Big Bank Hank, original member of the legendary hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang passed away today due to complications from cancer.
The Gang is best known for perhaps the most eponymous and appropriately named rap tune of all time: “Rapper’s Delight” – which was featured in countless movies and the first tune of the genre to crack the Billboards top 40 chart (in 1979). Hank was 57.
Co-founders Wonder Gee and Master Mike released a statement on the passing:
“So sad to hear about our brother’s passing. The 3 of us created musical history together with the release of Rapper’s Delight. We will always remember traveling the world together and rocking the house. Rest in peace Big Bank.”
We send our deepest condolences to Hank’s family and friends.
Murder by Death, featuring Americana rock from Kentucky, launched the Kickstarter for their upcoming album, Big Dark Love on November 5. The band, fronted by singer and guitarist Adam Turla, uploaded a full description of their latest project, asking for $150,000 to cover production, recording, art, touring, and other costs.
After 24 hours, the new album has seen nearly $120,000 in donations. They posted on their Facebook page, “we had such an incredible experience pre-selling our last album through Kickstarter that we felt this was the best way to do it.” Their last album, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon, saw the same treatment on Kickstarter. Additionally, the band have offered several levels of reward tiers, from digital download of the album, handmade album art by the band’s cellist, Sarah Balliet, time to spend with the band, and much more. Tiers went between $1 and $10,000.
Anyone wishing to donate to the making of Big Dark Love can do so via the Kickstarter page.
Editors note: According to a report Nov 10 from The Guardian, Robert Plant’s publicist has denied any Led Zeppelin Reunion talks happened, calling it “rubbish”. I guess we can go back to hoping for a reunion someday? Original article remains intact below.
For those holding your breath for a Led Zeppelin reunion, you should probably give it up. Robert Plant reportedly turned down £500 million (approximately $795 million) to reunite with fellow bandmates Jimmy Page and John Paul-Jones for a 35 date tour that included stops in London, Berlin, and New Jersey. Son of the late John Bonham, Jason Bonham would have been behind the kit.
According to The Mirror out of the U.K., Plant ripped up the contract in front of promoter Sir Richard Branson. Branson, who is the biggest Led Zeppelin fan had arrangements for flights to all the venues with his jump jet rebranded as “The Mothership.” The rest of the band minus Plant signed the contract immediately while Plant decided during a 48 hour time frame that he is not interested what so ever.
The surviving members of Led Zeppelin last reunited back in 2007 at the 02 Arena in London. Led Zeppelin disbanded back in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham. It’s pretty safe to say at this point Led Zeppelin is no more. Until then, enjoy their music that they have given to us and enjoy our parents and grandparents Led Zeppelin concert stories.
Billboard reports that ELO frontman Jeff Lynne, upon receiving Outstanding Contribution to Music award at Classic Rock Honours in Los Angeles, hinted that ELO will not just be writing new music, but also a 2015 tour is being planned.
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Lynne, who revived the ELO name and revisited such classic ’70s and ’80s hits as “Telephone Line,” “Mr. Blue Sky,” “Livin’ Thing,” “Showdown” and so many more at London’s Hyde Park, confirmed to Billboard he will be bringing ELO to the States.
“I had so much in Hyde Park with 50,000 people, where I just played in September, first time I’ve played in 28 years it was fantastic and I loved every minute, so I’m definitely gonna come here and play.” His manager clarified that 2015 was the target date for touring.
New music can be expected, along with classic ELO tracks, as Lynne said “I’m working on a new album and that’ll be involved in the new times when we play.”
Update: the Fifteenth Annual Native American Music Awards will be streamed live on the home page of First Nations Experience from Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel and FNX-TV at www.fnx.org.
The 15th Annual Native American Music Award (NAMA) Ceremonies will be held the Seneca Allegany Events Center at the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, New York on Friday November 14. Hosted by A Taste of Honey‘s Janice Marie Johnson, the event will have live performers and special guests, including five-time award winner Indigenous featuring Mato Nanji, Jamie Coon, American Idol finalist Charly Lowry and her band Dark Water Rising, former NFL player and opera singer Lawrence Harris, many more nominees and much more.
A special Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to Colville Tribal Chairman & five-time award winner Jim Boyd.
Additionally, the 15th Annual Native American Music Awards Commemoration will have its first ever national television broadcast on First Nations Experience, FNX, on Thanksgiving Day, November 27 at 8PM EST/5PM PST with a repeat broadcast on Saturday, November 29, 2014.
First Nations Experience is the first and only public television network in the U.S. dedicated to Native American and World Indigenous content Contact your local PBS station to request they air the FNX/Native American Music Awards program. Local PBS Station information can be found below or by clicking here.
The New York Times says of the NAMA, “Devoted to bringing Indigenous music to the world’s consciousness, the Native American Music Awards is an ultimate celebration of both traditional and contemporary Native American music. It was founded as the world’s first and largest national professional membership-based organization for the advancement & recognition of Native American music expressions around the world.
