The 12 nominees for this year’s coveted Barclaycard Mercury Prize for top album were announced on July 20. We’re happy to see that a few of the artists we work with made the short list this prestigious and coveted award, which celebrates recorded music of all genres by British or Irish artists. So congrats to Squier signature artists Biffy Clyro, who received a nod for their album Only Revolutions, Wild Beasts (Two Dancers), Villagers (Becoming a Jackal), Foals (Total Life Forever) and Mumford & Sons (Sigh No More). The overall winner will be announced at the Barclaycard Mercury Prize awards show on Sept. 7. For more details on the award, click here. In other Biffy Clyro news, their new single “God & Satan” will be released on Aug. 23, backed by three new b-sides “Hawkwind,” ”11 Bodies” and “51 Trumpets.” Click here to pre-order.
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Barclaycard Mercury Prize Nominees
- Tags:
- Artist News
- Lifestyle
- biffy clyro
- Squier Buzz
- Barclaycard Mercury Prize
- Foals
- Mumford & Sons
- Villagers
July 29 2010, 11:53am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
What goes together better than peanut butter and jelly? Depends on who you ask, but for this blog posting, I’ll go with music and beer. International beer giant Heineken has brought the two together this summer with the Heineken Inspire concert series, which stops in four major U.S. cities this summer: Miami, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. The Miami and Chicago dates are already in the books, but those interested in free beer and great music can catch up with Heineken Inspire tour in New York City on July 30-31 and in Los Angeles on Aug. 27-28. The concert series features live performances by Cold War Kids (seen below), J Cole, Rogue Wave, Tito El Bambino and Wale, as well as music spun by some of the hottest deejays.
Also, you can learn to rock the house yourself, with free guitar lessons from Fender and a chance to take the new Fender G-DEC® 3 Thirty amp for a spin.
Get your free tickets at Heineken’s Facebook page.
July 28 2010, 11:56am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Catch the Cars & Guitars Exhibit in Tempe
Not that summer is much of a tourist season in Arizona, but for those local and anyone else suckered into visiting the desert during peak temperatures because you just couldn’t resist the amazing savings you came across for one of our many beautiful resorts, I highly recommend you check out the Cars & Guitars exhibit at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Number one, I nearly had my eye poked out while moving the Fender guitars, amps, photos and more over to the exhibit hall and I’d like to think I risked my eyesight for a worthy cause. Number two, it’s well air-conditioned. And even if you are in a hotel pool with a swim-up bar that serves the frostiest cocktails you’ve ever laid your paws on, they’re still going to melt faster than you can slurp them down. Number three, it’s free. Number four, and most importantly, the exhibition is a sight to see. Some of the items on display include a Stratocaster, amp and case designed by Eric Clapton for the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival, a brocade-covered Fender guitar that was used by OK Go in their 2007 “Do What You Want” video and a guitar autographed by the Rolling Stones and director Martin Scorsese, who made the 2008 Shine A Light documentary about the band. And to go along with the custom bikes designed by Sucker Punch Sally’s, we also took over the 90th Anniversary Harley-Davidson guitar. Also, in what I call the disco room, they’ve got the Wii Rock Band lounge for visitors to play the popular video game live in the gallery. Again, admission is free. For more details, click here.
July 23 2010, 12:43pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
A lot of people play music because it makes them feel cooler, but apparently it can make you smarter too. A new data-driven review by Northwestern University that was published July 20 in Nature Reviews Neuroscience journal strongly suggests that the neural connections made during musical training prime the brain for other aspects of communication. For example, children who are musically trained show stronger neural activation to pitch changes in speech and have a better vocabulary and reading ability than children who did not receive music training. The research also suggests that music could be extremely beneficial for children with learning disorders such as dyslexia. Read more on this research here, and to find out how you can held us to support music education, visit the Fender Outreach page.
- Tags:
- Lifestyle
- Fender Outreach
July 21 2010, 12:55pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Johnny Marr Inspired ‘Inception’ Score
In an article on spinner.com, Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer tells how The Smiths/ /Modest Mouse/The Cribs guitarist Johnny Marr inspired his new score for the summer’s highly anticipated film Inception. “I couldn’t figure out the sound that I was chasing and I realized it was Johnny (Marr),” Zimmer tells Spinner. “It was not even the sound from [Johnny's] records or anything like this. There’s a personality that comes across in a great player and a great artist has a stamp of humanity, a stamp of emotion that’s singularly theirs. I realized I’m writing for this guy that I don’t know.” After approval from Inception’s director Chris Nolan, Zimmer reached out to Marr, who dove right in. Get all of the details in the spinner piece here and watch the video below to see Marr play the score live with a 20-piece orchestra during the film’s premiere. (Tip: Fast forward to around the six-minute mark for an interview with Marr and Zimmer and then skip to the eight-and-a-half-minute mark to see Marr onstage.)
