Tony Bennett's Duets II #1 on the Billboard Album Chart

DUETS II TOP 5 ON iTUNES ALBUM CHART

NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Tony Bennett's highly anticipated new release, DUETS II (RPM Records/Columbia Records) debuts at the #1 position on Billboard's top albums chart, with 179,000 units sold in the first week.  The album has remained in the top 5 on iTunes' album chart in the US and other countries since its release.  Digital albums represented 20% of overall sales, the highest for any Bennett album to-date.
Danny Bennett, Tony's son and manager stated, "It's an unprecedented and historical event that an artist at the age of 85 has topped the charts.  He's remained at the top of his game without having ever compromised his integrity and standard of excellence."
"The number one success of Duets II pays tribute to the enduring genius of Tony Bennett," said Steve Barnett, Chairman, Columbia Records.  "It is a true testament to Tony's artistry that he continues to top the charts while at the same time reaching a broader fan base and breaking new ground."
A long-term PR campaign, beginning with the start of the recording sessions in February, fueled robust pre-sale orders that launched on the singer's 85th Birthday on August 3rd.  Extensive TV appearances on 20/20,  the MTV Video  Music Awards, the America's Got Talent finale, The Today Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and HSN, leading up to the release, enhanced pre-sales. Print features in the New Yorker, Entertainment Weekly, USA TODAY, The Wall Street Journal, among others, all appeared in advance of the in-store date. TV appearances after launch included The Today Show, The View, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Piers Morgan Tonight, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as well as a duet performance prominently featured in the season premiere of CBS TV show "Blue Bloods."  CBS Sunday Morning also highlighted the new release in their fall music preview.
Partnerships with Target, AARP, Starbucks, Tiffany & Co, Godiva, Koss Corporation, among others created extensive exposure in the marketplace.  Non-traditional retail outlets included HSN, Walgreens, Nordstrom and Wegmans.
Nearly twenty years after making ground-breaking headlines with his "Steppin' Out" video being added to MTV in 1993, Bennett has once again been added across all MTV Networks worldwide with the premiere of the Amy Winehouse duet of "Body and Soul." Widespread listener response to the DUETS II's Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse tracks across all radio formats has garnered major airplay on Top 40, Hot AC and AAA stations.  "Body and Soul" has broken into Billboard's Hot 100 Singles charts.
The entire six month recording process for DUETS II, during which Bennett recorded live with each duet partner in the studio, was documented on film by Academy Award winning cinematographer Dion Beebe.  Footage from sessions held in New York, Los Angeles, London, Nashville and Italy was distributed to a variety of online outlets.  Clips were tailored, often as exclusives, to iTunes, Vevo, MTV and Barnes and Noble among others, resulting in over 100 million impressions online and will become the basis of a documentary "The Zen of Tony Bennett," an intimate look into the artist's creative process as he reflects over his 60 year career within the context of his latest recording project.
DUETS II has received unprecedented response in sales and profile internationally, including the UK, Canada, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Australia.  An extended campaign was implemented early on in the project to develop and expand awareness and exposure for Tony Bennett and DUETS II through promotional trips, publicity outreach, and concert appearances.
DUETS II was produced by Phil Ramone and Bennett's son, Dae Bennett.  It features a celebrated roster of many of today's greatest artists--including Lady Gaga, Michael Buble, John Mayer, Carrie Underwood and Amy Winehouse--performing with Tony, showcasing his catalog of greatest hits.  DUETS II is a follow-up to Bennett's highly successful DUETS CD, which was released for the singer's 80th birthday, received three Grammy Awards and became his best-selling record to-date.  A concentrated catalog campaign was also initiated resulting in DUETS return to the charts, with top five placement at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
RPM/Columbia/Legacy announced plans to release the labels' most extensive boxed set collection in their history.  TONY BENNETT: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION features 73 CDs and 3 DVDS and will be available on November 8 exclusively through Barnes and Noble retail stores, bn.com and tonybennet.com.
Tony Bennett has garnered high praise with DUETS II.  Some of the highlights are below:
"Each of the megastar pairings with Tony Bennett on his second disc of duets is momentous" US WEEKLY 3 1/2 stars
"Tony Bennett is the oldest artist to ever grace the Hot 100 charts. He and Amy Winehouse bow at #87 with Body and Soul. He's also taking the crown for longest span. He holds an impressive 53 year, 2 month existence on the charts! Nice! Tony, you're just makin' all sorts of headlines this year, aren't ya?!!"   PEREZ HILTON
"As savvy as ever at 85, Tony Bennett leaves no box unchecked..."    PEOPLE
"...constantly reaffirming his position as pop music's greatest living patriarch"  WALL STREET JOURNAL
"…he's also timeless, popular to at least three generations and in many ways even emblematic of this one."  LOS ANGELES TIMES
"Tony Bennett is as timeless as the songs he sings on DUETS II, which should put him back on the charts for a remarkable seventh straight decade."  ASSOCIATED PRESS
www.tonybennett.com
www.exploringthearts.org
www.benedettoarts.com

