Aerosmith Tour Program

Today's tour program is from the first time I saw Aerosmith in concert. This show was in Edmonton in 1988 on their Permanent Vacation tour with White Lion opening. Aerosmith was excellent as they were touring for the last decent album they have put out. So glad I saw them on this tour. White Lion were awful.

The tour program I have isn't in the greatest of shape, a drink had been spilled on it, how this happened I have no idea, cause there were no drinks available at this show, maybe after. Not really sure. This might even be my brothers,lol. Nonetheless, some pages are damaged. The program is 24 pages with pictures and a story of the history of Aerosmith included.

Front Cover.













Back Cover.

Anthrax Tour Program

Today's tour program is from the Anthrax "Among The Living" tour in 1987-88. I saw Anthrax on this tour in Edmonton in 1988 when they opened for KISS. Anthrax kicked ass for this show, they blew KISS away.

The tour program is 20 pages in length and includes all kinds of photos with funny captions, tour dates and a breakdown on each members musical gear, plus a discography which also includes singles. Damn cool program.

Front Cover.















Back Cover.

Billy Joel Book Review

I just finished reading the book "Billy Joel The Biography" by author Mark Bego that was published in 2007, whom has wrote many other unauthorized biographies. I've always been a fan of Billy Joel, but didn't really know a whole lot about him. So when I saw this book for cheap, I picked it up. I now know why this book was so cheap. While I did learn a few things about the man. The book comes off as a cut and paste type of book, with lots of quotes from other interviews and publications. I mean he even uses stuff from National Inquirer, ya, there's a good resource.

The second half of the book seems to really focus on ex-band members, but especially Liberty DeVitto who played drums for Billy Joel for decades then to only be left out of the band for no reason. Billy seemed to do this to a lot of his old band members. After becoming very successful, Billy never did pay his band members appropriately, taking most of the riches himself. Billy comes across as a very grumpy guy who never took the time for the people whom helped him become so successful in his music career. If it wasn't for the ex members of his band speaking out, there wouldn't be a whole lot to write about here.

The book is poorly written, with the author repeating himself not only through out the book, but he often does it in the same chapter, but he does it on the same page too. Seems like the book wasn't proof read or had an editor. I wouldn't recommend this book unless you can find it for dirt cheap. There is only one other book I know about, written about Billy Joel "The Life and Times Of An Angry Young Man" by Hank Bordowitz. Be nice if Billy himself would just write a book, hell it would be even better if Billy Joel would write a new album and put out some new music. It's been since his 1993 album "River Of Dreams" that he has put out an actual album with vocals.

Motley Crue Tour Program

Today's Tour Program is from the first time I saw Motley Crue in concert. This program is from the Theatre Of Pain Tour I saw in Edmonton in 1985 with Autograph opening. I was really looking forward to this show but have to say it was horrible, both bands sucked. This was the Crue at there glammiest, as you can see from the pictures in the program.

The program is 25 pages in length with each member of the band doing a questionnaire, with questions like "favorite Crue song", "favorite movie and TV show", "All time favorite album", "favorite drink" and so on. Some of the answers are interesting. Also in the program is Motley Crue trivia and of course all kinds of pictures. Actually it is a pretty cool program to look back on.

Front Cover.

















Back Cover.

Iron Maiden Tour Program

Today's Tour Program is from the second concert I ever went to. It was the Iron Maiden and Twisted Sister double bill in December of 1984 in Edmonton. This was also the first tour program I had ever bought. Iron Maiden were touring for their Powerslave album, the tour was called the "World Slavery Tour".

The program is 25 pages in length with again lots of pictures and write up from their manager Rod Smallwood talking about their previous tour and the recording of Powerslave. I love the cover of this program.

Front Cover.













Back Cover.





In concert news...Iron Maiden will be playing in Edmonton on Friday July 27 at Rexall Place with opening band Coheed And Cambria.

Robert Plant Tour Program

Today's memorabilia is the Robert Plant concert program I got from his 1988 Now And Zen tour which was dubbed The Non Stop Go Tour. This was the first time I had seen Robert Plant in concert. I saw him twice on this tour, once in Vancouver in the summer then in Calgary in the winter. I don't recall at which show I bought the program at.

The program is twenty-five pages in length with a story about Robert Plant's solo history and profiles on each member of Robert Plant's band at the time, there are also lots of pictures of them in Morocco and live shots from them playing a warm up show at the Marquee Club in England.

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Back Cover.

Murder By Death in Edmonton 03/31/2012

Saturday night my buddy Hurl and I went to New City Legion to see Bloomington, Indiana band Murder By Death headline a show with openers Big John Bates from Vancouver and local band Fire Next Time.

We got there early as I really wanted to see Fire Next Time play. I had seen lead singer James Renton play solo a few times and was looking forward to seeing him play with the full band (Fire Next Time). They didn't disappoint, playing a rocking 40 minute set. The band consists of James on acoustic guitar and vocals (this guy can play and sing) the guitar takes a beating while he plays and the man can sing, lots of emotion and heart, very impressive. A mix between an angry Steve Earle and William Elliot Whitmore. Also in the band and sounding great are Ryan Mick on lead guitar, Laine Cherkewick on banjo, Mikey McCaffrey on bass and rounded out by the big guy on drums Randall Thurman who bangs the drums like a young John Bonham. For an opening band they had a great turn out with a lot of people there early to see this band. The only complaint I have, was I thought the banjo could have been a little higher in the mix.

Fire Next Time.



James Renton of Fire Next Time.





Next on the bill were Vancouver band Big John Bates, led by of course John Bates on guitar and vocals with Bill Dozer on drums and Brandy Bones on the stand up bass. This was my second time seeing them live within the past year. I don't have a whole lot to say about them. Just not really a fan of there mesh of psycho billy blues music. The crowd seemed to really enjoy them, but if it weren't for Brandy on the bass looking good and her antics. I'm not so sure they would be as popular as they are. Not a fan.

Brandy Bones of the Big John Bates Band.



The headliner of the evening were Murder By Death to a packed venue by this time. This was my second time seeing them as well, having seen them open for Gaslight Anthem a few years ago. I was impressed with them then, and to see them play an intimate venue like New City Legion was going to be a treat. With a name like Murder By Death, you might expect a heavy thrash/death metal band, but not here. This is an awesome band that plays a moody country, rockabilly, blues/rock style of music. It's actually kind of hard to describe what they sound like, other then to say they are a very interesting sounding band. Lead singer and guitar player Adam Turla has a unique voice which suits these songs wickedly, Sarah Balliet adds a unique sound as well on cello,(not that I could see her from where I was standing) one of the few rock bands I am sure that incorporates cello in to there music, Dagan Thogerson on drums was good as was Matt Armstrong on bass and Scott Brackett on keyboards and accordion. While I have liked there albums, they are a much better band live. Some of the songs I recognized were "Pizza Party" a short song, "You Don't Miss Twice (When You Shave With A Knife)", "Steal Away", "Ball And Chain" and a cover song of Golden Earing's song "Radar Love". I was blown away by Murder By Death this time and look forward to seeing them again.

While I like the venue, unless you are in the very front of the stage it is damn hard to see anything other then the top of the musicians heads, being in a basement this club, it's got a very low stage cause of the low ceiling. Also, why the venue would leave the big screen and the couple of TV's on showing skate boarding videos while the band is playing is beyond me. That's just plain stupid and lacks respect towards the bands you have booked at your venue. No one was there to watch videos. All and all though, a great night of music. Good times!!!

Murder By Death.







T-shirt.