Dig if you will the picture: 2014 marked the 30th anniversary of Purple Rain, and the glorious summer when Prince simultaneously had the Number One single, album and movie in the USA. Alan Light (author of The Holy or the Broken, and a Rolling Stone veteran) celebrated the occasion with the new book Let's Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain.
Master of Puppets is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on March 3, 1986 by Elektra Records. Recorded at the Sweet Silence Studios with producer Flemming Rasmussen, it was the first Metallica album released on a major label. It was the band's last album to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a bus crash during the album's promotional tour. The album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and became the first thrash metal album to be certified platinum. It was certified 6× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2003 for shipping six million copies in the US.
Master of Puppets was released to critical acclaim and has been included in several publications' best album lists. Its driving, virtuosic music and angry, political lyrics drew praise from critics outside of the metal community. The album is considered the band's strongest effort of the period, and is one of the most influential heavy metal albums. Many bands from all genres of heavy metal have covered the album's songs, including tribute albums.
The cover was designed by Metallica and Peter Mensch and painted by Don Brautigam. It depicts a cemetery field of white crosses tethered to strings, manipulated by a pair of hands in a blood-red sky. Metallica embarked on a five-month tour supporting Ozzy Osbourne in the United States.
The European leg was canceled after Burton's death in September, and the band returned home to audition a new bassist. Metallica honored the album's twentieth anniversary in 2006 by playing it in its entirety.
Master of Puppets has appeared in several publications' best album lists. It was ranked number 167 on Rolling Stone 's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Time included the album in its list of the 100 best albums of all time. According to the magazine's Josh Tyrangiel, Master of Puppets reinforced the velocity of playing in heavy metal and diminished some of its clichés. Slant Magazine placed the album at number 90 on its list of the best albums of the 1980s, saying Master of Puppets is not only Metallica's best recording, but also their most sincere. The album featured in Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but the rumor mill has started spinning regarding live performances for the 57th annual Grammy Awards. Some of the major names being bandied about include AC/DC and U2.
Read More of Jeff Giles' article @ Ultimate Classic Rock: AC/DC and U2 Rumored to Perform at Grammy Awards
Jefferson Starship will celebrate 50 years of Jefferson Airplane with a tour that kicks off the new year on January 16th at the Empire Theater in Belleville, Ontario.
The band features Jefferson Airplane co-founder Paul Kantner and will celebrate the band's 50th anniversary.
All ticket information can be found here.
Jefferson Starship Tour Dates:
January 16 Belleville, ONT—Empire Theater
January 17 Rama, ONT—Casino Rama
January 28 Derby, UK—The Flower Pot
January 29 New Brighton, UK—Floral Pavilion
January 30 London, UK—Brooklyn Bowl London
February 1 Exeter, UK—Phoenix Arts Center
February 2 Wolverhampton, UK—Robin 2
February 4 Gateshead, UK—Sage
February 7 Bradenton, FL—Regatta at Bradenton Downtown Riverwalk
February 13 Prescott, AZ—Yavapi College PAC
February 14 Stateline, NV—Harrah’s South Shore
February 21 Miami, FL—Magic City Casino Magic & Music Festival
February 22 Jacksonville, FL—Ponte Vedra Music Hall
February 27 Grass Valley, CA—Grass Valley PAC
February 28 Modesto, CA—Gallo Center for the Arts
March 5 Atlantic City, NJ—Harrah’s
March 6 Greensburg, PA—Palace Theater
March 7 Cleveland, OH—Masonic Auditorium
March 19 Natick, MA—Natick Center for the Arts
March 20 Sugarloaf, NY—Sugarloaf PAC
March 21 Beverly, MA—Larcom Theater
March 22 New York, NY—B.B. King’s Blues Club
March 24 Annapolis, MD—Ram’s Head
March 26 Londonderry, NH—Tupelo Music Hall
March 27 Uncasville, CT—Mohegan Sun Casino
March 28 Norfolk, CT—Infinity Music Hall
March 29 St. Charles, IL—Arcade Theater
June 6 San Mateo, CA—San Mateo County Fair
July 23 Truro, MA—Payomnt PAC
July 24 Hartford, CT—Connecticuit Convention Center
July 25 Stockton, NJ—Stockton Rocks Hamilton Township
July 31 Costa Mesa, CA—OC Fair
The oft-asked question of who has the rights to a band’s name has just added a new wrinkle. On Jan. 12, the Little River Band will appear on ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,’ even though the current version of the Australian soft-rock band contains no original members.
Talk about adding insult to injury: After enduring copious amounts of surgery following his nasty bike accident last fall, Bono may have lost the ability to play guitar. 