Martina McBride Starts Over ... from the Top
By Kip Kirby

© 2011 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
After nearly 20 years in the music business, Martina McBride has started over. It’s a time of seismic change in the superstar’s career — and nobody is more excited than she is. With a new record label, new management, new producer, newly-spotlighted songwriting prowess, new studio recording process and a brand new air of accomplishment, McBride’s career is taking on a fresh patina.
“It really does feel like starting over for me — starting over but with a track record and with the success and experience I’ve had over the years. I feel more mature and more confident, which comes with knowing yourself better. But there are a lot of opportunities now that I haven’t had in a long time.”
When her contract with RCA Nashville expired in 2010, McBride revved up for new challenges ahead. “I have a lot of friends there and we obviously had a great run,” she pointed out. “But there comes a time when you have to step back and say, ‘I need something different.’ It was a bit of a risk, but you have to do what feels right. It took me a long time to realize that it wasn’t a marriage, it was a business relationship.”
After weighing her options, McBride decided to join Republic Nashville, the label launched jointly in 2009 by Big Machine Records and Universal Republic. “We had a couple of offers that were really great,” she noted. “But what really drew me in the end was (Big Machine Label Group President/CEO) Scott Borchetta and his reputation. Just sitting back and watching what he’s been able to do with his artists, and then when I met with him, his enthusiasm and passion for music — not only for the business but for the music: The company is very music-centric. That was fascinating and inspiring to me. I really got the feeling that they get up every day and say, ‘Wow, we get to be in the music business!’ They’re so excited by it. They’re aggressive and passionate and doing innovative things, and it’s contagious. I wanted to be around that positive energy.”
At the same time, the Republic Nashville team was vocal about wanting to help McBride make a great career record. “It wasn’t about, ‘OK, let’s sign her and we’ll continue doing what she’s done before or we’ll see what happens,’” she said. “It was, ‘We want you and we want this to be the biggest record of your career.’ There was no sense of them signing me only to continue on the same path. Just to have that belief and confidence in me and to see a future that’s even bigger than what I’ve had at this stage of my career was really exciting.”
The feeling was mutual. “Scott and I are big fans of Martina’s,” explained Jimmy Harnen, President, Republic Nashville. “So when we found out she was looking for a new home, we didn’t run after her — we raced after her. An artist of her stature is timeless.”
Borchetta planted the seeds for another first. “We were talking and Scott said, ‘Have you ever thought about recording outside of Nashville?’ I said no,” McBride recalled. “He said, ‘Well, maybe you should think about it. I think you need to get out of your comfort zone a little bit and see what happens if you get away.’ I think he understood that when I’m here (in Nashville), I wear a lot of hats. I get to be a musician part time, but I’m a mom first. I only get to focus on music a few hours every day before I have to pick up the kids from school and figure out what to make for dinner every night. For Scott to say that, I thought it showed a lot of insight. It was a respectful way to say, ‘You need to focus on the music if this album is really important to you.’”
With Byron Gallimore, who would co-produce with McBride, and a group of seasoned Nashville musicians in tow, she headed down to Atlanta’s Southern Tracks Recording studio in January in the middle of an ice storm that shut the city down. “There was nothing to do there but make music,” she said, laughing. “We couldn’t go shopping. We couldn’t go out to eat. Every day we’d slide across the parking lot from the hotel and work in the studio, making music all day.” The proximity to Nashville allowed her to return home to see her daughters Ava, 5, Delaney, 16, and Emma, 13, mid-session, yet being away from home for several days at a clip furnished her the luxury of focusing totally on the music.
When McBride’s album, Eleven, comes out in October, fans and industry alike might be surprised to find that most of the songs are co-written by the artist herself. For the first time in her career, she found herself with plenty of time on the front end to stretch her songwriting skills.
“I started writing and looking for songs between signing with my new management and signing the new record deal,” she said. “While I was meeting with people to see what would happen, I began taking song meetings. Then I thought, ‘I’ve got this time and all three girls are in school all day,’ so I didn’t have to worry that I was taking time away from them. I decided I’m just going to see what happens. I love writers, and I’m not an artist who now thinks I have to write everything I record. But people were encouraging me to write and wanted to write with me, so I just started doing it. Because of it, I think this record shows a lot of different sides of my personality. I think the songwriting peels back a layer and shows a whole other part of me.”
McBride’s co-producer can’t say enough about the singer’s craft. “This was our first time in the studio together, and she was amazing,” Gallimore enthused. “She has perfect pitch, delivers 100 percent, and the one thing that slayed me was how she brought her songwriting in on a level that she’s never done before. I think she may have written one or two things in the past for an album, but people are going to look at this album and go, ‘Wow, she wrote that one? And that one? And that one?”
Case in point: “Teenage Daughters,” written by McBride, Brad Warren and Brett Warren. “The first time we all listened to it, we looked at each other and said, ‘That’s the first single!’” said Harnen. “The decision took all of about three seconds. A few weeks later, our entire promotion staff was running around the Country Radio Seminar with their iPods, saying, ‘Hey, listen to this!’ and playing the single for radio every chance we could get. Later that week, we invited radio and industry executives to an evening with Martina at her home, where we officially debuted the single. The reaction was over-the-top amazing. Radio was asking ‘When can I get this’ or saying ‘This is an add right now!’ It was like a fever and so much fun.”
The label followed with a “Martina Live by Request” promotion in which 24 nationwide Country radio morning shows were given a list of McBride’s hits to post on their Web sites so listeners could vote on which song they would most like to hear her perform live on the radio. McBride spent two different mornings on the air with a full band, performing each market’s biggest vote-getter live. “Let me tell you this,” Harnen said, chuckling. “We all knew Martina was an amazing vocalist, but when I witnessed her singing songs in full voice at 7 o’clock in the morning, well, kids, just don’t try this at home.”
As the fastest-rising McBride single since “This One’s for the Girls” in 2003, “Teenage Daughters” fanned anticipation for the album. Plans are to spread the news through all levels of media over at least two weeks leading up to the Oct. 11 release date. “Martina has stepped up her game with this record in a major way,” said McBride’s manager Clint Higham, President, Morris Artists Management. “My hope is to re-establish her as a headliner, to show more of her personality, to let the public and the industry see there’s more to her than this great big voice. Every time Martina steps up to the plate, she delivers. Certainly her voice is what draws people in, but I want to show that she’s much bigger than that. When you talk with her and see her enthusiasm for what’s ahead and what she wants to do, it’s obvious she’s not complacent at all. This lights a fire under all of us.”
As for McBride, she has high hopes at what she sees as first-time opportunities the second time around. Touched by the feedback “Teenage Daughters” is eliciting from parents and teenagers who tell her they recognize themselves in her lyrics, she can’t wait to visit with fans at CMA Music Festival before starting her summer tour schedule and promotion for the new album.
Her bucket list includes one day singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl and perhaps having a song in a movie so she can sing on the Academy Awards. But these pale in comparison to what she wants most: “My biggest desire is just to keep making records and keep touring. I hope to get to do this for as long as I can because I love it so much.”
On the Web: www.MartinaMcBride.com

