Lynyrd Skynyrd at Hard Rock Live
October 25, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
1 Seminole Way
Hollywood, FL 33314

Tickets are $47.50, $62.50, $77.50 and $92.50* all seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply

Southern rock’s Lynyrd Skynyrd will bring Last of a Dyin’ Breed, their new release due out August 21 (Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records), along with decades of their classic hits to Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

With a catalog of over 60 albums, sales beyond 30 million worldwide and their beloved classic American rock anthem “Sweet Home Alabama” having sold over two million ringtones, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd remain a cultural icon that appeals to multiple generations. Fans can expect to hear new material as well as time-honored classics including the iconic “Free Bird,” “Simple Man,” “Saturday Night Special,” “Gimme Three Steps,” What’s Your Name” and many more.

Having survived enough tragedy and just plain hard miles for 10 bands, Skynyrd is, remarkably, at this stage of their career, on a roll. Their last release, God & Guns (2009), debuted at #18 on the Billboard Top 200, giving the band their highest debut since 1977.

Led by core members Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant (vocals) and Rickey Medlock (guitar), Skynyrd continues to build on the legacy that began over 35 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida. Joining them in the studio and on the road are new bassist Johnny Colt (Black Crowes, Train) guitarist Mark “Sparky” Matejka, keyboardist Peter Keys, drummer Michael Cartellone and backing vocalists
Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase.

In a tragic tale oft-told, the Skynyrd story could have ended in a Mississippi swamp with the 1977 plane crash that killed three band members, including Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines. Since then, the band has lost vital players in Billy Powell, Ean Evans, Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson and Hughie Thomasson, yet here Skynyrd is very much alive and ready to throw down.

Last of a Dyin’ Breed, their newest release on Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records due August 21, is rock ‘n roll for the times. It is the kind of record guaranteed to feed the needs of the multi-generational Skynyrd Nation, and continue the renewed vigor the band exhibited with their last album, 2009’s God & Guns. While not as overtly political as its predecessor, Breed focuses on the struggles of the working class, with songs like the reverb-drenched “Poor Man’s Dream” and the blue-collar powerhouse “One Day at a Time.” The triple guitar assault has never sounded more on point, with passionate musicality, expert harmonics and of course, plenty of attitude to burn. From the raging guitars of the title track and the pounding, funky homage to local talent in “Home Grown” to the mind-blowing “Honey Hole,” Lynyrd Skynyrd sound like young bucks having one hell of a good time.

Joe Cocker and Special Guest Dave Mason at Hard Rock Live
Hard Rock Live concert arena
1 Seminole Way
State Road 7 (U.S. 441)
Hollywood, Florida

Tickets are $44, $64, $79 and $99* all seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply

Revered Brits Joe Cocker and Dave Mason will make sure South Florida audiences are “Feelin’ Alright” as they bring decades of classic staples and chart-topping rock anthems to Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for two shows on September 28 & 29, 2012 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale, Saturday, August 11 at noon.

British soul singer Joe Cocker parlayed Ray Charles-type vocals and an eccentric stage presence into a string of late-’60s hits, suffered in the mid-’70s, and went from tragic figure to well-respected interpreter in the ’80s and ’90s. His gritty, powerful voice remains one of the most distinctive in rock & roll today.

After leaving school early to become an apprentice gas fitter in Sheffield, England, Cocker joined his first group in 1959, the Cavaliers. When he moved to lead vocals in 1960, the band changed its name to Vance Arnold (Cocker’s stage name) and the Avengers. In 1961, he released his first single, a cover of The Beatles’ “I’ll Cry Instead” with a new band, Joe Cocker Big Blues.

But, it wasn’t until 1969, at Woodstock, that he entered the big time with another Beatles song, the groundbreaking rearrangement of “With a Little Help from My Friends” featuring lead guitar from Jimmy Page, and an explosive performance. That’s same year he was featured on The Ed Sullivan Show and This is Tom Jones.

His onstage physical intensity -, flailing his arms, playing air guitar and occasionally giving superfluous cues to his band – led to a key Saturday Night Live moment when, while performing the hit “Feelin’ Alright,” cast member John Belushi joined Cocker onstage doing his famous impersonation of the singer.

