Guns N Roses + Imperial State Electric @ Zénith lille Oct 2 2010

updated Oct 5 with new links to videos

Patrice wandering in an empty Zénith @ 3:00AM/ Poster for the show/ (C) Ron Thal, Can you spot the Angelo ?

GUNS N ROSES + Imperial State Elect
@ Zénith Lille Oct 2nd 2010

Imperial State Electric

After seeing GUNS N ROSES @ Paris Bercy and @ L'Arc Club the day after (scroll down for links to dozen of great Pics & Exclusive videos from both shows) we had to do another show on this tour.
Lille is not very far from Paris, a couple of hours drive, and the Zénith is really a great concert hall, the front stalls are very close to the stage and it's like an amphitheatre , from everywhere you're seating the view is perfect.
It's probably also the smallest hall in which Guns N Roses have played on this tour with a capacity of less than 7000 and is situated in the city center.

First we have Imperial State Electric for a 50 min set of good & sleazy Rock'n Roll à la Hanoi Rocks meets Kiss, much more better than those shitty Murderdolls we had in Paris.
Axl is watching them from the side of the stage but it won't prevent him from making us wait more than an hour as GUNS N ROSES took the stage at 10:30PM

The more I see them the better I like them, The sound is neat and the view from the first row of the stalls is perfect.
Axl Roses's voice is getting better even though there are some strange effects on his voice for a couple of songs ( "Rocket Queen" for example) it's like his voice is compressed and computerized and it sounds awful.

The Lille crowd is really into it, hard to find an empty seat even though they sold a few tickets on the door.
We went into the pit for the Encore and we could easily sneak in down the first rows where Axl Rose's voice was mixed very low.
The sound can be very different from where you're standing.

As usual on this tour, or at least for french shows, they never play the songs written on the setlist ( see pics).
Great 2h30 min gig,

SETLIST:(from Gnrfrance)
01. Chinese Democracy
02. Welcome to the jungle
03. It's so easy
04. Mr brownstone
05. Sorry
06. Fortus Solo / Live and let die
07. This i love
08. Rocket Queen
09. Better
10. Dizzy Solo / Street of dreams
11. You could be mine
12. Dj Ashba solo / Sweet child o mine
13. Axl Solo / November Rain
14. Ron Solo / IRS
15. Knockin on heaven's door
16. Nightrain
17. Don't cry (full version with Axl on vocals )
18. Madagascar
19. Whole lotta rosie (AC/DC) version 2
20. Paradise City

Zénith Lille aftershow & lousy official merchandise

original setlist from Lille modified & street name nearby Lille where we were staying

Bootleg merchandise better than the official

Chinese Democracy & Welcome to the Jungle from Lille:


Remember :
GUNS N ROSES @ bERCY pART 1 pART 2 pART 3 (click on all links for GREAT Pictures, setlist, exclusive videos)
GUNS N ROSES @ L'aRC Club pART 1 pART 2

The Mountains & The Trees @ Oliver Peel session #29, Paris Oct 1 2010

The Mountains & The Trees @ Oliver Peel session #29
Paris Oct 1 2010

Thanks to the lovely Chantal, The Mountains & The Trees could secure a back up plan after his show was cancelled a couple of days ago by the Truskel club.
Organized at the 11th hour and it's already the Oliver Peel session #29.
Jon Janes from Canada is ... a folk artist, he's playing many instruments but tonight he was on the acoustic guitar and a little bit of harmonica & guitar loops, for a really cool and long set ( for once @ Oliver, he was the only artist to play tonight).
Lots of talking between songs to explain the "Genèse" of each song in a relax atmosphere, I have to say that there were only 30 beautiful people for this show. At least we could breath as last week it's was completely sold-out with more than 50 folk maniacs in the living room ( and kitchen).
The evening couldn't be complete with some late pasta dinner.

Here's one for ya

see ya next time !

N*E*R*D to play Canal+ L' Album de la semaine on monday Oct 4th

Pharrel Williams' N*E*R*D to play L' Album de la Semaine on monday
Invit' only

Check our latest review of NERD, Live at La Fete de L'Humanité on Sept 2008 with Pics setlist...

