Fans Determine The Live Music Lineup at Hard Rock Stages Across The World

More Than 12,000 Bands Compete for Your Vote as Part of the Hard Rock Rising Global Battle of the Bands

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – You vote – They Rock! Hard Rock Rising gives fans the power to decide who performs at Hard Rock Cafes worldwide as the battle of the bands gears up for the local, live music phase of the competition. More than 12,000 bands have entered the Hard Rock Rising competition for the chance of a lifetime, to be on the bill with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and additional headlining performers at Hard Rock Calling 2012 in London.

Hard Rock International Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Hard Rock International)

The Rise of a Local Legend
Beginning on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, Hard Rock Rising allows fans to choose the live performance lineup for local events at Hard Rock Cafes around the world. Fans can vote by downloading free tracks from bands of their choice at their local Hard Rock’s city-specific, Facebook page.

After fans choose their favorites, participating Hard Rock Cafe locations around the world will host a series of live competitions featuring the local bands who received top votes. Bands will then be judged live by a panel of local industry experts and participating bands’ representatives, with one winner being selected from each location. For full rules and a list of participating locations visit www.hardrock.com.

“At Hard Rock live music is at the core of our brand, in 2011 we put on more than 17,000 live music events across our properties,” said John Galloway, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Hard Rock International. “We are privileged be able to offer the hottest up-and-coming bands a chance to showcase their talent on our local cafes stages and the shot to play at Hard Rock Calling 2012.”

Rising to the Occasion – the Road to Hard Rock’s Main Stage
Local winners will then compete against 86 bands from across the world, via an international fan voting round on Hard Rock Facebook pages. Finally a panel of celebrity judges and music industry professionals will select the top three winners.

The first place winner will be flown to London for the ultimate rock star treatment, including a spot on the bill at Hard Rock Calling 2012. Second and third prize winners will receive $5,000 and $2,500, respectively, in ReverbNation PROMOTE IT credits, a revolutionary tool that creates targeted, highly effective Facebook advertising campaigns for musicians and venues promoting songs, Facebook pages and concerts.

Greetings From Hyde Park – Hard Rock Calling 2012
Hard Rock Calling, an iconic festival now in its seventh consecutive year, has established itself as one of the UK’s premier outdoor music events. The 2012 festival will take place from Friday, July, 13 to Sunday, July 15 in London’s Hyde Park. Headliners for the festival will include Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who will take the Main Stage for their second Hard Rock Calling performance. Hard Rock Calling 2012′s performers will join a long line of rock ‘n’ roll greats who have previously taken the stage at this iconic festival including: Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, The Who, Pearl Jam, Peter Gabriel, The Killers, The Police, Rod Stewart and Bon Jovi.  Hard Rock Calling, produced by Live Nation and presented by Hard Rock International, is a unique and historic musical event with a main stage, second stage, renowned bands, on-site Hard Rock Cafe, as well as a variety of additional attractions. For further information on the 2012 artist lineup and ticket details, visit www.hardrockcalling.co.uk.

Visit www.hardrock.com for details on event dates and times, and head to a Hard Rock Cafe location in your city to watch your favorite local bands battle for the opportunity of a lifetime!

About ReverbNation
ReverbNation provides over 1.8 million artists, managers, labels, venues, festivals/events and other music industry professionals with powerful, easy-to-use technology to promote and prosper online. Their array of distribution and promotional solutions provide the hands-on tools and actionable insights that allow them to reach their goals in an increasingly complex music industry. The company operates worldwide with customers on every continent. Over 30 million visitors come to reverbnation.com every month. For more information, visit ReverbNation.com and follow ReverbNation on Twitter: www.twitter.com/reverbnation.

About Hard Rock International
With a total of 174 venues in 53 countries, including 137 cafes and 15 Hotels/Casinos, Hard Rock International is one of the world’s most globally recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. In addition to the two flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Hotels/Casinos are located in Las Vegas, Biloxi, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, Pattaya, Bali, Macau, Penang, Singapore and Punta Cana.  Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced including Panama Megapolis, scheduled to open in 2012; Cancun and Vallarta scheduled to open in 2012; and Riviera Maya, Hungary, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in 2013.  Hard Rock International is owned by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. For further details on Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, visit www.hardrockhotels.com.  For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.

