Midnight Oil’s 1990 New York concert, ‘Black Rain Falls’, will be released for the first time digitally and on DVD on Friday June 20th in support of the opening of the exhibition ‘The Making Of Midnight Oil’ at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum on the same day.

On May 30, 1990, Midnight Oil interrupted their North American tour for a “special guerrilla action” outside Exxon Oil headquarters on the crowded Avenue of the Americas in midtown Manhattan. The agitprop event from the back of a flat-bed truck drew more than 10,000 people out of the nearby office buildings and onto the street.

The Oils were responding to one of the worst environmental disasters in US history when nearly 11 million gallons of oil were spilled onto the pristine Alaskan coastline by the Exxon Valdez. Twenty five years later the effects of the spill on the landscapes and wildlife of southern Alaska are still being felt.

“There are things we think are so important that they have to be said,” lead singer Peter Garrett told a packed international press conference after the performance, “and the best way we could say it was with song. What happened this morning was just another of the things that this band has tried to do for the last decade or so. We want to take some of the issues that are in the songs back onto the streets where they belong.”

The DVD features all six songs captured live that day: “Progress” (From the 1986 EP, Species Deceases); “Sometimes” and “Dreamworld” (from 1987’s Diesel And Dust); “Blue Sky Mine” and “River Runs Red” (from Blue Sky Mining, 1990); the apropos tribute to John Lennon, “Instant Karma” and the video clip for Midnight Oil’s “King Of The Mountain” (also from Blue Sky Mining), plus commentary on each track from the band.

In addition to the ‘Black Rain Falls’ release Sony Music is for the first time releasing the physical remastered versions of these 8 classic Midnight Oil albums: Midnight Oil, Head Injuries, Place Without A Postcard, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 , Red Sails In The Sunset, Diesel And Dust, Blue Sky Mining, and Earth And Sun And Moon, as well as the EP’s Bird Noises and Species Deceases.

‘The Making of Midnight Oil’ at Manly Art Gallery and Museum is a major public exhibition celebrating the ‘power and the passion’ of one of the world’s most inspirational rock bands.

Developed by MAG&M’s Ross Heathcote in collaboration with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and with exhibition design by Wendy Osmond, The Making of Midnight Oil will examine the band’s impact on our social and cultural history across a 40 year period.

As Rob Hirst puts it ‘The first crowd we ever pulled was on the Northern Beaches – in a long-demolished surf-pub called the Royal Antler Hotel. So it’s fitting that our first ever exhibition is in Manly, where some of us still live and make music. It’s a Midnight Oil exhibition, sure. But it’s also the story of a time when music – loud, fast and original – was all that mattered. And about the bands and the beer-halls and the smoky, sweaty, sticky joy of it all.’

The exhibition will showcase rare and iconic items including stage props, instruments, protest banners, hand written lyrics, photographs and posters sourced from public and private collections as well as the band’s own archives. It will also highlight the band’s various actions across the years including the original 30 ft wide banner from the ‘Black Rain Falls’ concert with the wording ‘Midnight Oil Makes You Dance, Exxon Oil Makes Us Sick’.

About Midnight Oil:

From their beginnings in the 1970s on the pub circuit of Sydney’s Northern beaches Midnight Oil went on to win audiences across the world with their fierce commitment to environmental, social, anti-war and indigenous rights issues.

With nearly a dozen songs on the Billboard charts and their album ‘Beds Are Burning’ topping the list of 100 Best Australian Albums Of All Time, Midnight Oil were not only a musical force to be reckoned with, but a band whose conscience resonated with audiences not just in Australia, but in the USA, Canada, South America, South Africa and across Europe.

‘Black Rain Falls’ is available to purchase digitally and on DVD from Friday June 20th

Midnight Oil Remastered physical albums available to purchase from all good music retailers from Friday June 20th.

RUBICON CROSS HITS THE CHARTS WITH SELF-TITLED DEBUT


There is an unmistakable buzz surrounding the hard-hitting self-titled debut from Rubicon Cross. And now, the chart numbers are backing up the buzz, as it has been announced that the album has debuted at #23 on the Heatseeker Chart, #42 on the Hard Music Albums Chart, and #123 on the Independent Albums Chart. Additionally, the album hit the Top 40 at Best Buy, where the album's deluxe edition (which comes with a poster and bonus tracks) is available for purchase:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/rubicon-cross-deluxe-only--best-buy-with-bonus-tracks-poster-cd/6017091.p;jsessionid=BC53FF54CE4B87FD626ED54D28C05B91.bbolsp-app01-145?id=3220147&skuId=6017091&st=rubicon


Comprised of CJ Snare/vocals, Chris Green/lead guitars, Jeff Lerman/second guitar, Simon Farmery/bass, and Robert Behnke/drums, the lush melodic core of Rubicon Cross' songwriting is given a forceful, aggressive boost on this record.

