Do you see the tickets on the resellers for thousands?

As if next year wasn't busy enough, Ritchie Blackmore will be hitting the road with Rainbow for dates in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow next June, tickets on sale this Friday, Planet Rock pre-sale tomorrow.

Well I went and saw An Evening with Blackstone Cherry last night at the O2 Empire, and what a show that was.

They played a good 45 minute acoustic set which was only let down by the idiots in the crowd who decided to keep chatting amongst themselves while they were performing or interacting with the crowd.

They then played an 1.5hr Electric set that was absolutely fantastic with a mix of tracks from all of the albums and the whole crowd was into that part of the show.

I was there too, it was SUCH a good show that I went and ordered tickets to tonight's show at Shephereds Bush too on the train home.

I *loved* seeing rarities like Stay, Big City Lights, Devil's Queen and Killing Floor played; and Soul Machine, White Trash Millionaire, Blame It On The Boom Boom and Cheaper To Drink Alone are as bouncy as they ever were.

If I had one gripe with the show is was that Magic Mountain was massively over-looked, I know people point that out as the worst BSC album but it still has some top tunes on it, would have loved to have seen Runaway or Remember Me in the acoustic set for example.

Thanks, got tickets for the Hydro through O2 Priority

this just popped up on my feed, some of you might appreciate it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Tbdnsr-cU

did anyone get tickets for g'n'r? I resent paying £84 for any band esp when that is the cheapest

and what is this ticketmaster platinum all about?
http://platinum.ticketmaster.co.uk/g...s-tickets/4709

Just saw Delain headline Paradiso in Amsterdam.

It was AMAZING! Concert included:
- Confetti cannons
- Past band members joining them on stage
- Special guests like Burton C. Bell from Fear Factory, Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy, George Oosthoek from Orphanage and Liv Krisitne from Leaves' Eyes.
- 22 song setlist spanning their entire career
- DVD professional filming
- Awesomely energetic crowd

Just such a top gig, I loved it and can't wait to relive it all on the DVD.

Just starting to appreciate Delain, I know I'm a bit late!

Not sure what the best CD to start off with would be?? I don't want to get everything they've done, as a] I can't afford it and b] I like so much other music I don't have enough time in the day!

Recommendations welcomed.

I have been listening to a fair bit of recent Nightwish lately, will be trying to get the new Live DVD shortly. And I also enjoy a lot of Within Temptation too. Not so much knowledge of other bands of that ilk, again, feel free to suggest albums or bands to try out.

I was only 49 quid for a standing ticket in Prague. Hotel was far cheaper than I would have been in London and flight was 170 from Aberdeen. It's beyond bonkers that it's costing me less in total for tickets hotel etc to see them in Prague than it would have done if I went to london

Honestly I'd recommend their newest album "Moonbathers", it's got some great tunes on it and is really representative of the band as they are today. But if you want a slighly older album then definitely go for "We Are The Others" as that has some of their biggest songs on it. Also worth mentioning is "The Human Contradiction" though as that album has top tracks on it as well.

Any of those 3 and you're golden.

For £84 I'd want to see a truly outstanding band who put on a truly outstanding show. Not sure GnR qualify

I did, they play for 3 + hours so that makes it worth it seeing as I paid £55 to see Heart this year who only played for barely over an hour.

Not to mention it's Axl and Slash on the same stage.

Tom Petty + The Heartbreakers to headline BST Hyde Park, London in July.

Stevie Nicks and many others to support.

£76+fees per ticket.

I'm worried that it may sell out before I can afford it after Christmas

Seen Delain twice now, absolutely amazing live and massively underrated, 2nd time was support to Within Temptation, give them a go.
The double live album (let us burn) is so worth a listen,

Regards Delain, just listen to any of the albums cannot go wrong with any of them.

Keeping my house mates budgie for 2 weeks, whilst he is home in South Africa for Christmas

Got 'Battery' and 'Spit Out The Bone' on, and he is screaming his bloody head off

#BudgieMetalHeads

Power Metal

Never heard of it before but discovered it after listening to Transformers The Movie soundtrack.

I can say I'm a fan of Power Metal

I come back to this drum cover from 'Through The Fire And Flames' by Dragonforce from time to time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O25RxZIwMkE

Wonder what meth dosage you need to power through that?

Would highly recommend some Hammerfall then, best Power Metal group about imo:

Let The Hammer Fall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZU6eMxeltk

Hearts On Fire - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htKY2oD85rs

Any Means Necessary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkmlujV-TvU

Renegade - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcG6xt5-iwQ

Blood Bound - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDsYmZREwo

Sure the music videos are goofy as hell but the music is great imo. Also they're a top quality live act, but unfortunately don't tend to come to the UK too often.

Delain are amazing live (seen them many times) as are Within Temptation and Nightwish.
I think Moonbathers is probably Delains strongest release so far although both their first two albums are also very strong.
Two other well known bands similar to them that you should check out are Epica (although they are a bit heavier), Xandria.
Less known bands like Leaves Eyes, Amberian Dawn and Sirenia are also worht checking out.

Seen WT, Nightwish, Delain, Epica many times live and have never seen anything other than a brilliant show (although Nightwish were a little "iffy" when they had Anette singing for them, but they soon put that right by bringing in Floor).

Delain were very, very, impressive. Probably one of the best I've seen them, and the number of times I've seen them is well in to double figures now!

There were a few technical issues, repeated microphone failures (especially during Sleepwalkers Dream), the lights on Martijn's keyboard stand not working properly and problems with the confetti cannons meaning they couldn't be used at the end, but I thought the band coped with them all very professionally and as a gig it was exceptional as, it must be said, were the audience!

Anette gets some stick for that Niightwish era but I really think Imaginearum and Dark Passion Play are amongst the best examples of Symphonic metal - epic and melodic with what I think are really good vocals from Anette.

I really like her style of vocal - theatrical and slightly pop-esque - OK she's no powerhouse but tone and musicality she had in spades.

Floor suits Nightwish though - lots of stage presence and her height and build is really something to behold. But I'm not convinced Endless Forms is Nightwish's best work.

Once you start investigationg the world of Symphonic Metal, or Frmale Fronted Metal, although I know most female singers dispise that term, a whole new world opens up!!

You could also add...

Arven
Angelica
Annysia
Dark Sarah
Diabulus In Musica
Edenbridge
enKlination
The Gentle Storm
Leah
Lunatica
Lyriel
Markize
The Murder Of My Sweet
Nemesea
Sleeping Romance
Stream Of Passion
Whyzdom

There are many others!!

Out of interest, Amberian Dawn and Diabulus In Musica are playing London's Boston Music Room on Friday 10th February.

and Lacuna Coil....Dark Adrenaline is superb.