Bon Jovi

Alamo Drafthouse Singalongs Bring '80s Music Videos to Big Screen

The Alamo Drafthouse people are known for bringing you great movies and TV to their big-screens every week. Plus, the "coolest movie theater in the world" serves booze, which is never a bad thing, and their "no talking or texting" rules are even better. With locations coast to coast, the Austin-ba ... More >>

John Hiatt & the Combo

A Playlist for Tonight's Hurricane Sandy Telethon

The music business was hardly spared the effects of Hurricane Sandy. As reported by our New York sister blog, Sound of the City, dozens of shows in the New York-New Jersey area were postponed or canceled; the resulting travel snafu has scuttled touring plans as far away as tonight's (former) Houston ... More >>

Death Be Not, Uh... True: The 8 Most Asinine Musician Death Hoaxes

Why do people perpetrate death hoaxes? Why would someone deliberately set out to spread rumors of a famous person's demise that they know simply aren't true? Is it some kind of Munchausen-By-Proxy thing, where they hope to absorb some of the residual sympathy and outpouring of goodwill? Is it a mad ... More >>

No Fences: Garth Brooks & the Fuzzy Math of 10 Mega-Concerts

Fifteen years ago this week, the greatest country music artist of all time, Garth Brooks, made history by playing a free concert to a massive crowd in New York's Central Park. Now, not just anybody gets to play Central Park, but Brooks had the megawatt stroke in the entertainment biz back then to ma ... More >>

Follow This: 5 Brutally Honest Reviews For 5 Bands Who Did

Up until recently I've remained fairly indifferent to the number of followers I have on Twitter. After all, if my ego was dependent on the number of people following me I would just drop the $5 necessary to buy a few thousand and call it a night. Ever since I started writing here at Rocks Off I've ... More >>

Girls, Girls, Girls At 25: Anatomy Of A Strip-Club Classic

Mötley Crüe, those depraved kings of '80s sleaze, took a major step toward strip-club immortality 25 years ago this week when the band released its fourth album, Girls, Girls, Girls.. Glossy, debauched heavy metal ruled the charts in the summer of 1987 -- Whitesnake, Ozzy, Bon Jovi and Poison all ... More >>

Predicting Your Future Half Time Show Performers

Photo By Marco Torres​All of the Super Bowl talk this week has given me a chance to ponder one of my favorite pop culture questions: how big do you have to be to perform at the Super Bowl half time show? When you consider the acts that have performed since the 2005 move to one act performances ... More >>

Supermodels Make Hot Supermodels: Top 10 Supermodel Children

Last week pictures of Cindy Crawford's daughter surfaced across the intertubes. The little stunner is already following in her mother's footsteps and modeling, at the ripe age of ten! That may seem a bit young to be hitting the catwalk, but you have to admit she has a look (no discernible moles as f ... More >>

Six Things You Should Avoid if You Want to Be a Serious Musician

Anyone who has ever had a demanding job knows that with it comes the sacrifice of time. Lawyers on the partner track a big law firms know they have little time for anything outside of the office. To be successful at anything requires a commitment of time and energy that often means many of life's si ... More >>

5 Most Needless Song Updates

We got into rock journalism from being a local musician, so we understand both sides of the industry pretty well. We've recorded songs that later-on we wish we'd done very differently, and the temptation to go back and re-try for perfection can be very overpowering. Take it from us, though, do not f ... More >>

With a Rebel Yell: 10 Rockers Gone Country

Photo by Matthew KeeverAaron Lewis at the Verizon Wireless Theater in 2010.​When Staind singer Aaron Lewis rolls into Verizon Wireless Theater tomorrow night, odds are he'll leave his mudshuvel back at the hotel. As modern rock radio turns to the next generation of angst, the former Fred Durs ... More >>

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snubs Rush...Again

Photo by Jeff Balke​A couple years ago, I was sitting on the back porch at the Continental Club talking music with a fairly well known music writer who seemed to believe that anything with a big hook or the slightest inkling of musicianship beyond the garage band aesthetic was utter garbage. I ... More >>

Looking Back at A Very Special Christmas Track by Track

In the late 1980's, music empresario Jimmy Iovine cobbled together quite a collection of pop and rock artists to record songs for a Christmas album benefitting the Special Olympics. In 1987, A Very Special Christmas was released and rapidly became an instant holiday classic thanks to the star powere ... More >>

Top Five Most Overpaid Musicians In The World

​Last month Forbes released their list of the 25 highest-earning musicians of 2010, and the list contains several talents Rocks Off is happy to see keeping the lights on. No. 1 on the list, U2, is still a favorite of ours after all these years, and it's always good to see Tom Petty, Jay-Z, and ... More >>

1986: Best Musical Year Ever?

