| Rockin' News for June 15 ,2009 |
Anvil parlays cinema success into opening slot for AC/DC
Anvil, the Canadian heavy metal band that spent more than 30 years in near
obscurity before the documentary about its struggles became a surprise hit, is
getting the ultimate rock and roll salute this summer. AC/DC, arguably the most
successful hard rock band in history, has personally selected Anvil as the sole
support act for two arena shows -- July 28 at Gillette Stadium in Boston and July
31 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
The stadium shows will mark a new chapter in Anvil's late-blooming fame.
"Anvil: The Story Of Anvil," the documentary directed by teenage roadie turned
Anvil, the Canadian heavy metal band that spent more than 30 years in near
obscurity before the documentary about its struggles became a surprise hit, is
getting the ultimate rock and roll salute this summer. AC/DC, arguably the most
successful hard rock band in history, has personally selected Anvil as the sole
support act for two arena shows -- July 28 at Gillette Stadium in Boston and July
31 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
The stadium shows will mark a new chapter in Anvil's late-blooming fame.
"Anvil: The Story Of Anvil," the documentary directed by teenage roadie turned
screenwriter Sacha Gervasi, made its debut at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and opened in theaters in New York and Los Angeles in
March. The theatrical run has currently expanded to 27 cities and there are plans to double that number over the summer, with an estimated
150-200 total play dates on tap. The film has already grossed more than $550,000 at the box office in the United States alone, a huge
success for an independently distributed documentary.
Since March, the band has played more than 30 concerts - dubbed "The Anvil Experience" - at sold-out film screenings across the country,
including two gigs last week in Los Angeles and New York that saw hundreds of people turned away at the door.
Aside from AC/DC, Anvil has found a wellspring of support from fellow musicians who have fallen in love with the film. Chris Martin of
Coldplay, who came to last week's New York Anvil Experience and gave the band a standing ovation upon their return to the Bowery Hotel, has
been a major advocate. In an interview published on Coldplay's website, Martin calls the film "brilliant...wonderful," and adds, "There's a
scene in it between the drummer and the singer which makes you cry, especially if you're in a band and you know what it feels like to love
another man so much, but also fight so much."
Anvil next heads to the U.K. (where the film was the top-grossing rock documentary in the country's history and was recently released on
DVD) this weekend for a stage-headlining slot at the celebrated heavy metal Download Festival. The band is also booked for the Rocklahoma
Festval in Oklahoma on July 9-12, where it will share the stage with groups like Ratt, Anthrax, Twisted Sister and dozens of others.
The film's U.S. DVD release is now scheduled for the fall, at least three months later than originally planned due to the overwhelming
response from moviegoers. VH1, which is releasing the DVD and has sponsored the Anvil Experience live shows, will give the film its broadcast
debut on the network and a national Anvil Experience tour of major markets is planned for the week of the DVD release. A soundtrack and
book deal are in the works, as well as the release of three newly-recorded Anvil tracks for the Rock Band video game. VH1 Records is also
looking to give the band's thirteenth album, This Is Thirteen, an official release at the end of August.
Internationally, the film screened at the Cannes Film Festival and will see theatrical distribution on all major territories throughout Europe,
Asia, and even the Middle East. The movie opens in Australia in August and Japan in October. The band is expected to bring the Anvil
Experience to as many of the countries as its schedule will allow.
In a tearful speech following last week's New York screening, director Gervasi best summed up the band's newfound recognition. "Anvil taught
me something...never f--king give up, never surrender," he said.
"I'm just so proud of this band," he told the joyful crowd of supporters. "Will you please help me turn Anvil into f--king rock stars?"
(Courtesy of billboard.com, article by David J. Prince)
March. The theatrical run has currently expanded to 27 cities and there are plans to double that number over the summer, with an estimated
150-200 total play dates on tap. The film has already grossed more than $550,000 at the box office in the United States alone, a huge
success for an independently distributed documentary.
Since March, the band has played more than 30 concerts - dubbed "The Anvil Experience" - at sold-out film screenings across the country,
including two gigs last week in Los Angeles and New York that saw hundreds of people turned away at the door.
Aside from AC/DC, Anvil has found a wellspring of support from fellow musicians who have fallen in love with the film. Chris Martin of
Coldplay, who came to last week's New York Anvil Experience and gave the band a standing ovation upon their return to the Bowery Hotel, has
been a major advocate. In an interview published on Coldplay's website, Martin calls the film "brilliant...wonderful," and adds, "There's a
scene in it between the drummer and the singer which makes you cry, especially if you're in a band and you know what it feels like to love
another man so much, but also fight so much."
Anvil next heads to the U.K. (where the film was the top-grossing rock documentary in the country's history and was recently released on
DVD) this weekend for a stage-headlining slot at the celebrated heavy metal Download Festival. The band is also booked for the Rocklahoma
Festval in Oklahoma on July 9-12, where it will share the stage with groups like Ratt, Anthrax, Twisted Sister and dozens of others.
The film's U.S. DVD release is now scheduled for the fall, at least three months later than originally planned due to the overwhelming
response from moviegoers. VH1, which is releasing the DVD and has sponsored the Anvil Experience live shows, will give the film its broadcast
debut on the network and a national Anvil Experience tour of major markets is planned for the week of the DVD release. A soundtrack and
book deal are in the works, as well as the release of three newly-recorded Anvil tracks for the Rock Band video game. VH1 Records is also
looking to give the band's thirteenth album, This Is Thirteen, an official release at the end of August.
