Showing posts with label Tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tour. Show all posts

Sunday, April 24, 2011

U2 continues to sellout stadiums despite music industry failures



By Ray Shasho

In this shameful musical era filled of American Idol absurdity, it’s refreshing to witness true heroes of the music world entertaining the intelligent enthusiast.

The internationally renowned Irish rock band U2 has perpetually been a top draw amongst music enthusiasts since the early 80’s. After their first album Boy (produced the hits “A Day Without Me, “I Will Follow”) was released in 1980, U2 frontman Bono revealed to Rolling Stone Magazine...
“Even at this stage, I do feel we are meant to be one of the great bands, there’s a certain spark, a certain chemistry, that was special about the Stones, the Who and the Beatles, and I think it’s also special about U2.”
U2’s collaborations and humanitarian efforts in addressing poverty and social issues around the globe have surely earned them the title of rock’s Ambassadors. Bono referred to the bands symbolic “Sunday Bloody Sunday” the opening track from their 1983 album, War as...
“A song of hope and a song of disgust.”
Drummer Larry Mullen mentioned that it was...
“The first time we ever really made a statement.”
Bono was awarded knighthood in 2007 for his humanitarian efforts around the world.

U2’s album War reached  #12 in the U.S. and was their first album to go platinum.
The band transformed into their current majestic stage presence with the release of Under a Blood Red Sky, a live album recorded in Colorado, Boston and Germany.

By 1985 the band was touring intensely to sold-out arenas and stadiums- including an unforgettable performance at Live Aid.

In 1987, U2 released their masterpiece The Joshua Tree- spawning the #1 hit singles- “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” The album sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and escalated the band into superstardom.

In 1991, U2 changed gears musically with the release of Achtung Baby produced by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The album sold over 10 million copies worldwide and produced five hit songs including “One”, “Mysterious Ways”  and “The Fly.”  

Throughout the 90’s, U2’s Zoo TV and PopMart tours lured millions of fans to monster concert venues as they watched performances on extravagant stage sets.

By 2001, U2 returned to the basics with their album “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” topping the charts in 32 countries. U2 also won song of the year at the Grammy’s for “Beautiful Day.

U2 released How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb in 2004. The album produced the hit “Vertigo”

Their most current album,No Line on the Horizon was the bands 12th  studio album. U2 once again collaborated with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The band supported the album with their worldwide 360- degree tour. The tour officially launched June 30th 2009 and ends July 30th 2011- covering 110 shows.
U2’s only Florida appearance for 2011 will be on June 29th at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami. Tickets are available here.

The tour will set industry records of epic proportions. Including- largest concert stage ever toured,highest-grossing tour of all time (more than the previous record held by The Rolling Stones of $558 million) and it will also hold the record for highest-attended tour of all time with over 7 million tickets sold (again beating The Rolling Stones previous record of 6.3 million tickets sold.)

U2 was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 2005.

The band conquered 22- Grammy Awards and countless supplementary awards globally. U2 have sold more than 150 million records, placing them amongst the best selling music artists of all time.
And the band has accomplished all of this with its four original members...
Paul David Hewson(Bono)- Vocals, David Howell Evans(The Edge)- Guitar, Adam Charles Clayton- Bass and Lawrence Joseph “Larry” Mullen Jr.-Drums.
Rolling Stone Magazine ranked U2 at # 22 in its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time"









Ray's new book is called Check the Gs - The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business. Order your copy today at http://rayshasho.com/ 



Jethro Tull celebrates 40th anniversary of Aqualung with USA tour



By Ray Shasho

Feeling alone
The army’s up the road
Salvation a la mode
And a cup of tea
Aqualung my friend
Don’t start away uneasy
You poor old sod, you see, it’s only me.

Can you believe it’s been almost 40 years since we first heard Ian Anderson singing that whimsical verse while strumming his acoustic guitar? Jethro Tull released one of the greatest albums in classic rock history on March 19th in the UK and May 3rd of 1971 in the US.  It is the bands most commercially successful album ever- selling over seven- million copies.
The critics called it a concept album, but Anderson disagreed, he said the album was simply, “just a bunch of songs."
Anderson examined the plight of the downtrodden with tunes like “Aqualung,”  “Cross-Eyed Mary,” (A song about a prostitute) and “Up to me.”
Tull’s “Wind up,” and “Mother Goose” were about teenage anxiety and troubles with school.
“Cheap Day Return” was a song surrounding Anderson’s feelings as he visited his sick father.
“Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath,” “My God,” “Cross-Eyed Mary,” and “Hymn 43,” are firmly cemented in classic rock- infamy.

The Aqualung- 40th Anniversary tour kicks off on June 8th at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison Colorado. Kansas will be opening for JethroTull there.
No Florida dates yet but there are still a lot of shows to be announced. You can check back here for possible Florida dates.

Ian Anderson’s latest album is called “Rupi’s Dance.”
Longtime Tull- guitarist Martin Barre’s latest solo effort is called “Stage Left.”
No news yet of a new Tull album.

Jethro Tull is still one of the most talented bands ever, and their style remains- untouched. Ian Anderson is a musical genius. But he also reminds us of what it was like to be cool. His onstage persona mesmerized us, as we wondered how cool it would be to be Ian.

