'Rock Across America' with VH1 Classic!
Network Celebrates 4th of July Weekend with Classic American Music
Beginning Thursday, July 3
VH1 Classic to Premiere 'Classic in Concert: ZZ Top - Live From Texas' on
Saturday, July 5 at 4:00 PM*
'Heart: Dreamboat Annie' to Premiere on Sunday, July 6 at 10 PM
NEW YORK, June 25 -- VH1 Classic is celebrating some of
America's most influential music icons from all regions of the United
States this July 4th weekend. Beginning on Thursday, July 3 through Sunday,
July 6 the network will "Rock Across America" and dedicate one day to each
region of the country including the East, Midwest, South and West. The
4-day marathon will include some of the greatest concerts known to the rock
'n' roll world and will give an all-access look into the lives of these
American music greats that helped shape the classic rock culture.
Throughout the holiday weekend that celebrates America, classic rock fans
across the country will be able to relive the memories with artists like
Bruce Springsteen, James Brown, KISS, The Temptations, Tom Petty, Heart and
more.
Highlighted programming to air throughout the weekend include:
The East
"VH1 Storytellers: Bruce Springsteen" Airs on Thursday, July 3 at 3:30
PM ET/PT
New Jersey singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen gives fans the
performance of their lives as he performs songs from his album "Devils &
Dust." Viewers will get a unique opportunity to hear the inspiration and
stories behind such hits as "Blinded by the Light," "Brilliant Disguise"
(which he performs with his wife Patti Scialfa), "The Rising," "Thunder
Road" and from his new album the title track "Devils & Dust" and "Jesus Was
An Only Son." The acoustic show ends with questions about Bruce's life and
work.
"KISS Unplugged" Airs on Thursday, July 3 at 6:00 PM ET/PT
The KISS nation will get a chance to rock hard with original and
current members of the legendary New York City rock band KISS. For a full
hour fans can watch a makeup-free KISS play some of their greatest hits
acoustically with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss
reuniting to play tracks like "Rock and Roll All Night" and "Nothing To
Lose." Fans will also get to see current members Eric Singer and Bruce
Kulick join the crew to belt out songs like "Comin' Home" and "See You
Tonight."
"VH1 Classic in Concert: Poison: Live, Raw and Uncut" Airs on Thursday,
July 3 at 8:00 PM ET/PT
Poison performs at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in St. Louis on
August 2, 2007. This Pennsylvania band performs some of their greatest hits
including "I Want Action," "I Won't Forget You," "Something To Believe In,"
"Unskinny Bop," "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and "Talk Dirty To Me."
The Midwest
"The Temptations" Airs on Friday, July 4 at 6:00 PM ET/PT
The true story of The Temptations, the Soul vocal group of the 1960s,
as seen from the viewpoint of the last surviving member, Otis Williams,
played by Charles Malik Whitfield. The story begins in the late 1950s in
their hometown of Detroit and chronicles their humble beginnings to their
adventurous climb to the top and ends in the 1990s with the untimely deaths
of the remaining four members. Also starring are, D.B. Woodside as Melvin
Franklin, Terron Brooks as Eddie Kendricks, Christian Payton as Paul
Williams and Leon as David Ruffin.
"VH1 Classic in Concert: Styx" Premieres on Friday, July 4 at 11:00 PM
ET/PT
Hailing from Chicago, Styx are one of the most successful bands of all
time with worldwide album sales in the millions. On May 25, 2006 they took
the stage in Cleveland for a new venture accompanied by the 115 piece
Contemporary Youth Orchestra and a 60 member chorus. With a set list that
combined Styx classics, new songs and cover versions this was a truly
unique event.
The South
"VH1 Classic in Concert: ZZ Top Live from Texas" Premieres on Saturday,
July 5 at 4:00 PM ET/PT
This newest installment of VH1 Classic's "Classic In Concert" series
features ZZ Top captured at their very best in their home state of Texas.
Band members Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard deliver hit after
hit in their own imitable style.
"Rock and Rock Picture Show: Jailhouse Rock" Premieres on Saturday,
July 5 at 7:00 PM ET/PT
Starring Elvis Presley and Judy Tyler, "Jailhouse Rock" is a film about
an ex-convict, named Vince Everett, who upon release from jail, goes on to
not only start his own record label but become the shining star he always
thought himself to be. This is the classic story of a 'nobody becoming a
somebody' and belittling everyone around him in the process. Humility
ultimately catches up to him and Everett finds out the hard way that
friends are more important than stardom.
"Soundstage: Tom Petty" Airs on Saturday, July 5 at 9:00 PM ET/PT
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers hit the stage for a night of classic
rock and roll. This Florida band, recognized as one of the greatest
American rock bands performs some of their most memorable hits including:
"American Girl," "Don't Do Me Like That," "Free Falling," and many others
taken from a catalog of critically acclaimed albums. For decades Tom Petty
and The Heartbreakers have earned praise and adoration from fans for their
trademark brand of American rock and roll and their refusal to compromise
their integrity. The Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in 2002, the first year they were eligible.
The West
"John Fogerty: The Long Road Home" Premieres on Sunday, July 6 at 6:00
PM ET/PT
This comprehensive retrospective features, for the first time ever, all
of the California songwriter's most poignant and enduring hits. Included
are seminal tracks from the "Creedence" catalog, along with the creme de la
creme of his solo work, including "Centerfield," "Deja Vu (All Over Again)"
and "Hot Rod Hear" from the GRAMMY(R) Award-winning CD "Blue Moon Swamp."
"Journey: Revelation" Premieres on Sunday, July 6 at 8:00 PM ET/PT
Live from the March 6, 2008 Las Vegas concert marking the first U.S.
public appearance of Journey's current lineup. San Francisco's own, Neal
Schon (guitar), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Ross Valory (bass), Deen
Castronovo (drums) -- are proud to introduce fans all over the world to
their new lead singer, Arnel Pineda ('pin-eh-da'). He replaces Jeff Scott
Soto, who parted ways with the band earlier this year after stepping in for
Steve Augeri, who had to leave the band in 2006 for medical reasons.
"Heart: Dreamboat Annie" Premieres on Sunday, July 6 at 10:00 PM ET/PT
On April 17, 2007, the iconic rock group and Seattle natives, Heart
took the stage at The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles in front of a live
audience to perform their spectacular 1976 debut album "Dreamboat Annie" in
its entirety for the first time ever! Songs performed by sisters Ann and
Nancy Wilson include "Crazy on You," "Magic Man" and "Dreamboat Annie."
Launched in May 2000, VH1 Classic is a 24-hour network that present
videos, concerts and music specials all day long, featuring the best of
rock, soul and pop artists from the 60's, 70's and 80's, including The
Beatles, The Stones, Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, The Who,
Stevie Wonder, The Police, Madonna and many more. Learn more at
VH1Classic.com.
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