The Who Tribute to be held at Carnegie Hall
Ever wanted to see some of your favorite players give their own take on the legendary bass lines of the Who’s John Entwistle? Here’s your chance: promoter Michael Dorf will be presenting “The Music of the Who” at Carnegie Hall on March 2, 2010. The event, which benefits six organizations for music education, will feature such artists as Warren Haynes...
David Ellefson introduces “the Beamz”
Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson is helping to introduce a new device, called the Beamz, to the music industry. On his latest episode of his YouTube video series, “David Ellefson’s Rock Shop,” Ellefson demos the apparatus, which is a system of laser beams, which when broken, trigger computer software to play back or create music. David says, “It’s very simple...
Gear Watch: Madarozzo introduces 2010 gig bag and case couture
Madarozzo has announced its new 2010 line of gig bags and case couture. The line of instrument bags and cases are a “fusion of fashion design, functionality, quality, and instrument protection” designed for the discriminating player. Various gig bag options accommodate for acoustic basses, headless basses, odd shapes, and fitting two basses in one bag. All the bags offer headstock...
Tom Hamilton speaks on Aerosmith
Tom Hamilton checked in with fans via a blog on AeroForceOne.com, the official Aerosmith fan club page to discuss the band, past and present. He starts with what everyone has been talking about for the last two months: “I know, I know! ‘What’s goin’ on with the band?’ ‘What the hell are you guys up to?’ Well it all boils...
Soundgarden to reunite in 2010
Singer Chris Cornell has announced that Soundgarden will be reuniting after having split up in April 1997, almost 13 years ago. The group is still deciding among offers from several major festivals, but are planning a tour schedule, which will be set in place after drummer Matt Cameron finishes his prior engagements with Pearl Jam. Since the breakup, bassist Ben...
Rufus Reid and John Clayton featured at new JEN Conference
Rufus Reid and Grammy nominees the Clayton Brothers (featuring John Clayton) are among the headliners to be featured at the first annual Jazz Education Network Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The JEN Conference, which takes place on May 20-22, 2010, will also include performances by Marvin Stamm, Terrell Stafford, the Army Blues Band, Tom “Bones” Malone, Sixth Wave, and many...
Johnny Grubb plays final show with Railroad Earth
Johnny Grubb, of the jam band RailRoad Earth, played his final concert with them on New Year’s Eve ’09 in Portland, Oregon. The bassist said in his blog that “the flame of my creativity began lighting a different path than the one that I was on with RRE,” citing that his love of computer programming had made him decide to...
Jeff Berlin pays homage to his musical mentor
Virtuoso bassist Jeff Berlin recently wrote a letter to AllAboutJazz.com about the passing of his beloved teacher, Charlie Banacos, who died on December 8th after a battle with cancer. Jeff had actually made the move earlier in his career from New York to Boston in order to study under Banacos after hearing stories of the amazing music teacher. He recounts...
Meshell Ndegeocello announces west coast tour
10-time Grammy nominee Meshell Ndegeocello is set to tour on the west coast starting in February following the release of her latest album, Devil’s Halo. On tour with her will be bassist Mark Kelley, guitarist Chris Bruce, drummer Deantoni Parks and keyboardist Keefus Ciancia. On Devil’s Halo, the bassist/songwriter said she wanted to focus on musicianship and live-band energy. The...
Dave Matthews Band: Europe 2009
The Dave Matthews Band released a new box set called Dave Matthews Band: Europe 2009 this week, featuring the tasty bass lines of Stefan Lessard. The live box set contains 3 CD’s from a show in Lucca, Italy on July 5 and a DVD of the June 26 show at O2 Academy Brixton in London, England. Also in the packaging...
Ex-Arctic Monkeys bassist joins new band
Ex-Arctic Monkey bassist Andy Nicholson has joined the cult act Reverend and the Makers. Nicholson, who left the popular British rock band Arctic Monkeys in 2006, had been playing with the Makers for about two years, but was not an official member until now. Reverend and the Makers front man Jon McClure welcomed him as a member in a Twitter...
Gene Simmons sued for assault
Gene Simmons of KISS is being sued for allegedly attacking a couple in a shopping mall in Los Angeles. The couple, Nathan Marlowe and Cynthia Manzo, allege that Simmons “responded negatively” after Marlowe began video taping him and asking him about monogamy. Marlowe claims that Gene Simmons took their camera, then choked and head butted him as well as shouted...