bluecrow music

Thursday, 1 October 2020

AC/DC confirm reunion with Brian Johnson, Phill Rudd and Cliff Williams

The iconic rock band shared a video of a lightning bolt, like the one from their logo, on their Twitter page on Monday (28.09.20).

Then a poster appeared with "PWR UP" on it outside Sydney's Ashfield Boys High School, where guitarist Angus Young attended, while fans were directed to sign up for the latest news on the 'Thunderstruck' rockers by entering their details on the pwrup.acdc.com website.

Now, the band have revealed their lineup with what appears to be an album cover on Twitter featuring the band members, which is captioned: "ARE YOU READY? #PWRUP."

Johnson is returning to vocals following a four-year break, after he was forced to quit the group in 2016 on doctor's orders due to progressive hearing loss.

Sticksman Rudd, meanwhile, was replaced on the 'Rock or Bust' tour in 2015, after pleading guilty to a threat to kill charge and for possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

Bassist Williams had also retired in 2016, but will be back along with guitarists Angus Young and Stevie Young.

It's been suggested that 'PWR UP' could be the title of their new album. Johnson was previously reported to have been back in the studio with his bandmates working on a new record. And Twisted Sister's Dee Snider recently claimed AC/DC's new album has some "jaw-on-the-floor surprises" from late band member Malcolm Young.

He spilled: "I had dinner with [AC/DC singer] Brian [Johnson] recently, and we talked about [the band's return to activity].

"He told me a lot of stuff, and a lot of stuff that I don't wanna say. "But we know from the photos, and Brian confirmed it, they've been in the studio, they've been recording. "The original - I don't say the 'original' guys, because a lot of 'em are gone, but I say the 'classic' lineup is back together and there are some surprises, which I can't talk about, regarding Malcolm Young that just had my jaw on the floor.

"I will say he will be present. So this is AC/DC as we know and love them."

AC/DC's last studio album was 2014's 'Rock or Bust'.

https://pwrup.acdc.com/

Wednesday, 30 September 2020

Faith Monarch - Super-Limited Edition Guitars

Faith Guitars and Patrick James Eggle are delighted to present Faith Monarch.

Created using Patrick’s own shapes in Patrick’s UK workshops, there are two distinct Faith Monarch models to choose from: the Earth OMC (Patrick’s Linville shape) and the Mars Drop Dreadnought (Patrick’s Kanuga shape).
One of each of these guitars has been released for June 2020. With one more of each scheduled for a little later this summer.

>> View the Monarch Models here <<

Using Torrefied (Roasted) Sitka Spruce for the soundtable and top-grade Khaya Mahogany on the back and sides, you know that these guitars are going to sound mature and full boded. But what makes these Faith Monarch models truly special is the fact that they were brought to life in Patrick’s own workshops here in England. Working with our Indonesian workshops, Patrick commissioned 2 Earth and 2 Mars body shells. These body shells were the embryo from which the Monarch guitars grew. Then in Patrick's Shropshire workshop, the real magic began to happen.

One of the most important difference between the Monarch instruments and regular Faith guitars is in the finish and the lacquer.

Once the base coating process was finished, Patrick started to apply the colour finish. The subtle burst finish was achieved solely by hand and by Patrick’s trained eye. You can watch Patrick in action in this video of the process.

After several coats of carefully sprayed burst finish, each Faith Monarch instrument was finished in multiple coats of Nitro-Cellulose lacquer. Nitro-Cellulose has long been the lacquer of choice for all top-end guitar luthiers. This is because ‘nitro’ is less hard and constrictive than polyurethane. This means that the tonewood can move more freely ensuring greater resonance and a more open sound. Plus – and this is one of Patrick’s favourite features of ‘nitro’ – as it ages it gradually it creates a unique and very attractive vintage-style patina. So these are guitars you’ll be wanting to keep long into the future.

As a final touch, Patrick rubbed back the nitro finish one last time to create a hand-burnished semi-satin finish. Glossier than a satin, but less so that a fully polished finish, hand-burnishing creates an extremely attractive yet understated appearance.

These finishing processes are arduous and take many hours of careful and patient work to get right. Luckily, we have the UK’s most-respected luthier on the case!

Along with the top-notch tonewoods and multi-layered nitro-cellulose burst finish you can enjoy the feel of the celluloid tortoiseshell pickguard and be confident of the most accurate tuning thanks to Patrick’s specially commissioned Gotoh 301, PJE-monogrammed machineheads. These super-smooth tuners are tipped with Faith’s much-loved solid ebony buttons. So you’ll be feeling the finest Macassan Ebony at every turn.

Each of the Faith Monarch guitars comes complete in a Faith hardcase.

