Thousands of Rockers & Film Fans Join Hollywood Celebrities at Premiere of

San Diego-based 3D producer PassmoreLab, in conjunction with the Johnny Ramone Army, has confirmed that the iconic rocker’s memorial tribute was the largest ever, with approximately 3,000 fans showing up to pay homage to the guitarist and witness the World Premiere of “Night of the Living Dead, Now in 3D!” during the 5th Annual Johnny Ramone Tribute, which took place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 3, 2009.

Ramones’ guitarist Johnny Ramone created the enduring template for punk rock guitar. With his blazing power chords and brutal licks energizing Ramones’ classics like “Blitzkrieg Bop”, “Rockaway Beach” and “Sheena is a Punk Rocker”, Johnny inspired generations of punk bands until his untimely death from prostate cancer in 2004. His annual tribute, now in its fifth year, takes place at the foot of his 8 ft. memorial bronze statue inside the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Attending Hollywood celebrities and rockstars included actress Rose McGowan, actress Rosanna Arquette, actress PJ Soles, actress Virginia Madsen, actors David Arquette and Vincent Gallo, Sex Pistol’s Steve Jones, musician Pete Yorn, X’s Billy Zoom, radio personality Joe Escalante of the Vandals, Stan Lee of The Dickies, the Ramones’ Tommy Ramone, CJ Ramone and many more.

“This year’s event was spectacular and turned out to be everything we’d hoped for,” said John Cafiero, Chief of Staff of the Johnny Ramone Army. “It was just a great night all around. The event was rich and diverse as a whole and so was the crowd. Commandos assembled from all over the world and it was the biggest turnout we’ve ever seen at the annual Tribute. I think Johnny would be proud.”

The event was a fundraiser with net proceeds benefiting the Johnny Ramone research fund at USC Westside Prostate Cancer Center lead by Dr. David Agus.

Fans enjoyed a full evening of Rock ‘N Roll and movie magic in both 2D and 3D with a vintage 1977 Ramone’s concert film “It’s Alive”; the rarely-seen “Rock ‘N Roll High School” original theatrical trailer, which was introduced by special guest PJ Soles, the original Riff Randall from the film; “Night of the Living Pinheads”, a unique clip from the “Ramones RAW” DVD where the band is seen in South America and their van is being mobbed by adoring fans fittingly intercut with shots from “Night of the Living Dead”; a rare memorabilia exhibit; an art show of original paintings by the legendary Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone; opening featurettes of animated music videos from the Johnny Ramone Army and the world premiere of Osaka Popstar’s “Wicked World” 3D video; NVIDIA’s new 3D Vision presentation of the horror game “Resident Evil 5”; and never-before-seen 3D photos of Johnny Ramone himself.

The evening concluded with the 3D World Premiere of George Romero’s original 1968 cult classic “Night of the Living Dead, Now in 3D!”, produced by PassmoreLab, and was superbly introduced by actress and JRA affiliate Rose McGowan, a close friend of Ramone for many years.

“We had a huge turnout! What can I say? It was for the love of Johnny Ramone, a great cause and fantastic entertainment,” reflects McGowan. “Johnny would’ve been thrilled that so many people love & respect The Ramones.”
“The movie looked great in 3D,” said Greg Passmore, president of PassmoreLab. “We took great care restoring and converting it, and I am very pleased with the outcome.”

“Night of the Living Dead”, one of the greatest low budget cult movies ever made and originally shot in black and white over 40 years ago, was painstakingly restored, colorized and converted, frame by frame into full 3D using Passmorelab’s proprietary technology.

“It was great to see this all come together,” said James Humann, producer at PassmoreLab. “We are fans ourselves, and were happy to be a part of such an amazing event!”

