Interesting How AC/DC Won “Best Retail/Co-Marketing Campaign” via WalMart

I was just looking over awards for 2009 and one that I found really interesting was Promo Magazine giving AC/DC’s album launch of “Black Ice” “Best Retail/Co-Marketing Campaign,” as it sold exclusively through WalMart.

If it were the 80s, an AC/DC album probably wouldn’t make it past the receiving dock at WalMart. But this is another decade. Former PMRC members are worried about real things like the environment. And, with the exception of maybe Pat Robertson, nobody believes that AC/DC stands for AntiChrist/DevilChild anymore. Somewhere along the line, American grew (more of) a brain and AC/DC is about as harmless as anything on the shelves.

Over 2 million album sales were recorded through WalMart and it was AC/DC’s first album to debut #1 on the Billboard charts.

Hard rock has come a long way, baby.

BTW, I love the cliche devil horn hand gestures in the WalMart display (above) in the upper right hand corner. Nice touch.

Can You Remember “KOLxS2A”? It’s Kings of Leon Gear

Since I’m middle-aged and overweight it’s hard to imagine myself slipping into some rock band-inspired clothing, like the new KOLxS2A (a Kings of Leon collaboration with Parisian Surface to Air). And even if I were as young and slim as the days I wore 80s spandex, I’d never remember the name, unless I asked the sales clerk for the  “Kings of Leon gear.”

And where could one find such dashing rock outfits? Macy’s? Nordstroms? Marshalls?! For me, it would have to be 20 dollars at a Halloween Discount Store. Halloween only comes once a year. And I would be sure to get some laughs with it on.

However, these clothes are a lot pricier. And a lot more serious. They’re Red Carpet, and not for cover bands, obviously.

It seems endless. How many more music artists can come out with their own line of clothing? It’s maddening, really. And who cares besides the Paris Hilton types? At least when The Beatles had their own fashion shop, it was a bit of a goof.

I also like how it’s Kings of Leon’s “first” clothing collection, as if there a plenty more to come.

It really comes down to this: How many fashion collections does it take to make a good album?

If you want to check out the line go to Vogue.com (you don’t need to have a scruffy beard to purchase).

Courtney Love Claims She Has “Good Lawyers”

At least to protect Love’s right to use the band name Hole for her next album, “Nobody’s Daughter.”

Related Powerline A.D. posts …

On losing temporary custody of her daughter, Frances:

• Frances Bean Cobain Gets Both Brazen Criticism and Love from Her Mother, Courtney Love

• Courtney Love is Uncertain About What the Lyrics to Upcoming Album “Nobody’s Daughter” Really Mean About Frances Bean

Iron Maiden Drummer Mixes Meat and Metal

Iron Maiden’s drummer Nico McBrain has ribs to serve. Lots of ribs. His new rib joint Rock N Roll Ribs is quickly becoming a favorite place to dine in SouthEast Florida. It’s got the food: BBQ. The music: rock and metal. And the atmosphere: rock memorabilia.

Hey, it’s got to be better than Alice Cooper’s restaurant (Alice Cooper’sTown) in Phoenix, Arizona (that place gave me reflux deluxe).

And running a restaurant has got to be harder than playing in a band. Nico agrees:

“It’s tough. You know, playing drums for Iron Maiden two hours a night, that’s a stretch. But here I go home at the end of the day after being here almost 12 hours and I’m absolutely shagged.”

I just have one question: Can I have Iron Maiden’s fine wine to go with my Appetite of THE BEAST — which, incidentally, feeds “4 Regular Rocks or 2 Metal Monsters) Rack & ½ of Baby Backs, ½ lb Pork & Beef, ½ Chix with Fries, Beans, Slaw, Corn on the Cob, Garlic Toast.”

Iron Maiden’s wine is a nice Chilean Merlot, btw, called Eddie’s Evil Brew. Read our post about it by clicking here.

Related Links:

rocknrollribs.com

Should Anyone Be Surprised that Rolling Stones Guitarist Ron Wood Still Does Cocaine?

It is reported that Ronnie Wood still parties like he’s in his twenties. And had immediate access to the drug cocaine when he first met his young lover 21 year-old waitress (turned U.K. reality tv star) Katia Ivanova.

