SUNSET STREET ARTIST PAYS IT FORWARD IN INGENUITY
We noticed the curious graphic above on the back of a Sunset Strip stop sign and thought it was cool. Later, we randomly spotted it again in another format and were truly impressed.
Ingeniously, the mystery artist adhered the graphic to a fence in front of the legendary Sunset Tower hotel, dissecting it so that it organically forms into a cohesive image as you pass by. Priceless! Check it out below.
PAUL DI’ANNO, THE ‘KILLER’ VOICE THAT LAUNCHED IRON MAIDEN, IS SET TO COVER THE ICONIC METAL BAND’S EARLY CLASSICS AT THE WHISKY JAN. 20
If you were too stoned in the late ’70s/early ’80s or are one of those youngins who didn’t know that iconic British metal band Iron Maiden had a badass frontman before Bruce Dickinson, you should make a New Year’s resolution now to check out Paul Di’Anno at the Sunset Strip’s world-famous Whisky A Go Go on January 20.
Before Dickinson first rocked the mic for Maiden on 1982’s groundbreaking heavy metal masterpiece The Number of the Beast, and just after the band’s first two vocalists, Paul Day and Dennis Wilcock, bailed, Di’Anno fronted Maiden from 1978 through 1981 and managed to crank out a small but awesomely impressive collection of albums. Before rock and roll debauchery and personality conflicts within Maiden led to Di’Anno and the band parting ways, he set the foundation for Iron Maiden’s success with the now-classic albums Iron Maiden and Killers and the live EP Maiden Japan.
Di’Anno released his memoir, The Beast, in 2010 and has forged ahead as a solo artist as well as a frontman for various hard-rock bands, including Praying Mantis, Battlezone and Killers.
More recently, Di’Anno has signed on as a special guest vocalist on ex-Ozzy Osbourne Band shredder Jake E. Lee‘s upcoming solo album, due in 2013.
Aside from Lee’s project, the singer hasn’t released new material since Battlezone’s 2001 album Cessation of Hostilities. Di’Anno did, however, release a cool compilation of his early work with his famous former band on the 2010 collection The Early Iron Maiden Songbook.
All things considered, it sounds like Di’Anno’s Whisky show on January 20, which is part of his worldwide “Running Free Again Tour,” is going to be a very loud and awesome sonic stroll down memory lane during his Iron Maiden years.
We can’t think of a more rockin’ way to reminisce. Get details on the Whisky show here.
STREET ARTIST BECCA MIDWOOD ART-BOMBS WEHO & LEAVES BEHIND SEXY HIPPIE CHICKS READY FOR THEIR CLOSE UP
Austin-based artist Becca Midwood has been busy over the past few months art-bombing her way across the country, gifting cities with some very cool original art, including the large, colorful painting above, which we discovered recently in West Hollywood. The colorful life-size foxy lady covers a door on a shop across the street from the legendary Troubadour, near Santa Monica Boulevard and Doheny.
We spotted another original piece by Becca earlier in the summer, when we posted about her smokin’-hot hand-painted art that still adorns the side wall of the Sunset Strip’s Viper Room. Other work — both street art and murals commissioned by the Viper Room — have covered the wall on Larrabee Street over the past few months, but Becca’s sexy image of a scantily clad rocker chick and her tattooed pink pal have remained untouched. Today, it sits beneath a huge mural of ex-Viper Room owner Johnny Depp. Check it out below.
See more of Becca’s L.A. area creations at Unearth Street Art and check out her interview with The Hundreds for the stories that influenced her hip and sexy pop art.
BIG B DROPS SMOKIN’ NEW TRACK, ‘NOTHIN’ TO PROVE,’ ONLINE
Taking a break from finishing up his new album, Fool’s Gold, hip-rock hooligan Big B dropped a preview of it online via HipHopDX. On Dec. 1, the music website premiered “Nothin’ to Prove,” a tight track with enough attitude to topple Fort Knox.
The Vegas-based rapper is currently recording his follow-up to 2011’s Music for Misfits. And by the sounds of it, “Nothin’ to Prove” hints that Fool’s Gold holds the same weight as its rockin’ predecessor.