Gibson Guitar Offers Colorful Assortment of High-Quality Guitars for All Personalities for the Holiday Gift Giving Season

Gibson Guitar, the world’s premier musical instrument company and leader in music technology announced a selection of ultimate gift giving guitars for this holiday season. Whether you’re a metal-head and your favorite musician makes an axe scream like Zakk Wylde or someone who wants a more refined instrument like the Les Paul Standard or Studio guitar or maybe you like swingin’ grooves of the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and Gibson USA’s Zoot Suit SG guitar, Gibson has designed guitars that are each timeless and with an abundance of character. Some of the offerings this holiday season include:

THE SG ZOOT SUIT BY GIBSON USA

Adding a splash of color to the Gibson electric guitar family, the new SG Zoot Suit embodies the excitement of jazz “zoot” style. Featuring a slick body made of multiple birch wood laminate pieces, each died a different color, bonded and finished with two coats of satin lacquer to form one naturally flawless block of wood, the Zoot Suit will ignite any performance. A favorite of The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’ Steve Perry, this new model comes in five pinstripe color combinations which highlight Gibson’s traditional rounded profile and legendary 496R and 500T pickups.

MSRP: $1,999

Visit http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-USA/SG-Zoot-Suit/Overview.aspx for more info.

ZAKK WYLDE GRAVEYARD DISCIPLE & BFG LES PAUL “BUZZSAW”

Raise the dead with the Zakk Wylde Graveyard Disciple guitar by Epiphone. Combining killer sound with a striking, coffin-shaped body of solid Mahogany, a neck of hard maple with a smooth satin finish, the Graveyard Disciple is perfect for hard rock or metal. Customized by Five-Time Most Valuable Metal Guitarist, Zakk Wylde, this unique model is just dying to be played and includes a customized, Coffin™ hard case.

Designed with and approved by Gibson legend Zakk Wylde and Gibson USA, The Buzzsaw, features BFG appointments, a 50´s profile neck, Book matched Maple Top, Chambered body, super hot EMG 85 and 81 model pickups, jumbo frets designed specifically to meet Zakk´s demanding playing style and looks that have this guitar screamin’ before you even plug it into a monster sized, city-leveling stack.

GRAVEYARD MSRP: $1,499

BFG MODEL MSRP: $3,331

Visit http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/graveyard-disciple-819/ for more info.

*Under license from Coffin Case Company

GIBSON ACOUSTIC SONGWRITER DELUXE STANDARD

The Gibson Acoustic Songwriter Deluxe Standard is designed with superior levels of guitar features and benefits to acoustic players around the world. The guitar has a clean even-grained AAA-grade solid Sitka spruce top with elegant abalone rosette, and finished in an antiqued natural lacquer that gives this instrument a striking golden-toned hue. It also bears a gorgeous sculpted modern Dove-style pickguard created by the division’s master luthier. The Songwriter Deluxe Standard delivers a higher level of performance and tone. The performance and studio needs of today’s professional players is also addressed by the addition of Fishman’s Aura Ellipse Pickup system which reproduces the natural sound. Many other exclusive features make this Gibson Acoustic an innovative, legendary model from the division in Bozeman, Montana. Gibson Acoustic also produces the Songwriter Deluxe Studio, Songwriter Deluxe Custom and the famous Gibson Hummingbird.

MSRP Songwriter Deluxe Standard: $4,083

Visit: http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/songwriter-deluxe-standard/

TONY IOMMI G-400 BY EPIPHONE

The Epiphone Tony Iommi Signature G-400 Electric Guitar is what you want for hardcore, heavy hitting sound. Classic SG attitude is enhanced with mother-of-pearl cross fingerboard inlays, black chrome hardware, and a matching black finish on the solid mahogany body. The slim-tapered mahogany neck is fast and the Gibson USA Tony Iommi pickups put out the firepower required for maximum destruction. The Locktone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add sustain and make string changing easier.

MSRP: $999

Visit: http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Epiphone/Tony-Iommi-G-400.aspx for more info.

GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD & GIBSON LES PAUL STUDIO BY GIBSON USA

A true classic, Gibson’s first solid body guitar remains the standard for the music industry. Since 1952, the Les Paul Standard has shaped the sound of popular music and become known as an icon in its own right. The Les Paul custom continues to provide the rich, versatile tone it is famous for, lending itself to all styles of music. The 2008 Standard’s alterations have refined this proven classic to make it more playable than ever. An enlarged neck tenon and a new asymmetrical profile enhance comfort for the player and custom-made gold plated Bourns potentiometers add clarity and power to the sound. Additionally, locking Grover tuners improve gear ration 18:1 and the addition of the Plek computer-controlled set-up works to eliminate buzz and enhance overall experience playing the Les Paul. Available in a dozen colors, the classic is a powerful addition to any musician’s collection. Les Paul’s Studio guitar, another classic from Gibson USA, sings with simplicity, combining tremendous performance with a classic look. Including a carved maple top, solid mahogany back and genuine Gibson humbucker pickups, the Les Paul Studio is one of Gibson’s best-selling instruments.

STANDARD MSRP: $3,889

STUDIO MSRP: $1,799

Visit http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-Studio.aspx or http://www.gibson.com/en-us/divisions/gibson%20usa/products/lespaul/2008-standard/ for more info.

SIMPLICITY MEETS 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY: THE ROBOT LES PAUL JUNIOR SPECIAL BY GIBSON USA

If you are a technology addict looking for the ultimate guitar, the Robot Les Paul Junior Special is the best holiday gift ever. Featuring proprietary technology and advanced features unprecedented in the musical instrument manufacturing industry, the Robot Les Paul Junior Special guitar meets every demand a player has. Constructed from mahogany, the average weight is 5.21 lbs. The MCK, the control knob with the illuminated top – serves as the master control for all aspects of the guitar’s amazing self-tuning system. The Neck CPU is the genius little device responsible for receiving and processing the data signal from each individual string and feeding it to the Powerhead Locking Tuners which then tune the guitar. The guitar also features the highest value potentiometer allowing for smooth transitions from highs to lows. At the core of the Robot Les Paul’s pioneering technology is a lithium rechargeable battery system which keeps the Robot guitar going for approximately 200 tunings.

MSRP: $2,775

Visit: http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Robot-Les-Paul-Jr-Special.aspx

GIBSON CUSTOM LES PAUL AXCESS STANDARD

The Gibson Les Paul Axcess by Gibson Custom carries all of the elegant styling, fluid body lines and rocking attitude of a classic Les Paul Standard from the golden era of the late 1950s. Upon closer examination, however, you will find many substantial modifications made in the name of maximum playability and versatility. Everything about this Les Paul has been designed to make it a player’s guitar. From the easy access to its upper range to the comfortable belly scarf to the Floyd Rose vibrato, the Gibson Custom Les Paul Axcess Standard was designed to give optimum performance.

MSRP: $5,292

Visit: http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/spotlight-on-lp-axcess/ for more info

THE RETURN OF THE REVERSE FLYING V

Gibson has turned the legendary Flying V — and the guitar world along with it — upside down with the release of the Reverse Flying V. The greatest guitar makers in the world have handcrafted a small number of Reverse Flying Vs for another very limited run of these flame-throwing cult classic collectables. For those who missed it the first time, here is one more chance to grab an amazing Reverse Flying V from Gibson USA. If there is this much demand for them now, think what they will command when they are vintage.

MSRP: $999

Visit http://www.gibson.com/promotions/reverseflyingv/ for more info.

ROY ORBISON “PRETTY WOMAN” EPIPHONE ACOUSTIC

Write the next American classic with the new limited edition “Oh, Pretty Woman” 12-string acoustic guitar. Based on Roy Orbison’s original 1962 Epiphone acoustic, this faithful reproduction features a solid spruce top, mahogany back, rosewood bridge and vintage tuners. This new edition of an iconic acoustic is modeled after the guitar that helped Orbison craft one of the most recognized riffs in music. Featuring the notation for the first measure of “Oh, Pretty Woman,” on the back of the guitar’s headstock; this limited edition includes a hard case with Roy’s signature and “sunglass” icon, a certificate of authenticity hand-signed by his widow and son, a black & white photo of Roy with his original 12-string, a “sunglass” lapel pin and a copy of the “Oh, Pretty Woman” sheet music.

MSRP: $1,332

Visit http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=1493 for more info.

