Showing posts with label Sirius XM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sirius XM. Show all posts

Friday, June 19, 2020

Have A Good Time (But Get Out Alive)


“Few bands offered up material as gritty, rich, and poignant as Pittsburgh’s own The Iron City Houserockers. … [An] epic musical milestone. … Given the current world pandemic, there’s a modern-day relevance to the message of the title track and the album itself. Get Out Alive! has always been a record of hope, home, solidarity, community, strength, and love - themes that are as important today as they were 40 years ago. 5 STARS”
- Goldmine

The physical edition of the greatly expanded 40th anniversary deluxe reissue of Have a Good Time (But Get Out Alive), the sophomore album originally hailed by Rolling Stone as “a new American classic” from beloved Pittsburgh rocker Joe Grushecky and his gritty, blue-collar outfit the Iron City Houserockers, arrives TODAY (June 19) on CD and vinyl amid a mounting new groundswell of attention.

holy trinity of rock and roll royalty united to help oversee the recording, as Mick Ronson (David Bowie), Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) and Steven Van Zandt (Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny) combined with co-producers the Slimmer Twins (Steve Popovich Sr. & Marty Mooney) and the Iron City Houserockers to create one of rock’s great lost classics. Their cohesive efforts − as producers, arrangers and players − will finally be rediscovered as an entirely new listening experience on CD and vinyl when Have a Good Time (But Get Out Alive) is released by fabled indie label, Cleveland International Records. The remastered two-CD set includes a bonus disc with 16 previously unreleased tracks of demos and other rarities. The new vinyl edition will include a download card of those same 16 tracks to go with a vinyl replica of the original album. The digital package is on sale NOW and streaming here. Order the vinyl and physical CD here. Order the exclusive Iron City Houserockers Bundle Pack at www.clevelandinternational.com.

The presence of Hunter, Ronson and Van Zandt, says the Houston Press, sets “this project apart,” and “gives the whole record a sort of Pittsburgh/New Jersey/London amalgamation vibe.” MediaNews Group called this chapter in Grushecky’s four-decade career “one of his shining moments.”

Little Steven’s Underground Garage celebrated Digital Release Day with a “Coolest Conversations” album spotlight, as Grushecky spoke with the Mighty Manfred on Sirius XM. Ultimate Classic Rock hosted an exclusive Track Premiere of the bonus disc demo version of “Hypnotized (A Work in Progress),” featuring Hunter and Ronson, and called the new release “cool stuff.”

Iron City Houserockers
American Songwriterin an interview with Grushecky, hails Have A Good Time (But Get Out Alive) as “a forgotten gem of a record, a time capsule of frenetic ‘80s energy and lyrics about home that hit home, performed by the toughest, tightest band from the ‘work hard, play hard’ working-class streets of Pittsburgh." The magazine adds that the bonus disc not only “documents each song's evolution,” but “showcases how Grushecky and the band took it up a notch when the 'record' button was pressed."

Goldmine, in a new five-star review, proclaims the album an “epic musical milestone,” and placed it in the context of the current world pandemic, noting the how “few bands offered up material as gritty, rich, and poignant as Pittsburgh’s own The Iron City Houserockers” and the “modern-day relevance to the message of the title track and the album itself. Get Out Alive! has always been a record of hope, home, solidarity, community, strength, and love - themes that are as important today as they were 40 years ago.”

Adds Midwest Record: “Anyone that wants to rock will salute this. Amazingly heady still after 40 years of sitting in limbo, waiting for the sky to fall.”

Forty years since The Iron City Houserockers’ willingness to let Ronson, Hunter and Van Zandt reshape their initial ideas in the studio proved prophetic, and the songs they recorded for the 1980 release put down roots that stretched far outside of Pittsburgh. Greil Marcus, in The Village Voice, said Have a Good Time (But Get Out Alive) was “the strongest album an American band has made this year” and “proves the Iron City Houserockers are the best hard rock band in the country.” All Music Guide marveled at the new album’s power surge, saying the band “landed with the impact of a Louisville slugger connecting with a fastball” and crediting Grushecky for songwriting and lead vocals that “seethe with a furious passion that's never less than convincing. … The total commitment of his performance, delivered with the conviction of a man fighting for his life, brings these stories to vivid, sweaty life.”

