Tomorrow marks the release for Santana’s album ‘Guitar Heaven’… Gavin Rossdale is a featured artist and had collaborated on the track ‘Bang-a-Gong’ which was originally done by T-Rex.

From Soundspike.com:

New Releases, Sept. 21: Santana, Zac Brown Band, John Legend & the Roots, Michael Franti & Spearhead, more

Clive Davis loves a good concept. His latest assignment for Carlos Santana is partnering the guitarist with other stars to interpret classics from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.

“Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time” is Santana’s first studio album in five years, and features singers such as Rob Thomas, Chris Daughtry and Gavin Rossdale. The material includes Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” the Doors’ “Riders on the Storm,” and the Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’.”

The track that should garner the most attention, though, is his version of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” featuring singer India.Arie and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Santana’s band for the album includes Dennis Chambers (drums), Benny Rietveld (bass), Karl Perrazo (timbales), Tommy Anthony (rhythm guitar), Freddie Ravel (keyboards), Andy Vargas (background vocals), and Raul Rekow (Congas). Bill Ortiz (trumpet) and Jeff Cressman (trombone) also appear on the record.

Zac Brown Band, “You Get What You Give ” (Atlantic/Southern Ground Artists)

The album’s first single, “As She’s Walking Away,” features Alan Jackson. Just as Brown and the band were preparing to release the new disc, they received four CMA awards nominations: Entertainer, New Artist and Vocal Group of the Year, plus Musical Event of the Year for “Can’t You See” with Kid Rock. They became the first artists since 1982 to be nominated for both Best New Artist and Entertainer of the Year.

John Legend & the Roots, “Wake Up” (Columbia)

John Legend & the Roots join forces on an album of soul music of the ’60s and ’70s. Highlights include Donny Hathaway’s “Little Ghetto Boy,” Baby Huey & the Babysitters’ “Hard Times,” and one original, Legend’s “Shine.”

Michael Franti & Spearhead, “The Sound of Sunshine” (Capitol Records/Boo Boo Wax)

“The Sound of Sunshine,” the title track of Michael Franti & Spearhead’s seventh studio album and the follow-up to 2008’s Top 40 hit “All Rebel Rockers,” has already hit No. 1 at AAA radio. Franti and band just started a new tour. “To play music that makes people feel energized and passionate about life in these stressful times is a privilege that I’m grateful to have,” Franti said when announcing the tour. “We’ve been doing a lot of acoustic street performances these days outside the venues we’ve been playing in, and I look forward to seeing longtime fans again and meeting new ones in every city we play in.”

Todd Rundgren, “For Lack of Honest Work” (Micro Werks)

The first authorized bootleg from Todd Rundgren, this three CD set includes performances recorded in the U.S., Europe and Asia over the last four decades. The album is divided stylistically: Disc one is songs for romantic recovery; disc two brings together soul, prog and glam rock; disc three is more recent material.

Thievery Corporation,” It Takes a Thief” (ESL Music)

The first “best of” album from the DJ duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton includes tracks pulled from their five albums released over the last 12 years. “We’ve always been a little hesitant of putting together a retrospective CD,” Garza says in the band’s press materials. “But looking back and realizing it’s been almost 15 years since we started, we figured maybe now is the time. These tracks are some of our favorite moments.” The band is recording an album of new material to be released in 2011.

Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen, “At Edwards Barn” (Rounder Records)

This live album from Byrds co-founder Chris Hillman and guitarist-banjoist Herb Pederson features songs from various points in their careers, including such classics as “Eight Miles High,” “Wait a Minute,” and the timeless “Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There Is A Season).” The concert was recorded on Nov. 7, 2009 in the intimate setting of Southern California’s Edwards Barn — a venue chosen for its outstanding acoustics.

Other albums of note:

Billy Currington, “Enjoy Yourself” (Mercury Nashville)

Lucero, “Indespensible” (Universal Latino)

Maroon 5, “Hands All Over” (A&M/Octone)

Johnny Mathis, “Let it Be Me: Mathis in Nashville” (Columbia)

Liza Minnelli, “Confessions” (Decca)

Serj Tankian, “Imperfect Harmonies” (Reprise)

The things I do for contests! I’m not gonna win Fantourage, but at least I had fun trying.

