Latest news with #Blackhearts
Edmonton Journal
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Rockin' Thunder, Europa Super Circus and more weekend fun in Edmonton
Article content Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content Rockin' Thunder: Was time when it was inconceivable you wouldn't hear Def Leppard at least three times a day out in the wilds of Edmonton, which is certainly still true if you have AM radio cranked in the shop. Article content Article content The New Wave of British Heavy Metal pioneers, going since the year Star Wars came out, hit the stratosphere as Mutt Lange's earlier, pre-Shania Twain melodic project with hits like the poppy Animal and Armageddon It, and earlier classics including Photograph and the mighty Rock of Ages. With Joan Jett and the Blackhearts also on the Friday bill — plus Bret Michaels, Toque and day-openers Queensrÿche — there's bound to be sore arms holding devil's horns up all day and night. Article content Saturday switches from AM hair rock to '90s alt, Weezer atop Stone Temple Pilots, Sam Roberts Band, The Trews and Default in — here we go — the first huge music fest of the summer. Article content Feel free to bring a folding chair or blanket, and look for a review of Day 1 here Saturday. Article content Article content Article content Article content Making its Edmonton debut in a cross-Canada tour, clowns, high wire and aerial acrobats are joined by roller skaters and freestyle motocross bike riders leaping across open space in this multi-show extravaganza of skill and daring. Article content The show runs 90 minutes, and there's food for sale in the tent. Article content
USA Today
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Joan Jett pays tribute to Sly Stone, Brian Wilson at Las Vegas residency opener: Review
Joan Jett pays tribute to Sly Stone, Brian Wilson at Las Vegas residency opener: Review Show Caption Hide Caption 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees announced The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 inductees, which include hip-hop pioneers Outkast and '80s icon Cyndi Lauper. unbranded - Entertainment LAS VEGAS – If Joan Jett needs to peek at a lyric, she doesn't rely on a teleprompter. Instead, she glances down at the binder opened to a printed page. At 66, she's still rockin' the shag hair and tough chick sleeveless vest, both in her preferred black, and delivering the signature "ch-ch-ch-ch" of "Cherry Bomb" with a snarl and a smile. It is notable that Jett remains unchanged after 50 years in a business that was notoriously bitter toward strong women fronting rock bands. That she's doing it sounding as vocally robust and looking as effortlessly cool as she has for decades is ovation worthy. On Friday, June 13, Jett and her reliable Blackhearts - Dougie Needles on guitar, Hal B. Selzer on bass and Michael McDermott on drums – played the first of a five-show stint through June 21 at the House of Blues Las Vegas. Jett is also an opener on Billy Idol's current tour and will resume her slot Aug. 14. For her Vegas christening, Jett and her band – which also included longtime producer, business partner and confidante Kenny Laguna on keyboards – unpacked a 75-minute chest of hits and deep cuts. The tracks included the industry side-eye singalong "Fake Friends" and "Coney Island Whitefish," both from 1983's "Album." That record also contained Jett's faithful rendition of Sly & The Family Stone's "Everyday People," a song that espouses her lifelong belief in equality. "This one's for you, Sly!" Jett said before diving into the airy guitar chords. Prior to taking the stage, the Beach Boys' carefree "Fun, Fun, Fun" filled the venue, an obvious nod to cofounder Brian Wilson, who died two days after Stone on June 11. Jett knows that casual fans are thrilled to relish in her swaying hit cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson & Clover" and the foot stomper "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)." But the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is also a savvy veteran who understands that her dedicated, multi-generational audience will appreciate a throwback to the Bruce Springsteen-penned "Light of Day," which featured drummer McDermott rolling through a cascade of tom tom beats. Fans will also happily finger snap along with her to The Replacements' "Androgynous." A wallop of a trifecta – "I Love Rock 'N' Roll," "I Hate Myself For Loving You" and "Bad Reputation" – showcased Jett's brawny pop-rock salted with a dash of punk, at least in attitude. In a recent interview with USA TODAY, Jett shared that she wanted to include some acoustic songs in her Vegas shows and she did. At the end of the concert, she detoured with tunes including "Oh Woe is Me," a bonus track from her 1981 breakthrough album "I Love Rock 'N' Roll." Jett is a steadfast rocker — a musician and songwriter whose continued success is rooted in being untrendy but unshakably cool. For that alone, she should take many bows.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Joan Jett remains an unapologetic rocker: 'I'm happy with who I am'
