ROCK ON THE RANGE 2012

First off, welcome all to the first edition of my blog, many a strange insights will appear here(so you've been warned).

That being said I'd like to take the time to discuss this year's edition of Rock On The Range, one of the US's premiere rock festivals. I have felt compelled to do this based on the things I see posted online on sites like the festival's official Facebook page. It has become clear people want to know who is playing(obviously) but that many do not seem to understand the touring business. That being said I have broken this up into categories and will be going into detail about bands that might play, will almost definitely play(based on history), and one's that have absolutely no chance of playing this coming year. So sit back, grab a beverage of choice, and enjoy.

1) We'll be seeing you!(10 bands likely or very possible for this year that have never played)
-Van Halen: conveniently no dates for Ohio on their upcoming tour, and no shows the day of the festival
-Foo Fighters: playing Bamboozle in NJ that weekend, many bands do Columbus and NJ same weekend
-Sixx AM: several radio hits, and Motley are taking a break after the Vegas run
-Trivium: top selling album, hit single, and an upcoming spring run with a ROTR alum
-Megadeth: will be fresh off a top selling album and successful arena tour
-Volbeat: growing in popularity, radio airplay, and a string of big tours as support
-Falling in Reverse: touring this spring, also gaining popularity and radio airplay
-Adrenaline Mobb: supergroup, ties to a few big name bands
-Hell or Highwater: features members of ROTR alum, did last year's massive Uproar tour
-Chimaira: Ohio natives, great way to introduce the new lineup to a hometown crowd

2) Back for more eh?(10 bands who have played in the past possibly making returns)
-Shinedown: since last playing ROTR they have become a platinum selling arena band, a welcome return
-Five Finger Death Punch: another band whose popularity has skyrocketed, latest album debut at 3
-Evanescence: haven't played the festival since 2007, out on tour with a new hit record
-Theory of A Deadman: latest album was a hit and they recently headlined a massive package tour
-Black Stone Cherry: last opened Main in 2009, since then they've racked up several hit singles
-A Day To Remember: arguably one of the biggest hits of last year, doing an arena run this spring
-Slash/Myles Kennedy: new album on the way, and both have played many times with their band(s)
-Asking Alexandria: another band that made waves last year, touring this spring
-Halestorm: having played both side stages, with a new record coming it's time to graduate to Main
-Killswitch Engage: new album(and now a new singer) good way to introduce him to the world

3) Oh come on now!(bands who are definitely NOT playing)
-Mudvayne: half the band is busy doing Hellyeah
-Avenged Sevenfold: taking a break this year with no US shows booked, plus they headlined last year
-Atreyu: on hiatus, 3 different bands have since gone on tour with members
-Nickleback: most likely could play the venue by themselves, doesn't seem likely
-Disturbed: on hiatus with no immediate plans(if ever)
-Breaking Benjamin: right now this band is one person, and he hasn't been on a stage in a very long time
-Bullet For My Valentine: played the last 2 years, definitely not doing a 3rd straight year
-Motley Crue: taking a break after a lengthy Vegas run, with Sixx AM most likely touring this spring
-Rob Zombie: working on films, having toured every year since 2005
-Metallica: only planned US shows this year are 30th anniversary shows in June, no other plans to tour




Hope that covers some of it, the lineup will be announced soon.