Ding Dong, the Major Label is Dead

When I was starting out as a musician almost thirty years ago, the ultimate goal everybody always had was to "get signed". That was what made you a rock star.
Over the years, I've had several friends who were "signed", only to find out that it was a bigger hindrance than help. In fact, getting signed to a label ended the careers of several people I know.

I've said for a long time now that there's no real benefit for an artist to be "signed" any more. Advances had to be paid back out of your end as an artist. Record an album? You pay. Tours? You pay. And with the advent of iTunes, Amazon, and services like BandCamp, CD Baby, and TuneCore, artists can have complete control not only of what they release, but how.

Michael Lefsetz has been on the same train of though as I have. In this latest article, he says in part:

"the Internet killed the major label distribution stranglehold. Anyone can sign up with Tunecore and get their music on iTunes. ANYBODY! Sure, the music won't sell, except to family and friends, but it's what this represents that's important. Access and the ability to get paid. The power has shifted.

As for terrestrial radio...it means ever less. Same with TV. You can thank technology, most especially the Internet, for that. People watch what they want when they want. The days of sitting in front of the TV seeing what's next are heading towards extinction, killed by the DVR and online access."

Read the rest here:

http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=309&articleId=39571

I'll just add:

"...never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee" - John Donne

Ding dong.

Mark Tremonti Says He's Heard the New Van Halen Album

Mark Tremonti, guitarist for Alter Bridge and Creed, and long a friend of Eddie Van Halen, says he's heard the rumoured new Van Halen album.

"...recently I was in Los Angeles and Wolfgang invited me to his Dad's house and I got to go to 5150 studios and watch Eddie and Alex [Van Halen] and Wolfgang play their new record from front to back. So I was one of the only people who have heard the new VAN HALEN. It was incredible."

Read the whole article here.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=159528


I'll be waiting anxiously. I remain skeptical, as VH have't released a new record in thirteen years, but if they do release one this Fall as seems to be the intention, I'll be first in line to pick it up. I hope it's good.

Hmm... Van Halen Tour Coming Up?

Still nothing but rumours on the album front, but here's a site which suggests Van Halen are to head to Australia for Soundwave 2011.


http://www.undercover.fm/news/14716-van-halen-and-alice-cooper-for-soundwave-revolution

Could it be?

Michael Lefsetz tells us what we can learn from Rebecca Black

If you haven't seen Rebecca Black's Youtube hit, "Friday", you should do that first, here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0

After you've seen that, check out Michael Lefsetz' article about things we can learn from this phenomenon.
Here's a favourite:

14. Give the money away. Not only does it deflect criticism, it helps your bona fides. In other words, Rebecca Black is smarter than Beyonce. In the new world, you give back simultaneously with making it. Black is giving her profits to earthquake relief in Japan. How come she's smarter than all those stars who played for a dictator?

Read the rest:

http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=297&articleId=38721

Van Halen Reported To Be Mixing a New Album?

Well, Van Halen were recording a new album, I guess at some point they'd have to mix it.

Posted with my usual skepticism, but BlabberMouth reports:

Today, respected Metal Show host, Eddie Trunk, tweeted that he heard gossip from a “reliable source” that the “VH album is close to done and will come out this year. Label TBD” This matches up perfectly with what we heard from a trusted source at the beginning of March – that the recording process is going great and the band is starting to mix the new tracks. Also, from another reliable source of ours today, we hear that this Fall is the most probably time that the album will be released and a tour will begin.

I'd love to see some new material, especially if it's up to the quality of the six albums recorded previously with David Lee Roth.

Waiting patiently, as always...

Sammy Hagar's Autobiography

Sammy Hagar, of Montrose, Van Halen, and solo fame, has an autobiography called "Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock". Available at Amazon and lots of other places, it's a must read if you love rock bios as much as I.

Michael Lefsetz has some things to say about it in his Encore Newsletter column.