“Delta Lady,” Cocker’s next big hit was penned by Leon Russell who also helped make the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour a success in 1970. It resulted in a #2 live double album that yielded a pair of hits – “The Letter” and “Cry Me a River” plus a film. Five years later, Cocker had one of the biggest hits of his career with the achingly tender Billy Preston-penned #5 hit, “You Are So Beautiful.”

In 1982, Cocker re-emerged with a #1 duet with Jennifer Warnes, “Up Where We Belong,” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. Since then, several other Cocker songs have graced films, including his version of Randy Newman’s “You Can Leave Your Hat On” (91/2 Weeks, 1986) and Bryan Adams’ “When the Night Comes” (An Innocent Man, 1990).

Earlier this year Cocker released an album titled “Hard Knocks,” and he recently completed a new record “Fire It Up,” which is scheduled to be released in November.

Cocker was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s 2007 Birthday Honours list for services to music. Cocker also appeared that year in Across the Universe with a cameo as the lead singer on another Beatles hit, “Come Together.”

At age 18, Worcester, England-native Dave Mason teamed up with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to form the legendary band Traffic whose profound influence over rock music remains unquestioned, even today.

At 19, Mason penned the song “Feelin’ Alright.” First recorded by Traffic, this song has since become a rock and roll anthem and recorded by dozens of artists, including tour partner Joe Cocker.

In 1969, Mason pursued a solo career. A prolific artist, Mason has penned over 100 songs. He struck gold with the album Alone Together, which is considered a rock classic. This was followed by five albums including Dave Mason and Mariposa De Oro, four of which received gold albums. Let It Flow, which has gone well over platinum, contained the Top 10 single “We Just Disagree.”

In addition to performing to sold-out audiences, Mason performed is linked with and has performed on a number of albums including The Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet; George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass; Paul McCartney’s Listen To What The Man Said and Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland. One of the songs from Electric Ladyland, “All Along the Watchtower,” featured Mason playing acoustic guitar. This song, written by Bob Dylan, remains a favorite in Mason’s live show.

Mason was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of the group Traffic, and is considered an important figure in American music history. With a career spanning nearly 50 years, Mason is hailed as one of the most talented songwriters and guitarists in the world.

Mason is a tireless supporter of philanthropic causes including Work Vessels for Vets, Yoga Blue, and Kids Rock.

The B-52s 35th Anniversary Tour at Hard Rock Live
August 22, 2012 at 8 p.m.
Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
1 Seminole Way
Hollywood, FL 33026
www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com

Tickets are $74, $64, $54 and $44;* all seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply

The B-52s, The World’s Greatest Party Band, is set to bring its fun favorites and offbeat chart-toppers in a whirlwind 35th Anniversary Tour to Hard Rock Live. Tickets go on sale Saturday, August 4 at 1pm.

With 35 years and over 20 million albums sold highlighting their career, there can be no doubt as to why they remain one of rock music’s most beloved and enduring bands.

Any mystery concerning the band’s longevity and ongoing appeal is immediately solved when exposed to a B-52s concert experience. From groundbreaking songs like “Rock Lobster,” “Dance This Mess Around” and “Private Idaho“ to chart-topping hits like “Love Shack” and “Roam” and “Deadbeat Club” to their thrilling reemergence on the pop scene with their 2008 CD Funplex, the B-52s’ unforgettable dance-rock tunes start a party every time their music begins.

Formed in 1976 in Athens, GA, the band played their first gig at a friend’s house on Valentine’s Day 1977. Naming themselves after Southern slang for exaggerated ‘bouffant” hairdos, the newly-christened B-52s (Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson and Ricky Wilson) began weekend road trips to New York City for gigs at CBGBs and a handful of other venues. Before long, their thrift store aesthetic and genre-defying songs were the talk of the post-punk underground. A record deal soon followed and their self-titled debut disc, produced by Chris Blackwell, sold more than 500,000 copies on the strength of their first singles, the garage rock party classic “Rock Lobster,” and “52 Girls.” The B-52s began to attract fans far beyond the punk clubs of the Lower East Side — galvanizing the pop world with their ‘stream-of-consciousness’ approach to songwriting and outrageous performance.

