual channel pedal shakes up the scene with a brand new pedal, aimed at achieving the classic Jimi Hendrix sound. The boutique guitar effects pedal is the the Elite Tone 'Fillmore Thunder'.

This one is for the true blues and rock player influenced or inspired by the Jimi Hendrix sound, with it's vintage BC-108 Transistor's and clean octave channel. Two fully functional individual pedals are combined.

Although the octave is not an "octavia" clone, this original design obtains a more present and robust variation of the type of old Tycobrahe octavia. Many people complain about Tychobrahe Octavia clone and it's poor sound quality, I don't think Tycobrahe got it right from the very beginning. Nothing like this octave pedal has existed till now. It was literally designed after listening to Hendrix recordings. This pedal will end your search and leave you satisfied.

The primary purpose is to encapsulate the sound off of Jimi Hendrix's last record "Live at the Fillmore East". Under the banner of the band of Gypsy's, including Buddy Miles on drummers and Billy Cox on bass. The reinvention of rock and roll and a new sound were born out of this trio. Such songs as "Who knows" and machine gun are captured with this pedal.

The Fillmore Thunder delivers this sound. This pedal is quality from the ground up.

So many Jimi Hendrix products are out their and yet so few are the guitar players that think they've found a winning combination of effects. That says something. Many people have purchased many Fuzzes and octaves to no avail. The Fillmore is designed to address FuzzFace issues and octave fuzzes. Such as Octavia clones with tinny harsh distortion and not a lot of use-able harmonics. The Fillmore Thunder can do it without noise, hiss and general annoyances. The result and sum of its parts is a superior effect pedal at reasonable cost.

Source: http://www.rollingstone.com/

Yoko Ono has recruited Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, Bette Midler and more artists for the first Plastic Ono Band show in 40 years: a special concert on February 16th at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. The "new" Plastic Ono Band will be comprised of Ono's son Sean Lennon plus Japanese musicians like Cibo Matto's Yuka Honda, Yellow Magic Orchestra's Haruomi Hosono and Cornelius, who also worked on Ono's 2009 album Between My Head and the Sky.

Both Clapton and bassist Klaus Voorman, who's also confirmed for the Brooklyn event, were members of the original Plastic Ono Band that featured on the album Live Peace in Toronto 1969 and the "Cold Turkey" single, while drummer Jim Keltner played on Lennon's Imagine disc. Rounding out this eclectic crew of performers are Paul Simon's son and recent Breaking artist Harper Simon, Martha Wainwright, Mark Ronson, the Scissor Sisters and Justin Bond. Tickets for the Plastic Ono Band event go on sale tomorrow, January 12th at the BAM website.

Check out the Plastic Ono roster as it stands now:

• Yoko Ono
• Eric Clapton
• Paul Simon
• Harper Simon
• Thurston Moore
• Kim Gordon
• Scissor Sisters
• Klaus Voorman
• Mark Ronson
• Martha Wainwright
• Sean Lennon
• Cornelius
• Yuka Honda
• Haruomi Hosono
• Jim Keltner
• Justin Bond

Source: http://abclocal.go.com/

Bay Area guitarist Carlos Santana is already an award-winning superstar, but now he is adding a new title to his resume -- restaurateur. He is celebrating the opening of his fifth "Maria, Maria" restaurant. This one is in Danville, CA.

One of Santana's biggest hits is "Smooth" and may describe more than his moves. It is also about his palate. Carlos Santana the restaurant mogul. His guitar moves take second place to some favorite gourmet specialties. It is his fifth Maria Maria location.

"For me it's an opportunity to affirm that life is delicious, especially with people who have passion for what they do," says Santana.

It is that same kind of passion that Carlos brings to his music. This is, after all, a man who has sold more than 90 million albums in a 40 year career. As a business partner, he leaves the menu up to the chefs.

"This is what they do. They trust me when I go on stage. The chefs don't tell me who to do, I suggest, so I make sure the standards are high," says Santana.

Carlos say there is some déjà vu here. His father used to play music in the Danville area when the family moved here from Tijuana. His life has been filled with music and spirituality.

Carlos says whether it's his music, the shoes he designs or food, it's a way to make a change in people's lives.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to be of service to help California heal itself because the main thing that is needed in California is for us to invest more and more energy, passion and energy into education," says Santana.

Santana continues to make music, returning next month to his long term gig in Las Vegas.

Source: http://www.spinnermusic.co.uk/

Guitarist Mick Green has passed away aged 65. One of the original breed of authentic British lead guitarists, Green initially lent his considerable six-string skills to Johnny Kidd & the Pirates before becoming guitarist of choice for artists such as Bryan Ferry, Van Morrison and Sir Paul McCartney.

He joined his school friends, bassist Johnny Spence and drummer Frank Farley, in the Pirates in 1962, just after the band scored a huge hit with 'Shakin' All Over' with Joe Moretti on lead guitar. His distinctive style was keenly felt on Johnny Kidd & the Pirates' 1964 hit, 'I'll Never Get Over You,' while the band's version of 'Doctor Feelgood' went on to inspire the Canvey Island band of the same name a decade later.

Indeed, it was during the 1970s that the Pirates came into their own as a live act and made a huge impact on the era's flourishing pub-rock scene. More recently, Green appeared on Sir Paul McCartney's 1999 album, 'Run Devil Run' and Van Morrison's 2008 album, 'Keep It Simple'.

His son, Brad, said, "It is with the greatest of sorrow that I have to inform you all that my father, Mick Green, has this morning (Jan. 11 2010) passed away. My dad will be deeply missed by his family, friends and fans all around the world. He inspired and dazzled with his amazing talent and his sharp personality and wit. His spirit and his music will continue to live on through his music. Thank you all for your support and thoughts."

The latest episode of the world's longest running guitar related podcast is available for download.

Whilst our regular hosts, Pipes and PT, are taking a well earned break, the Bliss army have rallied round to republish, supplement and repackage, the original 12 "lost" episodes.

You can subscribe at http://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/rss or, using iTunes, at itpc://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/rss.

The episode can also be downloaded from http://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=569247

Source: http://news.therecord.com/

What do two former Waterloo boys, a struggling Chinese violin factory, and one of Canada's most-watched reality TV shows have in common?

Until last year, nothing. But that was before John Marr and Jonathan MacKenzie, two enterprising Waterloo Collegiate Institute alumni, convinced the producers of CBC's Dragon's Den their upstart guitar company deserved a shot at prime time.

The pair gambled that guitar buyers wanted a high-end, handcrafted acoustic guitar that played like a $5,000 instrument, but cost much less. They found a factory in China full of skilled violin makers who needed new work. And they set about developing a prototype that sounded just right.

Wednesday night, they'll get to pitch their business, MacKenzie & Marr Guitars, to the potential investors on the show. With an average of 1.7 million viewers tuning in to watch, that's the kind of exposure new companies drool over.

And it's even more incredible considering when Marr auditioned in April to be on the show, he didn't even have a sample ready. Instead, he just carried around an empty guitar case, and sold the producers on the idea of the business, rather than the product.

"The next week they called me up and said ‘You're one hell of a salesperson,' " Marr said, from his office in Montreal where the company is based.

This past summer, Marr and Mackenzie came to Toronto to tape the episode. They're sworn to secrecy on the outcome, and the Dragons have a reputation for being vicious with poorly drawn up business plans and bad ideas.

Still, creating a guitar company out of nothing has been a thrill for the friends, who grew up in Waterloo only a few streets apart. They went to the same elementary school and both learned to play guitar at the same time in the mid '60s, when acoustic folk artists were all the rage.

They drifted apart after MacKenzie moved to Kingston in Grade 10, but in recent years rekindled their friendship. Mackenzie, now a physician in Kanata, and Marr, now a Montrealer who works for a computer company, decided they wanted to make their own guitars. Mackenzie had the idea for the design; Marr had the business plan.

With no experience in guitar making or craftsman skills, the pair started looking at China, where instrument makers have been improving their reputation for quality work. After about a year of searching, Marr found a violin factory that was struggling to stay in business, and he hired them to put their expertise to use building a larger stringed instrument. It took a few attempts before the Chinese violin makers finally nailed it – a Western Canadian cedar-topped, curved back acoustic guitar called the Tofino.

It's the only guitar the company makes, and the first shipment of 50 just arrived in December. They're selling for $1,000 apiece, and can only be bought online through the company's website, www.macmarr.com.

Marr admits it's tough to sell guitars over the internet – typically, a prospective buyer wants to play the thing first. To get around that, they offer a money-back guarantee if the customer isn't satisfied. And because there's no store front, just an online presence, costs are kept down, he said.