Here's a bit of his column:

I don't believe every word in this book. Especially about Sam's early days, growing up in Fontana. And there are historical inaccuracies, stating that Sam's band played the cuts from "Who's Next" before it was released, and even John Kalodner's name is misspelled, but when it comes to the inside, Sam gives us his take, unvarnished, and it's like being backstage, the real dressing room where your heroes are spent and drugged-out and wasted and arguing after performing for ninety minutes and getting blow jobs under the stage.

I just got the book, and have just started reading it. I don't believe every word either, but some of the stuff about his time in Van Halen is compelling, and there have been too many similar tales about Eddie Van Halen in particular from different sources to write Sammy's account off entirely as sour grapes from an ousted band member.
If you have any interest in the soap opera that has been Van Halen, check it out.

Some NAMM News I Can Use

Not everybody knows this, but I started my musical life as a guitarist, way before I got into the recording side of things. When I heard that Marshall were introducing an Yngwie Malmsteen Signature amp, I wondered what they could possibly add to the classic Marshall Super Lead that I've come to know and love. As it turns out, they came up with some pretty cool stuff. The attenuator and valve failure circuitry will especially appeal to anyone who has tried to use a Marshall live. Check here for the details:

http://www.guitarnoize.com/blog/comments/namm-2011-marshall-yjm100-yngwie-malmsteen-signature-valve-amplifier-head

Breakdown of the FCC's Net Neutrality Ruling

Net neutrality is a concept that's very hard to make tangible for everyone, but it's important to you if you use the net. The FCC recently made an important ruling, and here's DVICE's breakdown:

http://dvice.com/archives/2010/12/what-you-need-t.php#more

In part:

The Good

Network management and packet discrimination must be reasonable

The FCC is trying to prevent companies from being able to pay more to have an Internet service provider (ISP) treat its data better than everyone else's. We're not talking about charging you and me for a faster connection (which is fine), we're talking about giving different types of data prioritization across the network, which would make things suck for everyone who didn't pay for that service. This is now a no-no.

Now for something completely different - Archaeology

One of my hobbies outside the realm of music is history. That's actually what my first degree is in. My dream job would be something where I could spend all day going through dusty old books or researching on the internet.
So stuff like this really jazzes me.

Archaeology Magazine's Top Ten Discoveries of 2010.

These are all so cool, I can't even pick a favourite.

And back to the Van Halen Rumours...

From the Van Halen News Desk, aka the VHND, some more rumours about what, if anything, the lads in Van Halen have been up to or may soon be up to:

Sources tell the Van Halen News Desk that the band is very eager to tour, and that they want to tour behind new material. Eddie Van Halen has been very busy during most of 2010 writing music. Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen often join Eddie in the 5150 studio and the three of them have been hard at work jamming and recording demos. The three Van Halens have been sending the music to David Lee Roth, who’s adding the lyrics. Two of our sources have heard some of the early versions of the tracks (without vocals) and were very pleased. The music is said to sound like straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll and “very Van Halen.”

Read the rest here:

http://www.vhnd.com/2010/12/09/huge-van-halen-update-van-halens-2011-plans-and-the-truth-behind-the-rumors/

As usual, I remain skeptical. My biggest worry at this point is not whether VH will put out any more material or whether they will tour. My biggest worry is whether anyone will care either way. Have VH simply waited themselves into irrelevance?

New Toad the Wet Sprocket Song

Just in time for Christmas, one of my all-time favourite bands, Toad the Wet Sprocket, have released a new song.
It's called "It Doesn't Feel Like Christmas", and you can listen or download it here:

http://toadthewetsprocket.bandcamp.com/

Recorded some Christmas Songs

A rare bit of studio activity to post. Had some really nice ladies in on November 27th to record some Christmas-y songs on piano and vocals. I had just gotten the Yamaha C7's tuning touched up the week before, so it was sounding great. First time recording it in the new room, and it sounded beautiful.