SOURCE Hard Rock International

Web Site: http://www.hardrock.com

Bret Michaels Announced to Perform and Steve Vai to Co-host The GRAMMY Foundation®’s 14th Annual Music Preservation Project “One Night Only: A Celebration Of The Live Music Experience” Presented by Seagate With Shelby Lynne, Marc Martel, and Beverly McClellan Also to Perform

Prestigious GRAMMY® Week Event Also Features The Colburn Orchestra, Robert Cray, A Fine Frenzy, Dave Koz, Jonny Lang, Ledisi, co-host Sharon Osbourne, Mavis Staples, And Tyrese And Highlights GRAMMY Foundation’s Ongoing Work To Safeguard Music’s History

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2012  /PRNewswire/ –

The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyfoundation.org . For breaking news and exclusive content about our education programs, please like “GRAMMY in the Schools” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/grammyintheschools and check out www.grammyintheschools.com .

GRAMMY Foundation(R)'s 14th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative(R). (PRNewsFoto/GRAMMY Foundation)

About Seagate:
From Hollywood blockbuster movies to the music that is the soundtrack of people’s lives, to the photos and videos which are shared via social networks, Seagate storage devices are an integral part of modern life.  Seagate is a worldwide leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions. Learn more at www.seagate.com

Web Site: http://www.seagate.com

Spirit Music Acquires Classic Song Catalog of Pete Townshend and The Who; Partners with Rock Icon in Promoting Legacy and Future Work

Wide Ranging Publishing And Branding Pact Spans Entire Career Of One Of The World’s Most Influential Songwriters And Artists

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Spirit Music Group, one of the world’s leading independent music publishers, has purchased Pete Townshend’s interest in his entire song catalog and has partnered with the legendary rocker in its global promotion.  The landmark deal includes rights to five decades of music written for The Who, one of the most dynamic and influential rock bands of all time, and a series of acclaimed solo albums.  The career-spanning collection includes more than 30 charted singles featuring such timeless and powerful songs as “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Who Are You,” “You Better You Bet” and “Let My Love Open The Door” as well as groundbreaking rock operas “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia.”

The historic deal was conceived and crafted over the last year by Townshend and Spirit CEO Mark Fried with the specific goal of fostering proactive collaboration between the artist, his management team (Trinifold), his record label (Universal Music Group), the original publisher of his earliest works (TRO) and Spirit’s global marketing staff.  Spirit has led the music publishing industry in recent years in expanding the publisher’s role beyond royalty collection and song promotion to proactive career and legacy partnership, creating and executing successful marketing plans to revitalize the songs and expand the brands of such iconic artists as Lou Reed, T.Rex and Chaka Khan.

To underscore his commitment to making this breakthrough deal a success, Townshend has signed a multi-year consultancy agreement with Spirit which will see the parties work together on everything from traditional catalog promotion and film, television, advertising and new media licensing to exploring strategic brand partnerships with media and consumer product companies and developing musical stage shows and multimedia installations which shine a light on the power of the songs and the Townshend and The Who brands.

The pact also includes a long-term publishing agreement for Townshend’s future work, including new songs composed for potential solo and The Who releases as well as songs from “Floss,” the artist’s much-anticipated next musical dramatic project.

“The songs of Pete Townshend are the soundtrack of our lives. They’ve been a mirror to decades of cultural growth and change, challenging our sensibilities, inspiring engagement and forever redefining rock and roll song craft and musicianship. We’re thrilled and humbled to have the opportunity to work closely with Pete in the care taking and promotion of his life’s work, and to help inspire his future successes,” said Fried.

