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Friday, November 4, 2011

News Update for Friday November 4th, 2011


Hi folks, yes, no news for a few days as I desperately try to wrap up getting one the three interviews that need wrapping up, on the site for you ...
Should have the first one up tomorrow - At sometime! - or over the weekend ... It's our wedding anniversary next week, so I need to be on the ball!
Anyway, I've been receiving a bunch of press releases this week, so I really though I should share some of these with you, so here you go. Cheers, oh and have a great weekend! Al


Alice Cooper Live Night of Fear Recording made available



Alice Cooper is excited to be teaming up with the music specialists,Concert Live, to produce instant live recordings of his shows in Birmingham, London and in Lille on the 27/10/11, 29/10/11 and the 3/11/11 respectively. These exclusive CDs are the ultimate item of fan memorabilia and what better way is there to get in the mood for Halloween, the Festival of all things Freaky, then a live recording of Alice Cooper's famous Halloween show at the historic landmark, Alexandra Palace.

Don't miss out on your chance to order your very own live recording, which can be picked up from the venue the INSTANT that the last note of the gig has been played. And, if you aren't lucky enough to be able to make one of these performances then don't you worry, Concert Live can send one of these CDs straight to your home.

Order yours now:

Official Alice Cooper website:




'Frampton Comes Alive' 35th Anniversary UK Tour starts November 11th




Peter Frampton, the legendary British guitarist, and founding member of Humble Pie and The Herd, kicks off the 35th Anniversary UK Tour of his iconic multi-platinum album Frampton Comes Alive, performed in its entirety, along with highlights from his Grammy Award winning career, at the Manchester Bridgewater Hall on Friday 11th November.
Frampton’s milestone double live album, which has sold over 17 million copies worldwide, will be performed in the UK for the very first time in its entirety in the UK at the following venues:

Manchester Bridgewater Hall Friday 11th November
Cambridge Corn Exchange Saturday 12th November (SOLD OUT)
London HMV Hammersmith Apollo Sunday 13th November
Birmingham Symphony Hall Tuesday 15th November
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Wednesday 16th November
National Ticket Hotline: 08700 603 777. Book Online: www.seetickets.com
 
Featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest selling double live album of all time, ‘Frampton Comes Alive’ includes the hit singles ‘Show Me The Way’, ‘Do You Feel Like We Do’, and ‘Baby, I Love Your Way’, along with highlights from Frampton's extensive album catalogue.
Read the full press release and download hi res photos: www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/meanfiddler/PeterFrampton.htm


Hugo is Steve Perry in Voyage!


Hugo, has the voice that won over many Journey fans in his similarity with Steve Perry, the classic Journey lead singer. Hugo not only sounds like Perry, but ironically he looks more like Perry than anyone else ..., beside Perry himself!

I seem to recall Neal Schon saying sometime back, when they were looking for vocalists that, 'This guy looks too like Steve Perry, it was freaky ...' Or something very similar if memory serves me right.

Anyway, Hugo is now fronting Voyage, the ultimate tribute to Journey show, but the thing is they play gigs that are so few and far between that you need to jump on them right away.
Tonight, yes Friday 4th November, Voyage will play at The Canal Room, West Broadway (On Canal Street), New York.
Go check it out.

Official band site:





Marco Mendoza's Thin Lizzy Bass For Sale



Thin Lizzy Bass For Sale

Marco Mendoza's Bass that he used in Thin Lizzy and Soul Sirkus is up for sale on eBay.
This bass was used and can be heard on the Thin Lizzy - 'Live - One Night Only' CD.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fernandes-Gravity-4-Deluxe-Bass-Guitar-/190595461981?pt=Guitar&hash=item2c605ff35d#ht_14777wt_1396

This is a chance to own a piece of rock history and a great bass at a great price.
Check it out!




EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE

DEEP PURPLE + ORCHESTRA LIVE AT MONTREUX 2011

~ON 2CD, DVD and BLU-RAY NOVEMBER 8~




New York, NY (November 1, 2011)— On July 16, 2011, Deep Purple performed on the closing night of Switzerland’s prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival by re-inventing their classic catalog with the help of a symphony orchestra. This night will forever be emblazoned upon the brains of Deep Purple fans around the world when Eagle Rock Entertainment releases Live At Montreux 2011 simultaneously in DVD and Blu-Ray and 2 CD packages on November 8.

