Artists of the year 2011 for Rockerparis: Anna Calvi & Miles Kane

Anna Calvi is the artist we've seen the most for this year 2011

It started last year when she opened for Nick Cave's Grinderman @ Cité de la Musique on Oct 26.

Click on links for review , setlist, Pics & video for each concert

She has released a great first album and has played many concerts and radio & TV shows in Paris this year:
Black session @ C'est Lenoir on Jan 17
L'Album de la Semaine for Canal+ , Jan 19
Nouveau Casino, Frb 08 (we didn't go to this one)
Trianon, April 22
Fnac Montparnasse, June 16
Rock en Seine festival, August 28
Olympia, for Les Inrocks festival Nov 11

An Amazing 7 shows in Paris in just a few months, we've been to 6 of them out of 7.
She only has one album so each gig was basically the same but each time we were charmed,
when she played the Rock en Seine festival, we thought about staying for a just a couple of songs before moving to the 3rd stage to see the Horrors,in fact it was so good that we stayed even though it was our 5th gig this year. Gig @ Fnac Montparnasse was a free showcase, she was sharing guitar duties with a guy as she had a bandage on her wrist.

Miles Kane is also an artist that we've seen a few times this year and who has released a great solo album. He played a few shows in Paris including
L'Album de la Semaine, March 29
Rock En Seine Festival, August 28
Cigale for Les Inrocks festival, Nov 04

After playing with The Rascals (check their shows @ Fleche d'Or on Sept 05 2008 & @ Maroquinerie on Dec 1st 2008 ) Miles Kane is now going solo with a very good album maybe not as rock as with his previous band but live his new band is smoking.
He will be playing a few shows next January/February opening for Arctic Monkeys @ Casino de Paris, Olympia & Zénith.

ROCKERPARIS ' most exclusive shows we've been to this year 2011

ROCKERPARIS went to some exclusive shows this year: private concerts, club shows by arena size bands.

Nothing could top Guns N Roses playing @ L'Arc Club in 2010 but we've been to some good stuff in 2011, here's the list:

Pj Harvey/ Jamiroquai/ Ben Harper

1) PJ Harvey @ Maroquinerie Feb 14 : First show to promote "Let England Shake" in this tiny 400 capacity club, guests and competition winners only.The show was broadcasted live on Arte TV. She played the whole new album and a few oldies. She would be playing two sold out gigs @ Olympia Théatre a few months later.

2) Jamiroquai @ Olympia March 07 : Private show during the Fashion Week for Paul & Joe.
This fashion brand was celebrating their 15th anniversary and invited Jamiroquai for a short 45 min set. I think it was Jamiroquai first show to promote the new album as the Tour only started one month later. We had a great night : first the fashion show then the concert and afterwards party all night long with DJs, lots of booze and quality food. The best party we've been to this year.

3) Ben Harper & R7 @ Fleche d'Or May 09: To promote "Give till it's gone" album, club show with competition winners, guests and some people who bought their ticket. Great show, broadcasted live on the radio and on the internet for video. Only show in Paris for this tour.

4) Arctic Monkeys @ Album de la Semaine June 16 & @ Cigale June 16 : First was a private show @ Canal+ in front of 200 people, 12 songs in less than 45 min. A let down as the Arctic Monkeys have never been a great live band. It seemed as if they didn't give a fuck.
Second show the day after at the tiny Cigale (1200 capacity) for a proper show opened to the public. 21 songs set. Much better gig but still it could have been better.

Arctic Monkeys / Coldplay/ Red Hot Chili Peppers : all playing La Cigale this year.

5) Coldplay @ Cigale Oct 31: Private show for competition winners & guests before they played a sold out Bercy on Dec 14. They will be playing @ Stade de France in September 2012 and it's already sold-out. Average show too many shitty songs, Bercy was much better in December.

6) Patti Smith @ Eglise St Eustache Nov 04: Patti played a few acoustic shows in unusual places in France on this tour including this one @ Paris in a church. Great show once again. She would be back in Paris later that month for two sold out shows at the Olympia. It's not the first time we're attending gigs in a church with Patti. Last time was for the "Nuit Blanche" of 2008 @ Eglise St Germain des Près where she performed 5 sets between 9:30pm and 4:00am. We've been to all of them.