9 LEFT DEAD’S

DEBUT ALBUM, ‘THE WRONG THINGS,’

OUT TODAY ON DIRTBAG/ILG

 

 

September 27, 2011 – THE WRONG THINGS by 9 LEFT DEAD--Travis Jones (vocals), Jared Ellis (bass), Kreg Anthony (lead guitar), Nathan Parrish (rhythm guitar) and Bryan Whitley (drums)—was released today through Dirtbag (through Warner Music Group’s Independent Label Group). 

 

The buzz for the Oklahoma band’s debut album has been building thanks to early adds for the first single, “Put Your Guns Down,” on radio stations nationwide, including KATT (in their hometown, Oklahoma City), WIIL (Chicago), WKLC (Charleston, WV), WJJO (Madison) and WRTT (Huntsville). 

 

The song stems from an incident at an Oklahoma City prison, which is where singer Travis Jones and bassist Jared Ellis first met and worked together as guards.     

 

As singer Travis Jones recently told AOL/Noisecreep.com, “One day we had an inmate come in thinking he was a little more hardcore than he actually ended up being.  I was having a bad night, and to add to it, this inmate kept running his mouth.  One thing lead to another and he ended up taking a swing at me. So I moved in on him, picked him up, and slammed him into the ground taking control of the situation.  Later on that night I was going back over what had just happened in my head and the line ‘careful what you wish for’ kept sticking in my head, because he wanted to fight, but I know he didn't see it playing out the way it actually did. And it made me think about those guys that think they are unstoppable until someone actually puts them in their place.  That's where the idea for ‘Put Your Guns Down’ came from."

