Q107 Rock Report

AC/DC - new album details!

Jason Ward — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Starting today, you can pre-order your copy of the new AC/DC album, Black Ice, online at ACDC.com, even though the album is still months away from release (October 20th).

The first single, "Rock 'N' Roll Train" will be released on August 28th, with a world tour starting in late October.

Cheech & Chong, Lindsey Buckingham visit Toronto this Fall - CORRECTED DATES

Jason Ward — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Two big announcements to get to here, so let’s give you everything you need to know:

As announced on The Kim Mitchell Show on Tuesday August 5th, Classic Rock Q107 is proud to present Lindsey Buckingham at The Music Hall on Wednesday, October 8th.

Tickets are $49.50 plus applicable taxes and service charges and go on sale Friday August 8th at 10 AM through Ticketmaster and The Music Hall box office.

Buckingham is best known as a member of Fleetwood Mac, whose 1977 album Rumours was the best-selling release of the 1970s. Buckingham will be touring in support of his fifth solo album, Gift of Screws, set for release on September 16th.

Also announced on Tuesday August 5th during the Psychedelic Psnack, Classic Rock Q107 presents Cheech & Chong on Saturday, September 6th at Massey Hall for the Light Up America tour, their first in 25 years .

Tickets are ...

New Stuff Tuesday

Jason Ward — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:00:00 GMT

August can be a pretty quiet month for music releases, mainly because most artists are touring or gearing up for to release something in the fall, in advance of Christmas. Still, there are some releases to talk about this New Stuff Tuesday.

On DVD:
Soundstage Presents: Heart Live – Ann and Nancy Wilson celebrate three decades of Heart with 21 songs performed live on Soundstage, including ‘70s hits like “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You” and "Magic Man," plus hits from the ‘80s, new material and even a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Battle of Evermore,” all in 5.1 Surround Sound.

Also:
Soundstage Presents: REO Speedwagon Live in the Heartland
Queen: We Thank You All
Aerosmith: Videobiography

On CD:
The Rolling Stones – Between The Buttons, Out of Our Heads, Metamorphosis, High Tide & Green Grass (Super-Audio CD reissues)

Meet the Friday Five

Jason Ward — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:00:00 GMT

What? July’s gone? Done? As summer slips away all too quickly, classic rock performers like the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Cream, AC./DC and Alice Cooper are getting up to more shenanigans with this week’s Meet the Friday Five!

Alice Cooper’s wife bans plastic surgery
Shock-rocker Alice Cooper has been banned from having plastic surgery by his wife of 32 years because his body has “history.”

Sheryl Cooper once even stopped the 60-year-old rocker from having a nose job when he was considering it. Cooper himself has other reasons for not wanting to go under the knife.

“I’m needle-phobic so plastic surgery is not for me. I’m not trying to look like Brad Pitt. Alice Cooper needs to look like Alice Cooper.”

It’s amazing what makes the news wires about an artist when they’ve got a new album out (click here for more on that).

It’s a kind of back-door promotion ...

'It Might Get Loud' @ TIFF

Jason Ward — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

With the announcement of the line-up for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival comes the news that fans of guitar rock will get to see some of their favourite artists explored in-depth on the silver screen.

It Might Get Loud, directed by Davis Guggenheim, will premiere as part of this year’s line-up, according to Variety.com. The film explores the history of the guitar through profiling three musicians and recent eras in rock; Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin for the 1970s, The Edge of U2 for the ‘80s and ‘90s, and Jack White of the White Stripes for the first part of the 21st century.

Guggenheim is the Oscar-winning documentary director of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and had previously screened It Might Get Loud during France's Cannes Film Festival in May.

No theatrical release has been determined for the film, so checking it out at the TIFF might be your ...

Rockin' the movies

Jason Ward — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Screw “Saturday Night Fever;” if you ever find yourself in the midst of a strut, it’s to “Back in Black,” right?

