Welcome back to our two-part Halloween special on urban legends in rock! Last time we discussed someone who sold his soul to the devil, and now we’ll be discussing rock you’ve actually heard about. As rock gained traction and began dividing itself into separate genres, performers began using more and more gimmicks to stand out and get attention. Taking it one step further than earlier controversial stars like Elvis Presley, artists in the 1970s pushed the envelope with their names, their public persona, and their music itself.

KISS, whose name was rumored to be an acronym for Knights In Satan’s Service, caught a lot of heat from religious groups for the group’s suggestive lyrics and “demonic” face paint. The hue and cry from conservatives hasn’t hurt them in the slightest. In fact, KISS frontman Gene Simmons has used the band’s enduring popularity to fuel sales for everything from comic books to caskets. For the first issue of Marvel’s KISS comic books, the band members poured vials of their blood into the vats of red ink for printing – an act which was witnessed and signed by a notary public to ensure authenticity.

That issue still sells to collectors for around $400 depending on condition. Whether or not it’s worth it depends entirely on you! But if you’re a vampire, maybe look into a blood drive to get your fix or something.

Speaking of someone who’s probably swallowed more blood than the average person… When I say Ozzy Osbourne, what's the first thing you think of? Bats? Crazy Train? Maybe that time he wandered around the Alamo in Sharon’s dress?

Click Here, to read the conclusion of our two-part series; Urban Legends of Rock and Roll!

Written by Ashton

Week two of Ticket Galaxy’s Throwback Thursday: First Concert series brings us Ashton and her first concert memories.

"My mom got tickets for 3 Doors Down (my favorite band) for me and my two best friends when we were 14. She realized when we got there that she had gotten pit tickets for three teenage girls and immediately made us stand at the very back so we didn’t get hurt. She spent the whole night in front of us like a bodyguard -- it was so embarrassing!” – Ashton

Click Here to check out the 2002 hit, "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down.

Written by Kristen

Since its inception, rock and roll has been the subject of rumors, misinformation, and propaganda ranging from the plausible (Stevie Nicks practices Wicca!) to the bizarre (Ozzy Osbourne is the actual Devil). With Halloween almost upon us, what better time to shine a flashlight under your chin and talk about some of the urban legends of rock? This is part one of a two part series about urban legends in the world of rock. And, like all good ghostbusters, we’ll be looking to see if there’s any truth to them at all.

One of the lasting stories about music is selling your soul to the devil to play well. Whether "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" or up to Boston, the pact remains the same: you'll be a famous, talented musician, and the devil will take you after so many years' time. This legend got started before rock and roll was even dreamt of, trickling down from the story of Faust, to virtuoso violinist Niccoló Paganini, and to Robert Johnson, one of the earliest cautionary tales of rock.

Robert Johnson was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi in 1911, and started picking up instruments at an early age, although according to musicians who knew him, he was hopeless at the guitar. Desperate for greatness, he either summoned the Devil at the crossroads to give his soul in exchange for talent, or conjured him up in a graveyard. Either way, the stories differ about what happened next, but the result is the same.

Click Here to read more about Robert Johnson and his deal with the Devil.


Written by Ashton

The Chicago Cubs ended a 71 year drought when they won over the Dodgers in the NLCS, heading to the World Series for the first time since 1945 (where they lost 4 games to 3 to the Detroit Tigers). To get to a year when the Cubs actually won the World Series one must travel all the way back to 1908.

The 1908 World Series was the first ever rematch, as the Cubs and Tigers met in October of 1907 with the Cubs coming out on top. Could they be back-to-back champions? In the 5 years the World Series had been played, no team had won more than once but a 4 games to 1 victory over the Tigers saw the Cubs set a World Series record! Albeit a short lived record, but a record none the less. The Philadelphia Athletics would go on to win back to back in 1910 (beating the Cubs) and 1911. Currently the New York Yankees hold the record for most consecutive World Series wins with 5 in a row beginning in 1949 through 1953.

Not to be out done, the Cleveland Indians have their own championship win drought, though they played in a World Series as recently as 1997, they haven’t won since 1948. Since 1948, 23 different teams have won the World Series, with the Dodgers winning for Brooklyn and Los Angeles and the Giants winning for New York and San Francisco.

Click Here to read about each team's curse and what significant events happened the last time they each won the championship. 

Written by Kristen

Former Pink Floyd vocalist/bassist Roger Waters has announced a massive 43-date North American tour, kicking off May 26th at the Spirit Center in Kansas City, MO and concluding October 28th at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.

In a press release, Waters stated that the content of the tour is “very secret,” but did add that it will include both older Pink Floyd material and new solo tracks:

“It’ll be a mixture of stuff from my long career, stuff from my years with Pink Floyd, some new things. Probably 75% of it will be old material and 25% will be new, but it will all be connected by a general theme. It will be a cool show. I promise you: It’ll be spectacular like all my shows have been.”
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Waters is currently in the studio working on a new studio album with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. It will be his first solo outing since 1992’s Amused to Death.


