Burger King seems to think birthday cake is passé. Instead, to celebrate its 70th birthday, the chain is offering fans the chance to try some birthday pie.

Voting is underway for the RockinTown Hall of Fame Class of 2025 to be Announced in December. View the Complete Nominees List & Vote for a Hall of Fame Nominee After Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and especially Alice Cooper, it seemed as though Rock had gone as far as it could. Wrong! Heavy Metal went further, faster and harder, often with violent or satanic imagery.Beginning in ’73 Judas Priest featured the twin guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing and along the way they found Rob Halford’s roaring vocals. Over their career they had five drummers before Scott Travis joined in ’89. Ian Hill handled bass. Their first release was on the Gull label in ’74 but it wasn’t until ’77 that they had their first major label release “Sin After Sin” which was produced by former Deep Purple bassist, Roger Glover.Throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, Judas Priest released approximately an album a year including “Unleashed In The East” in ’79 and “Screaming For Vengeance,” featuring the title track, in ’82. The latter perfectly illustrated why they were the premier Heavy Metal group. Tipton, Downing and Halford composed most of the songs. Critics dismissed them as nothing more than a grunting, churning band specializing in recycled Zeppelin riffs. However, despite the critics, and perhaps because of them, Judas Priest became both a major act recording and concert draw. In ’93, a disillusioned Halford left Judas Priest to briefly front Black Sabbath and work with Pantera before launching Fight and later, Two. He also sang the national anthem on opening day of the Arizona Diamondback’s ‘ 98 season. Judas Priest continued by hiring Tim “Ripper” Owens as lead singer. Owens, an Ohio native, was a massive Judas Priest fan and had worked in a tribute band. He did a competent job as the group resumed their recording career. But when push came to shove, Owens was unceremoniously dumped as Judas Priest reformed, with Halford, for an ’04 world tour that included an Ozzfest stint. As this was going on, the group went into the studio to record “Angel Of Retribution.”With a handful of landmark albums released from over twenty, Judas Priest was the best full-on Heavy Metal band. To prove the point, they released the four-disc career retrospective “Metalogy” with a live version of “The Hellion” and “Electric Eye.”Judas Priest unleashed “Nostradamus” in June, ’08. The limited edition deluxe double album was housed in a 48-page hardbound book package with an insert containing an exclusive code for one free general admission ticket to see Judas Priest on the summer’s Metal Masters Tour. “Nostradamus” became the group’s highest charting effort on the Billboard 200 album chart selling about 42,000 units in its first week of release to land at #11. ‘05’s “Angel Of Retribution” only made it to #13.“The Hellion” (the opening track on “Screaming For Vengeance”) was used in a ’10 commercial for the Honda Odyssey van. If a classic Judas Priest song had to be played in a car commercial most fans thought the track would be better used promoting a faster, sleeker car – not a van. But obviously that was the point. Downing’s retirement was announced in April, ’11. Differences with the band, management and a breakdown in their relationship led to the decision. Guitarist Richie Faulkner was named Downing’s replacement. But just a year later, Priest was ready to park it (sort of). They played the final show of their “Epitaph” tour to a sold-out audience at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. According to Priest, the “farewell” tour was their last extensive world tour – but not their last shows. To prove there was still life in the beast, Judas Priest’s 17th studio album, “Redeemer Of Souls,” arrived in ‘14. “From start to finish, ‘Redeemer Of Souls’ is 18 songs of pure classic Priest Metal,” claimed Tipton. Sadly, Tipton’s days were numbered. Priest announced, via Facebook in ‘18, that Tipton would be absent from their upcoming tour due to Parkinson’s disease. Tipton was diagnosed with the early onset of Parkinson’s ten years earlier.   “Firepower,” the group’s 18th studio album was the first since ‘88’s “Ram It Down” to be produced by Tom Allom and the first with Andy Sneap as co-producer. Sneap was also the subject of a controversy when Downing insinuated that Sneap played Tipton’s guitar parts during the making of the album.  Tipton was also “shocked” that he wasn’t invited for Priest’s tour.  Halford said the statement was “a thousand percent false.” Downing later disavowed the claim. With that minor controversary settled, there were more important issues at hand… namely the worldwide Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  Advised to maintain social distance and told to shelter-in-place (their homes) people hit the stores to stock up – and often over stock on “vitally important” items.  