Category Archives: Progressive Rock

New review of inelligence agencies and ASIO

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1329821827 48 New review of inelligence agencies and ASIO

Study any large institution and you’ll always see the same human characteristics emerge inside bureaucracies. One of the recurring features of the Anglican church in the 16th and 17th century was that bishops and priests, when pressed to report on the state of their dioceses and parishes, would frequently report back “omni bene”, no matter what was going on.

Omni bene. All’s well. The response of people who don’t want any outside interference on their turf, who are content with the status quo and want to keep it.

If you want a modern day omni bene report, look no further than the review of Australia’s intelligence agencies, the unclassified version of which was released on Wednesday — after suitable backgrounding of Fairfax the day before.

The review is officially called a “Report of the Independent Review of the Intelligence Community”. But the two-person review team was led by Robert Cornall, John Howard’s appointee as Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department who served from 2000-08 and who was critical to the rollout of the Howard government’s systemic abrogation of basic rights under the guise of anti-terror legislation.

Cornall also played a disturbing role in the aftermath of the abduction of Izhar ul-Haque in 2003 by ASIO agents, who kidnapped him and his brother from a Sydney railway station and held him prisoner while interrogating him.

Justice Michael Adams later found that two ASIO agents had committed false imprisonment and kidnapping. The agents, sheltering behind their legislated anonymity, have never been brought to justice.

But in a remarkable intervention, Cornall subsequently tried to have Adams disciplined by the NSW Judicial Commission, writing a letter of complaint citing how Adams had failed to have any concern for “due process and natural justice” — the two things flouted by ASIO. The Commission rejected Cornall’s complaint.

How this man could be considered “independent” is a mystery known only to Julia Gillard, who appointed Cornall and University of Melbourne academic Rufus Black in December 2010.

Unsurprisingly, “omni bene” is the result, with the review declaring the legislative framework within which intelligence agencies have operated since 9/11 (which Cornall played a critical role in developing), the massive increase in resourcing for intelligence and the balance between security and civil rights is all fine, thanks very much.

At least, that’s what the unclassified summary of the report says. We’re not allowed to know the contents of the classified version. Cornall and Black may have been poorly served by the unclassified “summary”. Indeed, that’s the only explanation for some of the strange logic that pervades it. For example, in relation to the draconian anti-terrorism framework, the report concludes

“The anti-terrorism laws which created terrorism offences and expanded the powers of intelligence and law enforcement agencies were forged through a vigorous national debate that ultimately led to bipartisan support in the Parliament. The result of that process of political negotiation is that the Review did not hear any substantial criticism of the balance in our anti-terrorism laws between the security of the community and individual privacy and other civil rights.”

Remember, this is one of the key architects of these laws sitting in judgment on his own handiwork. And it’s not entirely clear what it means — it seems to suggest that, because the major political parties agreed on the aggressive curtailment of rights that resulted from the anti-terror legislation, there was no “substantial criticism” of that. The review appears not to have consulted with any MPs or senators outside the government and opposition, except Andrew Wilkie, who told Crikey he was consulted through his membership of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The review did, however, consult with John Howard, Peter Costello, Alexander Downer and Lindsay Tanner, all of whom had left politics before the review commenced.

The same weird logic crops up in what would, even from the point of view of anyone uninterested in the curtailment of rights in the name of the War on Terror, be a key issue for the review – whether the vast increase in resourcing of intelligence, which the report finds has ballooned to over a billion dollars a year, has been warranted. The review concludes:

“The investment made in building up the intelligence agencies has been justified and rewarded with more capability and increased performance.”

That is, an arbitrary declaration that it has been “justified”, and then a bizarre statement that the investment has been “rewarded”. Given a significant increase in resourcing, wouldn’t greater capability and increased performance necessarily follow?

The rest of the report is equal parts bureaucratic boilerplate and motherhood of the kind found in strategic plans and annual reports the world over. It offers such pearls of wisdom as

“Priority setting would be assisted by a more analytic approach that is better aligned with the government’s all hazards approach to national security …

“Australia also needs to keep its war fighting capability on a sound footing. We still live in a dangerous world. There are rising powers and simmering tensions in our region. Our neighbourhood has vulnerable states that may again need our assistance …

“Generally speaking, intelligence was historically well hidden and hard to get.”

Out of respect for Cornall and Black, we should again emphasise that this is a summary, and they may not be responsible for such offerings.

Nor does the report deal with what we were told was a key issue last year: the need for ASIO’s powers to be enhanced to enable it to spy on foreign entities like WikiLeaks. As we know, the government repeatedly denied it had amended ASIO’s powers to target WikiLeaks, eventually insisting after much questioning that they were to enable it to target the dire threat of illegal fishing. When ASIO was later asked about its anti-illegal fishing operation, it said not merely was it not doing anything about illegal fishing, it was actually outside its remit.

So how does the report address the need for the change and the remedying of this apparently critical flaw in ASIO’s powers? Apart from suggesting that “non-state actors” are outside “ethical frameworks”, it confines itself to stating that “it is not clear that either [domestic or international legal] framework is entirely suitable for dealing with non-state actors like terrorist organisations”. Whether that applies to the pre-WikiLeaks amendment framework or the post isn’t clear.

What the report really is is yet more of the rubber-stamp public accountability enjoyed by an intelligence community that has been handed constantly strengthened powers and massive increases in funding with no effort made to check whether any of it is justified. We don’t even know how many wiretaps and online intercepts ASIO deploys each year, as that isn’t covered by the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 annual report, ASIO’s annual report to parliament or the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s annual report.

This is an area of government with enormous power and over a billion dollars a year, effectively overseeing itself with the public given nonsense reports like this as a sop for real accountability.

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Interview with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

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1329753429 33 Interview with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull are a band that needs no introduction; and yet, not everyone realizes how prolific both Jethro Tull and their sure-footed frontman Ian Anderson have been over the years. With 21 studio albums, 8 live albums, and countless compilations and greatest hits collections, plus Anderson’s 5 already released solo albums (many of which featured members of Jethro Tull), Anderson has shown himself to be one of the most resilient musicians to come out of the progressive rock era. Incorporating a diversity of styles, including hard rock excess, progressive bombast, jazz, folk, and classical music, Celtic melodies, Middle Eastern flavors, and of course Anderson’s trademark flute stylings, Anderson and Jethro Tull have staked out a territory that is comfortingly familiar, yet uniquely their own.

40 years ago, Jethro Tull released their landmark album ‘Thick as a Brick.’ Written from the perspective of a fictitious 8-year-old boy named Gerald Bostock, the progressive rock masterpiece was in fact meant to be a parody of pretentious concept albums, but it was executed so artfully that it became a massive hit, influencing countless other artists. After years of turning down requests to make a sequel, Anderson has finally relented and created ‘Thick as a Brick 2.’ The album imagines what paths Gerald Bostock might have gone down in his life, and realizes them in grand fashion. Anderson is a man to whom compromise does not come naturally; ‘TAAB2′ reflects this, delivering an exacting artistic expression that could only be his.

Rock Edition was fortunate enough to get to speak with Ian Anderson about the new album and accompanying tour. Read on to find out more.

So, a lot of interviews today, eh?

Well, it’s that time of the year. With tours coming up and a new record coming out, my days are fairly filled for the next couple of months with the usual press and promo stuff. Wouldn’t you think, that in these days of the Internet, you could get that to work for you and take the place of a lot of the human interface. But in reality, whilst people will go visit websites and Facebook and all the rest of it, the personal touch is the thing that I guess most people want to hear and read.

It really is. I’ve tried doing interviews over email before, and it can work, but sometimes there’s no replacing having a real conversation.

Well, that’s it — it’s the nuance, isn’t it? Reading behind and between the lines makes it that much more fun for everybody.

Exactly. So is this new record a Jethro Tull album or an Ian Anderson album?

That’s usually not the first question — that usually comes about ten questions in to any interview these days. Frankly, it’s just not one of those things that I stop to think about. I’m so used to being out on tour as Ian Anderson, and still occasionally doing concerts as Jethro Tull, and it’s just — I have to look at the ticket stub and see what it says [in order] to know the difference. [laughs] From where I stand, I’m out there playing my music on a stage, doing what I always do. It’s not really an issue for me at all. If I’m going to make an album today, and it’s a really big project, a conceptual thing, and it’s got a lot of me in it, I don’t want to suggest that it’s a band effort. It’s my music. I suppose I’m having a little bit of a Roger Waters selfish moment, saying, “Well, this is my baby, and I want people to see my name on the cover!”

That’s fair enough. Wouldn’t part of the deciding factor be who records it with you and who backs you on stage?

Well, all the members of the band who play on this record have done concerts as members of Jethro Tull. Some of them have done a lot of concerts as Jethro Tull, because they’ve been playing in the Jethro Tull lineup for quite a few years. The noticeable difference, perhaps, from the perspective of someone reading the liner notes or whatever, [would be] that Martin Barre is not there. Last year, we talked at length about upcoming events, and Martin has got a bunch of other things he’s doing this year: playing with other people, going out on tour, and working on music for new recordings. We have our other projects that we do. The ‘Thick as a Brick’ thing is something that really does require one person to drive it on, in terms of the concept, the realization of it, the orchestrations, and the dynamics of the performance.

Of course, working with your fellow musicians is a really important part of it, and I’m very happy that the guys who recorded this with me are the instrumentalists that they are, because it’s a demanding piece to play. But, the essence of it is coming from me, and I don’t think, to be quite honest, that I could have made this record — it wouldn’t sound this way if I’d done it with some of the other musicians that have been a part of Jethro Tull over the years. Let’s be honest: some of them couldn’t have played it — [they] technically would not have been able to play it. Some of them would have struggled. Some of them just probably wouldn’t really have enjoyed it because it’s not their kind of thing. With Martin Barre, for example, he has a certain kind of music that he loves to play, and a bunch of the stuff that we have recorded together over the years, he doesn’t really feel a musical affiliation for, because he knows what he likes. It’s different if you’re writing a piece of music because the music has to be right, as opposed to writing music to impress or utilize your bandmates. There can be two different things. On this occasion, the music and the concept were the absolute driving forces, and I had to pick the musicians I felt would really be the right people to play it.