00:00:01: You’ve been with Bush since basically the beginning. Starting out as their driver and switching over to head of security. The fans love seeing you on the road and can not get enough of you. Are you still going to be working with the band on tour? Will you be at any of the upcoming shows this fall?

Bone: Let me thank you again for all the work you did to try and help me get on “SURVIVOR” sure wish I made it! Ya, it’s very exciting to think of Gav being back on stage as “BUSH” We talk once or twice a week, mostly about life and where it has taken us, me into being an “Old Fart” and his life as a Husband, Father and Artist. The new Bush concept Album and initial Tour I have not been involved with simply because in these early stages there is not enough for me to do and as you know I’ve had a series of other commitments to other Artists for the year. Hopefully as Bush gathers a renewed strength I will become as intimately involved as ever! And as far as the “BUSH” fans go I have always “LOVED” you all and the interaction with you guys have been some of my favorite times in my 33 years out here!

00:00:01: What did you do for your most memorable birthday and what age were you?

Bone: As far as my favorite birthday I can only say it was 12 years ago and in a “LEAR JET” with my “BUSH” brothers!

00:00:01: The world is going to finish in 1 hour. How are you going to spend that hour?

Bone: If I only had a hour left of life I would certainly spend it with my wife and daughters in my arms!

00:00:01: In addition to touring with Bush you mentioned working with other artists and bands such as Journey, REO Speedwagon, Sammy Hagar, The Pogues. Which band or artist has been the easiest to work with and which one has been the most difficult?

Bone: The worst artist ever were the “KINKS” Other than them I have been blessed with the greatest clients a man could ask for in this business!

00:00:01: What is your favorite sound?

Bone: “SILENCE”

00:00:01: If you are planning on hitting the road with Bush what are you looking forward to, if anything?

Bone: When the time is right I very much look forward to being part of the new “BUSH” family.

00:00:01: Do your friends call you Bone or is that just a nickname you have on tour? And how did it come about?

Bone: The name “BONE” came about the first year I toured and yes that is almost my real name, even my kids call me “BONE” There are men I’ve worked with for 30 years that don’t know my real name! Laura, thank you for always being so faithful to us and working to keep “BUSH” alive. My Warmest affection, “BONE

Just announced this afternoon…. confirming my theory from a few weeks ago.. Bush will be playing KFMA’s Fall Ball in Tucson on 10/24.

http://www.kfma.com/

$24 for 24 Hours this Saturday morning, starting at 10am at all Tucson Catalina Mart locations. NO Service Fees!

Epicenter has started a new contest today! Maybe one will be BUSH!

Per http://www.epicenterfestival.com/

Win A Limited Edition Custom Epiphone Guitar
Signed by Epicenter Artist: _______________
*To find out who has signed the guitar follow the Epicenter Facebook Page. A different artist signature will be announced each day, Monday 9.13 – Friday 9.17
TO ENTER, send an e-mail with the following information to epicenterepiphone@gmail.com

E-MAIL MUST INCLUDE:
-Name
-Address
-Email
-Phone #
-Name of Epicenter artist who signed the guitar. (Different Artist each day)

*One winner will be selected at random every day between Monday, Sept. 13th & Friday, Sept. 18th

GOOD LUCK!

Yes.. Birthday wishes to Robin Goodridge of Bush! We’re all excited to see you on the upcoming tour!

00:00:01: For those who don’t know in a way you’re not totally new to the Bush family. You stepped in for the end of the Bush’s last tour when their original lead guitarist left the band. And now you’re embarking on what is really the next generation of Bush music. It’s been almost ten years since Bush has put out a new album. What kind of expectations do you have, if any, once this new tour starts and new album comes out? Would you be at all surprised if Bush becomes as massive as they were when Sixteen Stone or Razorblade Suitcase were out?

Chris: I have an idea in my head about how I want my guitar rig to sound, and what equipment I will use to chase that sound. Most guitar players will understand that we rarely, if ever, capture the sound we want. I have been chasing a sound all of my life.
My only other hope is that the fans are happy with the shows.
I would be very surprised if Bush had the break out success of 16 Stone, simply because the landscape for rock music is so different today than it was when that record came out.

00:00:01: What’s the nicest thing that anyone has ever said to you?

Chris: You’re the best dad ever, I love you!