​For almost two weeks now, Rocks Off has been obsessed with the year exactly 25 flips of the calendar backward from this one. It started when Steve Earle did one of his "Time Machine" shows, where the singer-songwriter who plays House of Blues Wednesday spotlights a dozen or so of his favorite ... More >>

Rock Of Ages: Big Hair, Big Fog, Big Cliches

Ed Note: Rocks Off and our sister blog Art Attack are conducting a "reviewer exchange program" for the '80s musical Rock of Ages. One of our "rock and roll" people will review the show soon, but the visiting team bats first. Dan LippittThe cast of Rock of Ages​The Setup: '80s Sunset Strip roc ... More >>

Last Night: Bon Jovi At Toyota Center

Photos by Groovehouse​Bon Jovi Toyota Center May 17, 2011 Keep the faith with Bon Jovi and their hordes of Houston fans in our slideshow. It's no easy feat to emerge relatively unscathed from the ruins of the '80s metal boom. Bon Jovi's more glam-oriented contemporaries can no longer hope to ... More >>

UH Students Go Inside Bon Jovi's Space-Age Stage

Photos by Matthew Keever​As if he hadn't done enough already, we can add philanthropy to the list of John Bon Jovi's accomplishments. Already world renowned for his music, the rock icon and No. 1 worldwide touring act of 2010, according to Billboard and Pollstar, is out to help people, and a l ... More >>

Jon Bon Jovi, Mayor Parker SEARCH For Youth Answers

Photos by Allison WagonerHouston Mayor Annise Parker and Jon Bon Jovi stand with their autographed plates that will be featured on SEARCH's "Wall of China."​Jon Bon Jovi has a concert at Toyota Center Tuesday, but he came to Houston a day early to do some voluntary community-service work for t ... More >>

Bon Jovi Rides His Steel Horse to Meet Annise Parker

Photos by Allison WagonerHouston Mayor Annise Parker and Jon Bon Jovi stand with their autographed plates that will be featured on SEARCH's "Wall of China."​Even though there's a famous APB on him, Jon Bon Jovi met with Mayor Annise Parker yesterday and was not arrested. Bon Jovi has a concer ... More >>

Memphis

Southwest Prepares to Fly to Newark: Five Tips

New Jersey: Enter at your own risk​Southwest Airlines is busy with the final preparations for their new service into Newark Liberty Airport. As a native of the Garden State -- one who grew up only a few miles from Newark Airport -- we're here to help. Five tips for the airline: 5. Offer a s ... More >>

Graphic: When Festival Booking Goes Too Far

Garland RobinetteYes, this is the real Jazz Fest 2011 poster, and that's really Jimmy Buffett.​Every spring, New Orleans puts on something called the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. But as Jazz Fest has grown more and more popular, the headlining acts have had less and less to do with ja ... More >>

In the Spotlight

Spotlight Karaoke sets standard for do-it-yourself singing spots.

More Like "Hall Of Lame," Am I Right?

​Ladies and gentlemen, your 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is ready to admit a new class: Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Neil Diamond, Darlene Love and Dr. John have all been inducted for 2011, the foundation announced Wednesday. With the exception of Wai ... More >>

Miranda Lambert Added To Rodeo's 2011 Lineup

Trace Adkins, Martina McBride, Hideout schedule also announced ​Miranda Lambert, the Lindale native currently nominated for five Grammys, including four for her album Revolution, will return to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo March 16 at Reliant Stadium, the rodeo announced this morning. ... More >>

Where's the Rock?

106.9 The Zone misses The Point.

Mark Lanier's 2010 Desperate Christmas Party Performer: Sting

Nah, you're not invited​Mega-lawyer Mark Lanier each year throws an outrageous Christmas party, because there's nothing better to do with money than throw an opulent, look-at-me event that doesn't even serve liquor for all the dads who've had to drag their kids out to ride the rides.The event also ... More >>

Bon Jovi, Rock & Roll Hall Of Famers? It Could Happen...