That’s the way you do it. If you’re going into battle, you have to choose your fellow soldiers, don’t you?

Yes, you do. So, we may not know exactly what name will be on the front of the album, but we know it’s ‘Thick as a Brick 2.’

Well, you have seen the front of the cover if you’ve been to JethroTull.com or StCleve.com. You can go to either of those websites and see what the cover looks like. It is what it says; it says Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson plays ‘Thick as a Brick 2.’ That’s the simple message, and that’s what it will say on the ticket. For those people who may not recognize my name and need to be reminded that Jethro Tull is the entity that I have fronted all these years, then that information is there. But my name is bold and I feel that, as I say, it’s my baby and my project.

I understand. So it’s clearly a bit of a sequel to ‘Thick as a Brick.’ Tell me a little bit more about the concept behind it.

The concept began when I was yet again fending off the well-intended requests from record company type people who [would] say, “What about a sequel to ‘Thick as a Brick’?” I’ve been quite used to coming up with excuses over the years as to why that would not be a good idea. But when I was talking to a chap named Derek Shulman — he used to be the singer of a band called Gentle Giant in the ’70s, and he went on to become a record producer in the USA — he was trying to persuade me a couple of years ago to record a sequel to ‘Thick as a Brick.’ Over a few conversations we’d had, I’d gotten used to explaining that I wasn’t going to do that, until somehow the conversation we’d been having went on to just ponder on what would have happened to this little 8-year-old boy who’s the supposed lyric writer of the original ‘Thick as a Brick,’ and what would the St. Cleve Chronicle — the 16-page newspaper that formed part of the album cover — what would that be today? Then I started to get interested in it, thinking what might have happened to this little guy. What different paths might he possibly have taken in life, what would he be today, would he be a doctor, a dentist, a computer scientist, what would he be?

I decided to find a few possibilities and explore the characters. Not necessarily because it’s terribly important what a fictitious character does in life, but more because it was interesting coming up with the little pivotal moments that send people down this or that walk of life. [There are] so many little interventions that occur in everybody’s life that really change what’s going to happen. And I rather like the idea that perhaps somehow there is some fateful conclusion to life, where you kind of end up where you were going to be anyway. I don’t believe that, but I don’t disbelieve it either. It’s an intriguing intellectual proposition that, in spite of the myriad of events that befall us and cause us to deviate or change tack completely, maybe there is some fundamental pull that kind of takes us back to a certain inevitable conclusion. I like that. I don’t believe in God — I believe in possibilities and even probabilities, but I don’t feel compelled in a true believer’s sense. Same thing with issues to do with chance, karma, kismet, or whatever you want to call it: I don’t believe in it, but I’m intrigued by the possibility that it might be real.

I’m kind of using those notions as the concepts, so we see young Gerald develop as a soldier, as a corrupted evangelical priest, as a very ordinary man who runs a little corner shop and plays with his model trains. We see him as a despicable, selfish investment banker — who is obviously the subject of all of our anger and derision these days. We see him as a homeless rent boy, for whom life goes horribly wrong. I think the important thing is that we realize that all these extremes could happen to any of us! I know they could’ve to me, because I look back at my formative years, and there were radically different paths that I had in front of me, and I could have gone down any of them. But something stopped me, or changed my mind, or pushed me in a different direction. I rather like that idea, and we can apply that to probably everybody’s lives, and we can all look back and say, “That was the moment when I decided to do such-and-such, or became this or became that.”

[For instance], I wonder what would have really happened if I had become a policeman in Blackpool, when I went to sign on the dotted line as a police cadet at age 17, and they told me no. “We’ve got too many exam qualifications to be a police cadet. Go away and get a university degree, then come back and join the police force and we’ll give you a good job.” That’s what they told me, and they were probably quite right. So I didn’t become a policeman. And they didn’t let me get some work experience as an office boy in the local newspaper, because I went there fully wanting to be a journalist. Didn’t get that one either. I also worked in a shop, selling newspapers and magazines for a while. I could have become a shopkeeper! And, the moment when I first picked up a flute was just an absolutely chance moment, the sun coming through the window in a music shop when I was going to sell my 1960′s Fender Strat guitar to raise some money, because I had no money, and the sun fell on a shiny object on the wall, which sparkled and caught my attention. It was a flute hanging on the wall, and I just, on a whim, for no reason I could possibly explain, said, “Uh, if I give you the guitar, will you give me that flute and then whatever in the way of money?” And the guy said, “Yeah, 30 quid for the flute… 150 quid for the guitar…” So I walked out of the shop with a flute that I had no idea how to play, knew nothing about, and actually regretted it for about six months, because I thought, “I don’t know what to do with it, I can’t play it.” It was one of those whimsical moments.

So, lots of things like that I’m sure apply to everybody. They go back and think about their lives and that to me is quite intriguing, really. And I think it’s also intriguing for young people who face the reality of all the options ahead of them. They have to realize that making those decisions, or making no decisions at all and just letting events overtake you, is going to shape the rest of your life. That first time you shoot up with heroin, that first time you decide to pick up that crack cocaine, it’s good to just stop and think, “Wait a minute — can I really handle this? Or am I just embarking upon an absolutely suicidal cul-de-sac?” We all have to make those decisions, and hopefully most of us make them with a little thought and a little wisdom, as we grow older. But, you know, things happen.

That’s really interesting. It’s funny how, as you say, even if one doesn’t intellectually believe that something like fate, if you will, is possible, sometimes the evidence in favor it is just overwhelming. It’s like it could have happened no other way — at least, that’s what I got out of your story.

Yes, and the prospects of there being an infinite number of parallel universes where there are other Ian Andersons who didn’t play the flute. You know, there could be other Ian Andersons out there who are quietly tending some trees in a forest somewhere, and some other Ian Andersons out there who are maybe playing flute in a symphony orchestra rather than a rock band. Who knows? These are both intellectual and yet fundamentally rather whimsical questions, and therein lies a little humor, a little warmth, a [bit] of a fun moment, or 54 minutes in the case of this album.

But it’s also rather a dark album, because there are elements within the music that become rather serious and rather engaging in quite a grim way. There’s a song suite sub-titled “Wootton Bassett Town” which is about the repatriations of dead soldiers; men and women who come back from Iraq, or more recently Afghanistan, and were repatriated in coffins through the city or town, and everybody stops and watches this very public display of shared grief for family and friends. That’s something very profound. You stand there and can’t help but be struck by the overwhelming emotion, which is largely the futility of war. And when you think of all those coffins that have been paraded through that town in the last few years, and the current recent proclamations in our news media that the Taliban are slowly gaining again in strength, and that they aren’t going away; pretty much everybody is coming to the conclusion that when British, American, and other Allied troops move out of there by 2014, that it’s just a short time before it’s business as usual for the Taliban, and Afghanistan will be back to the fierce, tribal Islamic state that it was. Any attempt to change anything will result just as it did for [us and for] the Russians before, in the same shameful retreat. And all for what? It’s a sad reality.

I’m not saying it shouldn’t have been done. And certainly Afghanistan was a different kettle of stinking fish from Iraq, in terms of the reason for being there. Iraq was pure folly, an absolute grave error on the part of your ex-president and Tony Blair. I think most people would agree [it was] pretty much an unholy mess that didn’t have to happen. Saddam Hussein would have been much better off left tamed and finally gently deposed, rather than the bloodbath and the mess that ensued and is still not over. Afghanistan is a whole different ball game, and one that I guess, at the time, seemed like it was a gamble worth taking. But in reality, I don’t think it was ever a winnable war, and indeed it has become a war. It’s increasingly becoming a war between extreme Islam and the capitalist Christian rest of the world, and I don’t think we’re going to win that one. Those are crucial issues. What a terrible, terrible legacy this is for the lives lost in 9/11 — to think, what was the retaliatory result of going into Iraq, and more recently into Afghanistan? I mean, they’re different things, I’m not saying that they were both terrible misadventures, but nonetheless it’s a sad reality that all we have to show for it is more dead bodies. A lot of young American people who’ve lost their lives, and not a few Brits and other Allied forces that have been out in those theaters of war, all probably to no avail. It’s a very sad reality.

So, it’s worth a song, isn’t it? It’s worth a song, but it’s not a fun and dance song. It’s a song full of mixed emotions, and I guess that’s what most of us feel about these things. Whether we’re patriotic, whether we’re anti-war, whether we’re pragmatic about it — all of us suffer those very mixed emotions, and anyone who says their emotions are not mixed, that they’re 100% sure, is just talking bollocks! [That's] just someone who is so unbelievably wooly-headed as to think that there are absolute rights and wrongs. There are not; it’s a terrible mixed picture, and just an absolute dreadfulness which comes under that global heading “The Futility of War” — it is futile even for the winners. Strange irony, isn’t it, that in World War II the Germans were perceived to be the losers, [laughs] and yet the Germans are the only country in Europe, or really in all of the capitalist western world, that actually have an economy worth a light! Germany ultimately has shown, through the pride, effort, and work ethic of the people, that it’s a winner! But you wouldn’t have said that in the summer of 1945.

No, you wouldn’t. So, regarding the album — the release date is set?

The release date is April 2. This is very early to be talking about a new album — much too early for me. I didn’t want to be doing this until the end of February, but because EMI Records wanted to go with a special edition of the album as well, we had to prepare an hour of video material, and a huge amount of extra work went into it. And, because of the long lead times of print media, glossy magazines, etc., we were going to have to go out at the beginning of this month to some journalists and media with the news. These days, the Internet being what it is, it wouldn’t stay quiet for very long, so we decided we really had to go public on February 1, so we did.

When will the tours be?

We start in the middle of April in the UK; there are a whole bunch of tour dates that are currently up on JethroTull.com. As for the US tour dates, I know what they are! [laughs] I know where I’m going to be. It’s been pretty much set in stone for a while, but there’s been a few little tweaks and turns, and we’re just getting close to that point where we will be putting the tickets on sale for two American tours that take place between mid-September and mid-November.