​For the full list of tour dates, Click Here.

Written by Eugene

​​Here at Ticket Galaxy, we're fans first and we enjoy going to live events just like you! ​Starting today and continuing over the next few weeks we’re throwing it back to Ticket Galaxy team member’s first concerts. We’re going to share stories and maybe a video or two to really let that nostalgia kick in. First up, is me!

“Tell me what you want, what you really, really, want” and I’ll tell you my first concert was the Spice Girls in 1998. Little 9 year old me was more than obsessed with the girl group and all of the “girl power” they brought with them. I had pigtails in my hair, my Spiceworld t-shirt on and it was perfect. Well, almost. This concert took place after Geri Halliwell, aka Ginger Spice, left the group so instead of five Spice Girls, there were only four. But everything comes full circle because as a freshmen in college, I got to see all five Spice Girls on the stage together as part of their reunion tour in 2008. And that was what I really, really, wanted. 

Click Here to head back to 1998 and watch the Spice Girl's "Wannabe" video!

Written by Kristen

The 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations were announced this morning by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame CEO, Joel Perseman and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt.
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This year’s list includes an interesting mix from Janet Jackson to Kraftwerk to YES. Bands and artists are eligible to be nominated 25 years after the release of their first single or album. First time nominees include Pearl Jam, Journey and Tupac Shakur. Disco legends, Chic have been nominated for the 11th time.
 
The voting process will again include a “fan’s ballot” that will be comprised of the top five artists that receive the most votes from fans that go to www.rockhall.com/vote. Voting is already open and will remain until December 6th. This ballot plus the ballot of over 800 members of the music industry (including every living inductee) will be submitted and tallied with the induction ceremony set for April 2017 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

For a full list of nominees, Click Here.

Written by Kristen

Former Beach Boy Brian Wilson has expanded his Pet Sounds tour until 2017.

Wilson has added 37 new dates, starting on March 27th at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, FL and concluding at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, CA. The tour, which is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Beach Boys’ iconic album, Pet Sounds, will see Wilson playing that album in full alongside former Beach Boys members Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin. Wilson will also play various other Beach Boys cuts and selections from his solo career.

Wilson has recently released a book, I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir, to coincide with the trek and plans on entering the studio in December to record a new studio album, the working title of which is Sensitive Music for Sensitive People.

For the full list of tour dates, Click Here.

Written by Eugene

Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids hit Netflix on October 12th.  The film, directed by Jonathan Demme and produced by Gary Goetman, takes us back to the final date of the 20/20 Experience World Tour at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dressed impeccably in a tux, hair coiffed and a look in his eyes that says ‘let’s do this’, Justin Timberlake commands the stage, and the camera. Between his smoother than butter dance moves and his instantly recognizable croon, JT appears to be at the top of his game as he floats effortlessly on stage, which includes a catwalk that brings him to the back of the arena to visit fans not lucky enough to be front and center.

The docu-film starts by introducing the audience to the band members and back-up dancers, giving each player camera time to state what they do and where they are from. The film then jumps to moments before Justin and the Tennessee Kids take the stage as they pump each other up and say a prayer as a group. Since this is their 134th and final time, Justin makes a point of telling them all to “enjoy it, squeeze every drop of juice out of it”. There are shots of Justin waiting under the stage as the 20 second countdown begins and the crowd roars.

​The 20/20 Experience World Tour was a colossal show, and easily lends itself to a theatrical experience rather than simply a concert which makes it a great fit for a docu-film. While on tour, Justin Timberlake performed for 3 hours with a 30 song set list. So it comes as no surprise that the films cuts some numbers, though one of those numbers is Justin’s hit “Cry Me a River”. The show is chock-full of dancing and Timberlake is, dare we say “N Sync” with his back-up dancers on every step. The 20/20 Experience World Tour is extremely visually stimulating as JT is accompanied by a laser light show that plays well on camera for those viewing at home.

Click Here to read more and to view the chill-inducing trailer!

Written by Kristen

On Saturday, November 12th the first ever TG200 will take place at Phoenix International Raceway as part of the XFINITY Race Series. What does every NASCAR race need? A trophy for the winner of course!

Ticket Galaxy turned to their 100 employees and asked anyone who was interested to submit a sketch of their design for the trophy. The winner would then get to attend the TG200! After pouring over the submissions, the designs were narrowed down to three. From there, all of the Ticket Galaxy employees were asked to vote for their favorite.
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The winning design will debut in the Fan Midway on site at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday, November 11th and those in attendance can head over to Ticket Galaxy’s designated area and take a photo with the trophy!
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Check out the top three designs below and don’t forget to comment to let us know which is your favorite!