The Australian guitarist Orianthi is certainly one of the most famous and respected female guitarists to emerge in recent decades. She is best known for being a member of Michael Jackson's band and for playing with Alice Cooper. Now, the Godfather of Shock Rock has announced that she will rejoin his band for a few dates in 2025, filling in for Nita Strauss, who has commitments of her own. Orianthi was a member of Alice's band from 2011 to 2014. About the future shows with the guitarist, Alice Cooper said: "When Orianthi moved on to pursue her own career in 2014, we were lucky to find Nita. Over the past decade, Nita, Chuck and Tommy have also launched their own projects." "We always try to coordinate our schedule so we can keep the band together, but these shows came up after Nita had already committed to another tour. So I reached out to Orianthi, and thankfully she was available to jump back in, so we're all really looking forward to doing these shows with her. I'm so fortunate to always have such great musicians to work with," Alice Cooper said. Alice Cooper shows with Orianthi on guitar: January 31 - Augusta, GA - Bell Auditorium February 1 - Cherokee, NC - Harrah's Casino Resort Event Center 2 - Greensboro, NC - Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts 4 - Mobile, AL - Saenger Theatre 6 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock 7 - Ft Myers, FL - Barbara Mann Performing Arts Hall 8 - Clearwater, FL - Coachmen Park 11 - St. Augustine, FL - Amphitheatre 13-17 - Miami, FL - Rock Legends Cruise Further tour dates with Nita Strauss will be announced later. Alice's current band is also formed by Ryan Roxie (Guitar), Chuck Garric (Bass), Tommy Henriksen (Guitar) and Glen Sobel (Drums). His most recent album is "Road" released in 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg94SeFn_Pg&pp=ygUVYWxpY2UgY29vcGVyIG9yaWFudGhpThe post Orianthi will return to Alice Cooper’s band for a few dates in 2025 appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

The British guitarist and singer Elvis Costello talked in an interview with Rockonteurs podcast (Transcribed by Ultimate Classic Rock) about his 1986 album "King of America", which was influenced by Folk, Country and Americana. Most of the songs talked about his personal experiences in a way that it was more accessible to the listeners. To explain the importance of that, he compared Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift, saying it is something that both of them do. Elvis Costello compares Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift “All I was doing was reciting things that were happening to me. I know that can be interesting to hear. But it doesn't necessarily engage the listener because they don't know what you're talking about.” “(It) is something that marks out a lot of the Blood on the Tracks songs by Bob Dylan, where one minute they seem to be very raw emotion. The next minute they're clearly invention. And that keeps you guessing.” “I'm not just trying to say this to be down with the kids, but it's also what makes Taylor Swift speak to people. She understands the necessity of taking personal experience, but expressing it in a way that's (relatable). There's lots of other examples of that, she's just the most successful one that you could cite. But that's why she's able to sustain communication with her audience in quite that way,” Elvis Costello said. It was not the first time that Costello praised Swift, he already said that "I think we'll all be working for her eventually". Active in the music business since 1970, Costello already released 33 studio albums, the most recent one being "A Boy Named If", released in 2022. Taylor Swift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM&pp=ygUZdGF5bG9yIHN3aWZ0IHNoYWtlIGl0IG9mZg%3D%3D Born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, Taylor Swift is one of the best-selling artists of all time. She sold an estimated amount of more than 200 million records sold worldwide. Until 2024 she released 11 studio albums, 4 live albums and 4 re-recorded albums. She is currently the solo artist with the most weeks at number one on the United States Billboard 200 chart and also the first billionaire to have music as the main source of income. In 2023 she was the most streamed artist in Spotify, with 26.1 billion streams. Certainly there is no artist like her nowadays, who can generate this amount of ticket and record sales everywhere in the world.The post Elvis Costello compares Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