Pete Townshend said, “I am very excited about my new relationship with Mark Fried and his team at Spirit.  I feel that my song catalogue is at last consolidated with one guiding company, and I’m optimistic that Spirit will keep my music in the public mind.  Further, the deal provides me with the resources to start all over again in my creative career – most songwriters don’t get this kind of opportunity, a chance of creative renaissance.  I am passionately committed to new projects for rock and for music theater and I can’t imagine a better company with which to be building a new creative life for myself.”

Bill Curbishley and Robert Rosenberg of Trinifold Management added, “We are delighted to be starting a long relationship with Mark and Spirit Music.  We feel that they will be of great benefit to Pete’s work both past and future, will focus not only on better known songs but also on the wealth of lesser known gems and prove to be an invaluable creative partner for Pete in his upcoming projects.”

David Cunningham, Partner of Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P. said, “The acquisition of the collective works of Pete Townshend marks a milestone in the evolution of Spirit, our music publishing partner.  Winning the trust of one of rock’s most innovative and influential icons is a complete validation of Spirit’s long history of investing in iconic copyrights and partnering with their creators in promoting their legacies.  We look forward to what should be a very exciting year for the company.”

Townshend and Spirit are planning a busy 2012, focusing on reintroducing the deeper song catalog and building The Who brand in partnership with cutting edge directors, producers and tastemakers across the media landscape.  Townshend continues to promote the personally curated “Quadrophenia-The Director’s Cut” boxed set released late last year and is finishing a long-awaited autobiography set for release in September, both of which will be paired with media and licensing events developed by Spirit.  A series of retrospectives for The Who’s most celebrated albums are expected over the next two years leading up to a global celebration of the band’s 50^th anniversary in 2014.

Pete Townshend is one of the most celebrated songwriters and musicians in rock and roll.  As principal songwriter for The Who, Townshend helped define the sound of the mid-60′s British rock scene with such explosive singles as “I Can’t Explain,” “My Generation,” “I Can See For Miles” and “The Kids Are Alright.”  He was one of the originators of the ‘concept album’, first with “A Quick One” and then with “The Who Sell Out” – a wry observation on music in a commercialized culture.  Townshend then took album-length storytelling to the extreme, producing the first rock operas, “Tommy” and “Quadrophenia” – both acclaimed works which spawned successful film and stage adaptations.  Meantime, The Who – completed by the larger than life talents of Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon – established itself as one of the hardest-working live acts in the world, performing incendiary (and infamously destructive) sets throughout Europe and North America – including historic stints at Monterrey Pop and Woodstock – winning legions of devoted fans.  Returning to the studio in 1971, The Who produced “Who’s Next”, considered by fans and critics to be one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time thanks to its thematic and musical innovations and some of Townshend’s most enduring songs including “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Baba O’Riley” and “Going Mobile.”  The band’s later albums saw Townshend writing more introspective pieces and exploring more varied instrumentation, setting the stage for a series of solo albums ranging from the lo-fi “Who Came First” to the emotionally raw “Empty Glass” (which spawned the ubiquitous pop gem “Let My Love Open The Door”) to the dense think-piece “All The Best Cowboys” and conceptual radio play “Psychoderelict.”  2006′s “Endless Wire,” The Who’s 11th studio album, sailed into the Top 10 on release, demonstrating that Townshend’s songs and Daltrey’s soulful and soaring vocals remain as relevant this century as they were in the last.

In a career filled with milestones and accolades, several Townshend honors stand out including a Brit Lifetime Achievement Award in 1983, a Grammy and Tony award for “Tommy: The Musical” in 1993 and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2008.  The Who received lifetime achievement awards from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 1988 and from the Grammy Foundation in 2001 and they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990.