Billy Corgan from The Smashing Pumkins @ A Tout Livre book store in Paris, Sept 30 2010

updated Oct 2nd with new links to videos
Contact: irockinparis((@))yahoo((dot))fr

Billy Corgan & Claire Fercak @ A Tout Livre book-store
Paris , Av Daumesnil, Sept 30 2010

A dedicated audience of less than 200.

Billy Corgan is in Paris to promote a book he co-wrote with french girl Claire Fercak.
Yesterday night he played one song "Spangled" @ France 3 tv show " Ce soir ou jamais".
Scroll down this page to view video of performance
Tonight he's @ " A Tout Livre" book-store on Avenue daumesnil for a musical-reading.
A small crowd is gathering in front of the closed door of the store , Billy is already in doing an interview for rock & folk mag.
8:30PM doors are opening.
You had to book in advance on first-come first-serve basis.
Less than 200 people here in a cool and relax atmosphere.
First they started with the book reading ( click for short video) in french by Claire with acoustic guitar provided by Billy Corgan. It lasted 40 min+

Billy & Claire during the " Lecture Musicale"

Then Billy Corgan played 8 songs on acoustic guitar ( see picture for setlist)including a brand new song ( here on video) that he wrote a few days before and that is performed for the first time ever.

SETLIST: (click for videos)
Stich in Time (new link)
Spangled
Song for a son
Freak (new link)
In the arms of sleep
To sheila
Jesus needs a hit (new song performed for the first time ever)
Encore
Tonight tonight (new link sorry for quality)

This lovely evening ended with a signing session of the book "Chants magnétiques" or records for the fans.
Billy was nice and chatty to everyone all along these 2 hours, making jokes about French Rockers Johnny Hallyday and Plastic Bertrand.

Great moments with Billy in such an intimate setting, we're lucky bastards once again.

setlist & signing session

New song "Jesus needs a hit":

Performed for the first time ever.

Another video of the reading :

feat Billy & Claire

Tony Curtis RIP 1925-2010

It's with great sadness that we've been told that Tony Curtis has just died today
RIP
As kids (and still today) we were all fans of The Persuaders with Roger Moore.

Billy Corgan Live on French Tv show "Ce soir ou jamais" on France 3 tonight 11PM, Sept 29

Updated : Sept 30
Video from Billy Corgan yesterday at tv show performing "Spangled" HERE

Billy Corgan ( Smashing Pumpkins) will be the guest of Frederic taddei's tv show " Ce soir ou jamais"on France 3.
He's here to promote a book written with Claire Fercak called " Chants Magnetiques" and the Smashing Pumkins' boxset.
" spangled" will be played on acoustic at the end of the show just before midnight.

When The Smashing Pumpkins released "Adore" in 1998, they played a showcase for 200 people on the rooftop of the Fnac Ternes store. ROCKERPARIS was there.
Can you spot The Angelo M in the first rows ?


Blonde Redhead played there yesterday night ( watch video at the end of the show by clicking on the link above)

Aloe Blacc @ L'Album de la semaine, Paris Sept 28 2010

Aloe Blacc @ L'Album de la Semaine Canal+
Paris Sept 28 2010

Young soul man Aloe Blacc is playing famous Canal+ tv show to promote his new album "Good things".
We already saw him at another Canal+ tv show La Musicale where he played 4 songs on the piano.
This time he's with a full band (drums, bass, keys, guitar and sax) all dressed in black.
Aloe is good looking , has a nice voice, is a good dancer and is dressed smartly, the music is also a cool cross between soul and reggae.
Everything is a bit too perfect, too rehearse, it's lacking a bit of "Soul".
Good show but it could have been better.

Prince to Tour Europe next month (Oct 2010)

Anything in Paris Sir ?

Yes Mr Purple Yoda as some people call him will be back in Europe this october to play a few shows.

Here are the dates so far:
Oct 15: Helsinki, Hartwall Arena (tix between 69 & 129 Euros)
Oct 18: Norway
Oct 20: Forum, Copenhagen
Oct 22: MCH Multiarena, Herning
Oct 26: Antwerpen, Sportspaleis ( prices up to 267 Euros for VIP package with Dinner...)
More shows to be announced...

