OZZY OSBOURNE CANCELS AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND JAPAN "NO MORE TOURS 2" DATES AS HE RECOVERS FROM PNEUMONIA
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter OZZY OSBOURNE has announced that he will now cancel shows in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. This follows news of the postponement of the entire UK and European leg of his "NO MORE TOURS 2" tour on doctors' orders.
"Ozzy recently developed pneumonia and has spent some time in hospital. Thankfully he is now through the worst part," says Sharon Osbourne. "His doctors have advised that he stay at home to recuperate for a full six weeks with no travel."
Heavy Pettin' first stirred into action when vocalist Hamie, guitarists Gordon Bonnar and Punky Mendoza, drummer Gary Moat and bassist Brian Waugh first burst out of Glasgow in 1981. They were vibrant, priapic, anthemic and focused. As they showed on a three-track demo, and on the subsequent debut single for independent label Neat (‘Roll The Dice’/’Love Xs Love’), they were more than mere Def Leppard slaves. In fact, the Pettin’ had an international sound that owed something to AC/DC, UFO, Thin Lizzy and Foreigner, but also had its own raging momentum.
Not that the band found the road straightforward. But, thanks to a work ethic that took them around the country, plus a valuable session for Radio 1’s prestigious ‘Friday Rock Show’, the band eventually landed a crucial deal with the major label Polydor Records. Moreover, their 1983 debut album (‘Lettin’ Loose’) was co-produced by the creative Mack together with Queen guitarist Brian May. Now, that’s pedigree.
Amazingly, that album has survived more than 20 years of high-speed hi-tech developments intact. While other, more celebrated records have dated badly, ‘Lettin’ Loose’ re-affirms the belief back then that the Pettin would follow Leppard to big time stature. What went wrong at the time has little to do with band, or lack of ambition/talent.
In America, where they should have broken big long before Bon Jovi gave Love A Bad Name, they were held back by the label’s insistence on an anaemic re-mix (as well as a title change to ‘Heavy Pettin’, which caused more confusion than anything else). If the band’s essential, vital British brio had been left as conceived in the first place, who knows what might have been achieved. Still, a slot on the bill for the 1983 Reading Festival, the day that Black Sabbath infamously headlined when fronted by Ian Gillan, did them no harm and touring with both Kiss and Ozzy helped the quintet’s progress.
Two years later, the Pettin return to the studio, this time with producer Mark Dearnley (who’d worked with AC/DC and Krokus). The result? ‘Rock Ain’t Dead’, which surprised many with a slicker yet conversely tougher approach. The lads really had progressed, although ironically if things had gone to plan, this would have been produced by Lance Quinn, of Bon Jovi and Lita Ford fame. However, just hours before the band were due to fly to Philadelphia, to work with Quinn at his Warehouse Studios, the decision was taken by PolyGram (to whom both Heavy Pettin and Bon Jovi were signed in the US) that, instead, he should start work immediately on what was to be Jovi’s second record, ‘7800 Degrees Fahrenheit’.
Perhaps then, it should have been obvious that record company politics were to scupper Pettin in the crucial American market. Despite continuing to show up well in the UK, once again the US was to prove elusive – through no fault of the five musicians. In many respects, this was the point when the writing was scrawled over every available wall space. Regardless of their obvious determination and grassroots support in Britain, it seemed as if Pettin’s realistic chance of significant international success had gone. A third album, ‘The Big Bang’, was released by FM Revolver in 1989. Although it still proved this lot were way ahead of so many others who were selling truckloads of units and getting acclaim from the media; as the 1980s faded into memory, so too did Heavy Pettin.
Driven by a desire, a passion and a capacity simply to invoke the magic and rapport the band enjoyed, they released Prodigal Songs in 2007. The album was well received by their loyal fans and the limited pressing sold out making it a highly sought-after collector’s item.
In 2017, original members Hamie, Punky, and Gordon joined by Jez Parry on bass and Michael Ivory on drums performed for the first time in 25 years at Scotland’s WinterStorm. Reinvigorated, Heavy Pettin, now joined by ex-Gun guitarist Dave Aitken due to Punky hanging up his guitar and going in to retirement, did several shows in 2018 including a 6 date UK tour, with 3 sold out gigs in Nottingham, London and Edinburgh, as well as 2 sold out headline gigs in Milton Keynes and Glasgow.