7) Red Hot Chili Peppers @ Cigale, Dec 19: After seeing them @ Paris Bercy on Oct 19 for their second show in this arena (both shows were sold-out) RHCP are back in Paris for this private show for guests and competition winners. Once again it's broadcasted live on the internet. Better show than the one in Bercy.We were just in front of Flea, second row on the side Great view for a very good gig. Our last for 2011

It's Official: Van Halen to Tour in 2012 with a new album

Contact: irockinparis((a)) yahoo((dot))fr

Updated Dec 30

VAN HALEN IS BACK: IT'S OFFICIAL

(c) Roxy & VHND

Van Halen have made an official announcement: The band will be hitting the road in 2012, with tickets for their first dates going on sale 10 January.
The Tour will be announce on Jan 3rd

I guess it will be the American Tour only.
The band has been rehearsing for the last two months at the Roxy club in L.A. where they did a 3 day video shoot in November for the newest single of the album yet untitled.

The new single and video will be available on Jan 10
The album (on Interscope) will be out on February 07 2012
Source: VHND

Cat Power new single & video "King Rides By"

ROCKERPARIS' Top 20 rock concerts for 2011 ! (Part 2)

ROCKERPARIS' Top 20 Concerts for 2011 (Part 2)

-NOT in order-

Click on links for review, Pics , setlist & video for all these shows

Jeff Beck / BCC/ Crosby & Nash

11) Jeff Beck @ Grand Rex July 1st: First time we were seeing him live, Yes can you believe it ?

Amazing guitar player.

12) Black Country Communion @ Bataclan July 19: our last show before the holidays and great performance by Glenn Hughes and Joe Bonamassa. A great band

13) Crosby & Nash @ Olympia Oct 14: I never thought this show would be so good without Steven Stills on guitar. In our Top 3 this year, everyone I talked to after the gig thought that they nailed it. What a great back catalogue.

14) Alice Cooper @ Zénith Nov 08: (Part 2 ) Whatever you can think of his latest releases (including "Welcome to my Nightmare II") Alice Cooper is always doing a very theatrical performance with LOTS of hits. He's on top form. Glad to see that Steve Hunter is back in the band. Same show as the one he did this summer @ Montereau Festival on June 10 (Part 2).

Scorpions/Lana Del Rey/ Alice Cooper

15) Lana Del Rey @ L'Album de la Semaine Nov 23: New pop sensation Lana Del Rey for a special TV show @ Canal+. We heard so much about her we needed to check what the fuss was all about. Great songs, she's hot as hell, great voice too and after we met her we all fell in love she 's very nice. Looking forward for the album out next January.

16) Scorpions @ Bercy Nov 23: Not the best show (and the best setlist) we've seen them performed as there were too many ballads. They've decided to stop their career at the top of their game. Nice to see them back in a sold-out Bercy.
Lenny Kravitz/ Paul McCartney

17) Lenny Kravitz @ Bercy Nov 29: Well, you wonder what is this fucking poser doing here ? His latest show was a great surprise, he's still acting like a fucking diva on stage but some of the songs he performed tonight were really steaming and during last song he crossed the pit and went into the stalls for a whole tour of Bercy in the middle of the crowd for a good 10 min. That was fun.

18) Paul McCartney @ Bercy Nov 30: (some more here) Once again Paul is at the top of the hill. Almost a 3 hour show with lots of gems from The Beatles and Wings plus some solo stuff. Some surprises as well with "Come & get it" "1985" and special songs just for Paris "Michelle" & "San Francisco bay" only performed tonight.

19) and 20)
Well... It's up to YOU !!!

ROCKERPARIS' TOP 20 Rock gigs for 2011 ! (Part 1)

ROCKERPARIS' Top 20 concerts for 2011 (Part 1)
-NOT in order-

Click on links for review, Pics , setlist & video for all these shows

Thin Lizzy/ America/ Ben Harper

1) Thin Lizzy @ Bataclan Jan 26 : (part 2) Strange line-up with Ricky Warwick / Vivian Campbell but one of our favorite show of 2011 (and it was only January)

2) Band Of Horses @ Cigale Feb 26: We've seen the band a few times before (Club,TV, radio, & festival shows) but their first headlining "big" show in Paris was Top.

3) Marianne Faithfull @ Théatre du Chatelet March 22 & 23: 60's Icon Lady Marianne introducing her new album with some of her best songs & some nasty guitar by none other than Mr Wayne Kramer from the MC5. WaaannGG !

