LOS ANGELES -- Styx is a tough act to follow, but Def Leppard was up to the challenge recently, when the two classic-rock icons teamed for well-received concert at the Forum, as both acts pushed one another before a capacity crowd of nearly 20,000 at one of the USA's most storied and prestigious arenas.
By the end of Styx's near-hour set culminating with "Come Sail Away," the audience was going absolutely crazy, and that's something you don't usually see for a support act, particularly in Los Angeles, where crowds are more apt to fold their arms.
The bands have been touring together for the summer -- in addition to third-billed Tesla, no slouch in its own right -- and this event was the acid test.
Opening with "Rock Rock Till You Drop" (aptly titled considering the members, now in their 50s, have been together together since the 1970s), Def Leppard showed straight away that the fivesome was taking things seriously.
No, Def Leppard is no over-the-hill gang simply looking to cash in with nostalgia. Everyone still has great chops, particularly Joe Elliott, who proved in fine voice through the proceedings. He sang loud and clear, everyone knew all the words to just about every song, and what a performance by guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell.
The crowd was jumping up and down for "Foolin'," while "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" proved a big crowd-pleaser, too. Bassist Rick Savage and drummer Rick Allen were holding down the rhythm section to such a hearty degree that we could feel the beat against our chests; Allen is especially inspirational, of course, because he has one arm, and the crowd showed a lot of adoration for him.
By the time Def Leppard got around to the closing "Pure Some Sugar on Me" and encores "Rock of Ages" and "Photograph," the crowd remained all theirs.
Definitely a triumphant night for the Brits.
Meantime, Styx absolutely kicked ass. It wasn't so long ago the group was headlining arenas in their own right -- including a three-night stint on the very same stage back in the day -- and now that singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw has adopted Los Angeles as his home town, the performance felt like a celebration.
"Grand Illusion" came first, and there aren't many classic-rock favorites that have a bigger hook. "Fooling Yourself" found Shaw getting the cougars up front all hot and bothered. "Miss America" saw James Young singing loud and proud, and the execution by all involved was spot-on.
Lawrence Gowan has a heck of a voice in his own right, so what you have with Styx is this: three excellent singers, crisp musicianship surpassed only perhaps by Rush in North America, plus songs that lodge themselves on your brain and refuse to leave for days.
Tesla was excellent, too. Jeff Keith sung his butt off, and among the most well-received selections were "Gettin' Better," "Hang Tough," "Signs" and the awesome "Modern Day Cowboy."
Story by Gerry Gittelson. Photos by Joe Schaeffer.
Legendary Irish guitarist Bernie Torme called into The GuitCast podcast to talk about his new album 'Blackheart', the current state of the music industry and just what happened to that 'Desperado' project with Twisted Sister's Dee Snider.
Torme, who's early career included stints with Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Ozzy Osbourne and Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), is assisted on 'Blackheart' by fellow musicians Chris Powell (Shark Island) on bass, Ian Harris on drums. Recorded in his home studio, the new album embraces the digital age of recording yet Torme cautions against paying too much attention to whats on the computer screen saying: "The prob is...in the past you could only hear things...visualization on screen has been incredibly problematic because people tend to lock in on problems that really have been on every record forever and no ones noticed."
Exploring new business models, Torme utilized pledgemusic.com campaigns to finance his last two albums. Torme states: "I thought initially it was a stop-gap but doesn't seem the business is in any way shape or form sorting itself out". While some established artists like Torme have found success using this method, he urges caution to those who might think it a cure all for the struggling music industry saying: "It's a new model that's been great for me. I would think it would be hard for a completely unknown".
Speaking on the excess of his 'Desperado' project with Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider, he recalls: "So, we recorded it, everyone is thinking 'great album'. A couple of tracks were played to the [at that time] CEO of Electra who said 'yeah, this is great"...a week later later he said "drop it". He continues: "That was at the height of the 80's, at that time every album had to cost an absolutely enormous amount of dollars or it wasn't a 'proper album'..."I think that album cost $400k or $450k." As to the work going into the album he states: "I think at the end we had about 85 songs, it was insane." 'Desperado' was ultimately released after an 8 year delay.
Concluding his record label experience he sums up with: "I've said it before & ill say it again, those people deserved Napster!"
For the full interview visit www.GuitCast.com. The GuitCast is a weekly podcast bringing you the latest news & gear reviews related to the guitar world along with interviews with the biggest names in guitar.
