Just over a year ago, I tried out a blog post asking for your input. It totally didn’t work. No one tried it. So I’m gonna try it myself, and you’re going to hopefully reply this time. I think I have a few more regular readers now. Here are the rules as I set forth before…
Okay. You just found out that you’re secretly related to Oprah, and since she knows you’re a huge music fan… she’s letting you put together the concert of all concerts to celebrate. Since you have Oprah money, you pretty much have no limit there, but you are limited to bands that are alive and actively together, or that you believe could be reasonably brought back together with a little grea$ing of the wheels. Example… you’re probably not going to get Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite or (even the Illusions tour) lineup to get on stage together… but you probably could get Steven Tyler & Joe Perry in the same room.
Put together the whole thing…
- The Venue: A small club? A stadium or amphitheater? Your living room?
- The Run: Is it a one-night-only deal, or is this a 3-day festival?
- The Name: Every killer show has to have a killer title. No “w00t-stock”, please.
- The Bands: Who’s playing & in what order? Bonus points for linking to ‘em.
- Added Insanity: Want a 20 minute drum solo with Neil Peart & Lars Ulrich? Want an unplugged duet with Danzig & Shakira? Want GWAR to disembowel you on the stage? A guitar battle between Eric Clapton and Slash? Want all the bands to do nothing but Black Sabbath covers? Can’t hurt to throw the idea out there!
- Micro-Manage: If you really want to get nuts, what do you want to see in each performer’s setlist? Either highlights or the whole thing.
I’ll think about mine while you post yours in the comments below, and in a few days or so I’ll revisit the whole idea in another blog post. Links to bands’ websites, videos, and music strongly encouraged!
Got it? I’m working under that set of guidelines.
I’d have just 2 sages, going back-to back with maybe 10 minutes in between each set. None of this bands playing at the same time crap like I’ve seen at some festivals where 2 of the 5 bands I came to see are playing at the same damn time.
I narrowed it down to 6 days with 10 bands each day. I didn’t work out set times… and the order is more random than I’d like. Pairing bands can be difficult. One one hand similar stuff sometimes pairs well… on the other it sometimes gets boring.
My problem is that I like a lot of bands & they constantly go in & out of rotation. I’m always forgetting & adding. This list might change if I were to start it all over tomorrow.
I’d like to see all the bands in their current incarnations as per the rules. I’ve seen some of them and they’re great live acts… I’d like to see what the others can do live. And, of course, if I had Oprah money, I’d put my bands in there too. Who wouldn’t?
I’d need 2 equal size stages… something like a parking lot venue where the crowd just turns around.
I’d call it AiXeLFest 3.0, because it would kind of be like Leonard Part 6. No one would have remembered 1 or 2. Well, some people would.
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AiXeLFeSt 3.0
Band [ Stage # ] Why?
Day 1
AiXeLsyD [Stage 1] Why not? You’d put your band on too, if you could, right?
The Legendary Hucklebucks [Stage 2] These guys are ridiculously entertaining. As for the Metallica cover, they played it live once and the crowd went NUTS.
Michale Graves [Stage 1] Dude works hard, writes some good stuff. I’d like to hear some Graves & Gotham Road stuff… plugged in.
- “Casket” (Graves)
- “Creo Burn” (Gotham Road)
- “Saturday Night” (Misfits)
Locksley [Stage 2] Killer live band that I’ve had the honor of playing with, and damn nice guys.
- “The Whip”
- “Darling, It’s True”
- “Don’t Make Me Wait”
Enemy You [Stage 1] I have one of their albums and I need more. It’s ridiculously catchy.
The Nobodys [Stage 2] These guys are hilarious potty mouths, and I bet they’d be a great show.
BARS [Stage 1] I can’t seem to find much about this band online. Did they even tour? Do they still exist?
Fist Fight in the Parking Lot [Stage 2] Prepare to have your face rocked off. You can claim it later at the lost & found.
- “Side Steppin’ Ninja”
- “S&M”
- “Something
Willie Nelson and his guitar "Trigger" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Willie Nelson [Stage 1] One of the coolest concerts I’ve ever seen was Willie Nelson. The dude is a natural entertainer & such a great songwriter.
- “Crazy” (He wrote it for Patsy Cline)
- “On The Road Again”
- “Rainbow Connection” (Yes, the Kermit the Frog cover)
- “I Never Cared For You”
Motörhead [Stage 2] Have you seen the movie Lemmy? Who wouldn’t want this guy to perform? They rock harder than most bands can even imagine rocking.