Joan Jett remains an unapologetic rocker: 'I'm happy with who I am' Show Caption Hide Caption AMA winners include SZA, Gracie Abrams, Eminem and Billie Eilish This year's American Music Awards in Las Vegas honored both music legends and service members, who were recognized for Memorial Day. She's part of a dwindling species, an unapologetic rock chick more focused on the tone of her guitar than the cut of her hair. Joan Jett's fierceness has been splayed across stages for 50 years, first with the all-girl glam-punk pioneers The Runaways and then through her own 40-plus years of solo stardom with her band, the Blackhearts. Her ingrained fist pumpers – 'Cherry Bomb,' 'I Hate Myself for Loving You,' 'Bad Reputation' and the cover song that changed her life, 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll' – were sonic wallpaper during MTV's heyday and most still haven't left pool hall jukeboxes. Jett appreciates her legacy and the fans who express their loyalty and gratitude for her music. 'It's medicine for the soul. I'm just blessed to be a conduit for it,' Jett says. Jett packed up with the Blackhearts – Dougie Needles on guitar, Hal B. Selzer on bass and Michael McDermott on drums – and hit the road with Billy Idol in April. They'll resume the It's A Nice Day to Tour Again! romp Aug. 14, but first, she and the band will park at Las Vegas' House of Blues June 13-14, 18 and 20-21. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. In a recent conversation, Jett and career-long producer, business partner and keyboardist Kenny Laguna (who offered some humorous interjections during the call) talked about her Vegas show plans, playing the Nirvana reunion and why she feels wiser than ever. Question: You're heading to the House of Blues for several shows, you're also touring amphitheaters and arenas with Billy Idol and you've recently been part of stadium tours with Def Leppard and Poison. I get the feeling you prefer the smaller places. Answer: I do. I like the intimacy and when I can really feel the crowd and get a better sense of everything, that immediate feedback whether good or bad. It's exciting to play to a lot of people, but when you lose that connection with the crowd, it's like a black hole out there. Are you planning anything special for the Vegas shows? We'll look through all our records and choose what will work best live. I picked out a bunch of songs from every album and we went into rehearsals (before the Billy Idol tour) and ran through a bunch of them. There were a few I'd never done live, like 'Lie to Me,' and that's really worked out well. Have you ever thought of doing one album front to back? I'm not really into that. I didn't always love every song on my albums and I want to play what I enjoy. And there might be a few fans who might be happy to not hear the hits, but that's not most people. So I want to do what people want to hear and it's going to be fun. You were part of the Nirvana reunion at the FireAid show in Los Angeles in January. How did that come about and how did you get assigned 'Territorial Pissings'?Dave (Grohl, Nirvana's drummer) called me and asked if I wanted to perform with them and I thought, oh yeah, we'll do 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' like we did at my (Rock & Roll) Hall of Fame induction (in 2015). But it was more that Dave picked out the songs they wanted to try and he knew I liked that one. I recently talked to Billy Idol about touring with you and he said you've known each other since a 1978 Germs/Dead Kennedys show at the Whiskey in LA. Do you remember that night? Is that the show? I couldn't remember, but I do remember when we met. I I used to live across from the Whiskey. The apartment is still there and I've been dying to knock on the door and see who lives there. But everybody used to come to my house before concerts and party. There's a picture of Billy and me in my living room, sitting and talking with some of my friends. I have a drink in my hand. You have somehow managed to look the same for more than 40 years. Please tell us how you do it. I never had to work out my whole life. I was just lucky I had an athletic body. But now it's a different story. I see an arm and am like, 'Whose arm is this with the crepe-y skin?' (Laughs). But I try to walk every day and I do some weights. I had a shoulder operation so it's important to keep my muscle strength up and I do a lot of core work. And you know, traveling, walking through airports and venues, that's my exercise. But the traveling, that's the one part of my job that I don't love. It's all wear and tear on your body. Will you be able to get some rest after Vegas? I'm taking my brother and sister to Ireland. I've been there to tour but not in many years. I'm Irish, so to see Dublin and County Mayo where my grandparents are from … I'm really looking forward to not working and being able to take it all in and learn about the people. That worked out well to have a few weeks off before rejoining Billy's tour. You know, we get all wrapped up with what we're doing and time is limited. No matter how much money you've got, you can't buy time. I've done a lot of growing up. I've learned more from 50 to my age now at 66 than I did the entire first part of my life. You had a vision of the world and that's what it was and maybe you didn't question it enough. But I'm happy with what I've done and who I am.