Last year, Jethro Tull did an ‘Aqualung’ 40th anniversary tour, so I guess this is kind of like that, but for ‘Thick as a Brick?’

Well, it is, and that’s the only bit I’m uncomfortable with. I don’t really like these anniversary things, and the notion that somehow that’s the reason to do it. It would have been the case, I suppose, that we would have given a little attention to ‘Thick as a Brick,’ maybe played a bit more of it than we usually do. We usually play ten minutes or so of “Thick as a Brick” in many of our concerts — not all, but many of them. It’s never been, at least in essence, that far away from the Jethro Tull mainstream repertoire, but we’ve never played all of it, and I don’t think it was ever in my mind that I would do that again, until I had the definitive plan for a sequel album. Then, it seemed to justify the idea of doing all of ‘Thick as a Brick’ 1 and 2, and then I got excited about the idea of playing it all live on stage. But I don’t think the 40th Anniversary is such a driving factor for me in any of this — it’s just about that moment when the penny dropped and I thought, “Whatever happened to Gerald Bostock?” That, in essence, sums up my curiousity as to take a fictitious character and explore what might have happened to him. That’s when I got interested in all of it, and that was in the dying parts of 2010. It was January or February of 2011 when I said, “Okay, let me get out a piece of paper and a pencil, and let’s see what happens.”

So, on the tour you’ll be playing both ‘Thick as a Brick’ and the material from the new album as well?

Yes, we’ll be playing both albums in their entirety. I’m not sure which one we’ll play first — I think we’re going to try it out both ways. We’ll try the new one first, the old one second, and there will be a 20-minute intermission between the two. It’s kind of a theatrical show. There’s another performer on stage with me who’ll be helping out with some of the tricky moments when I can’t manage to sing, play guitar, and play flute all at the same time. I need an extra musician rather than just the five of us, so we have an extra body on stage who’ll bring a little more theatricality to the event, because he’s a singing actor. He’s not primarily a musician, he’s a thespian. It will be good to have another person on stage who can bring some elements of mime and dance as well as singing and general performance, to keep the thing buzzing. We’ll have some use of video as well. There will be an audio-visual element to the show, too. I’m not trying to make it some huge extravaganaza, but I think we can make it gently a bit more multi-media than a regular concert would be from me or from Jethro Tull.

It sounds like it will be pretty entertaining.

Well, it’ll be entertaining, if only because the chances are pretty strong that we’re going to fuck up! [laughs] It’s a pretty difficult collection of music to play, so on any night there will be a few bum notes for the people who are really paying attention. [laughs] We’ll get through it, but I think none of the band members are under any illusion that they can just coast through it. It’s a huge concentration for a couple of hours on stage to get through this material. We know, because we’ve just recorded half of it, and the other half we’ve played bits of, and the stuff we don’t really know — which is mostly the second side of the original vinyl album of ‘Thick as a Brick,’ that’s never really been played at all, for a long, long time — so all of us have got quite a big task of personal preparation and private rehearsal before we start our official rehearsals and production rehearsals with all the crew and sound and lights, which are immediately before the tour starts in the UK.

Yeah, it’ll be quite a bit of work, but I’m sure it will also be very rewarding.

Yeah, it’s always rewarding taking something out into the real world, and giving birth to something new, but it’s also a way of life, and [for] those of us who kind of enjoy our experiences of travel and performing, that’s probably the thing that always remains at the forefront of it — you actually love going out and being on a stage and performing. What you’re performing is perhaps secondary! It’s the joy of actually doing it at all that seems to always be the great attraction, the great lure. The great addiction, really, in terms of a lifestyle. I think if you do the kind of thing I do for a living, you probably don’t really want to do anything else.

Well, it beats heroin and crack, as you were alluding to earlier.

Well, it does! Having confronted all of the drug options when I was a teenager, I decided it was actually better not to start, rather than try to find a way to stop. I just grew up around an awful lot of people who were going through bad times. My early days as a musician seemed to be filled with people dropping like flies around me, and you can’t help but be moved by walking off of a stage, and Jimi Hendrix walks on, and that was his last concert. That’s something that I will always remember: should I — could I have said something? Could I have done something that might have changed the outcome of his next couple of weeks before he died? Of course, I couldn’t [have], but it’s always in the back of your mind, that somehow you didn’t attempt to intervene in the circumstances.

Clearly he wasn’t a happy man at that point in his life. He was frustrated, and faced a difficult concert, closing the Isle of Wight festival. He didn’t want to go on last — he was desperately trying to get on before us. We of course didn’t want to follow him, so it was a tricky moment. We didn’t speak to each other; I watched the first two or three songs the guy played, I thought, “It’s not going to be a good one,” and I left. That was the last time really most of us ever saw Jimi Hendrix on a stage. That’s a sad reminder of the fragility and the sometimes pointlessness of excess — which Jimi Hendrix, for example, allowed himself to partake in — a weakness that he had. In some ways, he was a very strong character, and in other ways incredibly weak, particularly when it came to the people that he surrounded himself with. Luckily, being a bit of a loner, I’ve never succumbed to peer group pressure, of any sort really, but certainly not in regard to the “rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.” I’ve always been an amused bystander while other people got themselves written into the history books.

Very interesting. Do you give yourself credit for other artists having recognized the virtue of using the flute in rock music?

Not really. It’s more the other way around. People often say that I’m the guy who brought the flute to rock music. I probably reinforced it to a huge extent, but it was already there before I started playing it. I can remember as a youngster hearing the flute being played in some catchy things which caught my attention. The flute was around and about. It was an instrument that was often used in a decorative way, in a sort of pretty way, and I found that a bit annoying. I really wanted to play the flute in a much more aggressive way, that paralleled the typical use of electric guitar, so that’s why I developed that kind of style. But I’m not sure that it’s had an enormous impact on other people. I do know one or two people who play that way, but… I guess it’s true to say they’re probably somewhat in the shadow of me, because that was a bit of territory that I staked out. But I’m certainly not the originator of flute in pop or rock music, I’m just the person who put it on a more solid footing, in terms of giving it an equality with the electric guitar, in the context of Jethro Tull.

Indeed! And so, in that way, doing something which really hadn’t been done before.

Yeah. But I think when people want that kind of a noise, there’s a temptation to say, “Play it like Ian Anderson!” And there is a sort of a trademark style, I suppose, that you could distill out of all the things that I’ve done. I had to do this recently, when I was playing on a couple of songs for other artists. One of them was for this Slovenian artist, who is female, and sings and plays the flute, and she plays very much in a kind of Ian Anderson style, if you know what I mean. That was really hard, because she’d already played some flute on this track, and for me to kind of find a way to sit in there and not just be duplicating or complicating what she’d played was actually rather hard. So I decided to play with a flute d’amour, which is pitched in a lower key and has a much more somber sound, just to give it a little more variation, so it didn’t quite sound the same as her flute playing. I used the same instrument, in fact, when I played on [another] song by the English band The Darkness. I used this flute to contrast with the lead singer’s high rock tenor and falsetto. I didn’t want to be in the same register as him with the high notes of the flute. You make those choices. But I’m still having to think that the reason they asked me to play on their song is because they’re looking for that Ian Anderson rock flute. But I don’t want to just give them the obvious thing — I’ve got to put a twist on it and make it fit the song.

And keep it interesting for yourself, too!

And keep it interesting for me, yes; but, I’m really a firm believer that when people ask you to “do what you do,” sometimes they’re oversimplifying or getting it wrong. The important thing is really that you serve the interests of that song when you join in with your instrument, and quite often less is more. When they’re looking for something a bit “special,” it’s very often because they’re not really thinking it through, and perhaps [one] needs to take a slightly different look at the job at hand. A bit like a carpenter walking into a kitchen and fitting some new cupboards in — you’ve got to see what’s going to fit in the room. Sometimes the person who’s asking you to install the new cupboards doesn’t necessarily know a busting amount about carpentry, so you have to tactfully use your artistry and your craftsmanship to present something that you think serves the interest of the song in the best possible way. Hopefully, I managed to do that, at least in part. They seem to be pleased with the end result, [based on] what I got back in an email the other day. So look out for a song called “Cannonball” by The Darkness in a couple of months time, when they release their new record. They’re actually on tour in the US at the moment.

Well, nice talking with you! I’m off to do my bit of rehearsal now. I try to do a couple of hours every day, and so it’s getting to that point in the evening.

Pre-order Thick as a Brick 2.

For upcoming tour dates, check out the official Jethro Tull website.

The band is currently touring Asia (Singapore and Hong Kong) and later goes to USA for a number of gigs. Because of these amazing figures it became the 11th biggest selling album of 2010 in the UK with a total sales number of 694,300. You might be astonished to find that there is an inexpensive source for concert is that it leads into concert. Anyway, "The only jocks I trust are you and me, and I am not that sure about you." As best as I can tell I, what I have is a persuasion referring to music download. -And The Police? If you would like to read more about them or buy some official merchandise (as I already have) visit their website at . These legendary rockers do not come very often for a live concert. I found a mechanism to give up on my failed gambit but also this is the best way to organize your free music site.

