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music fans can help relief efforts in Japan right from their ipads or ipods. Just purchase the new 38 song compilation titled “Songs for Japan” via iTunes and all proceeds go directly to the disaster relief efforts in Japan through the Japanese Red Cross Society. It’s a wide ranging mix of artists across several different record labels. All artists and music publishers participating in this compilation have waived their royalties and fees to make this all possible.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those that have been affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

click here to head over to the iTunes page.

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Journey will be back hitting the outdoor sheds across the U.S. this summer. Along for the ride this time around will be Night Ranger and Foreigner. Yeah, I know, the tour lineup is a bit stale especially Night Ranger since they toured with Journey the last go round in 2009. I was hoping for a more interesting “combo” of bands but I guess in terms of “classic rock bands” that are actively touring, there aren’t all that many to choose from that share a common fanbase with Journey.

I’m still debating whether to get tickets for this tour but I’m definitely getting the new album, Eclipse which will hit Walmart shelves May 24th.

Here’s the official press release for the upcoming tour:
JOURNEY is gearing up to unleash their latest album of brand new material, Eclipse. The album will be released in the U.S. and Canada on May 24 exclusively at Walmart and beginning June 3 in Europe on Frontiers Records.
To follow the release of Eclipse, Journey will launch the “Eclipse Tour” with Foreigner, and special guest Night Ranger in July. There’ll be new songs from Eclipse as well as classics such as Don’t Stop Believin’, Any Way You Want It, Faithfully, Lights, Separate Ways, Wheel In The Sky, and many more!
“I’m in love with this record, which I haven’t said about one of our albums for a long time,” says founding member and lead guitarist, Neal Schon. “It’s a rock record and it sounds amazing.” Commenting on the upcoming tour, Schon continued, “We’ve got a lot of hits to play and there’s plenty of time to do some new stuff too, so we’re gonna mix it up. We haven’t toured with Foreigner for over 10 years, so we’re really looking forward to this run.”
Tickets for “The Eclipse Tour” go on sale beginning Friday March 11, at all the usual online, phone and physical retail outlets, including select Walmart Ticketmaster locations across the country. Journey has once again teamed up with I Love All Access to offer their fans a variety of VIP ticket packages.
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, keyboardist Jonathan Cain recently described Eclipse as “a concept record with some spiritual themes to it…pretty tough, hard-hitting stuff.” Jonathan continued, “We just felt like it was time to send a message to the world about how we feel about life in general.”
Completing the Journey lineup is Schon (guitars, backing vocals), Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Ross Valory (bass, backing vocals) and Deen Castronovo (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Arnel Pineda (lead vocals).

For the latest on Journey, head over to the official band website.
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Well it appears that Tommy Shaw is taking an interesting little detour on his long musical journey. Known to most as the guitarist/singer of Styx and Damn Yankees, Shaw is taking on bluegrass on his next album, The Great Divide which will be out March 22nd. With a little help from the likes of Alison Krauss, Dwight Yoakam and Jerry Douglas, the new album’s getting some good buzz.

Here’s the official press release -
TOMMY SHAW TEAMS UP WITH BLUEGRASS GREATS FOR THE GREAT DIVIDE
STYX Rock Icon Drops Bluegrass Debut on March 22nd 2011

Tommy Shaw, guitarist of legendary rock band Styx, is set to release his debut Bluegrass album, “The Great Divide” on March 22nd, 2011, through Pazzo Music/Fontana Distribution. The album features an impressive roster of guest musicians, including: Alison Krauss, Dwight Yoakam, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Rob Ickes, Stuart Duncan, Byron House, Gary Burr and many more.
With this album, Shaw, a Montgomery, Alabama native, establishes himself as an authentic addition to the Bluegrass community. Born with a unique gift for music, a passion quickly recognized by his parents, he picked up his first guitar at the age of ten. From what his brothers remember, after Tommy’s introduction to the guitar; “We never saw him again…”, as he would stay in his room for hours practicing day and night. His tenacity and intrinsic passion for Bluegrass at an early age implies that this new release isn’t a casual endeavor, but a return to the music on which he was raised. Shaw wrote or co-wrote every song on the album in addition to playing acoustic guitar, dobro/resonator and mandolin.
A perennial part of the rock scene since the mid-70s as a member of STYX, Damn Yankees and Shaw/Blades, Bluegrass may at first seem like a stretch for Shaw, but his transition to Bluegrass is seamless. Having been raised on the genre, Shaw has always been deeply enamored with Bluegrass’ ability to connect to the listener through storytelling. “These are story songs,” says Shaw, an Alabama Music Hall of Fame Inductee. “I think songs that take you on a little journey are the best ones.”
This is the story of a Southern boy who made it “big,” but always held tight to his roots. “The Great Divide is a story of love and life; of happiness and hope; of loss and discovery,” says Shaw. “It’s the story of a journey that spans generations and is ultimately about trying to find your way home. And I’m as proud of this story as any I’ve ever told.”
The legendary rocker proves to his listeners that although this may be his first Bluegrass venture, it certainly won’t be his last.
“The Great Divide” was produced by Tommy Shaw, Brad Davis and Will Evankovich. It will be released on CD, vinyl and digital formats on March 22, 2011
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