He has experience exporting – two decades ago, Marr and his brothers ran athletic shoe stores, The Athlete's Foot chain, based in Kitchener. The franchise rights were sold to an Atlanta company in 1990.

He thinks the Tofino could sell up to 200 models a year.

"This is a thousand dollar guitar that you put up against guitars that are considerably more money and it will outperform them," Marr boasts. "And we can deliver that guitar at a price that no one can touch."

And that's just what the pair did on the Dragon's Den. They blindfolded panel member Kevin O'Leary, who dabbles on the six-string, and got him to play the Tofino and a competitor's $5,000 guitar.

So what happened? Marr says you'll have to watch the show.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

According to the guitar legend, not being in the same room as Axl Rose is worth more than $100m.

The original lineup of Guns N' Roses will "never" reform, Slash has declared, claiming that he turned down offers of hundreds of millions of dollars to reunite with Axl Rose. "It's sad that something so good doesn't exist any more, even though we're both still alive and on the same planet," he said.

Axl Rose might claim he doesn't need Slash. After all, Guns N' Roses still exist – more than a decade in the making, Chinese Democracy was released in 2008. But the band's sixth LP was more whimper than bang, and the group haven't undertaken a major tour in years. Wrestling with his management and copyright infringement claims, Axl Rose's hard-rock gang don't exactly seem like the biggest band in the world.

Slash isn't doing much better. His band, Velvet Revolver, lacks a singer, and his forthcoming solo album will be released, at least in part, as a free attachment with Classic Rock magazine. Plus, Jack White turned down an invitation to sing on one of his songs. Yet the guitarist still thinks that there "[isn't] ever a chance of a [Guns N' Roses] reunion".

"Things were so abrasive by the time I left," he told GQ. "I've never thought, 'Oh, wouldn't it be nice to get back together'. Because I know it wouldn't!" The lineup's last tour, in 1993, was "an ongoing exercise in how we could bond the least", Slash said. "It just got worse and worse." As Axl Rose remarked last year: "One of the two of us will die before a reunion." The two musicians have reportedly not spoken in 13 years.

Then again, if they do decide to reunite, the money would certainly be worthwhile. "I can't remember exact numbers, but [the offers have been] excessive," Slash told GQ. "Seven, eight-digit kinds of things." Asked directly if the amount was higher than $100m (£62m), Slash admitted, "Yeah".

"When we were on stage we were a real force together," he said. "But it got to a point off stage where it was impossible for us to even be in the same room together and create any music."

Source: http://www.contactmusic.com/

Former Led Zeppelin star Jimmy Page has promised fans he will make ''radical musical statements'' with his upcoming solo album.

Jimmy Page has promised to make a "radical" solo album.

The former Led Zeppelin star is currently working on his first new LP since 1988 and has warned fans to open their expectations of the music.

He said: "I think it's very important to do some musical statements with new material and that's exactly what I plan to do over the forthcoming year. Musically it will be a different picture in quite a radical frame, I hope. I'd like to try some ambitious projects. But we'll see."

Jimmy also played down rumours of a rift between himself and former bandmate Robert Plant, insisting they get on "fine" and claiming to be a big fan of the singer's recent work with Alison Krauss.

He added: "the one thing I don't want to do is to try to make it look as though I'm trying to be controversial about what they're doing. Whatever anyone else does is fine. Theirs was a really acclaimed album, and it's really good."

Source: http://dvice.com/

Stringed instruments have been around for centuries, but nobody's figured out how to keep those strings in tune - until now. The breakthrough introduced at CES 2010 is called the Evertune Bridge, with an individual springs constantly pulling against each string at precisely the correct tension to keep each note the same ... indefinitely.

It's hard to see the inner workings of this miracle machine, but in our hands-on encounter with two guitars rigged with the Evertune Bridge, each string stayed in tune no matter what we did. It not only works on guitars, but any stringed instrument such as a piano or banjo. This is brilliant. Look for it on guitars everywhere within a year or two.

Source: http://aes.harmony-central.com/

C.F. Martin & Co. is proud to announce the launch of the "Performing Artist Series," an innovative line of acoustic/electric guitars set to debut in 2010. The three models that form the foundation of the new series include the "DCPA1" Dreadnought, "OMCPA1" Orchestra Model, and the new Grand Performance "GPCPA1." These acoustic/electric models provide flexibility and professionalism for guitarists, from small coffee houses to large arenas to simply recording with your laptop or in a professional studio.

These new models combine Martin's legendary tone and styling, while adding player comfort and on-stage performance capability. The DCPA1, OMCPA1 and the modern Grand Performance GPCPA1 all share the same aesthetic blend of contemporary and traditional features. Additionally, all Performing Artist Series guitars are equipped with Fishman's newly designed onboard sound reinforcement system, the F1 Aura®.

"A good percentage of the market wants to plug in their acoustic guitars, either for performance, studio or home recording," said Chris Martin IV, Chairman and CEO Martin Guitar. "As musical trends evolve, we will remain committed to providing the finest acoustic guitars available in both acoustic and acoustic/electric configuration."

Each model in the Performing Artist Series offers its own distinctive acoustic and plugged-in sound for the discerning player. The DCPA1 offers the powerful and resonant Martin Dreadnought tone. The OMCPA1 is well balanced, offering warm bass response with crisp clear trebles. The new GPCPA1 shares characteristics from the big rich sound of the Dreadnought and the clarity of the Orchestra model and combines them into a new sonic signature all of its own. All three guitars share the same well-known Martin construction including solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, a solid Sitka spruce soundboard with hybrid scalloped bracing, a genuine ebony headplate, fingerboard and bridge, and a patented mortise and tenon neck joint.

The Performing Artist Series features many firsts for the company, including a more parallel neck profile with a slimmer taper at the 12th fret, giving the guitar comfortable width in the first few frets plus a faster feel for lead-work as you move up the neck. The new smaller bridge design reduces mass and increases the soundboard's tonal response.

Striking new aesthetic features include a pearl Martin block-style logo inlaid into the ebony headplate. New fingerboard inlays use traditional squares in colorful blue paua, flanked by arrow designs adding to the guitar's sleek modern style. A newly-designed two ring rosette borders the soundhole with a stunning combination of blue paua and wood fiber inlays. Finely polished gloss lacquer highlights the body's beauty, while a durable satin finish on the guitar's neck adds to the quicker feel and player's comfort.

The new Fishman F1 Aura features the stunning realism of award-winning Aura Acoustic Imaging technology in a distinctive and easy to use onboard preamp system. State-of-the-art features include: digital chromatic tuner, volume and blend controls, independent 3-band EQ for both pickup and image signals, compressor, phase control and an automatic anti-feedback filter with up to 3 notches. The heart of the F1 Aura is its ability to replicate the sound of nine different world-class studio microphones. Fishman engineers have carefully captured images of the sound that these high-quality microphones "hear" and allow you to blend it in with the legendary Gold+Plus under saddle pickup. The preamp design utilizes low-noise components, 32-bit internal processing and 24-bit audio conversion for an incredibly clean and quiet output.

A Limited Lifetime Warranty covers all "Performing Artist Series" models purchased from authorized Martin dealers in the U.S. and Canada. To protect your investment, each guitar includes a brown hardshell case.

For more information on the "Performing Artist Series," please visit http://www.performingartistseries.com/

Source: http://www.nme.com/

Kings Of Leon are reportedly set to play a support slot in Nashville for a band on their record label.

The Followill clan will support The Features in the US city, claims the Daily Mirror. Caleb and the band signed The Features to their record label – a joint venture with Los Angeles music publisher Bug Music.

The Features are set to play the 500-capacity Exit/In venue in Nashville on February 5. On the venue’s website, Ticketbiscuit.com/exitin, the support band is listed as "TBA".

Kings Of Leon geared up work on their label last year. The Features' album 'Some Kind Of Salvation' is scheduled for release in the UK next month.

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/

A continuous snowfall wasn't about to stop Buddy Guy from venturing outside while playing his guitar Thursday at his namesake Legends club. Performing the opening night of a nearly sold-out 16-date stand, the Chicago blues icon exited the stage on two occasions to stroll the block, even being careful to wipe his feet on a mat when he re-entered through the kitchen door.