Yes frontman returns to the Wheeler

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1329686229 17 Yes frontman returns to the Wheeler

Jon Anderson Wheeler Opera House Tonight, 8-10 p.m. Tickets $45

As the lead singer for Yes, Jon Anderson crafted progressive rock songs with lavish, symphonic and flat-out huge instrumental compositions. When the British rock pioneer plays them solo tonight at the Wheeler Opera House, those same songs will be stripped bare, with only his airy voice and spare guitar accompaniment. The intriguing part of tonight’s versions, for Anderson, is that they don’t really lose anything in the transformation. He’s actually performing them now as he originally wrote most of them — alone. “To perform these songs in their original state is a lot of fun for me because they last,” Anderson said this week on his way to Aspen. “They just percolated somehow. It’s a wonderful thing.” Tonight’s show marks Anderson’s second solo show in Aspen. He played the Wheeler last February as well, displaying a no-frills mix of Yes material and his expansive solo catalog, interspersed with friendly banter and stories from the 67-year-old troubadour. His humility and quiet stage demeanor may shock some fans who know him as the Yes frontman who sold nearly 50 million albums and led the band through its over-the-top art rock ascendance of the ’70s and ’80s. The high voice that propelled signature Yes hits like “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and “Roundabout” is very much intact. Some might argue it’s better showcased in the acoustic shows than it ever was in their arena rock versions. Anderson is in the midst of his 50th year as a professional musician, in an evolving career that began playing Lancashire taverns in 1962. He credits the longevity to his undiminished curiosity and to a lifestyle that never got side-tracked by the sex and drugs part of rock ‘n’ roll stardom. “I never did the rock ‘n’ roll thing of hanging around in the bar,” he said. “My life on the road was listening to Sibelius and reading Herman Hesse and playing my harp.” Jon Anderson Today his touring life is very much the same, though he’s joined by his wife. Hesse is among a lineup of literary figures that have influenced Anderson’s mystic and sometimes odd lyrics. These days, he said, he’s on a Pat Conroy and Henry Miller kick — continuing his lifelong study of language. Anderson compares his old role in Yes to that of a conductor. The band’s groundbreaking prog-rock sound, he said, was a result of barely controlled chaos. “The reason why it sounded so complex was that everybody was playing a completely different style,” he recalled. While Yes fans will recognize many of the songs Anderson will play tonight, the arrangements couldn’t be more different. While the full band was known for its thick and layered sound, in his solo shows Anderson has opted for a simple vocal-driven aesthetic. “I’m just not a good guitar player,” he joked. The model for the solo shows, he said, is the piano legend Randy Newman, who has made a career out of captivating audiences alone on stage. Going solo is far more mentally demanding, Anderson said, than playing with the full band. “It’s more of a challenge,” he said. “But you get into a Zen sort of state. You can’t wander around and get a drink of water while other people play their solos, because it’s just you.” Going it alone, for Anderson, is more intellectually- and artistically-fulfilling than it was recording chart-topping hits and playing stadiums. These days, he explained, it’s also more fun. “I never really had a good time in the band and becoming famous,” Anderson said. “I was always in fights with the management and the record company because they just wanted to crank out the hits and I didn’t know how to do that.” Truth be told, Anderson knows how to write hits. But he’d rather just write songs and play them for people. His passion for music has been in playing it live. “It’s always been about performance for me,” he said.

To sing a long dance and join in with the band and crowd is incredible. Petersburg. If you are planning on concert then be careful. Really, guess I am gonna have to quit writing as that relates to christian music and that makes it sound that awesome to you. To read more of her articles visit www.FindNearYou.com. It is about sensation. This myth stops a lot of people from buying tickets from a broker because they figure it is more complicated than it actually is. Start with a full blown music website is that it talks more dealing with online music. If you find cheaper tickets anywhere on the internet, they will give you $20 off your order. This is more than worth that. I, equivocally, cannot envision free downloadable music. Two months later, Purgatory returned to the Star Lite and set the stage in the back alley of the restaurant. In addition, email marketing software allows the recipients to feel as if the message was aimed directly at them while also encouraging them to forward the email to other friends who might be interested in the concert. It could be yours for no charge or we're going to scramble up the corporate ladder. But that is merely our preference. And you can actually see the artists playing. Enjoy classic singers like Elton John, who is playing at Wrigley Field in Chicago on July 16th. Bob Dylan was among those present for the White House event and performed his civil rights anthem, "The Times They Are A-Changin' ".

Anthony Rosano’s Band to Perform at CD Release Party

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1329542229 81 Anthony Rosanos Band to Perform at CD Release Party

LOS ANGELES — Adult star Anthony Rosano and his band will perform original songs from their forthcoming CD at the official release party this Saturday night at Complete Actors Place in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Rosano, a Miami, Fla., native who has become one of the top actors in porn, is the lead singer and guitarist for Til All Is One, an emerging band that recently completed its debut album, a four-song EP called “Front Row at the Apocalypse” that is being independently released this month.

“We’ve been a band for about a year and half,” Rosano told XBIZ Thursday. “The idea of Til All Is One was born out of the fact that I wanted to amalgamate a lot of different things into one sonic soup. Our bass player is Indian, our guitarist is Russian, I’m Italian-Puerto Rican, and our drummer is Italian, from Bologna, Italy.”

The veteran performer said Til All Is One has a progressive rock-metal sound with several other genres mixed in.

“We’ve been working really hard and we’re going to start doing some touring and pushing our product out there. The new music sounds incredible,” said Rosano, who is also the main songwriter for the group. “We just got our CDs back from the pressing today.  … This is pretty much my brainchild. Our band is an amalgamation of progressive rock, metal, punk, jazz and funk — it’s a pretty eclectic mix of music.”  

Rosano pointed to some of his musical influences, which helped to inspire the new album. “You’ll hear traces of everything from Zeppelin and Hendrix to Incubus and Pantera, things of that ilk. It’s a pretty broad spectrum. I’m blessed and fortunate that I’ve done a lot of vocal training and theory training with the guitar coach for Mike Einziger from Incubus.”

He also worked closely with notable producer Rob Hill on “Front Row at the Apocalypse.” Hill is known for his collaborations with artists such as Eminem, Rage Against the Machine and Korn.

“He’s got a really impressive roster and I’ve been working with him for the past few years,” Rosano continued. “Our goal right now is to generate revenue with touring and put it back into the band fund. Our ultimate goal is the get into a spot where we have maximum exposure. Our website will be back up and running with digital downloads of our songs [in early February].

 “We have a really solid team, everyone is fully dedicated to it. We want to be a little smarter than most bands that play LA and have a product and website behind us, so we’ve been very strategic about not playing a bunch of shows yet. On Saturday we’re playing the entire record and some original material that’s not on it.”  

Rosano, who has performed in almost 600 adult movies since 2003, has been singing since he was 4, playing guitar since he was 16 and been in various bands for about 20 years. He said he got into porn “inadvertently.”

“And I excelled at it because I have tunnel vision and I’m able to focus on one thing and not allow everything else around me to cloud my mind,” Rosano reasoned. “But music, that’s what I feel my calling is, ever since my pre-teen life. I’m in my early 30s now.”   

A 2012 XBIZ Awards nominee for both Performer of the Year and Acting Performance of the Year, Rosano has landed numerous high-profile roles in recent years. In 2011, he played boxer Rocky Balboa in X-Play/Adam & Eve’s “Rocky XXX,” Freddy Krueger in Tom Byron Pictures’ “A Wet Dream on Elm Street,” and Benjamin Braddock in the Paul Thomas/Exile Distribution homage “The Graduate XXX.”

“During my teenage life I was a drama student, and I’ve studied musical theater and taken formal acting classes,” Rosano said. “I’ve always been driven by the arts, whether it’s performing, literature, acting or music. I like to play different characters. Anthony Rosano is just a character I am in porn. With my music I draw from a different well of experiences.”

Doors open at 8 p.m. Saturday at C.A.P., located at 13752 Ventura Blvd. There will be a $10 cover for the all-ages show; alcoholic beverages will be served to those with valid ID.

I'd have been happy with concert. In 1974, Dave Evan was replaced by Bon Scott. The concert ends at 10:30PM at the latest. Difficult then as the question may be we need to look closer at music online listening. Where can nitpickers dig up certified free music site guidebooks? Still, not only do I have hip hop music taken care of but music downloader too. I immediately ran out and purchased their self-titled album and their old album . Free streaming music appears to violate this common knowledge. In order to make a dwelling they most commonly had been all industrial labourers. She has also initiated efforts to help her hometown and is especially fond of animals. Bocelli, is second album had earned sextuple platinum when it was released in Belgium and quadruple platinum when it had been released in Germany. Say you decide on Jersey Boys, set out to look for the best options to get cheap Jersey Boys tickets by going online; there are a couple of sites that sell such tickets. Dave Lombardo's double bass drums were thunderous, not so much supporting but propelling the music as Kerry King delivered frequent guitar-shredding solos. Tickets may be available for somewhat less at the door. Broaden Your Ballet Concert Audience with Posters Different Ways to Successfully Bring a Ballet Event Out to the Public Ballet concerts, even though such event targets a smaller market, still need promotions to aid them in gathering attendees. My only experience seeing the band live was catching part of their brief set at this summer's Warped Tour, and my knowledge of their musical catalog was extremely limited to a handful of songs.

Coming Events

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1329232637 57 Coming Events

If you are between the ages of 9 – 12 and you love to read and talk to other kids about the books you’ve read, register for the next Kids’ Book Club at the Ladner Pioneer Library, 4683-51st St., Delta (604-946-6215). The club meets on the second Tuesday of the month, beginning February 8. Space is limited.

On Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. join Go Green Delta DVD and Book Group for a discussion of Thomas Kostigen’s You are Here. This book explores the link between our actions and how they impact our planet earth. Group meets second Wednesday of each month at the Tsawwassen Library.

The South Delta Therapeutic Touch Network meets every second Wednesday of the month at the Natural Comfort Wellness Centre in Tsawwassen. The next meeting is on Feb. 8. Open to all levels of therapeutic touch and anyone interested in an introduction to this healing modality. For more info and to register please call Frances 604-948-1652 or Selena 604-952-4175.

There’s a Lady and The Tramp Valentine Dinner at the Tsawwassen Legion, 22-1835-56th St. on Feb. 11. Spaghetti, meatballs, salad, garlic toast and dessert. Tickets $10. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Combo tickets available at the bar for this Valentine Dinner and Dance with local band South Side Vibe (southsidevibe.com/). Cost: $20. Call 604-943-0232.

Join the Delta Naturalists for our meeting on Monday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Cammidge House on Boundary Bay in Tsawwassen. Our speaker this month is Dan Esler. Dan is a researcher and adjunct professor with the Centre for

Wildlife Ecology, SFU. He will be speaking on wildlife population responses to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Two Decades of Research. He will be focusing on the most affected wildlife such as sea otters and sea ducks including harlequin ducks and Barrow’s goldeneyes.This research offers lessons for potential risks associated with oil and gas development or transportation in similar environments, such as coastal British Columbia. Everyone welcome, no cost. For more information, call Joanne at 604-946-2240.