The whole night has been preserved in crystal clarity via high definition for the DVD and Blu-Ray releases. The sound on the 2CD set — DTS Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Stereo — is superb. Included on the DVD and Blu-Ray is a bonus in-depth band interview. Such classics as Highway Star,” “Strange Kind of Woman,” “Lazy,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Hush,” “Woman From Tokyo,” “Black Night,” “Smoke On The Water” and 11 other gems, as performed with the orchestral sweep behind them, certainly spurred the band on. Ian Gillan (vocals), Ian Paice (drums), Roger Glover (bass), Steve Morse (guitar) and Don Airey (keyboards) can be seen visibly pleased with the results of the orchestra, as directed by Stephen “BK” Bentley-Klein.

This 115-minute concert is emblematic of the kind of shows that Deep Purple has been putting on with amazing consistency as they criss-cross the globe. It’s what their fans have come to expect. The current orchestra tour has proven them capable of transcending genre limitations to reach out for the kind of all-encompassing theatrical presentation that’s hard to forget. Now, with this release, Deep Purple fans around the globe can thrill to this extraordinary pairing of symphonic textures and the hardest of Classic Rock.

CD DISC ONE:

1) Orchestral Intro
2) Highway Star
3) Hard Loving Man
4) Maybe I’m A Leo
5) Strange Kind Of Woman
6) Rapture Of The Deep
7) Woman From Tokyo
8) Contact Lost
9) When A Blind Man Cries
10) The Well Dressed Guitar

CD DISC TWO:

1) Knocking At Your Back Door
2) Lazy
3) No One Came
4) Don Airey Solo
5) Perfect Strangers
6) Space Truckin’
7) Smoke On The Water
8) Hush
9) Black Night

Official weblinks:






CANDICE NIGHT OF BLACKMORE’S NIGHT RELEASES DEBUT SOLO ALBUM, REFLECTIONS



New York, NY (October 27, 2011) — Candice Night, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, has stepped outside of Blackmore’s Night, the group she’s fronted for 15 years with Ritchie Blackmore, to release Reflections (Minstrel Hall Music).

This debut solo album, composed and arranged by Night, shows an artist secure in her vision, executing flawlessly a myriad of styles from powerful pop-rock balladry and irresistible whimsy, to rock’n’roll, symphonic post-folk and even a modernistic take on girl-group soulfulness (“Gone Gone Gone”). Between the constantly shifting soundscapes of haunting melodies and thought-provoking lyrics and the lush evocative musical bed upon which they lie, Reflections is revelatory. Night’s melodic inventions on this album are pristine, rooted in centuries-old folk strains that she has absorbed in a lifetime of listening and learning.

“Now And Then,” for instance, has the kind of vocal that stays with the listener long after the song ends. In a voice quivering … vulnerable … sensual, Night nails this tale that was originally intended for Blackmore’s Night. On “Dangerous Smile,” the guitars bespeak a rock’n’roll sensibility that has been ingrained within her yet now can take center-stage. The pumped-up percussion adds volumes…as does Candice’s lyric and attitude.

And we thought we knew Candice Night!

From the preternaturally pretty “Robin Red Breast,” which continues her career-long fascination with nature, to the Symphonic-Folk (do we have a new genre here?) of “For You,” Candice Night has delivered a career statement of startling proportions. The satisfyingly full production of single “Call It Love” earned her the #7 spot on the FMQB/AC Mainstream chart, nestled between Lady Gaga and Coldplay. She recently released a video for the totally haunting impossible-to-forget “Black Roses.”

Candice Night – international role model, a life-long advocate for numerous charitable causes, animal activist, superstar princess on the Renaissance Faire circuit, recent mom, and the ultimate Classic Rock muse in a career that has been impossible to define — adds yet another chapter to her long saga of female empowerment on Reflections.

Click here to view the “Black Roses” video:

Track Listing:

1.) Wind Is Calling (Hush The Wind)
2.) Gone Gone Gone
3.) Black Roses
4.) Now and Then (2011)
5.) Dangerous Smile
6.) For You
7.) Call It Love
8.) Robin Red Breast
9.) Alone With Fate
10.) In Time
For more information on Candice, please visit:
 or

 

PAUL RODGERS JOINS JOE BONAMASSA IN NEW YORK NOVEMBER 4th and 5th


Paul Rodgers will be Joe Bonamassa's special guest for his two shows at New York's Legendary Beacon Theatre this Friday, November 4 and Saturday November 5. 
Joe has requested that he sing two songs that Rodgers wrote and recorded with Free.
The shows will be recorded for a future DVD.
Bonamassa's last DVD "Live From the Royal Albert Hall" featured Eric Clapton.