Such antics are as traditional as Guy's annual January residency that, this year, assumes added importance in that it's the last to occur at the venue's original location. Legends will soon relocate one block north. The significance wasn't lost on the 73-year-old Louisiana native, who dressed for the occasion in a sharp magenta-colored suit. And while Guy mentioned that gout recently slowed his pace, the musician's effortless command of the guitar and teasing falsetto remain in tact. As does his connection with fans. Guy was already seated near the front door signing merchandise and posing for pictures before his four-piece band closed out the 95-minute set.

Alternating between soulful ballads ("Skin Deep"), rock covers (Cream's "Strange Brew"), funk-based originals ("Best Damn Fool") and traditional blues fare ("Hoochie Coochie Man"), Guy bypassed the hokey showmanship routines that often bog down his festival appearances. Instead of following a script, Guy challenged himself by taking chances during solos and pushing his vocal range.

Balling his hands into fists that resembled those of a boxer, the singer delivered a delicate rendition of Otis Redding's "I've Got Dreams to Remember" that was as tender as "Drowning on Dry Land" was raucous. Dynamic contrasts helped maintain a tonal balance. They also allowed the rubber-faced Guy ample opportunity to switch personas. Whether playing the role of a boastful playboy, backdoor man or wounded lover, he tailored his guitar's tuning and volume to fit each song's narrative. But nothing surpassed his noisiest ventures.

Jerking his right hand away from the strings in an abrupt manner that suggested he'd just been burned by a fire, Guy unleashed torrents of piercing notes that traced a line between post-war blues, experimental rock and free jazz. The resulting sounds -- like that of sleet hitting a metal awning -- mirrored the freezing weather outside and announced that the blues vocabulary still has room to expand.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

The jazz band at Manhattan's Legacy Studios is swinging: piano, vibes, bass, two guitars, percussion and drums in fast, syncopated flow. It's playing an effortlessly melodic piece that could only have been written by Pat Metheny. This much is obvious from the song's memorable hook and harmonic complexity, but also because he is the only musician in the room. The instruments are playing themselves.

The marimba belongs to Metheny's old friend and collaborator Gary Burton, but the mallets are being operated by robots, controlled remotely by computers in the next room. The kit, on loan from drummer Jack DeJohnette, has been deconstructed and strung on wires from a steel frame. Each cymbal or snare has its own stick, brush and beater.

Wandering around as the music plays – we are, Metheny tells us, "the first civilians to see this" – is a thrilling, disorienting experience. The wind section comprises bottles and gallon jugs, tuned by size and water level, which light up as air blows across their mouths. Congas rap suddenly into life. Clamps slide down the fretboard of the electric bass as an invisible right hand plucks the strings.

Metheny is not even playing his guitar. He stands at the back with a grin on his face, ginger curls tumbling out of a backwards New York Yankees cap. Although he's 55 years old, he looks like a little kid, lost in his favourite hobby. His childish wonder is infectious. "If I look tired, it's because I've been sleeping two hours a night for six weeks, trying to get stuff done," he says.

He calls his new toy the Orchestrion. It's evidently an obsession – something that Metheny does because he can. "Why would I do this? I'm lucky enough to play with the best musicians in the world," he says. "Well, it's gotten me to some notes that I couldn't have gotten to otherwise. It's opened up a third wave of opportunity."

Metheny was a child prodigy, jamming with top-flight bands passing through Kansas City before his voice broke, then dropping out of university to teach at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston while he was still in his teens. The Pat Metheny Group has been filling arenas since the early 1980s by marrying tunes you can hum to astonishing, virtuoso improvisation. On the side, Metheny has recorded with an array of fellow travellers, from David Bowie to Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Chick Corea, Roy Haynes, Joni Mitchell and, most recently, pianist Brad Melhdau. He is the only artist to win a Grammy 10 years in a row.

From his early adoption of the Roland GR-300 guitar synthesiser onwards, Metheny has always been fascinated by the way technological advances engender musical mutations. But for all his interest in samplers, sequencers and software, he's never been entirely comfortable with the end result.

"I've always had a problem with electronic sound," says Metheny. "When a whole bunch of sounds are jammed into one set of speakers, that's not the way I hear it. I've been searching for some kind of acoustic expression of ideas … a means of getting something in the air moving."

The Orchestrion reconciles his love of old-fashioned, unamplified live performance with his restless urge to innovate. It's also born of a feeling that jazz has become concerned with "refinement at best, historical retrenchment and revisionism at worst" – a little too staid and predictable. "Jazz guys were always the guys fucking with things. I feel it hasn't been like that for a while," he says.

Growing up, he spent summers with his grandparents in Wisconsin. In their basement, they had a player piano and a box of paper rolls punched full of holes that could perform a selection of popular songs as Metheny and his cousins pumped the pedals. These mechanical contraptions, developed in the late 19th century, were once ubiquitous in parlours, restaurants and dancehalls.

Orchestrions, which attach an array of wind instruments to a similar mechanism, are the next evolutionary step. Because the player pianos used compressed air, they had no dynamic range. Conlon Nancarrow composed daring, avant-garde music for them – too fast for two hands to perform – but it could only be hammered out at an incessant fortissimo, with no delicacy of touch.

Metheny's modern version was developed with the help of several inventors, chief among them Eric Singer of the League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots. It solves the problem of dynamics by using electromagnetic coils called solenoids, which can open and close with varying degrees of velocity. "Most of what you're hearing is either vacuum cleaners or garage-door openers," Metheny says. And yet as the Orchestrion tackles one of his new compositions, it's amazing how unmechanical, how alive it sounds.

Metheny came up with the album's instrumental parts on his own, with his guitar as a trigger device. Using MIDI technology, a computer recorded which notes he played, how hard he hit them, and how long he held each note for. When he performs live, this information is transmitted to the marimba, bass, piano and drums, meaning that he is being accompanied by himself – one "guitar" part being played by the vibraphone, another by the cymbals, and so on.

The result is Metheny squared, or cubed – a familiar dish of subdued blues and intricate jazz fusion, dominated by the composer's songlike guitar lines. "It can do some weird, far-out stuff. I'll get to that," he says. "I didn't want to start with show-off music."

One-man bands have come a long way from the overburdened family entertainer with crash cymbals between his knees, a banjo, a mouth organ and a kick drum strapped to his back. Artists such as Final Fantasy, Andrew Bird and Joseph Arthur build layer upon layer in their live music, creating virtual ensembles with loops and pedals. Panda Bear conjures a celestial choir from his laptop. But none of these acts performs solo using multiple acoustic instruments at the same time. The logistical nightmare Metheny has created for himself is unique.

In February, he heads out on tour across Europe. Using software called Ableton Live, he will send the preprogrammed accompaniment off on different paths each night, essentially improvising with himself. "It's fun," he says. "How much fun it's going to be in Poland when everything's breaking, I don't know."

We relocate to the producer's booth to hear a second track and watch as the cursor scrolls across two computer screens: one showing the sound waves of Metheny's guitar part, played live, the other displaying a written score for everything else.

The song ends with a drone, blown across the bottle tops. Metheny hits the space bar repeatedly but the noise won't stop. "They've got a mind of their own," says the studio engineer.

Orchestrion, the album, is released on 25 January on Nonesuch. The Orchestrion tour comes to the Barbican, London, on 10 February. Box office: 020-7638 8891

Source: http://www.musicradar.com/

PRESS RELEASE: The Gretsch Custom Shop could not possibly be more proud to introduce a very special 50-instrument run of a meticulously crafted recreation of one of the most famous guitars in rock 'n' roll and rockabilly history - the modified Gretsch 6120 owned and played by Eddie Cochran. Early 2010 will see the long-awaited debut of the Gretsch Custom Shop G6120EC Eddie Cochran Tribute model.

During his all-too brief life and career, Eddie Cochran (1938-1960) only ever owned and played one main electric guitar, an orange Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins hollow-body he bought brand-new in 1955 at age 16 from the Bell Gardens Music Center in his hometown, Bell Gardens, CA.

The guitar bore the serial number 16942, and his parents helped him buy it. A sharp young guitarist who was particular about his sound and knowledgeable about guitar design and modification, Cochran hot-rodded his Gretsch with a warmer-sounding "dog ear" neck pickup.

It was this guitar that accompanied Cochran on his rise to stardom. It was this guitar that Cochran played on hits such as Summertime Blues, Twenty Flight Rock, C'mon Everybody, Somethin' Else, Nervous Breakdown and Sittin' in the Balcony, which influenced generation of guitarists - and guitar royalty - to come. And it was this guitar that was in the trunk of the car on the April 1960 night that Cochran met his tragic and untimely fate on a winding rural road in Chippenham, England.