The Probus Club of South Delta, a non-profit, fellowship club for retired and semi-retired professional and business people will hold its next regular monthly meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15 in The Coast Tsawwassen Inn. We will have police and fire department representatives speaking on emergency preparedness for Delta residents. Guests are welcome. Please call Dick Williams at 604-940-6542 for information.

Adults are invited to some informal, fun and thought provoking book talks at the Ladner Pioneer Library, 4683-51st St. On Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2 – 3 p.m., let our Information Services staff pique your interest in some new-to-you authors.

Deltassist presents a psycho-educational and an empowerment group for women who have or are currently living in abusive relationships. "Freedom from Abuse in Relationships" (FAIR 1) as the group is called, will be held every Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. starting Feb. 15 – May 2, at Deltassist office in North Delta -9097-120th St., Delta. For any further inquiries please call 604-594-3455 ext 152 or ext 139.

Are you concerned about our air quality? Bring your questions to Ladner Pioneer Library’s Ask an Expert program on Thursday, Feb. 16, 7 – 8:30 p.m. The presenter will be Dr. Ian McKendry, a UBC Atmospheric scientist and author of a report commissioned by the Fraser Valley Regional District in 2010 on air quality in the Fraser Valley. For more information, please visit the library, 4683-51st St., Delta, or call 604-946-6215.

Weekend Retreat – An Introduction to The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises from Feb. 16 to 18. (Thursday, Feb. 16, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. David’s Anglican Church – 1115-51A St., Tsawwassen. Cost $45 (limited to 30 people). Facilitator Rob Des Cotes, spiritual director with Imago Dei (imagodeicommunity.ca). To register or for more information contact Judi at 604-943-4609 or .

South Delta Newcomers & Alumni meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:15 p.m. in the Kiwanis Longhouse, 1710-56th St., Tsawwassen. The club is for all women who have moved to Ladner, Tsawwassen or Point Roberts, to introduce you to the community and help you make new friends. Join us Thursday, Feb. 16 for a Tasting Party. For more information please call Marie at 778-434-2090.

Egan Davis, horticulturalist and lecturer at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens is the speaker at the meeting of the Evergreen Garden Club on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Kinsman House, 5050-47th Ave., Ladner. Topic will be "The essence of good gardening". Members and guests are welcome.

The next regular meeting of the South Delta Low Vision Suport Group will be on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Ladner Pioneer Library at 1:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be John Puspal from CNIB. New equipment will be discussed. For more information contact Matt Yole at 604-946-9934.

Are you responsible for the care of an adult family member or friend at home or in a facility? Trying to cope with the changes that aging and illness bring to a loved one can be a difficult and stressful job. Delta Caregivers’ Network is offering an education series and support group starting Thursday, Feb. 23 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. once a week for eight weeks. Subjects covered include caregiver stress, communication techniques, role and lifestyle changes, accessing and using community resouces, and legal and financial issues. Cost is $25. To register phone The Center for Supportive Care 604-948-0660, Frances 604- 946-7131 or Sylvia 604-943-7596.

The Delta Parent Advisory Committee is hosting a Fundraising Fair on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 12 to 5 at East Delta Hall. The committee is inviting all the community leaders, teachers, PAC members to come browse booths of local vendors to get ideas for fundraisers for their schools. Businesses interested in having a booth can contact .

Feeling down? Depressed? Suffering from bipolar disorder or some symptoms?

Help is close at hand. A Support Group led by a peer facilitator meets the second and fourth Tuesday each month from 7 to 9 p.m. Meetings are held at the CMHA’s new location, 4871 Delta St., Ladner. Need informative brochures? The office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Call 604-943-1878.

Are you helping/supporting someone with a mental health disorder? Or are you concerned about someone displaying some symptoms of mental health problems? Plan to attend the Family Support Group that meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Education Conference Room, Delta Hospital, 5800 Mountain View Blvd., Ladner. Call 604-943-1878.

The Tsawwassen Tuesday Ladies Golf Club is welcoming new members for the 2012 season. We are currently playing out of the Delta Golf Club on Hwy. 10. Our season opens on April 3 with a breakfast meeting at the new Delta Clubhouse. For more information contact Rita Kendel at 604-535-0932 or .

The Delta Stamp Club meets at the Tsawwassen Library at 7:30 p.m. and talk about, trade or otherwise exchange stamps. The meetings are every second and fourth Tuesdays of every month and last approximately one and a half hours. New members are very welcome, and no one needs to be an expert on philately just interested. Come and check us out, we would love to see you. Contact Nellie at 604-940-3803 for more information.

Tsawwassen Badminton Club welcomes new players of all standards of

play. We are a "drop-in" club and meet each Monday & Friday evening at

Delta Christian School, Ladner Trunk Road, Ladner at 7:30 p.m. Work off some of your unwanted Christmas pounds at our friendly and social club which can offer some levels of informal coaching as well as competitive play. Call Peter Edwards on 604 940 0844 for further information.

The Tsawwassen Tennis Club is looking for ladies to play day or night league spring 2012. Organized competitive fun tennis. For more information email or call 604-219-4232.

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary is accepting volunteer applications. Be part of this highly skilled group of men and women that provides a service to the community by performing marine search and rescue. All new members are provided with in-depth training and all abilities are welcome. Visit deltasar.bc.ca for more information.

Delta Hospital Auxiliary is looking for volunteers in many areas. We help provide care and comfort to those that need the services of our hospital. We urgently require a coordinator for the following areas: Ways and Means, office, cafŽ and last but not least, the gift shop. We also need a new vice-president. If you can give a few hours a week, we need you! Please call the auxiliary office at 604-946-1121 local 783212.

Deltassist presents at no cost "Positive Parenting Workshops" for parents of children 5-12 years. Workshops are currently being offered every Tuesday evening from 6 to 7:15 p.m. until March 20 at the Deltassist office in North Delta – 9097-120th St. Please call 604-594-3455 for more information.

Get comfortable with using the Internet. Tsawwassen Library offers drop-in hands-on 60-minute courses on Wednesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. Open to everyone. Registration is not required. Individual help is available at Ladner Pioneer Library and Tsawwassen Library for Internet, email and library database questions. By appointment only. Please visit or call the Information Desk to book an appointment. Ladner Pioneer Library – 604-946-6215. Tsawwassen Library – 604-943-2271.

You are invited to join others in your community to share information and resources, coping strategies, ideas for living well with Parkinson’s, good humour and more at Tsawwassen Parkinson’s Support Group meetings on the third Tuesday of each month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the KinVillage Community Centre, multi-purpose room, 5430-10th Ave., Tsawwassen. For more information please contact: Robbin Jeffereys, Parkinson Society British Columbia, 1-800-668-3330, 604-662-3240 or .

Scrabble Club at the Ladner Pioneer Library. Do you have a way with words? Drop in and test your word power at the Ladner Pioneer Library, 4683-51st St., Delta on the last Tuesday of the month at 5:30 – 8:30 pm. All ages and experience welcome.

Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, a non-profit international women’s organization, is accepting new members. We are of all ages and our motto is "Life Learning and Friendship." Call Joyce at 604-940-0106 or Alice at 604-946-4998 if you are interested in joining.

Are you 15 to 30, unemployed and motivated to find a better job? Our federally funded program supports youth in a six-week in-class training program, followed by a 14-week work placement in a field of their interest. Youth are paid a training allowance during class time, and minimum wage in their work placements. Topics include bettering your job search skills, career counseling and testing, and personal development. Certificates given depending on your training needs. Contact Skills Link at 604-946-8674 for more info or email .

The Canadian Cancer Society Volunteer Driver program in Ladner/Tsawwassen is in need of more volunteer drivers to take patients to and from their treatment. Training and dispatch are provided. Time commitments are flexible. If you are interested in further information about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Christian Chenard, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator at 604-533-1668 Ext 338 or email .

There are free drop-in programs for children 0-6 years and their parent/caregiver at South Delta Family Resource Centre/Ladner ECD Hub at unit 205-5000 Bridge Street. Activities include crafts, snack, play-based activities, stories and rhyme time. Open daily from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. Open throughout the year. Call 604-946-3933.

Are you interested in making a real and profound difference in the lives of people caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia? Come join the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s team of dedicated support facilitators. A commitment of three to six hours a month over a one-year time period is required. Training is provided. Contact Anthony Kupferschmidt for more information: 604-238-7390 or e-mail: . To learn more about our programs and services, please visit alzheimerbc.org.

The Hospice Cottage Thrift Store in Tsawwassen is looking for volunteers for morning, afternoon and evening shifts on any day of the week. There is also a need for volunteers interested in books to join the book team. Please call

604-948-0660 and leave a message for Sandy Schmidt at ext.333.

The volunteer "Delta Marine Unit" needs volunteers for organizing fund raising and events. Crew volunteers are also needed to train for this important humanitarian service. Saving lives and property at sea. If you love boating and the sea, you’ll love this. We operate an enclosed all weather fast response lifeboat. We are based in Ladner Harbour. If you want to help, please call Chris Scurr at 604-946-7641 for details.

The Ladner/Tsawwassen Kinsmen Club invites new and old members to join us, the first and third Mondays of each month at Kin House in Ladner. Join the only all-Canadian service club. Come have fun, meet our neighbours and help make our community a better place to live and raise our families. Supper is at 6:30 p.m., the meeting is a 7 p.m. and the fun follows. There is no age limit for members as there was in the past. For more information please call 604-946-8711. Leave a message.

Supportive Care – for people with cancer, other life-threatening or progressive illness and those who are grieving. Relaxation Group (Drop-in, Tuesday at 10 a.m.), Bereavement Walking Group (Drop-in Wednesday at 10 a.m.), Caregivers’ Group, and Grief Groups. Call the Centre for Supportive Care at 4631 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Ladner; 604-948-0660 for more information.

Tsawwassen Badminton Club welcomes new adult players – all ages and capabilities. We are a sociable group with various levels of play. We meet on Monday evenings at South Delta Secondary School and on Friday evenings at Ladner Christian School (Ladner Trunk). 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. both evenings. Call Peter Edwards on 604-940-0844 for additional information or email .