EPIPHONE AJ-500M MASTERBILT

Epiphone revives the prestige of its 1930s guitars with the new Masterbilt Acoustic Series. These new flat-top guitars feature all solid wood construction and a distinctive 1930s-style “offset notch” peghead shape with historic Epiphone script logo and mother-of-pearl stickpin inlay. It is the ultimate acoustic guitar for the musician looking for quality, performance and value.

MSRP: $832

Visit: www.epiphone.com

More information and hi-res images about all of the above products and more can be found at www.gibson.com/press.

About Gibson Guitar:

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson’s HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar, the Gibson Robot Guitar and Gibson’s Dark Fire represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo , Michigan , and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Baldwin, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com.

Johnny Ramone’s Tribute to be Memorialized in New Documentary

San Diego-based 3D producer PassmoreLab, in conjunction with the Johnny Ramone Army, has confirmed that the legendary rocker’s memorial tribute will be filmed for a as-yet-untitled documentary during the previously announced 5th Annual Johnny Ramone Tribute, which will take place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 3, 2009.

Ramone’s annual tribute, now in its fifth year and attended by thousands of fans, takes place at the foot of his 8 ft. memorial bronze statue inside the cemetery.

The Hi-Definition 2D documentary will be worthy of the rockstar and will focus on capturing the raw, emotional, and endearing moments of the 5th Annual Johnny Ramone Tribute — a day-long rock-icon tribute event attended by thousands — as told by the people who were there: his loyal fans, trusted comrades, and the attending celebrities and rock musicians Johnny influenced through his storied career.

Ramone, who created the enduring template for punk rock guitar with his blazing power chords and brutal licks, energized Ramones’ classics like “Blitzkrieg Bop”, “Rockaway Beach” and “Sheena is a Punk Rocker”. Ramone inspired generations of punk bands until his untimely death from prostate cancer in 2004, at age 55.

The film will capture all the action from the event as it happens — celebrity guests and speakers in attendance; autograph signings with sole surviving founding member, Ramones drummer & producer Tommy Ramone, and CJ Ramone; a rare memorabilia exhibit; an art show of original paintings by the legendary Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone; opening featurettes of 3D animated music videos from the Johnny Ramone Army and Osaka Popstar; and never-before-seen 3D photos of Johnny Ramone himself.

The evening will continue with a 2D version of the original “Rock ‘N Roll High School” theatrical trailer, which will be introduced by special guest PJ Soles, who appeared in the classic film decades ago; and “Night of the Living Pinheads”, a rare clip from the “Ramones RAW” DVD where the band is seen in South America and their van is being mobbed by adoring fans.

The filming and the evening will conclude with a vintage Ramones concert shot in 1977 entitled “Its Alive” and the 3D World Premiere of George Romero’s original 1968 cult classic “Night of the Living Dead, Now in 3D”, produced by PassmoreLab, and introduced by actress Rose McGowan.

“Johnny’s annual tribute has become such an awe-inspiring event. We’ve started showing Johnny’s favorite movies and paired them with vintage Ramones concerts each year,” said John Cafiero, Chief of Staff of the Johnny Ramone Army. “This year, we are doing the same with ‘It’s Alive’ and premiering one of his all-time favorites with ‘Night of the Living Dead, Now in 3D’. Capturing the tribute on film for the first time will be a great time capsule and a real testament to the power of Johnny’s legacy, and the timeless legacy of the Ramones. It’s very exciting and will be a lot of fun for the fans to be such a big part of it too.”

The documentary has been an inspiration for everyone involved, including the film-makers.

“We are honored to be a part of this tribute, and as filmmakers, we felt obligated to capture this moment in time so future generations can experience it as it happened” said Steve Glum, PassmoreLab’s head of Branding & Distribution. “The journey of so many fans, young and old, to be present at an event like this is proof of Johnny’s ever-enduring spirit, and we are thrilled to co-produce this film with JRA.”

“Every year after the tribute, I always feel bad that there’s nothing to remember it by. This year there will be,” said Linda Ramone, wife of the legendary guitarist and founding member of the Ramones.

