Also on their way to board ShipRocked are WBWR/Columbus, OH, listener Lisa Berger and her husband, Phil. Lisa won part 1 of our contest earlier this year.

Enjoy your deluxe cabins, ocean views and 24 hour partying all the way to Jamaica (with a couple of stops along the way!) and feel free to submit photos of your onboard heavy metal high jinks!

Here’s a look at Dennis’ winning entry:

“I am a hardworking blue collar metalhead from the ‘80s. I currently work as a police officer, but beneath the clean pressed uniform, shiny gun belt and short cropped hair is a leather pant wearing, teased hair maniac that has to repress the feelings to jam an iPod down the throat of some yuppie drinking a Starbucks listening to the latest Maroon 5 album. Instead of drinking free coffee and eating donuts I should be pounding Jack Daniels and trashing a hotel room!

I’ve spent the past three months working nights — “Walk(ing) In The Shadows” – and I need five days of Caribbean sunshine. I’m a 39 year old “Modern Day Cowboy” fighting against the evils of country music and easy listening adult contemporary radio stations. The “Revolution’s Calling” and I want to be on a cruise instead of standing on the thin blue line between total chaos and order.

So, for five days let me fight the man instead of being the man. I know that these contests are “Ez Come, Ez Go,” but I would prefer to go. So, do the right thing and look into the “Eyes Of A Stranger” and tell him that he’ll be listening to Operation Mindcrime instead of fighting actual crime.”

Congrats to both winners and their spouses – Dennis + Ann and Lisa + Phil – have a great time and happy headbanging on the ShipRocked cruise!

(via

September 11, 2001 is a day that none of us will ever forget, and I remember clearly waking up that morning and turning on the news before the second plane hit the World Trade Center. I remember thinking to myself “Oh Man, look at all those firemen going in there…” and then the unexpected happened…it was a tragic event and the lyrics in this song are inspired by the heroic demonstration showed by the men and women of the New York Fire Department that day and the days following 9/11.

“THE HEROES” is a new song I wrote just this last month as we approached the anniversary of 9/11, and it finally all came together yesterday when Troy Luccketta (TESLA’s Drummer) added his drums tracks from Nashville over long distance via the internet! I wanted to write a song about how as everybody was running away from the disaster, as the Firefighters were running into it with the goal of saving lives…true heroism.

As the song developed, we have been plagued by fires here in California and there has been some serious heroism here too. The second verse talks of the man who ran into the burning house to save a lady. Well, that is a true story from right here in Auburn CA, so I then got the idea to offer this song up as a download and donate profits from the sale to help the victims of the 49er fire in Auburn CA, as well as the FDNY families and survivors of 9/11.

Music is the only thing I can really create and I hope you all enjoy this song. It has a lot of meaning to me and hopefully by downloading this song and contributing to the charity we can help out some people this month of September 2009, and honor “THE HEROES.”

~ Frank Hannon

Your donation will be distributed to the following charities:

UPCOMING FRANK HANNON TOUR DATES

THURS. OCT 1ST
HARLOWS
2708 J STREET, SACRAMENTO
8 PM SHOW
www.harlows.com

FRIDAY OCT 9TH
SKIP’S MUSIC STORE
2740 AUBURN BLVD, SACRAMENTO
GIBSON GUITARS TOUR BUS SHOW
6-9PM 1 HOUR SHOW AND AUTOGRAPH SIGNING
www.skipsmusic.com

SATURDAY OCT 10TH
CONSTABLE JACK’S (FHB Recording Live)
515 MAIN ST, NEWCASTLE CA
www.constablejacks.com

From Noisecreep: The pop metal band Tesla is planning a pair of CDs to celebrate live performances throughout Europe last summer and the U.S. this fall. “We’re doing two live albums,” guitarist Frank Hannon tells Noisecreep. “The first one is strictly for Europe; it may be available as an import [to America]. We are going to do a second one. It’s going to be for America next year.”

Tesla — which includes vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarist Dave Rude, bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta — is focusing on the European market first, out of commitment to its record label. “Our record company’s in Italy,” Hannon said. “They’re really good to us, and we’re going to give them the first crack at it. It’ll eventually be available over here.”

The Sacramento, Calif.-based band is in the midst of working on the European album for release this year. The CD, tentatively titled ‘Live Across Europe,’ features performances in Belfast, Hamburg and Madrid, among other cities.

“We’re working on mixing the live album,” Hannon said. “We just got done touring in Europe for five weeks this summer. We recorded every show and we just got done sorting through it. Now we’re mixing it to make a live album in Europe. We have to divide our time. I’m kind of learning that as I get older. You have to set aside time for certain things in order to stay focused. You go, ‘OK, this time I’m only doing this.’ ‘This time I’m only doing that.’ Right now, this one time, we’re not writing songs as a group but we are mixing some live material.

“We’re gonna do the same thing in October,” he added. “We’re going to record the Michigan show [at Clarkston's DTE Energy Music Theatre on Sept. 5]. We’re pretty much going to record every show on the tour. We have a recorder set up in our mixing console.”

Fans can expect the live recordings to include tracks from Tesla’s latest album, ‘Forever More,’ as well as, as Hannon dubbed it, “so-called hits.” Then it also features two to three obscure songs.

“Every night we would change up the set list,” said Hannon, who also fronts the Frank Hannon Band. “Songs like ‘Shine Away,’ or we would do just different stuff like ‘Call It What You Want,’ different things that were not hits but obscurities that the die-hard fans would like. That’s kind of our formula. We do five or six songs off the new record, then five or six of the ones we gotta do, like the ‘Modern Day Cowboys,’ the ‘Love Songs’ and the ‘Signs’ and stuff like that. Then two or three songs that are unexpected.