The Knitting Sisters is a group of ladies that love to knit and crochet for as many worthy causes as possible. We make many items such as hats, toques, scarves, slippers, blankets, baby items and more. If you would be interested in participating please contact Alice Gisborne at 604-946-3060 or email . Webpage is user.dccnet.com/agisborne. Drop in sessions are on first and third Saturdays of every month at the McKee Centre in Ladner from 10 a.m. to noon. Donated yarn would be very much appreciated.

The Fraser Health Crisis Line is recruiting volunteers to provide assistance to people in the region who are experiencing emotional distress. No previous experience is needed as extensive training and ongoing support is provided. If you are interested in learning more about this challenging and rewarding opportunity, visit our website at options.bc.ca and follow the link for the Crisis Line. Next training starts soon.

Learn to Row sessions for adults and youth are beginning soon at Delta Deas Rowing Club. Call 604-946-3074 or visit deltadeas.com for more information.

The Canadian Federation of University Women South Delta meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at Royal Oaks Social Room, 1100-56th Street at 7:15 p.m. With monthly guest speakers and interest groups, the club is dedicated to the promotion of education and improvement of the status of women. New members are always welcome. Call Cheryl at 604-943-4634 or Anna at 604-943-0042.

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary is accepting volunteer applications. Be a part of this highly skilled group of men and women that provides a service to the community by performing marine search and rescue. All new members are provided with in-depth training and all abilities are welcome. Visit deltasar.bc.ca for more information.

The Winskill Otters Masters Swim Club, for ages 18 and over, welcomes swimmers all abilities. It meets Sundays from 8 to 9:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m., or 8 to 9 p.m. For more information visit: winskillotters.com or call 604-940-3375.

The Fraser Health Crisis Line is recruiting volunteers to provide assistance to people in the region who are experiencing emotional distress. No previous experience is needed as extensive training and ongoing support is provided. If you are interested in learning more about this challenging and rewarding opportunity, visit our website at options.bc.ca and follow the link for the Crisis Line. Next training starts January 14, 2012.

The Delta Stamp Club meets every second and fourth Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. at the Tsawwassen Library. New members are always welcome.

Drop-in Bereavement Walking Group – Be physically active, receive peer support and socialize with others who have experienced the loss of a significant person. Join men and women of all ages for fresh air and a short or longer walk, followed by refreshments at the Centre for Supportive Care (4631 Clarence

Taylor Crescent, Ladner). For more information call 604-948-0660.

Drop-in Relaxation Circle – Are you living with Cancer? Are you a caregiver? Are you grieving a death? Join the Relaxation Circle Tuesdays at 10 am. Using music and guided imagery, learn to relax, improve your focus, and reduce your stress. For more information call the Centre for Supportive Care (4631 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Ladner) at 604-948-0660.

The Fraser Health Crisis Line is recruiting volunteers to provide assistance to people in the region who are experiencing emotional distress. No previous experience is needed as extensive training and ongoing support is provided. If you are interested in learning more about this challenging and rewarding opportunity, visit our website at options.bc.ca and follow the link for the Crisis Line. Next training starts soon.

Toastmasters in Tsawwassen Do you want to gain confidence in public speaking? Do you want to learn leadership skills? Ambassadors Toastmasters Club meets twice a month in Tsawwassen. For more info, see: AmbassadorsToastmasters.org.

Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, a non-profit international women’s organization, is accepting new members. We are of all ages and our motto is "Life Learning and Friendship." Call Elenor at 604-943-2868 or Dede at 604-946-3119 if you’re interested in joining.

If you like a good read and a lively discussion, the Book Ends are welcoming new members to their monthly book club meeting. Meeting held the second Thursday of the month. Call Hanna for details at 604-940-1264.

An RAOB GLE Buffaloes group has formed locally and is looking for new and old members. Contact Jeff at 604-946-4794 for more information.

Ladner Early Child Development Hub, 205-5000 Bridge St., hosts the following:

Drop in programs Monday to Friday from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. Mother Goose on Fridays from 1 to 2 p.m. Mom’s Group on Mondays from 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. Call 604-946-3933 for details.

The DYSL Discoveries Thrift Store, 1308-56th St., Tsawwassen, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Visit dyslsociety.com.

The South Fraser Gogos meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome to hear what groups of Canadian grandmothers are doing to help African grandmothers left to look after their orphaned grandchildren on little to no resources. For more information contact Jesse Pringle at 604-946-1012 or .

Ladner Business Association weekly meetings have moved to the Royal Canadian Legion #61, 4896 Delta St., Ladner. All members and those interested in our local business community – see you Thursdays at 8 a.m.

Do you want to be a speaker people listen to? Do you want your presentations to be strong and convincing? Do you want to fill a room with laughter, and move a crowd to tears? Do you want to participate and learn in a supportive club atmosphere? Then join Deltones Toastmasters in Ladner every second and fourth Wednesday from 7:15 to 9 p.m. at the Fraser Health Unit (beside Delta municipal hall). Call David at 604-946-4048 for more information or visit deltonestoastmasters.ca.

Delta Potters are accepting new members. To register for the coming year contact Carole Clancey at 604-943-5987. For more information visit deltapotters.com.

Gateway Society, Services for Persons with Autism has been providing outreach and residential services to adults and children throughout the province for 31 years from our base in Ladner. The group is looking for volunteers to sit on its Board of Directors. Accounting, business, legal or fundraising experience would be particularly valuable. Contact Barbara Baydala at 604-946-0401 for further information.

Delta Deas Rowing Club is offering interested youths and adults an opportunity to learn to row. This is your chance to try a great sport. For more information call 604-946-3074 or visit deltadeas.com.

The Tsawwassen Writing Group meets every second and fourth Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Tsawwassen Library. Admission is free. Limited seating. For more information call Belle Curd at 604-948-5441.

Moments for Moms, a morning out for moms in the community to be encouraged as a parent, meets at the South Delta Baptist Church every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Contact South Delta Baptist Church at 604-943-8244 to attend. For more information contact Donna Makelki at 604-948-5443 or .

The Rotary Club of Tsawwassen meets every Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at Beach Grove Golf Club.

The Delta Rock and Gem Club meets every third Monday of the month at the South Delta Recreation Centre. Meetings are at 7:30 p.m. There are educational programs and workshops. For more information call 604-943-4568.

Boundary Bay I.O.D.E., a ladies Canadian charity organization, meets the second Tuesday evening each month. New members welcome. For information contact June Langsford at 604-943-2296.

Delta Chess Club welcomes players of all abilities for games on Thursday at 7 p.m. at South Delta Library. Contact Chris Ludwig at 604-275-4762.

Valentine’s/Chinese New Year – Year of the Dragon is on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the McKee Seniors Recreation Centre. Cash Bar: 5 p.m. Chinese Buffet: 6 to 7 p.m.

Music by Sincerely Yours: 7 to 10 p.m. Members: $16, Guests: $20 Get your tickets early! 604-946-1411.

The KinVillage Community Centre is having a Sweetheart Luncheon with Peter Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 17 at noon. Tickets available at reception, 604-943-0225, $11 for members and $13 for non-members.

ElderCollege Delta holds registration for its spring semester on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall. For more information email or call 604-943-0262.

The KinVillage Community Centre will be having a Tuesday Social & Movie, on Feb. 21, at 1:30 p.m. Timbits with tea or coffee will be available for $3 (includes a free movie).

The KinVillage Community Centre will be having a Flea Market, the last Sunday of every month, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The next one is Feb. 26. Coffee/tea and baked treats available. Tables now available for rent. $10 for a 6ft. Sign up at reception or call 604-943-0225.

The KinVillage Community Centre has bingo every Wednesday at 1 p.m.

McKee Computer Club meets Tuesdays, 7 to 9 p.m. at the McKee Seniors Recreation Centre. 604-946-1411.

The Circle of Friends offers social events to active seniors like movies, theatre trips, potlucks and walks. Meet at McKee House on the last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Call Lesley at 604-946-9180 for more information.

Let It Shine! Fundraising Concert (by donation) for the Ladner United mission trip to Scotland in July. Youth will be running a Children’s Holiday Camp on the Island of Mull. Performers from the community will be presented on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. at Ladner United – 4960-48th Ave., Ladner. For more information call 604-946-6254

The 38th Annivesary Delta Leadership Prayer Breakfast is set for Saturday, Feb. 11 at 8 a.m. at the Delta Town & Country Inn. RCMP Insp. Tim Shields will be speaking. Contact Linda Frost for tickets 604-943-7775.

St. Andrew’s Church, Delta, invites you to a Healing Workshop – The Healing Gifts of God’s Kingdom (God’s Amazing Grace When It Hurts) on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the lounge at Saviour Lutheran Church, 4737-57th St., Ladner. More info at standrewsdeltabc.org. Please register by emailing your name and contact information to or call Anita at 604-943-3824.

Focus on the Family – Date Night Challenge. A Valentine Event at Cedar Park Church for all couples (5300 44 Ave. Ladner) on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. (Webcast). Featuring comedian Jeff Allen, singer/songwriter Michael O’Brien and bestselling authors Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley. Door prizes, desserts, coffee/tea. Cost: $10/couple For tickets call 604-946-7410.

The Cammidge House Committee invites you to celebrate Heritage Day at Cammidge House, located in Boundary Bay Regional Park, on Sunday, Feb. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. Volunteers in 1914 costumes will be serving tea, coffee and baked goods by donation. There will be a display of the history of the development of power in South Delta and its future in B.C. vintage cars and tractors will be located in the garden along with a display from Earthwise Garden.

Delta’s Academy Awards Oscar viewing party is set for Sunday, Feb. 26 at Sharkey’s Bar & Grille, 4953 Chisholm St., Ladner. Doors open at 4 p.m. there will be dinner/dessert, raffles, prizes and an Oscar ballot contest. Tickets are $30. Register in advance at Sharkey’s (604-946-7793) or online at deltaoscarparty2012.eventbrite.com.