This trend led Halford to post a video PSA asking fans to the do the right thing. “If you go out, don’t buy everything. Don’t be a toilet paper hoarder. Don’t be a kitchen roll hoarder. Don’t be a hoarder of any sort, because we’re all in this together,” stated Halford. As the pandemic subsided, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has inducted Judas Priest… after the band had been eligible for 23-years. Reunited with guitarist K.K. Downing and drummer Les Binks, Priest performed a three-song medley of “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” “Breaking The Law” and “Living After Midnight” at the Hall of Fame ceremony (11/5/22) at the Microsoft Theater in L.A. With Alice Cooper handling the honors, Rob Halford (vocals), Ian Hill (bass), Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums), along with Downing, Binks and late drummer Dave Holland were officially inducted. Cooper called Priest the “the definitive Metal band.” Priest kept rolling with their ’24 release “Invincible Sheild.”  The album’s lead single was “Panic Attack” followed by “Trial By Fire,” “Crown Of Horns” and “The Serpent And The King.” “It sounds like a young bunch of metal heads banging it out,” stated Halford. “This (album) has got probably some more progressive elements that we’ve never really delved into before,” added guitarist Richie Faulkner. “And that’s exciting, because, again, it gives us and our fans another opportunity to see a different side of Priest.” The album was produced by the band’s touring guitarist Andy Sneap, who also produced ’18’s “Firepower.” ### The post Judas Priest: 2025 Hall Of Fame Nominee appeared first on RockinTown.

Blink-182 is the story of a cancer survivor, UFO enthusiast and a publicity maven.Blink formed in Poway, CA. After releasing an EP and a couple of indie CDs, “Buddha” and “Cheshire Cat,” Blink found there was an Irish band with the same name. On top of that, the Irishmen had lawyers and were ready to use them. So Blink became Blink-182. The name change did them good. They spent 1996-97 on the Warped Tour being embraced by the skaters, surfers and snowboarders.“Dude Ranch,” rolled out in ’97 and captured the attention of MCA Records. Now stardom beckoned. But there was a bump in the road. Blink-182’s original drummer, Scott Raynor, abruptly departed. As a result, Travis Barker who was touring with his band, the Aquabats, was asked to fill in. In approximately two hours Barker learned Blink-182’s set, some twenty songs, and hit the stage that evening. Having won Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge’s undying appreciation, Barker was asked to join, which of course, he accepted. “Enema Of The State” arrived in the summer of ‘99 and was still going strong a year later led by the brilliant tracks “What’s My Age Again” and “All The Small Things.” “The Mark, Tom And Travis Show,” an ‘00 live set featuring their hits and pre-fame material, came next. “Take Off Your Pants & Jacket” was released the following year and continued the group’s hot streak. After a break for side projects Blink-182 took a slightly different tack on their self-titled ’03 release. Whether due to the album’s negative reception, internal disputes or just plain weariness, Blink-182 ceased. There was some backbiting between DeLonge and Hoppus but little else. Post Blink-182, DeLonge founded Angels & Airwaves. That kept him occupied but not nearly at Barker’s level. His marriage to former Miss USA Shanna Moakler was featured on MTV’s Meet The Barkers (‘05 – ‘06). Predictably, the marriage hit the skids in ’06 which more or less put an end to the series. Barker was on firmer ground as part of Box Car Racer with DeLonge and +44 with Hoppus, among numerous other projects.On September 20th, ’08 Barker landed (hard) in the news. He was seriously injured following a concert in West Columbia, SC when his plane, a Learjet, crashed off the runway due to a blown tire. Four people died but Barker and his musical partner DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) survived by sliding down the craft’s wing. Both were listed in critical but stable condition. “My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened . . . well, I’m just thankful to be alive,” said Barker.Following Barker’s near-death experience, it was DeLonge who had the change of heart. Having not talked to Hoppus since ‘05’s acrimonious split, DeLonge contacted Hoppus and Barker.Blink-182’s ’09 tour was their first in four years. It was clear they were taking things more seriously. “We used to walk onstage and forget our parts – we just wanted to play fast and look cool,” said Hoppus. “This time we want to be a little more artistic.”If a reunion tour goes well (or at least well enough), the next logical step is recording.Selling 151,000 copies in its debut week, “Neighborhoods,” landed at #2 on the Billboard 200, behind chart topper J. Cole (who sold 75,000 more units).A five-song EP, “Dogs Eating Dogs,” debuted at #23 on the Billboard 200. It went to #3 on the Billboard’s Independent Albums chart, #5 on the Rock chart and #2 on the Alternative Albums chart. When things should have been going smoothly, DeLonge had a falling out with his bandmates. Barker (pictured) stated that DeLonge’s “indefinite” departure from Blink-182 should be “definite.” “I think the right thing for him to do would (be to) just man up and quit the band. I think that would give him some closure (so he could) really do what he’s passionate about.” Barker also asserted that Punk was just a ‘phase’ for the guitarist. DeLonge subsequently left. Less than two weeks later, Blink-182 performed their first show without DeLonge. In his place at the Roxy in West Hollywood was Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba. Blink-182’s seventh studio album, “California,” dropped as the group embarked on a supporting tour. The album went to #1 in the U.S. and U.K. The group’s first set to feature Skiba was also their first to top the British chart.  Meanwhile, DeLonge (pictured) received the UFO Researcher of the Year award from the International UFO Congress for his work regarding extraterrestrial life.  In mid-’21. Hoppus revealed that he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for stage 4-A diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.  The treatment concluded later in the year with Hoppus stating the chemo “did the trick.” Hoppus’ cancer treatment led DeLonge to another change of heart. In ’22, the band officially confirmed that the guitarist had returned. Tours of Latin America, North America and Europe preceded the release of the band’s ninth studio album, “One More Time…” The ’23 set contained the title track, “More Than You Know” and “Dance With Me,” a homage to the legendary Ramones and was the first album since “11’s Neighborhoods” with the line-up of DeLonge, Hoppus and Barker. The post Blink-182 appeared first on RockinTown.

“Urgent” started with what sounded like Led Zeppelin’s “Rock N’ Roll” riff slowed down and shot through massive reverb. Then came Lou Gramm’s “urgent” vocals. Instead of a guitar solo there was wailing sax delivered by Soul legend Jr. Walker. A killer track. Also, “Foreigner 4” had the ultimate guitar-destiny song “Juke Box Hero.” It was inspired by guitarist Mick Jones’ experience playing in Johnny Hallyday’s backing band when they were on the same bill as The Beatles in Paris. The song tells the tale of a young lad who can’t afford to get into the show but hears “that one guitar” through the walls. That inspires him to buy a second-hand guitar and eventually become (drum roll please) a “Juke Box Hero.” Prior to “Foreigner 4,” the group’s high-water mark, Foreigner had undergone a major pairing down. Starting as a six-man group. There were three Americans and three Brits, so no matter where they went somebody was a foreigner, hence the name. In three years, starting in ‘77, they released three successful albums. Their self-titled debut was followed by “Double Vision” and “Head Games” (pictured). During this period disco was pervasive. Rod Stewart and even the Rolling Stones tried their hand at finding the disco magic. Not Foreigner. With songs like “Double Vision,” “Hot Blooded” and “Cold As Ice” they were clearly an alternative to the dance wave. By ‘80 both multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald and keyboardist Al Greenwood had split. They were not replaced. That obviously changed the group’s sound. However, Jones, a former member of Spooky Tooth, was smart enough to seek outside help when needed. Tom Dolby added keyboards on “4.” The keyboard drenched ballad “Waiting For A Girl Like You” was such a hit (though it didn’t equal the unique sounding “Urgent”) that Foreigner recorded it again for their follow-up album “Agent Provocateur.” Only this time they called it “I Want To Know What Love Is.” This track employed the talents of Thompson Twin Tom Bailey, Jennifer Holliday and a full-blown choir. On “Inside Information” they went to the ballad well for a third time and called it “I Don’t Want To Live Without You.” It was an obvious step down and reflective of the decline in the quality of material and performance from “4.”Jones was a perfectionist and that drove Gramm up the wall. Doing the takes over and over and over again could take the life out of song. Eventually, Gramm left for a moderately successful, if short-lived, career. Jones continued with a new lead singer but Foreigner never matched earlier accomplishments… even when Jones and Gramm reunited in the early ’90s. ### The post Foreigner appeared first on RockinTown.

