Sami Yaffa – Down At St. Joe’s (video)

Sami Yaffa – Down At St. Joe’s (video)

Sami Yaffa has had a unique career as a musician both in Finland and around the world. First in Finland in the band Pelle Miljoona Oy and then as a founding member of the band Hanoi Rocks, with whom Yaffa lived the life of an international rock musician with all its spices. Fortunately for the man, there have been enough callers since Hanoi to keep him busy: Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and Hanoi Rocks’ big influence, the New York Dolls, to name a few were Yaffa’s bands for years before forming a new band with his old Hanoi Rocks partner Michael Monroe in 2009. This collaboration continues, but now Yaffa is also releasing music under his own name.

The second single from Sami Yaffa’s solo album ‘The Innermost Journey To Your Outermost Mind’ will be released. A song called ‘Down at St. Joe’s’ had been sitting in Yaffa’s desk drawer for a long time as a finished composition, but the lyrics were not coming together. Fortunately, Sami’s bandmate from the Monroe band, Rich Jones, came to the rescue.

“Rich had already written some lyrics for my album when I decided to send this song to him. I definitely wanted this song to be included on the album because it differs from the electronic world of the other songs on the album with its down-home acoustic approach. I wanted to raise a glass with the song to thank The Faces, Stones and Dylan for their brilliance and innovation. Eventually, the theme of the lyrics was found to be the king alcohol, its pros and cons and especially how close to a complete collapse one can get if it gets to take a stranglehold on your life. Richie’s ingenious lyrics brought this song to life, and it became one of my favourite songs on the album,” says Sami Yaffa.

 

Sami Yaffa: The Innermost Journey To Your Outermost Mind album will be released on September 3, 2021, in Finland by Vallila Music House and internationally by Cargo Records

 

 

Find Sami Yaffa online at: WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM

SOCIAL DISTORSION ANNOUNCE 2020 EUROPEAN TOUR

SOCIAL DISTORSION ANNOUNCE 2020 EUROPEAN TOUR
Revered Southern California rock ‘n’ roll legends Social Distortion have announced their first European tour in five years. The month-and-a-half long tour, in June and July of next year, will include both headlining shows as well as appearances at some of the biggest summer festivals in the region. The band will perform at Manchester’s 02 Ritz on 15th July and London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 17th July.
Mike Ness has a special message for the European fans: “We can’t wait to get back to Europe this coming June! We’ve missed our fans and all of your beautiful cities. Five years is WAY too long! See you soon.”
Please see below for the full list of dates. Tickets are on sale now via the band’s website.
Social Distortion European 2020 Tour Dates
June 2nd, 2020 – The Circus, Helsinki (FI) – SOLD OUT     
June 3rd, 2020 – The Circus, Helsinki (FI) – SOLD OUT
June 8th, 2020 – Sentrum Scene, Oslo (NO)
June 9th, 2020 – Store VEGA, Copenhagen (DK)
June 12th, 2020 – Nova Rock Festival, Nickelsdorf (AT)
June 13th, 2020 – Zenith, Munich (DE)
June 16th, 2020 – Volkshaus, Zurich (CH)
June 17th, 2020 – Carroponte, Milan (IT)
June 19th, 2020 – Azkena Rock Festival, Vitoria (ES)
June 22nd, 2020 – Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
June 24th, 2020 – Lokschuppen, Bielefeld, (DE)
June 25th, 2020 – Capitol, Hannover (DE)
June 27th, 2020 – Haus Auensee, Leipzig (DE)
June 28th, 2020 – Columbiahalle, Berlin (DE)
June 30th, 2020 – Den Atelier, Luxembourg (LU)
July 3rd, 2020 – Ruhrpott Rodeo, Hünxe (DE)
July 4th, 2020 – Mission Ready Festival, Giebelstadt (DE)
July 6th, 2020 – Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg (DE) – SOLD OUT
July 7th, 2020 – Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg (DE)
July 10th, 2020 – Mighty Sounds Music Festival, Tabor (CZ)
July 12th, 2020 – Sjock Festival, Lille (BE)
July 15th, 2020 – O2 Ritz, Manchester (UK)   – TICKETS     
July 17th, 2020 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London (UK) – TICKETS     
Social Distortion have been in their studio writing since March of this year, but took the summer off to tour North America with Flogging Molly, The Devil Makes Three and Le Butcherettes as a warm-up to their 40thanniversary celebration in Orange County, California on October 26th. The special hometown concert acknowledged a remarkable forty-year career and was an incredible day of music, where they were joined by an eclectic array of artists such as Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, The Distillers, The Kills, Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls, The Eagles of Death Metal, The Black Lips, Plague Vendor, Bully and Mannequin Pussy.