Have a Good Time (But Get Out Alive) is listed as one of the top eight Essential Heartland Rock records alongside the likes of Bob Seger's Night Moves, and John Mellencamp's Scarecrow,
and features many of the Houserockers' signature tunes, including "Pumping Iron,” "Junior's Bar," and "Have A Good Time.” During a 1981 live radio concert in Boston, rabid fans can be heard screaming requests for “Pumping Iron,” an anthem Grushecky penned as a tribute to his home city, and which he still usually plays with Bruce Springsteen when they perform together.

As Hunter fondly remembers: “Joe and the Houserockers were and are an actual rock and roll band. So many 'rock and roll' bands are not real − they just look and act like they are − and fool people most of the time. These guys are for real − and what a lovely man Joe is.”

In the liner notes, Grushecky offers a remarkably concise analysis of the record that emerged: “We had great songs and the band was smoking,” he writes. “We all knew something special was happening. The results were a mixture of Pittsburgh rock and roll, Jersey Shore savvy and soul, and English mystic and muscle. Add a dash of Cleveland moxie and an anything goes attitude and a legendary album was born.” 

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Celebrating Tom Petty


TOM PETTY’S LIFE TO BE CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT OCTOBER BY ‘TOM PETTY AND ME’ AUTHOR AS FANS MARK ROCK LEGEND’S BIRTH AND DEATH ANNIVERSARIES

Jon Scott, Music Label and Promo Man Who Saved Petty’s Career Remembers ‘One of the Most Important and Influential Rock Stars in the World’ in Latest Rock ‘n ‘Roll Adventure with Friend of 40 Years

“Six weeks before our first record was dropped by ABC Records, he went to the radio stations with a vengeance and brought that sucker onto the charts. And it wasn’t easy. We are forever grateful.” – Tom Petty, from the Hollywood Bowl stage at his last concert, dedicating “I Won’t Back Down” to Jon Scott

“We would not be listening to Tom Petty on the radio if not for you (Jon Scott), back in 1977.” -
Mark Felsot, producer of Tom Petty Radio, Sirius XM

As the rock world remembers Tom Petty with the October anniversaries of his death and birth, Jon Scott, the long-time friend and former record label radio promo man who saved the legendary rocker’s career “with a vengeance” en route to Hall of Fame status some 40 years ago is devoting the entire month to celebrating Petty’s life through the special relationship chronicled in Scott’s book, TOM PETTY AND ME: My Rock ‘N’ Roll Adventures with Tom Petty (CB Publishing, 191 pp., $25). 

On his latest rock ‘n’ roll adventure with Petty, Scott will be crisscrossing the country in October to join fans at celebrations in Gainesville, FL, where Petty grew up, and Los Angeles, where he landed 1974 in search of his first record deal with his band, Mudcrutch, and remained until his untimely passing as a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer rocked the music world two years ago, Oct. 2, 2017. 

Scott will be joining Petty fans in Gainesville Oct. 17-18 for several events at Tom Petty Weekend, honoring “Gainesville’s Favorite Son.” He returns home to Los Angeles on Petty’s 69th birthday, Oct. 20, to host Tom Petty’s Birthday, a four-hour celebration at Petty Cash Taqueria & Bar with live music by noted Petty tribute artists. 

With a foreword by John Mellencamp writing he’s “grateful for the immense amount of work that (Scott) did on my behalf and others,” Scott’s book similarly recounts how the author, as a radio promo man, was one of the main forces in helping to get Petty’s music heard on radio stations around the country. It began when Petty’s debut album, ignored and miscategorized as punk by the label eight months after its release, literally fell off the record company shelf and into Scott’s hands as ABC Records was preparing to drop the artist from its roster. So moved by what he took home and discovered in the grooves, Scott risked his job at ABC to convince his bosses he personally needed to give the album a second chance at radio and resuscitate Petty’s career from the music industry precipice.  

Petty acknowledged Scott’s importance from the stage of the Hollywood Bowl on September 25, 2017, at his last concert ever, dedicating “I Won’t Back Down” to Scott: “Six weeks before our first record was dropped by ABC Records, he went to the radio stations with a vengeance and brought that sucker onto the charts. And it wasn’t easy. We are forever grateful.” Watch that moment here.  

In TOM PETTY AND ME, Scott shares the series of coincidences and serendipity that brought him and Petty together, altering both of their careers. This is the story of incredible talent realizing a seemingly once-impossible dream by overcoming obstacles through the passion and commitment of one man who created a movement. In the process, the course of rock ‘n’ roll history was forever changed. 