Stay classy, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame...​This morning the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced this year's ballot of nominees, with the winners to be announced in December and inducted next March in New York. Fifteen names are on this year's ballot, ranging from hip-hoppers, proto-metal icons, ... More >>

30 Seconds With Black Congress' Dann Miller

Laura Lopez/ Black Congress on Facebook​We sat down with Dann Miller, the bassist of Black Congress, to see what we could learn about him in 30 seconds. And here we go! Rocks Off: What is the worst song in the world? Dann Miller: The first that come to mind are "Old Time Rock and Roll" by ... More >>

Idol Beat: Jamie Foxx, Officially Not Giving a Crap Since 1992

​Last night's Idol took us down to the top three contestants, but as expected, it took a long time to get there. The thing is, at this point the filler doesn't even feel like filler any more, just as the eliminations don't even feel real. This is the end of the 18th week of the season, and the ... More >>

American Idol: Jamie Foxx, Officially Not Giving a Crap Since 1992

​Last night's Idol took us down to the top three contestants, but as expected, it took a long time to get there. The thing is, at this point the filler doesn't even feel like filler any more, just as the eliminations don't even feel real. This is the end of the 18th week of the season, and the ... More >>

Waiting Room: The Brand-New Health-Care Package Needs Its Own Soundtrack

​This past week, the health-care reform debate reached an end, as the bill was passed by Congress Sunday night and signed into law by President Barack Obama on Tuesday. At stake was the health and well-being of millions of uninsured Americans who now stand to be covered by socialized governmen ... More >>

The Week in TV: We Can Only Mock the Living

​It's almost Christmas, I'm tired of shopping, and I keep yelling "sharkfarts" at everyone. This was the week in TV Land: • Most of the major shows and networks were in repeats this week, which threw my viewing habits off a bit. It's not like I only watch the big four networks; in fact, I ... More >>

More Musical Medocrity For Houston's Private Party Of The Year

​For those folks out there wondering if superlawyer Mark Lanier had suddenly -- after all these years -- finally developed good musical taste, you can rest assured: He hasn't.Tort King Lanier is famous for his Christmas parties, elaborate (if liquor-free) bacchanals that feature kiddie rides, top- ... More >>

Low Man's Joe: Where I Stand

Local Album of the Week: Low Man's Joe's Where I Stand

Low Man's Joe Where I Stand www.myspace.com/lowmansjoeBefore "Wanted Dead or Alive," before "It's My Life," before Jon Bon Jovi went off to Hollywood and took the Lost Highway through Nashville in 2007, Bon Jovi was a pretty decent hard-rock band. Poppier than most, definitely, but Jon's Springsteen ... More >>

Tonight: Battle of the Bar Bands at House of Blues

A more cutthroat distant cousin to the rock/soul package tours of the late '50s and '60s, "Battle of the Bands" competitions were never really in style - except maybe in the Sunset Strip hair-metal heyday of the mid-'80s - but they never really go out of style either. Tonight at House of Blues, ... More >>

Artist of the Week: Devil Killing Moth

Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group "Artist of the Week," bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn't awful? Email their particulars to introducingliston@gmail.com. Courtesy Devil Kill ... More >>

Retro Active: The Five Best '80s Christmas Songs

Christmas seems to activate a latent part of all musicians' brains that inspires them to spread their holiday cheer all over a perfectly good season. (The scientific term for this part of the brain is called "My Accountant.") Musicians in the '80s were certainly not exempt from this need to whi ... More >>

Confessions of a Classic Rock Whore, or One Man’s Journey

Playbill: Winger (Yep, You Read That Right)

Oh, Mildred's

Bon Appétit!

Have a Nice Day with some ´80s heartthrobs

The Darkness

One Way Ticket to Hell...and Back

Moot Davis, with Pete Anderson

Sunday, May 15, at McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk, 713-528-5999.

Boxing the Rock

Six of the year's best multi-disc sets (and one of the worst)

The Sounds

Friday, April 23

One Hundred Million Reasons to Go See Great White

"Once Bitten Twice Shy" ain't one of 'em