Rockphiles Blog

THE DOORS CELEBRATE THE BIG 4-O!

The Doors' management have announced a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the world-renowned band, which will commence on the Strip in L.A. on November 8, in conjunction with the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame's dedication of the Whisky a Go Go as a cultural landmark.  Rockphiles hopes to attend and will file a report.

LOS ANGELES, CA – October 13th 2006 - The launch of a yearlong celebration of the 40th anniversary of The Doors, one of the most important and influential American groups in the history of rock, is set for the famed Sunset Strip on Wednesday, November 8, 2006.

Along with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum conferring historic landmark status on the Whisky A Go Go (the nightclub where The Doors first gained notoriety) and unveiling a teaser version of a Doors exhibit that will be the museum’s major presentation of 2007, the evening will feature a memorial reading of Jim Morrison’s poetry, by Perry Farrell and others, the debut of a retrospective coffee table book and a preview of a massive boxed set of their music.

The various activities will take place between 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Numerous invitation-only celebrity guests will be in attendance in special VIP areas, along with many key figures from The Doors’ illustrious history. The evening will be emceed by Ben Fong-Torres, noted journalist, former Rolling Stone editor and co-author of upcoming book The Doors By The Doors. Radio’s 95.5 KLOS will broadcast live from the event with DJ Jim Ladd as host.

With the band’s Jim Morrison omnipresent in spirit, the remaining Doors--Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore--will be honored by a plaque-unveiling ceremony at the Whisky A Go Go (8901 Sunset Blvd.), scheduled for 8 p.m. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum will honor The Whisky A Go-Go with a “Landmark Plaque” to commemorate its contribution to Rock And Roll history. Significantly, this is the first such dedication of an historic locale by the Hall of Fame outside of the museum’s home city of Cleveland.

Throughout the evening, each band member will also be available at three Doors-significant locations along a one-block long stretch of the Sunset Strip.

Krieger will be at the Whisky A Go Go for a listening party previewing the November 21st release of Perception from Rhino/Elektra Records. The 12-disc (6-CD/6-DVD) boxed set presents all six of The Doors’ classic studio albums expanded and remastered for the first time ever on CD; the DVDs supplement the albums with a 5.1 Surround Sound mix, a brand-new “40th Anniversary” stereo remix by original Doors co-producer/mixer Bruce Botnick, rare and unreleased audio and video tracks, a photo gallery, lyrics and discography. Inside the Whisky, the celebration will continue, all of the digitally remastered Doors music in DTS 5.1 Surround Sound will be playing for the public’s listening pleasure.

Next door to the Whisky A Go Go, at The Cat Club (8911 Sunset Blvd., former home of The London Fog, where The Doors debuted), Manzarek will host a mini-version of Break On Through - The Lasting Legacy Of The Doors, The Doors’ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit that opens May 25, 2007 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The exhibit will examine the career and impact of The Doors through a display of one-of-a-kind artifacts, original manuscripts, rare concert posters, photographs and video. This is the first time the surviving members of The Doors, along with the Morrison and Courson families, have given their full blessing and cooperation to an event of this kind. Previous exhibits have headlined artists such as Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Bob Dylan.

Densmore will be at Book Soup (8818 Sunset Blvd., formerly the site of the Cinematheque 16 movie house where Morrison read poetry and performed Doors songs acoustically with Robby Krieger) to facilitate a memorial tribute reading of Jim Morrison’s poetry by Perry Farrell and others. Densmore will also be signing copies of The Doors By The Doors, set for release the previous day (November 7) by Hyperion. The Doors By The Doors, the first authorized autobiography by the band, includes never-before-seen photos and exclusive interviews, co-authored by renowned rock reporter and former Rolling Stone editor Ben Fong-Torres. Book sale tables will also be at the Whisky and Cat Club, making it possible for purchasers to easily walk to the other locations to have all of the surviving Doors sign the book -- and make what will certainly be an historic event in rock even more memorable.

GEORGE JONES BREAKS WRIST AND CANCELS SHOWS

Country music cornerstone, George Jones, had the misfortune to break his right wrist, while tripping down a couple stairs at a Nashville studio, according to Pollstar. George was to commence a tour that same day, but elected to cancel the beginning dates to undergo surgery yesterday, October 24, at Baptist Hospital, to make sure the wrist heals correctly.  He has a new album coming out Tuesday, October 25: Kickin' Out The Footlights ... Again, a duet project with Merle Haggard.

SEGER SINGS AT THE SERIES

In a ramp-up to his tour, which will begin on November 8, Detroit's Bob Seger sang "American The Beautiful" for the home team and the hometown crowd before game one of the World Series. 

