John Farnham back with Tom Jones - Australian Tour

Following a lengthy farewell tour mega voiced John 'Farnsey' Farnham is tipped to be doing another "one more tour" type set of shows this time with long time friend and just as mega larynx-ed Tom Jones.

Anyone who has seen or heard Farnham and Jones sing together like they did on Oz variety show "Hey Hey It's Saturday" will know the combination is in a word mighty! Word is filtering that the double headline tour of Australia will be announced shortly.

Gene Simmons - Speaking in Tongues! ..and Dollars!

GENE SIMMONS...Speaking in Tongues!

WATCH OUT TONY ROBBINS, DR. PHIL, & JERRY SEINFELD .THERE'S A NEW CONTENDER WAITING IN THE WINGS.AND IT'S NONE OTHER THAN THE OUTSPOKEN, OUTLANDISH - GENE SIMMONS!
GENE SIMMONS.MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER? CATCH HIM AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE WITH THE DVD & CD RELEASE OF "SPEAKING IN TONGUES" ON AUG 10th. New York, N.Y. - Simmons Audio Visual/Sanctuary Records Group is proud to announce the DVD & CD release of GENE SIMMONS' SPEAKING IN TONGUES, on August 10, 2004.


SPEAKING IN TONGUES chronicles GENE SIMMONS' first ever, no holds barred "lecture tour" of Australia, shocking and tantalizing his audiences by speaking his mind on his favorite topics - Money, Success, Fame, KISS & of course - Women! Other highlights from SPEAKING IN TONGUES include a fascinating in-depth look at one of rock 'n roll's most legendary icon's private life including his home, his family and his various business dealings. Additionally, the DVD & CD includes for the first time anywhere, over ten unheard and never-before-released Gene Simmons songs from the seventies through the nineties.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES, is an intimate and revealing portrayal of SIMMONS' personal philosophies of life. SIMMONS (arguably the most opinionated man in music) states, "I decide things for myself, convention in society says I'm supposed to get married, I'm supposed to do this.I refuse. I'm a contradiction to all this stuff.I'm willing to bear all the criticism and I'm willing to take all the rewards. All the blame, but all the credit." A brave statement from a man unafraid of pushing the envelope and dealing with the consequences.

Most recently, SIMMONS co-founding member of KISS, America's No.1 Gold Record Champions Of All Time (RIAA - Group Category), released his highly anticipated second solo effort, A**HOLE, revealing yet another side to the multi-talented artist. Like his 1978 self-titled solo album, A**HOLE is a diverse forward thinking, genre splitting effort and features a number of musical luminaries which include Bob Dylan, Dave Navarro and the Zappa Family.

KISS, who has rock and rolled all night and partied every day for over three decades and broken box office attendance records set by Elvis Presley and the Beatles, continue to conquer audiences with their current 2004 "ROCK THE NATION " worldwide tour.

Ritchie Blackmores's Rainbow DVD ...finally

Classic Rock Productions have announced on the release of a RAINBOW DVD:

Inside Rainbow 1975-1979

(Press Release) This incisive critical review is the first ever DVD to feature extensive footage of the Dio line up in concert.

Also featured is an extensive interview with former Rainbow frontman DOOGIE WHITE. This is the definitive critical study of one of the finest hard rock bands to ever to emerge from the UK.

It will be released in August and can be ordered from their site in both PAL and NTSC format.

Doogie White comments in the Deep Purple Fan Forum: "The DVD interviews fans, journos, crew and others. It is to discuss the songs, musicianship and the like. I yakked on for an hour about the whole spectrum of the band right up and including the last incarnation. So maybe they have kept some stuff back for another DVD. I also did one on MK2 Purple and Sabbath. Mk3 Purple is in the works. I supplied personal video footage from the SIUA recordings and tour. They are waiting for permission from TMIB's people for the right to use his image from these tapes. I emphesised (oops) the need to get rare or unseen footage as this is what you and I would like to see. So I hope it comes out well. Now get back to work."

AC/DC - Honoured with Sidestreet to Hell?

The Australian Melbourne City Council is considering changing the name of Corporation lane to AC/DC Lane. The side street just off the city's main Swanston Street, where some 30 years ago, the band shot the video for single "It's A Long Way To The Top"
playing live on the back of a flatbed truck.

Fans of AC/DC and rock movies should check out light hearted comedy Thunderstruck
which is the story of five fans who make a pact during AC/DC's Australian tour in 1991 that if one of them dies before they reach 40 the others will bury him beside the grave of AC/DC's late singer, Bon Scott. The movie has recently been taken out of cinemas in Australia and should soon be available on dvd.

Check the Thunderstruck movie website

New Dio - Master of the Moon album cover art - metal!!!

Ronnie James Dio is back...and lets hope the Master of the Moon album is as majestic as the cover art. Could well be the most metal cover Dio has had since Holy Diver! Respect!

Look out for the album released August 30 thru the SPV label in Europe.

Square One - debut album complete from down under pop rockers

With a fistful of bias it's great to see hometown Melbourne melodic rockers Square One complete work on their debut album "Supersonic" produced by Endel Rivers at Australia's Palm Studios. Mastering was handled by ex Little River Band guitarist/writer David Briggs. After receiving demo of the year status for the past two years running from the likes of UK Powerplay Magazine the band will shortly announce a European label which should see their album finally released later in the year.

Fans of pop styled melodic rock in the vein of Taxiride, Vertical Horizon, 9 Days meets Life-era Nelson and Def Leppard should find something of interest in the all singing/harmonizing Square One - especially the excellent lead vocals of Jason Old.

Taxiride - Wheels fall off?

Despite an excellent second album in Garage Mahal which spawned the hit single "Creeping Up Slowly" seems Australian pop rock supremos Taxiride have been axed by the Warner label who have ditched a large slice of it's Oz artist roster. Certainly not a good sign for Australian music.

The axing follows the recent departure of guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Tim "Watto" Watson who quit the band for personal reasons.

Word is main vocalist Jason Singh will keep the Taxiride flame alight and is recording demos for a new album and label deal.

Killing Heidi - I Am

After breaking away from manager/producer Paul Kosky interesting to see Oz pop rockers Killing Heidi back on their feet with an upcoming album titled I Am (Sony) due for release August 30 in Australia.

First single "I Am" out now (also on Spiderman 2 soundtrack) produced by John Travis (Sugar Ray) displays a departure in sound not dissimilar to No Doubt.

Dream Evil - the book of heavy metal

When it comes to classic metal this bunch of Swedes seem to have it down pat and by rights you would think they really should be Germans which I guess would be a huge market for them. This is their third album consolidates all they have done with their past releases bringing home another ball tearer of old school metal album seemingly paying homage to the likes of Accept, Ozzy, Priest, Dio and the like.

Some switched-on musicianship especially from man mountain talent
Gus G. on guitar, drummer Snowy Shaw and under rated vocals from
Niklas Isfeldt especially deserving of respect!

Some may argue Dream Evil be cheesy in the true metal sword held high and loin cloth tight around the knackers style but to my mind I'd rather listen to this than the oh, we dont take ourselves too seriously yet i hate the world nu metal angst that has become so faceless and embarrassing it dont even warrant a giggle anymore. Death to false metal!

Welcome to Numbero Uno blog

Hi everyone, thought Id try this blog thing. I guess as usual not to be taken too seriously but to follow what is going down with albums, news, sport and thoughts. Hope people can add their two bobs worth if they feel inspired. If not read away. Cheers

John

www.wimpwire.com