Kings of Leon were, without a doubt, the band of 2009. With three Grammys, a massive nationwide sold-out tour, and a headlining spot on the Lollapalooza stage – these four boys from Nashville have certainly made it.
But these days have you really “made it” if you don’t have an iPhone application with your name emblazoned on it? Of course not.
Tapulous, the iPhone/iPod game maker responsible for Tap Tap Revenge has enlisted the band for a new game called “Kings of Leon Revenge”. The game is much like Guitar Hero, where players tap corresponding dots as they fly past the screen to play along with the music.
The new version features 10 of the band’s hit songs and retails for $4.99 in the App Store. Unfortunately, if you aren’t heading to Bonnaroo to see the band headline another major outdoor festival in June, this might be as close as you get to seeing them live this year as no other 2010 dates have been scheduled.
Because NBC won’t let him go on the air until September, Conan O’Brien is taking his show on the road. The late-night host and comedian will be hitting theaters nationwide on a 30-show comedy tour kicking off on April 12th in Eugene, OR.
For those “with Coco” here in Chicago, you can see that crazy red hair light up the Chicago Theater on May 19th. Tickets range in price from $39.50 – $79.50 and will most likely sell out quick. Available now at Ticketmaster.com and TeamCoco.com.
Some of you may have caught him on the Chicago Theater stage back in 2006 when O’Brien took his Late Show on tour. While none of us know what to expect, the event is billed as a “music and comedy show” and Conan has already told America via Twitter that it will be “half-assed”.
A friend pushed this video on us until we watched it and we’ve been happy ever since. The parody song by improv comedian Daniel Bissell is one of those few gems on YouTube mixed in with videos of cats jumping off of things. Done to the melody of Billy Joel’s “She’s Always a Woman”, we guarantee you’ll never watch Ferris in quite the same way.
Sick of pushing buttons while trying to play a guitar game? Well a new video game made by Seven45 Studios may be solving that problem. They are rumored to be introducing a six string guitar controller for a game called “Power Gig: Rise of the SixString”.
The makers of this new realistic guitar controller like to emphasize that “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” offer a fake experience with a fake instrument. Even though their stringed controller plugs into a real standard amp and plays real music, they also clarify that it is a GAME.
Advanced gamers looking for a challenge or guitar players wanting a more authentic gaming experience can expect to be rocking out on the Power Gig this fall.
According to California authorities, 1980’s teen heartthrob Corey Haim died early this morning. Corey was best known for his role in “The Lost Boys” and more recently for the reality show “The Two Coreys” alongside friend and fellow actor Corey Feldman. California police have determined the cause of death to be a prescription drug overdose, but they are still waiting for the coroner’s report. Reports state that he had been suffering from the flu and awoke after midnight complaining of feeling dizzy before he collapsed in his mother’s Burbank home.
(Getty Images)
While Haim had struggled with drug addiction all his life, recent events seemed to show a turn around for the embattled actor. He recently starred opposite Jason Statham in Crank: High Voltage and was currently signed or working on many different projects. “Decisions ” producer Zenon Kesik said he gladly hired Haim becuase he showed no signs of drug abuse and was completely focused on his acting.
TMZ.com has reported that Corey was recently approached by Hollywood vultures, Dr. Drew and his celebrity rehab crew, and they wanted to sign him up for the next season. Haim reportedly denied a drug problem and said that Dr. Drew’s parasitic VH1 show was “the last show I’d ever do.
While his two-night stand at Wrigley Field won’t be happening again this year, Chicagoans can still catch Sir Elton this April at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. The “Rocket Man – the Greatest Hits Live” tour will feature number one chart hits and classic album tracks from throughout Elton’s five year career.
Joining Elton on stage will be a full band of musicians ready to bring his classic tunes to life. It is the first time Elton John has played the Sears Centre and it will certainly be one of the largest shows the Chicagoland arena has seen since it opened.
The show is Thursday, April 15th, 2010 at 8:00PM. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, and the Sears Centre Arena Box Office.
Tickets are $169.00, $89.00, or $39.50 – depending on just how close you want to be to those sparkle sunglasses. There is a limit of 6 tickets per costumer, so if you need more we suggest bringing a friend. And if you really want to see this show, we suggest getting on it early this Saturday as it is sure to sell out.