It is this famous guitar that has now been so painstakingly recreated by Gretsch, with the blessing of the Cochran family and with the reverence and sense of history that absolutely must be accorded in instrument of such import.

The delicate job was entrusted to Gretsch Custom Shop master luthier Stephen Stern, an acclaimed craftsman who is well aware of Cochran's place in music history and the historical significance of his guitar. Stern, along with Cochran's nephew, Ed Julson, traveled to Cleveland in January 2009 to examine the famous guitar at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

It should be noted here that the Cochran family has been extremely protective of Eddie Cochran's legacy and identity in general and his personal belongings in particular, not the least of which is his Gretsch guitar.

The story goes that the first policeman to arrive on the scene of accident that claimed Cochran's life on Easter Sunday 1960 found the guitar in the trunk of the car and removed it to his own home for several days so that it wouldn't be lost in the public melee surrounding the incident and the ensuing investigation.

The instrument was safely returned to the Cochran family home shortly thereafter, and there it stayed for many years. It became an instrument frozen in time: the strings were never even so much as loosened; the other contents of the case - guitar strap, polishing cloth, gig poster, etc., were left undisturbed. Eddie Cochran was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987; his family subsequently allowed the guitar to be displayed there, where it has remained ever since the museum opened in 1995.

The January 2009 examination held several emotional moments for all involved - especially Julson, who was only 3 years old when his 16-year-old uncle Eddie bought the guitar in 1955.

"To Eddie, it was - along with family - his first or second love," Julson said of the guitar. "For me, it's a part of someone I very much loved. He took exceptional care with it. It went everywhere with him - it was in the car no matter where he was going."

Stern and Julson arrived at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to find the guitar in what Stern called "very good condition - very little wear on the back; a little on the neck."

Gingerly handling the 54-year-old guitar with gloved hands and surgical focus, Stern proceeded to carefully spec out Cochran's guitar in meticulously exacting detail from headstock to tailpiece, leaving no measurement unrecorded, no matter how small.

That he was handling a genuine piece of music history was not lost on Stern.

"Eddie was a legend, a guitar hero and an innovator," he said. "He was at the birth of rock 'n' roll and rockabilly. He was one of the founding pioneers."

"To be able to have access to this guitar and to recreate it, especially being that this was his prime guitar - his only guitar - that he used throughout his career, to be able to hold and examine a part of rock 'n' roll history is just very exciting. You never dream that something would happen like this. I never did."The result of Stern's craftsmanship is a re-created Gretsch instrument that you could say is truly "something else."

Virtually indistinguishable from the original, the Gretsch Custom Shop G6120EC Eddie Cochran Tribute model is authentic in every detail, from the aluminum nut and bridge to the famous "dog ear" neck pickup; from the distressed vintage orange nitrocellulose lacquer finish to the relic gold-plated hardware and BigsbyB6GPVF vibrato tailpiece.

Its features include a bound laminated maple body and arched top, a specially shaped three-piece maple/walnut/maple neck with a 22-fret 9"-radius bound rosewood fingerboard, a Seymour Duncan"Dog Ear" single-coil neck pickup, a Seymour Duncan DynaSonic single-coil bridge pickup, three-way switching, rosewood bridge base, vintage-style gold GotohSE700-05M tuners, modified plexi pickguard, western block fingerboard inlays (depicting cactus, steer heads and fences), lower body bout "G" brand, and pearloid steer head/Gretsch logo inlay on the bound headstock.

The deluxe hardshell case also contains special commemorative materials, including a reprint of the concert poster found in Cochran's car after the accident, an Eddie Cochran Live at Town Hall Party DVD, a G6120EC Eddie Cochran Tribute model "making of" DVD, a reproduction of Cochran's original guitar strap, a reproduction of the Gretsch polishing cloth found in Cochran's guitar case after the accident, and some other surprises.

Frankly, the Gretsch Custom Shop G6120EC Eddie Cochran Tribute model is long overdue. Cochran's direct influence on guitarists such as Pete Townshend, George Harrison, Jimmy Page, Bryan Setzer and many others, and his pioneering contributions to rock 'n' roll and rockabilly, simply cannot be overestimated.

Cochran was a bona fide guitar hero in the era before guitar heroes, and one can only speculate on the musical heights he might have reached had he lived beyond the age of 21.His youthful spirit infuses that guitar to this day, and Gretsch is very proud indeed to introduce an instrument bearing his name.

"We're very honored to be able to recreate this instrument and have this history to carry on," Stern said. "It's going to carry on Eddie's legacy."

Source: http://www.journalgazette.net/

Artwork from the Punjab state of India decorates the Ray family home. A Johann Sebastian Bach statue sits on a piano. But in the basement – cluttered with wires, old concert fliers and drawings – 25-year-old Arjun Ray is fighting distortion from his electric guitar.

For this son of Indian immigrants, trained in classical violin and raised on traditional Punjab music, getting his three Pakistani-American bandmates in synch is the goal on this cold New England evening. Their band, The Kominas, is trying to record a punk rock version of the classic Bollywood song, "Choli Ke Peeche (Behind the Blouse)".

"Yeah," said Shahjehan Khan, 26, one of the band's guitarists, "there are a lot of contradictions going on here."

Deep in the woods of this colonial town boils a kind of revolutionary movement. From the basement of this middle-class home tucked in the woods west of Boston, The Kominas have helped launched a small, but growing, South Asian and Mideastern punk rock movement that is attracting children of Muslim and Hindu immigrants and drawing scorn from some traditional Muslims who say their political, hard-edged music is "haraam," or forbidden.

The movement, an anti-Establishment subculture borne of religiously conservative communities, is the subject of two new films and a hot topic on social-networking sites.

The artists say they are just trying to reconcile issues such as life in America, women's rights and homosexuality with Islam and old East vs. West cultural clashes.

"This is one way to deal with my identity as an Arab-American," said Marwan Kamel, the 24-year-old lead guitarist in Chicago-based Al-Thawra. "With this music, I can express this confusion."

A novel idea

The movement's birth is often credited to the novel "The Taqwacore," by Michael Muhammad Knight, a Rochester, N.Y.-raised writer who converted to Islam.

Knight coined the book's title from the Arabic word "Taqwa," which means "piety" or "God-fearing," and the word "hard-core." The 2003 book portrayed an imagined world of living-on-the-edge Muslim punk rockers and influenced real-life South Asians to form their own bands.

South Asian and Mideastern punk bands soon were popping up across America and communicating with each other via MySpace.

At the time of the book's release, Basim Usmani and Khan already were experimenting with punk and building the foundation for The Kominas, which loosely means "scoundrels" in various South Asian languages. When Usmani, now 26, came across the book, he was writing songs and sporting a Mohawk – just like the punk rocker on the novel's cover.

Usmani contacted Knight, who agreed to buy a bus on eBay for $2,000 to help launch the nation's first "Muslim punk rock tour" in 2007. Kamel, the son of a Syrian father and Polish mother, bought a one-way ticket to Boston to join the tour, and Canadian drag-queen singer Sena Hussain met up with them along the way.

The musicians performed at various venues but were notably kicked offstage during an open-mic performance at the Islamic Society of North America convention in Chicago. Traditional Muslims at the convention decried the electric guitar-based music as un-Islamic while others were upset a woman dared sing onstage. The episode was documented by Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker Omar Majeed in his new documentary "Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam."

"These guys are not prophetizing or preaching anything specific about Islam," said Majeed, whose film is set for release in the United States in 2010. "They just happen to be young and Muslim, and they write songs and do art that expresses that idea."

Gaining fans

Imam Talal Eid, executive director of the Islamic Institute of Boston, said some traditional Muslims might object to such music because they focus on its sexual attraction rather than its use for spiritual enjoyment.

"But I think we can come up with a moderate opinion that distinguished what is forbidden from what is not," Eid said. "It's a new issue among Muslims."

The musical style of each group varies. Some songs on The Kominas' album "Wild Nights in Guantanamo Bay" lean toward the humorous and ironic, including "Suicide Bomb the Gap." In their song "Sharia Law in the USA," the lyrics mock the portrayal of Islamists: "I am an Islamist/I am the Antichrist /most squares can't make a most-wanted list/but my-my how I stay in style." Their sound mixes hard-edged punk, ska and funk.

Meanwhile, Al-Thawra sings about political events in the Mideast with songs like "Gaza: Choking on the Smoke of Dreams." Their music is closer to heavy metal.

Other bands include the Washington, D.C.-based Sarmust and the Texas group Vote Hezbollah.

Like most punk groups, bands produce their own albums and sell them at shows and online.