DON HENLEY NAMED MUSICCARES PERSON OF THE YEAR FOR 2007

Don Henley has been named MusicCares' Person of the Year for 2007, according to Neil Portnow, President of MusicCares and the Recording Academy,and Les Bider, Chairman of MusicCares.  The gala dinner, concert and silent auction will take place on February 9, 2007, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, during Grammy week.  The Grammy broadcast (on CBS) airs on February 11, 2007, from the Staples Center.

As well as his notable musical achievements, Don Henley has long been recognized for his philanthropy, beginning with the the Walden Woods Project in 1990.  The Project has preserved the land around Walden Pond, where Henry David Thoreau lived and worked, and established a learning center.  He also founded the Caddo Lake Institute, to preserve the only natural lake in his native East Texas, and is a founding member of the Recording Artists' Coalition, an organization that  represents the interests of recording artists relative to legislative issues and public policy.

MusicCares, a division of the Recording Academy, was founded in 1989 to assist music industry professionals facing personal, medical and financial challenges.

Other MusicCares honorees have included Elton John and James Taylor.

ZEVON PETITION FOR ROCK HALL

It's time to get Warren Zevon into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, so here's a petition to sign, sent by Crystal Zevon.  Crystal, btw, is in the final stages of having her book on Warren published, so we'll keep you posted on when that will be available.

Photo from a 1978 performance at Rosey's in New Orleans - Warren flanked by bassist and long-time collaborator Jorge Calderon (L) and David Landau, guitarist extraordinaire (R). 

YOUTUBE DELETES 30,000 VIDEO FILES

After a Japanese entertainment group complained of copyright infringement, hugely popular video-sharing site YouTube has removed nearly 30,000 files.

The Japan Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers, found 29,549 violative video clips - television shows, music videos and movies -  on YouTube. said spokesman Fumiyuki Asakura on Friday, Oct. 20, adding that YouTube rapidly cooperated with the request to remove the copyrighted materials, made on behalf of 23 Japanese TV stations and entertainment companies.

The majority of videos on YouTube are homemade, however it also features numerous examples of copyrighted material posted by individual users. YouTube's policy is to remove such clips after it receives complaints. Industry watchers have suggested YouTube might eventually be sued, especially with deep-pocketed Google Inc. about to buy it for $1.65 billion in stock.

STING SINGS SONGS FROM THE LABYRINTH

There was some talk earlier this year about Sting's very interesting new musical project, "Songs From The Labyrinth," his salute to Elizabethan composer/lutenist John Dowland.  Now available, the record has already topped the UK classical charts, and looks likely to be a perennial, especially for the Christmas holidays, though Sting says this was not his intention.  However, there is no getting away from a general musical ambience of crackling Yule logs, holly, ivy, and mulled wine, while minstrels play for the Lord and Lady of the manor.

Accompanied by master lutenist Edin Karamazov, Sting turns in a very credible performance of 23 of Dowland's songs, with a voice well-suited to the material, and laudable instrumental skills on the lute. 

Dowland himself, considered a master lutenist of his time, was refused at the Court of Elizabeth I, because of his religious persuasion (Catholic).  Sting also reads from a letter Dowland wrote to Elizabeth's Secretary and trusted Council member, Robert Cecil, in which Dowland expresses his sorrow at his situation.  After Elizabeth's death, Dowland came to the Court of her successor, James I (Catholic), and took up his desrved post as a lutenist to the Court. 

Sting has garnered some very positive reviews so far, but don't look for a hit single any time soon!  A challenging listen, and not for purists of John Dowland's work, nonetheless an evocative and worthy salute to the music of a past master.

BOB SEGER Q&A WITH WCSX

Detroit's own Bob Seger has announced beginning tour dates in support of his new album FaceThe Promise.  This link takes you to the transcript of a radio interview Bob recently did with JJ of WCSX-Detroit where Bob talks of all things Seger, past, present and future.  And here's some of the tour dates, with more to come. 

Grand Rapids - 11/8; Saginaw - 11/10; Huntington, WV - 11/14; Milwaukee - 11/16; Indianapolis - 11/18; Knoxville - 11/20; Cincinnati - 11/25; Minneapolis/St. Paul - 11/28; Chicago - 11/30; Kansas City, MO - 12/2; St. Louis - 12/4; Atlanta - 12/7; Nashville - 12/9; Louisville - 12/12; Pittsburgh - 12/14; Cleveland - 12/16.

Oh, and the Grand Rapids concert sold out in FOUR MINUTES!!