July 19 2010, 5:36pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Paul Rodgers Spearheads Fund-Raising Efforts for Kids Rock Free® Music Program
Legendary rock icon Paul Rodgers has announced that during both his solo and Bad Company concert tours this year, he will be donating rare personal stage items, autographed memorabilia and collectables for a nightly draw that will benefit the Fender Center’s Kids Rock Free national music education initiative. Rodgers and his wife Cynthia will also match all monies raised. “Without music in schools curriculum there is a void for young people to express, explore and experience music,” said Rodgers. “We are on a mission to set up this music program across the U.S. If not for music in my life as a young person who knows where I would have focused my energy.” The Kids Rock Free campaign provides free and low-cost music lessons to students age 7-17 and has serviced over 12,000 kids. Rodgers has dedicated himself to the program since 2003, donating his time, talent and finances. In an effort to expand the program nationwide and to help kids across the United States experience music at a very low cost or for free, the push is on to raise additional funding to make that experience a reality. Those who wish to participate may simply visit the merchandise booth during any concert date and purchase a $5 fundraising ticket. Two random drawings will be held each night, and the winner(s) will take home one (or two) items. Monthly drawings are also being held online on Rodgers’ website, PaulRodgers.com. Additionally, supporters of Kids Rock Free “text-to-donate” can make a $10 donation directly from their mobile phones by texting “ROCK” to 50555. A one-time $10 donation will be added to mobile bills; messaging and data rates may apply. Terms, help and other details can be found online at http://www.mgive.com/a. Click here for tour dates!
July 7 2010, 11:50am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
The ruling is in: judges may use their gavels by day and their guitars by night. Who knew this was a legitimate concern? Certainly not me, but thanks to an Associated Press story this morning, I now know otherwise. According to the AP, a recent opinion from New York’s Committee on Judicial Ethics said state judges are free to moonlight as musicians, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their day jobs. “The judge who wishes to pursue part-time employment as a solo musician may do so only occasionally, for a fee, for family, friends, neighbors and others who are unlikely to appear in the judge’s court,” the committee of 26 current and former judges wrote this month. Read the rest of the story here. Or watch the video about Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic, who thanks to the opinion, can keep on rocking.
July 2 2010, 10:38am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
American Special Prototype Winner Shares Photos
David Warden of Louisville, Ky., one of the three winners of the American Special Prototype Giveaway contest, kindly sent us a few photos of him with his new prize. Warden used the American Special Telecaster when his band Empty Fifth competed in the Kentuckiana Blues Society blues contest at Louisville’s premier blues bar, Stevie Ray’s.
And again during a gig at Wick’s Pizza, a local pizza bar in Louisville.
June 30 2010, 5:44pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Fender: The Golden Age, the new book by Terry Foster, Martin Kelly and Paul Kelly that tells the story of Fender and its wondrous instruments, recently earned 3 ½ stars in a review by Rolling Stone.
“This new, exhaustively researched photo history traces the instrument from its days as a dinky wooden instrument through the breakthrough of the Stratocaster. Wonkish fun for the guitarists…’” – Andy Greene, Rolling Stone The book is available here.
June 28 2010, 4:34pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
The legendary Paul McCartney enjoyed a star-studded group of backup singers for Beatles hit “Hey Jude” during Wednesday night’s concert in the East Room of the White House. The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song recipient was joined on the tune by President Obama and his family, Stevie Wonder, Jack White, Dave Grohl, Elvis Costello, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Jonas Brothers, Emmylou Harris and Faith Hill.
During the evening, McCartney also fittingly serenaded the First Lady with “Michelle.” More details on the concert and awards ceremony, which was filmed by PBS and will air July 28 here.
June 4 2010, 11:48am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
PG Goes Behind the Scenes of the Experience Hendrix Tour
Photo by Chris Kies I have to thank Premier Guitar’s associate editor Chris Kies for sending us a tweet about their fantastic article “Axes Bold as Love,” a behind-the-scenes piece on the Experience Hendrix Tour. As Premier notes, they tagged along to “talk gear with the Gods and Demigods of Guitar.” Below is an example of what you’ll learn in the piece about Billy Cox and the tour’s other impressive guitarists. “Cox ripped through the Milwaukee set with cuts like “Stone Free,” “Message to Love,” “Them Changes,” and the closing “Red House” using a classic combination of a ’70s Fender Jazz bass rumbling …” Read the article here.
May 28 2010, 11:41am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
King of Surf Guitar Featured in ‘Surfer Magazine’
King of Surf Guitar Dick Dale recently sat down with Surfer Magazine for a colorful Q&A that discusses his love of surfing, surf music, Fender amps and the full Jimi Hendrix/Dick Dale quotes. Here’s the excerpt about his relationship with Leo Fender and blowing up amps. “Nobody played loud, because there was no reason for them to play loud, so Leo gave me one of his amps and told me, ‘You go beat it to death, and tell me what you think of it,’” says Dale. “And I started blowing them up, and they would catch on fire. I blew up over 50 of his amps. He would say, ‘Why do you have to play so loud?’ But when I put it on stage, the people’s bodies would soak up the sound because I wanted my guitar to sound like Gene Krupa’s drums. “So [after coming to one of my shows and figuring out what I was talking about] Leo stayed up all night and created what he called the Dick Dale output transformer, the first transformer that peaked at 100 watts, and he called the amp the Showman.” Read the full Q&A here. And if you’re a big Dick Dale fan, you should check out the new Dick Dale Signature Malibu™ SCE model.