>> Buy the Faith Monarch Earth here <<

>> Buy the Faith Monarch Mars here <<

The Cavern Club, Liverpool, to Celebrate The Life of John Lennon on 9 October, 2020.

On Friday 9th October it would have been a special day for John Lennon, as he would have turned 80.

We will be celebrating the life and legacy of John Lennon here in Liverpool on the day and we would like you to get involved, no matter where you are.

 We have a special 3 hour Magical Mystery Tour which will be focusing on John Lennon - limited tickets for the tour are available online - we will also be streaming part of it Live on Facebook for you all to enjoy.

 We will have Live Music all day in The Cavern Club and we will be broadcasting select performances Live and Pre-Recorded on Facebook.

There will be much more from us online on the day, but for now, buy your tickets for the tour quick - it includes free admission to The Cavern Club.

www.cavernclub.com

Remember Lennon Imagine80 - International Beatle Week

Remember Lennon Imagine 80 Featuring Lennon impersonator Scot Arch, of "Beatlemania Now," this online concert will include not only Lennon's earliest hits but will also include John's most memorable recordings as a solo artist. Friday 9 October 2020 streaming live.

The set-list features many songs that John never played live.

For tickets, visit: Ticket Link

https://www.facebook.com/internationalbeatleweek/

Country legend and Elvis Presley songwriter Mac Davis has died aged 78.

Country legend and Elvis Presley songwriter Mac Davis has died aged 78.The musician - who co-wrote several tracks with the late King of Rock and Roll, including 1968 hit 'A Little Less Conversation' - passed away after falling "critically ill" during heart surgery on Tuesday (29.09.20), his manager Jim Morey has confirmed.

In a Facebook statement, he wrote: "It's with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of Mac Davis.

He was surrounded by the love of his life and wife of 38 years, Lise, and his sons Scott, Noah and Cody. Mac has been my client for over 40 years, and more importantly.. my best friend.

"He was a music legend but his most important work was that as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend.

"I will miss laughing about our many adventures on the road and his insightful sense of humor.

"When there was a tough decision to be made he often told me 'You decide.. I'm going to the golf course!' To quote from his song I Believe in Music.. 'I could just sit around making music all day long. As long as I'm making my music ain't gonna do nobody no harm. And who knows maybe I'll come up with a song.'

Tributes have flooded in for the trailblazing star, including a touching piece by Kenny Hesney, who Davis worked with, who remembered him as having "a giant heart".

He told Variety: "I met Mac as a young artist just starting out on my journey, when he was already a legend and a songwriting hero to me. He welcomed me into his home, and turned that tremendous creative light on me. Even though he'd written 'In The Ghetto' for Elvis and had so many incredible hits of his own, he made me feel like what I was doing mattered. A small town boy who'd achieved the greatest kinds of fame, he remained a good guy, a family man. That was Mac: a giant heart, quick to laugh and a bigger creative spirit. I was blessed to have it shine on me. And Mac, who was joyous, funny and created a family around him, never stopped writing great songs, creating music and inspiring everyone around him. He loved his wife Lisa and his kids, and all kinds of people. He kept in touch, always a kind word, a new joke or a piece of song he was working on, which made him a blessing to everyone who came into his life."

Richard Marx tweeted: "This is such a drag. RIP to the incredible #MacDavis. Thank you for your incredible songs and your kindness to me. It was an honor to hear you tell me stories. (sic)"

Country icon Dolly Parton had sent her well wishes to Davis after she heard he was seriously unwell.

Retweeting the news from the official Mac Davis Twitter page, she wrote: "#PrayForMacDavis."

Davis started out writing for Elvis and produced his hits 'Memories', 'In the Ghetto' and 'Don't Cry Daddy'.

He went on to have his own successful solo career, and had a major hit with 'Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me', which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts in 1972, and spent three weeks at number one.

Davis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000 and awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Away from music, Davis had his own television variety show on NBC, 'The Mac Davis Show'.

And was named one of 12 "promising new actors" in 1979, following his debut feature film starring alongside Nick Nolte in 'North Dallas Forty'.

He later starred on the big screen in movies such as 'Angel's Dance', 'The Wendell Baker Story' and 'Deck the Halls', and several TV shows - including a stint on US sitcom 'Rodney' between 2004 and 2006.

Davis also starred in the titular role of Will Rogers in the Broadway production of 'The Will Rogers Follies'.