Internationally, the film screened at the Cannes Film Festival and will see theatrical distribution on all major territories throughout Europe,
Asia, and even the Middle East. The movie opens in Australia in August and Japan in October. The band is expected to bring the Anvil
Experience to as many of the countries as its schedule will allow.
In a tearful speech following last week's New York screening, director Gervasi best summed up the band's newfound recognition. "Anvil taught
me something...never f--king give up, never surrender," he said.
"I'm just so proud of this band," he told the joyful crowd of supporters. "Will you please help me turn Anvil into f--king rock stars?"
(Courtesy of billboard.com, article by David J. Prince)
| *** *** *** *** *** *** |
Marty Friedman rocks with Raven in Tokyo
Japanese hardcore metal fans got a huge surprise when former MEGADETH
guitarist Marty Friedman took the stage with legendary NWOBHM band RAVEN in
Tokyo on June 11. He joined them during the encore for RAVEN staples "Don't
Need Your Money" and "For The Future".
RAVEN has been cited several times by Marty as a major influence, especially
during his teenage years.
RAVEN vocalist/bassist John Gallagher recently commented on the band's new
Walk Through the Fire CD: "It's the right combination of spontaneous lunacy
captured with the sounds we've always wanted." (Courtesy of blabbermouth.net)
Japanese hardcore metal fans got a huge surprise when former MEGADETH
guitarist Marty Friedman took the stage with legendary NWOBHM band RAVEN in
Tokyo on June 11. He joined them during the encore for RAVEN staples "Don't
Need Your Money" and "For The Future".
RAVEN has been cited several times by Marty as a major influence, especially
during his teenage years.
RAVEN vocalist/bassist John Gallagher recently commented on the band's new
Walk Through the Fire CD: "It's the right combination of spontaneous lunacy
captured with the sounds we've always wanted." (Courtesy of blabbermouth.net)
| *** *** *** *** *** *** |
Whitford eyes July return to Aerosmith tour
Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford hopes to rejoin his bandmates early next month
after a head injury prevented him from playing on their newly launched tour, fellow
guitarist Joe Perry said on Sunday.
Whitford, 57, is recovering from surgery for internal bleeding after he apparently
banged his head while getting out of his Ferrari about a week before the tour began
last Wednesday in St. Louis.
"It built up pressure and gave him this whoopin' headache," Perry told Reuters. "He's
not prone to getting migraines, so knew something was wrong. He went right in, they did
Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford hopes to rejoin his bandmates early next month
after a head injury prevented him from playing on their newly launched tour, fellow
guitarist Joe Perry said on Sunday.
Whitford, 57, is recovering from surgery for internal bleeding after he apparently
banged his head while getting out of his Ferrari about a week before the tour began
last Wednesday in St. Louis.
"It built up pressure and gave him this whoopin' headache," Perry told Reuters. "He's
not prone to getting migraines, so knew something was wrong. He went right in, they did
what they had to do, and now he's getting better." The target date for Whitford's return is July 7, when the band is scheduled to play a
show in Raleigh, North Carolina, Perry said. Subbing for him is Bobby Schneck, who has played with Green Day and Weezer.
Rocking out with Aerosmith can be hazardous for your health. Four out of five group members have disclosed major medical problems in the
last three years, including Perry who has been plagued by a bad knee ever since he fell off a stage in Dallas 25 years ago.
He underwent knee-replacement surgery in March 2008, but was "devastated" to learn around Christmas that the area had become infected,
like a "rotten grapefruit," he said, and he would need to go through the whole procedure again.
The various ailments and touring obligations mean the band has not released an album of original material since 2001's Just Push Play. Perry
said the band has recorded about 15 songs for the next disc and hopes to pick up the thread in the studio sometime after the current tour
ends in the fall.
The third stop on the tour will be on Tuesday at the Comcast Center in suburban Boston. The band has been playing its classic 1975 album
Toys in the Attic in its entirety, with the notable exception of the closing track "You See Me Crying."
Perry said the song is too difficult for vocalist Steven Tyler to sing right now, but Tyler hopes he will be able to do it after a few more
shows. At any rate, the band expects to swap out Toys in the Attic in about two weeks, and play all the tracks from its 1976 follow-up
Rocks, Perry said. (Courtesy of reuters.com, article by Dean Goodman)
show in Raleigh, North Carolina, Perry said. Subbing for him is Bobby Schneck, who has played with Green Day and Weezer.
Rocking out with Aerosmith can be hazardous for your health. Four out of five group members have disclosed major medical problems in the
last three years, including Perry who has been plagued by a bad knee ever since he fell off a stage in Dallas 25 years ago.
He underwent knee-replacement surgery in March 2008, but was "devastated" to learn around Christmas that the area had become infected,
like a "rotten grapefruit," he said, and he would need to go through the whole procedure again.
The various ailments and touring obligations mean the band has not released an album of original material since 2001's Just Push Play. Perry
said the band has recorded about 15 songs for the next disc and hopes to pick up the thread in the studio sometime after the current tour
ends in the fall.
The third stop on the tour will be on Tuesday at the Comcast Center in suburban Boston. The band has been playing its classic 1975 album
Toys in the Attic in its entirety, with the notable exception of the closing track "You See Me Crying."
Perry said the song is too difficult for vocalist Steven Tyler to sing right now, but Tyler hopes he will be able to do it after a few more
shows. At any rate, the band expects to swap out Toys in the Attic in about two weeks, and play all the tracks from its 1976 follow-up
Rocks, Perry said. (Courtesy of reuters.com, article by Dean Goodman)
Click here for Rockin' News: June 15, page 2