Official weblinks:




Tuesday, November 1, 2011

News Update for Tuesday November 1st, 2011


Joe Elliott's 'Down 'n' Outz'
DVD "LIVE AT THE HAMMERSMITH ODEON"
available online


After initially offering Down 'n' Outz' first live DVD, "LIVE AT THE HAMMERSMITH ODEON" at merchandise boots during their recent UK tour, you can now order the disc online!

Shot at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo Hammersmith Odeon in London on October 6th 2009, when the band opened for the reunited Mott The Hoople, this Special Edition DVD was produced in strictly limited quantities (only 500), all of which numbered and personally signed by the entire band.
You can order the DVD from the Down 'n' Outz online store for 20 quid!

In addition to Joe Elliott (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboards), the band featured The Quireboys' Paul Guerin (Guitar), Guy Griffin (Guitar), Keith Weir (keyboards) and Phil Martini (drums) and finally bassist Ronnie Garrity (Raw Glory) - who has since been replaced by Snake.

The tracklisting is as follows:
1. Golden Opportunity
2. Overnight Angels
3. One More Chance To Run
4. Storm
5. Shouting And Pointing
6. Career (No Such Thing As Rock 'n' Roll)
7. Who Do You Love
8. By Tonight
9. England Rocks
10. Good Times

Bonus material includes footage from the Dave Kilner tribute show (featuring Def Leppard bass played Sav), three promo videos and a behind-the-scenes documentary.

Official website:





AXEL RUDI PELL TO ENTER THE STUDIO


New album "CIRCLE OF THE OATH" coming in March 2012 !
The Axel Rudi Pell band is proud to announce that singer Johnny Gioeli, drummer Mike Terrana , keyboard player Ferdy Doernberg , bass player Volker Krawzak and guitarist Axel Rudi Pell will enter the studio in late November with Engineer and Co-Producer Charlie Bauerfeind, to record the next studio album, titled
"Circle Of The Oath"
 
Axel Rudi Pell comments on this:
"I´m more than excited! I just finished the songwriting for all 10 songs including the compulsory intro and will concentrate on completing the lyrics in the next couple of days. This will be a hell of a record and you won´t be disappointed! It will have everything you expect from a true ARP record with all it´s magical moments and a few surprises...!"
 
"Circle Of The Oath" will be released through SPV/Steamhammer in late March 2012, followed by the first leg of the tour:



AXEL RUDI PELL Tour 2012


20.04. D-Hannover - Capitol
21.04. NL-Weert - De Bosuil
22.04. GB-London - Underworld
24.04. D-Langen - Neue Stadthalle Langen
25.04. D-Saarbrücken - Garage
27.04. D-Nürnberg - Hirsch
28.04. D-Kaufbeuren - All-Karthalle
29.04. CH-Pratteln - Z7
01.05. D-Erfurt - HsD
02.05. D-Berlin - Columbia Club
04.05. D-Bochum - Zeche
05.05. D-Bochum - Zeche
Ticket-Hotline Germany: METALTIX +49-(0)4627/183838, www.metaltix.de
Touragency: Continental Concerts
Official Website:




Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton and Ian Hill speaks online on 'The Chosen Few.'



The Judas Priest website has shared a couple of video's from You Tube, featuring mainman Rob Halford, guitarist Glenn Tipton and bassist Ian Hill.
In the two video's, the two original members discuss the latest, 'special' Judas Priest 'Best of ' that has just been released called 'The Chosen Few.'

It's a special album because the label asked name artist's to pick their favourite Judas Priest tracks of all time, those artists include: Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Slash, James Hetfield (Metallica) and more.

The video's can be seen right here:




The band is currently touring North America with Thin Lizzy and Black Label Society, to see where they are playing close to you, head over to the band's official website:




Peter Frampton will continue 'Frampton Comes Alive 35!' in 2012 ...

Yeah, I know, it'll be '36' NOT '35' next year, but what the heck, the guy is legendary, so let him roll with it I say! 
Yes, Peter Frampton will indeed be continuing his live dates in 2012, as the tour rolls on!
This posted over at www.Frampton.com

Back By Popular Demand!
Due to the success of the 2011 world tour celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive!, the tour has been extended into 2012.
New tour dates are being announced everyday, so please check out the Live section of the website for show listings. Artist Arena will be offering presales again next year.
So, make sure you go to http://peterframptonartistarena.com/ and see what they have available!

If you've never seen this guy's show live, go, he's great!
Once again, the site is:



Rock news briefs ... No, not underwear ..., come on people?!