4) America @ Casino de Paris April 19 & 20: Folk American legends performed two shows in Paris , it was a must see this year.Fantastic tunes.

5) Ben Harper & R7 @ Fleche d'Or May 09 : The new album "Give till it's gone" is not as good ( and as heavy) as the previous one "White Lies" but Ben is rejuvenated with his new band. Perfect conditions for us at this club show.

6) QOTSA @ Olympia May 23: They performed the first album in its entirety : Fantastic. The Encore was not as good with songs from the crappy latest album but still a great show.
Waters/ Doors/Megadeth/QOSTA

7) Roger Waters @ Bercy May 30 & 31: FANTASTIC SHOWS, the music, the sound , the stage, everything was top including his voice, well... he was miming over a tape. Still Fantastic. In our top 5 for 2011

8) Judas Priest @ Zénith June 20: Great performance with a smashing new guitar player and Rob Halford's voice was terrific.Great setlist too. Duff McKagan's Loaded opening was crap.

9) Manzarek/ Krieger @ Bataclan July 03: Former Doors members playing in Paris on the Anniversary of Jim Morrison's death. Everytime we saw them it was less and less good, in the end we didn't even bother going but tonight's show was great.

10) Sonisphere Fest in Amnéville with Anthrax,Slayer, Megadeth, & METALLICA July 09: Shitty conditions ( and very dangerous) as it was on a huge parking lot with stones the size of a pint glass, it was also baking hot the whole day and the security was crap. Metallica have performed a terrific set with the best setlist I have ever seen them do. Unfortunately the jam at the end of this Big 4 ruined (almost) everything as Slayer & Megadeth didn't turn up.

Judas Priest/Metallica

Merry Fuckin' Christmas 2011 from ROCKERPARIS !!!

Merry Fuckin' Christmas from ROCKERPARIS and from Dan & Jamie

Christmas time in Paris

Christmas lightning in Paris

Champs Elysées / Notre Dame/ Place Vendôme

Paris is really beautiful in december with lots of very beautiful Christmas lightning everywhere apart from the Champs Elysées where it looks like some spaceship from 2001 Space Odissey or Star Wars...Nice but no relation with Christmas.

Shop Window display @ Le Printemps by Chanel (above & below)

If you go next to the Opera Garnier, don't miss the shop window displays of department store Le Printemps. It is absolutely AMAZING ! well... for the girls and the kids !

The most beautiful I have ever seen, it is designed and inaugurated by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel.
There are several displays (click for video), not all are in Pics here, some of them are animated, the one below with Karl Lagerfeld is very funny as each "little Karl" is animated.(click for video of inauguration)
It probably cost a fortune to make, if you're in Paris it's a must see, kids will love it.
It's free and still on at night.

As Axl Rose would say:

MERRY FUCKIN' CHRISTMAS !!!

Guns N Roses Pro-shot footage of entire Los Angeles show available

Guns N Roses entire concert @ L.A. Forum recorded on Dec 21 is now available
This professionally filmed video footage was streamed on iclips as pay-per-view
It is NOW on ROCKERPARIS , it's free and it's 3 hours long.
So enjoy MOTHER FUCKERS !

Part 1 with first two songs :"Chinese Democracy" & "Welcome to the Jungle" is HERE
Part 2 Entire show below


Guns N Roses performance @ Rock in Rio in Oct 2011 is also available to watch on ROCKERPARIS Here

Check our review of GUNS N ROSES @ Zénith arena in Lille France
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

Lost footage of David Bowie playing "Jean Genie" on Top of the Pops in 1973 uncovered

Footage of David Bowie performing "The Jean Genie" with The Spiders from Mars on Top Of The Pops thought to have been lost forever is to be screened for the first time in almost 40 years.
The performance has not been screened on TV since it originally aired on January 4, 1973, the day after it was recorded.

HERE IT IS, ENJOY :

Read more on how the footage was uncovered HERE

Listen to "My Valentine" Paul McCartney's new song

Hear Paul McCartney's new song "My Valentine" featuring Eric Clapton on guitar from yet untitled new album to be out in February 2012



Paul is about to offer a glimpse into “the songs which inspired the songs” with the upcoming release of a brand new album of those standards he grew up listening to in his childhood—plus two brand new McCartney compositions: the album, which is currently untitled, will be released on Hear Music/Concord Records on February 7^th 2012.