CHASTAIN has announced that it has just released its first video off the new 'We Bleed Metal' album which hits the streets November 6th. The video is for the track 'All Hail The King' and is basically a lyric video. Guitarist David T. Chastain states: "We wanted to get something out to the fans as soon as possible and this was the quickest way to do that. There is quite a bit of buzz on this new album and we are anxious to deliver it"
The CHASTAIN line up on 'We Bleed Metal' is Leather Leone- Vocals, David T. Chastain- Guitar, Stian Kristoffersen- Drums and Mike Skimmerhorn- Bass.
STRYPER vocalist MICHAEL SWEET and ELECTRIC BOYS singer CONNY BLOOM join Mitch on episode 160 of One On One with Mitch Lafon.
In our first interview, Stryper's Michael Sweet discusses the band's new album Fallen, his love for Van Halen, whether or not he regrets the band's Against The Law record, the choice of yellow and black, Slayer, a second Sweet & Lynch CD, progress on his new solo album and more.
Quotes from the interview:
On Van Halen: "I'm one of the biggest Van Halen fans going. I would love to get behind the board (of course co-producing with Eddie) and help them get back to their roots. I know they've got it in them."
More Van Halen: "I'm a fan of the first four albums. To me, those had the fire and had the passion and I just don't hear that on A Different Kind Of Truth. I just don't."
Capturing the classic Stryper sound: "When I started writing and thinking more along the lines of Stryper of old. I started getting this passion and this excitement level that I haven't had in years."
Stryper's Against The Law album: "It doesn't sound like classic Stryper to me."
Our second interview is with ELECTRIC BOYS frontman CONNY BLOOM - he talks about the band's Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride 25th Anniversary Tour, working with a new drummer, the recently released deluxe edition of the band's Starflight United album, his current solo album campaign on Pledge Music and more.
Quotes from the interview:
On a new Electric Boys album: "We've recorded some ideas, but there's no plan as to when we're going to record it."
On a new Conny Bloom solo album: "I'm in the process of mixing one and the fun thing - it's in Swedish. The songs are pretty cool. It's closer to Jimi Hendrix than modern Aerosmith."
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BLACK SABBATH TRIUMPHANTLY RETURN TO NORTH AMERICA DUE TO OVERWHELMING DEMAND, "THE END" TOUR EXTENDED INTO FALL 2016 WITH ADDITIONAL NORTH AMERICAN SHOWS
Due to overwhelming demand, the road to THE END just got longer.
On the heels of their much-anticipated performances in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, BLACK SABBATH will end the epic journey they began nearly five decades ago with another run of North American dates in fall 2016. These shows will follow a mix of summer headlining and festival performances throughout Europe.
The second run of North American dates kicks off August 17 at Jones Beach Amphitheater in New York and includes stops at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles (where the band last performed a sold-out show on their wildly successful 13 world tour in 2014), Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto, Detroit, and Dallas, among others, before wrapping September 21 at AK-Chin Pavilion in Phoenix, AZ.
The massive 2016 world tour by the greatest Metal Band of all time marks THE END for Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler as they close the final chapter in the final volume of the incredible BLACK SABBATH story with this tour. BLACK SABBATH'sTHE END farewell tour promises to surpass all previous tours and will feature the band's most mesmerizing production ever.
The most critically acclaimed album of the band's 32-year career sells over 10,000 copies in the first week in the US and lands at:
#2 on Top Hard Music Albums
#2 on Top Contemporary Christian Albums
#2 on Billboard's Top Christian/Gospel Albums
#5 on Top Current Rock Albums
#20 on Top Current Physical Albums
#26 on Top Current Albums
#29 on Top Current Digital Albums
#44 on the Billboard Top 200
With the October 16th release of their ninth studio album, Fallen, Stryper continues to dominate the hard rock/heavy metal scene. The Frontiers Music SRL release sold over 10,000 copies in the US during the first week of release landing at #2 on the Top Hard Music Albums chart, #2 on the Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart, #2 on Billboard's Top Christian/Gospel Albums, #5 on the Top Current Rock Albums chart, #20 on the Top Current Physical Albums chart, #26 on the Top Current Albums chart, #29 on the Top Current Digital Albums chart and #44 on the Billboard Top 200.
In addition, Fallen soared to #1 on the iTunes Top Metal Albums chart and #3 on the iTunes Top Rock Albums chart immediately upon release. Stryper's latest studio effort consists of 12 songs showcasing the musicianship that has garnered them a huge fan base in the mainstream world and Christian market for three full decades.
"We are truly blessed to still be making music 32 years into our careers, music that relates and speaks to our fans worldwide,' says frontman and album producer, Michael Sweet. 'We strive to outdo ourselves with each release and hopefully we've done that with Fallen. Here's to 32 more years!"