 

With producers Cody Hanson and Marshal Dutton behind the boards for THE WRONG THINGS, the band has perfected the merging of their up-tempo, aggressive and pounding sound with melodic vocal hooks and identifiable lyrics that appeal to a broad audience.  With an unbreakable chemistry, 9 LEFT DEAD brings an action packed show every night leaving it all out there on the stage for the fans.

 

9 LEFT DEAD is starting to make their way across the U.S. with more tour dates to be announced in the coming weeks.  Check them out at any of the following stops:

 

DATE               CITY                             VENUE

Wed 9/28          Spokane, WA                Knitting Factory (KHTQ-FM Low Dough Show)

Fri 9/30             Coeur D'Alene, ID          The Grail

Wed 10/5          San Diego, CA              Typhoon Saloon

 

www.9leftdead.com

www.facebook.com/9leftdead

www.myspace.com/nineleftdead

www.twitter.com/9leftdead

www.youtube.com/user/nineleftdeadofficial

www.dirtbagmusic.com

 

 

BRAD PAISLEY AND CARRIE UNDERWOOD WILL PERFORM "REMIND ME" ON "THE 45th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS"
CMA Awards Co-Hosts to Perform Their No. 1 Duet for the First Time On Live Television as Part of "Country Music's Biggest Night"

NASHVILLE - The star-packed lineup for "The 45^th Annual CMA Awards" grows with today's announcement that co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will perform their   duet "Remind Me" on "Country Music's Biggest Night(tm)." This will be their first live performance of the No. 1 hit song on national television.

"The 45^th Annual CMA Awards," hosted by Paisley and Underwood, airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban.  

Paisley, who was also previously announced as a performer, is CMA's reigning Entertainer of the Year. He received five nominations in 2011 for Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for This is Country Music; and Musical Event and Music Video of the Year for "Old Alabama," featuring Alabama. Paisley has won 14 CMA Awards to date, including three consecutive Male Vocalist awards (2007-2009) and Album of the Year (in 2006 for Time Well Wasted). He is No. 5 for the most career wins in CMA Awards history, behind only George Strait (22), Brooks & Dunn (19), Vince Gill (18), and Alan Jackson (16).

 

Underwood is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2011, an Award she has won three times (2006-2008). If she wins the Award this year, she will tie with Martina McBride (1999, 2002-2004) and Reba McEntire (1984-1987) for the most wins in the category. Underwood has received a total of five CMA Awards thus far, including the Horizon Award (2006) and Single of the Year (1997 for "Before He Cheats"), and has a total of 14 CMA career nominations to date.

 

Tickets for "The 45^th Annual CMA Awards" are on sale and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or Ticketmaster outlets; by calling (800) 745-3000; or at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office, located at 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, Nashville). Ticket prices for the CMA Awards start at $110 for Upper Level seating. Ticket prices include tax, but exclude applicable service fees. Purchase tickets early for the best available seats. In 2009 and 2010, the CMA Awards sold out in advance.

 

"The 45^th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. Chevrolet(tm) is a Proud Partner of the CMA Awards and Official Ride of Country Music. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the 2011 CMA Awards. Macy's is the official presenting partner of the CMA Awards Red Carpet. CMA is a Proud Supporter of DRIVE4COPD.

THE DUKE SPIRIT PREMIER NEW TRACK

"CREATURE" ON NME.COM

TRACK TO BE FEATURED ON FORTHCOMING 

BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY - THE ALBUM DUE OUT OCTOBER 4TH  

 Check out the brand new track "Creature" from The Duke Spirit, 

currently premiering on NME.COM: HERE

 

Batman: Arkham City - The Album will be released in conjunction with the highly anticipated forthcoming videogame Batman: Arkham City. Featuring 11 new original tracks, Batman: Arkham City - The Album will be released on October 4th, two weeks prior to the game's North American release on October 18th. The Batman: Arkham City Collector's Edition of the game will include a download code for the album along with additional bonus content.

The artists featured on Batman: Arkham City - The Album approached their contributions to the album with their own unique interpretations of the stories surrounding Batman. The result is an eclectic mix of dynamic, atmospheric songs for an album that will appeal to fans of both the artists and Batman: Arkham City. Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez said, "I write in a very conceptual format with the stories that surround Coheed and Cambria, but Batman has a much larger, defined history and rules that go along with it. My goal was to find universal themes from Batman's existing history to help give the lyrics legs and dimension so that the song could live within that world."