About Spirit Music

Spirit Music Group, founded in 1995, is one of the world’s leading independent music publishers, owning and/or managing more than 40,000 songs spanning 7 decades and every musical genre.  The company’s repertoire reflects some of the most beloved songs and songwriters of all time including hits by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Elmore James, Elvis Presley, Charles Mingus, Dion, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Santana, The Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight, Alice Cooper, Pure Prairie League, Chicago, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, The Go-Go’s, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Ricky Martin, Usher, Dido, Jewel and Mary J. Blige, the complete catalogs of such iconic song writers and writer/artists as Lou Reed, T.Rex, Boz Scaggs, The Grateful Dead, The Marshall Tucker Band, Billy Squier, Andrea Bocelli, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Angela Winbush, Rick Nowels and C&C Music Factory and the breakthrough work of such newer artists as Scissor Sisters, The Naked & Famous and Old Crow Medicine Show.  Spirit also represents the master recordings of such classic labels as Brunswick and k-Tel and buzzing independent labels Fat Possum and The End.  The company has earned a strong reputation as an aggressive royalty administrator and a peerless promoter of its songs into film, television and advertising productions as well as a wide range of new media.  In recent years, Spirit’s creative staff has helped transform the publisher’s role beyond royalty collection and song promotion to proactive career and legacy partnership, creating and executing marketing plans to revitalize its clients’ songs and expand their brands.  Spirit Music Group is based in New York with affiliate offices all over the world.  For further information about Spirit Music Group, go to www.spiritmusicgroup.com.

Web Site: http://www.spiritmusicgroup.com

Floratone Featuring Bill Frisell, Matt Chamberlain, Lee Townsend, Tucker Martine & Others Readying Release of “FLORATONE II” On Savoy Jazz March 6th

Frisell’s Collaborative Project Comes Hot On The Heels Of The Success of His Lauded Collection Of John Lennon Songs “All We Are Saying”
“Listening to these unlikely swirls of sound is almost like the beginnings of some exotic new language, rising like steam from a swamp. They’re like nothing else. Some old school jazz musicians will probably scoff at the way Floratone was made, but it’s some of the most riveting instrumental music to emerge this year.” – NPR on Floratone’s Debut

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Floratone, the collaborative ensemble known for creating a sound described as “futuristic roots music,” is back with FLORATONE II—the follow up to their highly acclaimed debut and their first for Savoy Jazz. Floratone features the core group of Bill Frisell on guitar, Matt Chamberlain on drums and percussion and producers Lee Townsend and Tucker Martine. Together they continue to further the spirit of improvisation born in a Seattle studio back in 2005. It’s a fertile collaboration they’ve nurtured and maintained over the years utilizing a distinctive methodology of inspiration. Together they continue to further the spirit of composition and improvisation born in a Seattle studio back in 2005. With the additional contributions of cornetist Ron Miles, viola/violin player Eyvind Kang (both featured on Floratone’s debut), bassist Mike Elizondo and multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion, Floratone have taken their signature sound to a new level. FLORATONE II is available March 6th on Savoy Jazz.

Given the tremendous pool of talent appearing on FLORATONE II, it’s not surprising that the thirteen tracks that make up the album are redolent with musicality that spans many genres and perspectives. Floratone is anchored by Bill Frisell whose identifiable guitar sound remains pliable and enables him to perform alongside an A-list of players within and outside of the jazz idiom and drummer/percussionist Matt Chamberlain who has performed alongside diverse artists such as Fiona Apple, Pearl Jam, Tori Amos and the Wallflowers to name a few. When you then add producers and side players who have performed in every musical niche imaginable, it’s almost miraculous that it all comes together as a cohesive whole.

Says Tucker Martine on their creative process: “Both Matt and Bill play with such intention and they both have astonishing tones. When I get together with Lee…he is as excited about somebody else’s good idea as he is about his own. That’s the mark of a great collaborator.”

Floratone II Track Listing:

The Bloom Is On
More Pluck
Snake, Raattle
Parade
Not Over Ever
Move
Do You Have It?
The Time, The Place
No Turn Back
The Time, The Place (Part 2)
Gimme Some
Grin And Bite
Stand By This

For more information, visit: www.savoyjazz.com

Savoy Jazz is a unit of the Savoy Label Group (SLG). SLG is the North American based division of Nippon Columbia, the oldest music company in Japan. The Savoy Label Group has evolved into a Grammy Award winning and chart topping independent music company consistently outperforming competitors in key music categories as monitored by Billboard Magazine. SLG is led by Steve Vining and is based in Los Angeles, CA.