00:00:01: This will be your first official Bush album. You’ve played many Bush songs from all their past albums while finishing out the 2002 Bush tour as well as with Gavin Rossdale solo stint. So by now you’ve had a chance to really soak in their music and get a feel for the Bush sound and even put a bit of your own spin into that while on the road. How much influence would you say you contributed to the new album and perhaps really the updated sound? Listening to Afterlife I could tell that it really fits with today’s music fits with the now. At the same time it still well within the realm of Bush.

Chris: That’s an interesting question. I think I have a very unique perspective on the Bush timeline, having come from playing live with the original Bush lineup on the Golden State tour, as well as studio recordings with Gavin on different albums, television and movie soundtracks, culminating to the upcoming Everything Always Now release.

I think it’s impossible to tell exactly how much anyone’s presence in the studio influences the recording process. Everyone contributes to the vibe on some level and it’s probably true to say that we are all both more and less important than we think we are. I feel it is my job in this band to use my technical skill as a guitarist, and knowledge of effects and sonics to add to the sonic palate Gavin has to draw from. I am a guitar and gear junky, and I love to bring new toys into the studio for us to play with. I prefer to go into the recording studio devoid of any preconceived notions about what the tracks are, or what my parts should sound like. My goal as a guitarist is to have the technical ability to perform any idea I hear in my head effortlessly in tune, time and tone. Most of the time my initial “takes” are the ones that end up on the record, other times it’s a dialogue between my first instinct and something Gavin hears in it that could be different. I have been working with Gavin for so long that I can sense when he’s really digging something, or if I should move on to another idea. Left to my own devices I tend to lean in the direction of jagged and angular guitar ideas. Where I think this is most noticeable is in places like the chorus of “Afterlife” which is a major scale stacked in fourths, or the solo section of “Lay down your guns” which is a nod to “Scary Monsters” era Fripp/Bowie collaborations. I do listen to a lot of experimental and electronic music as well, and take pride in making guitar parts that sound “unlike” the way guitar traditionally sounds. I think a lot of the ambient work on Gavin’s solo record Wanderlust, and Everything Always Now is really cool, and I really appreciate that Gavin and Bob Rock let me tweak out on my pedals and create “ear candy” for certain sections of music on the new record. If you put on headphones and listen to the spiraling guitar noises in the second verse of Afterlife, or the “My Bloody Valentine” style effects on the middle eight section of “Into the blue”, you can hear some of that influence as well. Of course Gavin plays guitar as well, and since it’s his main instrument to write on, any guitar parts that I am creating usually have to be developed around his guitar parts. This can be challenging for both of us at times, like sharing a video game with only one controller, but we have managed to create space for each other and over time gravitate towards those spaces. Within this framework that is once again Bush, we have developed as artists and musicians.

00:00:01: What is your idea of heaven?

Chris: Presence

00:00:01: What do you bring most to a friendship?

Chris: Strength, laughter and good fashion sense.

00:00:01: Over the past eight years you’ve really gotten a taste of Bush experience and a taste of what the fans are like. The fans welcomed you almost immediately for the short portion you toured with Bush. And many Bush fans became Institute fans as you worked through that project and even onto Gavin’s solo works. How would you compare the fan base and fan interaction with that of other bands you’ve worked with eg. Helmet or Orange 9mm? Do you find Bush fans to be too intense at times?

Chris: Well, not everyone welcomed me immediately. I remember some pretty harsh and negative things being said about me on the Bush forum when I first joined. But that kind of friction has helped me grow as a person and a musician.
It’s true to say that overall the reception was warm and enthusiastic, and meeting people like you really helped me to find my own space within the Bush community. O9mm came out of the hardcore scene, so when I toured with them I would actually know a lot of people at the shows, stay at their houses and go to dinner with them when I was in town. I did a lot of couch surfing back then. Helmet has a small hardcore following and over the nearly ten years that I performed and recorded with them I got to know those fans fairly well and I still keep in touch and interact with some of them. I really love the passion of the Bush fans and I have yet to find any of them too intense. I strive to have a more direct and honest communication with the hardcore fans that have stuck with Gavin and I for almost a decade. I love to look out in the crowd and see someone like you, or Ace, or Heather and catch a smile or steal a moment with one another. Even thinking about it now makes me smile. We need each other, and I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for the hardcore fans.

00:00:01: What is your all time favorite Bush song?

Chris: Zen and people is a close second. I am a big fan of Duane Allman and I love playing electric slide guitar loud and to big crowds; sometimes I pretend I am Duane while I play those songs.