Today's Day in Rock Stories

Iron Maiden vs. Michael Jackson Near 666,000 Streams

The Blue Plaque have been used in Britain since the mid-1800s to denote the locations of significant events in the lives of the famous and influential. The Liverpool childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and the London flat lived in by Jimi Hendrix (previously occupied by composer Handel), are just some of the buildings marked in this way, and the Handel and Hendrix house even has its own tourism organization: HandelHendrix.org.

For rock fans, Led Zeppelin are honored with two plaques including the location of their debut performance and the birthplace of John Bonham while three revolve around David Bowie. He has been honored with three plaques: in Soho, central London; Maidstone, Kent; and Hull.

Soho's Trident Studios wasn't just about Bowie, though. It shut its doors in 1981, after recording some of the biggest names in music including the Bee Gees, the Rolling Stones, Queen, Lou Reed and Frank Zappa; The Beatles recorded "Hey Jude" there in 1968.

The band announced that they will be returning to the same venue (013) on Monday (June 19th) to play a free concert for "any ticket holders from the now infamous 013 performance a week prior."

Guitarist Zoltan Bathory had the following to say, "Last Monday's show was an avalanche of events largely out of our control. We could sit here all day and apologize but our fans in the Netherlands deserve better than that.

"They've stuck with us all these years and helped get us to where we are today. So, we managed to re-route our tour and come back to Tilburg and play a free show on our day off - because actions speak louder than words."

The new track can be streamed here and is the fourth song that band has revealed from their new studio album, "Evolve", which is set to hit stores on June 23rd. They have previously revealed the songs "Believer," "Thunder" and "Whatever It Takes."

The band also announced that they will be performing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on June 20th and on Good Morning America's "Summer Concert Series" on July 28th.

The performance video shows frontman Win Butler singing into a neon rod microphone while the band play, lit only by a spotlight that moves from one side of the stage to the other.

The band was forced to postpone their tour dates back in February due to the Mike's medical condition which is described as "an inflammation of the digestive tract and is often life-threatening."

The Brooklyn shows will be taking place this coming Friday (June 23rd) through Sunday (June 25th). The band will then head to Austin for a concert at Come and Take It Live on Monday.

The Detroit rocker has released thirteen albums - including three greatest hits sets - to streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Napster and Slacker Radio.

Ten of Seger's albums are also available via digital download for the first time, including his 1969 debut, "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man", 1975's "Beautiful Loser", 1976's "Night Moves" and "Live Bullet", 1978's "Stranger In Town", 1980's "Against The Wind", 1986's "Like A Rock", 1991's "The Fire Inside", and his 1994 US Diamond-selling (10 million copies) "Greatest Hits" package and it's 2003 companion, "Greatest Hits 2."

Also issued to streaming services are 1981's live set, "Nine Tonight", 1982's "The Distance" and 2011's "Ultimate Hits" - all previously available for download. Seger has been looking forward to making his music available to stream and download for years, and he explained to Rolling Stone in 2014 what the holdup was in getting the situation resolved.

"It's an ongoing issue with my manager and Capitol Records," he said "They agreed to something many years ago about new media and they don't want to live up to it. Until that's resolved, we let very little out ... It does [frustrate me]. I wish people could get any song at any time."

Fans will get their first taste of the album on July 5th when the first single is released. Dani Filth had this to say about the record, "The album is deeply infused with Victorian gothic horror and thus the title is a reflection of that. 'Cryptoriana' implies the Victorian's infatuation with the supernatural, the grave and the ghoulish. And the subtitle 'The Seductiveness Of Decay' further cements this attraction to death and the glittering lengthy process of self-annihilation."

Frontman C.J. McMahon had this to say, "I feel the strongest I've ever felt going into a record. Coming back to the fold of our band has reinvigorated me. I missed my brothers, touring, and of course all our dedicated fans around the world who have always given us their all.

"This new record is going to shape our future; we gave it everything we could and then some. In the past, I was the weakest link and now that I have re-built myself, we are stronger than ever and nothing can stand in our way."

The track was the fifth single of the group's self-titled record, commonly known as the "Black" album, the band's first to top the US charts on its way to sales of 16 million in the States and more than 30 million worldwide.

The San Antonio stop marked the second of three Metallica shows in Texas this past week as part of their North American tour in support of "Hardwired�To Self-Destruct."

