Steve Vai: Naked Tracks
“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
Adam Rogers Launches New Website
Jazz guitarist Adam Rogers has recently launched his new website www.adamrogersmusic.com.
For eleven years Rogers has co-led the critically acclaimed Lost Tribe, which has toured nationally and internationally, releasing three albums. However, he has recently been focusing more on recording and performing with his own groups. Since 2002 Adam Rogers has released 4 albums as a leader, his most recent one, “Time and the Infinite”, with Scott Colley and Bill Stewart, was released in February 2007.
Check out Adam Rogers’ equipment here.
Velvet Revolver: Back in the Studio & Looking for New Vocalist
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.”
Van Halen Postponed Dates Now Re-Scheduled
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.
Guitar User Reviews at Modern Guitarist: $100 Giveaway
|
|
- Keeping record of your reviews
- Adding comments on other reviews
- Uploading pics of your gear
- Keeping track of favorite reviewers, friends
- Creating a profile
- Listing gear you are currently selling
- Personal messaging and much more
- You can also submit reviews without being registered
To encourage guitarists to join, we are giving away a $100 Musicians Friend Gift certificate or cash (you decide). The winner will be selected from the first 50 people that register and post a review following our guidelines (mainly an honest and well written review).
Or check out the new section: User Reviews.