AC/DC’s 2008-2010 ‘Black Ice’ tour has been given the title of being the second-highest grossing tour in history, with figures to date totalling up to a staggering $441.6 million. Ranking second to the Rolling Stones’ ‘A Bigger Bang’ tour which rolled out through 2005-2007, the Stones grossed an almighty $558.3 million from a total of 147 shows across the globe.

John Paul Jones on Dave Grohl proved why they are two of the greatest musicians in the history of Rock Sunday night at Caesars.

Them Crooked Vultures exceeded expectations. Brilliant sound in the Coliseum. Tight grooves, amazing hooks and breath-taking musicianship.

I was speechless and so grateful to see one of the finest live shows I have ever seen.

Simply amazing.

Wrinkly rocker Iggy Pop has the ugliest face in showbiz, according to a new

poll by cosmetic surgery advice group The Good Surgeon Guide.

Some songs you fall in love with after the first listen, others grow on you. It’s not that often that I hear a song that “blows me away” but when I find that tune, I always turn it up when I hear it again.

One of those “blow me away” tunes is ‘Cochise’ by Audioslave. I remember when I first heard that Chris Cornell was joining a band with the guys from RAGE, my first thought was “please don’t let Chris rap”. Thankfully he didn’t. He was the ‘badmoterfinger’ Cornell instead.

I was working at the Rock and the Music Director at the time ran into the on-air studio with a CD single of ‘Cochise’ sent in from the Record Company. Both he (music director) and I were/are massive Soundgarden and Rage fans and we were dieing to hear what this “Audioslave” was all about. We threw the disc into the CD player and turned the volume in the studio to full. We were both jaws on the floor. Blown away. It sounded like the guys from Rage were jamming and in walked Chris Cornell, grabbed the mic and just let it rip ‘Jesus Christ pose’ style. What a brillant song. What a brilliant first impression. I still love that first Audioslave album.

Red House Painters – Songs for a Blue Guitar

Mark Kozelek is the man behind the painters. You may know him as the bassist in the movie Almost Famous. Mark writes amazing stories of love and loss. He paints some amazing pictures on this CD which features a cover of “Silly Love Songs” and “Long Distance Runaround”. His songwriting in spots (especially the electric tracks) has a Neil Young feel. One of the finest acoustic players and writers you’ll come across.

If you like Neil Young, you’ll love “Songs for a Blue Guitar”. Download the song “Have You Forgotten”.

2 of my favorite songwriters are in Sebaboh, Lou Barlow (original bassist for Dinosaur Jr.) and Jason Loewenstein. Sebadoh were low-fi pioneers in the early 90’s and fit in nicely with the nirvana’s of the world. This album I bought in 1994 and there haven’t been too many weeks since I bought it that I haven’t given the disc a listen.

To me, this was their finest work. A lot of previous Sebadoh releases we’re too unfocussed for me. They’d go from folk to screamo to stoner metal. This album was their “nevermind”. Every song was well written, had great hooks and lyrically excellent. Any time you’re looking for a new way to say “I love you” or “I miss you”, give BakeSale a listen and you learn a new line or two. If you can’t find the CD, e-mail Sub-Pop records and demand a copy. Stand-out tracks are “Careful” and “Drama Mine”.

So, rather than using this space to post pictures of girls in thongs or speak my witty views of the world around me or some whacky youtube video that will make you pee yourself…I thought I’d use this time to talk more important things…like music.

I mean after-all I do work for a music based radio station. I’m not a photographer of super hot naked girls. I’m not a stand-up comedian. Nor am I really all that up to speed with the workings of the internet.

I am however a life long fan of music. More specifically buying and collecting records.

So, each week I’m going to do my best to introduce you to an artist or an album that you may never have otherwise been exposed to. At least, that’s the idea.

So I’ll start at the top.

In 1972 an English songwriter released what would become his final recording. He died 2 years later of a drug overdose at the young age of 26.

The album was “Pink Moon” and the artist was Nick Drake.

I’ve always been a huge fan of the “singer-songwriter”, the guy with an acoustic guitar playing honest songs. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, you know the guys.

I first heard ‘Pink Moon’ while I was in college in Toronto and it honestly changed me forever. I didn’t grow up in the ‘60’s folk-movement and I’d never even heard of Drake until I read an article in a Guitar Magazine on his influence and songs.

Pink Moon was only Drake’s 3^rd album and was his only release to feature just him and his guitar. No drums, no bass, just a very small piano fill on the title track, that’s it.

And that was one of the reasons I fell in love with the album. Sure, Drake was an amazing guitarist, had a deep and honest voice. But it’s the songs. How Drake captured a sense of purity and honesty in his recordings.

You may have heard the title track. It’s been in a few movies and even a TV commercial. But if you ever find the record, buy it. It sounds best of vinyl but CD is great too. Don’t listen to it in the car or with a group of people. Go to your “quiet place” and find a pair of headphones. Listen from “pink moon” right until the album ends with “from the morning”. If you aren’t moved, I’ll be surprised.