He's been rehearsing in Paisley Park for a couple of weeks now.
iI've also been told that Prince has moved into an " Hotel Particulier" in the richest part of Paris , the 7th district.

More info HERE ( In French only, sorry)

Killing Joke @ Bataclan , Paris sept 27 2010

(C) madame gateau

Pics from the show HERE
I've been told that the singer threw up on stage twice, Urgh !

SETLIST (TBC): many videos here

1. Tomorrows World
2. In Excelsis
3. Wardance
4. Change
5. Bloodsport
6. European Super State
7. This World Hell
8. The Fall of Because
9. The Raven King
10. Requiem
11. The Great Cull
12. Madness
13. Fresh fever from the skies
14. Asteroid
15. Depth Charge
16. The Wait
17. Pssyche
18. Encore:
18. Pandemonium

Blonde Redhead @ C'est Lenoir, Black session #318, france Inter, Paris Sept 27 2010

Blonde Redhead @ C'est Lenoir, Black Session #318
@ France Inter, Paris Sept 27 2010

Killing Joke was playing the hot & sweaty Bataclan, we chose to see a more relax band in a nice place , the studio 105 of the Maison de la Radio with its confortable sofas.
Best conditions to see a gig when you're sitting down in a confortable red sofa with 300 other lazy bastards like us.
We already saw Blonde Redhead a few years ago ( at the Bataclan) but I don't know that much about their career or discography.
They started with very ambiant songs and then they've played some more noisy songs à la Sonic Youth.
One drummer in the back , the girl on the left on vocals and guitar the boy on the right on vocals & guitar + keys.
They're helped by some pre-recorded bass ( that was way too loud) and keyboards.
Lots of smoke on the stage and lights from the back ( remember it's a radio show broadcasted live) to create the atmosphere that goes with the music.
Cool set (with 2 additional songs that were off the air) even though it's harder to appreciate that kind of music when you've never heard anything before.

Listen to Neil Young's "Le Noise" HERE

Listen to Neil Young's " Le Noise"

Neil Young's " Le Noise" is out today in France but you can listen to it by clicking on the cover above. Enjoy !
If you want to see Neil Young performing some of the NEW songs on his last tour click HERE for live videos.
Setlist, Pics of his last show in Paris1 , Part 2 ( click)

"Ladies & Gentlemen" screening @ Club de L' Etoile, Paris Oct 8 2010

Screening @ Club de L'Etoile, Paris Oct 8 8:00PM

On vient de me prévenir qu'en plus de la projection qui aura lieu le 07 Oct à la Géode, une autre projection payante se tiendra le lendemain 08 Oct au Club de l' Etoile dans le 17e arrondissement ( 14 rue Troyon) à 20h.
Reservation reseau Fnac

More info on Ladies & Gentlemen's screenings in Paris & France and dvd release HERE and @ CielEcran.

Yes we do speak French ;-)

Very rare Jimi Hendrix poster from Assas University in Paris 1967

Update: I've been told that this poster has NEVER been seen before, too bad it's not mine (it's on sale somewhere on the internet). It's not in perfect condition and is pretty small (60cm X 40)

Jimi Hendrix @ Faculté d' Assas

Here's a very rare poster from his show @ The Assas Law University of Paris on March 4th 1967.
That was his second show for the night as he already played a show in a club in Colombes just outside Paris.

Check our review of the opening of the Hendrix Exhibition @ Renoma in Paris (with pics & videos)

Ronnie James Dio "A photographic Memoir" Out in November

HardKase version (right)

Music photographer PG Brunelli is releasing a Ronnie James Dio photo book, available in two limited edition versions, starting at just £40 (plus postage and handling), "Ronnie James Dio - A Photographic Memoir" is released at the end of November 2010.
There is a standard version and a very limited "HardKase" version (£ 150 plus postage & handling).
£10 from the sale of the standard version and £30 from the sale of the hardkase edition will be donated to the Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, in honor of Ronnie James Dio.