The 5th Annual Johnny Ramone Tribute and World Premiere of “Night of the Living Dead, Now in 3D” event are open to the public for a $10 per person minimum donation entrance fee with net proceeds benefiting the Johnny Ramone prostate cancer research fund at USC Westside Prostate Cancer Center lead by Dr. David Agus. Gates for the event will open at 5:30pm, and picnic dinners, drinks (including alcohol), pillows, blankets and small chairs are permitted. Attendees of the event will get free commemorative 3D glasses upon entering.

The 5th Annual Johnny Ramone Tribute documentary will be released on DVD at a future date.

Wolfgang’s Vault and The Original Retro Brand Introduce “The Roots of Rock” Clothing Line

Wolfgang’s Vault (http://www.wolfgangsvault.com) and The Original Retro Brand have joined forces to create and launch an exclusive design portfolio called “The Roots of Rock.” This collection will feature interpretations of the iconic imagery of the greatest music, moments and venues from the past five decades of rock. The line of vintage-inspired men’s and women’s apparel will be in stores in the Fall of 2009.

Wolfgang’s Vault is known for its iconic rock imagery and vast catalog of live music recordings. The poster art owned by Wolfgang’s Vault represents historic, often hand-rendered colorful and stylized artwork originally created to promote concert events since 1965. This collection of poster art was the inspiration from which the companies have created the “Roots of Rock” designs.

Eric Johnson, President and COO of Wolfgang’s Vault said: “We are incredibly excited to be working with The Original Retro Brand to launch these new products. The quality of their team and their past success made them a perfect partner for us. This line will create a collection of wearable art that we hope will appeal to music fans of all ages.”

“Wolfgang’s Vault’s imagery is remarkable,” says Marc Herman, CEO of The Original Retro Brand. “The blend of timeless art with legendary rock and roll history is unparalleled. The “Roots of Rock” collection provides the ideal opportunity to use our luxury retro apparel as canvases for these tremendous graphics. We have searched for the right music property for quite some time, and have finally found the perfect fit.”

About The Original Retro Brand

The Original Retro Brand (“ORB”) is a privately held company founded in January 2007 by apparel industry veterans of 25 years, Marc Herman and Rick Schwartz. The company is a high-end sportswear company for men, women, boys and girls, based in the historic Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles, California. The Original Retro Brand designs and manufactures collections with leading sports entities including The College Vault and over 150 major universities with the Collegiate Licensing Company, National Hockey League, Minor League Baseball, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Harlem Globetrotters. ORB has also developed an extensive non-sports selection, including the well-known cartoon brands of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Whatever it Takes celebrity art collection, Retro Chevron Gasoline Art, and now the launch of Wolfgang Vault’s “Roots of Rock”.

The Original Retro Brand manages brands in apparel categories through select high-end department stores and premium boutiques nationwide, including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Dillard’s and Fred Segal. Further information is available at www.originalretrobrand.com

About Wolfgang’s Vault:

Wolfgang’s Vault is the online destination for live music and the world’s largest collection dedicated to live concert recordings and vintage music memorabilia. What began in 2003 with the personal archives of famed promoter Bill Graham now includes 12 different archives. Music fans find free music streaming online here with thousands of concert recordings from the last 50 years, digital downloads, as well as vintage rock posters, rock photos and vintage concert t-shirts available for purchase “Where Live Music Lives.”TM www.wolfgangsvault.com

Woodstock 1969 – 2009 – 40 Years Later Wayne Rogers the Port O San Man Is Still Living The Dream