We did five songs in total - three with vocals and two just piano. I used the Neumann U87 for the vocals, and started out with a pair of Audio Technica AT3035's for the piano, but ended up switching to the Oktava MC-012's before we got going. They just seemed to be capturing the detail of the piano better.

Preamp for the U87 was my trusty Great River MP-2NV, and an ART TPS-II for the piano. The Great River is very precise sounding and a good match with the Neumann, while the ART is good for putting a little softer edge on the piano.

I didn't have anything else in the signal chain going in - just mics > preamps > Pro Tools. On the mixdown, I did add a little bright plate reverb to the vocals, but I left the piano pretty much alone, save for flipping the phase on one of the piano tracks.

The U87/MP-2NV pairing is my go-to for vocal tracking. The combination gives some really nice, crisp sounding vocals that are just so easy to fit into the mix. I've never once had a problem using that setup getting the vocal to sit right where I want it and still cut right through. I also can't say enough good things about Fletcher from Mercenary Audio, from whence I got both the Neumann and the Great River. He was great listening to what I was trying to do and giving me a recommendation that worked great for me.

More Van Halen "News"?

From MelodicRock.com

As always, I wait, and remain sceptical, but hopeful. Interesting that Eddie may be playing most or all of the bass on the album, though there were rumours that he had done the same on some of VH's previous releases.
Sounds like things remain tense between Eddie and Dave Roth.
Hopefully they can hold it together long enough to get the album out and tour.

VAN HALEN - 2011 STILL SHAPING UP FOR A BIG YEAR:
Let's great straight to it - it's been quiet in the Van Halen camp since a wave of expectation and excitement broke following news leaks a few months back regarding a possible new album and tour for 2011.
The Tour: The band will tour extensively in 2011, taking in North America, likely European dates and even some Australian dates, which local newspaper the Herald Sun stated Sunday - [VH] "...are very close to confirming an Oz visit next year..."
The line-up will remain as it was for the 2007 tour - Eddie, Alex, Wolfgang and David Lee Roth.

The New Album: Numerous reports about new music coming from the band are true. There is new music recorded with the expectation of an all-new studio album featuring David Lee Roth to be released in 2011. What is not known right now is the time frame for this.
Here is what I was told. It seems DLR's vocals are being recorded away from the 5150 studio, with Eddie receiving various vocal tracks from the singer, but not always to the guitarist's satisfaction. I'm told that it's work in progress between Eddie and Dave.
I also heard, but cannot confirm, that Eddie has recorded most of the bass parts for the album.

There is a deal in place between Warner Bros. and the band for a new album (as announced a few months back). However, I'm told there is a genuine fear from the label that the album may now not be ready before tour commitments begin. The album was definitely expected to be released in early 2011, but there has been so much going back and forth and re-arranging, so if the recordings are not turned in by early 2011, the label have developed a contingency plan.
That is preparing re-masters of the Sammy Hagar era catalogue (curious decision perhaps, but the only albums left to do), as well as preparing Blue-Ray releases of Live Without a Net and Live Right Here Right Now so at least there is something on the market when the band tours.
Additionally they are preparing limited edition Vinyl releases, which have just appeared on the Rhino/Warner schedule. 1984, Women And Children First and Van Halen II will be released on LP December 13.

And to close - the band apparently tested a few different producers, but the man at the helm for this album is one Ross Hogarth. Go look him up. His website makes no mention of any work with Van Halen, but in July he did make one reference to a new record he was starting. He stated: "The record I just started ROCKS!!! [it] will be amazing...that is all I will say..."

Stay tuned as always...more soon.

Michae Anthony talks about why he's not in VH

Nothing really new here or that we didn't know, but a very frank telling of why he's no longer Van Halen's bass player, from Blabbermouth.

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=148124

Anthony explained, "Some VAN HALEN fans say I left the band to hook up with Sammy, but I never said, 'I quit.' There was nothing going on in the VAN HALEN camp, but Eddie kinda backed me up against a wall. . . Eddie felt that I was a traitor.