This is no endorsement. I think the guy’s nuts for doing that type of drug at his age, reportedly approaching 63 (you’d think he’d learn from deceased Who member John Entwistle) . But surprised? No. After all, Wood threw his long-standing marriage away to go on a bender with Ivanova.

And hearing Katia tell the story of their first meeting makes the tale even more sordid:

“I sat next to him with a cigarette and I dropped some ash on his trousers. “He said, ‘You’ve just ashed my trousers.’ I looked him up and down and said, ‘I don’t give a f**k.’ “He just went, ‘I love you.’ Basically, I was rude, he was sleazy and we kind of bounced off each other. A group of us went on to The Hempel Hotel in west London and stayed up all night doing cocaine and drinking. I don’t know whose coke it was, but it just appeared on the table and Ronnie did some and so did I. Maybe four or five lines. I ended up passing out on his bed, but we spent the next two days together.”

Interesting how the coke “just appeared” … Viola! It was like a magic trick to Ivanova.

Ironically, Ivanova would leave Wood soon after their relationship developed, due to excessive use of drugs and drink.

Being a big Rolling Stones fan, I hope Wood straightens himself up. He has better talents than getting high.

Related Links:

Go to story where Ivanova calls Wood an “Evil Goblin.” Click here.

or,

How Wood is spending his time sleeping on friends’ couches. Click here.

Ellie Goulding Wins The BBC’s Sound Of 2010

London-based electronica/folk singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding (pictured above in a BBC 6 Music photo) has won the BBC’s coveted Sound of 2010 award. Goulding, whose debut album Lights is being released on March 1st in the UK, radically changed her music direction when she started working with the musician Frankmusic. On winning the honor, Goulding told the BBC:

“I didn’t expect to get anywhere a few years ago. I didn’t even expect to have a record deal, let alone be put in such a prestigious thing so I’m very happy. I think the list this year is great and I really believe in a lot of the acts.”

The Sound of 2010 was chosen by a panel of 165 music critics, broadcasters, and bloggers.

To watch Ellie Goulding perform her song “Under The Sheets” on BBC-TV’s Later with Jools Holland, click below:

To watch a mini-documentary featuring Ellie Goulding backstage at Later with Jools Holland, click below:

For more on this story, see the articles from NME.com and BBC News. BBC News also has a video interview and Q&A with Goulding, which you can see here.

For more on Ellie Goulding, go to:
http://www.myspace.com/elliegoulding
http://www.youtube.com/user/elliegoulding

Ratt Vocalist Stephen Pearcy Says Former Quiet Riot Guitarist Carlos Cavazo is Perfect for the Band

Well, he should be perfect for Ratt. Carlos (right) certainly knows the 80s scene. But there’s more to it. Carlos will fulfill a duel guitar attack that the band wants. … “double solos” as Pearcy puts it, and all that.

Lead guitarist, Warren DeMartini, prefers the duel attack, too, but really doesn’t need it. He alone is the best part of Ratt. An excellent lead guitarist. Carlos doesn’t compare.

Carlos joined the band because Ratt’s previous rhythm guitarist, John Corabi, had quit.

English Paper Elects Amy Winehouse as Irritant of the Year

… 2009, that is. You never know what 2010 will bring, But it’s sure to be the same old crap.

English pub, The Mirror, pretty much agrees (as they deliver the honors of Irritant of the Year):

She’s been in and out of rehab, hospital and bars more times than a porn star’s knickers go up and down. Amy’s fallen from being the UK’s brightest star to a joke. The album we’re been promised is as likely as MICHAEL JACKSON coming back to life. I wish 2010 could be the year things turn around. And though it pains me to say it, I’m not even interested any more. She WAS a huge star. Amy Winehouse’s career RIP.

In this new decade, maybe her Blake boy can join Amy’s musical act and they can become the Sonny and Cher of the next generation?

There are greater chances of an asteroid hitting the earth.

