Showing posts with label Elvis Costello. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elvis Costello. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

George Thorogood And The Destroyers & Queensryche Invade Clearwater This Fall



 By Ray Shasho

It just keeps getting better at Tampa Bay’s hottest venue. Ruth Eckerd Hall has recently announced more great Rock favorites to arrive at the Hall this Fall Season.

First, it’s Rick Springfield with Mickey Thomas and Starship on Saturday September 3rd. Tickets go on sale this Friday July 15th at Noon. The Aussie-born Springfield is best known for Top10 classics “Jessie’s Girl” (Peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Top 100) and “I’ve Done Everything For You.” Rick Springfield followed with a string of hits that included “Don’t Talk To Strangers” and “Affair of the Heart.”

Mickey Thomas was the lead singer of the Jefferson Starship through the 80’s and 90’s. His distinct sound can be heard on classic rock hits like “Jane,” and Starship classics, “No Way Out,” “We Built This City,” “Sara.” and “Nothing Gonna Stop Us Now." Thomas was also lead vocalist on the mega-hit “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” with The Elvin Bishop Band.

Then Queensryche will be arriving in Clearwater on Sunday November 20th for their Thirtieth Anniversary tour. The band has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide. Queensryche’s Progressive /Heavy Metal influence began to astonish fans with their 1988 critically acclaimed concept album- Operation: Mindcrime.

Their following album Empire was the band’s most commercially successful release. The album sold over two million copies primarily due to the haunting ballad “Silent Lucidity” composed by guitarist Chris DeGarmo. The song is believed to be based upon the act of lucid dreaming. The tune became the band’s first top 10 single.

In 1994, Queensryche released Promise Land which eventually became certified platinum. A follow- up to Operation: Mindcrime was announced in July of 2004. The band then hit the road with “An Evening with Queensryche tour.”  The band embarked on the second leg of the tour in 2005 and followed with the third leg of the tour supporting Judas Priest.  
Operation: Mindcrime II was released in March of 2006. Ronnie James Dio appeared on the album providing the vocals as Dr. X, the villain. The album was their first to be released on their new label Rhino Entertainment.

In 2007 Queensryche released Sign of the Times, a greatest hits album.
Also that year, the band released a cover album dedicated to Queen, U2, The Police, Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd.
The band’s 11th studio effort was another concept album called American Soldier in 2009. Ironically the band was present during an attack on a U.S. military position in Iraq in 2010. Initial reports said that members of the band were injured from the attack but the reports turned out to be false. Queensryche was in Iraq to entertain the troops.

Dedicated to Chaos is the band’s latest release. Queensryche is currently on tour with Judas Priest for their Epitaph Tour before beginning the Thirtieth Anniversary tour.
George Thorogood And The Destroyers will take the stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Tuesday November 29th.

The Wilmington Delaware native Thorogood is a Blues- rock guitarist best known for his 1982 trademark song “Bad to the Bone.”  The band’s self titled debut album was released in 1977. Their second album was called Move It On Over and was released in 1978. The album included the Hank Williams remake title track and Bo Diddley cover tune “Who Do You Love?” 

George Thorogood And The Destroyers (Sometimes called the Delaware Destroyers) supported The Rolling Stones on their U.S. tour in 1981.

Thorogood’s version of “Bad to the Bone” and “Who Do You Love” (Appearing on Samuel Adams beer commercial) has enjoyed enormous financial success for use on advertisements, TV shows and movies.
2120 South Michigan Avenue is George Thorogood’s 15th studio album and set to be released on July 12th. The album includes cover songs from Blues legends Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter and other Chess Records greats, as well as new original songs written by Thorogood.

George Thorogood And The Destroyers will also be one of the bands performing on the Rock Legends Cruise on December 1st-headlined by ZZ Top.

Tickets are currently not available online for both George Thorogood and Queensryche. Please call the ticket office to check on current availability – (727) 791-7400. Or check back for updates right here.

Elvis Costello and The Imposters   "The Revolver Tour" -The Return of the Fabulous Spinning Songbook was just announced during the publication of this article. The concert is scheduled for Sunday September 17th at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Call the ticket office for availability or check back here for updates.

Order my new book called Check the Gs The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business. Available NOW at http://rayshasho.com/

 “I found Check the Gs to be pure entertainment, fantastic fun and a catalyst to igniting so many memories of my own life, as I too am within a few years of Ray.  So to all, I say if you have a bit of grey hair (or no hair), buy this book!  It’s a great gift for your “over-the-hill” friends, or for their kids, if they are the history buffs of younger generations trying to figure out why we are the way we are.”
~~Pacific Book Review








Contact Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com