He went on to say, "The major reason why I'm not in VAN HALEN (now) is because I became friends with Sammy again. The Van Halen brothers never got over that. If they hold a grudge, they hold it forever."

Well, not forever maybe, but they can definitely hold a grudge for a long time.

Van Halen to Tour in 2011?

So says Irving Azoff, who owns or manages the entire music industry. Of course, Van Halen's official site says nothing, but it's not exactly known for breaking news.
Here's what the Rolling Stone article says, in part:

Van Halen will return to the road in 2011 — or so said Live Nation Ticketmaster chairman Irving Azoff, in a meeting with analysts meant to show that the outlook for next year's concert circuit will brighten. Van Halen, with David Lee Roth, last toured together in June 2008. According to USA Today , Azoff, who is also Van Halen's manager, named Van Halen, Christina Aguilera, Fleetwood Mac and the cast of Glee as some of the artists that are expected to pack stadium and arenas when they embark on tours next year. Van Halen's 2008 tour grossed $93 million for Live Nation.

We'll see. And if they are going to tour again, does that mean new music could be on the way? Finally? Please??

Four Chords is All You Need

I think everyone who's ever really studied pop music kind of know this, but this is pretty cool anyway.

http://wimp.com/songchords

Marshall USA?

I'm not sure if this is a good thing, a bad thing, or neither, but Marshall is apparently splitting off its US operations:

Marshall Amplification announced today the formation of Marshall USA. This new business unit will begin operation on October 1st, and shipments to dealers will begin October 18th. Jon Ellery, Marshall UK Co-managing Director announced that Marc Lee Shannon will assume the position of VP Sales for Marshall USA on October 1st. Marc Lee is a long term industry veteran, who spent the last 17 years heading sales with Audio Technica. Jon Ellery also announced that Ryan Rhodes has been named the Brand Director for Marshall USA and will lead the product direction and work closely with Marshall UK to insure a coordinated worldwide effort. Ryan is very familiar with the Marshall heritage, having worked in past Marshall distribution in the US for 15 years. More Marshall dedicated management will be added shortly, with announcements to follow.

The rest is here:

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/Daily/News/Marshall_Announces_Formation_of_Marshall_USA.aspx

It will be interesting to see how this develops.

Re-mixing China Grove

I've always thought it would be cool to have the chance to re-mix a classic recording. Not that I think I could necessarily do better (though sometimes...), but it would be cool just to be able to hear the tracks in their raw form.

Chris Baseford gets to do just that, re-mixing them for an iPhone app called Jammit.

Here's his take on "China Grove", one of the Doobie Brothers' most famous tracks, originally engineered and produced by Ted Templeman and Donn Landee, one of my favorite production teams of the 70's.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2010/Jul/Secrets_of_the_Masters_The_Doobie_Brothers_China_Grove.aspx

This bit here pretty much spells out my whole philosophy when it comes to recording - get the sound at the source, rather than trying to "fix it in the mix".

I wasn’t all that surprised to see (and hear) everything laid-out and organized nicely, and immediately sounding familiar with the faders at zero and without EQ or effects.

The Triple Decker Record?

If you thought there was nothing new going on in the world of vinyl records, behold the Triple Decker Record - a 12" with a 7" inside! From those clever folks at United Record Pressing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ3c3WZ-3UU

A classical voice teacher rates classic metal singers

Hasn't been much going on recently, but I thought this was interesting. Claudia Friedlander, a NYC based voice teacher, rates classic metal singers including Bruce Dickinson and Ronnie James Dio.

http://www.invisibleoranges.com/2010/07/ask-a-real-musician-5-classic-male-metal-singers/

Interesting piece that basically confirms what I already knew - Bruce and Rob Halford (among others) can sing! I could have told you that after seeing Priest and Maiden on tour together in '82.