Champagne, a Golden Oldies concert, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 1880 APA Rd., Point Roberts.

The Coming Events column is published every Wednesday as a community service. If you have a non-profit event, mail, drop off, fax, or e-mail () the details to the Optimist by 3 p.m. Monday. Submissions are subject to space limitations (no phone calls, please).

© Copyright (c) Delta Optimist

I took this opportunity to apologize properly and he was very cool about it. She just needs better songs. Most of the crowd was on its feet swaying to the beat with him. The "s" meaning secure. Zucchero had intended Luciano Pavarotti to be the performer but the audition tape sent in by Bocelli caught Pavarotti attention and he insisted that Bocelli should sing the song Miserere with Zucchero saying that nobody else could sing it better. Cher Concert A true Diva that signifies the name is the one and only Cher also known as Cherilyn Sarkisian was born on May 20 1946.She achieved popularity in the 1960s as a musician with her second Sonny.

STYX Pieces of Eight music review by Chicapah

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3stars STYX Pieces of Eight music review by Chicapah In the field of progressive jazz/rock fusion in the 70s the USA team led and the rest of the world followed. However, when it came to symphonic prog we had little to offer. As I’ve written before, if it weren’t for the band Kansas this country would’ve had no response whatsoever to what the progmen of the United Kingdom and Europe were creating and exporting for our hungry ears to ravenously consume. I guess if there’s a prize for coming in second because there were no other contestants then Styx would qualify for the runner-up trophy by default. Despite many attempts on my own to come up with a unifying theory as to why we never gave birth to a bonafide champion group in that category to compete with the likes of Yes, Jethro Tull and Genesis I concede defeat. I can’t offer a satisfactory answer. The bottom line is this: No matter your personal opinion of Styx, they pretty much represent the gist of our national contribution to the symphonic prog cause and they’re to be commended accordingly. It is what it is and they are what they are. Now, saying that doesn’t mean we reviewers are at all obliged to give them one iota of slack. They still have to be held accountable for what they did and didn’t do. Packed arenas and platinum record sales have never been automatics for garnering respect nor accolades in the prog rock community so their success is considered inadmissible evidence in the court system we adhere to in these parts. “Pieces of Eight” will stand or fall on its own merits (or lack thereof). Keep in mind, I never was much of a Styx fan and have only recently gotten aurally familiar with their most recognized albums but I feel that my indifference actually benefits being objective and unbiased in an assessment of their art.

One must admit that their biography is interesting. Over the course of a decade they scratched and clawed their way up from garage band oblivion to attain worldwide recognition with the original five guys intact before one got burned out and was replaced by a fellow named Tommy Shaw. That change proved to be the final piece of the puzzle. Soon fate propelled them into the ranks of the rich and famous via the runaway popularity of their breakthrough LP, “The Grand Illusion,” with its proggy anthem “Come Sail Away” ruthlessly conquering the airways as if they were America’s long-awaited answer to Emerson, Lake and Palmer. They instantly became the darlings of the rock crowd and this, their highly-anticipated follow-up record, stormed into the top ten of the album charts shortly after its release.

It opens with guitarist James Young’s “Great White Hope,” featuring a rumbling rock motif that supports a boxing match announcer’s shouted buildup of the song’s fantasized main event. The aggressive mien gives this number a bold persona and the layered harmonies behind Young’s shouted “Look at me!” braggadocio are striking. It makes for a good start, yet I’d be derelict in my duty if I failed to point out the deficiencies in John Panozzo’s drumming. There are too many occasions when his busy fills are ill-defined and distracting, especially when compared to those of Alan White or Bill Bruford. (Sorry to pit you against icons, pal, but when you step into the ring with heavyweights be prepared to take some punches.) James and Dennis DeYoung penned the next cut, “I’m Okay.” It sports a pompous but duly large beginning that leads to a Hammond B3-heavy track and a big dose of Dennis’ semi-operatic warbling. Shaw’s guitar solo is hot, the cathedral organ interlude taped on location in St. James is surprisingly effective and kudos for the huge group-sung chorus at the end. Tommy’s “Sing for the Day” follows and the best adjective for the tune is “refreshing.” A sprightly synth leads to a perky, folk-styled air that’s somewhat Jon Anderson-ish. The overall tightness of the track is indicative of the improvements the band was making in their studio acumen. The upbeat, youthful vibe they establish is quaint and contagious.

DeYoung’s brief “The Message” is a mysterious instrumental vastly superior to the song it introduces, his plodding and overly dramatic “Lords of the Ring.” The middle section of this number sounds like something they came up with during an impromptu jam session and deemed it a great space-filler. This exemplifies what I mean about groups on this side of the pond not being able to rival the awe-inspiring British prog juggernauts of that era. This is amateurish stuff. On “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” Shaw demonstrates once more what a game-changer he was for Styx. Here he proves that the band was a much better straightforward rock & roll outfit than an influential prog act. This catchy tune rose to #21 on Top 40 radio and continues to be a classic rock staple to this day. I only wish drummer John would’ve curbed his urge to overplay on the basic track. Dennis and James co-wrote “Queen of Spades” and it’s one of their obligatory overwrought rock ballads (DeYoung’s voice just bugs the crap out of me sometimes) that adheres to a very predictable pattern: Soft onset leads to heavier segment where reverb-drenched guitars echo into the ether before various themes are reprised along the way to a reunion with the opening mood. Ho hum.

The popularity of Tommy’s “Renegade” did wonders in getting folks to part with their cash for this record and with good reason. It’s an excellent rocker with an exciting arrangement. While it topped out at #16, solidly cementing their status as one of the planet’s premier pop/rock groups, it also further diminished their fading prog credentials. Next is Dennis’ “Pieces of Eight,” yet another power ballad wherein his all-or-nothing, loud vocal approach really becomes tiresome. That’s a shame because the music itself isn’t half bad and their towering background harmonies give it a gallant aura. A short but graceful piano flourish segues to Shaw’s instrumental closer, “Aku-aku.” It has a pretty melody and chord progression, taking the album out on a peaceful note.

Styx was riding high in the late 70s and this disc (#6 on the LP charts) made it appear they could do no wrong. But the success of the record’s three Tommy Shaw-written hits heralded the beginning of an internal power struggle that would ultimately cause enough friction to cause a band shut-down a few years later. Here’s the conflict in a nutshell. While DeYoung’s material definitely had more of a progressive slant, he was never able to compose involved epics that could hold their own against the likes of Genesis or Yes. Tommy, on the other hand, realized his prog limitations and concentrated on cranking out more radio-friendly rockers, a decision that proved wise. When this album hit the racks in fall of ’78 punk and new wave were rudely shoving progressive rock off a cliff. Shaw was just observant enough to read the writing on the wall. One more observation. Decades down the road Dennis would aver that “Pieces of Eight” has some kind of spiritual vs. materialism concept running through it but I think that’s hooey. It’s a decent collection of tunes that marks the end of Styx as a pseudo prog group and the solidification of their standing as a pop/rock phenomenon. Nothing more. Two and a half stars. Chicapah | 3/5 | 2012-1-21

Everyone has their favorite contestant on American Idol. Here are a few unknown and juicy facts about the band lead singer Bon Jovi that his fans would like to dig into! The version seen on PBS stations during the past two years was recorded June 19, 2008, at the 2,000-year-old Roman Amphitheatre in Amman. Although there were some similarities between the pieces in the concert, there were some drastic differences between them. Concert Etiquette How should one really behave in public? Live music scene with a massive, multi-level venue dropped right in the heart of Hollywood, just a couple blocks west of the consumer rampage at Highland. I'm arranging my post around stream christmas music. Viennese and popular classical repertoire." Additionally, he found that in musical terms "the performance did not surpass playing standards in Australia's major symphony orchestras". Please give me an opportunity and though get free music is not as common as mp3 music downloads it can nevertheless prove to be a real problem. But, overall - ColdPlay did a great job of hitting some of the important old favorites and then making their new CD - Viva La Vida - more solid for all ColdPlay fans. Go to the beach, pick up a new hobby, climb a mountain! That's only going to boost music download free in the long term. Be cautious when buying tickets for sale online. For You Blue (LP Version) Paul McCartney 3:04 19.

L’Alba Di Morrigan Posts Album Preview – in Metal News ( Metal Underground.com )

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Italian post-rock/metal band L’Alba Di Morrigan posted an album preview of the upcoming release “The Essence Remains.” The album is due out on March 26, 2012 through My Kingdom Music.

The band’s sound is described as “a wide range of emotions in some moments more refined and psichedelic, in others very aggressive. The band follows the great tradition of bands like A Perfect Circle, Katatonia, Anathema, Isis offering with their debut album ‘The Essence Remains’ a wide range of emotions in some moments more refined and psychedelic, in others very aggressive. The great impact and evocative vocals, the dreaming progressive tones of the rhythmic session and the gracefull and powerfull at the same time sound of the guitars lines are the main elements of their wonderful artsitic expression.”

artworks00001786610807n LAlba Di Morrigan Posts Album Preview in Metal News ( Metal Underground.com )

Check out the preview sampler here:

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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal – E-Zine: Lou Reed announces “From VU to Lulu” European Tour

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1328673435 62 Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal E Zine: Lou Reed announces From VU to Lulu European Tour

Hot off the incredible reception of his collaborative album LULU with Metallica, Lou Reed will embark on a “FROM VU TO LULU” European tour during Summer 2012.

The tour will start in Luxembourg on Wednesday 6th June and will take in several festivals, including Switzerland’s Caribana Festival, France's Montereau Festival, Berlin’s Citadel Music Festival and Slovakia’s renowned Pohoda Festival.  Lou will also perform several concerts in France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, and Germany.

The tour will feature a 5-piece band, including Lou Reed, Tony ‘Thunder’ Smith (drums), Rob Wasserman (bass), Kevin Hearn (keyboards), and Aram Bajakian (guitar).  Lou and band will perform material from Reed’s entire cannon of songs ranging from the Velvet Underground to his recent Metallica collaborative album LULU.