If you wish to attend the the 15th Annual Native American Music Awards, note that tickets are limited and can only be purchased through Ticketmaster outlets or by calling the Seneca Allegany Casino at (716) 945-9300. Public voting is open to the general public. Music from all nominees is currently featured on the audio players on www.NAMALIVE.com. Anyone can listen and cast their vote by visiting the Awards website, Vote now page.
On the heels of a public announcement that Hinder signed with The End Records on November 4, it should also be noted that Nolan Neal will be the new singer of the band. Nolan Neal, owner of 16th Edge Studios located on the famous “Music Row” in Nashville has been filling in with the band for the past year, but no official statement of his role in the band had been announced until this week.
Speculations of Neal replacing founding member and vocalist Austin Winkler after Winkler entered rehab in 2013 have been ongoing, including an unofficial update to the band’s Wikipedia page. The band and Neal never made an official announcement on the transition, until the announcement of the new single “Hit the Ground” scheduled for November 24 and a new album with Nolan Neal on vocals planned for 2015.
With Hinder’s debut release Extreme Behavior in 2005, Hinder sold over three-million copies in the US and their #1 single, “Lips of an Angel” launched the band into the hearts of rock and roll fans everywhere. The band has had continued success throughout the decade with Winkler including their latest release Welcome to the Freakshow that went to #3 on the Hard Rock charts.
Hinder also brought on veteran manager, Mark Adelman, of Career Artist Management. Adelman has worked with such heavy metal gods such as Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, making one curious of the new direction of Hinder. Of course, Adelman has also worked with acts such as Kenny G and Rufus Wainwright.
Below is a video of new lead singer Nolan Neal performing with friend, Bobby Amaru (Saliva) at a private show in Albany, New York. They gave Neon Gods a taste of a brand new tune, written by Nolan.
Seether and Papa Roach will be doing a co-headlining tour starting in early 2015. Islander and Kyng will also be the support acts on the tour.
Tour Dates:
1/9 – Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
1/10 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
1/11 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
1/13 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
1/14 – Silver Spring, MD – Fillmore
1/15 – Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Resort & Casino
1/17 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theatre
1/18 – Boston, MA – House of Blues 1/20 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
1/21 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Entertainment Center
1/23 – Detroit, MI – Fillmore
1/24 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom
1/25 – Chicago, IL – The Riviera Theatre
1/27 – Kansas City, MO – Midland Theatre (Seether Only)
1/28 – Waterloo, IA – McElroy Auditorium
1/30 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
1/31 – Dallas, TX – Southside Ballroom
2/02 – Wichita, KS – Cotilion
2/03 – Denver, CO – Fillmore
2/05 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield
2/06 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
2/07 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint
Papa Roach recently just announced that their new album, F.E.A.R, will be released on January. 27. Seether will also be playing new material from their album Isolate and Medicate that was released July of this year.
Tickets go on sale this Friday (Nov. 7), with a presale starting Thursday (Nov. 6) Tickets can be found HERE
Aqueous have announced plans for a NYE party at Buffalo’s Iron Works with regional funk superstars Funktional Flow. This will be the band’s second show at one of the Nickel City’s newest venues following a near sell-out at their CD release show October 25th. The Iron Works is located in the harbor district across the street from the home of the Buffalo Sabres – The First Niagara Center – and features an “always open” kitchen, killer draft lineup, and top notch sound lights and stage. Sabres fans should take note, as attendees to the NYE home game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning can get $5 off at the door with their ticket stub.
Non-hockey fans can net a pre-sale ticket for $10 or take their chances at the door for $12. Don’t delay on those tickets – it is extremely likely this event will sell-out – Flow has a huge local crowd and Aqueous has not been in town for NYE since 2012. Given both bands last few NYE sets there should be lots of surprises in store. Check out last year’s Aqueous setlist below. Welcome back to the Buff AQ! (Shirts and shoes required)
2013/12/31 Aqueous at The Crooked I, Erie PA
SET I: The Median, Skyway > Eon Don, Complex Pt. II *, Coyote Run **, Africa ***
SET II: Auld Lang Syne > Master of Puppets ^ > Origami, Dave’s Song > Kitty Chaser (Explosions), King For a Day > Willy is 40, All In, Mean Mr. Mustard ^^ > Polythene Pam ^^ > She Came in Through the Bathroom Window ^^ > Golden Slumbers ^^ > Carry that Weight ^^ > The End ^^
ENCORE: Her Majesty ^^ > Warren in the Window
NOTES:
* First time played original
** with Eric Brewer on guitar
*** First time played, Toto cover
^ First time played, Metallica cover
^^ First time played, The Beatles cover
Upstate NY will get 15¢ worth of Nickelback next summer with three shows planned across the state in August. After years of bludgeoning eardrums with gleeful disdain the ‘back has earned – to the chagrin of everyone else – a strong following in their Canadian homeland and across The States and have sold over 50,000,000 records. The tour will support the groups 8th studio release No Fixed Address which will dump onto the scene on November 17th.
Thrill seekers can catch the boys for around the cost of 160 Timbits™ August 7 at Darien Lake Performing Art Center. Incidentally, those that choose the amusement park admission combo ticket can buy those Timbits in the park before the show. Two additional chances in August come August 11 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and August 14 in Wantagh NY at Nikon Performing Arts Center at Jones Beach. Chances are the pickle won’t be in attendance. No refunds, eh?
