Cheap Trick and the Tampa Bay Lightning rock the St Pete Times Forum

By Ray Shasho

Cheap Trick played a remarkable concert after the conclusion of game four of the Lightning- Bruins Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday. Surprisingly, the show was only recently announced on May 19th.
Original members- lead vocalist Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielson and bassist Tom Petersson, along with drummer Daxx Nielson were there for one purpose, to incite an already jubilant crowd into boosting their Tampa Bay Lighting team into the Stanley Cup Finals.
Perhaps the decision to bring in Cheap Trick after the game was also for good luck. In June of 2004 the band played after a game during their last playoff run for the cup and they actually ended up winning the championship.
Using Cheap Trick as a lucky rabbit’s foot definitely worked its magic on Saturday. The Lightning were down 3-0 after the first period when karma finally kicked in. The team scored (3) quick goals in the second period and (2) more in the third period to win the game 5-3.

A few of Tampa’s finest were brought in to help sing the lyrics for “Dream Police” in 2004 and hey, why not do it again in 2011. So they did. And the officer in question surprisingly sang all the lyrics perfectly. Even Cheap Trick was amazed at the officers' performance.
Cheap Trick dazzled a euphoric Lightning crowd with their opening tune, “Hello There,” followed by “Tonight It’s You,” and “California Man” a tune first released in 1972 by The Move. Then the band played their commercially successful hit “I Want You to Want Me.” A live version of the song was released in 1979 reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song also appeared on the 1999 soundtrack of the movie ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ and sung by Boston’s alternative rockers - Letters To Cleo.
Their setlist continued with “She’s Tight,” “Baby Loves to Rock,” and “In the Street.” (The theme song for That 70’s Show)
Then Cheap Trick appeased the crowd with “Sick Man of Europe” and their 1978 Billboard hit “Surrender” from their album Heaven Tonight.
The show wound down with their 1979 top 30 hit “Dream Police” written by Rick Nielson followed by “Auf Wiedersehen” and “Goodnight Now.”

Cheap Trick's latest album was released in June of 2009 and amply titled The Latest.
Over the year's the band has been empowered with such legendary producers as Sir George Martin(The Beatles) and Todd Rundgren.

It was another monumental day of Championship NHL hockey and Classic Rock & Roll - thanks to the St Pete Times Forum and The Tampa Bay Lightning.
I’d like to thank Mark Weaver for the awesome pictures that he took at the concert; he really is a great photographer.

HERE’S A CONCERT NEWS FLASH
Peter Frampton finally announced Florida dates for his Frampton Comes Alive! 35 Tour.
Peter Frampton is coming to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on October 8th and at Hard Rock Live in Orlando on October 11th.
The tour will feature Frampton’s 1976 multi-platinum selling album in its entirety.
Check back here for ticket information.


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KISS Guitarist Ace Frehley Rocks the Forum in Tampa

By Ray Shasho

The Tampa Bay Lightning couldn’t overcome a 2-1 deficit inside the St Pete Times Forum on Friday evening, but rocker Ace Frehley and his band jammed outside to exhilarate the crowd after the disappointing loss to the Ottawa Senators.

An evening of Hockey plus Rock & Roll equals euphoria.
The St Pete Times Forum’s idea of mixing the both for one gratifying evening was pure genius.
 A-Rod and Cameron Diaz even watched from one of the suites.

When the near capacity crowd exited the arena, Ex-Kiss rock and roll hero ‘Space Ace’ Frehley electrified the audience with several big- league guitar solos on his Gibson Les Paul.

Ace wore his favorite number 27 on a Tampa Bay Lightning jersey with his name embedded on the back and wore dark shades throughout the concert. While Ace played and sang he consistently bombarded the crowd with his Guitar Picks.

Frehley astonished the huge Tampa Bay Lightning crowd with his own musical triumphs and songs that he recorded with his old band mates.

It was great to see Ace! Kiss will never be the same band without him. It was always Ace Frehley’s guitar solos and stage presence that made KISS a credible band and not just a visual rock extravaganza.  And I’ve witnessed KISS shows since 1975 when Rush supported them and ticket prices were only $5.50.

Some of the heavy driven rock tunes belted out by Ace and his band Friday evening were “Snowblind” and “New York Groove” from his first solo album in 1978. All the Kiss members released solo efforts that year but Frehley’s album outsold- his three band mates.
Ace played “Sister” from his latest venture- Anomaly and “Rock Soldiers” from his second album -Frehley’s Comet.

Ace Frehley reminded the Tampa crowd that he was almost electrocuted in Lakeland at the Civic Center in 1976, then immediately jumped into his tune “Shock Me” a song both written and sung by Ace on the Kiss- Love Gun album in 1977.