Voting is underway for the RockinTown Hall of Fame Class of 2025 to be Announced in December. View the Complete Nominees List & Vote for a Hall of Fame Nominee In every pre-fab Rock outfit there is usually some glimmer of talent. The Runaways, created by producer Kim Foley, to be the female version of the Ramones, featured both Lita Ford and Joan Jett. Despite being big in Japan and recording a Rock version of Martha and the Vandella’s “Nowhere To Run,” the Runaways didn’t live up to their Punk/Rock expectations.On her own, Jett fared far better forming her back up band, The Blackhearts, and creating some hard-edged classics. Like The Pretender’s Chrissie Hynde, Jett was neither victim nor fool. Dressed in black leather with running mascara (caused by working up a major sweat), she was a forceful individualistic Rocker.While Jett was a songwriter, she also had great success with covers, including Sly Stone’s ‘60s peace and understanding song “Everyday People.” Naturally, the original’s soul groove got jacked up. She added a highly suggestive tone to her version of Gary Glitter’s “Do You Wanna Touch Me.” For Tommy James & the Shondells’ dreamy/psychedelic “Crimson And Clover” Jett gave it a harder edge while still retaining the ethereal feeling. One of her best was “I Hate Myself For Loving You.” Not only was this a great guitar driven track it also showed off Jett’s raw-passion vocals. Of course, her signature song was “I Love Rock n’ Roll.”  It was a song that Jett saw The Arrows perform on their weekly TV series while she was touring England with The Runaways. She recorded a version backed by the Sex Pistols’ Steve Jones and Paul Cook. This rendition went nowhere. But three years later Jett took another stab at the song with the Blackhearts.  “I Love Rock n’ Roll” went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 becoming the band’s only #1. In the ‘90s, Jett released an album of Rock covers and joined her former Runaway band mates in a suit over unpaid royalties from Foley and Polygram Records.After an extended hiatus, Jett (and the Blackhearts) returned in ’06, with the 14 track “Sinner,” featuring the anti-Bush single “Riddles.” Once the pandemic lifted (in ’22) Jett & The Blackhearts joined Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard on the massively popular (and long running) stadium tour. ### The post Joan Jett: 2025 Hall Of Fame Nominee appeared first on RockinTown.

#1’s on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart (so far) with the Date, Song Title, Song Link and Artist November 25th: The American Dream Is Killing Me Green Day The lead track from “Saviors” spent eight weeks at #1 (three weeks in 2024) January 20th: A Symptom Of Being Human Shinedown Shinedown’s 19th #1 on the chart is from their “Planet Zero” album. February 17th: Artificial Daughtry The band has had eight entries on the chart in seventeen years but this is their first #1. February 24th: Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark) Papa Roach (pictured above) The ballad, which supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s “Talk Away The Dark” campaign, is the band’s tenth #1 on the chart. March 16th: Dark Matter Pearl Jam PJ returns to #1 for the first time in 26 years. The band last reached the top spot with “Given To Fly” in early ’98. April 13th: The Glass Foo Fighters The Foo’s third consecutive #1 follows “Rescued” and “Under You.” Both topped the chart last year. All three songs are from the band’s eleventh studio album, “But Here We Are.” April 20th: Friendly Fire Linkin Park The song is LP’s 10th #1 on the chart. It was recorded during the sessions for “One More Light” but was not included on the ’17 album. It did land on “Papercuts,” the band’s ’24 greatest hits collection. April 27th: Dilemma Green Day It’s the band’s ninth song to top the chart and their second in a row, following “The American Dream Is Killing Me.” Both tracks are from Green Day’s 14th studio album, “Saviors.” May 11th: I Was Alive Beartooth The second single from “The Surface,” Beartooth’s fifth studio album, replicates “Might Love Myself,” which had a one-week rule last November. The post 2024 Mainstream Rock #1’s appeared first on RockinTown.

