2019's Biggest Rock Stories

We all know that every day there is some big story in the world of music. 2019 seems to have hit the high water mark for history. 2020 however is strongly competing with it. Reunion tours, massive tours, releases of autobiographies/biographies of musicians? 2020 is turning out to be a great year to be a fan of music and it's not even 2020 yet! To finish off the year right, here are some of 2019's biggest stories in rock and metal

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees include Soundgarden, Doobie Brothers

-Until the 202 nomination list for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame came out, the Doobie Brothers and Soundgarden were never on the list. They are next year. But, in addition to them, some of the other notables for induction include Motorhead, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, Pat Benatar, all of whom have been nominated but never inducted.

Kiss kick off their "End of the Road" tour

-First off, me and my sister saw their show at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH and it was amazing. Not only was it amazing because we were seeing them live, but it was amazing because it was my sister's first time seeing Kiss live. They played two of her favorite songs- "Beth" and I Was Made for Loving You" in addition to all her other favorites. These guys are known for having "farewell" tours. This is not shocking. But considering their ages, this might be it, who knows. Their "supposed" last show is said to be on July 17, 2020 in New York City

More farewell tours

-Obviously the musicians we love are not spring chickens anymore. Some are doing farewell concerts and tours because they are not getting any younger and can't handle the tour-album-tour cycle anymore. Elton John kicked off a farewell tour in 2018. He dubbed it the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour. It will continue on through 2018, 2019 and into 2020. Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd are currently doing their Last of the Street Survivors tour. This one started in 2019 and will most likely carry on until 2020. Deep Purple is on tour, dubbing it The Long Goodbye. Peter Frampton is embarking on his own farewell tour after learning of his diagnosis of a rare degenerative disease that weakens his muscles, leaving him unable to play guitar, piano or anything. Other bands include Slayer on their The Final Campaign tour, UFO on their Last Orders tour and Krokus on their The Final Tour.

Cream drummer Ginger Baker dies at age 80

-This guy was an inspiration to a lot of aspiring drummers. Cream was one of the first successful trios that showed that sometimes a successful band only needs three members. He was the drummer of Cream and Blind Faith. He passed away on Oct. 6 and will be terribly missed

Rick Ocasek of The Cars passed away at 75

-On Sept. 15, the world lost Ric Ocasek, who had passed away in his sleep. His estranged wife Paulina Porizkova had discovered the body only a few weeks after going in for some light surgery. Although later on, the cause of death was said to be hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. What I think may have been more shocking, especially to his estranged wife, was that she was cut completely out of the will Ocasek had drawn up. When he died, she got nothing. So obviously the divorce did not end well.

Eddie Money passes away at 70

-The legendary singer behind hits like "Baby, Hold On", "Take Me Home Tonite", "Two Tickets to Paradise", has passed away from stage four throat cancer. He died on Sept. 13. His cancer was so severe that he simply did not catch it in time. When he did catch it, it was already at stage 4 and had metastasized to his stomach and liver.

Other musicians who departed

-In addition to the vast array of musicians who have left us, let's give some love to others who have died. Peter Tork of The Monkees died in February at age 77. Talk Talk front man Mark Hollis died the same month at 64. March also had some losses. Scott Walker died at age 76. Dick Dale died at age 81. Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter died in September at age 78. .38 Special bassist and Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder Larry Junstrom died in October at age 70. Little Feat guitarist Paul Barrere died in October at 71

Doobie Brothers reunite with Michael McDonald

-Doobie Brothers fans: you are about to hear GREAT NEWS!! The Doobie Brothers, that is right, you are reading this right, are reuniting with Michael McDonald. A 2020 world tour is in the works. So if you are a fan, start doing major research to see if they are coming to a town near you. This will be the first album with McDonald since the mid 1990s, when they were first nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. From June 9-Oct. 17 of 2020 is when their tour is said to last

Bohemian Rhapsody wins big at the Oscars

-The movie revolves around how legendary rockers Queen got their start. The movie had mixed reviews. Out of the five categories it was nominated in, it won four. So it was a big night for the surviving members of Queen and the actors and actresses who appeared in the movie. Rami Malek took home the statue for Best Actor for his role of Freddie Mercury. The movie also took home awards for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing. It lost Best Picture to Green Book

 

Motley Crue back on tour

-So much for retirement. That certainly took a flying leap out the window. They had only been retired for five years but now there is a video showing all four original members destroying their contracts. They announced they would be doing a stadium tour with Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett in 2020. They all stated that the reason they want to take up touring again is because of the release of the Netflix biopic The Dirt and a serious rise in popularity of their music, being both bought on CDs and downloaded from music sites.