C’mon, admit it. You’ve gone out, done something fun and realized all of a sudden that you’re singing a song in your head that really adds to your enjoyment of the moment. That’s the beauty of soundtracks.

Soundtracks can add so much to movies. They create a mood and guide you to feel anxious, relaxed or even romantic, and help you understand more about the characters and stories you’re watching.

One of the great action stars of the 1980s celebrates his 61st birthday today. I’m talking about the Commando, the Terminator, predator of the Predator; none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Arnold was always a fan of mixing humour into his action-heavy flicks. Personally, it’s what makes them so enjoyable to watch, even to this day. I never thought ...

New-ish Dylan material out October 7th

Jason Ward — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Folk-rock legend Bob Dylan will release a three-disc set titled Tell Tale Signs on October 7th through Columbia records, according to Billboard.com.

Tell Tale Signs will be a collection of unreleased songs and alternate versions of material released over the last 20 years of Dylan’s career, focusing specifically on the recording sessions for albums including Time Out of Mind, Modern Times, Oh Mercy and World Gone Wrong.

The first single from the collection, titled “Dreamin’ of You” debuted on Q107 during the Kim Mitchell Show on Tuesday, July 29th. The track, originally recorded with the help of Canadian producer Daniel Lanoisfor the 1998 album Time Out of Mind, is available for download through Bob Dylan’s web site.

Other material to be included on the set will be various soundtrack contributions Dylan has made, as well as live performances from Bonnaroo 2004, London in 2000 and New York’s Supper Club in ...

New Stuff Tuesday

Jason Ward — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Aside from the seventh season of Law & Order SVU and the direct-to-DVD film Stargate: Continuum, there aren’t that many releases to speak of this week. Still, what is out is pretty big, so enjoy a brief but noteworthy New Stuff Tuesday.

On DVD:
The Rolling Stones – Shine A Light – Martin Scorsese’s documentary/concert film doesn’t have the gravity of The Last Waltz, where he filmed the final performance of the Band, but it’s still a nice flick to soak in if you’re even a casual fan of the Stones. Look for guest appearances from Jack White of the White Stripes, pop-singer Christina Aguilera and Buddy Guy (who does a killer job with the Stones on “Champagne and Reefer”). It’s the Stones, live, so you should pick this up on DVD or Blu-Ray.

On CD:
Alice Cooper – Along Came a Spider – The original theatrical shock-rocker returns with ...

Memorabilia Show celebrates Led Zeppelin’s 40th

Jason Ward — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Here on the Rock Report, we like to stick to talking about things happening in and around the Toronto area. Simply put, I don’t like to tease you with events that are hard to get to

This one, I think is worth it. Partly due to the oddball factor.

Starting Friday, August 1st through September 3rd, a Led Zeppelin Memorabilia Exhibition will kick off at the Knebworth House in Hertfordshire, England. The month-long show is being staged to mark the 40th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s formation back in 1968, with all proceeds from all donations and raffle prize money going to the ABC (Action for Brazil’s Children) Trust.

Fans have donated many different items to celebrate the fearsome foursome, including normal stuff like rare vinyl, programs, signed photos, as well as a red leather jacket that belonged to drummer John Bonham that still has the Guest Artist Pass from Led ...

Mick Jagger celebrates 65 years young

Jason Ward — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:30:00 GMT

When it comes to frontmen, few can stand next to him even today.

Mick Jagger, the swaggering, shimmying frontman to the Rolling Stones turns 65 today, officially able to retire but certainly not in any hurry to settle down.

Born Michael Philip Jagger in Dartford, England on July 26, 1943, he met future songwriting partner Keith Richards in primary school, but lost contact shortly thereafter. In his youth, Jagger developed a love for music and formed a band in high school called Little Boy Blue & the Blue Boys, while also pursuing an interest in business by attending the London School of Economics.

By the time he reached his late teens, Jagger would meet up with Richards again and struck up a friendship over their mutual love of the blues. Soon the pair, along with Brian Jones, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman would form the Rolling Stones and begin their ...