Check out the entire tour below.
Nickelback 2015 North American Tour
2/15 — Allentown, Pa. — PPL Center
2/16 — Manchester, N.H. — Verizon Wireless Arena
2/18 — Montreal, Quebec — Bell Centre
2/19 — Ottawa, Ontario — Canadian Tire Centre
2/21 — London, Ontario — Budweiser Gardens
2/22 — Toronto, Ontario — Air Canada Centre
2/24 — Grand Rapids, Mich. — Van Andel Arena
2/25 — Louisville, Ky. — KFC Yum! Center
2/27 — Columbus, Ohio — Nationwide Arena
2/28 — Moline, Ill. — iWireless Center
3/2 — Kansas City, Mo. — Sprint Center
3/3 — Sioux Falls, Iowa — Denny Sanford Premier Center
3/5 — Omaha, Neb. — CenturyLink Center
3/6 — Minneapolis, Minn. — Target Center
3/8 — Winnipeg, Manitoba — MTS Centre
3/10 — Saskatoon, Saskatchewan — Sasktel Centre
3/12 — Calgary, Alberta — Scotiabank Saddledome
3/13 — Edmonton, Alberta — Rexall Place
3/15 — Vancouver, British Columbia — Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
3/22 — Nashville, Tenn. — Bridgestone Arena
3/24 — Charleston, S.C. — N. Charleston Coliseum
3/25 — Jacksonville, Fla. — Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
3/27 — Tampa, Fla. — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
3/28 — West Palm Beach, Fla. — Cruzan Amphitheatre
4/1 — Houston, Texas — Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
4/3 — Dallas, Texas — Gexa Energy Pavilion
4/4 — Austin, Texas — Austin360 Amphitheater
4/7 — Tulsa, Okla. — BOK Center
6/19 — Portland, Ore. –Sleep Country Amphitheater
6/20 — George, Wash. — The Gorge
6/23 — Wheatland, Calif. — Sleep Train Amphitheatre
6/24 — Mountain View, Calif. — Shoreline Amphitheatre
6/26 — Irvine, Calif. — Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
6/27 — San Diego, Calif. — Sleep Train Amphitheatre
6/30 — Albuquerque, N.M. — Isleta Amphitheater
7/1 — Phoenix, Ariz. — Ak-Chin Pavilion
7/3 — Las Vegas, Nev. — Mandalay Bay Events Center
7/5 — Salt Lake City, Utah — USANA Amphitheatre
7/7 — Denver, Colo. — Red Rocks Amphitheatre
7/10 — Tinley Park, Ill. — First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
7/11 — Indianapolis, Ind. — Klipsch Music Center
7/29 — St Louis, Mo. — Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7/31 — Cincinnati, Ohio — Riverbend Music Center
8/1 — Clarkston, Mich. — DTE Energy Music Theatre
8/4 — Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio — Blossom Music Center
8/5 — Toronto, Ontario — Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
8/7 — Darien Lake, N.Y. — Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
8/8 — Hershey, Pa. — Hershey Park Stadium
8/11 — Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — Saratoga Performing Arts Center
8/12 — Burgettstown, Pa. — First Niagara Pavilion
8/14 — Wantagh, N.Y. — Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
8/15 — Uncasville, Conn. — Mohegan Arena
8/18 — Mansfield, Mass. — Xfinity Center
8/19 — Bangor, Maine — Waterfront Park
8/21 — Holmdel, N.J. — P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
8/22 — Camden, N.J. — Susquehanna Bank Center
8/25 — Bristow, Va. — Jiffy Lube Live
8/26 — Virginia Beach, Va. — Farm Bureau Live
8/28 — Charlotte, N.C. — PNC Music Pavilion
8/29 — Atlanta, Ga. — Aarons Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Nineties industrial metal band Static-X’s front man, Wayne Static recently passed away in his sleep suddenly at the age of 48. Despite many reports to the contrary, a direct representative of the Static family yesterday said, that the death was not drug related and that Wayne and his wife have been drug free since 2009. Despite that, a specific cause of death has not yet been reported.
Static-X thrashed its way onto the scene in 1994 with the fan favorite Wisconsin Death Trip and has maintained an underground popularity since. Static-X took a three-year hiatus from 2009-2012 while Wayne worked on his solo effort Pighammer. In 2012 he restarted the band with all new members. In 2013 they hung it up for good and with Wayne’s passing any future reformation seems highly unlikely. sends our condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Big Bank Hank, original member of the legendary hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang passed away today due to complications from cancer.
The 15th Annual Native American Music Award (NAMA) Ceremonies will be held the Seneca Allegany Events Center at the Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, New York on 
Speculations of Neal replacing founding member and vocalist Austin Winkler after Winkler entered rehab in 2013 have been ongoing, including an unofficial update to the band’s Wikipedia page. The band and Neal never made an official announcement on the transition, until the announcement of the new single “Hit the Ground” scheduled for November 24 and a new album with Nolan Neal on vocals planned for 2015.
Seether
