By: Justin R. Beckner, Rock Concerts Correspondent

Rich Williams is too modest to tell you himself, but he is one of the greatest and most enduring guitarists of his generation. Kansas has been together and touring for 40 years now and unlike most bands of that era who still tour, they still have the original core of the band. I remember the first time I saw Kansas, it was at a festival in Northern Minnesota and I was blown away by Rich’s guitar playing. I found myself wondering why they weren’t headlining the festival.

This summer Kansas is United in Rock with Styx and Foreigner for a rigorous nationwide tour. But that’s nothing new for a man who churns out 70-75 shows every year with his Kansas bandmates. But don’t worry, there’s some fun along the way too. Below is an interview with Guitar Legend, Rich Williams.

JB: What is your least favorite interview question?

RW: Well there are some. One we get is, “Where are you guys from?” but I think my least favorite is a question that they ask more over in Europe but we get it here too is, “What can we expect from you guys when you come to town?”. You know, what can you say to that, “I’m not gonna play that night. I’m going to put on a sausage making seminar.” It’s kinda obvious. But I don’t want to be a dick about it so I just tell them that were going to play a great show and blah blah blah. I guess maybe they’re looking for some cheap pro wrestling type bit.
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LOS ANGELES – Styx, Foreigner and special guests Kansas will hit the road this summer on the United In Rock tour, which kicks off in May. “I am very excited to be performing this summer with both Foreigner and Kansas on our United In Rock Tour. These three bands represent the more rocking side of the classic rock genre.
With the countless great rock songs each band will be performing this is going to be a guitars-a-blazin’ good time had by all.

STYX is a band that one of our best known songs is about the blue collar man in the unemployment line and we totally identify with the average hard working people that are facing difficult economic times.
We want to say thank you with affordable tickets for you and your family,” said James “JY” Young of Styx.

“Super line up, amazing songs, can’t wait, let’s rock,” said Foreigner’s Mick Jones.
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WALKER, MINNESOTA (March 1, 2010) – Collective Soul, Jonny Lang, Don Felder, Hoobastank and Blackberry Smoke have all been added to this year’s Moondance Jam schedule, joining the previously-announced Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar (with Neil Giraldo) and Buckcherry. Now the country’s largest classic rock festival, this year’s event will take place July 14-17, 2010 in Walker, Minnesota. Tickets are available now at www.moondancejam.com or by calling 1-877-MOONJAM.

Collective Soul is still touring behind its self-titled 2009 release that featured the hit single “Welcome All Again,” and makes its first ever Jam appearance this year. The quintet is still best known for its massive singles “Shine,” “December” and “Heavy,” and has sold over eight million records in the U.S. during its 15 year career.

Lang returns for the second time to Walker and the first since he won a Grammy in 2007 for his “Turn Around” record. Former Eagle Felder will perform his “Evening at the Hotel California” set that features many of his former band’s greatest songs. Atlanta-based southern rocker group Blackberry Smoke is still touring behind its “Little Piece of Dixie” set, while modern rockers Hoobastank bring its big hits “My Turn,” “The Reason,” “Crawling in the Dark” and “Running Away” to the ever-expanding party.
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PRESS RELEASE: He’s sold more than 22 million albums, and there seems to be no end to his potential. Kid Rock will play in concert at the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground Monday, Aug. 4, the official start date of the annual Sturgis Motorcycyle Rally.

Frontiers Records is very proud to announce the signing of legendary rock band Whitesnake.

David Coverdale and band are gearing up for their latest endeavour. Whitesnake has already started composing new material that promises to deliver one of the finest chapters in Whitesnake’s career. “We are off to a very good start, with the new songs taking positive shape. It feels good, fresh & exciting,” explains Coverdale.

The next release already feels like a solid, natural progression to their last opus, the successful, critically acclaimed ‘Good To Be Bad’ album, awarded by the influential Classic Rock magazine as “Best Album of the Year” in 2008. “As always, we want to take it to the next level,” states’ Coverdale. “I feel that with the last album we achieved a strong Whitesnake ‘cocktail’ that comfortably embraced & mixed all the previous musical aspects & styles of the band’s history, while taking our identity a little further…all on one album.”

Born in 1977, Whitesnake have been among the most influential representatives of the their genre, having produced numerous rock music classics such as ‘Here I Go Again’, ‘Is This Love’, ‘Still Of The Night’, ‘Fool For Your Loving’, ‘Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City’ or ‘Walking In The Shadows Of The Blues’.

Coverdale said the production team for the new album will most likely be the infamous Brutal Brothers, or Los Bros Brutalos, who handled the recording of “Good To Be Bad”. “The new songs are in the very familiar and recognizable Whitesnake territory of soulful, bluesy, melodic power rock, with a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure… It can’t be a Whitesnake album without ballads, mate!”

Whitesnake have conquered the love and respect of the audiences all over the world with their driving shows and music. The new album promises to follow in the steps of a great heritage of solid and timeless songs.
For more information, please visit www.whitesnake.com and www.frontiers.it.

