Ben Harper has finished recording new studio album with R7

Ben Harper & Relentless 7 have just completed their new studio album in Santa Monica.
It is still unmixed.
We can tell you that there are 2 special guests on the new record, Ringo Starr is playing drums on one song & Jackson Browne is doing backing vocals on another.

And they already have a name for this album to be out in the fall : " Give Till It's Gone".

R7 is also releasing a live album called :Live From the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Source: HERE

Previous reviews ( with setlist, pics & videos):
Ben & R7 @ Cigale April 20th 2009
Ben & R7 @ Studio SFR April 25th 2009

There is also an interesting article on Suzanne Vega HERE ( in French only , sorry)

French Elections tomorrow, Rock the vote !

Here's from the Hellfest : in French
Elections Regionales 2010 : La Diversité culturelle en danger...

Hier soir se tenait un meeting de l'UMP au parc des expositions de la beaujoire à Nantes. Le Premier ministre François Fillon et le chef de file du MPF Philippe De Villiers sont venus soutenir le jeune candidat UMP aux élections régionales en Pays de la Loire Christophe Béchu.

Devant près de 1500 militants gonflés à bloc, Mr De Villiers à réaffirmé son soutien au candidat et s'est attaqué au festival Hellfest : "Nos valeurs ne sont pas celles qui poussent le Conseil Régional actuel (PS) à financer un festival sataniste !", discours salué et applaudi chaleureusement par Mr Bechu ainsi que par Mr Fillon.

Le festival Hellfest est actuellement soutenu financièrement (à hauteur de 1%) par le Conseil Régional actuel représenté par Mr Jacques Auxiette, Parti Socialiste. Manifestement l'attribution de cette subvention semble déranger certains conservateurs...

Le Hellfest, qui rappelons le est à ce jour le plus important festival de musiques actuelles (toutes musiques confondues) en Pays de la Loire, tient à réagir à ces propos qu'il estime blessants et diffamatoires "Le Festival est ravi de pouvoir compter sur le non soutien de Mr De Villiers, le contraire aurait été surprenant, la diversité culturelle n'est pas le fer de lance de ses hommes politiques bien pensants et conservateurs" et de rajouter "Nous encourageons massivement tous les habitants des régions Pays de la Loire à se rendre aux urnes ce dimanche et de voter pour une politique culturelle respectueuse des gouts de chacun."

Comme chacun le sait, le festival Hellfest sera amené à déménager en 2012, et que sans le soutien affirmé d'une région comme les Pays de la Loire, il lui sera très difficile voire impossible de trouver une terre d'accueil...Amis métalleux des Pays de la Loire, et autres défenseurs de la diversité culturelle, vous savez ce qu'il vous reste à faire !

Basically :A French political man ( close to Sarkozy ) is saying that the Hellfest is a satanical festival and that no subventions should be given from tax payers.

Well FUCK HIM , and ROCK THE VOTE on sunday.

EMI in trouble again... this time with Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd have won a High Court battle with EMI.
Their 1998 contract with the label stipulated that their songs were NOT allowed to be sold individually without prior permission.

These greedy bastards of EMI sold Pink Floyd songs individually through iTunes.

A judge at the High Court in London today ruled in the band's favour, saying the contract contained a clause to "preserve the artistic integrity of Pink Floyd's albums"

EMI has been ordered to pay £40,000 ($60,000) in costs, with a further fine to be decided later.

These bastards from EMI have already been sued by The Beatles for unpayed royalties a few years ago.

Recently EMI France wanted pictures to illustrate the booklet for the new version ( with DVD) of Peter Doherty's solo album, so they've organised a competition among fans to select Pics but REFUSED to pay them.
BASTARDS !!!

Remember they 've just sold The Olympic studios in Barnes and wanted to do the same with Abbey road studios.

ELVIS In Concert with TCB band @ Zénith, Paris March 9th 2010

Elvis in concert with TCB band
@ Zénith Paris March 9th 2010

First time That I'm going to see an artist in concert that died 30 years ago.
The King is still alive thanks to the people in charge of the Elvis Presley Entreprises.
His family is king of how to make money...

The Zénith is quite full and all seated ( probably around 4000 people) , the tickets were expensive but I cannot complain I was invited.
Anyway I've heard very good reviews regarding this... thing, they've played a couple of times with ELVIS on sceens before in Paris and I couldn't make it.
I've already seen the TCB band a couple of times @ Palais des Congres & @ Grand Rex ( click for review , setlist , lots of Pics & video; more Pics from this show HERE), the singer ( who's on backing vocals tonight) impersonating Elvis was really great.

There are still a few original members from his late 60's - 70's band: Joe Guercio conducting, Ronnie Tutt on drums, Glenn Hardin on piano & James Burton on guitar.
Jerry Scheff on bass isn't playing ( hear problems ) and Nathan East from the Eric Clapton band is replacing him.
The original Sweet Inspirations are singing as well as The Imperials.

Of Course I thought I was on time and once again the show is an early start, it's 8:15 and I'm 15 min late.
I understood once i was in why it's such an early start , there's no one below 50 , well i'm exagerating a bit, there was a few kids too.

All the classics are played with images from Elvis singing between the late 60's to early 70's period, even when he's playing the late 50's songs.

The timing between the band and the voice is perfect.

Nathan East is having a blast, much more than when he's playing with Eric Clapton.

The band is on stage for more than 2 hours with an intermission half show.
No encore with Elvis and it's still the same more than 30 years after his death.

Everybody's waiting for the signal to stand up and come closer to the stage for " Suspicious Mind", no security and no barrier between the audience and the stage.
Doesn't happen very often.
Cool atmosphere.

James Burton

Funny to see a guy olding his 8 year old daughter in his hand telling her, " You see this guy" pointing at Ronnie Tutt " HE WAS THE DRUMMER WITH ELVIS".
I'm sure she didn't give a shit !

Glenn has the look

Pic on right : Ronnie Tutt & Joe Guercio

Nathan East & Merchandising

CHANEL @ Grand Palais Autumn-Winter 2010 collection, Paris March 9th 2010

CHANEL @ Grand Palais, AW 2010
Paris March 9th 2010

Giving away COCO red lipstick / Freeeeezzzing

After Stella McCartney yesterday morning & Peter Doherty' s secret gig @ Joseph yesterday evening, ROCKERPARIS stays in the fashion world with the only one fashion show NOT to be missed : CHANEL

The production is massive ... again should I say ! Ice baby Ice.
It's freezing in Paris for the last few days , so this show in Arctic territories feels like beeing at home.
As you can see fur is back in force ( don't know if it's fake or real ).

The Kaiser walking on thin ice

There are always many interesting guests in the audience, many times including famous musicians, today apart from Vanessa Paradis I didn't spot any major celebrity ( Micky Green was there but it doesn't count).

It's getting cold , global warming out of shot

KAAAAARRRRLLLLL !!!!!