The Irving Berlin Catalogue of Treasured Songs Comes to Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG)

UMPG to Administer Legendary Songwriter’s Collection of 20th Century Classics Outside North America

LONDON, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Further expanding the company’s catalogue of 20th century classics, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has entered into an agreement to administer beloved songwriter Irving Berlin’s music publishing catalogue for the world outside of North America. The announcement was made today by Paul Connolly, President of Europe & United Kingdom, UMPG, along with Irving Berlin’s daughters Mary Ellin Barrett, Linda Emmet and Elizabeth Peters who, together with JPMorgan Chase Bank, jointly manage the songwriter’s trust. UMPG takes over the administration for most of the catalogue throughout the territory beginning January 1, 2012, with other songs included later.

Over the course of Mr. Berlin’s illustrious 60-year career, he composed an unprecedented 1,500 songs, 19 Broadway shows and 18 Hollywood films, garnering multitudes of awards and honors along the way, including eight Academy Award nominations, multiple Tony Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Among his most beloved standards are “Easter Parade,” “White Christmas,” “Happy Holiday,” There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Puttin’ On The Ritz,” “Blue Skies,” and the American stalwart, “God Bless America.” Mr. Berlin’s songs have been covered by a cross-generational who’s-who of noteworthy artists including Ethel Merman, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, Barbra Streisand, Michael Buble, Cher, Diana Ross, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion, to name just a few.

“People often say that this song or that song provided a soundtrack for a certain moment in their lives,” stated Mr. Connolly. “And more often than not, for those most special moments, they are Irving Berlin songs. They truly transcend generations and they’re woven into the very fabric of our culture. So it’s a privilege for all of us to work with Mr. Berlin’s three daughters who are such inspiring guardians of his musical legacy, and we’re really excited about the catalogue’s potential for future growth and development.”

“Irving Berlin’s music is timeless,” commented Zach Horowitz, President & COO of Universal Music Group. “His songs continue to inspire, entertain and connect with generation after generation. It is an honor and privilege that his family has chosen Universal to look after this treasure trove of musical masterpieces.”

About Universal Music Publishing Group

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) is the industry’s leading global music publishing operation and is part of Universal Music Group. UMPG represents music in every genre from some of the world’s hottest songwriters and catalogues including ABBA, Adele, Alex Da Kid, Lily Allen, Beach Boys, Beastie Boys, Leonard Bernstein, Justin Bieber, Bjork, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Desmond Child, Ciara, The Clash, Coldplay, Elvis Costello, The Cure, Daughtry, Ester Dean, Danny Elfman, Eminem, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Jackie Evancho, Juanes, Florence + The Machine, Kirk Franklin, Sean Garrett, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John/Bernie Taupin, Joy Division, R. Kelly, The Killers, BB King, Ari Levine of The Smeezingtons, Linkin Park, Henry Mancini, Maroon 5, Mumford + Sons, Prince, Pucinni, Otis Redding, Owl City, Sex Pistols, Gustavo Santaolalla, Paul Simon, Britney Spears, Tricky Stewart, 3 Doors Down, Justin Timberlake, T-Pain, U2, Diane Warren, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Withers, among many others. UMPG is also a global leader in the areas of Production Music, Christian and Classical Music. For more information please visit http://www.umusicpub.com.