The legendary pianist and singer Elton John said in an interview with Good Morning America that he is blind in his right eye and can't see anything. He had already talked a few months ago that he was recovering from an eye infection that causes temporary blindness. However, the recovery is slow and as he told the American TV show, he can't see in his right eye since July. His vision is also not really good in the left eye, so he said he can't read and can't watch anything. Elton John says he is blind in his right eye "I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the South of France, and it's been four months now since I haven’t been able to see. My left eye is not the greatest." "I can do something like this (the interview) but going into the studio and recording, I don't know. Because I can't see a lyric for start. ... It kind of floored me, and I can't see anything. I can't read anything, I can't watch anything." Recently a song called "Never Too Late" with Brandi Carlile was released and will be part of the documentary "Elton John: Never Too Late". In the same interview he talked about that, saying: "I'm so proud of the documentary. I'm proud of my sons. I'm proud of my attitude towards myself and what's going on. I’m just very lucky and I’m very grateful." Born in Pinner, Middlesex, England back in 1947, Elton John started his musical career in 1962, releasing his solo debut album “Empty Sky” in 1969. Since then he became one of the best-selling artists of all time with an estimated amount of more than 300 million records sold worldwide. His farewell tour started back in 2018 and became during the last years the first one in history to achieve over $900,000,000 tickets sold. He released more than 30 studio albums during his career and many of them have received countless awards like the Grammy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwL4UC_tLTI&pp=ygUaZWx0b24gam9obiBicmFuZGkgY2FybGlsZSA%3D The post Elton John says he is blind in his right eye appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

Phil Collins certainly demonstrated his versatility throughout his career. He first achieved fame as a drummer, then became the frontman of Genesis, proved his talent as a songwriter, enjoyed immense success in his solo career, and even ventured into acting. While growing up, he was influenced by many kinds of music, but the so-called "Motown sound" held a particularly special place in his heart. He once revealed which band, famous for their Motown Records albums, was his favorite. The Motown band that Phil Collins said was his favorite The most recent Phil Collins album is "Going Back", released in 2010, which features only covers of Motown and Soul standards. In an interview with Centerstage in the year the record was released (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage), Collins revealed which was his favorite Motown band or artist. "Probably the Four Tops were (my favorite). Because they had, certainly in England, where I lived, they had just one hit after the other. They were just full of hooks and you know, they're just great songs." (...) (Motown) is the music I grew up with. I mean, as well as The Beatles, which of course, everybody grew up with. For me, it was the Motown records that I really gravitated to. So for me it's the soundtrack of my life. I've never sung these songs, apart from the school band," Phil Collins said. On his album "Going Back", Collins covered a few songs previously recorded by Four Tops. Some of them were songs "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", "Standing in the Shadows of Love" and "Something About You". He wrote a song for The Four Tops and became a huge hit In the 80s, besides being a solo artist and a member of Genesis, Collins also worked as a producer and co-wrote songs for other artists. One of them was "Loco In Acapulco", which was curiously given to The Four Tops. He co-wrote the track with Lamont Dozier, who is one of the most famous songwriters of the Motown songwriting team. The song was part of the Four Tops album "Indestructible" in 1988. Also part of the soundtrack of the movie "Buster", released in the same year, starring Phil Collins. In an interview with EON music, the founding member of The Four Tops, Abdul "Duke" Fakir talked about working with Collins. "We met him. He wrote that with Lamont Dozier who was part of the team with Holland–Dozier–Holland." "He sang on the recording. When he won some kind of award, we came over with him to get some kind of award. We got to be pretty good buddies for a while there! I love him," Abdul "Duke" Fakir said. Collins played that song live during a solo show in 1997. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5pv06dXmgQ The Four Tops have been active since 1953 but the band continues without original members. The last surviving member, who was Abdul, passed away in 2024 at the age of 88. During their career, the band released 27 studio albums, the most recent one being "Christmas Here with You" (1995). Some of their most famous songs are "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Baby I Need Your Loving".The post The Motown band that Phil Collins said was his favorite appeared first on Rock and Roll Garage.

