Yes You Can Make It Without a Label, a Manager or Big Money. Find People Who Will Prop You Up.

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Michael Brandvold

Ron Young the lead singer of Little Caesar posted this earlier this week and it hit me as a great inspirational post for all those musicians who think you need a label, a manager and big money to make it. In the 80s Little Caesar were signed to Geffen Records, that is the label mentioned below who would not give them the funds to get to Europe to perform at Donnington. Now they are a self-sustained and self-supported band… with the aid of a support team of people who believe in the band. As Ron puts it, “…we have some amazing people that prop us up, inspire us, and bless us with their talent, energies and most priceless, their friendship!”

Do you have a team of people who you could say this about? Be honest.

Go create a team of people who will help prop you up.

Little Caesar will be appearing at The Download Festival in Donnington Park, England on Sun Jun 16th…. over 60,000 people!! We are so excited!! But what strikes us most is a feeling of gratitude….20 years ago we were offered to play this same festival when it was called Monsters Of Rock. We had to turn it down because our label would not give us the funds to get there.

So today, with no label, or Manager or big money supporters…. we finally made it. We got there because we have some amazing people that prop us up, inspire us, and bless us with their talent, energies and most priceless, their friendship! People like Penny Rosen, Michael Brandvold, Alan Niven, Mitch Lafon, Bruce Witkin, Heather Harris, Scott Rowley, Dave Everley, Joey Malone, Ryan Dorn, Doug Dubin, Martin Jarvis, Manny Montana, Carmen Elekktra and Steve Waite, Jake Bradbury…to name a few.

They have helped us accomplish what we couldn’t do with a lot of powerful people behind us. What they all have in common is their passion for music and talent to bring music to others…. and Little Caesar and our fans are the beneficiaries of those talents.

When we hit that stage on Jun 16th…. you will all be there with us. Thanks to you all from the bottom of our hearts.

How To Renegotiate a Record Contract – Alan Niven Discusses Guns N’ Roses Contract Renegotiation with Geffen Records

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Michael Brandvold

“If Beavis & Butt-Head had a music podcast, this would be it.”

In episode 44, March 11, 2013, of the Dropping The Needle podcast. In this episode Michael Brandvold and Mitch Lafon return to speak with former Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven. Alan takes us inside the contract renegotiation with Geffen Records and so much more.

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Learn a Few Music Marketing Lessons from Alan Niven, the Man Responsible for Guns N’ Roses.

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Michael Brandvold

“If Beavis & Butt-Head had a music podcast, this would be it.”

Episode 43, March 4, 2013, of the Dropping The Needle podcast. In this episode Michael Brandvold and Mitch Lafon return to speak with former Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven. This time it is ALL Guns N’ Roses. Over one hour spent talking about the birth on Guns N’ Roses right up to just when the band is about to break big. Keith Richards speaking with Slash about his leaving GNR. Who is the heart of the soul of GNR. His reaction to Slash trying out for Poison. Why, who and how they released and distributed Live Like a Suicide. The fake controversy of the album cover. The fake controversy the first time GNR went to England. And, the relationship with Geffen Records as things started to grow for the band.

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Former Geffen Recording Artist Little Caesar to Work With Michael Brandvold Marketing

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Michael Brandvold

I am really excited to announce that Michael Brandvold Marketing will be working with former Geffen Recording artst Little Caesar, the longhaired, tattooed bikers that sing soulful, yet ballsy, rock music.

Little Caesar, featuring Ron Young (vocals), Jimmy Hayne aka. Apache (guitar), Loren Molinare (guitar), Fidel Paniagua (bass) and Tom Morris (drums), first appeared on Metal Blade’s “Street Survivors” compilation. The band then released a four song EP titled “Name Your Poison” (produced by Joe Hardy of ZZ Top fame), which subsequently led to a deal with Geffen Records. Little Caesar’s eponymous 1990 Geffen debut was produced by the infamous Bob Rock (producer of Metallica’s self titled 1991 multi-platinum release, Motley Crue’s “Dr. Feelgood”, and The Cult’s “Sonic Temple” among others). The album was a no-nonsense collection of hard rock in the vein of 70’s giants like Bad Company and Humble Pie, and was also brimming with classic R&B influences, garnering widespread acceptance and positive reviews from the rock media. It also featured two Motown covers, including a ballsy rendition of the classic Aretha Franklin track, “Chain of Fools,” which hit the Billboard Top 100 chart and received strong airplay nationwide on both rock radio and MTV. The group toured extensively opening for such legendary acts as Jane’s Addiction, KISS, Social Distortion, Iggy Pop, Billy Idol, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. They also headlined their own club tours, and appeared on TV’s popular “Arsenio Hall Show”, “The Rick Dees Show”, and MTV’S “Sex” in the 90’s.. Vocalist Ron Young was also featured in the movie “Terminator 2” as a tough talking biker that gets into a fight with the film’s star, Arnold Schwarzenegger. 1992 would bring the second full-length album, “Influence”, which would have Earl Slick (of John Lennon, David Bowie, and Ian Hunter fame) replacing Apache on guitar. The “Influence” album was produced by the well respected, Howard Benson (who has recently produced releases for platinum artists like Daughtry, Papa Roach, and P.O.D. among others). The band completed its first tour of Europe after the release of the album and drew rave reviews and sold out crowds across multiple countries including a sold out headlining performance at the famous Marquee club in London.

In 2010, Little Caesar moved forward with a vengeance on a worldwide level with new release titled “Redemption” as well as touring in the US, Europe and the UK. They also introduced new guitar player Joey Brasler (Etta James, Bob Welch, Cherie Currie) as welcome addition to their musical line up.

In 2012, Little Caesar now releases their latest effort entitled “American Dream” on the Unison Music Group label. Produced by Bruce Witkin, it’s a powerful, no nonsense, guitar driven group of songs, that takes the band to that same warm R&B driven Rock and Roll Universe they call home. They embark on a tour of Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium mid June and will be performing at the Hard Rock Hell festival in Wales in Dec 2012.

Visit www.LittleCaesar.net for more info.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ltlcaesarband

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/littlecaesarofficial