Boston Globe
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Joe Gittleman on life after the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Things came together quickly for the core members of the new group — Gittleman on bass, as he'd been for the Bosstones, singer-guitarist Sammy Kay, and drummer Michael McDermott, who has played with the Bouncing Souls and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Ahead of the upcoming release of Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'It's been a pretty whirlwind creative time,' said Gittleman from his office on the campus of Vermont State University in Montpelier, where he teaches classes about the music business. 'We're enjoying the process of becoming a band.' Advertisement As one of the main drivers of the Bosstones, the rowdy third-wave ska band that helped revive the Jamaican style in the 1990s, it was Gittleman who was pitted against 'I think the Bosstones was a really lucky and wonderful thing, and that's how I choose to remember it,' he said. 'Dick's got things that are important to him, and we both made our decisions accordingly.' While making the record that would turn out to be the Bosstones' last, 2021's 'When God Was Great,' Gittleman and Barrett were at odds over the vaccine mandates. Advertisement 'There was no blame or anger about that,' Gittleman said. But Barrett's activism 'was going to impact all of us, ultimately. 'I can't speak for any other Bosstones, but I can certainly say for me, I'm happy where I'm at now, where I'm heading.' Gittleman first met Sammy Kay a decade or so ago on the ska scene, when the latter was helping to manage a like-minded band, the Pietasters. As a songwriter, the gruff-voiced Kay thought he wanted to be the next Bob Dylan, 'but then realized the world didn't need another Bob Dylan,' Gittleman said with a gap-toothed smile. Kay, who grew up in New Jersey and now makes his home near Cincinnati, has done some hard living. 'He's up front about his mental health struggles and addiction,' Gittleman said. 'I'll say that for him, because he says that himself.' But they bonded over a shared commitment to songwriting, and their mutual love of the Clash. 'In Sammy, I found someone who is similarly obsessed on the songwriting side,' Gittleman said. 'Not everyone is. 'He's a very sweet, caring person who really is in music because he likes connecting with people.' Kay, who is about 20 years younger than Gittleman, brings an energy that fuels the older musician. They just returned from a West Coast tour with another Boston-based ska band, Big D and the Kids Table. 'We win rooms over,' Gittleman said. 'We can hop in front of people who've never heard of us and make the most of every experience. We're up there rippin'.' 'Beliefs & Thieves' features a few explicit ska songs ('Ya Ya,' 'Lorelei'). But it also has songs that don't quite fit the mold of Gittleman's previous band. 'Battles,' for instance, is a straight-ahead melodic punk song, while 'Old Dog' is bathed in a dreamy echo that borders on shoegaze. Advertisement The album was mixed by Paul Kolderie, the recording engineer who cofounded Boston's Fort Apache Studios and has worked on albums by the Pixies, Radiohead, and the Bosstones, among many others. 'At this point, he's probably my longest collaborative relationship,' said Gittleman. Kolderie 'didn't know Sammy from a hole in the wall,' he noted, yet he recognized the power of his voice and pushed it up in the mix. Kay 'plays music with a heavy hand,' Gittleman said. 'He adds color to everything. He's not a passive participant to music. Perhaps that's what made me go, 'I want to keep working in this direction.'' The Kilograms (the name was chosen as a mashup of Kay's and Gittleman's initials) are restoring a sense of fulfillment to the time Gittleman spends onstage, he said. How exactly does he define that? After a moment, he answered. 'Love on stage, in the room, honestly. The idea that we're moving together, hoping to accomplish something creatively. 'And maybe do some good along the way.' THE KILOGRAMS Opening for Dropkick Murphys, with the Menzingers. March 14, 7 p.m. $42.50-$79.50. MGM Music Hall at Fenway. 2 Lansdowne St., Boston. James Sullivan can be reached at .
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Idol Announces New Album Dream Into It, Unveils Single 'Still Dancing': Stream
The post Billy Idol Announces New Album Dream Into It, Unveils Single 'Still Dancing': Stream appeared first on Consequence. Billy Idol has announced a new album, Dream Into It, arriving April 25th. The video for lead single 'Still Dancing' can be streamed below. The autobiographical song calls back to one of Idol's biggest hits ('Dancing with Myself') and charts his musical journey, from humble punk roots to rockstar status. That's reflected in the music, which channels the sound of Idol's '80s heyday with its throwback production, surging guitars, and huge chorus hook. Get Billy Idol Tickets Here 'At the start of the song I'm recalling the early times in London, when I was living in squats or at friends' apartments, all my belongings in a plastic bag,' said Idol in a press release. 'Everybody at home or work told you what you were doing was never going to happen. But punk rock gave me an opening. I was surrounded by people who loved the music as deeply as I did and you were going to throw caution to the wind, believe in what you were doing and grab on for dear life.' He added, 'As the song says, there have been many moments along the way where I've been self-destructive. But what's seen me through is that unflinching belief in the music that started all those years ago. That's been the greatest gift of all.' 'Still Dancing' serves as the closing track on Dream Into It — Idol's first full-length studio album since 2014. The LP spans nine songs and features guest appearances by Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett, and Alison Mosshart of The Kills. A few days after the record's release, Idol will hit the road with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts for a previously announced North American tour. Dates kick off April 30th in Phoenix, with tickets available here. Pre-orders for Dream Into It are available via this location. Stream the video for 'Still Dancing' and see the album art and tracklist below. Artwork: Tracklist: 01. Dream Into It 02. 77 (featuring Avril Lavigne) 03. Too Much Fun 04. John Wayne (featuring Alison Mosshart) 05. Wildside (featuring Joan Jett) 06. People I Love 07. Gimme The Weight 08. I'm Your Hero 09. Still Dancing Billy Idol Announces New Album Dream Into It, Unveils Single 'Still Dancing': Stream Jon Hadusek Popular Posts Tony Hawk Wishes Kurt Cobain Could Meet Their Shared Grandson J6 Prison Choir to Perform at Kennedy Center Michelle Trachtenberg Dead at 39 The 69 Sexiest Film Scenes of All Time Wu-Tang Clan Announce Final Tour with Run the Jewels as Special Guest Classic MTV Unplugged Episodes Now Streaming on Paramount+ Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