From the first single, 'Bleed With Me' that starts just as propulsive as it ends to 'Kill Or Be Killed' that has a relentless metal drive, RUBICON CROSS is a collection of contemporary heavy music that sits just as comfortably next to hard rock classics as it does modern rock upstarts. 'Locked and Loaded' is featured in the Xbox360 and PS3 game 'Dirt Showdown' along side of new rock heavy-hitters Rise Against, Rival Sons and The Parlor Mob. 

Check out the video for 'Bleed With Me' here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFneEfoJbn8&feature=youtu.be

Check out the 'Bleed With Me' song here: 

https://soundcloud.com/rubicon-cross-official/bleed-with-me/s-b4fB0

Album Track List:
 

1. Locked And Loaded 
2. Next Worse Enemy 
3. Bleed With Me 
4. Save Me Within 
5. You Will Remember Me 
6. Moving On 
7. R U Angry 
8. Shine 
9. Kill Or Be Killed 
10. All The Little Things  

FOR MORE INFO, VISIT:
 

rubiconcross.net

facebook.com/rubiconcrossband

NIGHT RANGER: "HIGH ROAD" LIMITED 12" VINYL EDITION ANNOUNCED

Inner Wound Recordings are proud to announce the release of a limited 12" vinyl edition of the NIGHT RANGER album "High Road". A deal was inked with Frontiers Records, and the release dates are set to July 18th for Europe and August 5th for North America. The edition is strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide and includes an insert with lyrics.

"High Road" is available for pre-ordering at the Inner Wound Store: http://www.innerwound.bigcartel.com

Track listing;

Side A
01. High Road
02. Knock Knock Never Stop
03. Rollin' On
04. Don't Live Here Anymore
05. I'm Coming Home

Side B
01. X Generation
02. Only For You Only
03. Hang On
04. St Bartholomew
05. Brothers


For more information:
http://www.innerwound.com

Something Else Reviews talks with Steve Lukather on the deep cuts from Toto's new live DVD...

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/05/28/deep-cuts-steve-lukather-on-totos-goin-home-st-george-and-the-dragon-others/

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS
ANNOUNCE
‘WORLD ON FIRE’
NEW ALBUM AND SECOND WITH CURRENT LINE-UP TO BE RELEASED
SEPTEMBER 16

TITLE TRACK WILL ARRIVE AT RADIO FRIDAY, JUNE 13^TH

COVER ARTWORK DESIGNED BY RON ENGLISH 

GROUP ANNOUNCE HEADLINING SUMMER 2014 TOUR DATES
ALONGSIDE “LET ROCK RULE” TOUR WITH AEROSMITH
TOUR STARTS JULY 10 IN NEW YORK

SLASH AND MYLES KENNEDY TALK ABOUT
‘WORLD ON FIRE’
IN Q&A

Link for WORLD ON FIRE cover artwork painted by American contemporary artist Ron English: http://msopr.com/files/world_on_fire_cover_art_med_res.jpg

SLASH and his bandmates Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators will release their new album WORLD ON FIRE on September 16 via SLASH’s own label Dik Hayd International distributed through Caroline. The group revealed the cover artwork for WORLD ON FIRE designed by American contemporary artist Ron English today. Featuring the blazing title track as the first single—arriving at radio Friday, June 13^th—the disc marks SLASH’s third solo album and second one with his band featuring MYLES KENNEDY (vocals), BRENT FITZ (drums) and TODD KERNS (bass). **See a Q&A with SLASH and MYLES KENNEDY below.

For WORLD ON FIRE, SLASH and his band tapped Michael "Elvis" Baskette (Alter Bridge, Falling In Reverse, Incubus) to produce. Among the 17 songs is an instrumental--a powerful new turn for the band. WORLD ON FIRE is the follow-up to 2012’s Apocalyptic Love which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and earned SLASH two No. 1 U.S. rock radio hits--his first-ever solo--with “You’re A Lie” and “Standing In The Sun.” SLASH officially began recording as a solo artist with his self-titled 2010 debut album which employed a different vocalist on each track of his first album including Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie and Myles Kennedy among others.