- “Ace of Spades”
- “Sacrifice”
- “Enter Sandman” (Metallica Cover)
- “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.”
Day 2
Secrets Lie Within [Stage 1] These dudes are great friends that AiXeLsyD & Gasoline Dion played many shows with. I dig their sweet sugary sound.
Duncan Redmonds [Stage 2] The man is a genius. So many bands, so many songs. His acoustic gigs look great on YouTube. I’d like to hear stripped-down stuff from any of them.
I Voted For Kodos [Stage 1] Never had the pleasure of seeing them live. They were a ska band, and then they weren’t, I think. Ska is generally a fun time, and these dudes wrote some catchy songs.
Steel Panther [Stage 2] Why wouldn’t you want these guys at an almost week-long party?
The Misfits [Stage 1] At least someone is playing the songs. I’d like to get as many of them as possible in one place and see either a reconciliation or a brawl.
Reel Big Fish [Stage 2] One of the better bands I’ve seen live… they’re all kinds of crazy & fun.
- “Beer”
- “Everything Sucks”
- “Another Day in Paradise” (Phil Collins cover)
Guns ‘n’ Wankers [Stage 1] I love the self-titled CD, it’s absolute genius. Both versions. I’d love to see this band live.
Mighty Mighty Bosstones [Stage 2] These guys are high-energy awesomeness live. Must be that dude that just dances.
NOFX [Stage 1] I’d love to see them again. They have an insane back-catalog of songs and I like most all of ‘em.
- “Mattersville”
- “Woah on the Woahs”
- “We Threw Gasoline On The Fire And Now We Have Stumps For Arms And No Eyebrows”
Flogging Molly performing live at Rams Head Live in Baltimore, MD (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Flogging Molly [Stage 2] Ridiculously awesome live show. Ridiculously catchy easily accessible songs. Ridiculous ability to get the crowd pumped. I’d go see them any time I can.
Day 3
Gasoline Dion [Stage 1] Again, if you were doing it & had a band, you’d put yourself on too. Or maybe I just have a big rockstar ego.
- “Cold”
- “Bitch Pants Opera”
- “She Shits in Stereo”
Screeching Weasel [Stage 2] They’re the “hey those aren’t the Ramones?” of my generation. I know they don’t play much. I’d make them.
- “Celena”
- “Cool Kids”
- “My Right”
- “I Wanna Be Naked”
Ann Beretta [Stage 1] One of my favorite bands. There was some kind of split, but Rob & Russ soldiered on to make more killer music.
- “Bottlecaps”
- “Love’s Easy Tears”
- “Russ’ Song”
- “Efforts Wasted”
800 Octane [Stage 2] Don’t know much about them other than I found them online many years ago & totally dug all their stuff.
Tom Green [Stage 1] Listen to this. This dude is a great rapper, and bound to be wildly entertaining and unpredictable. His Prepare for Impact album is incredible.
Dropkick Murphys [Stage 2] Great live show. Catchy songs. Celtic. What more do you need?
- “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”
- “Amazing Grace” (Traditional)
- “Dirty Glass”
ALL [Stage 1] ALL! Oddly, I like ALL better than that other band that they’re almost all in.
Band of Skulls [Stage 2] I bought this album recently and couldn’t get it out of the CD player. I kept letting it play.
The Offspring performing lite in Fortaleza, Brazil, November 15th 2008 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Offspring [Stage 1] Another memorable live show. These guys are pros all the way, and quite memorable. I saw this tour where they had this “intermission” with bubble machines and inflatable furniture… it was hilarious.
- “Total Immortal” (AFI Cover)
- “Self Esteem”
- “The Kids Aren’t Alright”
- “Bad Habit”
Avenged Sevenfold [Stage 2] I liked this band the instant I heard them on a Hopeless Records comp. Then, they blew up. Good for them!
Day 4
Sing the Evens, Play the Odds [Stage 1] Fun fact: I named this band. They’d do it if I asked nicely. They were a killer live show & great friends. I feel like they had another album in them somewhere.
The Bloody Seamen [Stage 2] You need to see this band. Everyone needs to see this band. What are you waiting for? Go!
The Eyeliners [Stage 1] Beautiful girls playing poppy punk rock songs with mad skills? I’m in. Gel is one of my favorite guitarists!
