Before we get going, I’d like to give a quick blog shoutout that is actually more of a public service announcement: John Gorman’s Buzzard Blog has a great piece online now detailing the infamous early history between WMMS and Rush that played a big part in launching the now-legendary Canadian trio. People always want to know “the Rush story,” and Gorman’s piece does a nice job of putting it out there.

While Rush might not be out on the road this summer, there are plenty of other groups that will be jockeying for your hard earned concert dollars. I’ve already got commitments for Bonnaroo, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood in Columbus, and probably the annual MixFest in Dayton, OH, which is always a good time. And before you even ask, Virgin Festival is a safe bet as well.

Oh shoot, and U2. Dang, this is going to be an expensive summer. Again.

I was a bit grumpy yesterday in regards to a couple of shows that are skipping Cleveland this summer.

The first one is the “Can’t Stop Rockin'” tour with Styx, REO Speedwagon, and .38 Special. If you’ve read this blog for a decent amount of time, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of all three bands. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen REO and .38, and when I heard about this tour, I was stoked. Now, apparently I will be road-tripping with no Cleveland date on the schedule. Styx and REO hit the studio recently to record a song together for the tour, titled appropriately enough “Can’t Stop Rockin'” that will be available as a digital download. Check out tour dates for the tour that Styx mainman Tommy Shaw calls “a rock and roll stimulus package.”

Next subject: Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction. A little birdie told me early in the day that Cleveland was getting skipped on a tour date for NIN/Jane’s. And then a set of tour dates slipped out from Blabbermouth.net with a June 21st show at Blossom on the schedule. But now, there’s this announcement that the tour dates are “incorrect.” I guess we’ll have to wait and see for the final outcome on this one.

Speaking of Jane’s:

From NME:

link

In addition, Rhino has announced that it will release 180-gram vinyl versions of Jane’s Addiction’s landmark albums 1988’s ‘Nothing’s Shocking’ and 1990’s ‘Ritual De Lo Habitual’ to celebrate Record Store Day on April 18.

Andrew Dice Clay and Spinal Tap:

Some interesting shows that ARE coming to Cleveland and other parts of the U.S. – Shock comedian Andrew Dice Clay is out on the road for a set of tour dates that will bring him to Cleveland on May 2nd for a show at the State Theatre. I think that I remember Dice playing a gig at Richfield Coliseum at the height of his popularity…can someone back me up on that one?

The principal members of Spinal Tap – Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer are hitting the road for an “unplugged” tour – Unwigged & Unplugged. Cleveland gets a show at the State Theatre on May 19th, and the other tour dates can be found here at the newly launched website.

Here’s some more info from the press release, including this quote from the guys themselves:

“With this being the 25th Anniversary of the film This is Spinal Tap, we thought this would be a fun and at the same
time, a little challenging, as we have never performed as ourselves. Think of the evening as three old friends playing songs in your living room. As opposed to OUR living rooms; we won’t be home.”

Unwigged & Unplugged will feature songs from the original soundtrack This Is Spinal Tap (1984), the studio album Break Like The Wind (1992), and A Mighty Wind (2003) along with some special surprises and rarities thrown in.

Cleveland tix for Unwigged & Unplugged go on sale Friday morning at 10am and the Dice show tickets will be available Friday morning as well, one hour earlier at 10am. Get ’em at livenation.com, playhousesquare.com, and the Playhouse Square box office.

The Mac is Back (Kind Of):

If I can get a 2nd mortgage on my house, I’d love to check out Fleetwood Mac when the “Unleashed” tour hits Cleveland on April 17th at Quicken Loans Arena. Thing is, it’s a bit expensive. I saw the Mac for the first and only time on “The Dance” tour….back when Christine McVie was still with the group. I’ve always thought that that would be a good place to leave the memories….but then I saw this review, and the setlist. Definitely looks good.

Motley Crue and their White Trash Circus:

Motley Crue are hitting the road for a 2nd round of CrueFest dates this summer, dubbed “The White Trash Circus.” My ears perked up big time when I heard that the band will be performing the entire Dr. Feelgood album. Dammit, they found the hook I’ve been looking for. For Clevelanders, the show hits Blossom on July 21st.

That Def Leppard is Poison, Yo:

And now here’s the show that originally inspired this post. You’ve probably heard about Def Leppard and Poison hitting the road this summer with Cheap Trick in the opening slot, right?

Yesterday, I got the extremely quotable press release announcing a Cleveland area date at Blossom on June 25th, which includes this headline:

TICKETS FOR THE CONCERT EVENT OF THE SUMMER GO ON SALE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 6 AT 10AM

Ahem.

With combined sales of 100 Million albums worldwide, 65 million from Leppard alone, fans can expect hits like “Photograph,” “Rock Of Ages,” “C’mon C’mon,” “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Foolin’,” “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak, “Nine Lives,” and countless others creating an evening of rock ‘n’ roll unlike any other this summer.

Was “Nine Lives” a hit? Are there any Leppard fans that want to hear it?

Let’s continue,

The tour, which kicks off on June 23rd in Camden, N.J, promises an unprecedented night for those in attendance. The show will highlight three decades of music from three of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest bands for a four-hour interactive concert experience that will begin the moment that the doors open. It will feature Bluetooth technology and delivery, text communications prior to and during performances and a host of interactive offerings. This in addition to an arsenal of nearly 60 Top 40 hits including Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Unskinny Bop,” “Ride the Wind,” “Somethin’ To Believe In,” and “Nothin’ But A Good Time,” as well as Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me” and “Surrender.”

60? Holy crap, that’s a lot. Plus, they got to use the word “arsenal.”

“I’m very pleased that we are coming back to Cleveland,” said Def Leppard front man Joe Elliott. “We’re gonna be touring with some new friends and some old friends and can guarantee it will be the Rock Tour of the summer.”

Thanks Joe, we’re looking forward to seeing you too. Remember a couple summers back, when Journey kicked your ass on that same Blossom stage?

Nevermind that….we remember that kick ass show a few years before that at the Gund, where you guys opened up with the entire first side of High n’ Dry. That was KICK ASS. Do that again, and Poison will whimper for mercy, every night of the tour.

“There is nothing better than an epic summer concert and this tour is a dream come true for rock ‘n’ roll fans. It will be a night of a thousand hits with three hard-charging rock bands on the road together,” said Poison front man and star of VH1’s top-rated “Rock of Love Bus” reality show Bret Michaels.

Whoa. Hang on now….I just remembered something. Don’t you guys hate Def Leppard….and vice versa?

Money talks, I guess.

And you’re right, I’d love to see Cheap Trick again!

P.S. For all of you Canadian Music Lovers in Cleveland:

Tragically Hip return to the House of Blues on Sunday, May 31st. Tix are 25 bones and go on sale Friday morning at 10am. T-Hip shows have a habit of selling out quickly here in Cleveland, so don’t delay on that purchase if you wanna go.

One final bit for you all:

Saving Abel just scored an opening slot alongside Seether, opening a bunch of shows for Nickelback. The tour began late last week in Nashville and will hit a bunch of cities. Check here to see if your city made the cut. I’d certainly go out to check out Saving Abel (a bright spot in radio last year,imo) and Seether. I caught Saving Abel at last year’s Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, and they were great. So you’re wondering if I would stick around to see Nickelback? I don’t think so….

That’s all for now….go see some rock and roll, won’t you?