If you have any questions, call the Sears Centre Arena Box Office at 800-745-3000.
When it comes to summer in Chicago, you can always count on a few things: (1) The beach will be closed from July – October for e Coli; (2) sudden rise in “extended lunches” around the office when there is a 1:20 game at Wrigley; and (3) outdoor concerts.
All of us here at JACK love music… especially when it’s outside. We looked over the calendar for this summer and pulled out some very special outdoor shows going down this summer around the city by some very awesome JACK artists.
Sytx, Foreigner, and Kansas
June 5th, Charter One Pavilion
A tri-fecta of classic rock along the lake front will kick off the outdoor concert season in Chicago. Styx, Foreigner, and special guests Kansas, will rock out at the Charter One Pavilion. If you’ve never seen a show here, we highly recommend it. One of the newer venues in the city, it sits just across the harbor from Soldier Field and hosts some of the best summer night shows in the city. You can even score FREE TICKETS to this one on JACK if you act quick.
Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival
June 26th, Toyota Park
If you didn’t get tickets to this one, you’re not alone. They went on sale two weeks ago and were nearly sold-out during the Internet Pre-Sale for members of the Eric Clapton Fan Club. The show, returning to Toyota Park after a successful evening back in 2007, is host to some of the best guitarists on the face of the earth. All brought together, for one day, to flat out shred. Including Eric Clapton, Robert Randolph, BB King, John Mayer, Steve Winwood, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughn, Vince Gill, ZZ Top, and a whole bunch more… it should be no surprise this ticket was a hot item. If you got tickets, we’re jealous.
We had originally told you about how VH1 Classic is running all new remastered versions of their popular Behind the Music series on some of JACK’s favorite bands. Genesis and Metallica have already gotten the treatment and this weekend you can tune in to see the boys from Sheffield bring it again.
The show will pick up where the first Behind the Music: Def Leppard left off, featuring archival footage spliced in with newer video and interviews of the band from their more recent tours over the past ten years. It is sure to be worth checking out. Tune into VH1 Classic this Saturday, March 6th, at 10:00PM E.S.T. for all the Leppard you can handle.
What else were you going to do this weekend? Go outside? Yeah right – it might be in the 40s today, but you can’t trick us Chicago. We know you’ll still give us frostbite.
The King of Pop has once again taken over world, or at least Disney’s miniature version of the world. If you never experienced the classic space opera Captain EO during its original 11 year stay in Tomorrowland, now is your chance. On Tuesday, Capitain Eo rightfully returned to the Tomorrowland Theater at Disney’s Epcot Center.
What’s that you say? You have already re-watched Moonwalker and stood in line opening night to see This Is It, well they weren’t directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Not convinced yet; how about an evil alien queen played by Anjelica Huston and a slew of animatronic aliens from the mind of producer George Lucas. If that is not enough here is a small taste of the 17 minute melodrama.
If that wasn’t enough Michael check out this classic tale of love and revenge in its triumphant return to the Tommorowland Theater. It is replacing “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” which has been on the stage after originally ousting Eo in 1997. Rick Moranis could not be reached for comment.
With the weather getting warmer here in Chicago (we finally broke 30 degrees!), it’s almost time for our city’s favorite tradition – outdoor rock concerts. To help you get in the mood, FUSE TV is hosting a very special “Rock Monster March” all month-long full of live concerts and rockumentaries. All of it leading up to FUSE TV’s live broadcast of the 2010 Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in New York City.
This year’s inductees include Genesis, ABBA, Jimmy Cliff, The Hollies, and The Stooges. Rock label mogul, David Geffen, is also one of several non-artist inductees who’s Geffen record label was responsible for amazing artists like Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, John Lennon, and Nirvana. Now that’s rock.
The Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is March 15th at 8:30 PM E.S.T., but you can tune in tonight for the first installment of the 10-part miniseries on “The History of Rock N’ Roll” featuring live performances and interviews with iconic artists.
So get ready for outdoor rock season, Chicago…. by practicing in front of your TV.
Corey Haim: 1971-2010 