Check out the track listing below:

1. Panic! At The Disco - Mercenary

2. Coheed and Cambria - Deranged

3. The Duke Spirit - Creature

4. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Shadow On The Run

5. Blaqk Audio  - Afterdark

6. The Raveonettes  - Oh, Stranger

7. (Crosses) - The Years

8. The Damned Things - Trophy Widow

9. Daughtry - Drown In You

10. The Boxer Rebellion - Losing You

11. Serj Tankian - Total Paranoia

For more information, visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com

Album Pre-Order Links:  

http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/batmam-arkham-city-deluxe/id465122412

http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Arkham-Album-Various-Artists/dp/B005HWUC5E/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1316633841&sr=1-1

 

Legend Roberta Flack Announces Album of Beatles' Classics

SIGNS WITH 429 RECORDS/SONY ATV AND RAS RECORDS AND PREPS FOR EARLY 2012 RELEASE AND TOUR

First Single "We Can Work It Out" Set For World Wide Release Exclusively at iTunes September 27, 2011

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Roberta Flack, the four-time Grammy Award-winning artist, has long been known as an unparalleled musician who effortlessly inhabits the worlds of pop, soul, R&B, jazz and folk.  From her very first recording, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" which hit #1 in the U.S. across all charts, Flack has created strong emotional bonds with her listeners through her poignant musicality and unerring stylizations while also shining an uncompromising light onto the culture and politics of the times.  Back in the spotlight after performing a memorable duet with Maxwell at the 2010 Grammy Awards, Flack is putting the finishing touches on her new album—her first in over 8 years.  Newly signed to a partnership of 429 Records, Sony ATV Music Publishing and Flack's RAS Records, the album, which was produced by Sherrod Barnes, who has also produced Beyonce and Angie Stone, with contributing producers Jerry Barnes and Barry Miles, is slated for early February 2012 release worldwide (Sony Music will release the album in Japan).  A single from the collection will be released this month—her interpretation of "We Can Work It Out".  The single will be available worldwide September 27th exclusively at iTunes.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110926/LA74497LOGO)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090208/LA67886LOGO)
Since bursting onto the scene in 1969 with the blockbuster album "First Take" (produced by the legendary Joel Dorn), she's followed her fiercely uncompromising lyrical and musical muses earning her a place alongside pioneering artists such as Aretha Franklin, Elton John, and Nina Simone.  A multiple Grammy winner, she is the only artist along with U2 to win "Record of the Year" in consecutive years (for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly").  Although she's taken some time between recordings, she's never stopped performing having constantly toured worldwide.  Flack, a national treasure, gives her time freely to a host of charitable and humanitarian causes--among them, the ASPCA (spokesperson of the year for 2011) and the Roberta Flack School of Music in Bronx, NY (which she founded in 2006).
Says Roberta:  "My passion for this project comes from the magical genius of the greatest songwriters of all time.  Love, inspiration, friendship and my own life's lessons come together when I sing the songs they created.  I am honored to be a part of the fabulous legacy of the Beatles."
Says Steve Vining, President of 429 Records/Savoy Label Group: "It's rare that a record project has so much going for it—a legendary, Grammy Award-winning vocalist, the most recognized songs in our lifetimes, a gifted production team and the combined support of Sony/ATV, SLG/429 and our distribution partners world-wide.  We're honored Roberta and Danny have placed their faith in our team and we all are looking forward to spreading the word about this truly extraordinary recording."
Says Danny Strick, Co-President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing: "To hear Roberta Flack's unique interpretations of some of the most important songs in pop culture is wonderful.  We are very excited to be working with Steve Vining and the Savoy team as we expose these wonderful recordings to lovers of music around the world."
About 429 Records
429 Records 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. The Savoy Label Group is led by Steve Vining and is based in Los Angeles, CA.
About Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing was established in 1995 as a joint venture between Sony and trusts formed by Michael Jackson.  Sony/ATV Music Publishing owns or administers over 750,000 copyrights by such artists as The Beatles, Beck, Brooks & Dunn, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Fall Out Boy, Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Linda Perry, Richie Sambora, Kraftwerk, Shakira, Taylor Swift, Akon, Wyclef Jean, Hank Williams, KT Tunstall, and Diane Warren, among others.  Sony/ATV recently acquired both the Leiber Stoller and Famous catalogues.
SOURCE 429 Records

