Friday, March 4, 2011

CD: ANT-BEE CD Feat. Moogy.. By BIlly James author of two Todd books

Music Pioneer ANT-BEE Releases New CD Featuring Rock and Prog Legends – Former Yes, Focus, Gong, Zappa, Capt. Beefheart, Utopia, Alice Cooper Members

Featuring guest appearances by Jan Akkerman (Focus), Peter Banks (Yes/Flash), Daevid Allen & Gilli Smyth (Gong), Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper), Napoleon Murphy Brock (Zappa), Zoot Horn Rollo & Rockette Morton (Capt. Beefheart's Magic Band), Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Buzz Gardner, Motorhead and Jimmy Carl Black (Mothers of Invention), Moogy Klingman (Todd Rundgren's Utopia)

Release date February 28, 2011

3/3/2011 - Asheville, NC - After a 12 year gap between albums, and fans holding their breaths, avant-garde music pioneer ANT-BEE, best known for recording ex-members of the Mothers of Invention and Alice Cooper Group together on the critically acclaimed 1998 release 'Lunar Muzik', has finally released what could be considered the artist's masterpiece. Possibly the most unique and innovative album to be recorded in decades, ANT-BEE 'Electronic Church Muzik' is an exploration into the spirituality of man (and woman) in a steam-of-consciousness psychedelic trip. Featuring legends of progressive rock and classic rock, ANT-BEE's new opus boasts guest appearances by by Jan Akkerman (Focus), Peter Banks (Yes/Flash), Daevid Allen & Gilli Smyth (Gong), Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper), Napoleon Murphy Brock (Zappa), Zoot Horn Rollo & Rockette Morton (Capt. Beefheart's Magic Band), Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Buzz Gardner, Motorhead and Jimmy Carl Black (Mothers of Invention), Moogy Klingman (Todd Rundgren's Utopia).

Ant-Bee is the brainchild of one Billy James. Formed through a series of musical experimentations in the recording studio back in 1987 in Los Angeles. In 1988, Ant-Bee were signed to Los Angeles record company Voxx/Bomp Records. The first Ant-Bee album was 'Pure Electric Honey', and received rave reviews worldwide. Ant-Bee became an overnight legend in the European underground. The album also featured guest performances by Bob Harris (Frank Zappa) and Rick Snyder ( Captain Beefheart ). In 1990 the live Ant-Bee ensemble was assembled and gigged throughout Los Angeles to the astonishment of most audiences. Also at this time, while recording new material, the first Ant-Bee video was filmed "Here We Go Round The Lemon Tree" which viewed in L.A and Canada. During this period a cover version of the unreleased Beach Boys song "Do You Like Worms?" was recorded. Oddly through a bizarre turn of events this Ant-Bee version of the song was mistakenly played on a Beach Boys radio show as a rare Beach Boys demo!! It eventually surfaced on several elaborate European bootlegs as an unreleased Beach Boys studio outtake from 1966!!!! In 2004, ANT-BEE was mentioned in Brian Wilson's 'Smile' tour program, proclaiming the artist was the first to cover the 'Worms' track in question.

In 1992 the second Ant-Bee video was filmed "The Girl With The Stars In Her Hair", a much more elaborate production. It was broadcasted worldwide to much critical acclaim. At this point Ant-Bee left Voxx records. An EP of new music was released in Germany and several magazines and European labels released rare Ant-Bee tracks. Also during this period Billy James/Ant-Bee began a long (and current) relationship with the original ex-Mothers Of Invention (Frank Zappa's first group). Thus began a series of recordings, filmings and gigs with these legendary artists (Bunk Gardner, Don Preston, Jimmy Carl Black, Motorhead and Roy Estrada). The Ant-Bee was the first in over 25 years to record most of the original Mothers (sans Frank Zappa) together on CD!!! From this unique collaboration came the second Ant-Bee album 'With My Favorite Vegetables & Other Bizarre Muzik' (released Divine Records UK 1994). It also sold very well and received massive press and airplay worldwide!! For obvious reasons it especially appealed to Frank Zappa fans.


In 1994 Billy James relocated to the east coast to record the third Ant-Bee album 'Lunar Muzik'. Now in an elaborate 24 track facility, the third album soon become a true Ant-Bee masterpiece. Again the original Mothers make guest appearances along with the legendary Daevid Allen of Gong/Soft Machine, Harvey Bainbridge of Hawkwind and the original members of the Alice Cooper Group (namely Michael Bruce, Neal Smith) making 'Lunar Muzik' the most ambitious and pioneering project of the '90s!!! Also to promote the release of this album was the filming of the psychedelic video 'Child Of The Moon'. After a tour of the east coast with Michael Bruce, the Ant-Bee began work recording the fourth album 'Electronic Church Muzik' which promised to be an even bigger extravaganza then the previous album. Possibly the most adventurous album of the decade, after 12 years the new ANT-BEE album 'Electronic Church Muzik' is now available!

ANT-BEE 'Electronic Church Muzik' is available from www.BarkingMoondog.com and soon available through CDBaby and iTunes.

For more information: www.ANT-BEE.com

Watch "Child of the Moon" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji1A-9Lw7mA
Watch "The Girl With The Stars In Her Hair" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INWtzDAA19o

Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@cs.com

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Video: Chris Epting interview POP culture RA pyramid

You’re watching AOL Weird News — Utopia Found: Todd Rundgren’s Pyramid. See the Web's top videos on AOL Video

reProductions cd release party info

Location Ramalama Records
3151 West Central Avenue
Toledo, OH

Created By Todd Rundgren RundgrenRadio.com,

More Info TODD RUNDGREN will be in attendance and will be autographing purchased reProductions CDs for as long as he can take it :-)!

Gigatone Records is providing us with the first set of reProductions CDs for this CD Launch Party on March 30th in Toledo OH. This new CD is not expected to be released until this summer so event attendees are going to be a step ahead of other fans by several months! Hear the new music FIRST as Ramalama plays it over their speaker system while you wait to meet TR!

There will be a VIP line for fans that bring their concert ticket or will call confirmation.

We hope to see YOU there!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

New Video clip from Chris Eptings article on the Pyramid

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/07/todd-rundrens-utopia-found-the-great-pyramid-of-massachusetts/
at the end of this article is a fresh new video talking about the RA pyramid. inteviews with dan harple and todd rundgren

Hotel group rates for upcoming shows.

Columbus group rate will be ready tomorrow and the info posted on SonsOf1984.com. Hyatt on Capitol Square. $109. It's $164 on hotels.com FYI. 1/2 mile or so from the venue. PLEASE do not call now -- they are not ready yet.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

RundgrenRadio tonight choir members special

www.rundgrenradio.com

We'll have special guests from choir members of both the upcoming Todd+Healing concerts as well as the previous tour in September!

Our first guests will be a few of the choir members from the Keswick show in September -- Barbara Ingram School of the Arts choir.

The Keswick concert choir guests will be followed by George Hertzel. Since 1988, he has had the privilege of being the opening act for Todd 3 times. He will be joining Todd again, along with a vocal ensemble consisting of his music students, for the upcoming Toledo and Columbus "Todd" + "Healing" Albums Live concerts so we'll be discussing how that's going. He will also be sharing with us some stories about his experiences with Todd, Michele and Mary Lou and how he landed these gigs over the past 20+ years