I'm still wondering when they'll induct Jethro Tull into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I never write about the Grammy’s. But I’ll leave you with the winners for the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental for the 31st Annual Grammy Awards in 1988.
And the winner is…Mettal- wait! It’s Jethro Tull for “Crest of a Knave.”




Got a classic rock story or suggestion? Email me at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Alice Cooper- “Elected” into rock and roll’s hall of fame on March 14th



By Ray Shasho


“We’re not worthy, We’re not worthy” 
  …Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar from Wayne's World

Alice Cooper is truly a pioneer of glam and heavy metal- rock and roll.  In an interview with the East Valley Tribune in Phoenix Arizona, Alice’s hometown, Cooper said, Cooper procreated legendary fans like Peter Sellers, Groucho Marx, Mae West, Salvador Dali and Bob Dylan. He even helped shape the careers of Lady Gaga and Metallica.
"We brought theatrics to rock ‘n’ roll. We did it before Bowie; we did it before Kiss and before anybody. There was no show biz in rock ‘n’ roll before Alice Cooper. It was taboo and really looked down upon to call yourself showbiz. So when we came along, we went as far out on a limb as we possibly could. We did everything we could to annoy every parent in America, then backed it up with anthems that got played. We had 25 gold albums and sold 50 million records; it wasn’t a fluke."

The 63 year old rocker was the first to sell-out concerts by playing the role of a frightening fictitious character.  Cooper stated in an interview that his Alice character was inspired by the film Barbarella.  He said,
When I saw Anita Pallenberg playing the Great Tyrant in that movie in 1968, wearing long black leather gloves with switchblades coming out of them, I thought, that’s what Alice should look like.”
I remember being nervous, afraid, and excited while waiting for Alice Cooper to appear on stage in the early 70’s. I’d hear all those rumors of what he would do on stage. And I wasn’t so sure if I really wanted to see him decapitate himself with a guillotine. But once his electrifying band led by guitarist Glen Buxton started to rock- out- I became hypnotized into one of his twisted disciples.

Alice Cooper definitely turned rock concerts into a theatrical experience.  Said Cooper...
"You just let your lower self go, and then it takes on all these aspects of the society-the city with horns blowing, the people yelling things at each other, and the all-in-all violence and chaos of the city. Put that on stage with music, and that’s what this is.”


Alice’s screams of rebellion were relentless in his single “I’m Eighteen” from the “Love It to Death” album , an anthem which reached number #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1971. The song epitomized the complicated transition of boy to man during adolescence.

Alice’s next rock and roll anthem “Schools Out” converted mild -mannered preteens into raving disobedient lunatics during their last week of school before the summer break. The song reached the Top 10 in the summer of 1972. It eventually made 21 on Billboard’s top 30 summer songs of all-time.

The “Billion Dollar Babies” album in 1973 became the band’s most successful album reaching number #1 in the US and UK. The album spawned the hits "Elected," "Hello Hooray," "Billion Dollar Babies," and "No More Mr. Nice Guy."

Wearing a top hat and cane, Alice hit the road again, but this time with his version of Broadway and the “Welcome to My Nightmare tour.”  The concept album produced another Top 20 hit with “Only Women Bleed.”

In 1989 Cooper released the “Trash” album that featured another Top Ten hit “Poison”.
In 1991 Alice Cooper released the popular “Hey Stoopid.” The album featured guest appearances from Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Vinnie Moore, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and members of Motley Crue.

By 2010 Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie collaborated on the  "Gruesome Twosome Tour.”

Alice and his longtime producer Bob Ezrin (Who worked with Pink Floyd, Kiss, Lou Reed, and Peter Gabriel to name just a few) are reported together again. Ezrin a partner with “Bigger Picture Group” will be working on a new album and elaborate stage show for an upcoming Alice Cooper tour.

Alice Cooper has been around since I can remember. And I’ll never forget those crazy grade school- rumors.  “Hey Ray, Did you know that Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver is actually Alice Cooper?"

Tampa bay area golfers should watch out for some golfing tips from Alice Cooper, or shall we just call him by his real name for the score card, Vincent Damon Furnier. Alice started playing golf years ago to help overcome his addiction to alcohol. He has a two- handicap and tries to play the game at least six days a week. He’s competed in several Pro-Am competitions and hosts his own charity golf tournament in Phoenix each April.
He's written a book called “Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock ‘n’ Roller’s 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict."  http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Cooper-Golf-Monster-Becoming/dp/0307382656

In his hometown of Phoenix, Cooper raises about $150,000 each year for his Solid Rock Foundation, a nonprofit organization to help inner city kids stay out of gangs and away from guns and drugs.

On March 14th, Alice Cooper and his original band with Mike Bruce, Glen Buxton, (Died in 1997) Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith will Get Elected!  Alice’s graduating class will include Neil Diamond, Dr John, Darlene Love(The Blossoms and Crystals), Tom Waits, Jac Holzman, (Electra Records) Art Rupe,(Specialty Records) and Leon Russell.

And then “School’s Out”… but not forever!



Tell me about you classic rock stories or write a request at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com