Alice Cooper Debuts Top of the Charts With Welcome 2 My Nightmare

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The founding father of modern horror rock music explodes onto the Billboard 200 this week landing at #22.  With a music career that started more than 42 years ago, Alice Cooper sits squarely on the charts with current artists such as Lady Gaga, Primus, Bush, and Beyonce. This amazing achievement for one of music's most influential artists proves the relevance and popularity of Alice Cooper today. This debut marks Cooper's highest charting release in over 20 years, and since the incorporation of SoundScan as a method of tracking album sales. The album also debuted on SoundScan's Hard Music Albums chart at #6 and Rock Albums chart at #11.
Released on September 13, 2011, by Universal Music Enterprises, Welcome 2 My Nightmare is the long-awaited sequel to his 1975 classic Welcome to My Nightmare . From the opener, "I Am Made Of You," through the already established live favorite and first single "I'll Bite Your Face Off"(which is currently #2 at Classic Rock Radio), to the surprising duet with Ke$ha, "What Baby Wants," this album is a testament to Cooper's ability to incorporate various musical collaborations into his own unique musical style.
Welcome 2 My Nightmare is the long-awaited sequel to his 1975 classic Welcome to My Nightmare . The original album was a landmark album for Cooper. It was his first solo release, following a historic string of anthems written and recorded by the original band between 1971 and 1974, including "School's Out," "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "Elected," and "I'm Eighteen." Welcome to My Nightmare is an all-time rock classic that spawned a worldwide theatrical tour and pioneered a U.S. TV special, and certified Alice Cooper as a visionary trailblazer whose influence continues today in rock, metal, pop, punk, theatre, television, film and much more.
Recorded with longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, who also produced the original multi-platinum album in 1975, Welcome 2 My Nightmare picks up right where they left off, with Alice trapped in his own warped mind.
Collaborators on the new album include: the original Alice Cooper members Denis Dunaway, Michael Bruce and Neal Smith reunited on 3 tracks; global pop superstar Ke$ha; and legendary Alice and Lou Reed guitarist Steve Hunter, who is part of Alice's current touring band and featured prominently on the first Nightmare album.
In the midst of his "No More Mr. Nice Guy" world tour, Cooper played a special club show at the Whisky a Go-Go on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, with newest member of the band, eminent guitar prodigy Orianthi. This was the first time Cooper had been back on the Sunset Strip in 40 years.  Special guests Ke$ha and Robby Krieger (the Doors) joined him on stage for a special treat for fans.
In addition to his worldwide touring schedule, Alice Cooper, who single-handedly masterminded the rock-horror genre, spins his new collection of disturbing horror imagery in "Alice Cooper:  Welcome To My Nightmare," an outrageous new "Halloween Horror Nights" maze at Universal Studios Hollywood. The event launches on September 23 and continues on select nights through October 31. Inspired by Cooper's landmark concept album Welcome To My Nightmare and its sequel Welcome 2 My Nightmare, the new attraction takes guests on a terrifying trip through Alice Cooper's twisted mind, where his most famous songs, bizarre themes and demented characters collide inside a living horror movie.
Alice Cooper's Worldwide "No More Mr. Nice Guy" 2011 Tour Continues :

September 22	Auckland, New Zealand	Trusts Stadium
September 24	Brisbane, Australia	Convention & Entertainment Centre
September 26	Sydney, Australia	Enmore Theatre
September 29	Melbourne, Australia	Palais
September 30	Melbourne, Australia	Palais
October 2	Perth, Australia	Challenge Stadium
October 5	Singapore	The Coliseum
October 7	Jakarta, Indonesia	Ex-Park Plaza
October 12	Rome, Italy	Atlantico
October 13	Padova, Italy	Gran Teatro Geox
October 14	Milan/Bergamo, Italy	Live Club
October 16	Basel, Switzerland	St Jakobshalle
October 17	Graz, Austria	Steiermarkhalle
October 18	Vienna, Austria	Gasometer
October 20	Chemnitz, Germany	Stadthalle
October 21	Goppingen, Germany	EWS Arena
October 22	Mannheim, Germany	Rosengarten
October 23	Zoetermoor, Holland	Silverdome
October 25	Sheffield, England	City Hall
October 26	Bristol, England	Colston Hall
October 27	Birmingham, England	NIA
October 29	London, England	Alexandra Palace
October 30	Manchester, England	O2 Apollo
October 31	Glasgow, Scotland	Clyde Auditorium
November 2	Brussels, Belgium	Ancienne Belgique
November 3	Lille, France	Zenith
November 5	Toulouse, France	Zenith
November 6	Lyon, France	Halle Tony Garnier
November 8	Paris, France	Zenith
November 9	Rouen, France	Zenith
November 10	Rennes, France	Liberte
November 12	Bremen, Germany	Pier III
November 13	Mulheim An Der Ruhr, Germany	RWE Arena
November 14	Berlin, Germany	Columbiahalle
November 17	St Petersburg, Russia	Oktiaborski
November 19	Moscow, Russia	Crocus City Hall Expo, 3rd Pavilion
November 26	Mt Pleasant, Michigan	Soaring Eagle
November 27	Huntington, W Virginia	Keith Albee Theatre
November 29	Verona NY	Turning Stone
November 30	Albany, NY	Palace Theatre
December 2	Atlantic City, NJ	House of Blues
December 3	Bridgeport, CT	The Klein
December 5	Kingston, ON	K-Rock Centre
December 6	Kitchener, ON	Centre On The Square
December 7	Oshawa, ON	GM Centre
December 9	Merrillville, IN	Star Plaza Theatre
December 10	Erie, PA	Warner Theatre
December 12	Cincinnati, OH	Taft Theatre
December 13	Atlanta, GA	Cobb Energy Center
December 14	Orlando, FL	Hard Rock Live
December 15	Hollywood, FL	Hard Rock Live Arena