With the release of their second studio effort, Wild Planet (1980), the B-52s proved their success was no fluke with hits with “Private Idaho,” “Give Me Back My Man” and “Strobe Light.” In just two albums, the B-52s created a lexicon of songs, styles, phrases and images which would set the standard for the development of the ‘alternative music scene’ for the next decade. The success of Mesopotamia (1982), and Whammy! (1983) positioned the B-52s as MTV regulars as well as alternative radio staples.

At the time of their greatest achievements, however, they suffered their greatest tragedy — the death of guitarist Ricky Wilson from AIDS. Wilson’s passing in 1985 came just after the sessions for Bouncing Off the Satellites (1986). The album, dedicated to Wilson, had taken nearly three years to complete but was worth the wait, serving up the fan favorites “Summer of Love” and “Wig.”

After a period of mourning, the band re-emerged with the Don Was/Nile Rodgers co-produced Cosmic Thing (1989). The album proved to be the greatest commercial achievement for the group, and its success propelled the band to international superstars. Cosmic Thing soared to the top of the Billboard Album chart, sold five million copies and yielded their first-ever Hot 10 hits — “Love Shack” and “Roam” and a Top 40 hit with “Deadbeat Club.”

Soon after, Cindy Wilson amicably departed. As a trio, Fred, Keith and Kate re-enlisted the tag team of Was and Rodgers to produce the energetic Good Stuff (1992) with its popular title cut and concert favorite “Is That You Mo-Dean?” Wilson returned in 1998 for Time Capsule followed by the two-disc collection Nude on the Moon: the B-52s Anthology (2002).

In 2008 the B-52s released their first new album in 16 years, the aptly titled Funplex.

The band celebrated its 34th anniversary in 2011 with a triumphant return to their hometown of Athens, GA. The concert was recorded and filmed for a CD and DVD release entitled The B-52s With the Wild Crowd! Live in Athens, GA.

As they take their party-music revolution into the 21st century, the B-52s show no signs of slowing down serving up their own unique blend of music and showmanship to millions of fans around the world.

Alt Rock Favorites Weezer Hit Hard Rock Live
Hard Rock Live
Located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) in Hollywood, Florida. Take I-95, exit Stirling Rd. and travel west to 1 Seminole Way.
www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com or www.facebook.com/seminolehardrockhollywood

Tickets are $74, $64, $54 and $44* all seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply

Alternative rock favorites Weezer will bring their quirky best-selling hits to Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on November 8, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale, now.

In 1992, Weezer had their first practice session in Los Angeles. Since then, they have released nine full‐length albums, six EPs, and a DVD, selling over nine million records in the United States.

Their debut album, Weezer (aka “The Blue Album”), produced by The Cars’ Ric Ocasek, has been certified triple platinum in the United States, and remains the band’s all‐time best seller. With help from the Spike Jonze‐directed video, the single “Undone (The Sweater Song)” became a hit in the fall of 1994.

In 1996 Weezer recorded their sophomore album, Pinkerton. While it failed to become an immediate hit, it became a cult classic with fans (going gold in 2001). While Rolling Stone named Pinkerton the Worst Album of 1996, they later re‐reviewed it and awarded it five stars, adding it to the Rolling Stone Hall of Fame in 2004.

With Ocasek again at the helm, Weezer recorded 2001’s Weezer (aka “The Green Album”), which debuted at #4. Songs like “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the Sun” became radio and MTV staples. Maladroit (2002), reached #3 on the Billboard 200, and was certified gold. Two years later, the Video Capture Device DVD featured home video footage, music videos, commercials, rehearsals, concert performances, television performances, and band commentary, and was went gold.

Make Believe (2005) went platinum worldwide giving Weezer their highest-charting album peak yet, hitting #1 in Canada and #2 in the U.S. It gave the band their first two songs to top the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, “Perfect Situation” and Top 10 single “Beverly Hills,” which earned the band their first Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song.

Weezer, (aka “The Red Album”) (2008) with single “Pork and Beans” topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts for 11 weeks and won a Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video. The Red Album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200.

Other releases include Raditude (2009), a collaboration with hip‐hop producer Jermaine Dupri, rapper Lil Wayne and members of The All‐American Rejects, Hurley, an expanded deluxe edition of Pinkerton and Death to False Metal.

Earlier this year, Weezer launched their first-ever namesake cruise aboard Carnival Cruises featuring an exclusive concert, 16 additional bands and fan interaction.