Press Release: Thunder Mountain RockFest is coming to the Rock Dakota Ranch in Sawyer, North Dakota. Thunder Mountain RockFest is a three day outdoor rock festival that will feature different eras of music on each day.

The festival is slated for July 8 -10th, with a pre-party to be held on July 7th at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased online or at www.rockdakota.com; camping is also available. Signed acts include Night Ranger, Hinder, KIX, Default, and Great White. Complete lineup details are below:

Thursday:

ASIA feat. JOHN PAYNE:  John Payne fronted ASIA for 14 years. In 2006, John formed “ASIA Featuring John Payne.” The current lineup is John Payne- Vocalist/Bassist, Erik  Norlander – Keyboards, Jay Schellen – Drums, Mitch Perry – Guitar. They are currently performing songs from the entire history of Asia, including “Heat of the Moment.”
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Stop the presses – it looks like the endless Aerosmith lead singer drama may be coming to an abrupt end. All five boys from Boston have been signed to play the Download Festival 2010 in the United Kingdom, and yes – that’s with Steven Tyler.

By now everyone is familiar with at least part of the story. Aerosmith played the Buffalo Chip Amphitheater at the Sturgis Bike Rally in August and the tour came to a halt when Tyler took a rough fall from the stage. We covered that historic concert, and you can view photos at this link.

Nasty slip aside, it was the ensuing war of words that bruised the band as Joe Perry and Steven Tyler gave conflicting reports about the state of the group. But now, the Download Festival has a reunited Aerosmith in writing. Classic Rock Magazine reports that as part of the contract to play the gig, Tyler must be present as lead singer.

AC/DC, Rage Against the Machine, and Them Crooked Vulture are among the other bands signed for Download. Tickets are available at this link.

Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has been working on a new solo album, his first in five years. Titled “It’s Rude to Say No,” the release is set to hit stores later this year with a guest appearance from Nashville singer/songwriter Darrell Scott. With producer Buddy Miller, Plant has been at work on the album for the better part of the last two months.

Darrell Scott spoke to writer Tom Netherland about working with Plant, “Those two-plus weeks were some of the most memorable times I’ve ever had in the studio. The number one thing is that Robert loves music. You think they’re posing and just getting through it, but I was humbled with how Robert Plant loved the music…old country, blues, rockabilly.”

It’s not known if Alison Krauss (pictured with Plant) will be featured on the new solo effort. Other musicians comprising Plant’s line-up have also yet to be revealed. On February 25th, the singer will take the stage for a cause at the Abbey Road Studios in London with a choir of 72. Proceeds will benefit Cancer Research UK; more information can be found at Plant’s official website.

Two highly respected solo artists have been added to an already impressive line-up at the Moondance Jam in Walker, Minnesota, set for July 15, 16, and 17 this summer. Former Eagles member Don Felder, and blues singer/songwriter Jonny Lang will grace the stage on separate nights of the three-day festival. Buckcherry, Pat Benatar, REO Speedwagon, and Lynyrd Skynyrd are also on the list of bands confirmed.

Don Felder hit the big time in the early 1970s when he was asked to join the Eagles as their lead guitarist. He was a member of the band until its breakup in 1980, co-writing such hits as “Hotel California” and even singing lead on “Visions“, an album track from One of These Nights. On Friday, July 16, Felder will present “A Night at the Hotel California” for the Jammers in Walker.

Jonny Lang is only 29 years old. But the North Dakota native’s music and vocal talent is in the mold of a much more experienced blues musician. Lang began playing guitar at 12, and was signed to A&M Records by age 14. Since then, he’s toured with The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, B.B. King, Sting, and Jeff Beck – releasing five acclaimed studio albums in between.

The Moondance Jam features festival seating and a rock concert atmosphere that is second to none. Tickets are available by calling 1-877-MOONJAM, or by visiting MoondanceJam.com. You can view our coverage of last year’s festival by clicking here.

PRESS RELEASE: More than 38 bands will once again come together to celebrate rock at the fourth annual Rock on the Range, set for May 22 and 23 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The lineup includes first-timer “Rangers” Rob Zombie, Godsmack (in their first announced show of 2010), the return of Limp Bizkit and the festival solo debut of Velvet Revolver/ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. The two-day lineup for America’s premiere destination rock festival includes some of the most rocking artists in music today. In addition, marking another first for Rock on the Range, Mistress Juliya of Fuse TV has signed on as the hostess and Mistress of Ceremonies for the event.

Del Williams, co-executive producer of the event for Right Arm Entertainment, explains: “We designed ROTR 2010 to be the biggest weekend of ROCK at an incredibly low ticket price for the fans affectionately referred to as the ‘Rangers.’ This year’s line-up represents the most compelling mix of bands that we have ever had. Godsmack is one of the most prolific active rock bands of all time, and the intrepid Rob Zombie is an unrivaled performer. We are particularly excited about the return of Limp Bizkit, who have been tearing it up at European festivals. It is time for them to come back to America and remind people why they were at one time one of the biggest bands in the world.”
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