32 years after exploding onto the rock scene ' and MTV ' Stryper has delivered their most critically acclaimed release to date. The Associated Press recently decreed, "If this were 1986, this album would easily sell 2 million copies. But it's not, and that's a shame, because 2 million people need to hear how good this album is." Metal Onslaught Magazine recently raved in their first ever 10 out of 10 review, 'Like a fine wine Stryper have improved over time and have become legends in the metal genre,' and CCM Magazine declared, 'Arguably the most game-changing Christian rock band in history, Stryper continues to excel with a steady stream of new music that fits right alongside a ten million-album selling catalogue.'
Stryper is one of the top Christian rock bands of all time. Rocking since 1984, the band is responsible for such '80s metal classic albums as Soldiers Under Command, To Hell With The Devil and In God We Trust. In fact, Stryper is the first band to ever have two songs in MTV's Top 10 simultaneously with their hits 'Free' and 'Honestly.' After a sabbatical for much of the 1990's, Stryper returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the Dove Award-winning and Grammy nominated band has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
Unlike many of their counterparts, Stryper is comprised of all four original members with Michael Sweet on vocals and guitar, Oz Fox on guitar, Tim Gaines on bass and Robert Sweet on drums.
Rising from the ashes of Rockland County’s Fuel is the new four-piece, guitar-driven hard rock band known as Cruel Season. 2015 finds the group unveiling their debut full-length RISE on Dark Star Records/SONY. With these ten bristling tracks, drummer Roger Cohen (a Broadway and jazz veteran) brings his honed touring and studio chops to aggressive and symphonic heights. Guitarist and album producer Justin Jurman (Autumn Hour) blends deep textures with deft, muscular riffing. Vocalist Mike McManamon (The Noise Addiction) infuses raw honesty with grit-soaked melody. Bassist Doug Odell (Ted Poley, China Blue) anchors the proceedings with low-end pocket to spare.
RISE was mixed and mastered by Tim Gilles and Matt “Dasher” Messenger (S.O.D., Taking Back Sunday).
Some notable highlights: The track “Sordid” features guest vocals by actress Sally Struthers (All In The Family), and the band takes an adrenaline-fueled crack at the KISS classic “God of Thunder.”
RISE was released on October 16, 2015 and is available on CD at all major retailers (FYE, Best Buy, Amazon), as well as via digital stores and streaming subscription services (iTunes, Spotify, Rhapsody).
To celebrate, the band is hosting a listening party/live performance at the Nyack Village Theatre on Thursday, November 5, 2015. For more info, go to www.facebook.com/cruelseason.
Roxx Records in conjunction with Meis Music Group are preparing to bring you the first in a series of classic Intense Records reissues! We just launched a HUGE indie go go campaign to bring you new vinyl from Angelica (Band)Deliverance and Sacred Warrior! Check it out, and help us spread the word!
Legendary British classic rockers UFO released their latest studio album A Conspiracy of Stars earlier this year via SPV/Steamhammer. In support of the album the UFO will be returning to the states on tour. You can expect to hear new tracks and all of your UFO favorites. The tour begins March 2 in Akron, OH and wraps up March 26 in San Francisco, CA.
A Conspiracy of Stars is available in jewel case, vinyl blue colored double LP and download through SPV/Steamhammer. It is available on Amazon and iTunes.
Of course you don't need to attach more importance to this piece of news than it necessarily has, but it certainly deserves to be mentioned: for the first time in more than 20 years, one of the most British rock bands in music history has recorded a studio album in their native country. Their latest offering is entitled AConspiracy Of Stars, was cut by rock legend UFO and breathes that typically British easy-going confidence for which this band has been known for over 45 years. A strong release consisting of eleven songs which combine everything that the group surrounding frontman Phil Mogg stands for: meaty riffs, distinctive hooks, diverse songwriting, intelligent lyrics and that generally laid-back attitude which we have associated with UFO from the start. The fact that A Conspiracy Of Stars was produced and mixed by Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, among others) may be considered another successful element in a thoroughly consistent release. To cut a long story short: their 22nd studio recording to date sees UFO prove that past and present can be blended in a homogeneous whole.