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises

Taylor Swift to Release SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR - LIVE, Concert CD/DVD & CD/Blu-Ray Set, on November 21st

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 21, 2011  -- Four-time GRAMMY winner Taylor Swift has awed critics and fans around the globe this year with the Broadway-inspired extravaganza that is her SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR performance, and today she announced that CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray sets of the show will be available in stores and at online retailers on November 21st, the day before the U.S. tour wraps with the second of two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.

Sold as a CD/DVD or CD/Blu-ray combo-pak, the SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR - LIVE set will be released on Big Machine Records.
Taylor made the announcement this morning with a special video greeting to fans, watch here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFoOCZeKgzQ

Taylor is both the Academy of Country Music's and Entertainment Weekly's reigning Entertainer of the Year, and currently holds an Entertainer of the Year nomination among her five 2011 CMA nods.
This year, Taylor's tour will have played to capacity crowds in stadiums and arenas over 98 shows in 17 countries spanning three continents, and the SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR has been extended into 2012 with shows in Australia and New Zealand. For fans who weren't able to land a coveted ticket to see Taylor's Speak Now Tour, as well as for everybody who's ready to see the show again and again, the SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR - LIVE set is the best seat in the house.
SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR - LIVE is Big Machine's first release of live music from Taylor. The DVD / Blu-ray will give fans the complete Taylor Swift Speak Now concert experience, showcasing performances of all 17 songs from Taylor's Speak Now show ("Sparks Fly," "Mine," "Story of Us," "Our Song," "Mean," Back To December," "Better Than Revenge," "Speak Now," "Fearless," "Last Kiss," "You Belong With Me," "Dear John," Enchanted," "Haunted, "Long Live," "Fifteen," and "Love Story"), plus additional bonus content. The CD will contain over 75 minutes of music, including live versions of favorites from the Speak Now album.
Taylor's SPEAK NOW performance is a theatrical presentation reminiscent of a Broadway experience. The show features elaborate costumes, dancers, aerialists, changing sets, and innovative choreography and instrumentation showcased on a multi-level stage. Taylor plays five different guitars in the show, including electric, acoustic, and 12-string. She also plays two banjos, the ukulele and the piano, and changes costumes nine times over the course of the evening. She moves around the venue and uses different stages, giving every audience member a great seat.
Here is what some of the top critics from around the globe had to say after seeing Taylor's Speak Now Tour:
"Swift's two-hour production was an overwhelming experience. There's an enormous amount of detail that worked to make the Speak Now Tour a sort of next step in country concert presentation…it blended the pacing, the music and the artist's personality in a way that transfixed." -- Billboard
"Right from the start Taylor's voice was as enchanting and lovely as on her album. Taylor Swift live is even more impressive than on her albums -- her wonderful personality, sweet voice, and most of all her amazing songs gave Forest the time of its life." -- CJP, Belgium
"Taylor Swift charms Korea in style, radiant...with pitch-perfect and sincere vocals. The dedication of the fans present was boundless, the cheers of the crowd were sometimes louder than the music itself." -- Korea Focus Times
"['Speak Now'] went off, as did every number, with clockwork professionalism and thousands of voices singing along and screaming between the lines. Ms. Swift, 21, is their superstar....her songs are taut, tuneful narratives." -- The New York Times
With sales of over 5 million copies worldwide, Taylor's Speak Now album is the #1-selling album in all genres of music over the past 12 months, and the disc has thus far spawned three consecutive #1 singles. Taylor's worldwide record sales exceed 20 million albums and 40 million song downloads.
About Big Machine Records: Scott Borchetta founded independent label Big Machine Records in September 2005 and serves as its President/CEO. In its first year Big Machine scored its first #1 single, placed five singles in the Country Top 30, received a nomination for Record Label of the Year, and placed all of the label's new artist releases in the Top 10 Most-Played New Artists of 2006 (as monitored by Mediabase and reported by USA Today and Country Aircheck). In 2010 Big Machine was named Country Label of the Year by Country Aircheck Magazine/Powered by USA Today for the second consecutive year. Also in 2010, Big Machine's signature artist Taylor Swift's third album, SPEAK NOW, became the best-selling Country studio album debut of all time with over 1 million units sold in its first week. Big Machine Records' current artist roster includes Multi-Platinum superstars Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts as well as hot newcomers Steel Magnolia, Eden's Edge and comedienne Melissa Peterman. In just 6 years, Big Machine Records artists have received multiple GRAMMY, CMA, ACM, American Music Awards, CMT Music Awards, Teen Choice Awards, MTV Video Music Award and People's Choice Award accolades as well as Brit Award and JUNO Award nominations. Big Machine Records is now one of three labels under the Big Machine Label Group umbrella which also includes Republic Nashville and The Valory Music Co.
SOURCE Big Machine Records