Since their formation in 1979 in the Southern California working-class suburb of Fullerton, Social Distortion have created a recharged rock ‘n’ roll sound merging outlaw country, classic punk and swaggering blues. Their last release Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes was the first album with their current label Epitaph Records and the band’s highest-charting album in their career. Produced for the first time by Ness himself, the album debuted at #3 on German Album Charts and #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart.  The band is currently preparing to head back into the studio to start a new chapter in their already rich legacy.

Happy Birthday Joan Jett

Happy Birthday Joan Jett

Joan Marie Larkin better known as Joan Jett was born on this day in.1958. Parents James and Dorothy had their daughter in Pensylvania at Lankenau Hospital  Joan is the eldest of three children. Joan was fourteen when she got her first guitar then her family relocated to California and soon after moving her parents split when Joan took her mothers maiden name Jett and the legend was born after taking in Rodney Birgenheimers Disco where she was exposed to glam rock and nothing would ever be the same again.

Jett teamed up with drummer Sandy West. Jackie Fox, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie and The Runaways were born. Jett was originally the rhythm guitarist and occasional singer but took on songwriting credits the girl group got support slots with the likes of Cheap Trick, Van Halen and Tom Petty and also toured the UK and Japan where they became massive stars. The band managed to fit in five albums in their four-year reign at the second half of the ’70s.

Jett also got into punk rock in the late ’70s producing the Germs one and only album before singer Darby Crash lost his life.  the band also had one Pat Smear playing guitars who later went on to play with Nirvana and the Foo Fighters. Jett managed to team up with Cook and Jones when the Sex Pistols fell apart and managed to get them in the studio to record some classic tracks when in London with the most famous being the version of The Arrows classic ‘I Love Rock And Roll’ which would go on to become the one song Jett would be known for more than any other. after shooting an iconic video to accompany the tune.

When Jett was a solo artist she also added the band The Blackhearts who managed to recruit some class players in the line up over the years but the original included, Gary Ryan (Bass), Ricky Byrd on Lead Guitar, and Lee Crystal on drums. One Track from the early years that has seen itself pop up over the years in loads of films is ‘Bad Reputation’ which appeared on that debut solo album along with the classic ‘You Don’t Own Me’ that also features the Pistols Cook & Jones. It was a record that showed many sides to Jett and what she was capable of performing. the album missed out on entering the Billboard top 50 by one place but it was indeed a start.

 

hot on the heels was the album ‘I Love Rock And Roll’ whilst it never managed to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Charts it has managed an impressive ten million copies sold in its life. it did however spawn the singles ‘Crimson And Clover’ that hit the top ten and Jett had her first number one with the Arrows track that carried the same title as the album.  Jett is known for being happy to put a cover song on her records but this album was 50/50 original songs. Later Jett would pen and produce a lot of her records.

Jett still makes records and released ‘unvarnished’ in 2013 that was co-produced by Foo Fighter Dave Grohl who also co-wrote.  Also, it’s notable that Jett wrote and co-wrote nine of the ten tracks on the record. this time sneaking in the top 50 as well is no mean feat for a rock record. It was also Jetts first album since 2006s ‘Sinner’ and prior to that was the Japanese only album ‘Naked’ which also featured RPM favourite Sami Yaffa on Bass guitar.  Of the sixteen tracks Jett penned thirteen – one was a cover of the Replacements ‘Androgynous’ from their ‘Let It Be’ album.

Jett’s has her own model guitar which is a white Gibson Melody Maker, which she has played on everything since 1977. In 2008 Gibson released the “Joan Jett Signature Melody Maker”. which is some reward for being such an icon, not something Gibson hands out to just anyone. Jett is also happy to talk about animal welfares and is a big supporter of PETA, as she has been a vegetarian for over twenty years and is a supporter of environmental issues.  Still making music and touring Jett continues to play with a biography and an excellent documentary being released last year (entitled ‘Bad Reputation’), as well as continued interest in The Runaways her legacy, will forever be passed down through time as a real pioneer for women in Rock and judged for her music and not who or what she is Joan Jettalong with Debbie Harry are rightfully regarded as legends and all Joan Jett needs now is one of those flunko statues and my work here is done.  Put another (Joan Jett) record on the jukebox baby and raise a glass as we wish Joan Jett a happy birthday and here’s to another year and who knows maybe another album? That would be good.

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