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One of the hallmarks of being human is that, without even leaving our own heads, we can live in three different places—the past, the present and the future. We all have memories of things that have happened in our lives, which we might reminisce on fondly or relive traumatically. And we all have our imaginings of things to come, in which we place our hopes and dreams as well as our worries and anxieties. And then we have the now, where all of us actually live. Despite the fact that the present moment is the only place life actively happens, many of us spend much more time mentally living in the past or in the future. We might long for a time when things were better or dwell in the past where we wish things had been different. We might look forward to something that's coming next—a big life event, a change, a break from the routine—or we might find ourselves paralyzed by the fear of an uncertain future. There's nothing wrong with looking back or looking ahead, but if we don't look at the present right before us more often, we end up missing out on life as we're living it. The past can't be changed and the future is unknown; the only time that we can truly live fully is now. It sounds so simple, right? If it were easy to live in the present, we'd all be doing it more often. Habits of mind can be hard change, but tips for living in the now aren't complicated. It's both easier and harder than it sounds to live in the now, but these habits can help us strike a healthier balance."Use the good china"We live by a lot of unwritten rules, some that are there for good reason and some that aren't. Examining the do's and don'ts we have set for ourselves—or that others have set for us—is a worthwhile endeavor, especially when they lead us to experience life more fully in the now.How many of us have dishes for special occasions that rarely (or never) get used or special outfits we're saving for some unnamed future event? What if we used the good china more often, just because? What if we wore our fancy dress out to dinner, just because? Would the world end? No. Might we enjoy making the most of what we're holding onto for special occasions that might never come? Probably. via GIPHYIt's fine to have special things for special occasions, but there's no set definition of "special," and if not now, when? "Always take the trip"One of the best pieces of parenting advice I ever received was "always take the trip." The idea is that our kids grow quickly, and if we're ever considering not taking a family trip because the timing or cost isn't ideal, as long as it's doable, to just do it. That advice spills over into more than just parenting. If we have opportunities to make memories with loved ones, to experience something together outside of our norm, we should take them. There will always be reasons to say no or to put things off, but that doesn't mean we should. Barring actual financial ruin or some other dire consequence, take the trip, whatever it is. Ground yourself in your sensesThis is an exercise that can help stop a panic attack, but it can be used any time you find your mind spinning in the past or future. Becoming hyper aware of your physical surroundings can bring you into the present moment in a tangible way, and it's quite simple to do. Look around and name 5 things you see, list 4 things you hear, 3 things you feel, 2 things you smell and 1 thing you taste. Then sit with those physical senses for a moment, taking them all in. Meditate—however it works for youI know, I know. Some of us love meditation and others find it impossible. Much of the time, people who feel like they can't meditate have a limited view of what meditation means or what it can look like. But there are a million ways to reap the proven benefits of meditation. via GIPHYYou don't have to sit cross-legged and you don't have to try to "clear your mind." You can lie down. You can walk. You can focus on your breathing or on a word or phrase or image. When your mind starts wandering or racing or otherwise doing what it normally does, intentionally direct it back to whatever you're focusing on. That mindfulness helps bring you into the present moment. Start with a couple of minutes a day and build up. It doesn't have to be complicated. Don't overthink it. Find a comfortable position or a movement you enjoy and pick one thing to focus your attention on. That's it. Practice gratitudeThe idea of practicing gratitude has almost become a cliché at this point, but hey, it works. What are you thankful for in your life right now? Making a habit of ending each day writing down or thinking about what you're grateful for is a powerful way to appreciate the present. If you struggle to find something you're thankful for, think beyond your own immediate circumstances. Humans created public libraries and they exist all over the world—isn't that amazing? Grateful. Sunrises and sunsets and puppies and flowers? Grateful. The fact that we live in an era with toilet paper? Grateful. There's always something to be thankful for in the now. Find joy in small thingsLife has its big moments, but most of our daily life is made up of small things. If we only look forward or backward to big things, we miss out on a lot of the simple joys of everyday life—the first sip of coffee in the morning, the sound of a loved one's laughter, the feel of the wind in your hair. Enjoy the little things.Photo credit: CanvaTake a moment to look at how the light comes through a window, how cute your cat looks when she's sleeping, the beauty of your favorite decor in your home, the smell of your favorite food. Remembering that our present is the future our past self used to look forward to can help us remember the importance of living in the moment. Reflect on the past and plan for the future, but in moderation. Life is happening in the now.

