Stone Temple Pilots Tour Australia At Last!

Stone Temple Pilots never made it to Australia in the first reign as one of the world’s leading rock band, but its a case of ‘better late than never’ as now it can be confirmed that they will make their first ever tour of Australia and New Zealand in March next year.

Stone Temple Pilots released their self titled named sixth studio album earlier this year after nearly a decade-long recording hiatus which included some time apart. The San Diego quartet reunited in 2008.

Fronted by Scott Weiland with Eric Kretz on drums and brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo on bass and lead guitar respectively, Stone Temple Pilots have had a colourful career.

Early hits such as ‘Plush’, ‘Sex Type Thing’, ‘Vasoline’ and ‘Interstate Love Song’ established them as a force to be reckoned with. Their distinctive sound, comprised of big, memorable riffs and Weiland’s outstanding vocals, made Stone Temple Pilots one of the world’s biggest bands in the post-grunge wave that swept the music world. The new album has been generally well received as a worthwhile part of their catalogue.

“It’s difficult to find fault with what the band has served up here, a solid rock n’ roll record that not only indulges in nostalgia of the ensemble’s halcyon days, but explores enough new avenues to suggest there is indeed more mileage in this revitalized outfit.” – Slant Magazine

“Displaying impressive vocal polish from outspoken frontman Scott Weiland; blazing guitar solos over tight, crunch-laden instrumentation; and grungy takes on Lennon/McCartney melodicism, STP asserts its place among seminal hard-rock chameleons.” – Billboard

Joining Stone Temple Pilots on the Australian leg of their tour (except Newcastle) is Grinspoon. Grinspoon have had a fifteen year career since being crowned winners of triple j’s inaugural ‘Unearthed’ competition in 1995 and their sixth studio album titled Six To Midnight is their proudest work to date. Six To Midnight debuted in the ARIA Albums Chart Top 10 upon its release late last year. Prior to the album’s production, Grinspoon embarked on a global musical adventure that eventually led them home to make what some have described as their best album yet.

Dates.

Mar 16, 2011 - Challenge Stadium, Perth

Mar 19, 2011 - Festival Hall, Melbourne

Mar 20, 2011 - Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Mar 23, 2011 - Riverstage, Brisbane

Mar 24, 2011 - Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle

Mar 26, 2011 - Vector Arena, Auckland

Beatles White Album Played in Full (not by the Beatles)

The White Album. The Beatles’ influential masterpiece is now a 40-year-old icon. To celebrate this rock’n’roll milestone, three of Australia’s  finest  rock n’ rollers – Chris Cheney of the Living End, Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon, Tim Rogers and an interesting collaborator Josh Pyke – will take to the stage this August in four very special Concerts in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

Coming after India, but before the split, The White Album was the sound of John, Paul, George and Ringo throwing everything they’d learned into their musical blender. This major work bursts with variety, creativity, experimentation, and the genius of The Beatles during one of their most intense, fertile, periods.  It is a timeless album, yet very much of its time. Its 30 songs veer from the populist stomp of Back in the USSR and the mind-bending Happiness is a Warm Gun to the melodious sorrow of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, the ska pop fun of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, and the hard rock prototype Helter Skelter.

Bringing this classic to life at The Beatles’ White Album 40th Anniversary Concert requires an all-star line-up of Australia’s best musicians, with Cheney, Jamieson, Rogers and Pyke backed by 17 players including guitars, strings, horns and two drummers, musically directed by Stewart D’Arietta.

The White Album songs will be performed in track order, starting with Back in the USSR and closing with Good Night, with state of the art sound.

“I always loved the sound of The Beatles when they let loose and sounded tough, and to me The White Album has a perfect balance of rock’n’roll abandonment with the incredible songwriting skills they’re so revered for.”              – Chris Cheney

“The White Album gives me the fear. It’s denim and silk. Flickers of beauty washed out by blinding anxiety. I had a babysitter who’d play Revolution No.9 as I was just about to go to sleep. It made a mess o’ me and I love it deeply.”     – Tim Rogers

“The Beatles were the first band that made any kind of impact on me as a kid, curled up in the front room with my parents’ record collection. The harmonies, the deceptively simple songs, and the amazingly creative production are all elements that I still draw upon in my music today.” -  Josh Pyke

“It’s hard to imagine growing up without The Beatles. From the nursery rhyme Yellow Submarine to the songbooks we got in primary school with Help From My Friends, they have been omnipresent in my life. They have provided a soundtrack to so many moments, I mean, my wife walked down the aisle to I Will, for Christ’s sake.” – Phil Jamieson

Tuesday 4 August ? Hamer Hall, Melbourne
Thursday 6 August ? Brisbane QPAC
Friday 7 & Saturday 8 August ? Sydney Opera House

Onsale Friday 22 May