Tuesday, 29 September 2020

Fender Release Recreation Of George Harrison's 'Rocky' Stratocaster

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) have released their highly anticipated recreation of George Harrison’s iconic “Rocky” Stratocaster initially previewed at Winter NAMM 2020. With only 100 being made available worldwide, its debut sparked major conversation that only further emphasizes its ultimate, limited-edition status. The “Rocky” Stratocaster is considered to be one of music’s most celebrated guitars, known for several iconic appearances including the live performance of “All You Need Is Love” on Our World, the very first global satellite TV program. Harrison’s spontaneous psychedelic paint job continues to serve as a special homage to the late ‘60s and to Harrison’s artistry.

Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Paul Waller worked hand in hand with the Harrison estate to personally examine the original version himself in order to create this identical replica. Everything about the original was measured in exacting detail—body, neck (with a rare asymmetrical C-shaped profile), pickups, wiring and everything else—right down to Harrison’s famous DIY paint job. Even the “Grimwoods” decal remains in place on the back of the headstock. With these features and more, it’s a meticulously-crafted Fender Custom Shop tribute to a truly magical guitar, played and loved by one of rock’s greatest guitarists.

“The Rocky Stratocaster has been recreated to perfectly emulate George Harrison’s signature sound and voice,” said Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Paul Waller. “A big part of owning a guitar and playing one is finding your own voice and creating your own sounds with the instrument. That’s what I call a guitar player’s voice. George initially customized his 1961 Stratocaster based on his musical influences in the ‘60s, such as the semitones of the sitar and the slide solos he incorporated into his solo music. That became a large part of his voice. Capturing that, and honoring that special moment in time, is what makes this guitar so important.”

When the sessions for the Help!  album got under way in early 1965, George Harrison and John Lennon sent roadie Mal Evans out to get a Stratocaster for each of them, and Evans soon returned with a matching pair of Sonic Blue Strat® guitars. Harrison’s guitar, serial number 83840, still bore a decal from a music store where it was purchased at one point — “Grimwoods; The music people; Maidstone and Whitstable.” Thus, Help! marks the first appearance of a Stratocaster in the band’s music. In 1967, sometime between the end of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band sessions and the June 25 live worldwide telecast of “All You Need is Love,” Harrison took up the paint and brush himself to give his Stratocaster a multicolored psychedelic dayglo paint job. It also appeared prominently in the “I Am the Walrus” segment of 1967’s Magical Mystery Tour film. The guitar remained a favorite of Harrison’s for the rest of the decade. By December 1969 Harrison had painted “Bebopalula” on the upper body, “Go Cat Go” on the pickguard and “Rocky”—the guitar’s nickname—on the headstock.

At $25,000, The “Rocky” Stratocaster is an iconic addition to any collection. Each and every Limited Edition George Harrison Rocky Strat® comes complete with vintage 1961 hand-wound pickups by Abigail Ybarra, a Fender legend who was winding pickups at the time George Harrison’s original Stratocaster was produced. The replicated dayglo details from George Harrison and pickups emulating the same tones of the original, make this guitar a true work of art. Other notable specifications include: 21 vintage-style frets, chrome hardware, a 6-saddle vintage-style synchronized tremolo, nitrocellulose lacquer finish, a 2-piece select Alder body and a rare 5A Flame Maple neck with a 1960 Oval “C” shape and 7.25” (194.1 mm) radius.

The Fender Custom Shop Limited Artist series celebrates the storied guitars of legendary musicians by building recreations of their instruments in exacting detail. Based on close examination of the original guitars, every nuance is noted and incorporated into the build. Reverse-engineering the model, vintage, wood, hardware, electronics, finish and player customizations are all vital to the process. Most importantly, the player’s wear patterns are recorded: every nick, scratch, gouge and bump are vital to the authenticity of the recreation–they are mapped and documented with precision.

The Fender Custom Shop is proud to include the Rocky Stratocaster in the Dream Factory Series, a collection of short documentaries that showcase the journey of custom-built guitars created at the Fender Custom Shop.

For product and lifestyle images, click he re. Watch the “Dream Factory” episode on this model here.

For technical specs, additional information on new Fender products and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @Fender.

Soft Rock Artist 'Scarlette' Is Giving Away Here New CD For Free

Soft Rock Artist 'Scarlette' is giving away her album 'Medication Time' Plus Free Poster & Lyric Sheets

Get Your FREE CD shipped today: https://www.scarlettefever.co.uk/scarlette-free-album

5th Annual Blackpool Rock & Roll Weekender now confirmed for 2021

The 5th Annual Blackpool Rock & Roll Weekender is now confirmed for 2021. 3 Nights Bumper Weekend @ The Savoy Hotel, Blackpool Friday 5th - Monday 8th November 2021, featuring 7 Live Bands including The Jets, Memphis Lee & The Creepers, Glenn Darren & The Krew Katz, The Zodiacs, The Downtown Daddyo's, Mark Keeley's Good Rockin' Tonight & The Mee Kats.