Target might have the mainstream market cornered on the whole “go for one thing, leave with a full shopping cart” narrative, but real ones know there’s another store that offers a similar experience—only ten times more eclectic. HomeGoods, brought to you by the same company that owns T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, is essentially a flea market on steroids, minus the secondhand aspect. Customers wander aisle to aisle perusing a random mishmash of bobbles from literally thousands of vendors—a dinosaur shaped dog bed here, a Belgian waffle scented candle there—until they find that one precious item (or, let's be honest, several precious items) to fill those pesky vacant corners of their home. As any HomeGoods devotee will tell you, it’s not so much a shopping experience as it is a treasure hunt, especially since there’s often only one of whatever item you procure. Which obviously makes it much more fun than simply scrolling through Amazon. But words fail to capture the bizarre, yet thrilling HomeGoods phenomenon compared to the video below, posted by Aubrey Gavello. In the hilarious clip, Gavello and her partner basically ask one another if the store might possibly carry some impossibly specific item, only to find out that, lo and behold, HomeGoods does in fact have it. How specific are we talkin’? A snow globe with a small photo of the Golden Girls with the word “squad goals,” a full-sized, half black half white bust of a woman with bubbles on her head and a globe with no countries on it, just an inspirational quote, just to give you an idea. There's even a mannequin with a Christmas tree for a petticoat for the seamstress looking to get into the holiday spirit,”and a “Meowna Lisa” painting for cat lovers who also enjoy art. Truly, there's something for everyone at HomeGoods. @aubreygavelloo Honestly that lanky horse is coming home with us #homegoodsfinds #shopping #holiday #couple ♬ original sound - Aubrey Gavello Of course, HomeGoods aficionados came in quick to defend some of these products. One viewer wrote, “Is it just me or is $9.99 for the Meowna Lisa a steal?” while another demanded “give me that Golden Girls snowglobe right NYOW” Another viewer chimed in to say, “I worked at HomeGoods for 5 years and some stuff we got was so random. Then when you met the person buying it, it just made sense.” Still another wrote, “You don’t go to HomeGoods looking for things. You go to HomeGoods to be found by things. It’s a spiritual journey.” HomeGoods itself (or at least, the official HomeGoods TikTok account) left a comment which read: “sometimes you don’t know what you need until you go to HomeGoods.” @liliannawilde shopping at homegoods be like… maybe we do need gold dusted wooden chickens?? @Sean Kolar #homegoods #homegoodsfinds #couplecomedy #marriage #husbandwife ♬ original sound - Lilianna Wilde @sheawhatnow I cant believe they had everything we were looking for! We ❤️ you @HomeGoods #homegoodsfinds #homegoods #shopwithme #husbandandwifecomedy @Johnny Whitfield ♬ Christmas Is Coming - DM Production @phantom.goats #homegoods #homegoodsfinds #homegoodsthings #shopping #christmas #christmasshopping #trend #trending #funnyvideo #comedyvideo #fyp #foryoupage ♬ original sound - Phantom Goats Thanks to TikTok, highlighting these oh-so random finds is now simply an additional part of HomeGoods culture. Just search “HomeGoods shopping be like” and you’ll find a whole slew of videos just like Gavello’s.And it probably goes without saying, but—while it’s fun to find unique, discounted items, it’s wise to be weary of buying things you don’t actually need. Especially when it comes to super niche holiday items, like the ones featuring in the clip below. @livekindly HomeGoods anti-haul to save you from overconsumption this holiday season! ? Where should we anti-haul next? #overconsumption #antihaul #deinfluencing #homegoods #homegoodsfinds #christmas #christmasdecor ♬ Christmas - JerryJeyy Still, there’s something to be said about the healing retail therapy powers of a good HomeGoods haul. As with all things, there’s a balance to strike. So while maybe you don’t need single use leopard print wrapping paper, that leopard spotted rug you’ll treasure for years to come could be the perfect purchase.