On the new album’s debut track, B unapologetically drops stories about his history of crime and rhyme and delivers another groovy and gritty ode to drinkin’, dissin’ and dropping awesome outlaw anthems. There’s a whole lotta cool sounds — from cosmic synth lines to rock percussion — going on in the track, melding seamlessly with B’s killer delivery and destroying any haters along the way.
Listen to “Nothin’ to Prove” at HipHopDX. Big B plays The Whisky Dec. 27.
We’re still rockin’ Music for Misfit’s breakthrough hit, “Before I Leave This Place.”
‘I LOVE THIS CITY’: WEHO’S ROXY THEATRE GETS COLORFUL WITH BADASS NEW CANVAS BY L.A. ARTIST ANNIE PREECE
The Sunset Strip continues to champion the electric and eclectic work of cool local artists with the latest addition to its ever-changing roster of urban art that dots the world-famous Boulevard.
Los Angeles artist Annie Preece, a San Francisco transplant, explores the esoteric and bizarre side of the City of Angeles in a wild and wonderfully offbeat painting that’s currently rockin’ a wall of The Roxy. See more of Annie’s awesome art here.
AEROSMITH AND WHISKY SERVED ON SUNSET
We were stoked recently while rolling the Sunset Strip and randomly stumbling upon iconic band Aerosmith rockin’ the Whisky A Go-Go — even if it was only via huge posters that cover the exterior walls of the equally legendary rock club. Spotting the awesome art hyping the band’s latest release, Music from Another Dimension, put a whole new rock and roll swagger in our walk.
WARNER DRIVE DEBUTS NEW SONG, ‘KING OF SWING,’ WHILE GIVING HOUSE OF BLUES A CRASH COURSE IN HOW TO ROCK
Never say Monday nights in L.A. are boring because local buzz band Warner Drive proved that it just ain’t so. The five-piece power-rock band shook the amps at the Sunset Strip’s House of Blues on December 3 with a spectacular set from their arsenal of original arena-ready rock songs. The band also premiered an awesome new track from WD’s upcoming third studio album, due out in early 2013.
Frontman Jonny Law, sporting a NOFX T-shirt, set things off with the melodic rocker “Ok K-Go” from WD’s latest release, K-Go!, and immediately had the packed venue moving and grooving with a frenzied fervor of rock and roll ecstasy that would make Fat Mike proud.
Confident that they have the chops to keep the crowd amped for the band’s entire set, Warner Drive choose to crank up its signature song, “The Scarecrow,” early in its set, and judging by the audience’s enthusiastic reaction and sing-along, it was apparent that most of the crowd was here for WD, which was opening for Steel Panther.
Warner Drive rounded out its set with nearly a half-dozen tracks from K-Go! and a few more from the band’s 2005 debut, Fully Loaded, before showcasing a rockin’ new tune, “King of Swing,” which Law penned as a tribute to his dad, who, he mentioned, recently passed away from leukemia.
“But this isn’t a sad song,” Law said before launching into the anthemic rock jam whose chorus promises that “everything is gonna be alright” and proves that Warner Drive – which also includes bassist Elvis James, drummer Jonny U and guitarists Ryan Harris and Candice Levinson — is only getting more awesome with each gig.
BIG B TAKES A BREAK FROM RECORDING NEW ALBUM TO HEADLINE THE WHISKY DEC. 27
The Whisky A Go-Go has the perfect remedy for anyone trying to shake those lame holiday songs outta their cabeza by bringing rap-rock renegade Bryan “Big B” Mahoney to the Strip on December 27 for an all-ages show.
Big B has been active lately, tweeting about the progress he’s making on his long-awaited follow-up to last year’s stellar breakthrough Music for Misfits, his seventh and unarguably best studio release in an already impressive arsenal.
If the Upland-born performer’s Whisky visit is even half as awesome as his Viper Room stint last November, it should be a smokin’ show — and even better if Big B decides to debut some new tunes.
Get ticket info. for the December 27 Whisky show, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m., here.
Check out the Vegas transplant “hunting for hits” in his latest video update from the studio, which he tweeted on November 30.
SUNSET STRIP FAVES WARNER DRIVE TO ROCK H.O.B. WITH SURPRISE SHOW & PRE-PARTY WITH FANS, DEC. 3
Great news for L.A. music fans looking for something a bit more exciting than sitting around listening to stale Christmas carols and re-watching It’s A Wonderful Life for the zillionth time on Monday night. Instead, why not get your face rocked off by some full-throttle, straight-forward original rock and roll by local faves, Sunset Strip refugees Warner Drive?