UFO 2016 Tour:
3/2: Akron, OH @ The Tangier
3/3: Detroit, MI @ The Token Lounge
3/4: St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theater
3/7: Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
3/8: Sauget, IL @ Pop's
3/9: Kansas City, MO @ The Voodoo Lounge
3/11: Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey
3/12: San Antonio, TX @ Alamo City Music Hall
3/13: Houston, TX @ Concert Pub North
3/15: Denver, CO @ Buffalo Rose
3/18: Ramona, CA @ Ramona Mainstage
3/19: Corona, CA @ M15
3/20: San Juan Capistrano, CA @ The Coach House
3/21: Phoenix, AZ @ Joe's Grotto
3/23: Las Vegas, NV @ Count's Vamp'd
3/24: Agoura Hills, CA @ The Canyon
3/25: Los Angeles, CA @ The Whiskey
3/26: San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
UK Hitmakers Cutting Crew Release First New Album In Ten Years!
London, UK - CUTTING CREW has announced details of their first new material for ten years. The multi-million selling, Grammy nominated UK outfit fronted by Nick Van Eede were responsible for one of the biggest hits of the 1980s - with (I Just) Died In Your Arms and the band’s revelatory new album entitled Add To Favourites is their strongest to date and is OUT NOW on In Like Flynn Records, via Cherry Red Records.
A single from the album – the Jackson Browne/George Harrison-tinged Till The Money Run$ Out - was released on September 4th. With some glorious Californian harmonies Van Eede sings “Now you said that you like to play the field/And I should get over it/But when all of your games got to be revealed/I was the last to hear of it,”
It’s hardly surprising that (I Just) Died In Your Arms is seen assongwriter Nick Van Eede’s greatest achievement and yet this Pyrrhic victory surely masks Van Eede’s subsequent song-writing collaborations with artists including Mika, Pixie Lott, Marillion and Cher.
Add To Favourites, which features guitarists Gareth Moulton and Joolz Dunkley, bassist Nick Kay, keyboardist Jono Harrison, drummer Martyn Baker and the Blackjack Horns, is Van Eede’s “tip of the hat to artists I’ve always adored” from Otis Redding to Frank Zappa(!)>
The album also tackles weighty subjects such as relatives and friends gone too soon (Van Eede lost both his younger brother and his long-time Cutting Crew bedfellow Kevin MacMichael some time ago) on Looking For A Friend and the Berlin Wall on Berlin In Winter which Van Eede performed live in Berlin at the 25th Anniversary of The Wall’s demise last November.
Van Eede has revealed that he wrote “80% of the album under water” andthe album’s startling artwork featuring our protagonist emerging as a knight from a swimming pool is inspired by the fact that Van Eede is a supremely gifted swimmer and that several of his friends have suggested he would be able to swim a mile whilst wearing full body armour. A full UK tour due to take place above ground - is set to be announced in the next few weeks.
Track Listing:
1. TILL THE MONEY RUNS OUT
2. LOOKING FOR A FRIEND
3. BERLIN IN WINTER
4. KEPT ON LOVIN YOU
5. SAN FERIAN
6. ALREADY GONE
7. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE
8. BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE
9. ONLY FOR YOU
10. (SHE JUST HAPPENED TO BE) BEAUTIFUL
TheRighttoRock.com has issued their latest podcast interview (episode #1), featuring guitarist Marty Friedman. Marty took time out of his busy schedule to discuss his latest release Inferno, as well as, his first US tour in years. Interview lasts approx. 15 min
The lads sit down for a quick chat with the one and only Marty Friedman who's played with many great acts throughout his illustrious career including Cacophony, Megadeth, and Tourniquet - not to mention his own solo material. Since his move to Japan, he's become quite enamored of the culture, particularly the music scene where he's become quite the celebrity (the "Ryan Seacrest of Japan", as some have said). but let's let Marty do the talking.Be sure to check out Marty's latest solo album, Inferno, available from Prosthetic Records. And keep a lookout for his ongoing tour of the United States in a city near you.
NEONFLY - Brand new video for “Highways To Nowhere” released, European tour with Gamma Ray, plus added shows!!!
Mighty hard driving melodic metal rockers Neonfly are extremely excited to announce the release of their new single and video “Highways to Nowhere” on Monday October 19th! An instant favourite with crowds this summer on festival main stages across Europe, where Neonfly unveiled their new Aztec inspired stage set and show, which saw the band breathing fire on stage to the rhythm of their steely iron riffs, surrounded by awesome Aztec temple backdrops, risers, silk flame machines, and feathered Aztec warrior crowns.
The video captures the excitement of Neonfly’s thrilling performances and encapsulates where the band are today, musically and stylistically. A hugely entertaining combination of melody, metal, and dark intensity.
EXTRA SHOWS ANNOUNCED!
