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Steve Vai: Naked Tracks

October 24, 2008 By modernguitarist

“Naked Tracks”, a series of play-along CD’s designed for aspiring guitarists is now available for download on iTunes, Amazon, Napster and other mp3 sites. In Vai’s own words, “this series of CD’s is designed for the jammers – those who crave playing their instruments along with a band, but don’t have the band to back them up.” The series consist of a mix of Vai’s songs without the lead guitar so guitar players or instrumentalists alike can play along with the track or make loops to jam to. Albums available as naked tracks include: Passion & Warfare, Sex and Religion, Fire Garden, Alive in the Ultra World and The Ultra Zone. For the most part, the tracks are presented in their original form with the lead guitar removed. In some cases, some solo sections have been looped to give an opportunity to stretch out. You can download the full albums as well as individual tracks (ex. Passion & Warfare’s tracks are $0.89 each or $7.99 for the full album at amazon.com).

“One way to play along with these tracks is to learn the original guitar parts that are on the album versions of the songs, but I would encourage you to take a more active role in using these tracks as a bed to lay your own creative interpretation over. There are really no rules. So sit back, flip on a naked track and dress it up with your own artistic musical apparel.”

For more information visit Steve Vai’s website here

Filed Under: Rock Tagged With: play-along, Steve Vai

Velvet Revolver: Back in the Studio & Looking for New Vocalist

April 18, 2008 By modernguitarist

Velvet Revolver founding members Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Dave Kushner announced last April 1, 2008 that they were parting ways with singer Scott Weiland: “This band is all about its fans and its music and Scott Weiland isn’t 100% committed to either,” said Slash. “Among other things, his increasingly erratic on-stage behavior and personal problems have forced us to move on.”

Billboard recently reported that Scott Weiland will announce a full set of tour dates with his old band, Stone Temple Pilots. With Scott Weiland officially out as singer, Velvet Revolver has returned to the studio to record some new material. Bassist Duff McKagan reported on the website for his side project, Loaded: “I just left Matt’s where we laid down 12 new jams.”

Velvet Revolver has not yet introduced a Weiland replacement, however Slash mentioned the band has some people in mind, but he didn’t want to start “naming names.”

Filed Under: Rock Tagged With: guns n roses, slash, stone temple pilots, velvet revolver

Van Halen Postponed Dates Now Re-Scheduled

March 19, 2008 By modernguitarist

Van Halen has announced new dates for all previously postponed shows on its 2008 North American tour. Seventeen concert dates on the Van Halen tour were rescheduled so that Eddie Van Halen, could continue medical tests to define a course for his treatment.

The New Tour Dates are:

04/19 – Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center
04/22 – Cincinnati, OH @ U.S. Bank Arena
04/24 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
04/26 – St Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
04/28 – Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center
04/30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mellon Arena
05/02 – Charlottesville, VA @ John Paul Jones Arena
05/05 – Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center
05/07 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
05/09 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
05/11 – Duluth, GA @ Gwinnett Arena
05/13 – East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center
05/15 – Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena
05/18 – Hershey, PA @ Giant Center
05/20 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
05/23 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
05/25 – Providence, RI @ Dunkin Donuts Center
05/28 – Manchester, NH @ Verizon Wireless Arena
05/30 – Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
06/02 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena

Check out Van Halen’s official Tour Date page for up to date info.

Filed Under: Rock

Update from Nuno Bettencourt

January 15, 2008 By modernguitarist

As announced last November, Extreme is set to return in the spring of 2008 with their first album of all new material in 13 years. The band features original members Nuno Bettencourt, Gary Cherone, and Pat Badger, along with new drummer Kevin Figueiredo (Paul Geary, the band’s original drummer is now involved in the managerial side of the band). These are some of the highlights of Nuno’s latest update regarding the band:

“We are now finishing up the recording of our new release…We ended up with about 24 tunes…which we dwindled down to the 14 that will be on the record. And I’m sure it’s no surprise to you, our fans, that they are a “mish mosh” of Old School Rock and some tasty abstract ditties…Both on record and live when we come to your town…and WE WILL. Yes… we plan to tour for at least 1 year, well probably 2 years…cause we’ve got a lot of catching up to do with you guys and gals…

Lock up your daughters and lock up your wife…Lock up your back door and run for your life. Cause once we move back in…We plan to be around for the rest of our days…God willing… how ever long that may be. Well… that’s it for now. Who ever is making the trip to LA to see us… see ya there and say hello. We will have a drink at the Hilton bar afterwards.”

