So I’m just going to say it because I feel as though no one else will – why does almost nobody talk about rock anymore? Some big things are happening with some of our all-time favorites, but does anyone ever talk about it? Nope. With the exception of Rolling Stone or Billboard. Everyone's too busy worrying about Kanye, the Kardashians, or some other celebrity that gets way too much attention for things like walking their dog or going grocery shopping. I get that they’re what sells, but I consider this favoritism in entertainment news coverage slightly irritating. Granted, I’m stuck in the 80’s, but there are still plenty of people who are still crazy about bands like Aerosmith and Guns n’ Roses. I happen to be one of those people, so I just had to take it upon myself.
Naturally, I’m going to start with my absolute favorite band of all time, Guns n’ Roses. Back in April of this year, they reunited to perform at Coachella. Mind you, Slash and Axl Rose hadn’t really spoken much, if at all, since Slash left over 20 years ago, so this came as a shock, the kind of shock that makes you super excited to be around to witness it (even if only through social media). It’s okay though, soon after Coachella they announced they would be going on tour again (three of the five original members anyway) so naturally I wasn’t going to pass that up. Technically I spent Slash’s birthday with him, him being on the stage and me being some rows away still counts. They toured the U.S all summer, and last month started the south/central American leg. It was also just recently announced that they’d be taking the tour to Asia and Australia come January. This reminds me of their early days when they toured for 16 months with various bands promoting their first (and best, in my opinion) album Appetite for Destruction. It’s nice to see them slaying as Guns n’ Roses again.
Now this is up there with the other sad news I’ve heard about lately – the beloved Aerosmith has announced dates for a “Farewell” tour… *cue the tears*. They’re calling it the Aero-Vederci tour (arrivederci – Italian for goodbye). After almost 50 years, it’s time to get a last good look at “the Bad Boys from Boston," the band that brought us “Dream On” and “Walk This Way." All good things must come to an end, unfortunately. This tour is set to start in the spring in Israel. The bright side, they might drag out this goodbye, according to Joe Perry. They recently wrapped up touring in South America. I’m honestly not surprised and always impressed that Steven Tyler, at 68 years old, can still hit the screeching high notes from his youth. Gotta love them.
On a happier note, The Rolling Stones are coming out with a new album on December 2nd. Yes, they’re still around. Blue & Lonesome is their 23rd British and 25th American studio album. This band, like very few others, epitomizes legendary. Even after decades, Mick Jagger is never one to disappoint, and interestingly enough, at 73 years old is about to have his 8th child with his 30-year-old girlfriend. Do your thing Mick, do your thing.
Another band still kicking and screaming (and sticking their tongues out), is Kiss – with the face paint, outfits and all. Back in September, they wrapped up their “Freedom to Rock” tour, which lasted all summer long and hit 36 cities in the U.S. They’re still able to fill stadiums and are even set to perform at the 2017 Endymion Extravaganza in New Orleans in February. A big Mardi Gras event that has seen Alice Cooper, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, The Beach Boys, Britney Spears, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Maroon 5, Pitbull and Steven Tyler, to name a few. Major props to Kiss.
AC/DC, in the top 5 of my favorites, toured over the summer too, into September. Unfortunately, at one point their singer Brian Johnson had to abruptly stop the tour or face total hearing loss. Wonderfully enough, he was temporarily replaced by none other than Axl Rose, the Guns n' Roses frontman. They played Madison Square Garden in NYC, where I should've been. Oh well.
These bands, along with others, keep pushing forward and gracing us with the music that influenced generations.
