February 2012 News

by Hector Salda–a

The story: Punk rock pioneer JOAN JETT made her first visit to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo at AT&T Center on Friday with her New York band the BLACKHEARTS.

Attendance: Sold out

The show: Jett's opening song "Bad Reputation" said it all with its defiant (and defining) opening line, "Well, I don't give a damn about my bad reputation." Actually, it's a legend as much for delivering a good time and huge pop hooks. The swaggering singer/guitarist took the audience all the way back to her '70s days with the RUNAWAYS with the glam and raucous "Cherry Bomb."

She loves rock 'n' roll: Her trademark fashion statement, a studded one-piece black leather-style jumpsuit, is straight out of '70s icon Suzy Quatro's closet. The sound, likewise, is a relentless 4/4 rock beat favored by once-dangerous rockers Iggy Pop and Gary Glitter, especially on the snare drum-driven sing-along "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)," a cover of a Glitter tune she turned into a hit. A special treat was Jett's performance of the first song she ever wrote, the RUNAWAYS' punk boogie "You Drive Me Wild." It was the kind of night that probably had some kids thinking, "Hey, she sounds like Green Day."

by Jon Stickler

Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister has revealed details of an up-and-coming solo project.

According to Gibson, Lemmy has confirmed he has recruited Foo Fighter Dave Grohl as well as JOAN JETT for the new solo project, he has also spoken about other artists he would like to work with.

When asked by www.sfweekly.com who else he'd like to record with, Lemmy joked: "Janet Jackson." He continued: "I don't know. There are a lot of people out there who are great players. It's just whether the spark arrives. Whether somebody wants to do it and I've got some free time..."

Lemmy also revealed that his debut solo album is almost finished: "I'm three quarters of the way though a solo album right now," he said. "I've got two tracks with the Damned, two tracks with [German hard-rock band] Skew Siskin, one with JOAN JETT, one with Grohl and two with the Reverend Horton Heat. So I've got quite a mixed bag on there. I'm trying to get one with Skin from Skunk Anansie."

A release date for the album is yet to be confirmed.

by Shannon Andreucci

Just over a decade after Joey Ramone's lymphoma-induced death in 2001, the lead vocalist of the Ramones releases a new album from the grave.

The new collection of demos written during and after the reign of punk band Ramones -- who called it quits in 1996 --is slated for release on May 15 and called Ya Know?

Endearingly titled after the way Joey would finish his sentences with his Queens accent, the 17-track album was completed and produced by Ed Stasium and Jean Beauvoir, who previously worked with the Ramones.

It features contributions by friends and fans JOAN JETT, Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Richie Ramone and members of Cheap Trick and the Dictators who recorded the overdubs in 2010 in New York.

The follow-up to Joey's posthumous solo debut Don't Worry About Me (2002), includes the prideful anthem Rock & Roll Is the Answer as well as hometown homage New York City and Waiting for That Railroad.

After Joey passed away, his mother Charlotte Lesher and younger brother Mickey Leigh, were cleaning the iconic singer's New York apartment and stumbled upon an old pizza delivery receipt.

Some of the most iconic women in rock history are to celebrated in a new photo exhibition.

It's called She-Bop-A-Lula (see what they did there?), and it opens at The Strand Gallery in London on Wednesday March 7 and runs until Sunday April 1. It will feature 60 photos of some of the most acclaimed female singers of the past six decades. These include:
Debbie Harry
Chrissie Hynde
JOAN JETT
Janis Jopin
Suzi Quatro
Patti Smith

The Exhibition is in support of Breakthrough, the UK's leading breast cancer charity, which undertakes vital research into a disease that affects one in eight women. All the female photographers have donated their work for free, and 100% of sales will go to Breakthrough.

All prints will be available to purchase at £200, with signed prints by some of the singers on offer at an auction.

Admission to the exhibition is free. For more information click here

by DAVID NIELSEN - Scripps Howard News Service

Whom are you going to believe: oddsmakers or celebrities?

Defying the Las Vegas bookies who have installed the New England Patriots as 3-point favorites, most of the celebrities in this year's Scripps Howard Celebrity Super Bowl Poll predict the New York Giants will win Sunday's Super Bowl. Of the 115 notable personalities who made predictions, 60 think that the Giants will win, while 50 chose the Patriots. Five celebrities jokingly picked another team or said they couldn't decide. To see all the predictions, go to http://www.scrippsnews.com/celebritypoll.

Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer picked the Giants to win, 28-17, saying, "Eli Manning is feeling his oats. I think he will have a good game in the Super Bowl."

Rock star JOAN JETT thinks New York will win, 38-35. Jett may be onto something. She's correctly predicted the winners of the last six Super Bowls.

Jett's streak is two short of the Scripps Celebrity Poll record of eight consecutive correct Super Bowl predictions held by actor Haley Joel Osment. Osment, who portrayed a kid who could see dead people in the movie, "The Sixth Sense," can also see Super Bowl winners, as he has picked 11 of the last 12, missing only in 2008, when the Giants beat the Patriots. He's not making that mistake again, picking the Giants to win Sunday, 34-31.

"It's just destined to be won at the last second by a field goal," Osment said. "I still beat myself up over my 2008 pick; I should have never doubted my team! This time they're an even better squad and, in particular, the Patriots defense has no chance against our receivers. Go G-Men!"

If the Giants win, it will be the 18th time in 27 years that a majority of the celebrities have picked the Super Bowl winner. If the Patriots win, it will be the fourth time in the last five years that a majority of the celebrities picked the wrong team.