Girls Gone Elvis Web Site Is Now Online

A calendar-themed Web site featuring female fans of Elvis Presley recently went online. The Web site is called Girls Gone Elvis, and it can be found at http://www.girlsgoneelvis.com. The site is run by Darlene Perez (pictured above), a curvaceous Southern California-based brunette beauty who also serves as Miss February. I contacted Darlene to ask her a few questions about the Web site and other Elvis-related topics. Here’s how it went down:

POWERLINE A.D.: Why did you decide to start this Web site?
Darlene Perez: Elvis’ fan base has always been primarily GIRLS. Since the 1950s, we’ve screamed for him, swooned over him, and fantasized about him. We LOVED him since day one. With that, I took inspiration from watching the introduction of Girls, Girls, Girls (an Elvis movie): Hmm. What if there were a pinup Web site but with Elvis fans? I have a big group of Elvis girlfriends who enjoy not just the King, but retro photography and nostalgia like I do. Hair, costume, makeup, cheesecake photography…the whole idea was to combine the vintage look with Elvis flavor in a tasteful and fun way. I wanted to make a free online calendar of amateur pinup girls who are Elvis fans! I shared the idea with my Elvis sister, Trisha, and together we co-founded it and brought life to the project. We named it GIRLS GONE ELVIS because that’s exactly what we are. And to make it even more unique, we took our own photos. We premiered Miss January, Miss February will be revealed on Jan. 30, and the rest of the girls will be on Valentine’s Day. We have a special celebrity centerfold to premiere too!

POWERLINE A.D.: How long have you been an Elvis fan?
Darlene Perez:  Technically, I became a fan around three years old. My early memory is an Elvis song and I was a fan of his before I even saw his picture. I was a fan of Priscilla when she was on Those Amazing Animals, and just this pretty woman on TV to me, introducing exotic creatures.

First it was his music. The older I got, I started reading books about Elvis, watching movies, and collecting memorabilia. The more I learned, the more I became passionate and fascinated about this man. I was first in line to vote for the Elvis stamp at the post office and I ditched school to watch the unveiling ceremony broadcast live from Graceland! I graduated from book reports to my first Tribute Artist concert to actually meeting Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley. It’s been a wild and fun ride for this girl.

POWERLINE A.D.: What’s your favorite Elvis song?
Darlene Perez: I could never narrow it down. But I admit, I get tickled pink every time Elvis Presley sings the word “Darling” in one of his songs! It was used in many of his recordings throughout his career…and I feel fortunate that my name is Darlene because of that. I do LOVE “First In Line.” I feel Elvis is singing that song directly to me about our relationship. My favorite part is where Elvis says:

My darlin’ say I’m your darlin’
The first, and the last in line

POWERLINE A.D.: How did you get into Elvis’s music?
Darlene Perez: I give full credit to my Grandma Perez. Grandma had six kids who grew up in the 1950s. Therefore, there was constant rock n’ roll music being played in her house… and she LOVED it. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ritchie Valens, etc…Grandma enjoyed all the artists of the decade. Her favorites were Fats Domino and Elvis Presley.

She babysat me all the time and I remember her bouncing me on her knee to her favorite, “Blue Suede Shoes.” Instead of playing patty cake with me with the Patty Cake song, we would handclap to “Teddy Bear.” My lullabies were Elvis songs like “Love Me Tender” and “Blueberry Hill.” When I went to school, during recess I would sing old Elvis songs on the playground during hopscotch and jump rope.

Throughout my childhood, I would practice piano to Elvis music like “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” The more songs I discovered, the more my heart became wrapped up in his music. I enjoyed the melodies and his voice as a kid, but until I became a teen and adult, only then did I interpret the meanings and appreciate his music. I understood him and he understood me. He took me into the palm of his hand and made my heart explode. Elvis knew how to make a song hurt so good. He sang from his core about celebration, life, pain, commitment and promise. Elvis’ voice was more than an instrument- it caressed the soul. I found complete comfort and joy in his songbook.

POWERLINE A.D.: When did you get your first Elvis tattoo? How many do have now?
Darlene Perez: I got my first Elvis tattoo back in 2000. There was no question in my mind who or what to ink on my body. Elvis has always been a part of my life. Elvis is forever, just like a tattoo. Ten years later, I have a total of 15 Elvis and Elvis-related tattoos, each with a special meaning behind it. I chose my art specifically and with no regrets. In fact, I want more. I’m lucky my brother is a tattoo artist. He does all my ink.