Following are song titles for WORLD ON FIRE:

“World on Fire”
“Shadow Life”
“Automatic Overdrive”
“Wicked Stone”
“30 Years to Life”
“Bent to Fly”
“Stone Blind”
“Too Far Gone”
“Beneath the Savage Sun”
“Withered Delilah”
“Battleground”
“Dirty Girl”
“Iris of the Storm”
“Avalon”
“The Dissident”
“Safari Inn”
“The Unholy”

SLASH and Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators have announced additional solo dates in between their summer tour with Aerosmith. The group will preview new songs for fans on the trek which kicks off Thursday, July 10 at Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, NY (see the full itinerary below).  Special ticket packages include: amazing seats (Level 1 tickets), an exclusive autographed SLASH lithograph, a Digital Download of the new SLASH album WORLD ON FIRE and a merchandise voucher worth $50, redeemable in the SLASH Exclusive Online Store. For all packages, visit: http://slashonline.com/tour.

Check out the exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary SLASH’s “Real To Reel” at: www.slashonline.com. The innovative online series documented the entire in-studio recording process from the first day of recording to the last; the multi-segment fly-on-the wall series follows Slash and The Conspirators from pre-production at NRG Studios in Los Angeles to Studio Barbarossa in Florida, as they write, play, create and record WORLD ON FIRE from start to finish.

SLASH and MYLES KENNEDY talk about the album and the forthcoming tour dates in this Q&A:

WORLD ON FIRE marks your second album with your band MYLES KENNEDY (vocals), BRENT FITZ (drums) and TODD KERNS (bass). How do you feel the dynamic between the four of you has evolved?

SLASH:  We had a natural chemistry from the very beginning. The longer we have been together the more it has blossomed. And because of all the touring and the different situations we have been thrown into as a band and as players, we have all subconsciously learned from that. It shows up when we’re writing and when we’re recording. It’s sort of an unsaid thing, but I can sense it. It’s a natural evolution for a bunch of musicians in a band together.

MYLES: Over the last four years we have definitely evolved into a band. Utilizing Todd's vocal prowess and Brent's ability as a multi-instrumentalist definitely highlights what the Conspirators are capable of. I feel like it adds to what Slash and I do as songwriters. Not to mention they are both a big part of the arrangement process. Todd even brought in a cool progression that we used for the verses in “Shadow Life” and he added an great intro to “The Dissident” which is really fun.

What are the biggest differences between the last album Apocalyptic Love and the new album WORLD ON FIRE?

SLASH: The biggest difference is that the band has also has naturally evolved with so much touring and all of these different things. There’s a difference in musicianship that shows on this record and the songwriting skills especially.

The other difference is the fact that we recorded both albums live, but we kept the first one (Apocalyptic Love) just live.  That was it. There was no over-dubs or layering or any kind of studio techniques.  With WORLD ON FIRE I wanted to do guitar harmonies and double up parts and just create sounds. It’s a little more produced record in that sense.

MYLES: We didn't spend as much time fine-tuning arrangements as a unit during the Apocalyptic sessions.  I think that’s part of the reason this record sounds as cohesive as it does. Slash spent a lot of time with Todd and Brent working on arrangements while I was on tour with Alter Bridge late last year. When I got off the road, I met up with them in LA so they could get a feel for how the songs felt with vocals.

Another difference is that Slash played all the guitars on WORLD ON FIRE. During the Apocalyptic sessions I sang and played guitar which was fun, but it definitely cut into the amount of time I had to focus on lyrics, etc. Not playing guitar on WORLD ON FIRE gave me additional time to fine-tune lyrics and melodies which improved the songs in the end. I'm very happy with how it turned out.

For WORLD ON FIRE you teamed up with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette (Alter Bridge, Falling In Reverse, Incubus). What do you feel he brought to the table?

SLASH: Elvis is very conscious about guitar and guitar tones as well as drums, bass and vocals. For me, it is important to work with somebody who is very dialed-into guitar sounds. In this particular day and age it’s a rarity to find someone who really understands guitar sounds.  Elvis is an extremely hard-worker. I consider myself a hard worker as well as Myles. He was somebody that, over the course of making the record, gave me an even more of an extra push in some moments. So he brought out the best in me as well as Myles and the drums and everything. He was a pleasure to work with.