Neonfly have announced they are embarking on an 18 date European tour together with metal legends Gamma Ray in November and December 2015. Two extra German shows have now been added to their touring schedule: a headline show in Hamburg, and a show in Hanover supporting long-time friends and metal heroes, Freedom Call.
Dates are as follows, all shows with Gamma Ray unless otherwise stated:
NOVEMBER
13 - Pamplona - Sala Totem (ES)
14 - Santiago de Compostela - Capitol (ES)
15 - Porto - Hard Club (PT)
17 - Lisboa - Paradise Garage (PT)
18 - Sevilla - Sala Custom (ES)
20 - Murcia - Sala Gamma (ES)
21 - Madrid - San Miguel (ES)
22 - Barcelona - Razz 1 (ES)
24 - Lyon - Ninkasi Kao (FR)
25 - Pratteln - Z7 (CH)
27 - Memmingen - Kaminwerk (DE)
DECEMBER
02 Hamburg Rock Café (DE) *Neonfly y headline show
03 Hanover Lux (DE) **Neonfly supporting g Freedom Call
04 - Aschaffenburg - Colos-Saal (DE)
05 - Paris - Trabendo (FR)
06 - Vosselaar - Biebob (BE)
08 - London - O2 Academy Islington (UK)
09 - Tilburg - 013 (NL)
11 - Göteborg - Musikens Hus (SE)
12 - Stockholm - Klubben (SE)
San Diego-based metallists CAGE are set to return on October 30th, with the release of their latest metallic tour de force, ‘Ancient Evil’ (via SMG Records), and a little more than a week later, the band will be hitting the northeast of the U.S.
Comprised of Sean “The Hell Destroyer” Peck (vocals), Dave “Conan” Garcia (guitars), Casey “The Sentinel” Trask (guitars), Alex Pickard (bass guitar), and Sean “The Thrash Machine” Elg (drums), Cage's November tour kicks off on the 11th in Williamsburg, NY, and will wrap up on 19th in Patchogue, NY.
"Finally we are getting back to the east coast," explains Peck. "It has been long over due. I can't wait to unleash the new material with this new line up which I feel is by far our strongest yet! Power metal freaks mark the date!! It will be great to see all of our friends and fans again out there. The last tour we had on the east coast was mayhem! I expect it to be even crazier this time! We have prepared an extended set infused with speed and screams from beyond the realm of human comprehension!! Metal!!!"
For a taster of 'Ancient Evil,' check out the lyric video for the killer composition, "The Procedure,” which can be viewed here: youtube.com/watch?v=_e119tZud1w
Based on a horror novel written by lead singer Sean Peck, ‘Ancient Evil’ continues the legacy of Cage as a heavy metal innovator. This nearly 80-minute monstrosity has 19 tracks that combine songs and narrated interludes to forge a unique musical journey that rocks!
Tour Dates:
11/11/15 Williamsburg NY Duff's Brooklyn ***
11/12/15 Clifton NJ Dingbatz
11/13/15 Allentown PA Jabber Jaws
11/14/15 Elmhurst NY Blackthorn
11/15/15 New Castle DE JB McGinnes Pub
11/16/15 New York NY Three Of Cups ***
11/17/15 Lidenhurst NY Lindenhurst Village Pub ***
11/18/15 Providence RI Firehouse 13
11/19/15 Patchogue NY 89 North Music Venue
*** Meet & Greet only - no band performance.
‘Ancient Evil’ Tracklisting:
1) There Were Others
2) Ancient Evil
3) Behind the Walls of Newgate
4) The Procedure
5) The Appetite
6) Cassandra
7) Blinded by Rage
8) Tell Me Everything
9) The Expedition
10) Beholder
11) I Have Awakened
12) Across The Sea of Madness
13) To Save Love
14) Christ Protect Me
15) Sinister Six
16) Symphony of Sin
17) The Antidote
18) Tomorrow Never Came
19) It Can´t Be
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
cageheavymetal.com
facebook.com/cageofficial
twitter.com/cageheavymetal
swedenmusicgroup.com
facebook.com/swedenmusicgroup
JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford and singer Robert Fleischman join Mitch on episode 161 of One On One with Mitch Lafon.
In our first interview, The Metal God Rob Halford talks about ego, does the band need to make a new album, is K.K. Downing persona non grata, the Turbo album, will there be a KISS - Judas Priest 2016 co-headline tour, and more.
Quotes from the interview:
"I can be quite challenging when things aren't going the way I think they should go."
"We've had no communication with K.K. since he's retired."
"I do all my venting on stage."