- “Destroy” (an appearance by Joan Jett would be killer!)
- “Think of Me”
- “Do The Zombie”
Transplants [Stage 2] I liked the first album, and I’d love to see how they do it live.
- “Quick Death” (with Davey Havok)
- “Diamonds and Guns”
- “D.R.E.A.M.”
Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg [Stage 1] This has to be a great show. I wanna hear all these Ramones Songs. Marky is a space cadet.
- “When We Were Angels”
- “Pet Sematary” (Ramones)
- “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” (Motörhead Cover)
- “Bop ‘Til You Drop” (Ramones)
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes [Stage 2] They’ve got to be a great time. They were booed at PNC Park once because Yinzers are dumb. They need to come back to an appreciative audience.
- “Country Roads” (John Denver cover)
- “One Tin Soilder” (Original Caste cover)
- “Goodbye Earl” (The Dixie Chicks cover)
- “Hello” (Lionel Richie cover)
Poison [Stage 1] Balk or scoff if you want, but I’ve seen them a few times, and they’re a great light-hearted rock n’ roll show. Brett Michaels & CC DeVille are great entertainers.
Beastie Boys [Stage 2] I’ve never seen them live, but I’d love to. They are incredible at defining what they do, and then doing it.
Velvet Revolver [Stage 1] Their records are over-produced, but they’re a great dirty live rock band. I don’t care if it’s Wieland or whoever the new guy will be.
- “Set Me Free”
- “Slither”
- “Negative Creep” (Nirvana cover)
- “Mr. Brownstone” (Guns N’ Roses)
Prince playing at Coachella 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Prince [Stage 2] Absolute genius. Incredibly insane. I’d love to see this in action. Ever see Purple Rain? If he brought out Morris Day & the Time for a few, it would also be incredible.
Day 5
Exclusion Principle|45 min.|1|My favorite local band ever? Probably. These dudes gigged with AiXeLsyD all the time, and were awesome. For Oprah money, I want a recording too.
Bastard Bearded Irishmen [Stage 2] If you live in the burgh, are at all of fan of Celtic stuff, and haven’t seen them… please kick your own ass now.
- “In Heaven There Is No Beer” (Ernst Neubach & Ralph Maria Siegel cover)
- “Drinkem’, Drankem, Drunkem’ “
- “Black Velvet Band” (traditional)
- “Float” (Flogging Molly cover)
Dethlehem [Stage 1] If any orcs show up to this gig, these guys will have it covered. They also slay eardrums with magical sweeping.
The Unseen [Stage 2] These guys are a great live show. I’m not sure who’s even in the band any more. High energy songs, high energy show.
Omegalord [Stage 1] “Not. Gonna. Die. …With bullets in my gun!” Badass biker metal like Motörhead meets Black Sabbath, cool live show. Oprah money may convince them to reunite.
Nerf Herder [Stage 2] Hilarious songs, great hooks, and goofy premises… I wish this band churned out more albums & toured more.
Tenacious D [Stage 1] These guys are awesome. With Dave Grohl on Drums and or additional guitar it would rock that much harder.
Dr. Dre [Stage 2] Musical genius. Lyrical genius. Production genius. Marketing genius. Hasn’t made kid movies. I’d like to see Ice Cube, Eminem, MC Ren, DJ Yella, & Snoop do some guest spots.
- “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”
- “Natural Born Killaz” (Dr. Dre & Ice Cube)
- “Keep Their Heads Ringin'”
- “Straight Outta Compton” (N.W.A.)
Slash playing a show with Velvet Revolver (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Slash, Miles Kennedy, & the Conspirators [Stage 1] Slash & Miles Kennedy go well together. They ought to keep doing it. Slash digs his touring band. They ought to keep doing it. I need to see this band if/when they come through the ‘Burgh. Slash has a great body of songs to pull from.
- “Back & Forth Again” (Slash’s Snakepit)
- “Starlight”
- “Rocket Queen” (Guns N’ Roses)
- “Ghost”
Aerosmith [Stage 2] I’ve never seen them, I’d like to before someone dies or they hate each other forever (again). I bet it’s a hell of a show.
- “Mama Kin”
- “Walk This Way”
- “Big Ten Inch Record”
- “Love in an Elevator”
- “Train Kept A-Rollin'” (Tiny Bradshaw cover)
Day 6
Ernie and the Berts [Stage 1] Yup. I was in too many bands, and I self-promote way too much.