May 26 2010, 5:30pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
Iconic Rock Photographer Opens “Knight Gallery” in Vegas
Those visiting Sin City this weekend should be sure to cruise by the Las Vegas Hilton to check out the brand new “Knight Gallery,” which features the work of acclaimed rock photographer Robert Knight. “I am thrilled to join the Las Vegas Hilton family,” Knight said. “To share my work in the very hotel where Elvis sold out more than 800 shows is a complete honor. I am looking forward to hosting and creating some fun experiences with my rock friends when they are in Las Vegas at the gallery.” Knight has been called a “Rock Prophet” because of his uncanny ability to find new talent and capture the legacies in images of those that have already made a name for themselves. Since 1968, his photographs have served as testimony to the greatest moments in rock and roll history. His images of Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Carlos Santana, Van Halen, Jeff Beck and hundreds more are quintessential pieces of pop-culture mythology. Knight is also the subject of upcoming movie Rock Prophecies, which explores his amazing career and follows him on his quest to help the bands of today become the Rock legends of tomorrow —whether promoting Panic at the Disco before anybody has heard of them, or convincing Aussie band Sick Puppies to sell everything and move to the United States. When Robert stumbles upon Tyler Dow Bryant – a 16-year-old guitar phenom from Texas – he’s convinced he may have found the next Stevie Ray Vaughan. Robert risks his reputation and career and takes a chance on Tyler. The two then set off on an unbelievable journey to take their own shot at making history. Watch a trailer for the movie, which will be released to DVD and air nationally on PBS in September.
May 21 2010, 4:01pm
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
FILTER Goes Sideways with Broken Social Scene
In celebration of their 40th issue, FILTER has gone horizontal. The magazine, featuring Broken Social Scene on the landscape cover, comes complete with full-page anniversary collages of eclectic FILTER shenanigans through the years, cover photos that almost were and every review score ever printed. And of course, a detailed 10-page spread on the men and women behind Broken Social Scene and their newest album masterpiece, Forgiveness. “The first BSS record to be recorded outside the purview of producer Dave Newfeld, Forgiveness at once sounds exactly like BSS and nothing like BSS,” writes Cord Jefferson. “The guitar assault remains, as do slow builds toward dong arcs you had no way of predicting six minutes earlier. What’s new is the way it’s all put together. Consider the difference between a Picasso and a Pollack—while both are abstract, nobody would ever mistake one for the other.” Click here to subscribe to FILTER, where you can read the rest of the article.
May 20 2010, 11:20am
-
From Fender Front Row, fender.com
(Blog post by Jeff Owens) Phoenix tattoo artist applies his craft to a pair of Fender Sonoran™ SCE guitars Jason Anthony is usually busy creating artwork on people as the proprietor of Golden Rule Tattoo in downtown Phoenix, or creating it onstage as the singer for indie hardcore quintet Red Son. So when Fender knocked on his shop’s door in late 2009 and asked him to do custom paintwork on a pair of guitars, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for Anthony to combine his love of visual art with his love for sonic art. At the behest of Fender artist relations department, Anthony was given a pair of unstrung and unfinished Sonoran™ SCE acoustic guitars, a couple of weeks and complete artistic freedom to adorn as he pleased. Painting people was one thing—he was already good at that, having been in the tattoo biz for six years after a yearlong apprenticeship. But painting a guitar was an entirely different prospect, and he proceeded cautiously. In one day, and with steady hand, he stenciled the first guitar in black with several designs of the kind normally seen on biceps or the small of the back. Confident after that first effort, he envisioned an elegantly colorful acrylic paint design for the second guitar. A few days later, he had a Sonoran with a beautiful yellow and pale blue rose below the bridge, dark ribbons snaking up both sides of the top and an elaborate star pattern on the upper bout. Fender applied clear topcoats, strung the guitars, and then brought them back to Anthony in mid-January 2010 so he could see the end result of his artistry. He was knocked out. “It’s pretty awesome,” he said, cradling the Sonoran with the rose, ribbons and star. “They’re all cleaned up and the topcoat is on and everything; they’re all shiny. It really brings them out. These are beautiful.” And the differences between inking a person and painting a guitar? “Not even anywhere close,” he said, laughing. “Wood doesn’t move; it doesn’t cuss at you; it doesn’t shake around. It doesn’t gain a lot of weight, lose a lot of weight and get stretchy. It was fun.”
- Tags:
- Product Updates
- Lifestyle
March 25 2010, 12:04pm