Follow Mitch Lafon on Twitter: @mitchlafon
One on One With Mitch Lafon's Official Twitter is: @1On1WithMitch
And Official Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/OneOnOneMitchLafon
"Come and Get It" is the 6th album from power house Tragik and the first time cooperating with Rock Company. Combining massive hooks, multilayered vocals, heavy guitars, atmospheric keyboards, thunderous bass and drums, and pristine production values, this release fires on all cylinders. From the Foreigner-esque opener "Where Would I Be...?" to heavy rocker "Fallen Angel" to the Journey meets Boston rock of "You Are the One", get ready for a melodic onslaught second to none.
This album has it all, metal, hard rock, melodic power ballad, and anything else associated with high quality music. Vocalist, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, and drummer Phil Vincent has a knack for writing melodic hooks. His time with rockers Legion proved that. Aided by guitarist Damian D'Ercole and guest guitarists Peter Cox , Vince O'Regan and Michael J. Sprague, "Come and Get It" rocks you to the very core. 12 minute opus "Rescue Me/Rise to the Sun" shows Tragik's prog-rock tendencies and really is a masterpiece. The metal slam of "Can't Slow Down" blasts through your speakers with rough abandon, the Paul McCartney drenched "When the Darkness Falls", the Dokken meets Winger rock of "Someone's Gonna Hurt You Tonight", and the flat out class of "Smokin' Gun" will leave you breathless.
RELEASED BY FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL
FRIDAY 19th FEBRUARY 2016
Frontiers Music Srl are pleased to announce the debut album from Britain’s highly anticipated and freshest new Hard Rock band INGLORIOUS. The self-titled, 11-track album will be released on Friday 19th February 2016.
Pre-orders for INGLORIOUS' self-titled debut album can be placed on both Amazon and iTunes. All digital pre-orders include an instant download of "Breakaway", with more tracks being made available for download with pre-orders in the coming weeks and months leading up to release.
Inglorious are five young men with a mutual love and respect of the classics of Hard Rock music, big guitar riffs, and soulful vocals. Their influences stem from iconic rock and roll shrine of Rock albums from the 1970s – many years before the band members were born.
Photo Credit: Nedim Nazerali
The same albums that have inspired generations of musicians and performers are noticeably evident when you listen to the Inglorious debut album. This is the music they were born to play together - inspired by bands in the classic rock genre as diverse as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Whitesnake, Bad Company, Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, to name a few.
Formed in February 2014, the band is fronted by Nathan James, who made a name for himself having sung for the multi-platinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Scorpions guitar legend Uli Jon Roth. Nathan was looking for like-minded musicians that desired to make incredible rock music in a very honest fashion.
Nathan thought to himself, “Why are those classic albums so awesome?” He realised it was because “the musicians were recording in an organic way; they could track it live and capture amazing energy.”
“Not only in rock but in Motown and even classical music they tracked everyone in the room at the same time,” adds Nathan. “The air movement from a bass drum, that same excitement you get when you perform, and that's exactly how I wanted the album to feel."
Nathan wanted all his fellow musicians in the room at the same time, no click tracks, no auto tune and no overdubs. He wasn't willing to compromise. Says Nathan - "For so long people have been hiding mistakes, singers using auto tune to make them sound perfect, double tracking to make it sound bigger and using click to play in time. There is none of that on this album.
This record is about vibe, feeling, excitement, energy and performance of songs we all wrote together. That's how it came out that day and it will never be exactly the same again. We captured a series of moments that make up our debut album."
Photo Credit: Nedim Nazerali
Inglorious is composed of rhythm guitarist Wil Taylor, lead guitarist Andreas Eriksson, bassist Colin Parkinson, and drummer Phil Beaver. Wil, from the Northeast of England, is the youngest member of the band whose heroes include Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge), Joe Satriani and Steve Lukather (Toto).
Colin and Phil both hail from Somerset, and have played together in bands for 17 years (at one point, both were signed to Mick Fleetwood’s label while Phil was still at school). Phil's Bonham-like groove, great snare work and exciting fills, combined with Wil's solid bluesy rhythm playing and Colin's fat, gritty bass sound, make for a formidable rhythm section.
Photo Credit: Nedim Nazerali
Andreas was the final piece of the puzzle - a lead guitar player that shared all the same influences, could command a stage and was able to track the whole album the way Nathan wanted. Guitarist Andreas Eriksson played in bands from his home country of Sweden for many years, and has taken influences from all the greats, making him one of the most musically well rounded guitar players in the contemporary rock scene. His bluesy, melodic, soulful playing compliments Nathan’s soaring vocals. The pair is 2016’s version of the Toxic Twins.