Forty years later, that tall hippie, Wayne Rodgers, is not only alive and well (“life is good”, he often says); but he’s a walking, talking treasure trove of stories of the hippest generation. Take his Woodstock Story (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdZTFTGnw3w): It begins two weeks earlier, at the Atlantic City Pop Festival, where he and his friend Angel, hiding behind the stage because they just let hundreds of ticketless people in by taking a side gate off its hinges with a crescent wrench, agree to help the Festival Group load some sound equipment into a truck. For their efforts, they wind up with a paying gig at Woodstock, three days of fun and music, very little sleep, one random encounter with a camera crew, and a helicopter ride back to the hotel in Monticello while Jimi Hendrix is playing on Monday morning. Wayne’s stories, though, began years before Woodstock, hanging out on the streets of Georgetown in the 60’s, where everybody in the know knew him as Turkey. He was there at Wisconsin and M Streets protesting when the American Nazi Party marched through Georgetown, and wound up in a holding cell with 18 of them. Twenty blocks away, in a fit of exuberance and revolutionary spirit upon hearing Jefferson Airplane’s “Volunteers” for the first time, it seemed like a good idea to toss a few firecrackers onto the White House lawn. The Secret Service was not amused. In some ways, it’s like Wayne never left the 60’s. As mentioned in the August 9th Washington Post Style section article, he lives a few miles outside Woodstock, though it’s the one in Virginia, not New York. He sports a long white beard that would look at home in ZZ Top, rides a Harley, wears a “Say No to Hate” button wherever he goes, and is going to give you a big hug when he meets you. For the past 20 years, he’s run a 501(c) non-profit, Coalition Against Hunger, http://www.FeedThePeople.org to feed those who have fallen through the cracks of society. Wayne considers this a continuation of what the hippies were trying to do in the 60’s: take care of each other and make the world a better place. Wayne’s appearance as the Port-O-San guy certainly didn’t bring him fame or fortune, and the notoriety he achieved seemed to be mostly with cops all over the country, who for the next few years all wanted to be able to brag to their friends that they’d messed with that hippie from the movie. The world has changed a lot since then, and a lot of the change came about because of what happened in the 60’s. The hippies didn’t achieve their dream of a world of peace, love and understanding, but they helped move us all in that direction. The hippest generation is disappearing, dying early because of their lifestyle, and when they’re gone, we’ll have only the Hollywood version of the 60’s. But as long as there are people like Wayne Rodgers around, people who lived the hippe life and lived to tell about it, the dream will continue to live. You can catch up with Wayne at several charity events where he will be helping to raise money for causes that are near and dear to his heart. Hungry For Music (http://www.hungryformusic.org) is one such non-profit organization that donates musical instruments to underprivileged children. Hungry For Music is holding a motorcycle raffle (http://www.piratebikebuild.com) for a Sturgis built custom Chopper dubbed the Pirate Bike which will be raffled off at the Night of 100 Elvises on December 5th. Look for Wayne and the bike at the event and be sure to pick up a few raffle tickets to support this worthy cause. You may even be lucky enough to hear about the original Woodstock stories from the Port-O-San Man himself.

Return to Woodstock: A 40th Anniversary Celebration with the Creator of the Poster that Rocked a Generation

International Poster Gallery announces an extraordinary event with Arnold Skolnick, designer of the iconic 1969 Woodstock poster, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Woodstock Festival. Mr. Skolnick will be on hand at the Gallery to sign both original Woodstock posters and a new original limited edition poster created by the artist for the 40th anniversary. The new poster is a time capsule in and of itself and cleverly references the original poster as well as the era of psychedelic posters in a modern way.

 

 

 

The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place at International Poster Gallery, 205 Newbury Street in Boston, on Thursday, August 6th from 5:00pm to 7:30pm, and will feature a talk by Mr. Skolnick at 6:00pm. RSVPs are requested at Woodstock(at)InternationalPoster(dot)com. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday noon to 6 pm. Call (617) 375-0076 or visit http://www.InternationalPoster.com for information.

 

Skolnick’s Woodstock poster played an essential role in the success of the largest rock festival of the Sixties, an event that was as famous for its freedom from violence as it was for its unparalleled musical line-up. The poster perfectly expressed in one symbol – a dove perched on a guitar – what Woodstock was about. Despite the need for lengthy text, the poster was graphically succinct and struck an enduring chord with a generation and indeed the world.

 

The poster’s text is also a treasure trove of juicy memorabilia – the $18 3-day ticket price, the list of performers from Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, The Band, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joan Baez and many others, as well as “dozens of curious food and fruit combinations to experiment with”.