SOURCE Universal Music Group

Web Site: http://www.umusicpub.com

Tony Bennett Celebrates 50th Anniversary of His Recording “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on Monday, Jan 23

Song Garnered Bennett his First Grammy Award in 1962; 50 Years Later Bennett Still a Grammy Nominee

PBS’ Great Performances To Premiere “Tony Bennett: Duets II” on January 27

“We aren’t likely to see a recording career like this again.” – The New York Times

Gregg Allman and The Steve Miller Band to Headline The 15th Annual DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL May 19 & 20 at Doheny State Beach

Weekend Passes On-Sale Friday, January 20

Legacy Recordings Commemorates Janis Joplin’s Birthday With Announcement of The Pearl Sessions

Definitive Two-Disc Edition of Janis Joplin’s Farewell Album Masterpiece Debuts Newly Discovered Studio Outtakes, Banter & Rarities Including Nine Previously Unavailable Tracks

Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions Available Everywhere Tuesday, April 17, 2012

NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — On the occasion of Janis Joplin‘s birthday (January 19), Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the upcoming release of The Pearl Sessions , a newly-curated definitive two-disc edition of Joplin’s final studio album premiering, for the first time, newly discovered studio outtakes, live performances and other sonic rarities recorded during her dynamic last chapter of accelerated tumult and creativity.

Legacy Recordings logo. Division of SONY Music Entertainment. (PRNewsFoto/Legacy Recordings)

Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions will be available Tuesday, April 17.

Originally released on January 11, 1971 (three months after her passing on October 4, 1970), Pearl debuted Joplin’s final finished studio recordings as well as intimations of what the influential American country-soul-blues-rock singer was capable of delivering.

The only album Joplin ever recorded with the Full Tilt Boogie Band, the touring ensemble that had backed her on the Festival Express (a mythic 1970 concert tour by railroad across Canada with the Grateful Dead, the Band and others), Pearl included canonical studio recordings of songs that had been introduced to audiences on tour.

Peaking at #1 on the Billboard 200, a position it held for nine weeks, Pearl included some of Janis’s most familiar and best-loved performances including her cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee” and her off-the-cuff a cappella “Mercedes Benz.”

When putting together material for a 40th anniversary edition of Pearl , researchers discovered a treasure-trove of previously uncatalogued audio tapes from the album’s sessions, produced by Paul Rothschild.  An industry legend, perhaps best-known for producing the first five Doors albums, Rothchild further solidified his position in music history with his work on Pearl .

The Pearl Sessions brings together, for the first time in one package, the original mono versions of the album’s 45s alongside the original LP tracks as well as the revelatory newly-discovered alternate versions, outtakes and vocal takes of Pearl ‘s classic tracks.

The Pearl Sessions includes newly discovered recordings of Janis in the studio, joking with producer Paul Rothchild and her Full Tilt Boogie bandmates as they work through what would become an essential part of Janis Joplin’s core catalog.

Disc One of The Pearl Sessions includes the original album as well as the original mono singles from the album (“Cry Baby,” “Get It While You Can,” “Me and Bobby McGee”).

Disc Two is a collection of behind-the-scenes recordings illuminating the Pearl sessions with highlights and insights revealed in candid studio dialogue, song demos and alternate takes including nine previously unissued tracks.

Janis Joplin – The Pearl Sessions

DISC ONE:
The Pearl Album – produced by Paul Rothchild
Move Over
Cry Baby
A Woman Left Lonely
Half Moon
Buried Alive In The Blues
My Baby
Me and Bobby McGee
Mercedes Benz
Trust Me
Get It While You Can

Bonus Tracks – the Mono Single Masters – produced by Paul Rothchild
Me and Bobby McGee
Half Moon
Cry Baby
Get It While You Can
Move Over
A Woman Left Lonely

DISC TWO:
The Pearl Sessions & more…
Overheard in the Studio…
Get It While You Can (take 3) – previously unissued
Overheard in the Studio…
Get It While You Can (take 5) – previously unissued
Overheard in the Studio…
Move Over (take 6) – previously unissued
Move Over (take 13) – previously unissued
Move Over (take 17) – previously unissued
Me and Bobby McGee (demo version)
Me and Bobby McGee (take 5 – alternate) – previously unissued
Cry Baby (alternate version)
A Woman Left Lonely (alternate vocal)
Overheard in the Studio…
My Baby (alternate take) – previously unissued
Overheard in the Studio…
Get It While You Can (take 3) – previously unissued
My Baby (alternate take)
Pearl (instrumental) – Full Tilt Boogie Band