Was Robert Smith ever happy? At age fourteen, The Cure frontman, stated his ambition was to “sit on a mountain and die.” Don’t set the bar too high there, Robert. Just a scant seven years later (after failing to locate a suitable mountain) he was quoted saying he “didn’t see that there was much point in continuing with life.” Surprisingly, Smith not only survived the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and even the millennium, he took The Cure right along with him as the group’s only constant. Not surprisingly, Smith’s dour attitude marked the group’s synth/keyboard-based Goth sound.The Cure’s debut, “Imaginary Boys,” issued in ’79, led to touring the U.K. and the Netherlands, often with Siouxsie & The Banshees. Smith performed with The Cure and played guitar for the Banshees when John McKay quit just one stop into the tour. The Cure’s second single, “Boys Don’t Cry” became a minor hit in the U.S.The group’s fortunes improved, if only minimally, with the ’80 release “Seventeen Seconds” and their ’81 effort “Faith.” It was during this period that Smith jelled his hair and applied make-up (eye-liner, shadow and lipstick), a look seemingly lifted from Siouxsie. This “theatrical” appearance became one of the group’s more indelible images. A couple years later, rumors abounded that Smith was on the verge of suicide. Then bassist Simon Gallup quit. This looked like the end for The Cure. If it had been, they would have been remembered, if at all, as a fairly inconsequential early-80’s Wave group. But rather than splinter, The Cure did something fairly remarkable. They tossed off their morbid and gloomy persona and released a succession of cheery (for them) songs: “Let’s Go To Bed,” “The Walk” and “The Lovecats.” Each track did better than the last on the U.K. chart. Two years passed before “The Top,” with Smith playing almost all the instruments, was released. The album was the first to crack the U.K. Top 10 and was also the first Cure album to make the U.S. Billboard chart, albeit barely. In ’85, “The Head On The Door,” featuring “In Between Days” and “Close To Me” did even better. A year later, the compilation “Staring At The Sea” arrived. The group found itself very popular on the continent. “Just Like Heaven,” the third single from their ’87 double album “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me,” became their biggest pop hit to date earning extensive MTV play. The Cure was on a roll. ’89 saw the return of The Cure’s earlier gloom and doom on “Disintegration.” Still, the album generated three U.K. hits (“Lullaby”, “Lovesong” and “Pictures Of You”). In the States the album peaked at #12 and the single “Fascination Street” hit #1 on the Modern Rock chart. The real story was the single “Lovesong” which landed at #2 on the pop chart – the only Cure single to ever crack the Top 10. Smith was now the only original member left. Never mind, ’92 release “Wish” became The Cure’s highest-charting album of all time, reaching #1 in the U.K. and #2 in the U.S., with the worldwide hits “Friday I’m In Love” and “High.” Smith kept The Cure recording and touring with whatever musicians were available, handy or willing. .In an amusing twist Smith appeared as himself on cable TV’s animated South Park (Episode #112). Smith stops Barbra Streisand (yes, Babs) from destroying the world. At the end of the episode, Kyle says “’Disintegration’ was the best album ever!” That should have made Smith happy. ### The post The Cure appeared first on RockinTown.

10 Best Rock Albums Of The Year (So Far) 10. The Black Crowes: Happiness Bastards “(The album is) our love letter to Rock ‘n’ Roll,” noted lead vocalist Chris Robinson. “Rich (Robinson) and I are always writing and creating music; that has never stopped for us, and it is always where we find harmony together. This record represents that.” The lead single was “Wanting And Waiting.” 9. Sleater-Kinney: Little Rope The album, their eleventh full-length studio set, was completed in the aftermath of a deadly car accident involving band member Carrie Brownstein’s mother and stepfather in late ’22. The album contains “Hell,” “Say It Like You Mean It,” and “Untidy Creature.” 8. Bruce Dickinson: The Mandrake Project It’s the Iron Maiden frontman’s seventh solo album and his first since “Tyranny Of Souls“ in ’05. The lead single was “Afterglow Of Ragnarok.” 7. P.O.D: Veritas The set has “Drop,” with a vocal cameo from Lamb Of God singer Randy Blythe, “Afraid To Die,” featuring Jinjer vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk, “I Won’t Bow Down“ and “Lies We Tell Ourselves.” “We’re still here and we’re still creating some of the best music we’ve ever made,” says guitarist Marcos Curiel. “When it comes to heart, grit and soul, P.O.D. is your band.” 6. New Years Day: Half Black Heart The album features “Half Black Heart,” “Vampyre,” “Hurts Like Hell,” “Secrets” and “I Still Believe.” The band’s fifth effort has returning members Jeremy Valentyne and Brandon Wolfe on rhythm guitar and bass, Nikki Misery back playing lead guitar, and new member Tommy Rockoff on drums and vocals. 5. Judas Priest: Invincible Sheild The band’s nineteenth album features the lead single “Panic Attack”; followed by “Trial By Fire.” and “Crown Of Horns.” “It sounds like a young bunch of metal heads banging it out,” stated frontman Rob Halford. 