 

The original poster was no accident. Skolnick was a talented Madison Avenue advertising director and was skilled at hearing what a customer wanted and needed. Mr. Skolnick recalls, “The client said he wanted the event to be ‘peaceful, three days long and a lot of music’ so that’s what I gave him.” His design was the perfect solution to a licensing problem that required the festival to be relocated at the last moment from Walkill to Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, New York. The psychedelic and countercultural tone of the aborted venue’s initial poster was replaced by a more subdued and peaceful message so the event would not be banned again– thus creating a unique rock poster for the ages.

 

Jim Lapides, owner of International Poster Gallery, comments: “Little did I know last year that finding some original Woodstock posters would lead to one of the most exciting events anywhere of the 40th Anniversary Woodstock celebration. We have a front row seat to hear how the greatest rock festival came to be from the man who created the ‘face of the event’. I can assure you that Arnold’s insight and homespun sense of humor will make for a very memorable evening.”

 

Last year, International Poster Gallery acquired a small cache of original Woodstock posters. These authentic 1969 posters will be available for signing by Mr. Skolnick at the gallery. The artist has also created a beautifully printed 40th Anniversary silkscreen especially for this event, printed in a limited edition of 285 signed and numbered posters. It is offered at the event for $200 and thereafter for $300. This poster is exclusively available through International Poster Gallery and cannot be acquired elsewhere.

 

In addition to gallery shows and special events, IPG’s award-winning website, http://www.InternationalPoster.com offers the largest, most comprehensive online collection of fine vintage advertising posters in the world. Originally launched in 1998, the site now contains nearly 5,000 images accessible through a powerful search engine.

I’ve got the music in me

 I’m fortunate enough to have been born into a musical family. My father’s mother is a descendant of the opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi. My mother loves Broadway and opera tunes and is always singing around the house. My grandfather was a musician and had his own band. My father tells me that he would perform every Friday night. He also taught piano lessons and even had a stint teaching at Julliard. He was supposed to write songs for Tony Bennett but Bennett changed managers and that was the end of that. I took piano lessons from him when I was a young girl. Unfortunately, I was a stubborn know-it-all who didn’t want to listen to my “old” grandfather. I regret my actions and wish I had embraced his wonderful musicianship. I didn’t realize how talented he was until I was a teenager. I liked popular “Top 40” music, circa mid-1980s. By then I was active in the choir and took voice lessons, which probably suited me better anyway. I went to his house for dinner one time and brought a few song sheets from some of the popular singers at the time. One of them was a song from Lionel Richie called “Hello.” I asked if he would play the song for me so that I may practice singing. He started playing a few bars of it and grimaced. He told me it was absolute garbage and turned the sheet over. He finished the song adding in his own style, and it actually sounded better his way. He never heard the song before yet he could play it after only hearing the first couple of bars. To me, that’s just incredible. I gained a greater appreciation for my grandfather and even more appreciation for music that day. My siblings also influenced my taste for music. I remember borrowing Carole King’s “Tapestry” album from my sister Amy. I listened to that album every day as a kid singing off the top of my lungs. My brother liked rock music so I gained an appreciation for the darker side of music with bands such as Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, and Black Sabbath. My mother encouraged my love for the theatre, and I participated in all the school musicals. After high school, I started dating a guy who was a guitar player and he introduced me to different types of rock music, particularly progressive rock. He didn’t stay for long but my love for the music certainly did. (It’s funny how people come and go yet the affects they have on you are everlasting!) Now, one of my favorite artrock groups is Renaissance, and living in Colorado, I don’t get to Annie Haslam’s shows anymore since she usually performs in the Mid-Atlantic region. I went on to study at the Theatre of Arts in Los Angeles, but grew frustrated of the lifestyle and became home sick. While I was there, I got exposed to the metal side of music and started listening to Guns & Roses and others like them.  I took guitar lessons and actually thought about joining a band. However, I stopped taking lessons. I actually regret doing it and have started tinkering with my guitars again. I’m always humming or singing a tune. I feel free when I listen to songs. My mind wanders and I can be anyone, anywhere. Living in Colorado provides me the opportunity to attend concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which is one of the nicest places to see/hear a concert. Just being out there among the stars and the monoliths listening to my favorite music is awesome!

