LINK TO AN ARTICLE ABOUT MICHAEL DES BARRES AND HIS NEW SINGLE

Michael Des Barres, the raspy rocker known for the amazing Carnaby Street, just released a fun, infectious Christmas song: “Rock N’ Roll Santa.” Unlike the countless covers of traditional Christmas songs that will, no doubt, put you to sleep, this is an original tune about Santa losing weight. Yes, you read that right; Santa’s sporting a svelte figure in this song. If you’re looking for a short, sweet, catchy rock song to kick off the holiday season, I suggest you check out “Rock N’ Roll Santa.” And since this is the season of giving, a portion of the proceeds from this song go to supportLittle Kids Rock, a wonderful foundation dedicated to restoring and revitalizing music education programs in U.S. public schools.

If you’re not sold on downloading the song, check it out for yourself below. 

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Carnaby Street LIMITED EDITION with BONUS DVD CD - £9.99

Carnaby Street CD - £9.99

LINK: Paul Kanter talks music within his bands Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship

Paul Kanter is one of the founding members of bands Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. Currently he is touring with Jefferson Starship and shows no signs of slowing down.  The band recently released a new live album titled “Tales from the Mothership” through Gonzo Multimedia. Paul took out some time to chat with Media Mikes about his love for music and touring.

Mike Gencarelli: How do you feel music has changed since you first started?
Paul Kantner: It will always be in the province of the young. For some unexplained reason we have refused to go away. Could be that I don’t have anything better to do. (Laughs) When you go to work and play that’s sort of the idea of my upbringing.

MG: How do you think that psychedelic rock is still relevant in today’s music scene?
PK: The concept of what is called psychedelic music came from a whole bunch of bands that were different from each other particularly here in San Francisco. I think that has been fostered in the current music scene in that you don’t have to play one kind of music in order to be successful. It allows room and broadness for any number of people to make music. Psychedelic is very general concept to me because all of the bands were so radically different from one another. I just think that is really the main part of the adventure that holds over to today.

MG: Is there one concert or event that stands out as a favorite?
PK: With all those events that went on each one is like your child. People don’t ask who your favorite child is so I think that’s the similarity with that question/answer. We are still continuing to have a great time every time we go on stage. The architecture of music is so radically joined with the human mind that I am still in awe of it. I am swept away every time I play.

Read on...

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

B4 74 - The Folkclub Tapes 2CD - £14.99

Nothings Gonna Change My World CD - £9.99

Full Circle CD - £9.99

Into The Light DVD - £12.99

Time And Tide  CD - £9.99

BARBARA DICKSON ON TOUR NEXT YEAR

One of Britain’s best known singers is coming to Huddersfield in October 2013 for her only Yorkshire tour date and tickets go on sale on November 29.

Barbara Dickson

For over four decades, Barbara Dickson has continued to deliver songs to the public in her own incomparable fashion. As a multi-million selling recording artist with an equally impressive Olivier award-winning acting career, Barbara Dickson OBE has firmly established herself as one of the most enduring and popular entertainers in Britain today.

Barbara will have a new album out to coincide with the tour with songs from Gerry Rafferty.

Barbara is globally known for hits which include Caravans, Another Suitcase in Another Hall and her chart-topping duet with Elaine Paige, I Know Him So Well, Barbara Dickson is also a two-time Olivier Award-winning actress with roles including Anita Braithwaite in TV's Band of Gold and the original Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell's long-running musical Blood Brothers. 

Read on...

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO

B4 74 - The Folkclub Tapes 2CD - £14.99

Nothings Gonna Change My World CD - £9.99

Full Circle CD - £9.99

Into The Light DVD - £12.99

Time And Tide  CD - £9.99

ATKINS MAY PROJECT: WELCOME TO THE NIGHTMARE

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO

Valley of Shadows CD - £9.99

The Serpents Kiss CD - £9.99

THE SECOND NEWSLETTER HAS JUST GONE OUT

I have been promising for some weeks that the Gonzo Daily publishing empire would spread "into more traditionally magaziney areas", and I wasn't lying. I have just sent out issue two of the new Gonzo Weekly newsletter to nearly 2,000 subscribers. Check it out below:

Newsletter #2
Newsletter #1

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet, is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearences with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

BEING BORN

in every moment takes all our consciousness

so we share it with those who love us most

for who else admits us into their circle

of breath,life,continuance?-when each / unique as air

becomes part of another's aura.There is only life!

All else is stories/told to children/to entrance them

into a waiting world of wolves.Elders know

companions can also be animal,vegetable,emotional

seasonal as bliss.This is what birthing really is!

To share one's life with those who care enough

to stop.Halt.Breathe in.Meditate upon changes/memories

and then proceed to call out to the new in you

who remembers all the stories leading up to you

Here we are at your door!Let us in!

We are part of your stories in translating

HAPPY REBIRTHING!

THE NEWS ABOUT RICK WAKEMAN IN GLOUCESTER GETS BETTER AND BETTER

The Gloucester Mystery Plays Festival will culminate in a performance of rock legend Rick Wakeman’s The Myths and Legends of King Arthur at Gloucester.  He has not performed the work for 30 years and will be supported by the Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra and Gloucester and Worcester Cathedral choirs. This concert will take place in Gloucester on the 15th June 2013.

Not only that, but on the 16th June 2013 he will also perform his Journey to the centre of the Earth.