The film Yesterday sees a world with out The Beatles

-The premise of the film Yesterday is about an Anglo-Indian musician (Himesh Patel) who is able to remember and know everything about The Beatles. But trying to convince everyone else is a whole other story. He manages to pass off the music as his own and becomes an overnight celebrity. Ed Sheeran appears in the movie, as himself and ends up becoming the aspiring musician's friend. But, of course, the lie he carries and the newfound fame take a toll on himself and his relationships with his close friend and manager, he has to decide what is more important. The movie managed to rake in $151 million at the box office. Most likely, a good percentage of those sales were from Beatles fans

The Dirt appears on Netflix

-The title of the movie stems from a biopic book about how Motley Crue got started. The film included 14 songs from Crue's varied career, including a cover of Madonna's "Like a Virgin". In the film, rapper Machine Gun Kelly plays Tommy Lee.

Twisted Sister Frontman Dee Snider Blasts NFL

That's right. You read this right. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider blasts NFL

It was decided that for this upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show that the artist in question to perform would be Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. This is not sitting well with legendary Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider. He expressed his strong disapproval at this, saying that one of the biggest events of the year is, once again, ignoring hard rock and heavy metal, despite the fact that some of these artists' songs can be heard playing in the background

He tweeted "WTF!? @shakira and @jlo for this year's @nfl halftime show!? Once again the great heavy music that rocks the stadiums week after week, game after game is completely ignored. I guess we don't shake our ass enough!!"

These words echo what he tweeted earlier after this year's performance by Maroon 5. He listed ten songs from legendary acts like Queen, AC/DC, Guns 'N' Roses, Twisted Sister that get crowds on their feet and their fists pumping. But these household names get overlooked when it comes to the halftime show.

He tweeted again "Hey @NFL! Your go-to songs at EVERY game are metal. 'Enter Sandman,' 'Cum On Feel the Noise,' 'Thunder[struck],' 'Crazy Train,' 'We're Not Gonna Take It,' 'We Are the Champions,' 'Final Countdown,' 'I Wanna Rock,' 'We Will Rock You,' 'Welcome to Jungle.' NONE of those bands have EVER played half-time show!"

Def Leppard finally gets inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

That's right! You heard it right! Def Leppard has finally been inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame.

The bands getting inducted include: Def Leppard, The Cure, Radiohead, Roxy Music, The Zombies and Stevie Nicks. To be eligible for this, an artist must be around for at least 25 years after their first album release.

The people inducting these artists in include Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Brian May of Queen, Janelle Monae, Harry Styles of One Direction, David Byrne, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor of Duran Duran, Susannah Hoffs of The Bangles

The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia-Vicki Lawrence

I honestly can't believe that Vicki Lawrence can sing!! I love this song!! I also can't believe that Vicki Lawrence originally wrote and sang this song!!

I also love the Reba McEntire cover too!!

John Deacon

This man is the bassist for rock band Queen

Birth name: John Richard Deacon
DOB: 8/19/1951
Where: Leicester, Leicestershire, England

Trademark


His Fender Precision bass guitar

Trivia
-One of his biggest songwriting credits is "Another One Bites the Dust"
-John and his wife Veronica Tetzlaff have six kids: Michael, Robert, Laura, Joshua, Luke, Cameron
-He has an electronics degree from Chelsea College - London University
-His last performance with the band Queen was on Sept. 17, 1997, at the Theatre National de Chaillot in Paris, France
-He was put in charge of the band's finances
-Out of all the members of Queen, Deacon was the only one who never sang any lead vocals
-"You're My Best Friend" is dedicated to his wife Veronica
-Was portrayed by Joseph Mazzello in the film Bohemian Rhapsody.


Ben Hardy (Roger Taylor) and Joseph Mazzello (John Deacon)

Roger Taylor

This man is the drummer for rock band Queen.

Birth name: Roger Meddows Taylor
DOB: 7/26/1949
Where: Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England

Trivia
-He, alongside Queen, performed at Live Aid, where 80s pop band Duran Duran played. This band also has a drummer named Roger Taylor
-Loves classic cars. This inspired his song "I'm In Love with My Car"
-Has five children. Actor Felix Taylor, Dr. Rory Eleanor Taylor, drummer Rufus Taylor, model Tigerlily Taylor, fashion model/photographer Lola-Leng Taylor


Proud dad Roger and daughter Tigerlily

-He appeared in drag in two videos- "I Want to Break Free" by Queen and "The Great Pretender" by Freddie Mercury
-Started out studying dentistry, but received a degree in biology
-He shares a birthday with Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger
-He can play multiple instruments in addition to drums. He can play guitar, bass guitar and keyboards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-He was portrayed by Ben Hardy in the film Bohemian Rhapsody.