Anonymous sources said to be close to the matter claim that Springsteen will perform a pared-down version of his usual setlist during the run at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Paramore broke out a cover Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere" during the show. "Everywhere" originally appeared on the legendary group's 1987's album "Tango in the Night."

On getting his first guitar, as told to Guitar Player (1990): I bought a right-handed guitar, a Zenith, an old acoustic which I've still got. I sat down at home with a little chord book and started trying to work it out. It didn't feel good at all � very awkward. It was only when I saw a picture of Slim Whitman in a magazine, holding his guitar the "wrong" way, that I thought, "Oh, he must have turned his strings around." So I started on that problem, which is always the nut. I used to actually take matchsticks and build up the bass nut. It was only later that I was able to buy a left-handed guitar.

On his favorite guitar part as a Beatle, as told to Guitar Player (1990): I like "Taxman" just because of what it was. I was very inspired by Jimi Hendrix. It was really my first voyage into feedback. It was just before George was into that. In fact, I don't really think George got too heavily into that kind of thing. George was generally a little more restrained in his guitar playing. He wasn't into heavy feedback.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 67-year-old KISS bassist filed the request on June 9 over ownership of the gesture for "entertainment, namely, live performances by a musical artist; personal appearances by a musical artist."

The trademark request defines it as "a hand gesture with the index and small fingers extended upward and the thumb extended perpendicular." Simmons claims first use of the hand gesture in commerce on November 14, 1974, which was early in KISS' North American tour for their second album, "Hotter Than Hell."

A basic Wikipedia search reveals that hand gesture not only dates back to the 5th Century BC founder of Buddhism, but that it's also American Sign Language for "I love you."

While there may be some question about the gesture's first use in modern entertainment circles, at least two indications reveal it surfaced in the 1960s - prior to the formation of KISS in 1973.

The song "Show Me the Way Back Home" was the brain child of Lead guitarist and lead vocalist Tom Collier. Tom's brother Mike had served in Vietnam and lifelong service to this country. He became intrigued by how badly not just Vietnam Veterans, but many Veterans in general were treated. It was Tom's passion to help people, and that was the driving force behind the writing of the song. Held Hostage is donating 50% of net proceeds from sales of this song currently to Vietnam Veterans of America and Victory for Vets. Both of endorsed the project.

The Band Held Hostage over the years (current lineup is) Tom Collier, Ray Dorgan, Chuck Robbins Scott Gregg and Frank Smith. Had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for families in need. They were known as the Rockers with the biggest hearts. Held Hostage over the years lost 6 members to tragedies. Tom took many years off from the music business to raise his son as a single father. Tom said to the guys in the band and the families of past and current members it's time we go back out there and make difference.

By Chance meeting Tom met Legendary Drummer/Producer Carl (The Rods, Anthrax, Overkill) Canedy. Carl listened to the Demo of the song and Carl's quote was " When I first heard the demo of this song, I knew I had to produce it" . Then off to the Studio to record it. Tom hired a famous singer to sing the song as to add more passion to the song. The singer basically took the money (thousands) then said he wanted more money to sing. This project was being totally self funded by Tom to Help Veterans. After months of no response from the singer. Carl Canedy came to Tom and said its time to move on. I have the perfect singer for the song. Carl sent Tom a link and once he heard the singer everyone knew he was perfect.

Bret Alexander of the Badlees sang it with such passion and conviction no one could sing it better. There were many guest appearances on the CD and even a new words video to be released. Then right before the CD goes to print famous artist/Veteran Jay Haiden contacted Tom and Carl and asked if he could help with the art work. We immediately said yes. Scott Braun of Scott Braun photography & Design, designed a new Logo for Held Hostage and all the pieces fell into place.

Here is a direct quote from Jay Haiden "When I first heard the song, I was deeply moved and truly honored that Tom Collier and Carl Canedy commissioned me to create the artwork for it.

I knew its design had to honor those Veterans who had served, those who are currently serving, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. My hope is that after seeing the art - and hearing the music - that the listener will have a better understanding of what our Veterans experienced."

Had it not been for determination of Carl Canedy this project would have never been completed. Carl went above and beyond and not only was he a great producer, but a great friendship grew out of this between Tom and Carl..