Jon Scott was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, and like many young Memphis kids growing up in the ’50s, he was exposed to all types of music, including gospel, blues, and rock ’n’ roll. Jon had music running through his veins.  

When Jon was young, his mom would request songs and smile when the local country DJ would dedicate a song to her on the radio. That was when Jon knew what he wanted to do — make his mother smile, because she meant the world to him. Jon told his mother he would someday be a DJ. He began practicing with a tape recorder his father bought at Sears & Roebuck. At 16, Jon heard the Rolling Stones on the radio. He immediately went out and bought a Stones album and heard “Under Assistant West Coast Promo Man.” Jon thought that sounded like a pretty good job too.  

His father’s dream, however, was for Jon to go to Memphis State University and get a business degree. Jon dropped out to pursue the radio career he longed for at the famous Keegan’s School of Broadcasting in Memphis. His father was not pleased and told Jon he’d have to pay for tuition himself, so Jon found work at a local movie theater, where he had the good fortune of meeting Elvis one night.   

Jon’s dream finally came true when he graduated from Keegan’s and was hired by a small-town Tennessee radio station in Lawrenceburg. A year later, a premonition told Jon to go back home to Memphis, where he knew there would be a job waiting.  

Within two weeks, Jon was hired by WMC-FM100, a station that had been playing soft music, and whose general manager was ready to turn it into a rock 'n' roll station. On February 7, 1967, FM100 started playing rock ‘n’ roll that had never been heard before on Memphis Top 40 stations. It would become a part of the progressive radio movement, and Jon developed a huge nighttime audience, free to play whatever he wanted. FM100 helped break acts like ZZ Top, David Bowie, Pure Prairie League, the Doobie Brothers, Henry Gross, Billy Joel and Elton John. 

Another dream came true for Jon in 1973 when he left FM100 to work for MCA Records, first as a local promo man in the mid-South and then as a regional promo man in Atlanta. Soon after, he was offered his dream job at MCA as head of national album promotion and moved to Los Angeles in 1974. At MCA, he worked and traveled with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elton John, the Who, Olivia Newton-John, Keith Moon, Roger Daltrey and Golden Earring, among others. 

Jon was offered a job at ABC Records, again as national head of album promotion, in 1977. This was when many serendipitous, cosmic coincidences would take place, especially with a relatively unknown band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Fate stepped in, and Jon has been credited with breaking the career of Tom Petty. He worked with Tom and the band for more than 40 years. 

TOM PETTY AND ME is available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle at 

TOM PETTY AND ME on the Web:





Friday, August 25, 2017

T.G.I.T. = Thank God It's Tanya


Groundbreaking country music icon Tanya Tucker opened up for the first time on NBC’s TODAY Show about her musical tribute to Glen Campbell and performed “Forever Loving You” this morning (click here to watch). Tucker also graces the cover of Closer Weekly on newsstands now and will appear on Inside Edition, Fox News Edge, The Insider, Lifeminute, Celebrity Page, Sirius XM and MORE during her NYC media blitz.

While their relationship and breakup made headlines years ago, Tucker channeled her heartfelt feelings for Campbell in “Forever Loving You” and is donating proceeds to Alzheimer's research.

Tucker co-wrote “Forever Loving You” with Michael Lynn Rogers and Rusty Crowe, a Tennessee State Senator who co-sponsored the Campbell/Falk Act. The Tennessee law protects communication rights for people who've become wards of the state and those who have conservators over their financial and living situations.

NBC’s TODAY Show
Click here to watch 

Sirius XM’s Radio Andy
SandyLand w/ Sandra Bernhard Ch. 102
12:30 EST Aug. 25

Inside Edition
Click here for local listings

The Insider
Click here for local listings

Lifeminute.tv
Click here for local listings

Celebrity Page
Click here for local listings

Follow Tanya Tucker on TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTube or visit tanyatucker.com.