MYLES: Elvis is brilliant. It's the fifth record I have had the pleasure of recording with him. His ability to get the best out of a rock band is pretty special. He always seems to be aware of what the fans want to hear from an artist. He did a great job documenting Slash's tone and sound. I remember the first time I heard the solo for “Battleground”--I was blown away. Elvis captured the sonic hallmarks that made Slash's playing resonate with me 25 years ago.

Elvis is hands-on with every element of the recording process. From the arrangements to the final mix, he is relentless at making sure that the record is everything it should be and more.

Did you guys experiment with any new sounds with the production?

SLASH:  Yes and no. The whole record sounds new compared to the last album. Yes we did do a lot of tonal and EQ and guitars. I can’t say we were looking to break ground with new technology, because we did this to tape. But from a tonal and equalization point of view, we definitely broke a lot of new ground.

MYLES: That would be a question for Elvis or Slash. I can definitely hear some new approaches that I haven't heard on the last two records.

What makes “World on Fire” the perfect single choice?

SLASH:  I think there’s a lot of singles on the record, but it’s a good kick-off song. It’s up-tempo, aggressive, it’s a fun song. I love the whole world on fire, larger-than-life kind of vibe that the title and lyrics have.

MYLES: It's got a certain intensity and drive that made it a compelling choice for the lead-off track.

In what ways are we all suffering from a World on Fire?

SLASH: To be literal about it, we have the global warming thing. But that’s not the catalyst for the title. “World on Fire” is more of a tongue-in-cheek, positive, fun thing-- it has a lot of sexual connotations in the actual song itself. It’s a euphemism for going a little bit crazy and pulling out all the stops.

MYLES: “World On Fire” isn't necessarily a profound statement about where we are as a planet. It's about living life to the fullest....carpe diem. Some might perceive the track as carnal in nature, but the idea of seizing the moment and doing what makes you happy is the overall theme. Then again, it's not up to me to dictate what a song will mean to everyone. All I can do is tell you what was going through my head as the lyrics were being written.

What are a couple of other songs that you feel are highlights for you right now?

SLASH:  When doing a record I hate to identify with any one particular song or two particular songs. It’s not like the record is written with one great song and the rest are filler. They all mean as much as the others. There are a few songs that are very different than what we did on the last record. There’s a song called “The Unholy” which was influenced by my work in film. There’s another song called “Thirty Years to Life” which is a little bit of a departure. There’s another song that sticks out in my mind called “The Dissident” that’s a little bit unpredictable compared to stuff that people would expect from us.

You’re touring with Aerosmith this summer for the “Let Rock Rule” tour. It feels like true rock is needed more than ever in a very pop-driven landscape. How do you guys feel about this?

SLASH:  I am a Rock n’ Roll guy. The music business has become a pop-oriented sort of thing and all of the different music genres have become pop. I love the fact that I am doing Rock n’ Roll and have always done the same thing from a very heartfelt place. Aerosmith has represented that to me ever since I was kid. The two of us going out there and doing this big tour and holding that banner and doing it as sincerely as it can be done is something that I can be proud of.

MYLES: Though rock is not the force that it once was in America, it still has a loyal fan base that always seems to continue regardless of what popular culture deems as the "cool thing." It's great because you go to a rock show and you know folks aren't there because they are following trends, they aren't fair weather fans, they’re following their heart and listening to music that they love. People have been saying rock is dead for years but the reality is that it just falls out of favor with pop culture from time to time. The rock fans are still out there and that's why a tour like this is so important.

SLASH Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators: http://msopr.com/files/2014_tour_photo.jpg

SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators tour dates are as follows:

About SLASH:
SLASH has amassed album sales of over 100 million copies, garnered a GRAMMY Award and seven GRAMMY nominations and was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Time magazine named SLASH #2, behind Jimi Hendrix, on its “The Ten Best Electric Guitar Players of All-Time” list. SLASH helped create signature sounds like the guitar riff on #1 hits for Guns N Roses “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Welcome To The Jungle.” After leaving the band, SLASH went on to critical acclaim with SLASH’s Snakepit and global success with the supergroup Velvet Revolver.  SLASH’s self-titled biography critically well-received, climbed the bestseller list in both the U.S. and U.K. hitting #8 on the NY Times Bestsellers List. SLASH landed on the top of the charts with his first solo album, Slash (2010) which featured Ozzy Osbourne, Fergie and more. SLASH and his band featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators released the critically acclaimed Apocalyptic Love (2012) which stormed the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart at #4 as the top rock debut and produced his first-ever #1 rock radio solo hits: “You’re A Lie” and “Standing In The Sun.” SLASH released Nothing Left To Fear (2013) the first-ever motion picture he co-produced from Slasher Films, his film/TV production company. SLASH and his band will release their new album WORLD ON FIRE September 16 2014.  www.slashonline.com.

SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators: 

http://slashonline.com
https://twitter.com/#!/slash
https://www.facebook.com/Slash
http://www.youtube.com/slash 

 
MULTI-PLATINUM GUITAR ICON
TED NUGENT
RETURNS WITH NEW ALBUM
‘SHUTUP&JAM!’
DUE OUT JULY 8 ON FRONTIERS RECORDS
 

FIRST NEW STUDIO ALBUM FROM THE MOTOR CITY MADMAN IN SEVEN YEARS
 

NATIONAL HEADLINING TOUR ANNOUNCED

Multi-platinum guitar icon TED NUGENT returns with a new full-length album SHUTUP&JAM!, due out Tuesday, July 8 on Frontiers Records. This release marks the first all-new studio album from the Motor City Madman in seven years. NUGENT leads the pack of renowned musicians, handling guitar and vocal duties, alongside bassist Greg Smith, drummer Mick Brown and longtime musical cohort guitarist/vocalist Derek St. Holmes. Special guest Sammy Hagar brings his vocal power to “She’s Gone.” SHUTUP&JAM! is available now for pre-order at Amazon.
 

“SHUTUP&JAM! 2014…the unstoppable firestorm of Ted Nugent, all American MotorCity, high energy R&B&R&R soulmusic erupts once again with what many gungho music lovers are raving to be the best songs and best music and highest energy rockout of my insanely wonderful musical American Dream,” NUGENT exclaims. “Sammy Hagar sings his balls off on ‘She’s Gone’ and Derek St. Holmes proves once again that the MotorCity produces not just the greatest guitar grind masterlicks ever but one of the most powerful soul voices of all time on ‘Everything Matters!’ Unleashing early July 2014. Read em & weep! SHUTUP&JAM! you know who I am, you know where I stand, so SHUTUP&JAM! I am!”
 

“When I first heard Ted's demo of this song, I immediately responded with ‘I'm in,’” HAGAR shares of his involvement on the track “She’s Gone.” “Ted's ripping the guitar like the days of old…very inspiring to sing to a track like that—old-school blues riff, hard edged rock 'n roll on fire!!!”
 

To coincide with the release of SHUTUP&JAM!, TED has announced that he’s packing up and hitting the road. On Saturday, June 7 he will join Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Volbeat and other rock titans at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden. He’ll then prepare for his national headlining tour, kicking off July 3 in Wichita Falls, TX. Ticket info for all shows is available at https://tour.tednugent.com.
 

NUGENT has carved a permanent place in rock & roll history as the ultimate guitar-shredding showman, selling more than 40 million albums, performing 6,500 high-octane live shows, and continuing to set attendance records at venues around the globe. Hailing from Detroit, the guitarist's prodigious talents, earshattering volume & over-the-top onstage antics quickly earned Young Ted the moniker of "Motor City Madman," along with international acclaim.
 

Recognized as the world's leading guitar showman, NUGENT’s no-holds-barred career spans five decades of multiplatinum hits. From the ground breaking Amboy Dukes' “Journey to the Center of the Mind,” to classics like “Stranglehold” (ranked in the Top 100 Classic Rock Songs and #1 Guitar Lick) and “Cat Scratch Fever” (32nd Best Hard Rock Song of All Time), Damn Yankees chartbuster “High Enough” and cult classic “Fred Bear” (the most requested song for radio airplay in Michigan & Wisconsin).
 

NUGENT was recently named Detroit’s Greatest Guitar Player of All Time by readers of MLive. For millions of passionate music lovers everywhere, TED delivers the Ultimate Life Soundtrack. A TED NUGENT show is not just a performance—it’s a firebreathing celebration!
 

Check out TED NUGENT’s “SHUTUP&JAM! TOUR” in the following cities:
 

*denotes opening for Hank Williams Jr.
 

L-R: Ted Nugent, Derek St. Holmes, Mick Brown, and Greg Smith
Photo credit: James & Maryln Brown
 

www.tednugent.com
www.facebook.com/tednugent
www.twitter.com/tednugent