Beatallica Wants You To Blow Up! Blow Up For The Mystery Tour: New Studio Album From Beatallica, On Oglio Records

Those inglorious bastards, Beatallica, the only rock band in the world legally approved to bash up The Beatles and Metallica into new original masterpieces returns August 4th with the brand  new studio album, Masterful Mystery Tour, on Oglio Records, a Fontana/Universal distributed label. Masterful Mystery Tour is the official follow up to Sgt. Hetfield’s Motorbreath Pub Band, the album that owes its initial legal existence to the coolness that is Lars Ulrich with the official blessing from the Metallica camp. Recorded on the heels of their All You Need Is Blood EP and the Drinkus Maximus World Tour, Beatallica along with their producer and engineer Flemball Rasmartin, have hit their stride for maximum awesomeness, taking their sound to a whole new blistering level.

 

Beatallica’s technically brilliant musicianship and uncanny ability to craft two polar opposites into new unique must hear songs continues to separate them from the pack. Beatallica is Jamyz Lennfield (Vocals/Guitars), Kliff McBurtney (Bass), Ringo Larz (Drums) and introducing the newest member Grg III (Lead Guitar). There is also a first ever guest guitar appearance on four tracks from the one and only Diablo Mysterioso. The first single and video from Masterful Mystery Tour is the blazing “Hero of the Day Tripper”, ripping up Metal Radio right now. Beatallica fans, otherwise known as Beatalli-bangers, are expected to be out in force for the 2009 World Tour that kicks off August 4th.

 

For all things Beatallica including press photos, cover art, lyrics, and tour dates, visit

Oglio.com, (http://www.oglio.com) Beatallica.org (http://www.beatallica.org), Facebook.com/Beatallica (http://www.facebook.com/beatallica) and Myspace.com/Beatallica (http://www.myspace.com/beatallica)

 

Masterful Mystery Tour Track Listing

1) The Battery Of Jaymz And Yoko (4:32)

2) Masterful Mystery Tour (3:27)

3) Fuel On The Hill (3:54)

4) And I’m Evil (2:43)

5) Everybody’s Got A Ticket To Ride Except For Me And My Lightning (4:46)

6) Running For Your Life (3:33)

7) The Thing That Should Not Let it Be (5:04)

Hero Of The Day Tripper (3:22)

9) Got To Get You Trapped Under Ice (2:36)

10) I’ll Just Bleed Your Face (3:12)

11) I Want To Choke Your Band (2:06)

12) Tomorrow Never Comes (3:55)

Tools ‹ Sirens of the Sonic Age — WordPress

Tools ‹ Sirens of the Sonic Age — WordPress.

Tommy Gallagher and his Incredible Friends

Kick out the jams with Tommy Gallagher and friends ©

By Connie J. Schlosberg

Tommy Gallagher’s Incredible Friends’ music kicks off with a punch.  Self-described as a “Seasoned, Professional, Fun loving Jamband,” Tommy provides an innovative sound to some great favorites.  Their rendition of the Allman Brothers jazz-influenced instrumental “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” is phenomenal.  Versions of “Little Wing” and “Cosmic Ray” are remarkable.  Their approach is unconstrained, unhindered expression of complete freedom for the music.

Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Tommy got together with award winning guitarist/vocalist Michael Reese, bassist Kim Stone, a five-time Grammy nominee, former Spyra Gyra alumni and current member of the Rippingtons, and drummer Lenny Campanaro, the formerly of Badfinger, Iron Butterfly and his own band Private Life in the autumn of 2007.  Both individually and collectively these guys rock the house.  No need for fancy showmanship – the music speaks for itself.  A vision of true musicianship!

You can listen to a sampler at www.myspace.com/tommygallagher.com.  I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

 

Upcoming Shows

ACID JAZZ JAM ‘WE’RE BACK’ Sunday, June 7, 2009, 8:30 PM Hosted by Kim Stone The Ancient Mariner 962 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO

For more information on Tommy Gallagher and his Incredible Friends, please visit:

http://www.tommygallagher.net

http://www.myspace.com/tommygallagher