LOU REED – FROM VU TO LULU – EUROPEAN 2012 TOUR DATES

– Luxembourg – Rockhal (June 6)– Nyon, Switzerland – Caribana Festival (June 8)– France – Montereau Festival (June 9) – Paris – Olympia (June 11)  – Lille, France – L'Aeronef (June 12)  – Amsterdam – Heineken Music Hall (June 14) – Brussels – Ancienne Belgique (June 15)  – Copenhagen – Falconer Salen (June 18) – Berlin – Citadel Music Festival (June 20)  – Mainz, Germany – Zollhafen/Nordmole (June 23)  – Clermont Ferrand, France – Cooperative de Mai (June 25) – Bordeaux, France – Fete le Vin (June 26)  – Bonn, Germany – Kunst!Rasen (June 29)  – Dresden – Filmnächte am Elbufer (June 30) – Munich – Tollwood Festival, Olympic Park (July 1)  – Trencin, Slovakia – Pohoda Festival (July 5)  

Lou Reed – Official Facebookfacebook.com/#!/LouReed

Lou Reed – Official Twitterhttps://twitter.com/#!/search/lou%20reed

Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal – E-Zine

The star has his decent share of lime light earlier as well due to his association with Pamela Anderson and the following controversies. Update: Congratulations to COLDPLAY, for receiving a Grammy Award! I need to travel at high speed here since there's no evidence of this. Many see him as the successor to Garth Brooks, and even supposing his data are not slightly as distinctive, he does appear determined to remain a rustic artist (whatever that implies today) with titles akin to "Don't Mention Memphis", "Give It To Me Strait", "It Doesn't Get Any Countrier Than This" and his 1996 US usa no 1 "She Never Lets It Go To her Heart". It is however extremely hot to sleep in a tent in Spain in July, so I recommend booking a Big names this year:The Prodigy, Kasabian, PIL, The Specials, Ian Brown and Dizzee Rascal. The crown marked the beginning of a dynasty that won seven Central Division championships (including six consecutively) and four Super Bowls from 1972 to 1980.

It’s 2-1-12, or National Rush Day: Some of your friends and family will shortly lose their minds

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10509445 large Its 2 1 12, or National Rush Day: Some of your friends and family will shortly lose their minds

We’ll have to wait another 100 years to see if the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx really do take over the world, as predicted in the Canadian rock trio Rush’s 1976 prog-rock epic “2112.” In the meantime, we are being instructed to blast the album for all to hear to celebrate National Rush Day.

It is 2-1-12 after all, and in the wonky world of Rush, that’s all the reason we need to relive the dystopian dream that made Neil Peart, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson instant rock legends, if not Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

“Rush’s ’2112′ is probably the first album that can rightfully be call progressive metal, so it’s only appropriate we blast the album from the rooftops, from our cars, from our iPods, from everywhere, to celebrate this landmark album and Rush’s incredible longevity and last influence,” Jeff Wagner, author of “Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal,” told Gibson.com.

So, expect a lot of Rush on classic-rock radio today. Local rock station WONE FM/97.5 spent part of its lunch hour playing “2112′s’” second suite: “The Temples of Syrinx.” Rumors are spreading that the band itself is getting into the act and will be streaming the album live tonight on its official website starting at 21:12 (that’s 9:15 p.m. for you nonmilitary types.) A note of caution: There’s nothing on the website yet that mentions the “2112″ stream.

But just keep Googling. Something’s bound to turn up. And if you can’t wait, you can check out the full 20 minute “2112″ epic via YouTube below:

I sense that this is the way you'll get the best results with concert and I don't know where my free listening music awareness level would be at right now. The people at the concert seemed to be united by the music. For , contaxt frischkornav.com, a leading company. Perhaps you are a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. The band ran through a string of Portishead hits such as Machine Gun, Over, Chase the Tear, and Glory Box. ?Press Pass: this pass is given away to members of the press, which include journalists, music critics, freelance photographers and music bloggers. A Concert between Website Design and Internet Marketing The common sense says - design the website first and this is the time when common sense really falls into. He had announced that the 1992 tour could be his swansong, but determined to place his retirement on hang and lower back with zzmosis?in past due 1995. Went bankrupt owing around 2 million dollars to thousands of innocent customers. They're a big spender. Online music is very much in fashion. La Karl Pilkington, and attending a massive concert in Lima headlined by Peru's finest pop singer and opened by Mexico's pot-smoking metal heads, Genitallica. It is my philosophy on christian music. There is no need for concert. Avoid setting a price range.

Look Out Below – The Nightmarish Decline Of The Euro Has Begun (FXE, IEV, UUP, EWI, EWG)

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1328029038 79 Look Out Below The Nightmarish Decline Of The Euro Has Begun (FXE, IEV, UUP, EWI, EWG)

Michael Snyder: The euro is a dying currency.  On Thursday, the EUR/USD (NYSEARCA:FXE) fell below 1.28 for the first time since September 2010.  In fact, as I write this the EUR/USD (NYSEARCA:UUP) is sitting at 1.2791.  Back in July, the EUR/USD was over 1.45.  But this is just the beginning.  The euro is going to go a lot lower.  At this point, there are several major European nations that are on the verge of default, the European financial system is overflowing with debt and toxic assets, and most major European banks are leveraged about as badly as Lehman Brothers was when it collapsed.  Most Americans simply do not grasp the gravity of what is happening.  Just because the Dow is sitting above 12000 and a few U.S. economic numbers have improved slightly does not mean that everything is going to be okay.  As I wrote about recently, the EU (NYSEARCA:IEV) has a bigger economy than we do and they have a bigger banking system than we do.  U.S. banks are massively exposed to European sovereign debt and European banking debt.  When the financial system of Europe collapses and the euro falls apart it is going to rock the entire planet.  So you better look out below – the euro is coming down and it is coming down hard.  After the euro implodes, nothing is every going to be the same again.

So how far are we going to see the euro decline?

Julian Jessop of Capital Economics expects the euro to fall much further….

The relative strength of the recent economic data from the US is supporting the dollar more generally, and we expect this divergence to persist as the euro-zone slides into a deep and prolonged recession. Above all, doubts about the very survival of the euro itself are likely to remain a drag on the currency. We therefore continue to expect the euro to fall to around $1.10 by the end of the year.

Others are even more pessimistic.

As I have written about previously, the head of global bond portfolio management at PIMCO believes that the euro is going to go even lower than that….

“Parity with the dollar next year is not out of the question”

Can you imagine that?

Don’t think that it can’t happen.

But the decline of the euro is just part of the story.  The truth is that Europe is on the verge of a financial collapse that could end up dwarfing the financial crisis of 2008.

Sadly, most Americans have no idea what has been going on in Europe the past few days….

-The stock of the biggest bank in Italy, UniCredit, is absolutely collapsing.  Shares of UniCredit fell 14 percent on Wednesday and 17 percent on Thursday.

-Shares of another major Italian bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, fell 7.3 percent on Thursday.

-Shares of three major French banks all fell by at least 5 percent on Thursday.

-Even shares of German (NYSEARCA:EWG) banks are falling like a rock.  Shares of Commerzbank fell 4.5 percent on Thursday and shares of Deutsche Bank fell 5.6 percent on Thursday.

-The yield on 5 years Italian bonds is back over 6 percent and the yield on 10 year Italian bonds is back over 7 percent.  Analysts all over Europe insist that that the Italian debt situation is not sustainable if rates stay this high.

-Italy’s (NYSEARCA:EWI) youth unemployment rate has hit the highest level ever.

This is mind blowing news.

But what is the top headline on USA Today right now?

“Employers Impose Bans On Smokers”

These are some of the other top headlines on USA Today right now….

“Automakers Rush To Offer Apps In Your Car”

“Bargain Season At Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s”

“Does Your Dog Understand You? Study Says Maybe”

Is that what passes as news in this country?

A financial meltdown of historic proportions is happening in Europe and you cannot even find anything about it on the front page of USA Today.

All of us need to snap out of our television-induced comas and start waking up.

Things are about to get really bad for the global financial system.

At this point so much confidence has been lost in the euro that even the Council on Foreign Relations is admitting that the euro is a failure….

The euro should now be recognized as an experiment that failed. This failure, which has come after just over a dozen years since the euro was introduced, in 1999, was not an accident or the result of bureaucratic mismanagement but rather the inevitable consequence of imposing a single currency on a very heterogeneous group of countries. The adverse economic consequences of the euro include the sovereign debt crises in several European countries, the fragile condition of major European banks, high levels of unemployment across the eurozone, and the large trade deficits that now plague most eurozone countries.

If even the CFR is throwing in the towel, that should tell you something about what is about to happen to the euro.

There is a very real possibility that we could see the euro break up at some point during the next couple of years.

It now seems that a report produced a while back by Credit Suisse’s Fixed Income Research unit was right on target….

“We seem to have entered the last days of the euro as we currently know it. That doesn’t make a break-up very likely, but it does mean some extraordinary things will almost certainly need to happen – probably by mid-January – to prevent the progressive closure of all the euro zone sovereign bond markets, potentially accompanied by escalating runs on even the strongest banks.”

The European debt crisis just continues to get worse and worse.  None of the solutions that European leaders have tried have worked.  We are rapidly approaching the meltdown phase of this crisis.

As I have written about previously, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what is happening in Europe.  The equation is simple….

Brutal austerity + toxic levels of government debt + rising bond yields + a lack of confidence in the financial system + banks that are massively overleveraged + a massive credit crunch = A financial implosion of historic proportions

Unfortunately, what is happening right now in Europe is eventually going to happen in the United States as well.

As I wrote about yesterday, U.S. debt is a ticking time bomb that is going to devastate the entire global economy at some point.  Nobody knows when the implosion will happen, but everyone knows that it is inevitable.

When Europe falls apart financially, that is going to make our own financial system much less stable.  What is happening in Europe could turn our “limited recovery” into a “major recession” almost overnight.

So keep your eye on the euro.

If the euro keeps going down, that is going to be really bad news for the global economy.

Unfortunately, the truth is that the decline of the euro is just getting started.

Hold on to your hats.

Courtesy of Michael Snyder, The Economic Collapse

Posted with permission of author by Wall Street Sector Selector

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