Most band members hold full-time jobs, so tours are sporadic. Usmani works full time at a call center and writes occasionally for the Guardian newspaper in England. Ray is a medical researcher at Harvard.

The groups have toured since that first Taqwacore trip, playing in small clubs, in basements at parties and in Hispanic cultural centers. Typically, The Kominas and Al-Thawra say they play in front of 50 to 80 people.

The bands have noticed Latino punks getting into their music. Al-Thawra recently picked up a guitarist from Mexico City named Mario Salazar. The cover of Al-Thawra's next album will feature the image of the U.S.-Mexico border fused with Israel's West Bank separation barrier.

Getting attention

Alan Waters, an anthropology professor at University of Massachusetts-Boston, said it should come as no surprise that young Muslim and Hindu immigrants are expressing themselves through rock or that their music would strike a chord with other "disenfranchised" populations in the U.S., such as Hispanics and other children of recent immigrants.

"If they're touching or singing about identity, it's going to make a connection," Waters said. "Punk rock is very American, and this is assimilation through a back door."

He called the bands "a good opportunity for stereotype-smashing."

The Kominas, who sing mostly in English, now are trying to break the image they are just a "Muslim punk band," especially since one founder, Ray, is Hindu. On its next album, Ray said the band will have songs in Hindi.

Ray's father, Rahul, said he supports his son's artistic efforts, even if he doesn't fully understand the music.

"It's just very hard to make a living through music," said Ray, a cancer researcher at Boston University. "But they are getting attention for some reason."

Usmani said he grew up as a "non-religious" Muslim-American so his journey into punk caused few problems, although he admits his family doesn't like the drinking and smoking that pervade the music scene. Khan and Kominas drummer Imran Malik, 25, also said they aren't as observant as their families might like.

"I mean, if you put a sword to us," said Usmani, "one of us might pray."

During a recent performance by The Kominas in a Cambridge club, Usmani played guitar while wearing a round-topped hat known as a pakul along with the traditional lungi, a cloth that South Asian men wrap around their waists. An Iraqi woman in a hijab bobbed her head to the music while others slammed-danced in front of the stage. At one point, audience members yelled jokingly that their music was forbidden and playfully threw shoes at the band – an act usually identified as an insult among Muslims.

The bands represent just another example of creative youngsters doing what American kids have done for generations: forming bands and making loud music. The fact they are Muslim doesn't mean there's some hidden message; Vote Hezbollah goes so far as to denounce violence on its MySpace page.

Usmani said despite their obvious ironic messages, he fears that his band and others like it will keep getting "stupid questions" about subjects like Sept. 11.

For example, Usami said a reporter once questioned him on how he felt about some Muslims being terrorists. He responded by asking her how she, as a white person, felt about the African slave trade.

"We have people asking us about (stuff) that has nothing to do with chords we want to play," Usmani said. "Or how loud we want to be."

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/

Tattooing six of their underage children with a jerry-rigged machine, using a guitar string as the needle, sounded like a good idea to Patty Jo Marsh and her husband Jacob Edwards Bartels at the time. But the Georgia pair failed to recognize the consequences of their ink-fest, and they were arrested late last year after the biological mother of two of the children complained the tats wouldn't wash off. Go figure.

Turns out Georgia state law prohibits both tattoos on children and those created by unlicensed artist. Marsh and Bartels were arrested December 28, and are charged with three counts each of illegal tattooing, second degree child cruelty and reckless conduct. Both bonded out of jail Friday evening on $10,000 property bonds each.

Police say the "parents of the year" used a plastic pen body with a needle made from a guitar string connected to an electric motor to tattoo six children and themselves.

Five children, ages 10 to 17, got a cross-like tattoo on their hands and a sixth had "mom and dad" inked on his arm — in honor of you know who. Only the youngest child was ink-free. The Georgia Department of Family and Children's Services was called. All the children were placed with other family members upon the couple's arrest.

Marsh says she gave the children tattoos because "they asked us to."

"It's unusual," said Chattooga County Sheriff John Everett, to the city's local paper. "I've never seen parents tattooing their kids like that."

"I'm their mother. Shouldn't I be able to decide if they get one?," Marsh said, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, after being released from jail on bail.

"They weren't hurt by them," Marsh said to the paper.

"We would never do anything to hurt them….I don't understand why this is getting 'blowed up' so big."

Source: http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/

THE number of attacks on Edinburgh's parking enforcers has soared by a quarter in the last year - including an incident in which an attendant was smashed in the face with a guitar.
According to the private firm which provides attendants for the city council, there were 108 physical and verbal attacks in the 12 months to November.

The most shocking took place in Panmure Place, Tollcross, during which a parking attendant suffered facial injuries after being attacked by a member of the public wielding a guitar. As well as physical abuse, there were also seven racist incidents against staff.

Private firm NSL said the toll was "upsetting", but stressed that an increase in the number of attacks was as a result of better recording.

Tim Cowen, a spokesman for the company, said: "We have worked hard to encourage our staff to report every incident.

"In the past, understandably, many of our on-street team may have been reluctant to report more minor incidents of verbal abuse – but we believe every incident should be reported so we can get a true picture and take action where necessary.

"We have also signed a partnership deal with Lothian and Borders Police this year, and the police have pledged greater support for us in terms of reducing assaults.

"Part of that process is making sure we are rigorous about reporting every incident, no matter how minor.

"That is not to play down the problem of assaults and abuse of our staff – as far as we are concerned, one assault is one too many, and nobody should have to put up with that simply because of the job they do."

Of the 108 incidents, 56 were classified as "Code Red", meaning a parking attendant suffered violence or the threat of violence.

Of those, 23 resulted in minor injury. Only in the incident involving the guitar in July did a more serious injury occur.

The remaining 52 incidents were classified as "Code Yellow", meaning the attendant received verbal abuse. Seven of those incidents contained a racial element.

Last year, a parking attendant suffered an injured shoulder after a piece of scaffolding was thrown at him as he worked in Warrender Park Road, Marchmont.

The incident was among dozens recorded by the city council in which traffic wardens were headbutted, spat at and racially abused.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's transport convener, said: "Parking enforcement is an important public service that maintains safe, steady traffic flow and it is completely unacceptable for people to treat our parking attendants in this way."

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/

A Belmont woman who allegedly smashed a guitar over a man's head on New Year's Eve pleaded not guilty Monday to misdemeanor assault, a San Mateo County prosecutor said.

Allison Garcia, 34, was arrested on Dec. 31 after a fight with the 39-year-old victim at his Redwood City home, authorities said.

Prosecutors charged her with three misdemeanor counts of assault with a deadly weapon, domestic battery and violation of a protective order. She pleaded not guilty Monday to the charges and remained in custody Tuesday on $10,000 bail.

Investigators say the incident happened around 8:20 p.m. while Garcia was with her on-again off-again boyfriend at his home on the 500 block of Canoe Court. Garcia's 13-year-old son was also at the home and both Garcia and the victim had been drinking, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

According to the victim, Garcia offered to do a strip tease for him in front of the 13-year-old, and the victim "didn't think that was appropriate," Wagstaffe said.

A verbal argument between Garcia and the victim ensued and became physical when she started hitting him, Wagstaffe said. Garcia then grabbed a wooden guitar and smashed it over his head, Wagstaffe said.

Garcia's 13-year-old son witnessed the fight and called police, who arrived and arrested Garcia, said police Sgt. Dan Mulholland.

The victim was dazed but had no serious injuries and did not receive medical care, authorities said.

If convicted, Garcia faces up to 18 months in county jail, Wagstaffe said.

Source: http://blog.limewire.com/

A year ago (Jan. 6th) Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton met an untimely death at the age of 60. His life and music will be remembered at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles at a show organized by Leanna Asheton, Ron's 18 year-old niece, on Jan. 13th. The Jam For Ron Asheton-A Tribute to the Late Guitarist of The Stooges will feature performances by Clem Burke, Derek Stanton, Circus Boy and Night Horse. A star-studded jam session with Scott Asheton, Mike Watt and Steve Mackay of The Stooges, Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal) and others will close out the night. This begs the question: Will Iggy show up and pay homage to his bandmate?

Tickets for the Jam For Ron Asheton are available for $20.00 via The Roxy box office or at theroxyonsunset.com. Asheton was apparently an avid animal lover, so proceeds from the evening will go to the Los Angeles Animal Welfare Trust Fund.

Source: http://www.nme.com/

Former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has hailed a new range of Royal Mail stamps featuring classic British album covers.