Frontman Jonny Law and the band have just confirmed a last-minute gig filling in as the opener for Steel Panther at West Hollywood’s House of Blues on Monday, December 3. Warner Drive is slated to rock the main stage at around 9:30 p.m.
Fresh off its first European tour, the L.A. band is working on its third studio album and will be showcasing some new tunes from the 2013 release! (Although, we’ll never get tired of hearing “The Scarecrow” or “OK K-Go” from WD’s latest album, K-Go, and the badbass ballad “Broken” and “Viper Room” from their debut, Fully Loaded!)
Plus…it gets better! The House of Blues is hosting a pre-party for Warner Drive in the club’s upstairs VIP lounge, the Foundation Room. Fans can inquire about the pre-party when they show up and will be directed to the WD bash. Doors open around 8 p.m.
Check out Warner Drive’s Facebook page for all the details. See you at the show!
SEEING BON JOVI FOR FREE AS THEY ROCK THEIR BIGGEST HITS ON A COOL RAINY NIGHT IN HOLLYWOOD? PRICELESS, FOR SURE!
Rock stalwarts Bon Jovi gave an AMAZING show in the rain last night at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, where the band played for a few hundred diehard fans lucky enough to get free tickets through MasterCard’s Priceless campaign. Saturday night’s downpour failed to dampen spirits at the outdoor gig beneath Paramount’s famous water tower.
JBJ and the band opened with “Nowhere Highway,” setting a course straight to their biggest hits and proceeded to rock a million — or a few hundred — faces for about an hour and half. The band hit the mark on every track from “Living On a Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name” to “It’s My Life,” “Two Story Town” and “Who Says you Can’t Go Home” before closing with “Bad Medicine.”
The non-stop drizzle seemed to increase the excitement, providing a spectacular visual, and with all the fevered audience-participation singing and hands to the sky as the rain poured down, it kind of felt like a rockin’ religious revival. Just how we like it!
MasterCard offers fans a chance to check out Bon Jovi’s Paramount show for free until December 31. Get details here.
METALLICA LAUNCHES BLACKENED RECORDINGS, DEBUTS FULL TRAILER FOR CONCERT DVD QUEBEC MAGNETIC
On November 30, Sunset Strip refugees-turned-global superstars Metallica took to the band’s official website to update fans on its latest project: Blackened Recordings, its new vanity label.
“As of today we have taken ownership of all of our master recordings, and Blackened Recordings will be the home of all of our current albums and videos along with all future releases, including the December 10 release of the Quebec Magnetic DVD and Blu-ray,” the band posted on its homepage.
“Forming Blackened Recordings is the ultimate in independence, putting us in the driver’s seat of our own creative destiny. We’re looking forward to making more music and getting it all out to you in our own unique way.”
Just prior to the Blackened announcement, earlier this week the band debuted the rockin’ full trailer for their concert film Quebec Magnetic. Check it out above!
VIPER ROOM ATTEMPTS TO LURE JOHNNY DEPP BACK TO SUNSET WITH FACEBOOK CAMPAIGN & ROCKIN’ RETRO MURAL
West Hollywood’s world-famous rock joint Viper Room is turning — wait for it…20 years old next year! Two decades! In L.A., 20 years practically qualifies you for the senior special at the local Denny’s. Where did the time ago?!
To celebrate the 2013 milestone, the Viper Room team is hoping to lure back the hot spot’s famous former co-owner Johnny Depp to partake in festivities and possibly break some strings again jamming on the VR stage.
Expectedly, a “Bring Johnny Back” Facebook campaign has been launched in hopes of getting the superstar actor-musician back on the Strip.
“The goal of this page is to bring back our beloved founder for a special ceremony honoring the Viper Room’s continuing legacy,” writes the VR crew on the page, where they promise “to celebrate with a year’s worth of amazing shows and special events highlighting the best of the best bands and artists who have graced our stage.”
As of Nov. 30, the Facebook page had approximately 750 likes, including SunsetandClark’s. Let’s hope it happens!
Check out Depp and opening night headliner Tom Petty talking about the Viper Room’s 1993 debut on the Sunset Strip, below.