Chickenfoot it seems have sold out their US 'Road Test' Tour dates!
I guess you could say it's hardly surprising, they weren't big gigs and there were only five US live dates after all!
Keep up with band's updates if not here then over here:



Geddy Lee tells Rolling Stone http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rushs-geddy-lee-says-new-album-will-be-ready-by-early-2012-20111028 - that the new Rush album will be out in Spring 2012!

“We’re almost finished writing. We wound the machine back up about three weeks ago. After a sluggish start, we’ve had a very fruitful couple of weeks in terms of writing,” he said. “I’m very pleased with the direction that the material has taken. And I think we have one or two more songs that we’d like to write, and then we'll start recording in earnest."
“Hopefully we’ll have all of the recording done before Christmas. Then we’ll mix it sometime in the next year, and then get it out.”

Rush official website: http://www.rush.com


AC/DC's Brian Johnson on the 'Highway to Help!'

Brian Johnson's Highway To Help

AC/DC singer Brian Johnson plans to raise $1,000,000 for pediatric cancer. Brian's new "Highway To Help" TEXT to Give Campaign will be raising money through texting and the internet.
During the 24 hours of the 50th running of the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona using the Rock stations and AC/DC Rocker and Roller, Brian Johnson, as he races in the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona January 28th, 330pm to January 29th, 3:30pm, 2012, Brian will be raising funds to provide services to families affected by pediatric cancer.

Brian will be in the following races:
Oct 27-30 Savannah
Nov 10-13 Daytona HSR
Dec 2-4 Sebring Bobby Rahal vintage race series
Jan 26-30 Daytona 24 hours
For more information, check out BrianJohnsonRacing.com

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Brief Note for Monday 31st October, 2011

Steve Harris Guitarist with UK rockers Shy passes away

Tony Mills left and Steve Harris on the right.
Photo from 'We love Shy, the legendary British rock band' on Facebook.


RIP Steve Harris, lead guitarist with melodic hard rockers Shy, you were a great talent and you will without doubt be missed.

I have to admit I did not follow Birmingham rockers, all the way ... I kind of lost touch with what was going on with them around 1987 / 88 and then heard all about lead vocalist Tony Mills leaving around the mid-90's but not much more.

I own the first three albums, 'Once Bitten ..., Twice ...,' 'Brave The Storm' - Which I really loved! - and 'Excess All Area's.'
I recall catching the band live twice back then and recall how strong Mill's voice was and was also very impressed by the bands guitarist, one Steve Harris.

I really know little about the guy and understand that he was perhaps, one of the more quiet guys, but really what do I know since the band released six albums, an EP, as well as live material too since those first three I bought and enjoyed.

There was no doubting the man's talent though, great input into the band, but how very tragic to learn that he died of a brain tumour, that he'd had since 2009. What a burden to live with. What a brave guy.
I lost a brother to a brain tumour who was just 49 years old and when he learned about it, it was too late and he only survived just under a month, after finding out.

Again, it's that wicked cancer that so many people are losing loved ones to, be it cancer to other body organs or in the form of a brian tumour. It's just so evil, sadly too in many cases people find out too late and have little time left.

Steve was clearly a fighter and managed to survive and actually hid his illness, for almost two years.
What strength to do so.

Over at the Shy website, this tribute has been posted:

“IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET AND SADNESS THAT WE HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THE PASSING OF OUR BELOVED STEVE HARRIS, GUITARIST AND CREATIVE GENIUS BEHIND SHY. STEVE WAS A VERY PRIVATE MAN AND HAD BATTLED A BRAIN TUMOUR SINCE JUNE 2009 AND ONLY THOSE CLOSEST TO THE FAMILY KNEW. A FULL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED SHORTLY, LOVE DEBBIE HARRIS AND SHY”


RIP Steve Harris, my thoughts and prayers go out to your family. Your talents will be missed.


Alice Cooper – Welcome 2 My Nightmare album review

Alice Cooper – Welcome 2 My Nightmare album review
Released through: Universal Music. Release date: Available now

Alice Cooper, what can I say that hasn’t been said about this guy and all that he's done and to be honest, that makes part of this review, of 'Welcome 2 My Nightmare' very easy … Thanks Alice for being such a star!
One thing I would add is that this year was believe it or not, the first time I got to see Alice live in the USA, after living here eleven years!
I have seen Alice before, back in the UK probably three or four times.
To be honest though, a big part of why I have not got along to see Alice here in the big ‘D’ – Detroit, a former home town for A.C. - is that he typically had been a fixture at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit, which was an all ages show, so fact of the matter is yeah, sure it’s Alice, but it was apparently always quite a tamed down show.
Ed's side note: Michigan's state fair was moved from Detroit to Lansing after 2009's show, which featured Survivor as the headline act, not Alice.
You'd think he could've got to close it, wouldn't you?!

