(HoundsTV – Toronto) The NXNE music and film festival kicked off across Toronto on Wednesday at various opening night venues. HoundsTV decided to take in the Virgin Mobile Opening Night at The Phoenix with the great band Eagles Of Death Metal headlining.

Frontman Jesse Hughes was in top spirits even though the band had suffered a personal crisis this week. EODM bassist Brian O’Connor had been diagnosed with cancer, and was undergoing surgery in Los Angles the same day as the NXNE gig. Dean Fertita from Dead Weather is filling in for O’Connor on the remaining Eagles tour dates.

“The Pigeons Of Shit Metal” – Axl Rose

HoundsTV was reminded of a great rock n’ roll tattoo story at The Phoenix and it involved EODM’s Jesse Hughes and Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose. Eagles Of Death Metal were offered the opening slot on Guns N’ Roses brief 2006 World Tour. It seems, EODM were not well received in their first show opening for Gn’R – a large portion of the audience actually booed them. Maybe with a band name that ends in “Death Metal,” the Guns crowd was expecting something different (EODM are not a death-metal band, they are just a great hard rockin’ band formed in the nineties with Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age / Them Crooked Vultures.)

Not happy hearing his audience was booing, Axl Rose takes the stage for his Gn’R set and asks, “so what did you all think of The Pigeons of Shit Metal.” ?

Eagles Of Death Metal would not play another show opening for Guns N’ Roses again. The bands would also exchange some not-so-nice words with each other. But Jesse Hughes eventually showed how he felt about the Axl slight when he had a “Pigeons Of Shit Metal” tattoo added to his left arm.

Jesse Hughes “Pigeons Of Shit Metal” tattoo
Bassist Dean Fertita from Dead Weather filled in at NXNE show.
Eagles Of Death Metal crowd at NXNE Virgin Mobile opening night.

You have hand it to the Rolling Stones. Besides the enormous output of quality tunes over decades of their existence. The Stones has proven they know how to make a lot of money and exceptionally manage their brand.

It started in the eighties when the Stones hooked up with concert promoter Michael Cohl and forever changed the business of concert touring. It was The Rolling Stones who figured out working and living in countries other than England would give the band much better tax breaks. Coincidentally, a lesson first learned while fleeing England for France to begin the recording of Exile On Main St. Canada has been another country benefiting from The Rolling Stones using it as a preferred destination to rehearse for upcoming concert tours.

But the Rolling Stones recently found a new way to rake in bundles of dough. And that’s with the reissue of their seminal seventies masterpiece record – Exile On Main Street.

With more than 100,000 units moved during it’s first week of sales during late May, 2010 – The Rolling Stones became the first band to have a studio album re-enter the charts at #1. (Exile also debuted at #1 on the record charts upon it’s initial release in 1972.)

Of course, it helped the band stumbled upon a lot of unused material from the original Exile recording sessions in France and U.S. Songs, as guitarist Keith Richards recently talked about, the band was so wasted they just ‘kinda forgot about’ at the time.

But the Rolling Stones don’t drop just a simple new reissue CD. They understand in these days of digital downloading the band wants to see maximum revenue for it’s brand realized. The Stones want more than just .99 cents a song (but they’ll be happy to take that too.)

When The Rolling Stones decided to reissue their Exile On Main Street record – you could certainly say they made sure to extend the Exile brand across a maximum number of product offerings.

New products offered by the Rolling Stones related to recent Exile On Main Street album reissue.
- 7″ vinyl limited edition (7,500) of Plunder My Soul (S/O)
- Original recording remastered on CD ($10)
- Deluxe package of original recording & bonus songs on CD ($24)
- Remastered and reissued 180 gram double vinyl ($30)
- Rarities edition CD recording & T-shirt ($40)
- Super deluxe edition of original on CD, LP, & book ($139)
- Exile On Main St. DVD documentary ($30)

I really have enjoyed the times I’ve managed to catch up to, and collect a signature from Sir Paul McCartney. You really can’t get much bigger than a Beatle.

From my very first time hounding McCartney in Toronto in 2002, I have traveled to a few places in the world to see Sir Paul. You don’t always get lucky. Many nights McCartney is just not in the mood for signing autographs. And he is signing less and less Beatles memorabilia each year.

But then there are the good days when McCartney enjoys greeting fans and signing a few autographs while out on tour.

Such was the case when Paul McCartney stopped to sign this original album cover of Abbey Road [$1,750] Paul autographed this album after a concert at Dallas Cowboys stadium during August, 2009 in Texas. Also note this was one of those rare times when McCartney signed his full name, “Paul McCartney”

ITEM: Paul McCartney autographed ABBEY ROAD original album cover 12.5″ x 12.5″ (Album cover in good condition – shows wear at edges. Includes vinyl LP. Signed by Paul McCartney in black sharpie.)
PRICE: $1,750.00 CAN + $40.00 (Insured & tracked S&H in North America & Europe)
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SIGNED: August 18, 2009 – Dallas, Texas U.S.A.

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Canadians (and some autograph hounds) should be happy to hear the “cute” Beatle – Sir Paul McCartney has just added dates to his North American summer “Up & Coming” tour. Macca will play Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on August 8th and Montreal’s Bell Centre on August 12th.

McCartney has only played in Canada a handful of dates the last decade and has hinted that retirement from touring is nearing. So if your in Toronto or Montreal this summer it could be one of your last chances at seeing something as special as this live.

UPDATE (June 14th): Due to overwhelming demand and a very quick sell-out for the August 8th Air Canada Centre show in Toronto – a 2nd McCartney concert has been added for the next night, August 9th at the ACC

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE SEEING - SALE: Paul McCartney autographed ABBEY ROAD album [$1,750]

(HoundsTV – Toronto) Guitar god Eric Clapton arrived in Toronto on Saturday – the day before an Air Canada Centre show with fellow music legend Jeff Beck. Just after arriving in Toronto, Clapton took a stroll along a popular Toronto street visiting a few high-end retail shops.

UPDATE: On a very beautiful Sunday in Toronto, Eric Clapton took a Sunday stroll along Toronto’s popular Yorkville Ave. a few hours before his Air Canada Centre date with Jeff Beck.

There were a few autograph collectors awaiting Mr. Claptons return to his hotel. He just silently brushed off their signature requests.

UPDATE 2: Seems like Slowhand’s pissy Toronto mood might have continued on the stage? Toronto Star’s Ben Rayner has some choice words about the Clapton/Beck set at ACC.

(HoundsTV – Toronto) If there is one thing Guns N’ Roses 2010 Canadian tour has confirmed – Axl Rose still lives and loves the rock star lifestyle – relentless touring, late night partying, and lots of pretty ladies.

Axl and his Guns N’ Roses mates have been in eastern Canada the last week finishing up a 13 show trek across Canada to kick off a 2010 world tour in support of Chinese Democracy – Axl’s long awaited, and massively under-appreciated gem of a GN’R album.

The talk among many, many, many of the reviews has been the unpredictable late start to the GN’R shows occurring each night. For the Hamilton, London, and Montreal shows – Axl has been taking the stage around 10:30 and playing 2 1/2 hour sets ending around 1 a.m. We are not quite sure why so many people have been whining about the late starts -

BUT PEOPLE! Its a Guns N’ Fuckin’ Roses concert – not Disney on ice. So what if Axl is taking the stage at 10, 11 or 12?

But up here in Canada, venue officials and police do have concerns about rock concert crowds spilling out into the streets at very late hours. So all Canadian arenas have bylaw curfews (usually 11:59 p.m.) where the music is supposed to end or the concert promoter starts paying heavy penalties. The promoters and management of the GN’R tour surely paid some big penalties that night in Toronto when Rose was still on stage past 2 a.m.

In fact, when Guns N’ Roses took the stage at 11:30 in Toronto, discussions did occur with venue officials and GN’R management about cutting the set significantly shorter – to maybe 1 1/2 hours to help get the ACC crowd out still by about 1 a.m. Rose’s management refused. In the end, one or two songs were cut from the planned set list to try for a 2 a.m. finish. The word through Axl’s people was the GN’R set was minimum 2 1/2 hours and they were giving the fans ONLY a full set – no matter how late or whatever financial penalties they would incur.

So why did Guns N’ Roses take the stage so late in Toronto? It might have something to do with the fact Axl didn’t leave his downtown Toronto hotel till 11:15 p.m. for the show.

RELATED: Axl Rose signs autograph collectors guitar on route to London, Ontario show.

And why wasn’t Rose ready for the Toronto stage? Perhaps it had something to do with a very good time Axl and his GN’R mates had in Montreal the night before (actually, more the morning of..)

Rose made light reference to his previous night of Montreal debauchery kicking off the Toronto set, “Sorry about the time delay. I got carried away jumping off shit last night…I actually don’t remember a thing..”

After GN’R’s Montreal show the previous night, the band hit up a private club in old Montreal eventually emerging from the club at 6:30am in quite the high spirits. From there, it was time to head back to Toronto for the Air Canada Centre show that evening. And that evening started with

Rose going from his Toronto hotel room at 11:15 pm – to an awaiting vehicle speeding through traffic the ten minute drive south to the ACC – and joining his GN’R mates on the Air Canada Centre stage with the lights dimming just before 11:30 pm.

And the rush showed in a very uninspired opening of Chinese Democracy where Axl’s voice was clearly a little off. Rose exited halfway through the song to switch mics. The second song of the night, Welcome to the Jungle, was better and the songs familiarity helped to get the crowd going – but it was clear Axl’s voice was still ramping up (and Rose was maybe still waking up?)