Check out Nuno’s Myspace to read the complete announcement.

Filed Under: Rock Tagged With: Extreme, guitar, Nuno Bettencourt

Radiohead: Limited Edition 7 Disc Box Set and USB Stick

November 7, 2007 By modernguitarist

On the 10th of December, EMI and Parlophone will be releasing a limited edition box set collection of all Radiohead’s albums from 1993 to 2003: “Pablo Honey”, “The Bends”, “OK Computer”, “Kid A”, “Amnesiac”, “Hail to the Thief”, plus the live album “I Might Be Wrong”. The box set can be ordered in the following formats: CD Box Set, Download Box Set and USB data stick. The CD box set will feature original artwork in exclusive digipack sleeves. The 4GB memory USB data stick (shaped in Radiohead’s iconic “bear” image and housed in a bespoke deluxe box) will include Radiohead’s entire back catalog at CD-quality WAV files and digital artwork. Also a digital bundle of all seven albums will be available on December 10, as DRM-free 320kbps mp3 files, containing digital artwork for each album.

These are all available for pre-order at www.radioheadstore.com

Filed Under: Rock

Led Zeppelin Reunion Concert: A Message from Jimmy Page

November 6, 2007 By modernguitarist

Led Zeppelin‘s awaited reunion concert, originally scheduled for November 26, 2007 in London, has been postponed until December 10th as the result of Page having fractured a finger. Jimmy Page released the following statement:

“As you all know by now I was regrettably put in a situation where I had to postpone my performance at the Ahmet Ertegun Benefit show, on November 26th, due to a fractured finger. We have now rescheduled this show to take place, at the same venue, on December 10th. In doing so I was very conscious of the fact that many people are travelling great distances to attend. I do want to let everyone know that this decision was unavoidable. My apologies to anyone who has been inconvenienced by this change.

I would also like to thank everyone else involved for their help with making this change. Harvey Goldsmith, the trustees of the Ahmet Ertegun Foundation and, of course, the other artists who so willingly agreed to join us on the show. I look forward to the 10th December!”

(Picture: Page with a limited-edition replica of his iconic double-neck guitar created through a partnership with Gibson and based on the specifications of his original ’71 Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck model.)

Filed Under: Rock

Upcoming Zakk Wylde Gibson ZV

September 24, 2007 By modernguitarist

Zakk Wylde has stated on an interview over at Modern Guitars Magazine that Gibson will be putting out a new guitar model designed by him called Zakk-V or ZV: “They made me the Flying V, so I’ve been jamming on the V a lot. I designed this other one, it’s called a ZV, Zakk-V, it’s a combination of an SG meets a Flying V, which sounds slammin’. They did an awesome job with that, so they’re going to end up putting that one out as well. I’ve just been using, you know, same thing, my Les Pauls and then the Flying V.”
Zakk Wylde turned 40 years old last January. He is the founder of Black Label Society, a band he started in 1998 and that has released 9 albums. He is also the guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, an association that started in the late 80’s when he was only 20 years old. Check out the rest of the Modern Guitars Magazine interview here.
—–
Check out Zakk Wylde’s gear here.

