Austin's Own Rock Fest

Friday, November 12

Rock Fest Line Up Ready to “Rock You Like A Hurricane”

Austin’s Own Rock Fest is a true rocker’s dream come-to-life with established rock bands set to take the stage November 12 at 6PM. This fresh breath of rock relief includes Scorpions, Tesla, UFO, and The Keith Emerson Band.

Scorpions hit the scene in 1972 with Lonesome Crow, which started them on their path to international success. They released album after album and amassed a long string of hits including “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” “Send Me An Angel,” “Wind of Change,” “Big City Nights,” and “Still Loving You.” Over 30 years later, in an electronic age, there are still die-hard fans with Internet groups people can join paying homage to the Scorpions as one of the best rock bands of all time. At these sites, people can chat with other Scorpions’ fans all over the world (and there are many).

As a band, Scorpions has had many honors and opportunities as Germany’s most successful hard rock band of all time. They played with the Berlin Philharmonic, performed at the Michael Jackson and Friends benefit concert in Munich in 1999, and in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate at the invitation of the German government. Their latest installment, (the twentieth Scorpions album) Unbreakable, was a chance for the band to recommit to their image as Germany’s most successful hard rock export and play to their strengths. “After side projects like Moment of Glory and Acoustica we owed our fans a kick-ass, bad to the bone rock CD,” said guitarist and composer Rudolph Schenker.

Tesla emerged a little later than Scorpions, but they have also had an impact on rock and roll. The band’s popularity was at its highest during the hey-day of hair metal where they had big hits like “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)” and “Love Song.” Tesla’s Five Man Acoustical Jam, the band’s “loose, informal acoustic version of their best known songs in concert” also helped inspire MTV’s Unplugged series. (http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/tesla/bio.jhtml) Tesla released their newest album, Into The Now, in March. On amazon.com, one customer who bought the album stated, “This is one of the few albums I have ever played where I don’t want to skip any song; overall, the album is that good!”

UFO lands in the Rock Fest line up with a few aces up their sleeves as well. Although the band began in 1969, they have been infused with some youth and freshness with drummer Jason Bonham. Don’t be fooled though, Bonham’s rock and roll roots run deep; his father is legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.

The Keith Emerson Band wraps up the bill for Rock Fest. Keith Emerson has been making music since the 1960’s and has released numerous albums with his band and as a solo artist over the years. The current line-up for The Keith Emerson Band has been in place since 2002 with Emerson at keyboards, Dave Kilminster at guitar, Pete Riley at drums and Phil Williams at bass.

Tickets for Austin’s Own Rock Fest featuring Scorpions, Tesla, UFO, and The Keith Emerson Band at The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center, Friday, November 12 at 6PM are $25, $35, and $45 and are ON SALE NOW at all Texas Box Office Outlets (includes H-E-B stores in Austin, Bastrop, Bee Caves, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Round Rock, and San Marcos; Ft. Hood Bldg. #136 and Renaissance Records in Killeen), charge-by-phone at 512/477-6060 or 1-800-982-2386 or order on-line at TexasBoxOffice.com. Convenience charges may apply. All information subject to change. The Frank Erwin Center is a smoke-free facility. Convenient parking is available within walking distance in nearby state and university lots. For more information, call 512/471-7744. uterwincenter.com