The ‘Spaceman’ launched his old bag of tricks when his electric guitar discharged flames and smoke. The haze encircled the ‘rocketeer rocker’ during one of many impressive guitar solos.

Ace banged out KISS favorites “Love Gun,” along with “Deuce” featuring the choreographed- head bobbing- guitar swaying strut that KISS fans always anticipated during the peak of the song.  The concert concluded with “Cold Gin” from the inaugural- KISS album.

Ace Frehley’s show was action-packed and he left you standing there wanting more…
ACE! ACE! ACE!

Frehley turns 60 on April 27th.

Ace Frehley will be featured on VH1’s Classic’s “That Metal Show” on March 26th.

Ace Trivia- When asked who is biggest influence was Frehley remarked that it was his fellow-Bronx neighbor Peppy Castro. Castro was a founding member of the psychedelic rock group the Blues Magoos. (We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet) Castro taught Ace how to play the guitar.

I want to personally thank Brian Breseman, Scott Audette and Jessica Eckley for their wonderful hospitality at the St Pete Times Forum.

http://www.kissarmysweden.net/ace-still-smoking My article on KISS Army website in Sweden

http://malijasmin.jimdo.com/archives/ My pictures on website in Japan

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Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks open their co-headlined tour in Florida

By Ray Shasho

It’s a classic rock double billing starring Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks, and it premiers in Florida. “The Heart & Soul Tour”, will launch March 20th at the BankAtlantic Center http://www.bankatlanticcenter.com/index2.asp  in Fort Lauderdale and make a stop in Tampa at the St. Pete Times Forum on March 23rd.

According to Rod Stewarts website, tickets for the Heart & Soul Tour will go on sale this Friday, January 21st at 10 am.  http://www.rodstewart.com/us/home
Tickets for the Tampa show will go on sale this Saturday, January 22nd at 10 am. Ticket prices are $49.50, $75.00, $95.00 and $149.50. http://www.sptimesforum.com/

Stewart says,

“We haven’t yet begun rehearsals but I can already tell you this, with Stevie on board our audiences are in store for an evening of pure rock & roll music. I’m already thinking about which of my old favourites to bring back and vocally, I think we’ve both begun thinking about which songs might be great fun and well-suited for a duet or two."

Stevie Nicks will be releasing her first new material in a decade with a new CD called, In: Your Dreams on May 3rd.  Stevie’s new CD is available for fans to pre order at stevienicks.warnerreprise.com.
Nicks is now 62 years of age.
She joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974. The band was actually formed in 1967 in London. The only original member of the band that remains today is drummer Mick Fleetwood.
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album won a Grammy award for the “Album of the year” in 1977. http://www.fleetwoodmac.com/

In 1981 Nicks released her first solo album Bella Donna. The album hit number one on the U.S. Billboard charts and continues to be her best selling solo album of all-time. http://rockalittle.com/  the official Stevie Nicks website.
Stevie Nicks loves to draw angels. She started drawing after her best friend Robin Anderson died of Leukemia. http://www.inherownwords.com/art.htm

Rod Stewart finished 2010 at the top of the album and touring charts.
He turned 66 on January 10th.

Stewart is a longtime rocker. He was recruited in 1967 by ex Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck for a vocalist-front man position with the Jeff Beck Group. The band included Beck, Stewart, Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones), and Aynsley Dunbar (John Lennon, David Bowie, Jefferson Starship, and Whitesnake) on drums. It was an all-star line-up that demised prematurely perhaps from all the bickering going on.

In 1969 Steve Marriott left the “Small Faces” to join Humble Pie, so Stewart and Wood left the Jeff Beck Group to join Ronnie Lane, Ian Mclagen, and Kenney Jones to form “Faces.”

In 1971 Stewart recorded the album Every Picture Tells a Story which featured the smash hit Maggie May. The album is considered one of the great classic rock albums of all time. It was ranked 172nd on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.  The album also featured Rod’s songwriting talents. Stewart recorded with and without Faces.

In 1975 the band toured the US twice. During that year Ronnie Wood left to join the Rolling Stones. The band finally split up at the end of the year.
Then Stewart traded in his blue suede shoes for boogie shoes when he recorded the number one hit, “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy”  in 1978.

Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, Stewart remained a pop icon by singing slower tunes that became chart favorites, but leaving his “Rockin Rod” image behind.

Later Stewart underwent throat surgery to remove a benign cancerous node.

And now Stewart sings collections of American Classics in recordings called, The Great American Songbook. He’s set to release The Best of… The Great American Songbook which should be out in stores on February 1st.

Do you have a classic rock story that you want to share? Email me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

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