Rock and Roll Music

DAS LABEL/Interscope’s The Pretty Reckless was announced today by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) as an official spokesgroup of National Wanna Play Music Week, May 3-7. Taylor Momsen, one of the stars of the CW’s hit show, “Gossip Girl,” makes her musical debut this year as the lead singer and songwriter of the The Pretty Reckless. The group appears on the lead single “Make Me Wanna Die” from the soundtrack for the action/comedy film “Kick-Ass” which opens in theatres on April 16, and will be appearing at every show on the annual Vans Warped Tour this summer.

Just in time for back-to-school, teen bands have the chance to showcase their talent beyond their garage jam sessions by entering the second annual national SchoolJam USA competition. Beginning today, middle and high school teens, who aspire to be discovered by music industry professionals, have a passion for music, and want to help promote the significance of their schools’ music programs, can enter the SchoolJam USA competition at www.schooljamusa.com.   

A twice-yearly fundraiser called "Ladies Rock Camp" was featured in USA Today Nov. 19, 2010, and outlined how the unique program can transform adult women who have never played a instrument in their lives into a member of a rock band in three days! It's all for a good cause. The program supports a music-making program for girls in Portland, Ore. that the NAMM Foundation also provided a grant to in 2009 called "Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls." This camp offers girls a place for them to learn an instrument, form a band, write an original song and perform in front of an audience. 

Davie Allan was an early user of the fuzz tone boxes in the 1960s and put them to good use on a number of his instrumental hits with the Arrows. He also used the effects on many of the soundtrack works he completed for movie studios over the years. His pioneering sound has been an influence on many performers since his early recordings. Among his most popular songs is “Blues’ Theme” for the biker film The Wild Angels. The tune incorporated a heavily distorted guitar lick by Davie and was released as a single that made it to the Top 40 of the Billboard charts.

Ian Anderson grew up in England during the 1960s and had a long list of guitar heroes who inspired him to play music. However, he found the power of people like Eric Clapton to be disconcerting, as young Ian felt inferior next to such guitar gods. He felt his best chances to success in rock was to play an instrument that Clapton did not play and so he found his way to the flute. Ian’s ear and passion for music allowed the otherwise non-rock instrument to not only fit in, but to become an influence.

Vinny Appice began playing drums at a young age, just like his older brother Carmine. Vinny played drums ever since the age of eight and by age sixteen he was working with John Lennon! His influential career developed in the 1970s with a series of albums, and by 1980 joined the rock band Black Sabbath. Two years later he left the band with singer Ronnie James Dio to form the band Dio, which resulted in five studio records before Vinny left the band in 1989. His drumming style has been the inspiration for a generation of players who were fascinated with his steady and driving force while also able to play soft and gentle.

Rod Argent had an idea for a new sound, a new band in a new era of music. After creating a group and writing songs to perform and record, Rod’s dream of a new style of rock was born (with the help with his fellow countrymen, the Beatles). His group, the Zombies, helped change the face of music and scored several hits in the 1960s including “She’s Not There,” “Tell Her No” and “Time of the Seasons.” After the group dissolved he formed the band Argent, which toured and recorded for nearly a decade before he reestablished the Zombies for world tours in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Dave Bartholomew is a noted bandleader, trumpeter, and songwriter who captured a pioneering sound known as the “big beat” of rock and roll. His uncanny ability to provide the perfect musical expression to the words of his band mate Fats Domino resulted in a long list of classic recordings. Together the team wrote “I’m Walkin’,” ”Ain’t that a Shame,” “I’m in Love Again,” “Blue Monday,” and “Valley of Tears.” Equally impressive are his talents as arranger and bandleader. Over the years, he has cultivated the talents of legendary musicians including his drummer and life long friend Earl Palmer.
 

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter gained enormous international fame as a founding member of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers. Skunk’s solo licks are among the most noted and influential in rock and roll history. As product advisor, he has also played an important role in the early Roland guitar synthesizers and several effects pedals over the years. His understanding of the inner workings of the electric guitar has made him a well-respected and sought-after expert on subjects both from a design and engineering perspective as well as from a musician’s angle.

Bob Berryhill was the original guitarist for the surf band the Surfaris. The group of teenagers had a pop hit with "Surfer Joe," which was followed up by the 1963 chart topper "Wipe Out." The song became an anthem for the early 60s instrumental recordings that helped define the era and the drum solo was often a requirement for membership in the growing number of garage bands around the country. The Surfaris continued to perform throughout the mid 1960s, including several vocal recordings after the surfer music craze faded. Over the decades Bob has continued to perform and in the early part of 2000 formed a new Surfaris band with his wife and two sons.