Peelander-Z playing at the Asian Heritage celebration in New York at LaGuardia Community College (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Peelander-Z [Stage 2] These guys are pretty much inexplicable as a live act. It’s an experience. It’s like you’re on another planet. There’s so much interaction & participation, it’s hardly like watching a band… it’s like being in one.
The Bloodhound Gang [Stage 1] Such a fun live show. It’s like a dirty dirty potty-humor filled circus.
- “It’s Tricky”
- “Mope”
- “Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss”
The Sword [Stage 2] These guys are so heavy, they might cause the stage to collapse. These are the coolest riffs you’ll get outside of a Sabbath album.
AFI [Stage 1] So many different sounds, and I like them all. I caught the very end of their set once at a Warped Tour. I’d like to see a full set.
- “I Wanna Get A Mohawk (But Mom Won’t Let Me Get One)”
- “Totalimmortal”
- “Kill Caustic”
- “Days of the Phoenix”
SNUFF: The Drummer is the main vocals. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Snuff [Stage 2] Such a great band. So many albums, so many songs, so many related projects, and I love them all. They need to come to the US so I can see them!
Rancid [Stage 1] So catchy, great live band, and all kinds of fun. Rancid is a great gateway into ska & punk rock.
Danzig [Stage 2] Badassery abounds from the great tiny one. If only Danzig could learn to not take himself so seriously. Great live show though!
Green Day [Stage 1] I’ve never seen them live. I’d love to. I enjoy many of their albums & have for quite some time. They’ve become incredibly successful just doing what they do.
- “2,000 Light Years Away”
- “She”
- “F.O.D.”
- “Church on Sunday”
Metallica [Stage 2] METALLICA! Even without Jason Newsted, and even after a few blah albums… I’d like to see them again. They’re still THE metal band.
—
Son of Sam would be cool too if Davey Havok were to sing… or a Samhain reunion, or even the Teen Idols or The Donnas. Then there’s, Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards, The Foo Fighters, Psychostick, Green Jellÿ, The Aquabats, The Phenomenauts, Head Cat, Sixer, Warp 11, The Distillers, Weird Al, Electric Eel Shock, and so many others.. I could easily add another day & lots more locals like The Cheats, Undercover Saints, Scratch ‘n Sniffs, Trash Magnet, Black Casket, maybe even Anti-Flag. Maybe we could reunite the Satanic Bat?
I wonder how much money or money to a charity it would take to get Ozzy Osborne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward all to get on stage together? Think I could get Dave back into Sum 41? Then there’s Duff McKagan’s Loaded or Izzy Stradlin (& maybe even the Ju Ju Hounds). Could I pay enough to bring Bobby Steele and The Undead out of retirement or for Danzig to play with John Christ, Chuck Biscuits, & Eerie Von? Maybe a Pinhead Gunpowder or The Network appearance could happen? I like the weird/quirky stuff.
I’d like to see all the bands in their current incarnations as per the rules. I’ve seen some of them and they’re great live acts… I’d like to see what the others can do live. And, of course, if I had Oprah money, I’d put my bands in there too. Who wouldn’t?
As far as the “hits”, I tried to include rare stuff or stuff that I’d go just nuts without hearing.
So that’s my list. Today. Obviously, I find it hard to narrow down. Now, make your own! You don’t have to get as detailed as me. You can list your favorites in the comments below. You could post it on your own blog or as a Facebook note & keep it going.
Would you come to my show?
