CLAY’S PARK PRESENTS THE 5TH ANNNUAL ROCK N RESORT MUSIC FESTIVAL’s NATIONAL LINE-UP FEATURING 7 LEGENDARY ROCK BANDS; GIN BLOSSOMS, MOLLY HATCHET, SWEET, SANTANA ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER GREGG ROLIE, NAZARETH WITH MANNY CHARLTON, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVISITED AND BLUE OYSTER CULT.
MOLLY HATCHET – FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2008.
In the early 1970’s a new form of music was emerging in the south. A mixture of blues, country, gospel and the English invasion of rock and roll that later was to be coined the phrase “Southern Rock.” The music was filled with style and emotion and with bands in the forefront such as the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and a band from Jacksonville, Florida called Molly Hatchet. Named after a famous 17th century axe murderess Hatchet Molly who would behead her lovers with the hand tool Lizzy Borden made famous.
Their self-titled debut album which included Danny Joe Brown, Dave Hlubeck, Duane Roland, Steve Holland, Banner Thoman and Bruce Crump in the lineup was released on Epic records in 1978 and reached multi-platinum status as the band established their reputation of working hard, playing tough and living fast through intense touring with such bands as Aerosmith, Bob Seger, The Rolling Stones and many more.
In 1979, Flirtin With Disaster was released and history was in the making. The band continued touring on the road with an average of 250 live shows per year and like the first album it also achieved multi-platinum status.
After the death of lead singer, Danny Joe Brown the band claims to now draw inspiration from form him as they continue the spiritual, emotional and hard driving southern rock tradition the band is so well known for.
GIN BLOSSOMS – FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2008.
Gin Blossoms, the inventive and instantly appealing smart rock band of the early nineties has reunited after a difficult breakup, and stirring reunion to complete their latest album, Major Lodge Victory. Other hits include “Hey Jealousy”, “Found Out About You”, “As Long As It Matters”, “Follow You Down”, “‘Til I hear It From You”, “Until I Fall Away” and “Allison Road”.
NAZARETH WITH MANNY CHARLTON - SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008.
According to Manny Charlton, he was there FROM THE BEGINNING and was the guiding light that wrote the original material and recorded the demos of Nazareth’s early songs which landed management and ultimately their major record deals which led to their smash hits “Hair of the Dog”, “Razamanaz”, “Expect No Mercy” and “Love Hurts”. The rest as they say is history.
Charlton wrote, produced and defined the NAZARETH sound that was so successful in the 70’s. Five of Nazareth’s albums, produced by Manny in the 70’s, all achieved Gold or Platinum status in various countries throughout the world. Deep Purple’s Roger Glover, one of the band’s earlier mentors, identified Charlton as “THE SOUL OF NAZARETH”.
SANTANA ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER GREGG ROLIE – SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008.
Gregg Rolie is responsible for co-founding two phenomenally popular, multi-platinum many times over super groups that indeed are, SANTANA and JOURNEY. In 1998, the world class keyboardist-vocalist-producer was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame as part of the original Santana band. In addition to launching- along with Carlos Santana- the now legendary act, Rolie also co-produced their first four ground-breaking albums. What’s more, his singing talents will forever be immortalized by his unforgettable lead vocals on classic Santana greatest hits including “Black Magic Woman”, “Evil Ways” and the Tito Puente composition “Oye Como Va”.
Thirty-five years after Gregg and Carlos fortuitously met in San Francisco, the year 2001 marked the release of Rolie’s third solo album ROOTS, featuring the lead track “Give It To Me”. The first-ever release on Bay Area-based Tower Records’ new proprietary label 33rd Street, and Rolie’s first CD following a several year personal hiatus. ROOTS find Gregg revisiting the incredible brew of sounds he helped conjure up in the late ’60’s. Recalling those heady days, he remembers “It was an amazing time. We created something that no one could fathom…it was about the rhythms and solos more than the songs. It wasn’t Latin music, rock music, the blues—not any of the above. It was a combination of all of them”. Rolie calls ROOTS’ twelve original selections “Latin rock plus… the instrumentation is Latin percussion, with organ, guitar, horns, and lots of great solo work and songwriting”, adding that “I really wanted to go all the way back to my Santana roots”.
SWEET– SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2008.
The Sweet, originally formed by bassist Steve Priest, vocalist Brian Connolly & drummer Mick Tucker, rose to fame in the 70’s with such hits as “Ballroom Blitz”, “Fox on the Run”, “Love is Like Oxygen”, “Little Willy”, “Hellraiser”, “Teenage Rampage”, “Blockbuster”, “Action” and many others, has reformed in the States led by bassist/vocalist Steve Priest.
Steve is joined by guitarist Stuart Smith who was taught by Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore and went on to play in a version of “Sweet” with Steve Priest in the late 80’s and then with Keith Emerson in a band called “The Aliens of Extraordinary Ability” before forming his own band “Heaven & Earth” in 1997.
In 1998 Smith released a critically acclaimed album called “Heaven & Earth featuring Stuart Smith” with guest appearances by Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Kelly Hansen (Hurricane/Foreigner), Carmine Appice (Rod Stewart/Jeff Beck/Vanilla Fudge), Bobby Kimball(Toto) and Steve Priest. This album won Stuart the “Best Guitarist” and “Album of the Year” award two years in a row at The Los Angeles All Access Music Awards”.