4. Sum 41: Heaven :x: Hell  The double set is presented as the band’s eighth and final album. “We’ve made a double album of Pop Punk and Metal, and it makes sense, noted vocalist Deryck Whibley.”The album features “Landmines” and “Rise Up.” 3. The Black Keys: Ohio Players The album, which is named after the legendary ’70’s Funk group. contains the infectious lead single “Beautiful People (Stay High),” which was co-written by the Keys Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach along with Beck and producer Dan “The Automator” Nakamura. 2. Pearl Jam: Dark Matter The band’s 12th studio album contains the title track. “There’s the melody and energy of the first couple of records,” explained PJ guitarist Mike McCready. “(Producer Andrew Watt) pushed us to play as hard and melodic and thoughtful as we’ve done in a long time.” 1. Green Day: Saviors The band’s fourteenth album includes “The American Dream Is Killing Me” which had an eight week stay at #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart… the band’s eighth #1 on the survey. The set also contains “Look Ma, No Brains” and “Dilemma.” The 10 Best Rock Albums are selected based on lyrics, innovative compositions, a unique approach to the genre, production quality, and public opinion/popularity. The post Best Rock Albums Of 2024 appeared first on RockinTown.

Def Leppard played their first gig in ’78 and were recording the following year. While doing passably well in their native U.K., they didn’t have much impact elsewhere and found themselves stuck in the “opening act” slot. Enter Robert John “Mutt” Lange who had built a reputation as a highly successful producer. His main function was to guide a group through the recording process. “High ‘n’ Dry” in ’81 was Lange’s debut with Leppard and “Bringing On The Heartache” was the standout track. With a successful album Leppard hit the road. But guitarist Pete Willis was having problems with his bandmates and troubles with alcohol. He was fired and replaced by Phil Collen. With Lange producing for a second time, Def Leppard recorded “Pyromania.” With “Rock Of Ages” and “Photograph,” the album was hugely successful. Def Leppard had arrived. And that’s when things started to crumble down. First, Lange who’d been working with The Cars (“Heartbreak City”) and Foreigner (“4”) was not up to taking on a new project when Leppard was ready to record so the band hired Jim Steinman (Meat Loaf). Those sessions failed to yield anything worthwhile. Soon Steinman was let go and the band decided to wait on Lange. In the meantime, drummer Rick Allen, while racing another car on A-57 highway near Sheffield, crashed his Stingray. The impact tore off his left arm and seriously injured his right. At the hospital doctors managed to sow the arm back on only to have to remove it days later due to a serious infection. That might have ended the drummer’s career but Allen, with the aid of computers and a custom-built drum kit, was able to continue. Three years in the making, “Hysteria,” had six singles: the title track, “Animal,” “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Love Bites,” “Rocket” and “Armageddon It.” Commercially, “Love Bites” was the most successful, topping the charts, but “Hysteria” was the best song. Following a downward spiral into drugs, guitarist Steve Clark was found dead by his girlfriend in ’91. He died from a combination of alcohol, painkillers and anti-depressants. Former Dio/Whitesnake guitarist Vivan Campbell was added to the line-up.Produced by the group “Adrenalize” rolled out in ’92. “Let’s Get Rocked” and “Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)” were two reasons the album sold over a million copies.During their ’06 tour, Def Leppard had a backstage area for working on new songs. “It was a mini (drum) kit, mini amps, a tape recorder and sparkly lights,” said Elliot. That led to the nickname the “Sparkle Lounge.”Because nobody could come up with a better name Def Leppard’s ’08 release was titled “Songs From The Sparkle Lounge.” “The whole record has got a great ’70s feel,” said Elliott. “It’s a very different album as we’ve been very adventurous, musically, on certain numbers.”The set’s first single, “Nine Lives” featured Country singer Tim McGraw, who co-wrote the song with Elliott, guitarist Phil Collen and bassist Rick Savage. The track was released as part of a downloadable “track pack” for the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock video game. Allen, drawing on his personal experience, began his involvement with wounded veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Over the years, Allen invited Wounded Warrior Project participants to Def Leppard’s shows and took part in Project Odyssey, an outdoor rehabilitative retreat. Def Leppard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.  But the story didn’t end there. At the end of the year, “The Stadium Tour,” a co-headlining North American trek with Mötley Crüe was announced.  But the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it until 2022.  When “The Stadium Tour” happened, with supporting acts Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Poison, it grossed over $175-million. ### The post Def Leppard appeared first on RockinTown.