- Guns n’ Roses’ Axl Rose Skips Hall of Fame Ceremony! (celebs.gather.com)
- GWAR Already Working On New Material (metalinjection.net)
- METALLICA’s Lars Ulrich Talks About Orion Music + More – “Cliff Will Always Be A Part Of The Spirit Of This Band And Our Hearts And The Fans’ Hearts” (bravewords.com)
- Dear Mr. Rose, (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
- Who Wants Relationship Advice From Gwar? (metalsucks.net)
- Axl Rose booed at Rock Hall of Fame induction (canada.com)
- RUSH – Neil Peart Remembers Longtime Photographer Andrew MacNaughtan (bravewords.com)
- Bouncing Souls & Me First and the Gimme Gimmes playing boats & other shows ++ Ari Katz of Lifetime’s other band too (brooklynvegan.com)
- Gwar News: Band Offers Romantic Advice, Oderus Comments on Boston Mosh Ban (metalsucks.net)
- How Tall is Glenn Danzig Height and Weight (celebrityheightandweight.com)
- Band of Skulls New Video Debuts (hangout.altsounds.com)
- Absent Axl Rose Booed At Rock Hall Induction (wncx.radio.com)
- Absent Axl Rose Booed At Rock Hall Induction (wzlx.radio.com)
- This Date in History: Tour Food (929dave.radio.com)
- Green Day To Present Guns ‘N Roses At Rock Hall Induction (buzz103.radio.com)
- News Roundup: Eddie Vedder Postpones Tour, The Jacksons Reunite, Beyonce Takes Over The Internet and More (beatcrave.com)
- Faces, Chili Peppers, Guns N Roses Lead Rock Hall Induction Ceremony (buzz103.radio.com)
- FABTV: Beastie Boys “Fight For Your Right to Party” (fabsugar.com)
- FABTV: Beastie Boys “Sabotage” (fabsugar.com)
- Beastie Boys Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Tribute ft. Kid Rock, The Roots & More [VIDEO] (hiphopwired.com)
- VELVET REVOLVER Guitarist Dave Kushner Launches PUSHERJONES Project; First Single Streaming (bravewords.com)
- OurStage & 2012 Vans Warped Tour Bands’ Compertition (hangout.altsounds.com)
- MIKE PORTNOY Says Playing With AVENGED SEVENFOLD Was ‘A Great Experience’ (roadrunnerrecords.com)
- Former RAMONES Drummer MARKY RAMONE To Release Memoirs Next Year (roadrunnerrecords.com)
- SLASH Presenting Six-Episode Series On BBC Radio 2; First Episode Streaming (bravewords.com)
- METALLICA’s Orion Music + More Announces Schedule Of Performances; Single Day Tickets Now Available (bravewords.com)
- Rock Bands That Changed Lead Singers (musicbrowser.wordpress.com)
- Metallica drummer in documentary “Mission To Lars” (valkyrianmusic.com)
- AiXeLsyD and Gasoline Dion Mazes (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
- The dangers of posting punk rock lyrics on the internet… (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
- Nostalgia… (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
- Original Guns N’ Roses Members – Screw Axl Rose … We Got a NEW Singer (tmz.com)
- Willie Nelson Weekend in Austin! (stillisstillmoving.com)
- Friday Funtimes – Five Flogging Molly Songs (kikiwritesabout.com)
- Offspring Ninth Record Finished, Reality TV Run Over For Offspring’s Offspring (news.radio.com)
- Prince: Inside the Music and the Masks by Ronin Ro – review (guardian.co.uk)
- MATT SORUM – “Life Is Good, My Friends… We Are Alive! God Bless The Fans Of GUNS N’ ROSES” (bravewords.com)
- Ink N’ Pages – The Guns N’ Roses Autobiograhpies (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
- Guns N’ Roses’ Slash Gets Excited For Rock Hall Induction (buzz103.radio.com)
- Slash Was ‘Hoping’ Guns N’ Roses Could Work It Out for Rock Hall Induction (loudwire.com)
- Slash Talks Velvet Revolver (fresh1027.radio.com)
- Black Sabbath reunion tour downgraded to ‘Ozzy and Friends’ (guardian.co.uk)
- In Defense Of… Axl Rose skipping the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Column) (popmatters.com)
- Former GUNS N’ ROSES Manager Alan Niven Comments On Band’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction (bravewords.com)
- Axl Rose Thanks Cleveland And Fans For Support Of Hall Of Fame Snuff (perezhilton.com)
- Peelander-Z touring, playing a record release show on a boat THIS MONTH, played BV-CMJ (belated pics, new video, dates) (brooklynvegan.com)
- BLACK SABBATH’s Bill Ward Issues Update – “I Applaud Your Worldwide Reaction In Support Of The Original Band” (bravewords.com)
- MARKY RAMONE’S BLITZKRIEG Announces First Tour Dates Of 2012 (bravewords.com)
- Valley of Steel | Out Today: Fist Fight in the Parking Lot – Self-Titled (aixelsyd13.wordpress.com)
- Exclusive: Green Day to Induct Guns N’ Roses Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (rollingstone.com)
- Axl Rose to Cleveland: Sorry, You Rock (newser.com)
- Aerosmith Holds Press Conference To Discuss Tour & New Album (wdok.radio.com)
- Daily Reload: Guns N’ Roses, Linkin Park + More (loudwire.com)