National Geographic released its Pictures of the Year issue, highlighting the 20 best images Nat Geo photographers took in 2024. This year's shots were narrowed down from over 2.3 million photos, 300,000 more than in 2023. They're an eye-opening and thought-provoking glimse into the animal kingdom, various cultures and scientific innovation. “A compendium of the best recent work from National Geographic’s photographers in the field, Pictures of the Year is an annual highlight of our editorial calendar. This year’s selection is timeless and timely,” said Nathan Lump, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic. “Our 2024 photos are visually captivating, to be sure, but they also bring to life the urgent challenges facing us as well as the ingenuity that’s been sparked in meeting them – from an effort to save rhinos to advances in green technology to adaptations in animal behavior. We hope that these images will stop audiences in their tracks and inspire them to learn more.”Here are some of our favorite photos. Visit National Geographic to see all 20 of 2024's Pictures of the Year. via National Geographic Magazine Cover, Dec. 20241. "A Boom with a View" (Antigua, Guatemala) by Peter FisherFuego Volcano has been erupting continually since 2002. A one-day hike up its dormant twin, Acatenango and across a valley rewards adventurers with a view from Fuego's ridgeline. Eruptions can occur multiple times a day. Fuego Volcano has been erupting since 2002. Photograph by Peter Fisher2. Dining at Dusk (Concan, Texas) by Babak TafreshiFrio Bat Cave in southern Texas is the spring and summer home of approximately 10 million Mexican free-tailed bats. Most nights around sunset, bats fly out in a coordinated stream to feed primarily on moths. “You think maybe it’ll finish in 10 minutes,” Babak Tafreshi says, but their takeoff “continues for two hours.” Frio Bat Cave in southern Texas.Photograph by Babak Tafreshi3. A Hope for Rhinos (Nanyuki, Kenya) by Ami VitaleA scientist holds the 70-day-old fetus of a rhino conceived through in vitro fertilization A scientist holds a rhino fetus.Photograph by Ami Vitale4. Tiny Breakthrough (Konstanz, Germany) by Ingo ArndtIngo Arndt worked with the University of Konstanz to build a nest to observe the breeding behavior of wood ants, typically hidden in forest mounds. Arndt watched female colony workers clean eggs, larvae spin cocoons and hatchlings, like this one, open cocoons with their mandibles before workers helped cut them out. A wood ant hatchling.Photograph by Ingo Arndt5. Shepherding Change (Coceneşti, Romania) by Jasper DoestIntimately familiar with the land his family has worked for a century, Constantin Dăncilă, in a traditional sheepskin coat, has seen significant changes in the environment, prompting him to adapt his farming practices. With less snow in winter to supply streams, grass in the valley has become scarce, so he drives his flock higher into the alpine meadows. A Romanian sheepherder.Phoyogreaph by Jasper Doest6. Taking the Plunge (Atka Bay, Antarctica) by Bertie GregoryA young emperor penguin jumps off a 50-foot cliff for its first swim. The species normally breeds on low-lying sea ice, but some colonies have been found on higher and more permanent ice shelves, behavior likely to become increasingly common with climate change. Left by their parents a month earlier, the chicks must fend for themselves and find food by hunting in the sea. A young emperor penguin in Anarctica takes the plunge.Photograph by Bertie Gregory.7. A Forever Home (Benson, Arizona) by Christie Hemm KlokMacaws are highly social birds that live an average of 40 to 60 years and often exhibit stressed behavior in captivity. This makes them challenging pets, so many end up in the Oasis Sanctuary, which provides permanent care for 800 parrots, including macaws. Here, Janet Trumbule, who runs the refuge, tries to coax them down with walnuts, a favorite food. A bird santuary in ArizonaPhotograph by Christie Hemm KlokFor more on this story, visit NatGeo.com/Photos.