The set of ten stamps, which enter circulation tomorrow (January 7), features iconic album covers including Blur's 'Parklife', The Clash's 'London Calling' and Led Zeppelin's 'IV'.

Speaking at the launch of the stamps at London's Rough Trade West, Page revealed the irony behind Led Zeppelin's iconic 'IV' album cover.

"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."

The full list of stamps featured in the series is:

Blur - 'Parklife'
Coldplay - 'A Rush of Blood to the Head'
David Bowie - 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars'
Led Zeppelin - 'IV'
Mike Oldfield - 'Tubular Bells'
New Order - 'Power, Corruption And Lies'
Pink Floyd - 'The Division Bell'
Primal Scream - 'Screamadelica'
The Clash - 'London Calling'
The Rolling Stones - 'Let It Bleed'

The latest episode of the world's longest running guitar related podcast is available for download.

Whilst our regular hosts, Pipes and PT, are taking a well earned break, the Bliss army have rallied round to republish, supplement and repackage, the original 12 "lost" episodes.

You can subscribe at http://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/rss or, using iTunes, at itpc://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/rss.

The episode can also be downloaded from http://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=566604

Source: http://247wallst.com/

Customers, employees, shareholders, and taxpayers hate large corporations for many reasons. 24/7 Wall St. has looked at many of these issues to choose the 15 most hated companies in America. We evaluated each company based on five criteria. First, employee impressions, using research firm Glassdoor and other services, were reviewed. Second, we considered total return to shareholders from these companies over one-year, two-year and five-year periods, compared to the broad market and other companies within the same sector. Several firms on our list are not public. Third, customer satisfaction numbers and reputation figures were analyzed from a broad array of sources, including Consumer Reports, JD Power, the MSN/Zogby poll, Vanno, and the University of Michigan American Customer Satisfaction Index were examined. Fourth, brand valuation changes were also reviewed based on data from Corebrands, Interbrand, and Brand Z. Finally, the views of taxpayers, Congress and the Administration of these companies were considered where applicable.

24/7 Wall St. analyzed data on hundreds of companies to produce this final 15.

Unfortunately for some of the companies on this list, they are widely despised because of the businesses that they are in. An airline or franchise operation which deals with millions of customers, particularly when its resources are stretched due to the economy, is likely to make a lot of enemies among customers and workers. This puts airlines and firms with a large number of retail outlets at a disadvantage compared with companies with few customers, particularly if those customers are other large businesses. Airlines have also had to cut huge numbers of employees which affects both their relationships with workers and customers who may suffer from cuts in service.

Several companies which seem to belong on the on this list due to recent news, particularly Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) and AT&T (NYSE:T), are not there. Goldman was inundated by negative publicity because taxpayers and Congress are concerned that the bank's pay packages are far too generous. But, Goldman has done a very good job for most of its customers. Its stock has nearly doubled over the past year. Goldman's employees, particularly those who are rich because of their tenure at the firm, are great supporters of the bank.

AT&T has also been in the news a because of problems that its 3G customers, especially those who own Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhones, have had with the AT&T wireless service. But, AT&T has millions of other business and residential customers, a brand which continues to be a powerful marketing tool, and earnings which have kept most of its shareholders loyal.

Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) was also considered for the list. Its customer satisfaction ratings are low. A number of its shareholders are upset over its deal to take control of NBC Universal. But, Comcast's return to shareholders has been adequate, based on 24/7 measurements. Many companies could be added to this list if there were only one factor under evaluation, be it their relationship with employees, shareholders, or customers.

It is worth noting that two companies that might have been on a list of this kind five years ago, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) are not. Each company has, as far as the public, customers, and employees are concerned, improved its business practices, at least to the extent to which it affects the way that the companies are viewed based on the 24/7 Wall St criteria.

Here is the list in rank order starting with AIG, the most hated company in America:

1. AIG (NYSE:AIG) is the most hated company in America. Taxpayers despise the firm because it received nearly $180 billion in government aid. AIG has fired enough people and operates under such pressure to turn around its operations that employee morale is understandably low. The firm's brand is worth so little that some of its divisions have aggressively begun to market themselves under names other than AIG. Vanno's company reputation index puts AIG as No. 5585 among the 6075 firms that it measures. AIG's market cap lost over 99% of its value during the last two years, virtually wiping out the firm's equity investors. CEO Robert Benmosche pressed for a rich pay package while his predecessor worked for $1.

2. United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAUA) has been one of the worst performing airline stocks over the last two years, down almost 60%. United ranked last along with US Air (NYSE:LCC) in the 2009 JD Power survey among traditional carriers as it posted poor results for "reservation experience", "check-in experience", and "costs and fees." United also ranked last in a recent University of Michigan Ross School of Business consumer satisfaction survey. Research that 24/7 Wall St. examined revealed that employee work satisfaction was very low.

3. Level 3 (NASDAQ:LVLT) is one of the nation's largest broadband networks, a roll-up of a number of smaller businesses. The execution of the business strategy was flawed and integration problems were severe. Level 3's stock is down 50% over the last two years. The company has been plagued by customer complaints. Level 3 has fired a number of people over the last three years due management's ability to quickly and successfully integrate its patch-work of businesses, and its inability to reduce the firm's huge financial losses.

4. Hertz (NYSE:HTZ), the largest car rental company in the US, has had its share of financial problems. This has resulted in massive layoffs. Hertz stock has performed about as well as the DJIA over the last two years. Some investors became concerned when Hertz was placed on the Audit Integrity list of American companies most likely to go bankrupt. Hertz filed a suit against the research company but subsequently dropped it. Like many of the largest airlines and other travel firms, Hertz suffers from being in a business in which it has to satisfy millions of customers during an economic downturn. Hertz makes the Glassdoor list of "worst companies to work for." Hertz was also on the primary list in an investigative report into "Aggressive Sales Tactics on the Internet and Their Impact on American Consumers" which was produced for a hearing on the subject by the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Vanno gives Hertz low rating for both customer and employee satisfaction

5. Citigroup's (NYSE:C) relationship with its customers, shareholders, and investors was badly damaged by the decisions of its management, under the leadership of former CEO Sandy Weill, who cobbled together the ungainly financial supermarket through acqusitions. Citigroup built a massive financial institution with divisions which took unimaginable risks. This corporate culture of risk taking nearly ruined the company. Citi rates at or near the bottom of the JD Power regional bank rankings. It is also near the bottom of the JD Power credit card satisfaction survey. Citi has been damaged by the impact of the overall reputation of credit card companies which has been hurt by the recession. Many credit card firms have begun to add new fees to offset government restrictions on rates further enraging customers. Citi is the second largest issuer of cards in America, with 92 million cards in circulation. The value of the company's shares is off about 90% over the last two years. Citi's CEO Vikram Pandit is not considered up to the job, and on his watch the bank has fired tens of thousands of people.

6. K-Mart is one of the two large retail units of Sears Holdings (NASDAQ:SHLD). Sears has worked on a turnaround since it merged with K-Mart in late 2004. Since the merger, the Sears stock is down about 10%. The American Customer Satisfaction Index for Sears Holdings stores was below all major discount and department stores except Wal-Mart during the last full year of the poll. K-Mart gets poor scores for employee satisfaction from Glassdoor and parent Sears does poorly on the employee satisfaction list from Vanno.

7. Blackwater Worldwide, the military contractor, is a special case because it does not show up on any major reputation surveys and it is a private company, although based on news stories is may be one of the better-known company names in America. Blackwater specializes in security and has been heavily involved in providing services for the US government in Iraq. The company was founded by Erik Prince, a former navy seal and heir to an automotive-part empire. Blackwater was implicated in an event in which 17 Iraqi civilians were killed. The Iraqi government revoked the company's operating license following this. While an American court recently cleared the company of any criminal activity, the Iraqi government has stated that it intends to file a lawsuit against Blackwater in both U.S. and Iraqi courts. In an effort to distance itself from its negative public perception, the company recently changed its name to Xe Services LLC. Blackwater operates out of an area in North Carolina knows as the Great Dismal Swamp. The inclusion of the company on the list is the only example of an "editor's choice", not based on our normal criteria.

8. Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) has underperformed its peer group in the stock market by a wide margin. Dell's shares are off over 30% over the last two years while the share of Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) and IBM (NYSE:IBM) have shown impressive gains. The PC industry's score has been steadily increasing in the American Customer Service Index over the last decade, up from a 71 of 100 rating in 2001 to 75. Dell's score has dropped from 78 to 75. Dell trail Apple, Toshiba, and HP is many Consumer Reports measurements of laptop computers by screen size. It does somewhat better in the slow-growing desktop business and has abysmal scores in the fastest growing part of the PC industry—netbooks. In the netbook category Consumer Reports ranks Dell behind seven other manufacturers. In Forrester's recent Customer Experience Index rankings, Dell was behind every other PC maker measured. Dell employees have been through a series of layoffs which included 8,800 people in 2008 and at least another 1,400 last year. Dell fired another group in November.

9. Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF) The retailer has posted dismal results over the last two years, with its same-stores sales down by double digits most months. The company is the only retailer to make the 2009 MSN "Customer Service Hall of Shame" two years in a row and the only retailer in the top 10. Employee reaction to the company and CEO as measured at Glassdoor is relatively poor. Employee and customer satisfaction are both low in the Vanno ratings. Abercrombie & Fitch shares are down over 50% during the last two years.

10. Chrysler is once again a private company, after the government shepherded it through Chapter 11. The car firm is managed by Fiat, which has taken an equity position in Chrysler but has put in no capital. Consumer Reports puts the Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge brands at or near the bottom of its reliability ratings, suggesting that consumers who buy the company's cars are disproportionately unhappy compared to other car buyers. Chrysler also does poorly in most JD Power research. Chrysler's ongoing waves of lay-offs and employee buyouts have irreparably damaged its relationship with workers and with many of the communities where is has, or had, operations.

11. Dish Network (NYSE:DISH), the satellite TV company, has had a drop in its stock price of over 35% during the last two years. The Wall Street Journal recently pointed out that the firm has lost customers to rival DirecTV (NYSE:DTV). Dish has had customer service issues that have undermined its efforts to keep clients. The firm did add subscribers in the most recent quarter. Dish's reputation was hurt in the recent past by the problems that led it to pay $6 million in a settlement with 46 state attorneys general, resolving allegations that the satellite TV provider and its third-party retailers violated do-not-call rules and engaged in deceptive and unfair sales practices. Recent JD Power data puts Dish service ratings behind offerings from AT&T (NYSE:T) and Verizon (NYSE:VZ).

12. Rite Aid's (NYSE:RAD) stock is down nearly 50% over the last five years and nearly 30% over the last two. The company's purchase of Brooks and Eckerd stores was handled badly and Rite Aid sustained huge losses. Rite Aid has had repeated labor problems and has faced legal and political actions because the way it treated workers. These complaints may not have always be justified, but they have significantly undermined employee loyalty. Rite Aid's reputation scores from both Glassdoor and Vanno are particularly low. The fact that Rite Aid has almost 5,000 store, tens of thousands of low-paid workers, and millions of customers serving a population that is likely to be unhappy with much of the healthcare system, makes it particularly difficult for the firm to improve its reputation.

13. Gibson Guitar is the lowest rated company on the Glassdoor list. Gibson is privately held. The firm is based in Nashville. Gibson got into financial trouble in the early 1980s and was rescued by a group of investors in 1986. Gibson had several layoffs that cut its workforce by about 20% by mid-2009. There have been a number of complaints about the quality of the company's products recently. In November, it was revealed that Gibson was being investigated for violating the Lacey Act, a key piece of environmental law, for importing endangered species of rosewood from Madagascar. The alleged violation has gone over poorly with Gibson customers and may hurt sales.

14. Forever 21 is a clothing retailer. A large number of the items it sells are private label. Forever 21 has been attacked for its labor practices. A number of employees took legal action against the company and the dispute was only settled when these workers were given "back wages." The use of fur in some of its garments has been attacked by PETA. They have been accused of blatantly knocking off designs from designers including Anna Sui, Gwen Stefani, and Diane von Fürstenberg. The clothing company was criticized recently for its refund policies.

15. Sprint (NYSE:S) is a great example of the inability of strong management to fix a company that is in real trouble. JD Power rates Sprint at the lowest end of its surveys on wireless call quality, customer care, and wireless retail sales. Consumer Reports ranks Sprint third among the four firms it rates for overall cell phone service. MSN/ Zogby has Sprint among the top ten companies in its "Hall of Shame". Sprint also ranks at the bottom of the wireless industry in the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Sprint's shares are down 70% during the last two years. Moody's downgraded Sprint's debt in November, putting further financial pressure on the company. Glassdoor reports that employees think well of CEO Dan Hesse but not as well of the company. Sprint has laid off so many people that employee hostility toward the company is not surprising.

Source: http://www.musicradar.com/

PRESS RELEASE: Fender introduces the next step in the ongoing evolution of its acclaimed and highly successful G-DEC (Guitar Digital Entertainment Center) amp series, the G-DEC 3.

Available in 30-watt and 15-watt versions, the G-DEC 3 series takes an exciting leap forward in technology and content in that the world's top artists and session aces created many of its 100 presets and audio performance loops - delivering genre-accurate, non-generic audio.

Further, both amps can be connected to your computer by USB to engage the exclusive Fender FUSE software interface, which lets you customize your G-DEC 3. Fender FUSE is the key to creating, connecting and configuring with your G-DEC 3 by downloading and uploading backing tracks; editing, storing and deep-editing the performance parameters of both amps, and swapping files with other members of the worldwide Fender FUSE community.

Included in the 30-watt G-DEC 3 Thirty and 15-watt G-DEC 3 Fifteen are presets and performance loops by a diverse wealth of rock, blues, metal and country artists including Eric Johnson, Charlie Benante and Frank Bello of Anthrax, Def Leppard's Phil Collen, Fall Out Boy's Joe Trohman, Brad Paisley, Dweezil Zappa, Jim "Rev. Horton Heat" Heath, Keith Urban, Hatebreed, Nils Lofgren, Gary Hoey, Crooked X, bassist Tony Franklin, Strung Out and many others.

These great names, however, aren't the only reason that both new G-DEC 3 amps are amazing for rehearsing and recording. With so many loops available in so many styles, and much like many media players, G-DEC 3 amps can be customized to be all-metal, all-blues, all-country, etc - whatever you want.

Both offer digital amp and effects models that let you create your own arsenal of guitar tones suited to every style of playing, onboard mp3 and wav file storage and playback, and a multi-function SD card slot for unlimited storage of presets and audio content. Presets and onboard backing tracks can easily be mixed and matched for exciting solo jam sessions in many musical styles.

"This is really a unique project," said Shane Nicholas, senior marketing manager for Fender guitar amps. "Because we have metal guys like Anthrax playing the metal rhythm section stuff; we have blues guys doing the blues backing tracks and the blues presets; country guys and actual R&B legends doing tracks.

"So it has a very authentic feel and sound, unlike things that are done strictly in the lab under a microscope. Add in the incredible potential of Fender FUSE, and you have what we believe is the finest practice amp in the world, connected to the world."

The new G-DEC 3 amplifiers will be in stores worldwide in April 2010.

Source: http://www.musicradar.com/

PRESS RELEASE: The latest incarnations of Fender's famous Telecaster and Stratocaster models comprise the new American Special series - built "by the people, for the people" as value-laden "guitars for the times."

They are designed specifically to bring the full Fender experience of a terrific-sounding, smooth playing, rock-solidly-built US-made Fender guitar to players everywhere.

The three instruments in the new series - the American Special Telecaster, American Special Stratocaster and American Special Stratocaster HSS - are highly-affordable US-made Fender electric guitars that are within the reach of an entire spectrum of players. As such, they share many features with their cousins in the acclaimed Highway One and American Standard series.

All three American Special guitars feature alder bodies with gloss urethane finishes, 9.5"-radius maple necks with jumbo frets, and Fender's best-selling Texas Special pickups (the Stratocaster HSS also has an Atomic humbucking bridge pickup).

The American Special Telecaster has a vintage-style string-through-body Telecaster bridge with three brass saddles, a black pickguard, and is available in Olympic White and Three-color Sunburst.

American Special Stratocaster has a vintage-style synchronized tremolo and white pickguard, and is available in Candy Apple Red and Two-color Sunburst.

The American Special Stratocaster HSS has a rosewood fingerboard, black pickguard and vintage-style synchronized tremolo, and is available in Black and Three-color Sunburst.

"These new instruments are a result of listening to direct player feedback and acting on it," said Justin Norvell, marketing director for Fender electric guitars.

"The challenge was to maximize the value without compromising at all – in fact, in many ways, we upgraded the feature sets. Fender has long been considered the 'workingman's guitar' by the player community – and these guitars have been brought to life in that spirit.

Source: http://breakingnews.iol.ie/

U2 guitarist The Edge has said he hates jamming.