Bonus Track
Tell Mama (Live) – June 28, 1970 – Toronto

The release of The Pearl Sessions marks a renewed focus on Janis Joplin and the continuing influence of her music.  Columbia/Legacy Recordings recently announced the release of Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968 , a previously unavailable live concert recording of Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin, recorded June 23, 1968 by legendary soundman Owsley Stanley, a/k/a “Bear,” who supervised the mastering of this release before his fatal car accident on March 12, 2011, in his adopted homeland of Australia.  Dedicated to Bear, the album will be released on March 13, 2012, marking the one-year anniversary of his passing.

SOURCE Legacy Recordings

Web Site: http://www.legacyrecordings.com

Guitar Industry Has a New Superstar Propelling Sales for Many Major Manufacturers

Joe Bonamassa Blues-Rock Titan to Appear At NAMM with Sponsors Gibson, Ernie Ball, Dunlop and a Very Special Announcement with Seymour Duncan

Guitar International Crowns Bonamassa as 2011′s Guitarist of the Year

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Award-winning blues-rock sensation Joe Bonamassa is driving sales for the guitar industry and keeping the guitar alive. Bonamassa, currently the hottest new Guitar Blues Rock star on the scene, is helping great companies like Guitar Center, Gibson, Epiphone, Ernie Ball , Dunlop, Clear Sonics and Klotz Cables , all of whom have signature products with the Guitar phenom; and other companies soon to be announced. Bonamassa’s style of guitar has breathed new life and excitement back into the guitar as legions of new fans are becoming familiar again with the great sound of guitar-based rock music. Over the last year, Bonamassa has become the hottest ticket around the world, selling out the greatest concert halls in America and worldwide like the Chicago Theatre, NYC’s Beacon Theatre and Amsterdam’s Carre Theatre. Get a free download from the album Dust Bowl: http://bitly.com/JBNAMM

Bonamassa will be attending NAMM this year supporting the companies with whom he works with multiple stops at his sponsors’ booths. He will attend the convention on Saturday, January 21 and will stop by the Gibson Booth at 1:30pm (Gibson Booth #303AB) and 2:30pm (Gibson Custom Booth #C4861) to sign autographs and play a few licks. At 3:00pm , Bonamassa will be at the Seymour Duncan booth (#5561 in Hall B) for a very special announcement, and that evening he will be one of many special guests helping to celebrate Ernie Ball’s 50th Anniversary Concert.

In December, Bonamassa collaborated with Dunlop, a leading manufacturer of electronic effects, picks, capos, slides, strings and other musical instrument accessories, to release the Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby.

Bonamassa’s popularity has been steadily rising with no end in sight. He was recently crowned 2011′s Guitarist of the Year by Guitar International for his work on 2011′s critically acclaimed solo album Dust Bowl (J&R Adventures) and Black Country Communion’s second album 2 (J&R Adventures), world tour and DVD Live Over Europe. He was recently nominated in two categories for the 2012 Blues Music Awards: Best Blues Rock Album for Dust Bowl and Best Contemporary Blues Album for his soul covers album Don’t Explain (J&R Adventures) with female powerhouse Beth Hart . He was named 2010′s #1 Billboard Blues Artist with Dust Bowl debuting at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart and #37 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart, making it his highest-selling and chart-ranking U.S. debut to date. Black Country Communion – with bandmates Glenn Hughes , Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian – was named “Best New Band of the Last 10 Years” by VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show.

After the enormous success of his 2009 sold-out concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall – which included a career-changing duet with Eric Clapton – and subsequent live DVD release, Bonamassa filmed his two recent sold-out shows (Nov. 4-5) at NYC’s famed Beacon Theatre. Special guests at the shows included John Hiatt , Paul Rodgers and Beth Hart. The live concert DVD and PBS special capturing the magic of both nights will be released in early 2012.