METALLICA’S ROBERT TRUJILLO DEBUTS MORE DETAILS ON UPCOMING JACO PASTORIUS BIO DOC
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo – who turns 48 today – has been inspiring young musicians since joining the mega-band in 2003, and even before, during his stints with Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy Osbourne.
Now, the musician is paying tribute to his main influence, bass legend Jaco Pastorius (pictured), with a new rock documentary, tentatively titled Jaco, that Trujillo debuted with a sneak-peak at last weekend’s Bass Player LIVE! industry event in Hollywood.
“Jaco was my hero growing up,” Trujillo told USA Today earlier this year, when he announced that he was financing the film, which is being directed Stephen Kijack. “Hearing him was like hearing Eddie Van Halen doing ‘Eruption’ for the first time.”
Trujillo reportedly produced a special teaser clip of his doc for the Bass Player LIVE event, which honored Pastorius with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.
Speaking of musical influences: On the night he died in 1987 following a violent encounter with a club bouncer, Pastorius spent the earlier part of the evening crashing Carlos Santana‘s set at a Santana concert, only to be kicked off the stage and out of the venue…and into that fateful fight.
A release date has not yet been set for Jaco. Trujillo will also be seen in Metallica’s 3D concert film in 2013.
RUNAWAYS ROCKER CHERIE CURRIE DROPS DETAILS ON FIRST SOLO RELEASE IN THREE DECADES
Legendary Sunset Strip rock refugee Cherie Currie posted a Facebook update late Tuesday about her long-awaited new album, which was due in 2011 but had been pushed back indefinitely…until recently.
The Runaways singer’s last release was 1980’s Messin’ with the Boys, a polished pop-rock follow up to her 1978 solo debut, Beauty’s Only Skin Deep. Recorded with her twin sister, Marie Currie, Boys includes the dynamic duo’s killer cover of the rock classic “Since You Been Gone.”
“Just got home from another mixing day on my new record… IT’S SO F-ING FANTASTIC!!!!” Currie posted on October 9. “Never in my wildest DREAMS did I think is would be THIS AMAZING!! Thom Panunzio is mixing it. Yes, the legend and Matt Sorum has done an absolutely incredible job making this record! I’m SPEECHLESS! Thank you Kenny Laguna for getting Thom involved in what will be the greatest album I have ever participated in!! We are releasing the beginning of next year!!!”
Can’t wait to hear the new material, which Sorum has previously revealed will feature guest spots by his Velvet Revolver bandmates Slash and Duff McKagan and Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.
AFTER STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT AT CULTURE COLLIDE, ARGENTINA’S THE KAVANAGHS ARE SET TO ROCK THE WHISKY OCTOBER 13
So, what do four guys from Argentina who were raised on equal parts Beatles, Beach Boys and Badfinger know about playing authentic powerhouse British and American rock?
Well, as Rosario-based band The Kavanaghs proved at L.A.’s Culture Collide music fest this past weekend, a helluva lot!
In fact, when it comes to music, these guys speak the language loud and clear, effortlessly infusing Sixties Brit and American classic rock stylings around memorable original English-language songs that reinvent contemporary rock and roll without disrespecting its past.
The quartet was part of Culture Collide’s four-day (Oct. 4-7) multi-bill lineup of some of the best new bands from around the world. And all that global creative energy and vast array of music styles combusted in an amp-shaking showcase of great sets by an eclectic mix of artists that included Sweden’s Icona Pop, Britain’s The Wombats, Poland’s Coldair and New Orleans’ Royal Teeth, which had the parking lot packed and jumping along to its groovy set.
However, it was The Kavanaghs’ rockin’ show on Sunday that won the weekend.
The band — frontman/bassist Tiago Galindez, drummer Sebastian Cairo and guitarists Alejandro Pin and Diego Vazquez — ripped through a tight set of tunes from its first two albums, including the stellar summer release Love Conquers Pain.
The cool rush of fast and furious tracks like “That’s All You Need to Know,” the badass Beatles-esque anthem “Friday On My Mind” and the addictive “Need a Pity Day” filled the room at Taix with a steady stream of curious indie-music fans that danced and nodded their heads straight through to the stellar set closer, “Tonight,” the first single from Love.
Los Angeles rock fans get another opportunity to catch the band’s killer live show, at the world-famous Whisky A Go-Go on October 13, before the band heads back to Argentina to record its next album.
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