The 48-year-old musician – real name David Howell Evans - claims that he tries to "avoid" situations where he has to play with other guitarists.

He said: "Jamming is really the most awful, excruciating experience for me, I really don't enjoy it.

"First of all that's not how I work as a guitar player. I compose using the instrument, I don't really sit down and play for the sake of playing stuff."

Discussing U2's latest album 'No Line On The Horizon', which sold four million copies, Edge suggested that it was not well-received because the songs were not "really radio friendly".

He added to the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Even 'Get On Your Boots', which is high octane, its not a slam dunk of a hit song. I think everyone has just got caught up in the plan as opposed to sitting back and thinking about the record we'd made. But I feel OK about it."

[editorial note: More detailed info about Edge's thoughts on jamming, as well as playing with Jimmy Page and Jack White at http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/]

Source: http://www.nme.com/

Kravitz says track online is previously unreleased new material

A new collaboration song between Michael Jackson and Lenny Kravitz has been confirmed as genuine by Kravitz after it leaked online.

An unfinished, unmixed version of a song named 'Another Day' recently surfaced, with Kravitz confirming in a Facebook video that is was the fruits of a collaboration between him and the late singer. He said the full version of the song would be released in the future.

"This song was recorded by Michael and myself," he explained. "I produced it for him, I wrote the song and played all the instruments.

"It was one of the most amazing musical experiences I have ever had. It was done by two people with respect for each other and [who] love music, that was it. I'd like to get this thing straightened out as soon as possible because I'd like you the fans to be able to hear the track in its entirety. That's all being worked out. I'll get back to you as soon as I have more information."

Source: http://www.undercover.com.au/

30-year old Los Angeles guitarist and producer Josh Klinghoffer is the replacement for John Frusciante in Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Klinghoffer was a member of short-lived L.A. experimental band Ataxia that also included Frusciante as well as Fugazi bass player Joe Lally. Klinghoffer was the drummer in that band.

He has played as a session musician over the years with Beck, Butthole Surfers, PJ Harvey, Gnarls Barkley and the Chili Peppers.

He also worked on Frusciante’s solo albums so he is a well-qualified replacement in the Chili Peppers.

John Frusciante left Red Hot Chili Peppers a year ago but only made it known officially in December 2009.

Red Hot Chili Peppers have been working on their next album since October, 2009 and it will be released in late 2010.

There first show with Josh will be on January 29, 2010 when they pay tribute to Neil Young at MusiCares.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Child-protection groups are pushing for the band's halftime show to be dropped after guitarist Pete Townshend's 2003 arrest for accessing child pornography online.

A child-abuse activist group is pushing for The Who to be dropped from the NFL Super Bowl, citing Pete Townshend's 2003 arrest for accessing child pornography online. The classic-rock band are scheduled to perform at the American football final's halftime show, on 7 February.

"The Who [are] a great band. Pete Townshend is the only issue here," wrote Child Abuse Watch founder Evin Daly in an open letter to the National Football League commissioner. Townshend was charged by British police in 2003, four years after he used his credit card to access a Texas-based child pornography website. He pleaded guilty, claiming he had been revisiting childhood memories of sexual assault as research for his autobiography. Townshend received a police caution, but was cleared on charges of possession of indecent pictures, as no images had been kept on his computer. Townshend's name remained on the UK sex offenders' register for five years.

"Inviting Townsend to play is a blatant disregard to the values of American families and a slap in the face to victims of child sexual abuse," wrote Daly. The same sentiment was expressed in a letter by another US group, Protect Our Children, which wrote to the US department of immigration and Florida's attorney general, asking them to reject Townshend's visa. "We acknowledge he was not convicted, but he was on [the UK] sex offenders' list," wrote Protect Our Children president Kevin Gillick. "In the United States, you're on a sex offenders' list for life."

Super Bowl XLIV will take place at Miami's Land Shark stadium, before a television audience of up to 100m people. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy underlined that The Who will be performing as scheduled – with Townshend on guitar. "UK police cleared him since was doing research for a project on child abuse," McCarthy told the Associated Press.

Source: https://www.premierguitar.com/

Rumors of new Mesa/Boogie rectifiers have been confirmed by Haggerty's Musicworks, who have posted a blog with details and photos of the 2010 amps. Here's the information via Haggerty's Musicworks:

Introducing the new Dual and Triple Rectifiers for 2010 - Prepare to meet the finest sounding, most addictive feeling and stylistically versatile Dual & Triple Rectifiers we have ever made!

We’ve painstakingly poured over this new design for more than a year and a half, comparing and play-testing it against original 2 and 3 Channel Rectifiers to ensure that we not only preserved every nuance that made the originals legendary icons, but that any change made maintained or exceeded the original standards... Not a small or simple task, as our competition can attest to, but one that we think you’ll agree was well worth the effort.

We are very excited to introduce the new Dual & Triple Rectifier for 2010 and invite you to plug in and play-test it for yourself. We are confident that it’s going to take you beyond that place you remember… You know, that amazing feeling of almost disbelief when you plugged into a Recto for the first time… hit that first chord and were pressed back with arguably one of the most defining guitar tones of our time. The new Rectos aren’t just that good… They really are BETTER!!! We can’t wait for you to play these new amps and experience that feeling all over again!

New Improvements / Features:
1. Patented Multi-Watt Channel Assignable Power – Allows you to assign either 2 or 4 Power Tubes to each Channel for Power Ratings of 50 or 100 Watts of Class A/B Power via independent 50/100 Watt Power Select Switches. The Triple Rectifier allows you to do the same however with either 2 or all 6 Power Tubes for Power Ratings of 50 or 150 Watts per channel via independent 50/150 Watt Power Select Switches.
2. Patented Channel Assignable Dual Rectification with Recto Tracking – Allows you to assign either Tube Rectification or Silicon Diode Rectification to each Channel to fine tune the feel and character of each Channel.
3. New Footswitchable, Tube-Driven SERIES FX Loop – Vastly improved performance and tone with Multi-Effects than Parallel Loop - Exceptionally transparent in preserving your tone while being easier to use with any type of effects. The original Rectifiers featured a Series Loop.
4. New Tuner Output with Footswitchable Tuner Mute
5. New Compact Footswitch – New 3x3 Stacked, 6 Button Footswitch – Top Row = Mute, FX Loop & Solo, Bottom Row = Channel 1, 2 & 3
6. Improved Clean & Pushed Modes (Channel 1): Clean Mode features improved headroom for amazing clarity and the most sparkling bell-tone cleans ever from a Recto, even with hotter humbuckers. Pushed Mode features tighter, more focused and percussive low end with an amazing range of gain from Overdrive textures to full-on ripping Crunch.
7. Improved Channel Cloning on Channels 2 & 3 – Raw, Vintage and Modern modes have been further optimized for more similar performance on either channels
8. Improved Presence Control on Vintage Mode – Provides better high-end balance and control between Vintage and Modern Modes
9. No Price Increase – All this for the same price as the current 3 Channel version

Source: http://www.nme.com/

Live music performances for 100 people or less will no longer need a licence under new plans

New proposals are being put forward by the Government to relax its laws on licensing for live music in small venues.

Live music performances for 100 people or less will no longer need to be licensed, under plans announced today (December 31) by licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe.

Under the proposals, an exemption from the Licensing Act for small live music events would make it easier for a wide range of venues to put on live music, and help musicians who want to play to a live audience.

"Going to see a band, musician or singer is a very important part of many people’s lives and we're keen to do what we can to support audiences and musicians," explained Mr Sutcliffe.

"An exemption for venues with 100 people or less would benefit many small venues, particularly unlicensed premises such as village halls and cafes, which may currently be put off by licensing requirements.

"But we are also proposing that the exemption can be revoked at individual premises if there have been problems with noise, nuisance or disorder."

Under current laws, anyone wanting to put on live music must have a premises licence, a club premises certificate or a temporary event notice, although there are some exceptions for incidental, background music.

An exemption would ensure that all licensed premises such as pubs and clubs would be able to put on small scale live music, regardless of whether or not their existing licence included a provision for staging entertainment events.

Unlicensed premises such as cafes, restaurants, village halls and record shops would also be able to host events without the need for a licence.

But the exemption would only apply to performances that are indoors, and take place between 8am and 11pm.

Martin Rawlings, director of pub and leisure at the British Beer and Pub Association said: "The BBPA welcomes any measures that can help pubs overcome existing barriers to putting on live music, helping aspiring and established musicians to reach audiences while at the same time boosting business, particularly during these difficult economic times."