UPDATE:
This model has now been discontinued, however you can still check out the more affordable Epiphone Zakk Wylde ZV Custom. Available in ebony and bullseye:

Filed Under: Rock Tagged With: gibson, zakk wylde

Lindsey Boullt: Composition

September 14, 2007 By modernguitarist

Lindsey Boullt’s second album entitled “Composition“, was released last June, 2007. An established guitarist, composer and instructor in the San Francisco area, Boullt is a teacher at the renowned Guitar Institute. He is also the founder of the “Musician’s Showcase”, a highly respected forum for up and coming musicians, bands and students in the San Francisco Bay area. Containing ten original compositions and including an impressive cast of musicians, “Composition” is an intense album charged with influences ranging from metal and middle eastern music to jazz-rock and everything in between. Boullt is a musician of an eclectic nature. The album features artists such as violinist Jerry Goodman, keyboardist Derek Sherinian, bassist Stu Hamm, and drummer Atma Anur among others; a great band that feels at home playing complex passages and odd time meters. “Composition” has enough punch throughout to keep you listening. It is strong and somewhat dark. Boullt with no doubt is a great player, not only he has the chops, but he has great musicality as well. I would not be surprised to see him on the next G3 lineup.

Memorable Tracks: Page Revisited, Moving Panvishnu, Aurora’s Aura, Groovin’ with Stu, Cleopatra’s Third Eye.

Track Listing:

1. Page Revisited
2. Chasing The Whirling Dervish
3. Moving Panvishnu
4. Call For Peace
5. Bravo Davo De La Torre
6. Aurora’s Aura
7. Groovin’ With Stu
8. Taste The Hate
9. Farewell
10. Cleopatra’s Third Eye

Filed Under: Rock

The Dillinger Escape Plan: Rebirth

August 27, 2007 By modernguitarist

The Dillinger Escape Plan announces a comeback, including the release of a new album and the addition of a new guitarist to the band. “Ire Works” will be out in November and the band will embark on a European tour with Meshuggah after that. Guitarist Jeff Tuttle has been added to the lineup.

“Over the past year and a half, the most chaotic time of our career, many have speculated on our possible demise, including ourselves at times. Now after everything, we have what we feel is easily the best album we have ever created, and the feeling in the air has never been more exciting. We are proud to announce that “Ire Works” will be coming out on November 13th, and that we will be embarking on our first North American headlining tour since Dec 2005 in October. All dates will be posted as they are confirmed, some are up now. Support will come from A Life Once Lost, Genghis Tron, and Behold…The Arctopus.”

Upcoming The Dillinger Escape Plan U.S. tour dates:

Oct. 04 – Cleveland, OH at Peabody’s.
Oct. 05 – Pittsburgh, PA at Rex Theatre.
Oct. 06 – Chicago, IL at Subterranean.
Oct. 07 – Saint Paul, MN at Station 4.
Oct. 08 – Papillion, NE at The Rock.
Oct. 09 – Denver, CO at Marquis Theater.
Oct. 14 – Santa Ana, CA at Galaxy Theatre.
Oct. 17 – Spring, TX at Java Jazz.
Oct. 20 – Fort Lauderdale, FL at Culture Room.
Oct. 21 – Orlando, FL at Backbooth.
Oct. 23 – Atlanta, GA at Masquerade.
Oct. 24 – Baltimore, MD at Ottobar.
Oct. 25 – Cambridge, MA at The Middle East.
Oct. 26 – Stone Pony, Asbury Park.
Oct. 28 – Blender, Theatre at Gramercy, New York.

Check The Dillinger Escape Plan’s site at Myspace.com for a list of European tour dates.

Filed Under: Rock

Megadeth: Roadie For a Day

August 16, 2007 By modernguitarist

The band Megadeth is giving its fans a chance to be Mustaine’s roadie for a day. Their website states the following: “How would you like to be Dave Mustaine’s personal assistant for the day??!! Or have VIP backstage passes, or be ‘Roadie For A Day’ at a show on the upcoming US Tour?!! The MegaFanClub is now offering a chance at all of this to its members with a fan club membership drive!! All a member needs to do is recruit new members and you could be backstage hanging out with Megadeth, helping set up the show, or even the the ultimate prize, the chance to be “Personal Assistant to Dave Mustaine” for that day!!” Check out more details here.

Megadeth’s U.S. tour starts September 4, taking the band through 24 U.S. cities. Tour dates can be found here.

Filed Under: Rock

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