By the time Live and Let Die rolled around forty-five minutes into the set – Rose was surely finding his voice and it was sounding strong. Axl and the band did a great version of Catcher in the Rye – in honor of J.D. Salinger who passed away that day (remarked by Rose.)

But its when the GN’R set passed the 1 a.m. mark and Axl delivered You Could Be Mine, Knockin on Heaven’s door, and November Rain you knew you were seeing classic Axl, in almost perfert form – and well worth the wait.

After the ACC show. Axl, his Guns N’ Roses bandmates, Sebastian Bach and many more partied well into the wee morning hours at a King St. Toronto club.

Guns N’ Roses wraps up the 2010 Chinese Democracy Canadian tour with three final dates out east in Quebec City, Moncton, and Halifax this week.

Axl Rose at Copps Coliseum, Hamilton (January 25, 2010) by SteelcityCanada

RELATED: Axl Rose signs autograph collectors guitar on route to London, Ontario show.

(HoundsTV – April 4, 2009) Filmmaker David Lynch’s benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall was a rare coming together of Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

RELATED: Paul McCartney exits Radio City Music Hall and signs autographs

(HoundsTV – Toronto) Guns N’ Roses leader Axl Rose made a long awaited return to full-time touring in 2010 beginning in Canada. Rose was staying in Toronto this past weekend while playing Gn’R shows in Hamilton and London on the eastern leg of the Chinese Democracy tour.

Axl has always been considered a very difficult and valued autograph to get by serious collectors. Rose is reclusive, can be moody, and won’t sign in big crowds. So when one of North America’s top autograph collectors knew Axl was quietly staying in Toronto while playing southern Ontario shows – it was time to try and get a guitar signed (considered the best item of all to maximize the value of a rock god signature.)

Just before Rose boarded his tour bus – two twenty-something girls – looking exactly like the type of young hot girls you would expect on an Axl Rose tour bus exited the hotel and boarded.

Axl emerged in his stylish fur coat to a crisp winter evening from a downtown Toronto hotel in good spirits just after 7:00pm beautifully signing the collector’s guitar before boarding his tour bus for the two hour drive to London. Rose, famous for taking the stage late, didn’t disappoint as Guns N’ Roses started their concert that evening just past eleven, rocking the John Labatt Centre to well past 1 am. It was then back to the buses for Axl and the ladies for the long drive east to Montreal.

RELATED: Guns N’ Roses tour across Canada – What time will Axl Rose take the stage?

Presley was one of the most iconic celebrities of the past century. Autograph collectors young and old have thought about getting his signature. Elvis is high up on the “I wish I could have asked him for his autograph” list.

So how was Elvis for meeting fans and signing autographs?

All reports suggest Elvis was great with the fans and signed lots of autographs during his time.

Because Elvis was known to sign a lot – there are items signed by Presley that often come up for sale and auction. Autographed albums have been known to sell in the $5,000 to $10,000 range.

(HoundsTV) – The singer formally known as Cat Stevens – Yusuf Islam, made a low-key appearance at an Islamic education conference this weekend in Toronto. Yusuf’s speaking engagement at the conference was being kept under the radar and inquiring media was instructed that Dr. Islam would not be doing any photo ops or interviews.

A few astute autograph collectors did catch wind of the usually reclusive Yusuf Islam’s appearance in the city – his first in more than a decade in Toronto. The few collectors that managed to catch up to Yusuf were pleased with the experience. Dr. Islam was happy to autograph Cat Stevens albums, photographs, and at least one guitar – often adding inscriptions like “peace & happiness” before his signature.

Yusuf has fond memories of playing in Toronto’s Massey Hall

There was some talk among convention organizers that perhaps there could be a chance for Yusuf to pick up the guitar and perform. After all, Dr. Islam is only a few weeks removed from a massively well-received come back show in England.

But that idea was quickly shot down – and when this photographer asked Yusuf if there was any chance we could see him with a guitar this weekend in Toronto, he mentioned that, “he didn’t even bring one.”

I also asked Yusuf if there was any chance we might see him perform in these parts in the near future and Dr. Islam indicated, ABSOLUTELY and expects to do some touring in 2010.

Yusuf also mentioned he had fond memories of playing one particular venue in Toronto decades ago, but the name of the place escaped him. When I said, “you mean Massey Hall?” – Yusuf replied in the positive, “YES! Massey Hall. Wonderful place to perform.” and then expressed surprise to hear the venue is still open and said it would be great to return.

photo courtesy shot7.com – Yusuf Islam (formally singer Cat Stevens) signs album covers for an autograph collector in Toronto while his wife Fauzia looks on.

Interested in owning an item personally autographed by YUSUF ISLAM during his visit to Toronto? CLICK HERE.