Brian May

This is the primary guitarist for the band Queen.

Birth name: Brian Harold May
DOB: 7/19/1947
Where: Hampton, Middlesex, England

Trademark
-Plays his guitar with a sixpence coin


His extremely curly hair

-His unique guitar riffs

Trivia
-He has three kids with ex-wife Chrissie Mullens: son James, born in 1978, daughter Louisa, born in 1981, daughter Emily, born in 1987
-He attended Imperial College at London University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science, majoring in physics and mathematics. He was working on a doctorate in astronomy, but dropped out to form Queen
-He once taught math at Stockwell Park Secondary School in Stockwell, Southwest London
-He resumed his pursuit of a PhD in astronomy later on. He later presented a dissertation on motion of interstellar dust
-The songs credited to him are: Fat Bottom Girls, Tie Your Mother Down, Keep Yourself Alive, Thirty-Nine (which he sings lead vocals on)

-He is very close friends with Tony Iommi, principal guitarist with Black Sabbath

-Was portrayed by Gwilym Lee in the film Bohemian Rhapsody

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury, for those who don't know, was the iconic front man for legendary but severely underrated rock band Queen. Seriously, Queen is so far underrated it is pathetic. These guys broke records and defied stereotypes, but do they get the recognition they deserve? NO! Instead, they get overlooked for more overrated bands like Led Zeppelin

Birth Name: Farrokh Bomi Bulsara
DOB: 9/5/1946
Where: Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
DOD: 11/24/1991
Where: Kensington, London, England (AIDS-related pneumonia)

Trademark


Used the top half of a microphone stand when singing

He always placed his microphone under his belt

-Insanely operatic vocals
-Mustache
-Pronounced overbite
-High energy stage performances



Sometimes unusual stage costumes

Trivia
-He strongly supported the British monarchy. He was inspired by both this and the sexual innuendo of the word "queen" to name the band Queen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-His ancestors originated in Persia and emigrated to India in the 7th century. As a result of not wanting to convert to Islam, they became Zoroastrians

-He willingly chose not to get corrective surgery on his famous overbite because he fear it would damage his voice

-When the band Smile, who consisted of Brian May and Roger Taylor and two other members, split up, Freddie joined up with the band to reform the band into Queen

-When Freddie died, he demanded that a very vast majority of his estate go to his good friend Mary Austin. The remainder was left to his parents, his chef Joe Fanelli, assistant Peter Freestone, driver Terry Giddings, his partner Jim Hutton

-Growing up, he was an avid stamp collector
-He attended Ealing College of Art, where he studied art and graphic design. This education helped him design Queen's famous logo, called the Queen Crest

-He was an avid cat lover

-Despite being buried in the Zoroastrian tradition of the family, he hardly practiced the family religion

-What inspired him to create the famous Queen Crest was using the birth signs of his fellow band members. Two lions for Roger and John (Leo), a crab for Brian (Cancer), two fairies for himself (Virgo)

-A good majority of his ancestry is Persian
-In 1987, he was diagnosed with HIV, which eventually morphs into AIDS
-Police bassist/front man Sting dedicated his song "Shadows in the Rain" to Mercury
-Eric Carr, the second drummer for hard rock band Kiss and Freddie Mercury died within hours of each other, dying on Nov. 24, 1991. Mercury died of AIDS-related pneumonia and Eric Carr died of heart cancer
-Two months prior to his death, Freddie recorded the song "The Show Must Go On". He was very physically weak from AIDS and was unable to stand. Brian May told him that he would sing the vocals for him. Mercury didn't allow that and he gathered all of his strength and did the song perfectly in one take
-Paul Gambaccini, a DJ who was a good friend of Mercury's, said he suspected Mercury would die of AIDS as early as 1983 in various interviews that he had done over the years. He met Mercury in a gay bar and was strongly warning him about "this new disease" that is plaguing the gay communities. He asked Mercury if he was taking precautions against it and Mercury responded "fuck it, I'm doing everything with everybody".

