MÖTLEY CRÜE has set a June 17 release date for its new album, “Saints of Los Angeles”. The CD will be issued through Mötley Records, the band revealed today (April 15) at a press conference in Los Angeles.
 
In support of the album, MÖTLEY CRÜE will embark on a 40-plus-city North American amphitheater tour, beginning July 1 at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Fla., and wrapping Aug. 31 at the Post-Gazette Pavilion in Pittsburgh. Click here for more details.
 
Here are some photos. enjoy -Ralph.
 
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Iron Maiden performed at The Forum in Inglewood, California on February 19th to promote their new DVD ‘Live After Death.’
 
With 19,000 rabid fans ready to rock, Maiden opened the show with ‘Aces High’ and ‘2 Minutes To Midnight.’ The band was in perfect form… their setlist also included ‘The Number of the Beast,’ ‘Heaven Can Wait,’ ‘Powerslave’ and ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner.’
 
Front man Bruce Dickinson announced to the sold out crowd that Maiden will be coming back to the states in May and do a small tour of the Southwest that includes San Antonio and Houston, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona before returning to L.A. for two more shows at the end of May.
 
Here are some photos. enjoy -Ralph.
 
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In some cases the crowds and revenues have rivaled those of the 1980s.
 
Ratt and Poison just wrapped up a long, large-venue summer tour where they played regularly before 8,000 to 10,000 fans.
 
“When I’m 60 and some cool grandpa dude, I’ll be rocking.” -RATT’s Stephen Pearcy Read More
 

 
Anyone who has the chance to see the reunited Van Halen, ought not miss the opportunity. From the first night of the tour in Charlotte, NC, VH has continued to stun crowds nationwide with their electrifying and high energy shows.
 
I can say having seen several dozen shows from rocks greatest, including Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Van Halen (with Sammy), The Rolling Stones, Kiss, Def Leppard, Rush (over 30 times), and too many others to mention, that this show was one of the best I’ve ever seen.
 
Not to spoil it with a setlist, the guys did not leave you wanting to hear anything more. This show was the most straight forward in your face rock show I’ve ever seen. Diamond Dave, although a little less acrobatic, didn’t miss a step, and sounded great. Eddie is as sharp as ever and always amazing. There were few special effects and video sequences to detract from the music.
 
I would highly recommend that you not only attend the show, but you beg, borrow, or steal to make sure you get good seats. The closer you are, the harder they will kick your ass, and make you thank them for it in the morning.
 
Jay Taylor
Beaufort, SC
 

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The Hollywood Key Club was the place to be March 8th as VH1 presented Metal Mania Stripped with live performances from Jani Lane, Dokken, Great White, Slaughter, Tesla and Queeensryche.
 
METAL SHOP was granted an exclusive backstage warm up show by Queensryche. Here’s a few pictures from the show, enjoy -Ralph.
 
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You haven’t heard it until you’ve heard it live. I have a whole new perspective of Queensryche’s ‘Operation: Mindcrime II’ after seeing the band play live October 12, 2006 in Portland, Oregon.
 
It’s no surprise the sequel to Operation: Mindcrime hasn’t received praise like the original, but geez, the first album was one of the best in rock history – for any band. That’s a tough act to follow, but played live, and in context with the first album, this Queensryche concert put it all together and brings closure (R.I.P. Nikki).
 
Standing center-stage, about 10 feet back, I had a great view of the show as Queensryche opened with ‘I Remember Now/Anarchy X.’ This is such a killer opening and with Scott Rockenfield’s drumming felt through my entire self, I was ready to rock with bassist Eddie Jackson and guitarists Michael Wilton and Mike Stone. Then Geoff Tate hit the stage and the band was off with the blistering ‘Revolution Calling’ complete with Geoff holding a handwritten sign that read ‘U.S. Out of Iraq.’ He brought another handwritten sign out later in the show that read ‘Will Someone Please Give George Bush A Blowjob So We Can Impeach Him’ – damn funny, unless you support W.
 
With actors playing the parts of Nikki, Sister Mary and Dr. X from Operation: Mindcrime, it really brought the album to life. However, with the stage in the middle and your attention drawn there, it became clear to me that the band was literally, brushed to the side of the stage. I’m not sure if they cared, but they did appear a little more excited during the encore – more on that coming up. With ‘Eyes of A Stranger,’ Queensryche ended their first set… highlighted by an electric performance of ‘Spreading the Disease,’ where Pamela Moore as Sister Mary was introduced.
 
After a 20 minute intermission, the band returned with ‘Operation: Mindcrime II.’ You’ve heard some of these songs on METAL SHOP – ‘I’m American,’ ‘The Hands,’ ‘Hostage’ and ‘The Chase’ with Ronnie James Dio as Dr. X. These are great songs, but they sound so much better live. ‘The Chase’ highlighted this set and it would have been amazing to witness a Dio cameo like they did in L.A. this past weekend, but the band played live with a pre-recorded Dio on video and it still kicked ass.
 
Like the album, the show really slowed down after that, but at least we got to see some closure… Nikki offed himself and joined Sister Mary in the afterlife and that’s the end of the Mindcrime story. When the ‘Mindcrime II’ set ended, the fans in Portland were not going to go home quietly, and Queensryche returned for an encore.
 
With the acting scenes behind them, they got to be just a band again and we were blown away by ‘Walk In The Shadows’ and ‘Jet City Woman.’ On Jet City, the crowd say the chorus with such passion, I think Geoff was taken back a little… that song did really well here back in 1990 and he may have been reminded he was only 170 miles from home – Queensryche played Seattle the very next night.
 
The tour continues through the end of November with stops in Canadian cities, East Coast USA, Texas, Arizona and Vegas. If you haven’t seen ‘Mindcrime’ live, you should go – they may never do it like this again.
 
Special thanks to Queensryche publicist Jeff Albright at The Albright Entertainment Group for making this happen. Here are some pictures of the show, enjoy -Rich Rock (Review) -Ralph Cartel (Photos).
 
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The 2006 Gigantour, featuring Megadeth made a stop in Southern California. This year’s show was as good as last year. All of the bands on the tour sounded great and Megadeth played a new song called ‘Washingtons’ and let me tell you it kicks ass. It was fun to hang out backstage while Megadeth did an autograph session. Sorry I didn’t get any pics of the session because security were being pricks! Hope every Megadeth fan will get a chance to see this year’s Gigantour. Here are some pictures of the show, enjoy -Ralph.
 
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Anthrax wrapped up their U.S. tour with a sold out show in L.A. Special thanks to Izzy from Anthrax for making this happen for METAL SHOP and a very special thank you to Daisy, who showed me a good time out on the patio. Here are some photos. enjoy -Ralph.
 
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