The musicians instantly jelled, both musically and as friends. They recorded the album over the period of one month in Buckinghamshire. "In the day we were writing and recording in the live room. At night we would inflate our air beds and sleep in the same room we had been making music and sweating in all day, I even used my Marshall stack as a headboard," Wil recalls.
Photo Credit: Nedim Nazerali
Andreas flew back and forth from Sweden during the recording process. Says Andreas - “For me it was such a special experience because I was in a foreign country with guys I hardly knew, recording songs I had only learnt two weeks prior. It was so challenging doing it the way we did but it was the most awesome time."
The whole band wrote the album with a few guest writers including Al Pitrelli (Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Joel Hoekstra (Night Ranger, Whitesnake) and Neil Fairclough (Queen).
After meeting with a few producers, Inglorious decided to produce the album themselves. Chris Kimsey, who has worked with The Who and the Rolling Stones, said "There is nothing for me to do, you guys are doing what I would tell you to do already." High praise, indeed.
Queen - A Night At The Odeon, Live At Hammersmith ’75
The First Tour Bohemian Rhapsody Was Ever Performed On
Super Deluxe Box Set, CD (Hollywood Records), DVD & Blu-Ray (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
for release on November 20
Bohemian Rhapsody To Be Released on 12 inch For The First Time Ever
With Original B-side November 27th 2015
Queen honored At The Q Awards
With Bohemian Rhapsody collecting the Classic Single Award
New York, NY (October 20, 2015)-- ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was the song that changed everything, a song that resonates through time, a special moment in music history that has yet to be repeated. At The Q Awards yesterday, Queen were presented with the Classic Single Award, marking the 40th anniversary of song which was originally released on October 31, 1975.
To mark the occasion for the first time ever, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ will be released on 12 inch Black vinyl with the original B-side ‘I’m In Love With My Car’ on November 27, 2015. Alongside this, Queen, A Night At The Odeon, Live At Hammersmith ’75, is set for release on CD (Hollywood Records), DVD & Blu-Ray (Eagle Rock Entertainment). This show was a culmination of the 26-date ‘Queen Invite You To A Night At The Opera’ UK tour and the first tour that they had ever performed Bohemian Rhapsody on.
The CD, DVD & Blu-Ray package features the band’s full live show, complete with a never heard before ‘second encore’ of ‘Seven Seas Of Rhye’ and ‘See What A Fool I've Been’. The DVD and SD Blu-Ray versions also contain two special bonus features – 'Looking Back At The Odeon’, a brand new 22-minute documentary featuring a previously unseen interview with Brian May and Roger Taylor by Old Grey Whistle Test presenter Bob Harris about the 1975 Hammersmith Odeon show, plus the rarely seen Live At The Budokan – Japan 1975 footage, featuring three songs (Now I'm Here, Killer Queen and In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited) recorded during their legendary tour of the Far East.
Spirits were high within the band for this show; ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ - universally hailed as one of the most ground-breaking ‘pop’ songs ever released – was in the middle of its record-breaking nine week run at Number One in the UK charts. Their fourth album, A Night At The Opera (the most expensive record ever made to that point) was climbing the album charts on its way to No 1, which it achieved three days after this concert.
With over 6.5 million copies sold worldwide, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is one of the world’s most well known and well loved songs. To this day, it continues to top ‘favorite song’ opinion polls and be discovered by new generations of music fans over and over again. Freddie wrote the whole song – including the composite harmonies – on telephone books and scraps of paper.
Brian May recalled recording ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’; “That was a great moment, but the biggest thrill for us was actually creating the music in the first place. I remember Freddie coming in with loads of bits of paper from his dad's work, like Post-it notes, and pounding on the piano. He played the piano like most people play the drums. And this song he had was full of gaps where he explained that something operatic would happen here and so on. He'd worked out the harmonies in his head."
Queen spent days overdubbing the vocals in the studio using a 24 track tape machine. By the time they were done, about 120 vocal tracks were layered together. The opera parts alone took longer than 70 hours to complete. At the time, it was the most expensive single ever made and upon presenting it to their record label, they were told by various executives that 5 minutes 55 seconds was too long and the song would never be a hit. But after the song was played by DJ and friend of Freddie, Kenny Everett, 14 times in two days before its official release, the song was only ever destined to be a hit. Hordes of fans attempted to buy the single only to be told by record stores that it had not yet been released. Over in the US, it was the same. American radio RKO managed to get a copy of the tape and started to play it in across their network, which forced the hand of Queen's US label to release the song in its entirety.