-Was portrayed by Rami Malek in the film Bohemian Rhapsody

2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs

Once again, the ROR HOF nomination process is upon us. Up for nominations this year into this ridiculous institution include: Dire Straits, Judas Priest and more. I forgot who else, those two are two I remember right off the top. Here are some of the bands who SHOULD be in there. Bands who have been snubbed from this institution



Motorhead

Jethro Tull

Def Leppard

Iron Maiden



Pantera

King Crimson



Soundgarden

Nine Inch Nails

Warren Zevon

Roxy Music

The Cure

True Crime: New York City

This game is fun, but definitely aimed at an older audience because of the very mature situations dealt with in this game

Summary
-You are Marcus Reed, a former gangbanger turned police officer, whose dad is Isiah "The King" Reed. After being given the chance to change his life and leave his gangbanging ways behind him, Marcus joins the police academy and becomes a cop, with the help of PDNY detective Terry Higgins. After becoming a cop, he manages to become a beat cop in the Organized Crime Unit. You soon come into contact with an eccentric FBI agent named Gabriel Whitting, who is looking into rumors of there being a mole in OCU and somehow that mole having connections to four major organized crime factions in the city

Gameplay
-There are four different chapters to do missions in this game. In order to move on, you must solve the missions in each case
-The Magdelena Cartel
-The Shadow Tong
-The Presidents Club
-The Palermo Mob

-The Magdelena Cartel takes you to the neighborhood of Spanish Harlem, investigating a cartel moving cocaine, ecstasy and other narcotics into poorer neighborhoods. The case ends with you taking down the head, Teresa Castillo, at the Opera House in the theatre district. She's aboard a wooden boat on the opera stage and you must shoot it to arrest her

-The Palermo Mob is your typical Mafia case. You go from talking to a high ranking mobster in Little Italy, to taking down a funeral director in Washington Heights to taking down a mob boss' contactor son on top of a construction boom crane

-The Presidents Club is the name of a club of drug dealers using names of presidents. They are pushing a new drug called "Pop" on to the streets. The mysterious leader of this "club" is a rapper/music producer named Lionel, and to solve this case, you must fight him in hand to hand combat in a Zen garden on top of the building housing his studio

-The Shadow Tong is a pretty tough case. You go to Chinatown to talk to a store owner, then try and rescue the sister of an up and coming Chinese Tong member named Leeland Shen. You discover he is smuggling Chinese immigrants in and forcing them to work in sweatshops

-The layout is pretty typical of any open world game. You can drive around, shoot guns, talk to people, etc. But in this game, you can do more. You can frisk people and if they have contraband, you can either arrest them or bribe them. You can do side missions which include seeking information from confidential informants (in this game, the three informants are The King, who happens to be Marcus' father, the Madam, who runs a high class prostitution service, and Freddie, a gypsy Middle Eastern cab driver)

 

-This game is very similar to True Crime: Streets of LA in the sense that you can solve street crimes, you can enter buildings, you can also use public transportation to get around, which in this games' case is taxis and the subway system. There is also the "Good Cop/Bad Cop" point system in here. The end of the game depends on what you do. If you get too many Bad Cop points, the police will consider you to have "gone rogue" and they will attack you. If you do the Good Cop and get a lot of good points, all is well

 

 

 

-Here you can enter buildings and frisk people for contraband. To get good cop points, arrest the people, but to get bad cop points, you can frame innocent people by planting evidence. You can enter buildings and do all sorts of stuff. To gain lost health, you can visit pharmacies, stop by hot dog or food stands, delis, clothing stores where you can buy new clothes, barber shops to get new haircuts, dojos to pick up new skills and weapons, music stores to pick up new music for the in-game soundtrack, gun stores to pick up new weapons

-When driving, the police dispatch will let you know about crimes occurring. You must solve a set number of crimes in each neighborhood before it is considered "clean". When you look at the map and hover over it with the pointer, it will either be red, meaning and saying that the crime level is extremely high, orange, meaning and saying the crime level is medium, yellow, meaning and saying the crime level is low or green, meaning and saying that that neighborhood is clean. To clean up the neighborhood, solve crimes, frisk suspicious-looking civilians. If nothing is done about the crimes, the crime rate will go up, stores will close, the streets will be dirty, more random crimes will occur and the civilians will become extremely aggressive

-You can also move up the ranks of being a police officer. You can go to the police precinct (marked by a very large badge in Midtown) and enter the police department to turn in contraband and get paid. There are two ways of making money in here-legitimate and illegitimate. The "legit" way of making money is doing your job-stopping crime, frisking suspicious-looking civilians and turning in contraband. The "illegitimate" way of doing it is shaking down store owners, bribing people and in all senses of the word, breaking the law