PAUL RODGERS: GOOD COMPANY

Rockphiles' roving reporter, Paul de Neve, recently attended the opening night of Paul Rodgers' sold-out UK mini-tour and filed the following exclusive review. 

It's Sunday, October 1, and I take my seat, centre circle at Sheffield City Hall, as the show is about to start. It's Paul Rodgers’ opening night of an 8-stop sold-out solo UK tour.  But where are all the people?  The house is only two-thirds full as opening act, Deborah Bonham (younger sister of the late Zeppelin drummer John Bonham) kicks off the evening with a selection of numbers from The Old Hyde album, together with a couple of new songs.  My personal favourite was Stay With Me Baby.  What a voice! Combining the raw power of Janis Joplin and the softer, huskier tones of Elkie Brooks, this lady is a classy singer with a voice full of emotion. One third of the audience missed a real treat.  If you're lucky enough to catch her at the other Paul Rodgers' gigs, trust me, you won’t regret it!

The stage was now set for the ‘main course.’The house is full.  A silver drum set emerged in a spotlight, followed by drummer Ryan Hoyle, who took up the opening beat.  Another spotlight on bassist Lynn Sorensen, then guitarist Howard Leece, followed by the 17-year old guitar sensation Kurtis Dengler, then finally the “Voice”  entered from the wings, singing and acting the part of I’ll Be Creeping, the first of many legendary Free and Bad Company hits we were going to hear that night.

Paul's jacket soon came off to reveal his now-trademark stage uniform of white tank-top atop black velveteen pants as he launched into Free classics The Stealer, followed by Fire & Water. Next, the riff-heavy Closer, co-written with Jimmy Page, and one of  the Firm's biggest hits. The lovely bluesy rocker Be My Friend featured some exciting guitar duels between the two lead guitarists.( Howard Leece won this contest overall on points!)  Ride On Pony, supported by some nice bass work from Lynn Sorensen, was the last of the opening hard-core numbers.

Next up was the first of the evening’s two new songs, acoustic War Boys. Introduced as a “prayer for peace,” it showed a more serious side of Paul’s character. Moving on to Bad Company selections, Paul played harmonica on Feel Like Making Love and, from behind the piano, belted out the rock classic, Bad Company.

Another change of tempo, this time to reggae, with (I Just Want To See You) Smile from Paul's days with The Maytals. The audience, appreciative though restrained up till now, began to clap along.  Wishing Well was equally well received,  generating more rapturous and well-deserved applause. From the Now album, the Muddy Waters tribute Louisiana Blues, followed by Saving Grace,  with Paul again encouraging the audience to join in on the chorus.The set closed with the anthemic All Right Now, Howard and  Lynn taking centre stage with their respective guitars.  By now, the whole audience was on its feet,  many of them shaking hands with Rodgers, passing along the front of the stage as the lights went down.

Given that this was the first night, the audience wasn't quite sure how many encores would follow (although given the vast catalogue of possible songs, everyone hoped for at least six!) and it was nearly three minutes before Paul (now wearing a red shirt) came back with I’m A Mover, featuring alternating riffs between the two lead guitarists. By way of another tribute, he launched into Hendrix’s Angel, as the audience enthusiastically joined in the chorus.  The third number of the encore was another new song for the UK audience, the sea shanty-ish Distant Shore featuring Howard on mandolin, Paul on acoustic, and the others on assorted percussion.  With the audience still refusing to leave, the band returned to play The Hunter as their second and final encore.

For a  rock icon approaching his 57^th birthday, Paul Rodgers is in remarkably good shape, both physically and vocally.  That distinctive gravelly voice is as rich and powerful as ever; the impish smile and the mike-stand twirling (and more importantly – the catching!) are still there too.  The only thing that spoilt my (and at least some of my neighbours’) evening was the painful brightness of the white light banks on the stage directed towards the audience, particularly at the end of the main set, and again during the encore.  Unless providing lighting for some sort of filming, I really didn’t understand the thinking behind this.  Otherwise, an outstanding, highly recommended show from a master of rock. 

ELTON JOHN FIRESIDE COLLECTION

While celebrities go into the wine business, open restaurants, have clothing or accessories lines, Elton John has entered the world of home fragrance products, just in time for the holidays.  The line, created in partnership with Bath & Body Works, will be available as the Fireside Collection. The candles and other home fragrance products will benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation. To kick off the line, there will also be a Legendary Rock Sweepstakes that gives customers a chance to win a$75,000 5.5 carat diamond pendant by designer Daniel K.  More info and sign up for the sweepstakes at Bath and Body Works.