“It makes it fun for us,” he added. “It’s a little bit of a pain to organize the set list, which is my job on the computer. Somehow I inherited that job. I’ve always been the musical director guy with the band. We have a lot of interesting parameters here: What can we play? What can we still even actually play? Some of those songs are pretty difficult to sing and play 25 years later. It depends on the mood. I have to talk to Jeff, our singer, ‘How do you feel about doing this song tonight?’ ‘Ah no, I’m not really into it.’ ‘How about this?’ ‘Yeah that’ll be great.’ Every night is a little different.”

NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR BREAKIN’ FREE

Telsa world premiered their new music video for “Breakin’ Free” yesterday on KRXQ.net. You can check it out below!

TESLA TROOPS IS NOW ENLISTING

Join the Tesla Troops Fan Club today, to receive all kinds of exclusive access to the band’s website, autographed photos, merch, and a sneak peak at behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the “BREAKIN’ FREE”! Join Today!

Bands already booked include Queensryche, Tesla, Ratt, Skid Row, Lynam, Broken Teeth, Stereoside, Endeverafter, Stone Rider and the Niki Barr Band.

“ShipRocked a special kind of multi-day music festival,” explains promoter Alan Koenig. “You live at the venue, much like you would at other events around the country. But the difference with ShipRocked is that instead of having to sleep in a muddy tent and use public facilities, fans get to stay in a luxury floating hotel, with free room service, all you can eat buffets, swimming pools, spa services, plus a vacation to Jamaica and Grand Cayman in between the shows.”

ShipRocked ports from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and makes stops at both Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Georgetown, Grand Cayman. Passengers can expect special parties and contests during the cruise in addition to the special, ShipRocked-only concerts and artist meet-and-greet sessions.

Pricing varies by cabin and starts at $799 (per person, double occupancy) for an interior stateroom. Prices include cruise, all concerts, and room and board. ShipRocked sails aboard the MSC Poesia. And don’t forget, a valid passport is required for each passenger.

For a limited time, you can save $100 on your cabin when making a new reservation, just by emailing proof of your Rock Gone Wild ticket purchase to rgw@getshiprocked.com, or by faxing it to 615-250-7983. If you’re already booked on Shiprocked but have a worthless Rock Gone Wild ticket, no worries! Simply send an email or fax and you’ll receive a $100 onboard credit, to spend as you wish during the cruise. A very generous, yet jilted Rock Gone Wild ticket holder (who wishes to remain anonymous), is sponsoring the cost of this special promotion as a way to “spread the rock” to fellow frustrated fans!

This offer is only valid through September 30th, so don’t wait! Cash in your discount today and get booked on the ultimate rock and roll vacation with a backstage pass, featuring intimate concerts, exclusive meet and greets with all artists, heavy metal karaoke, guitar hero competitions, theme nights, contests, charity auctions and so much more!

ShipRocked is a five day floating festival that departs from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on November 15, 2009, and features onboard performances by Queensryche, Tesla, Ratt, Skid Row, Broken Teeth, EndeverafteR, Lynam, Niki Barr Band, Stereoside and StoneRider. ShipRocked sails November 15 -20, 2009 on the beautiful MSC Poesia. The Poesia is the third vessel in the MSC Cruise Line’s “Musica” family of ships. This ship features MSC Cruise Line’s signature Italian inspired decor, impeccable service, sumptuous cuisine in multiple restaurants, beautiful swimming pools, hot tubs plus a full-service spa and fitness center. Nearly two-thirds of the ship’s staterooms include private balconies!

Pricing varies by cabin and is subject to availability – and very few remain – but starts at only $799 (per person, double occupancy) for an interior stateroom. The price include your cruise (room and board), all the concerts, meet and greets and other exclusive events during the trip. For booking and more information, call 877-855-5502.

Throughout all four days of the festival, we will be on site registering fans for the chance to win a FREE trip for two on-board ShipRocked! Then on Sunday night, our good friend Eddie Trunk will do us the honor, and announce the winner live from the stage!

One winner and a guest will receive round-trip coach airfare to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, a hotel room at the luxurious Harbor Beach Marriot Resort & Spa the night before we sail, and a free Oceanview stateroom onboard ShipRocked, the ultimate rock and roll vacation and backstage pass!

Heralded by Rolling Stone as one of the top music festivals in the United States, and by fans as the “Woodstock of 80s Rock,” Rocklahoma is the largest of its type, with attendance from all fifty states and multiple continents. This year’s fest will have over ninety bands on four stages, including favorites from previous Rocklahoma festivals, Beautiful Creatures, LA Guns featuring Tracii Gun, Britney Fox, Bang Tango, Lillian Axe and Faster Pussycat. Included on the side stages are bands from all over Europe.

The main stage lineup on each of the four days is as follows:

Thursday: Anthrax, Saxon, Overkill, Anvil, Metal Church and Leatherwolf.
Friday: RATT, Night Ranger, Warrant, Danger Danger, Helix and Hurricane Alice
Saturday: Stryper, Jackyl, KIX, KEEL, Lizzy Borden and Gypsy Pistoleros
Sunday: Twisted Sister, Skid Row, Great White, Nelson, Bonfire and Vixen

Tickets are still available, so be sure to visit www.rocklahoma.com to buy yours today, or if you’ve already got tickets, consider upgrading them to VIP!