On Friday, June 14, 2013, The Morrison Hotel Gallery at the Sunset Marquis, 1200 Alta Loma Road in West Hollywood, CA 90069 partnered with Julian Lennon to celebrate the launch of his highly anticipated and acclaimed new album, Everything Changes (Music From Another Room) from 7:30 pm -10:30 pm.

The evening brought together a crowd of music, film and entertainment industry people for an exclusive gallery showing of photography by Julian Lennon and was accompanied by an open bar, with DJ Cash spotlighting Lennon’s album. A nice touch for the evening were several flat screens scattered through out the celebration, showing clips from Julian’s documentary, Through The Picture Window…..

The poignancy and poise of Everything Changes opens the album and sets a universally spiritual tone. The beautifully crafted lead off single “Someday” features mystical Eastern melodic motifs and boasts guest vocalist Steven Tyler. It engagingly combines Julian’s lifework as a philanthropist and gifted songwriter. Here, Julian sings pristinely with earnestness the timeless message: “We’re all in it together / One love, now and forever.” Other album standouts are the mesmerizing piano pop ballad “Lookin’ 4 Luv” and the euphoric rocker “Just For You….”

Complete article:  (here).

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry have officially taken their place in the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

Sir Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin were among the stars at the 44th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony in New York on Thursday.

The Class of 2013 was made up of Tyler and Perry, Mick Jones and Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Holly Knight, JD Souther and Neighbours composer Tony Hatch.

Sir Elton and Taupin received the Johnny Mercer award.

“When you get an Ivor Novello award or an American songwriter’s award, it means so much more than a Grammy because this is where the whole process starts,” said Sir Elton.

The duo behind tracks such as Rocket Man and Candle in the Wind, were cited by Sting as “my two heroes”, as he opened the ceremony with a performance of their hit song Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting .

Nickelback were on hand to perform a rendition of Aerosmith’s Sweet Emotion at the ceremony, while Tyler and Perry performed Walk This Way.

“I love that Joe and I are getting inducted tonight because we put our nose to the grindstone. We can’t get harmony if everybody is singing the same note,” said Tyler.

“It means that people are listening to what we’re doing,” added Perry. “Like Steven said, we’re always under the hood working, or we’re on the road, whatever. That’s what the band is, it’s work, and we’re doing it.”

Petula Clark performed Downtown, one of the many hits written and produced by Britain’s Tony Hatch, arguably best known in the UK for co-writing the theme tunes to TV soaps Neighbours, Crossroads and the original Emmerdale Farm.

Smokey Robinson – who is recovering from inflamed vocal chords prompting a two-month break from performing – debuted part of a new song he wrote about Berry Gordy, who he called his “mentor, brother, sometimes dad and best friend”.

“On the very first day of Motown, when Berry Gordy started Motown, there were five people there, and he sat us down. He said ‘we are not just going to make black music; we are going to make music for everybody. We’re gonna make music for the world. We’re always going to make quality music with great stories and great beats.’

“And thank God, that’s what we did.”

The night also paid tribute to Hal David, who died last year, and Phil Ramone, who died in March.

Watch video:  (here).

Inspired by years of drinking subpar coffee while touring the globe, Kramer’s gourmet brew comes in Sumatra, Guatemala and Ethiopia blends

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer thinks most Americans drink bad coffee — and is on a mission to sell a better brew: his own.

Kramer has aligned with Comfort Foods to bring his year-old online-only Rockin’ & Roastin’ coffee to stores across the country in the next few months.

“As soon as people taste it they realize it’s not a rock ’n roll novelty of some sort,” he says. “It is high-quality gourmet coffee.”

Kramer sells three blends — Sumatra, Guatemala, and Ethiopia — and only in whole beans because he believes people should grind their own coffee fresh.

Kramer says he was inspired to found the company after years of touring — and having his fill of bad coffee, including java from the wildly popular chains.

“This is something outside the band that I can call my own,” he says. “I’m having a really good time with it.”

Honorees Joe Perry and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith attend the Songwriters Hall of Fame 44th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner at the New York Marriott Marquis on June 13, 2013 in New York City.

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More photos:  (here).

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler stops through on the day he will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein were particularly interested in Steven’s song writing.

Steven said, “If you don’t write a song you’re nothing and I remember when we had nothing. I remember the first night that Joe and I wrote Movin’ Out, we all live on the edge of town and when we were done we had written a song. And all I ever said back then was let me get my foot in the door ‘cause once I do if you write one song we already wrote one so let’s keep going.”

Shelli Sonstein asked Steven what was the song that came easiest? Steven went on to tell the story as to how “No Surprise” came to be and he seemed to think it was one of the quickest songs that he ever wrote.

Jim Kerr asked if there was ever an occasion where he began to feel time pressure to write more songs. Steven replied, “Always time pressure, always. One of the secrets that we had, actually in the beginning we just put out whatever we wrote, first couple of albums that was it you got what you got. And some of the albums were what eight songs, six to nine songs? Then I learned the secret, over write. Go into the process and write 20 songs and take the best out of that and you’ll have a great album.”

Aerosmith has been considered one of if not the best American rock bands of all time and they are still going strong. Check out the full interview with Steven.

Photos/Watch Video:  (here).

Blues guitarist and singer Buddy Guy, 76, will release a double-disc album, Rhythm & Blues, on July 30, and he has enlisted a bunch of younger admirers to join him on the project.

The follow-up to 2010’s Living Proof — which earned Guy the latest of his six Grammy Awards, and his highest position ever on the Billboard 200 albums chart (No. 46) — features such notable guests as Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Beth Hart, Gary Clark Jr. and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford.

Rhythm & Blues was produced by Guy’s longtime collaborator Tom Hambridge, who also worked with him on Proof.

“Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler stopped by today and entertained everybody with a host of revelations and stories…”

More photos:  (here).

Watch video:  (here).

American hard rock band Aerosmith will perform at a rock festival in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Aug. 24, the first time the legendary band will perform in Taiwan, festival organizers announced Wednesday.

The band will perform at the “Rock Sonic Day in Kaohsiung” at the Kaohsiung National Stadium, which has a capacity of around 55,000 seats, according to Very Aspect Culture Group.

At a press conference in Taipei, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu, who said she has listened to the music of Aerosmith since she was young, called the band’s visit to Taiwan “a big thing” and encouraged everyone to visit Kaohsiung for the concert.

To accommodate the crowds, Kaohsiung’s mass rapid transit system will operate until 3 a.m. Aug. 25 and city buses will also provide shuttle services, Chen added.

Taiwanese rocker Wu Bai, who will also perform at the festival with his group China Blue, said Aerosmith’s music is a strong reflection of American culture, so his group plans to sing all Taiwanese songs to “battle with Aerosmith.”

Taiwanese indigenous reggae-rock band Matzka, as well as local bands Fire EX., Go Chic, 88balaz, Trash and Guntzepaula, and a Japanese band whose name will soon be announced, will also perform at the festival, organizers said.

Tickets will be on sale from June 23, with prices ranging from NT$1,000 (US$33.51) to NT$8,800.

Meanwhile, Chen said her city is currently building a popular music center and estimated that construction could be completed in 2015.

From Steven Tyler’s Twitter…

“MAKE SURE… YOU TUNE IN…((( TO THE ONE AND ONLY))) KING OF ALL MEDIA TOMORROW MORNING… YOURS TRULY AND HOWARD THE GREAT. @HowardStern”

Details:  (here).

Stella McCartney, Steven Tyler and Madonna attend the Stella McCartney Spring 2014 Collection Presentation at West 10th Street on June 10, 2013 in New York City.

More photos:  (here).