TANYA TUCKER 2017 TOUR:
Aug. 25 Greenup Cumberland County Fair – Greenup, Ill.
Aug. 26 Secrest Auditorium – Zanesville, Ohio
Aug. 30 Minnesota State Fair – Saint Paul, Minn.
Aug. 31 Minnesota State Fair – Saint Paul, Minn.
Sept. 09 Sugar Creek Casino – Hinton, Okla.
Sept. 15 Rialto Square Theatre – Joliet, Ill.
Sept. 16 Andy Williams Moon River Theatre – Branson, Mo.
Sept. 23 5D Steakhouse & Lounge – Yorktown, Texas
Oct. 06 Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, Texas
Oct. 07 House Pasture Cattle Company – Concan, Texas
Oct. 22 Festival Grounds – Niceville, Fla.
Dec. 05 Higley Center For The Performing Arts – Gilbert, Ariz.
Dec. 08 Harris Center For The Arts – Folsom, Calif.
Dec. 10 Parker Arts – Parker, Colo.
Dec. 12 Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 05 Mill Town Music Hall – Bremen, Ga. 

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

What Comes Between You & Your Calvin's?

Nothing Comes Between Brooke & Her Calvin
Brooke Shields & Calvin Klein
Here is an image only a certain segment of the populace will understand the significance of. I present to you Brooke Shields and old friend Calvin Klein meeting up at Sirius XM in New York City

As you may or may not recall Klein did a series of racy ads featuring Brooke in 1981 for his line of jeans. Personally I loved the campaign where "nothing" came between Brooke and her Calvin's, it was total genius. Quite racy while being sexy without the use of gratuitous skin.

What's that you say? You've never heard or seen the scandalous TV spot? Well never fear that's why I'm here. Like I've pointed out so boastfully before I'm a giver and never want to leave anyone wanting. Thus you can view the ad below.

No need to thank me, you can just spank me.

I know you like to watch...


Brooke on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/brookeshields/?hl=en  

Monday, May 23, 2016

Welcome To The Litter: Sick Puppies

Sick Puppies
Don't Feed Them After Midnight
Photo: Goldy Locks

Want to hear something "sick"?! Keep reading...

DrillDown/Caroline recording artists Sick Puppies are celebrating the release of their new single, “Stick To Your Guns” as it continues to dominate Active Rock radio across America. The single has shot into the Top 20 and stands at #12 this week on Mediabase Active Rock chart. Major market stations playing the single include; Sirius XM Octane channel, WRIF/Detroit, WXBT/Tampa, WPUD/Arizona and WIIL/Chicago among numerous others.  Supporting this excitement, the single has already received over 400,000 online streams since its release.
  
The official music video for “Stick To Your Guns can be viewed here:

  
 “Stick To Your Guns” is the lead track from the bands brand new 4th studio album FURY. FURY is the first new music from Sick Puppies in over 2 years and  GuitarWorld.com has premiered the album here: http://www.guitarworld.com/artist-news-premieres/sick-puppies-premiere-new-album-fury/29119

Click here to order FURYhttp://smarturl.it/SickPuppiesFURY

“This whole album has been about not letting anything stand in the way of what you want, and as a band we persevered and made it through to the other side. All the raw emotions that were felt during the process led us to name this album FURY. We hope you love it as much as we do.” – Sick Puppies

Hard Attack Magazine says “While there are almost too many high points to list, the album’s signature is Emma Anzai’s bass lines, kicked up to eleven. And, as always with Sick Puppies, there are songs that have the ability to speak directly to current social justice movements while encouraging the audience to be who they truly are. Overall, FURY is a solid release from a veteran band and could be considered the best in their catalog.”


Sick Puppies just wrapped headlining dates on the HardDrive Live Tour and will announce new tour dates in the coming weeks.  The band performed at Rock on The Range over the weekend alongside Disturbed, Megadeth and Sixx A.M. and have upcoming co-headline shows with Chevelle in June as well as various festival dates throughout the summer with Alice in Chains.


Tour Dates
MAY
20:  Columbus, OH @ Rock On The Range*
21:  Maryland Heights, MO @ Pointest Hollywood Casino Amphitheater*
23:  El Paso, TX @ Speaking Rock Entertainment Center*

JUNE
3: Portland, OR @ Portland Rose Festival, 105.9 The Brew with Chevelle*
4: Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo*with Chevelle
12:  South Bend, IN @ The Bear’s Big Growl 5 St Joseph County 4H Fairgrounds*

JULY

14: Cadott, WI @ Rock Fest Chippewa Valley -
15: Oshkosh, WI @ Rock USA Fest with Slipknot

AUGUST
19: Omaha, NE @ 89.7 The River’s Rockfest – Westfair Amp.

SEPTEMBER
17: Chester, PA @ Rock Allegiance Festival with Alice in Chains
24: Houston, TX @ Houston Open Air Fest – NRG Park with Alice in Chains