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was Queen's first ever number 1 single and the 1975 UK Christmas number one, holding the top position for nine weeks. It is the first song ever to get to number one in the UK twice with the same version, and is also the only single to have been Christmas number one twice with the same version. The second was upon its re-release (as a double A-side single with ‘These Are the Days of Our Lives’) in 1991 following Mercury's death, staying at number one for five weeks, eventually becoming the UK's third best-selling single of all time.
The single has sold in excess of 6.5 million copies worldwide and has been covered by everyone from Kayne West during his 2015 controversial Glastonbury headline slot, Axl Rose, Elton John and Pink to The Flaming Lips and Elaine Paige and forever immortalized again by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey in the smash hit 90’s film, Wayne’s World.
Queen - A Night At The Odeon, Live At Hammersmith ’75 released November 20th
12-inch Black Vinyl Version released November 27th
Full Tracklisting (CD/Vinyl/Digital)
1. Now I'm Here
2. Ogre Battle
3. White Queen (As It Began)
4. Bohemian Rhapsody
5. Killer Queen
6. The March Of The Black Queen
7. Bohemian Rhapsody (Reprise)
8. Bring Back That Leroy Brown
9. Brighton Rock
10. Guitar Solo
11. Son And Daughter
12. Keep Yourself Alive
13. Liar
14. In The Lap Of The Gods... Revisited
15. Big Spender
16. Jailhouse Rock Medley
17. Seven Seas Of Rhye
18. See What A Fool I've Been
19. God Save The Queen
*DVD and SD Blu-ray formats do not include Seven Seas Of Rhye or See What A Fool I've Been.
Lions Pride Music is excited to be releasing Moonshine’s debut album in Europe, featuring none other than Derek Davis of Babylon A.D. fame, on vocals.
Moonshine is set, with their debut album, to bring back southern rock with a high octane level to inhale. The album is available for 13 USD including shipping and handling. For ordering send the payment to info@lionspridemusic.com through paypal.
Lynam, the rock band from Birmingham, AL,will release its new EP entitled “BOMBSHELL” October 30th via New Ocean Media. The EP was produced by Jacob Bunton and Lonny Paul and mixed by Jason Elgin (Collective Soul, Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster, Terrible Things). The EP features five new songs. Yahoo is premiering the new single “Send You Back” today at this location: http://tinyurl.com/o2rvvg6
“This album is different than anything we’ve ever done”, states front man Jacob Bunton. The EP leans heavy on the pop side, but still has a definite hard rock edge. We were listening to a lot of Joan Jett, Duran Duran, Prince, and Hanoi Rocks while making the EP, so the songs definitely have a fun element to them.”
Lynam consists of Jacob Bunton (lead vocals, guitar), David Lynam (drums), Mark Dzier (Bass), and Lonny Paul (guitar).
Bombshelltrack listing:
01. Bombshell
02. Flick My Switch
03. Send You Back
04. Worst In Me
05. What’s Left?
In 2006, LYNAM released the critically acclaimed album Slave To The Machine (DRT/Universal Records. That album spawned the #1 Active Rock Independent single “Tanis”. The follow-up CD, "Tragic City Symphony", was released in 2008 on Megaforce/Mascot Records and featured the radio singles "Save My Soul", "Lindsay Says" and "Porn Star". All three singles reached the Top 10 on the Active Rock independent chart, with "Save My Soul" reaching Top 5. A live album entitled "Thank You Goodnight!" was released November 2010 through Island Def Jam/New Ocean Media. Shortly after the release of "Thank You Goodnight!", frontman Jacob Bunton and guitarist Lonny Paul joined up with former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler to form the band ADLER and bassist Mark Dzier filmed the movie Rock Of Ages as part of the fictitious band Arsenal led by Tom Cruise.
The Greek heavy metal band DIVINER just released a lyric video for the track "Come Into My Glory" online. Their debut album "Fallen Empires" will be released on November 20th in Europe and North America on CD, LP and digital through Ulterium Records. The vinyl edition of "Fallen Empires" is strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide.
"Fallen Empires" is a very strong heavy metal album that keeps the legacy from the genre but at the same time sounds new and inspired. Perfect for fans of bands like Accept, Dio, Judas Priest and Iced Earth! Mastered by Peter In de Betou [Arch Enemy, Opeth, Amon Amarth].
"Fallen Empires" track listing
01. Fallen Empires
02. Kingdom Come
03. Evilizer
04. Riders From The East
05. The Legend Goes On
06. Come Into My Glory
07. Seven Gates
08. The Shadow And The Dark
09. Sacred War
10. Out In The Abyss