POWERLINE A.D.: I understand that you were just named official hostess for the Elvis birthday celebration at the house where he and Priscilla had their honeymoon. Could you elaborate about that a bit? What will your duties be?
Darlene Perez: Yes. I am officially the hostess for Elvis Presley’s birthday celebration Jan 8^th and 9^th at his and Priscilla’s famous Honeymoon house in Palm Springs, California (www.elvishoneymoon.com) I will be fully dressed in character as 1967 Priscilla Presley. Beehive, makeup, the recognizable honeymoon tunic top and pants set, the jewelry, the whole enchilada. My duties are pretty much like that of Snow White at Disneyland: Dress in costume, smile, pose for photos and greet guests. The difference is, that’s Mickey’s castle in Southern California, THIS is Elvis’.

POWERLINE A.D.: What is it about retro music and fashion that appeals to you so much?
Darlene Perez: It’s a bygone era. Unprocessed, unfiltered. Music and fashion style were both uniquely expressed. Give a little and leave them hungry for more. I love the rhythms, lyrics, colors, fabrics, the attitude. It’s a vibrant time capsule of  simplicity, electricity, and personality. Look at a classic car from 1956 and look at a factory car from 2009. What would you rather be driving?     

POWERLINE A.D.: What other older bands and artists are you into?
Darlene Perez: The BEATLES (Paul is hands-down my FAVORITE Beatle) and of course ERIC BURDON. Honestly, I love music from all decades and genres, just depending on my mood. One minute I’m enjoying Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, and the next minute I’m singing to some old Kenny Rogers stuff or some funky Kool and the Gang hits. I listen to anything, really, at any random time. You’d be surprised at the extensive and rich songbook and juke box I’ve got inside my head. I am very fond of lounge, jazz, swing, and music from the 1960s, especially the late ‘60s/early ‘70s: Raw, earthy Rock n’ Roll, Soul, Funk, Psychedelic. Otis Redding, Janis…there’s so many greats that I enjoy!   

POWERLINE A.D.: What current music do you listen to?
Darlene Perez: Harry Connick Jr! Ah… just put a green olive on his arm and I want to drink him up. That’s my smooth martini, right there! He’s intoxicating, simply divine, romantic and brutally handsome.

Let’s make that a double martini! MICHAEL. BUBLE. MMmmph! Talk about getting drunk on music: Both men make me weak in the knees!

POWERLINE A.D.: Elvis Presley died 32 years ago. Can Elvis remain relevant in the eyes of younger music fans? If so, in what way?
Darlene Perez: Yes. In order to grow, you always have to remember where you came from. Elvis lived the American Dream. He was the first globally successful artist ever. And his timeless music influenced other artists like the Beatles, even Michael Jackson, who, in turn, inspired others. It’s a crime if you think Rock and Roll music started with Britney Spears. Younger music fans should learn and appreciate all the contributions Elvis gave to music history.

For more on Darlene Perez, see her You Tube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/darlingpresleyrocks.

Yngwie Malmsteen Will Take Your Questions. So, Ask Him: “Why, “Beat It?”

Guitar World magazine will have Yngwie Malmsteen answering questions in their ongoing Dear Guitar Hero feature.

Write your questions in an email to dearguitarhero@guitarworld.com, and “put the guitarist’s name in the subject line. Remember to include your name in the e-mail body, so you can get credited in the magazine, and impress and annoy your jealous friends! Only the sharpest and funniest questions will be used.”

Be sure to ask Yngwie WHY he covered Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” It is, quite possibly, one of the worst covers ever. Yes, ever. If you don’t believe me, go to his MySpace page and listen to it. Or read our review by clicking here as a yield post.

However, Malmsteen’s latest full-length album, “Perpetual Flame,” with singer Ripper Owens is possibly the best release of his storied career. Owens is such a great fit for Malmsteen’s music. “Beat It,” it seems, was a large speed bump.

To read our interview with Malmsteen during the “Perpetual Flame” tour, please click here.

Remember, “Dear Guitar Hero: Why on earth did you cover “Beat It”? … ‘ Etc, etc. …. Don’t forget to add expletives!

Good luck!

For a good Malmsteen cover choice watch the 1989  “Spanish Castle Magic” live video below. (Can anyone guess who the singer is?) [Gawd, someone really got their hair-sprayed up!]