For more information, full tour schedule and tickets, go to www.jbonamassa.com

SOURCE Joe Bonamassa

Web Site: http://www.jbonamassa.com

Purchase Joe Bonamassa’s solo album: Dust Bowl

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Announces Its Newest Featured Exhibit: Grateful Dead: The Long, Strange Trip

 CLEVELAND, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is proud to present a major exhibition devoted to a truly unique American rock and roll band, Grateful Dead: The Long, Strange Trip. The exhibit will open to the public on Thursday, April 12, as a part of the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Week events.  The Mickey Hart Band, featuring the Grateful Dead drummer, will perform on the Rock Hall’s Main Stage for an exhibit opening event on Wednesday, April 11.

“The Grateful Dead is a band that is identified with a remarkable era in American history, and, inasmuch as they embody that era, their work is timeless,” says Jim Henke, vice president of Exhibits and Curatorial Affairs. “They’ve inspired many performers and bands, but none has exhibited their musical depth and cultural resonance. In a 30-year career, this group wrote their own rules and created a community unlike any band before or since.”

Grateful Dead: The Long, Strange Trip explores the band from a non-linear point of view. Individual sections within the exhibit will be devoted to Grateful Dead as a recording group and a touring band, the fans who devotedly followed them, tapers and fellow travelers (people who were important to the band). It will include finished and working manuscripts for classic songs, handwritten notes from legendary taper Dick Latvala, artifacts from original sound designer Owsley “Bear” Stanley, and promoter Bill Graham’s Father Time robe and Grateful Dead Hotline answering machine.

Art and design have always been closely associated with Grateful Dead, and this exhibit will include an unprecedented collection of original artwork that is immediately recognizable from the band’s album covers and posters. It will feature numerous instruments used by the Grateful Dead over the years, including keyboards, drums, percussion, guitars and elements from the legendary Wall of Sound PA system. The Grateful Dead Archive at the University of California-Santa Cruz has loaned a significant number of items from their extraordinary collection, which will open to the public in spring 2012.

Additional highlights include:

• Five Jerry Garcia guitars, including his Travis Bean TB5
• Mickey Hart’s custom-painted drum kit
• Two Bob Weir guitars, including his first Ibanez “cowboy” custom guitar
• Several original lyric manuscripts, including “Truckin’,” “Box of Rain” and “Sugaree”
• Several original Grateful Dead-related artworks, including images from Workingman’s Dead, Without a Net and Fillmore Auditorium poster art
• Bill Graham’s “Father Time” robe

Formed in Palo Alto, California, in 1965 from a previous incarnation as a bar band called the Warlocks, the Grateful Dead were at the epicenter of the sweeping cultural event that was San Francisco in the Sixties. Their music was informed by a diverse set of influences – contemporary classical composition, bluegrass, rhythm & blues, free jazz, rock and roll and the blues. Fueled by a cultural underground of writers, poets and bohemians that stretched from Oakland and Berkeley in the East Bay to Palo Alto on the peninsula, the Grateful Dead developed an ethos that embraced true artistic pursuits over commercial concerns, improvisation over rote arrangements and mind expansion through the use of psychedelic drugs.

At the exhibit opening event on the 11th, Mickey Hart Band will perform new songs from his forthcoming album to be released this spring as well as Grateful Dead classics.  Hart will be touring this spring in support of his new album which he told Rolling Stone features samples of “light waves from the cosmos, starting 13.7 billion years ago with the Big Bang.”

This exhibit will be open through December 2012.

About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music. It carries out this mission through its operation of a world-class museum that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives as well as its educational programs.

The Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays (and Saturdays through Labor Day), the Museum is open until 9 p.m. Museum admission is $22 for adults, $18 for adult residents of Greater Cleveland, $17 for seniors (65+), $13 for youth (9-12). Children under eight (8) and museum members always free, for information or to join the membership program call 216. 515.8425. For general inquiries, please call 216.781.ROCK (7625) or visit www.rockhall.com.  The Museum is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

SOURCE The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Web Site: http://www.rockhall.com