That kind of show for me though, is just not Alice Cooper so to have finally got to see him this past summer, I have to say still being on form, was fantastic!

So to the new album, that he only played one song from at Pine Knob this summer, I really do love it!
Now it’s kind of funny because ‘Along Came a Spider,’ his last release, was good, but it was missing something.
‘Welcome 2 My Nightmare’ is meant to be part two of ‘Welcome To My Nightmare’ from 1975 and what is great here, is that Alice has called upon his classic partner in crime, producer, writer, keyboards and so much more in Bob Ezrin, not to mention original guitarist Steve Hunter, playing on most of the album along with many other guest musicians, including various old band mates from Coop's classic period showing up here and there.
Neal Smith, Dick Wagner, Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway and Kip Winger are there too! 

Opening with ‘I Am Made Of You,’ is quite a surprising starter, as with the vocal effect to Alice’s voice, it kind of throws you off as it doesn't sound like him, and then especially as it’s a slower ballad style track, but it builds up and has its most epic moments.
Besides Hunter on guitar it also features the much travelled Tommy Denander on guitar here too!

‘Caffeine’ next up is pure fun, but it rocks out too not to mention some cheesy ‘woo hoo hoo,’ vocals too! Entertaining!

It’s classic Alice for ‘The Nightmare Returns’ which comes across as a lead in / interlude for ‘A Runaway Train.’
I’ve got to tell you, I simply love the lyrics in ‘A Runaway Train,’ seriously great fun stuff and it’s actually co-written with Dennis Dunaway - with Alice and Ezrin - who longtime Alice fans will know co-wrote ‘I’m Eighteen’ and 'Schools Out,’ to name just two, but he played on so many Cooper albums, that he’s classic Cooper himself and he helps out on bass here too!
Vince Gill and Tommy Henriksen also jump in to help out on the track too.

Oh and the fun, tongue in cheek stuff continues with ‘Last Man on Earth,’ which is a big old show-time style number. Out comes the banjo!
‘The Congregation’ starts slow and then rips in, Alice then is almost phrasing the song a little like John Lennon …, weird! It’s an almost Gary Glitter meets Bon Jovi at times as well. It’s all so well done though, as is the whole album I must add.
Guess what? Rob Zombie even steps in as ‘The Guide’ for the fun spoken piece in the middle. Good one!

So to the one track and single that Alice played live this past summer next, ‘I’ll Bite Your Face Off …’
Do these titles come much subtler than that?! LOL!
It’s actually a great piece of kickin’ pop rock, but that adjustable wrench sound throughout, drives me nuts!

You know when Kiss did ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’ and ELO did ‘Shine a Little Love,’ I thought … No, not disco ...! And well ..., from Alice here, we get ‘Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever’ … I just laughed! It starts all disco, tongue in cheek and goes that way for around two thirds of the song and then wallop! Rock out guys! John 5 is on fire on guitar here!

‘Ghouls Gone Wild …??!’ I mean come on, what can I say?! Although, I will say that its great fun, kind of Ramones meets the Beach Boys!
  Classic stuff, love it!

Another old Cooper band member co-writes ‘Something To Remember Me By’ with Alice and it Dick Wagner.
It’s a big old ballad, pretty straightforward, yes, lovey dovey style and orchestra too!
Michael Bruce reunites with ‘The Coop’ to help co-write ‘When Hell Comes Home,’ and plays here too.
Sounds like some classic Coop here too, mid paced dramatic, perhaps a little dark in its rock.

The real shock of the album was that ‘The Coop’ was enlisting Ke$ha to sing on here and strangely enough it’s a grower.
Have to say I feel there’s more than an element of Jacko’s ‘Beat It’ about the track in places, BUT …, I could not tolerate a whole album of songs in this vein.

‘I Gotta Get Outa Here,’ is almost Americana meets the Travelling Wilbury’s in its style and Vince Gill is onboard here to, very poppy but it’s blends with the rest of the album with its complete diversity.

To close the album, we have ‘The Underture’ which captures many little moments of Alice’s classic past, with full orchestra, Steve Hunter, Dick Wagner, Tommy Henriksen and two guys that have been the rhythm section for most of the album Scott Williamson (Drums) and Jimmie Lee Sloas on bass and it really wraps the album up well in my book.
Nice one Alice and by now of course, you’ve already had the Top Thirty Billboard album, so welcome back Alice, you call it a nightmare, I call it nice work!

Rating: 4 out of 5
Official website:

Purchase link: