news Bits
ANNIVERSARY
Warwick
celebrates 30
years
Warwick is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2012 by
opening the doors of
their Markneukirchen,
Germany facilities during the
second week of September.
Warwick endorsing artists will
be on hand for clinics and
workshops, and the company
will be offering factory tours as
well. Warwick is also producing
a limited-edition replica of the
original 1983 Steamer Stage I
bass for 2012.
warwick.de
“Robert Johnson at 100” on
March 6.
whitehouse.gov
apollotheater.org
including art rockers Destroy
All Monsters. Davis passed
away after a lengthy hospitalization for liver disease. He had
been diagnosed with hepatitis C
in 2005, which he attributed to
alcohol and drug use.
solo career, Sony Music in association with Capo Records and
Legacy will release reissues of
the first six Rory Gallagher solo
albums: Rory Gallagher (1970),
Deuce (1971), Live! In Europe
(1972), Blueprint (1973), Tattoo
(1973), and Irish Tour ‘ 74
(1974). Each album has been
remastered from the original
1/4" tapes and features newly
restored cover artwork.
sonymusic.com
Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, Gary
Clark Jr., and Buddy Guy collaborate on “Sweet Home Chicago” in
this White House rehearsal video
posted by Mick Jagger.
FESTIVALS
Metallica Launch The
orion Music Festival
Bands appearing at the June
23-24 fest in Atlantic City,
New Jersey, include Arctic
Monkeys, Avenged Sevenfold,
Modest Mouse, Gary Clark Jr.,
and more. The veteran rockers
will headline both nights, playing the “Black Album” in its
entirety one night for the first
time ever in the U.S.
orionmusicandmore.com
HONORED
Blues Tributes Abound
Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Eric
Clapton, B.B. King, Keb’ Mo’,
Gary Clark Jr., The Roots,
and more celebrated the blues
and its forefathers in February
and March. Jagger, Beck,
King, Mo, and Clark were
among the artists invited to
play a special concert in the
White House on February
21 which aired as a PBS special “In Performance at the
White House: Red, White,
and Blues” on February 27
in honor of Black History
Month. New York City’s
famed Apollo Theater in
Harlem also held events honoring the blues: “Howlin’ for
Hubert” on February 24 and
Bonnaroo 2012
Announced
The annual Manchester,
Tennessee, gathering of music
fans will take place on June 7-10.
The lineup includes Radiohead,
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish,
The Beach Boys, The Roots,
Alice Cooper, Bon Iver,
Umphrey’s McGee, and more.
bonnaroo.com
ONLINE
sam Ash sells used
gear online
Sam Ash Music launched a
website for used music gear in
February. The site hosts listings of every Sam Ash Music
store’s used inventory. The site
launched with guitar and bass
gear but the company plans to
expand to drums, keyboards,
and pro sound gear.
used.samashmusic.com
OBITUARY
Mc5 Bassist Michael
davis dies at 68
Michael Davis provided the
low-end grooves for the influential Detroit band MC5
throughout the height of
their success in the ’60s and
early ’70s. He left the band in
1972 and continued making
music with a variety of bands
REISSUED
Rory gallagher’s
First six solo Albums
Reissued
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the prolific guitarist’s
INDUSTRY
Jim soloway Retires
Jim Soloway, respected builder
of high-end custom guitars,
announced his plan to retire
from luthiery and pursue a
musical career. Soloway Guitars
will continue to be produced by
Doug Kauer of Kauer Guitars
in his Northern California
workshop. The Kauer-built
Soloway guitars will be available
through his dealer network.
solowayguitars.com
