Oh, the indignities involved in the life of an aging rock star.
Guitarist / vocalist Rik Emmett should be riding high these days. The past year saw his band Triumph mount a wildly successful reunion tour, with response so overwhelmingly positive that another road jaunt is planned for 2027. However, a slight (well, not from Emmett’s point of view) wrinkle has emerged. Shortly after the tour concluded, his hair fell out.
In a recent interview with the website Talkin’ Bout Rock, Emmett disclosed this recent development. “My hair started falling out. … I had alopecia areata, and I lost all my hair. So it was like, ‘That’s not so great.’ I’m sort of dealing with that and coping with that. And I’m not exactly sure how that one’s going to play out before the tour. You may see me as a guy wearing a lot of hats. But however it plays out, I feel good. My health is good. I’m strong, and I feel like I can play and sing.”
For a guy who was known for his flowing tresses during Triumph’s heyday, this is a most unwelcome development. But if it is any comfort to Emmett, he joins a growing number of geriatric rockers who have taken to wearing distinctive lids so as to conceal their follicular challenges: Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), the Edge (U2), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), and Steve Van Zandt (Bruce Springsteen). And while we can’t be sure about Billy Gibbons, we have our suspicions.
Ticket Alert
Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall is set to perform on Saturday, January 9, at the Heights Theater. Tunstall achieved wide recognition when her song “Suddenly I See” received substantial radio play and was subsequently featured in the film The Devil Wears Prada (a hit) and later adopted by Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign (not so much).
Why do so many people shit talk Nickelback? Sure, the band’s sound veers toward the generic, but hating Nickelback is like hating Big Macs. What’s the point? The signs outside most Mickey D’s locations say “Millions and Millions Served,” and Nickelback – if the band had a sign – could boast “Over 50 Million Records Sold.” In both cases, somebody must like that stuff. You can catch Nickelback at Toyota Center on Thursday, April 29 and, if you like, hit the drive-through at McDonald’s after the show.
Damn, Def Leppard has been at it for 50 years now. The band perfected its blend of hard rock, poppy tunes and pristine production with studio wizard Mutt Lange is the early ‘80s, and hasn’t looked back since. On their way to the top, the Leppard lads also managed to record “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” which has been in active rotation at exotic dancing establishments for decades. Similarities to the Archies song “Sugar, Sugar” have been pointed out, but that tune doesn’t really generate the placement of too many dollar bills in G-strings. Presales for the concert on Tuesday, June 1, at Toyota Center are in progress now, with the general ticket sale set for Friday.
Concerts This Week
Ah, to be Tom Jones. He has been knighted, though he probably wouldn’t insist that you call him “Sir Tom” if you happened to meet. He has sold millions of records with hits like “It’s Not Unusual” and “What’s New, Pussycat?.” He used to hang out with Elvis when they were both doing shows in Las Vegas. His television show, which ran weekly from 1969 through 1971,was a high-energy affair, which saw him performing with guests such as Janis Joplin and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. And – how do we put this? – he has never lacked for female companionship. But the best part is that the leather-lunged Welshman is still touring and crushing it at 86. See the legend in action tonight at the Smart Financial Centre.
As a father of two musician daughters, I have a soft spot for badass female rockers. If you are of the same mindset, don’t miss L7 tonight at the House of Blues. Since 1985, founders Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner have forged a sound that is punk rock in its essence, with a skosh of metal thrown in. ‘Cause Knowledge is Power: L7 appeared in the John Waters film Serial Mom as a band called Camel Lips, performing the song “Gas Chamber.”
There are three shows in a row this weekend at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. On Thursday, Bryson Tiller will roll out his mix of rap and R and B. Friday brings young singer-songwriter Beabadoobee. Born in the Philippines and raised in England, Beabadoobee was expelled from school when she was 17 due to poor grades and “misfit behavior.” Coincidentally – or not – she discovered the guitar and began writing songs that same year. On Saturday, Staind will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its album Break the Cycle, the record that put the band on the map.
Weezer’s music has taken a series of twists and turns since the band released its first album in 1995, a record which produced the MTV favorites “Undone – The Sweater Song” and “Buddy Holly.” The band is on tour in support of it new release “the gold album,” one in a series of eponymous (there’s some music writer vocabulary for you) records which maintains a tradition established by the blue album, the green album, the red album, the white album, the teal album and the black album. You can hear the band in all its colors on Friday at Toyota Center.
Young hotshot Sombr slides into Toyota Center on Saturday. The singer says that his name comes from his initials (legal name Shane Michael Boose) and his state of mind at the time he began his professional music career in 2021. I would imagine that he’s cheered up since, after several hit singles and albums, successful concert tours and numerous awards, including a Grammy.
.jpg){kind=link}