Find out more

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GONZO

Caped Crusader by Dan Wooding Book - £14.99

In The Nick of Time CD - £9.99

Video Vaults 6DVD box - £85.00

Live at Lugano - £12.99

Past, Present and Future 3CD - £9.99

Always With You CD - £9.99

Christmas Variations  CD - £7.99

The Burning  CD - £9.99

Cirque Surreal  CD - £7.99

Aspirant Sunrise  CD - £7.99

Aspirant Sunset  CD - £7.99

Aspirant Sunshadows  CD - £7.99

Gole  CD - £9.99

White Rock II CD - £7.99

Tribute CD - £7.99

Almost Live In Europe  CD - £7.99

Out Of The Blue  CD - £7.99

Fields Of Green  CD - £7.99

Out There  CD - £7.99

1984 CD - £9.99

Cost Of Living  CD - £9.99

Journey To The Centre Of The Earth Plus CD - £7.99

The Mixture CD - £7.99

Live  CD - £7.99

ATKINS/MAY REVIEW

Billing itself as a collision between good and evil, Atkins May Project returns for their second outing Valley Of Shadows, with the original Judas Priest vocalist Al Atkins once again teaming up with Christian guitarist and music artist Paul May, who has also worked with the likes of Roy Wood (Wizzard/ELO). I wasn't fortunate enough to hear the duo's first effort together, Serpent's Kiss - and in truth, I had all but dismissed the idea of someone harking back to their time in a band (some 39 years ago now) who went on to become seminal members of the world's metal scene, being able to hack it now. In fairness to Atkins, he not only sang with early incarnations of Judas Priest, but without him the band wouldn't exist and his time with them predates that of any of the men who went on to make the name famous throughout the lands. However having been lucky to have a copy of Valley Of Shadows plop onto my door mat, it now looks like I'll be going back and snapping up that debut, as this is a top notch slice of fiery, exuberant heavy metal in the style of....wait for it..... Judas Priest!

Atkins isn't a singer possessing bags of finesses, or a voice liable to croon you to sleep, but that's a good thing, as otherwise guitarist Paul May would swamp him with the gargantuan riffs of the galloping "No Ordinary Man", or the stomping anthem of "Enslaved To Love". But this is a team effort with both halves of the duo working hard to keep up with the other, as spit-firing riffs are chased through the air by powerful rasping vocals. Refined this is not, hard hitting, in your face it is. Then add to the maelstrom a production that slaps you round the head when you're not looking and the fact that (and I'm guessing here, but no one other than Atkins or May is credited in the booklet or press release) the programmed drums are the best of this variety I've heard and Valley Of Shadows really packs a punch. Especially when it runs at full pelt, as it does during the fret burning, guitar solo salvo of "Stronger Is The Grace", or Thin Lizzy inspired instrumental "Messiah (Prelude)".

Surprisingly for an album that has rock, rolled, brawled and mauled for its first eight numbers, the eight minute title track and "The Shallowing (Return)", which together close things out, bring a more introspective, reserved outlook. It may not be the obvious end to an otherwise muscular excursion, but the poised guitar work from May and controlled rasp from Atkins makes both songs convincing and memorable.

Sporting as the debut did, a fabulous, trademark cover from Rodney Matthews, Valley Of Shadows is a classy album from start to finish and one that packs a far mightier punch than I'd initially anticipated.

Track Listing 
1. Welcome to the Nightmare 
2. No Ordinary Man 
3. Bitter Waters 
4. Enslaved to Love 
5. Stronger Is the Grace 
6. Harder They Fall 
7. Not Ready to Die Today 
8. Messiah (Prelude) 
9. Valley of Shadows 
10. The Shallowing (Return)

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO

Valley of Shadows CD - £9.99

The Serpents Kiss CD - £9.99

The Coolest Songs In The World 2012...

Michael Des Barres has been nominated - go vote for him

http://undergroundgarage.com/events/the-coolest-songs-in-the-world-2012.html

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA

 

Happy birthday my dear

I'M ON FIRE

Yesterday's poem by Thom the World Poet, sparked my memory. This is a song about another political self-immolation sung from the perspective of a young girl who falls in love with the main protagonist.

Enjoy.

THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet, is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearences with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

CLUB 606

Invited after they saw us @Kick Butt Sunday night

Club 606 is also streamed live on the internet

so we sat through comedians,singer-songwriters

with our fine host introducing each one-until our time !

Magic Jack strummed-new anthems sprung

we chanted for every living soul to come alive!

And they responded!We felt appreciated!

Walked out into the 9pm streets of Austin

Next door -a Heavy Metal show,with a woman in asbestos

(They were to set her on fire on the street-

we were advised to stay away /the flames were real

we could get so easily burned by her heat

All the metal heads withdrew-so we did,too

They set her on fire-she walked twenty feet

Extinguishers chemically doused the flames

we walked to the car outside HEADHUNTERs

only to find it was called METAL&LACE

O well-home again-new tales to tell-all fiery and fun!

Next-WASSAIL!(preview)and TOLKEIN!

WHOLE LOTTA YOKO

A few days back I wrote a speculative piece about the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, in which I queried the origin of the John and Yoko song Whole Lotta Yoko. My brother-in-law Ant James, has written suggesting that it might be based on the 1953 B.B.King song Whole Lotta Love rather than the Led Zeppelin song which wasn't released until the following year...