From the outset, the Federal Reserve System has represented the politicization of money and banking in the United States. It allows the government to finance its preferred programs with newly printed money and to manipulate the entire structure of the economy with centrally planned interest rates. Discourse about the Federal Reserve is frequently full of myths, dishonest framing, and outright lies. Listen to a press conference by Chairman Jerome Powell or read an article from a major outlet’s lead Fed correspondent and you’re bound to hear at least a few. For instance, it’s common for the financial press to characterize the Fed’s current conundrum as “walking a tightrope.” It’s said that the Fed is working to guide the economy along without tipping it over into either high inflation on one side or a recession on the other. The last couple years, we’re told, saw the economy wobble too far toward the inflation side, with the Fed now attempting to pull the economy back to the thin line of stability without tipping over too far and plunging into a recession. But anybody who actually understands what causes recessions can tell that this framing is, at best, incredibly misleading. The Fed doesn’t prevent recessions, it directly causes them. These days the tightrope analogy contributes to the myth that, while difficult, a recession is possible to avoid. It isn’t. All the Fed can do is delay and amplify the painful correction that earlier monetary policy made inevitable. Another myth that has been getting more attention in past weeks is that the Fed as an organization is separate from, above, or independent from politics. The attention follows a Wall Street Journal report alleging that members of former president Donald Trump’s team are drawing up plans to give the president more power over the Fed should Trump win the election this November. Reporters cite an internal ten-page document that argues the president should be consulted on interest-rate decisions and have the authority to fire Fed chairs before their term is up. These plans sparked panic about a politicized Fed and provoked responses from several concerned economists.Power up with Nitric Boost that’s now 40% OFF! This potent formula gives you the massive edge in strength and superior circulation for that unparalleled performance you've been looking for! It is absurd that this needs to be spelled out, but the Fed is already a political organization. It was established by an act of Congress in 1913. Two decades later, Congress consolidated much of the Fed’s power in Washington, DC, and set up the position of chairman, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. It also created a single committee—most of which is also appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate—to direct open market operations for the entire country. Then in 1977, Congress passed another bill requiring the Fed to pursue specific policy goals. So, a bunch of politicians created an organization and consolidated its power in Washington, DC, where a committee of government officials appointed and confirmed by politicians directs monetary policy for the entire country according to policy goals defined earlier by other politicians. And we’re supposed to consider this organization to be nonpolitical. Moreover, the idea that the changes Trump’s team might be considering would represent a categorical change to the structure of the Federal Reserve is crazy. Fed chairs already consult with current presidential administrations through the Treasury Secretary. It’s not as if the Fed is isolated from the ambitions of the executive branch. The real risk, from the establishment’s perspective, is not that Trump will turn the Fed into a political organization but that he will expose the fact that it already is one. From the outset, the Federal Reserve System has represented the politicization of money and banking in the United States. It allows the government to finance its preferred programs with newly printed money and to manipulate the entire structure of the economy with centrally planned interest rates. This is great for politicians, government bureaucrats, and politically connected businesses that get the new money early. But it traps the rest of us in a recurring nightmare of unnecessary economy-wide booms and busts along with devastating, culture-destroying permanent price inflation. The illusion of an independent, nonpolitical Fed is critical to keep the scam going. EMERGENCY FINANCIAL NEWS: Economist Warns The Collapse Has Already Begun – Will Be Worse Than The Great Depression