SLEEPER AGENT #2 MOST ADDED AT

MEDIABASE ALTERNATIVE ROCK CHART

BAND CURRENTLY ON THE ROAD IN SUPPORT OF THEIR FORTHCOMING MOM+POP MUSIC DEBUT, CELABRASION DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 27TH

September 21, 2011 - Los Angeles, CA - Bowling Green, KY natives and Rolling Stone "Band To Watch" Sleeper Agent are tied for Number Two Most Added on the Mediabase Alternative Rock Chart with Foster The People and Death Cab For Cutie, and one spot behind Coldplay. The band is currently on the road in support of their forthcoming riotous debut album, Celabrasion, due out physically on September 27th via mom+pop music. The album is already available digitally on iTunes: (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/celabrasion/id446228684) and all digital retailers.

Early champions of the album, SPIN, described the album as, "A dozen deliriously catchy gems... the sound of high fives and Makers Mark spilling from the speakers." Celabrasion was produced by Jay Joyce (Cage The Elephant, The Whigs) and reflects the easy camaraderie in the band.

Sleeper Agent specializes in crafting hook-laden scuzzy garage-pop rooted in both soul and Southern rock. Citing the musical influence of The Strokes, The Pixies, T-Rex, and Jay Reatard, the band describes their music as akin to "The Ronettes on speed." "We just want people to listen to the music and have fun," says guitarist and vocalist Tony "Tutone" Smith.

In regards to the album's debut single "Get It Daddy," My Old Kentucky Blog said, "this raggedy rouser chugs out of the garage firing on all cylinders, crazy legs and rubberneckin like so much foam over the rim, up in your grill with a level of unmitigated joy rarely heard since Jack and Meg go so serious... Keep your good eye on these kids, and good luck getting' this one removed from the old cranium."

Recently deemed "Buzzworthy" by MTV, Sleeper Agent is Tony "Tutone" Smith (guitar/vocals), Alex "Kidd" Kandel (vocals), Justin "Keyser" Wilson (drums), Lee "Grizzlee" Williams (bass) Scott "Saga" Gardner (keyboard) and Josh "Junior" Martin (guitars).

Sleeper Agent Headlining Dates

09/21 - Denver, CO - Moe's

09/24 - Bakersfield, CA - Jerry's Pizza

09/25 - San Diego, CA - Che Café

09/27 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Theater

09/29 - Portland, OR - Portland State University

09/30 - Eugene, OR - University of Oregon

10/02 - Seattle, WA - Vera Project

10/04 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow's

10/05 - San Francisco, CA - Brick and Mortar

10/08 - Salt Lake City, UT - Gallivan Center

10/10 - Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep

10/14 - Pensacola, FL - Deluna Festival

Support Dates with Circa Survive

10/16 - Louisville, KY - Expo Five

10/18 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live!

10/20 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground @ Showcase Lounge

10/21 - Northhampton, MA - Pearl Street

10/23 - Sayerville, NJ - Starland Ballroom

10/25 - Farmingdale, NY - The Crazy Donkey

10/26 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory

1/19 - Miami to Cozumel - The Weezer Cruise 

Get It Daddy - Sleeper Agent (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

www.sleeperagentmusic.com