On drums is renowned drummer Richie Onori who, as well as playing with Stuart Smith in “The Aliens of Extraordinary Ability” and “Heaven & Earth” has also played with Louis Johnson, Bobby Kimball and Rick Derringer. Rounding out the line up is powerhouse vocalist Joe Retta from Queen Nation, and keyboard player Stevie Stewart from The World Classic Rockers.
Sweet promises all the hits and more played as they were meant to be heard and with an energetic stage show that is second to none.
BLUE OYSTER CULT– SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008.
For nearly three decades, Blue Oyster Cult has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. Indeed, the Long Island, NY based band is revered within the hard rock and heavy metal scene for its pioneering work.
That tradition continues with the June 5, 2001, release of Curse of the Hidden Mirror on CMC International Records, a division of the Sanctuary Records Group.
Blue Oyster Cult occupies a unique place in rock history because it’s one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim as well as commercial success. The band is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as Metallica, and BOC was listed in VH1’s countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.
Upon the release of BOC’s self-titled debut album in 1972, the band was praised for its catchy-yet-heavy music and lyrics that could be provocative, terrifying, funny or ambiguous, often all in the same song. BOC’s canon includes three stone-cold classic songs that will waft through the cosmos long after the sun has burned out: The truly haunting “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” from 1976’s Agents of Fortune, the pummeling “Godzilla” from 1977’s Specters’ and the hypnotically melodic “Burnin’ for You” from 1981’s Fire of Unknown Origin. Other notable BÖC songs include “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll,” “Then Came the Last Days of May,” “I Love the Night,” “In Thee,” “Veteran of the Psychic Wars,” “Dominance and Submission,” “Astronomy,” “Black Blade” and “Shooting Shark.”
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVISITED – SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008.
Stu Cook and Doug “Cosmo”, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rhythm section (bass and drums respectively) from the legendary group Creedence Clearwater Revival launched the Creedence Clearwater Revisited project in 1995 to once again perform live Creedence Clearwater Revival hits - touchstones of a generation. Though the pair initially only planned to play private parties, Creedence Clearwater Revisited now performs up to 100 shows a year and has released the album “Recollection.”
Creedence Clearwater Revisited brings to life, with authentic integrity, the classic hits that made CCR legendary including, “I Put A Spell on You”, “Bad Moon Rising”, “Proud Mary”, “Down on The Corner”, “Who’ll Stop the Rain” and “Travelin Band”.
The 5th Annual Rock N Resort Music Festival is a three-day, nonstop music festival, reminiscent of the great festivals of the past. Rock N Resort takes place on 500 acres at Clay’s Park Resort, just 20 minutes south of Akron off Rt. 21. Held on July 18-20, 2008, primitive (festival) or RV camping is welcome. Early camping opportunities are also available. Past RNR performers include, Grand Funk Railroad, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Starship with Mickey Thomas, Edgar Winter, Bad Company’s Brian Howe, John Kay and Steppenwolf, FogHat, Kansas, The Outlaws, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Southside Johnny and George Thorogood.
Unlike anything in the country, this festival combines the pure energy of great classic rock in an outdoor amphitheatre with the relaxing amenities of a full service RV resort and water park. Event manager, Margie Centrone said, “We will will round out the event with 30-40 strong regional acts to perform on our other 3 stages. We provide non-stop music and interactive fun for every music lover. With all this beautiful location has to offer, Rock N Resort provides an unforgettable vacation opportunity.” Tickets are available now with early reservations recommended to ensure first preference on camping locations.
Click here to order tickets online or phone 1.800.860.4FUN (4386) and Experience all the Magic of The Fifth Annual Rock N Resort Music Festival.
Mississippi isn’t exactly well known for its rock heritage. The five gentlemen from Saving Abel could change that soon.
Out of 10
In 1994, hard rock was on life support. Unless a band was wearing flannel and sung about how much their life sucked, chances are they didn’t get any airplay.
Out of 10
After coming off of the Ozzy Osbourne, Ultimate Sin tour, Jake E. Lee, formed Badlands with singer Ray Gillen.
combined with Ray Gillen’s incredible voice is one potent combination, and it shows on the brilliant debut record from Badlands.
Out 0f 10
If the the four gentlemen in Northern Ireland’s Soundstone have their way, they will soon be following their countrymen The Answer, into the mainstream.
‘Another Suicide’, the controversial new song from the Imperial Vipers is finally being released by the band as a free download after fans inundated them with messages urging them to make it available. Originally held back by record label bosses due to the sensitive nature of the lyrical content, the band are finally bowing to demand on the back of another tragic loss of young life in the Bridgend area of south Wales.
Halen and Cream. They are the inspiration for his songs, but having deep Philly roots Kotzen tends to combine rock with the Motown influences he heard as a kid. “Much influence for my songs comes from the likes of the Spinners, O-Jays, and Curtis Mayfield”, explains Kotzen. “Growing up outside Philadelphia and listening to those old soul stations I ended up with that sound being a heavy influence in my writing even though the core of what I do is Rock”.
Many of the artists who were highly successful in the 80’s have tried reigniting their careers with sounds that take listeners back to their heyday. Whitesnake, Def Leppard and House of Lords have all released discs that their fans should be pleased with. Dokken tries to recapture the lightning, or sound that once made them famous as well.
Out of 10
