 Van Morrison launches 'Simple' American Jaunt
www.livedaily.com
Van Morrison will be in North America next month for a handful of gigs to support his new studio effort, "Keep It Simple."
The week-long run is scheduled to kick off July 7 in Toronto and visit Detroit, Atlantic City and the Chicago and Philadelphia areas. The shows are sandwiched between Morrison's European dates, which include a July 19 headlining performance at the Stockholm Jazz Festival. North American performances are included below and those overseas can be found at Morrison's website.
The legendary Irish singer/songwriter scored the highest debut of his more than 40-year career with April's "Keep It Simple," which bowed at No. 10 on The Billboard 200. The album, Morrison's 35th, is his first collection of all-new material since 2005. He composed all 11 songs and wore the hats of composer, arranger, lyricist and producer.
The new record honors a wide variety of The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's influences, including Celtic, jazz, folk, blues, country, soul and gospel. Several song samples from the set are streaming at his MySpace page.
Though he didn't put out an album of new music last year, Morrison was a fixture on The Billboard 200 with three separate hits collections: "Van Morrison at the Movies--Soundtrack Hits," "The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3" and "Still on Top--The Greatest."
The Grammy-winning performer also recently reissued a dozen albums from his back catalog. The remastered sets include previously unreleased bonus material, according to a press release.
Back To Top
Van Halen Books Festival
www.livedaily.com
As if making it all the way through the itinerary for their first tour in more than two decades with original frontman David Lee Roth wasn't impressive enough, classic-rock quartet Van Halen will reconvene next month to perform at the Quebec City Summer Festival.
The band, which wrapped up its lucrative semi-reunion outing earlier this week, is scheduled to play a July 3 headlining set at the Canadian event. More information is available at the festival's website.
Back To Top
Mellencamp Spreading the "Love"
John Mellencamp has picked "My Sweet Love" to be the first single from his forthcoming album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom. The song is expected to hit the airwaves in the coming week. That cut and another new tune titled "Longest Days" currently are streaming on Mellencamp's online radio station. The latter track also can be downloaded for free from Vanity Fair's website here. Life, Death, Love and Freedom is due out July 15.
Back To Top
John Mellencamp - VH Tour Brings In Big Bucks
Van Halen's recently completed North American trek has smashed the band's personal moneymaking record after grossing more than $93 million over 74 shows. "We send our thanks to the countless new and longtime fans that helped make this tour our most successful," said the re-formed rockers in a joint statement. Check out an end-of-tour photo gallery of the group here. Meanwhile, VH have signed on to open the 2008 Quebec City Summer Festival on July 3.
Back To Top
 KISS Manager Confirms New Members Rumors
The manager of rock band KISS has confirmed the group are in talks to launch a TV talent show to find replacements.
The manager of rock band KISS has confirmed the group are in talks to launch a TV talent show to find replacements for frontman Paul Stanley and guitarist Gene Simmons - when the duo eventually retire.
It has long been rumored that founding members Stanley and Simmons hope to keep the band running when they decide to quit - but both men have been evasive when asked about whether any new members have been signed up and if the takeover will happen after their current world tour.
The rock veterans are the only original members left in the band, which was marred by the departure of Ace Frehely and Peter Criss and the death of Eric Carr in 1991 - the group now includes replacements Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer.
But their longtime manager Doc McGhee insists that there are indeed plans to replace all four band members and keep KISS alive for a new generation - they are close to signing a deal to find their replacements through an American Idol-style TV show.
McGhee says in a new TV documentary about the band, "I believe that KISS can go on forever. I believe that there is a way - and we are talking to people and we're pretty close to getting it done - about finding the four new members of KISS."
Back To Top
 Van Halen Tour Grosses $93 Million
LOS ANGELES, June 5 (UPI) -- > Van Halen's 2007-2008 North American tour grossed more than $93 million, making it the highest grossing tour in the band's history, Live Nation said.
An estimated 1 million people turned out for the concerts, which started in September 2007 in Charlotte, N.C., and ended June 2 in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and Wolfgang Van Halen played a total of 74 arena concerts throughout the United States and Canada.
This was the first time in 23 years Roth performed with the band.
"We send our thanks to the countless new and longtime fans that helped make this tour our most successful," the band said in a statement. "We also send special gratitude to the tireless efforts of the Van Halen touring crew, Live Nation and the media, as well as opening acts Ky Mani Marley and Ryan Shaw."
Jason Garner, chief executive officer of North American Music at Live Nation said the tour "swept through the country, thrilling fans who grew up with their music and converting a new generation seeing them for the first time.
Back To Top
|