2019 is going to be Heavy Pettin’s year with the HRH AOR March 16, Headbangers Open Air in Germany in July 27th and Aug 25th Golden Age of Rock Festival in Belgium already booked and more dates to be announced.
According to Hamie, fans should look for a new album as “…the demand and support for new HP material has been so overwhelming, we are excited to say we’re now working on brand new HP material which will be released in 2019… and it’s going great!"
Heavy Pettin’ Dates Confirmed 2019:
MAR 16 - Hard Rock Hell - AOR, Camp HRH, North Wales
MAR 30 - Bannermans Rock Bar, Edinburgh, Scotland
MAR 31 - Trillians Newcastle, England w/ Spartan Warrior
JUL 27 - Headbangers Open Air Festival, Brande-Hӧmerkirchen, Germany
AUG 25 - Golden Age Rock Festival, Liège, Belgium
AUG 30 - Crauford Arms Music Venue, Milton Keynes, England w / Tytan
As already implied, CORNERSTONE is going to tour the United Kingdom again - for the tenth time meanwhile! The highlight will be be for sure the CAMBRIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL, one of the traditional English Open Airs, where acts like THE ANIMALS, STARSHIP or BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST appeared over the years. Cornerstone already performed there in 2013 and is really looking forward to come back in summer! Headliners for this years edition will be announced in the next few days, for more information please check out the Cambridge Rock website.
Fresh off celebrating their 40th anniversary, rock legends Whitesnake return with their latest studio album, “Flesh & Blood”. This album follows the 2011 critically acclaimed studio album “Forevermore” and 2015’s “The Purple Album”, a reimagining of Deep Purple classics from Whitesnake mastermind’s David Coverdale’s time in that band. The 13 original, visceral tracks on “Flesh & Blood”, the band’s 13th studio album, are, luckily for you dear reader, “all killer, no filler”, as the saying goes.
But would you expect anything less from the ’Snakes?
David Coverdale, the mastermind behind Whitesnake & co-composer of 'Shut Up & Kiss Me' with guitarist Reb Beach, commenting on the forthcoming release said "that after the intense darkness of our last video BURN If anything, it’s ‘light’ snake, you know? We’ve got some really dark energy going on in the world right now, so we’re gonna write & record a fun, knees up, song about falling in love with a fabulous babe. You’re over-talking, over-compensating & she just looks at you, takes the reins & says, 'Shut Up and Kiss Me!' and that’s it!! My video director and creative partner Tyler Bourns and I discussed a great storyline for the video, which involves a surprise guest: my fabulous old white Jaguar. We ended up cleaning and detailing it, as it has been in storage since I moved to Lake Tahoe, then we dusted off my old turquoise silk jacket from the original ‘Here I Go Again’ video and I was thinking, "man, this is going to be fun!" It’s a respectful acknowledgment and positive nod to the past, just fun stuff.”
Joining Coverdale on Flesh & Blood is the powerhouse band comprised of Reb Beach and Joel Hoekstra on guitar, Michael Devin on bass, Tommy Aldridge on drums, and Michele Luppi on keyboards.
The current incarnation of the band carries on the long and unwavering tradition of main man David Coverdale being surrounded by cream of the crop players who go all in to bring fans the best hard rock humanly possible. 40+ years into their existence, the ‘Snakes fangs have only grown sharper and are ready to inject fans with more of that rock ‘n roll venom they crave.
“Flesh & Blood” will be released via Frontiers Music Srl in multiple formats. See below for full details.
+CD (Jewel Case)
+CD+DVD Deluxe Edition (Digipak) - Includes two studio bonus tracks on CD. DVD includes "Shut Up & Kiss Me" (classic jag version) (VIDEOCLIP), "Shut Up & Kiss Me" (club mix version) (VIDEOCLIP), Behind the Scenes of 'Flesh & Blood' VIDEO + 3 DVD Audio Tracks (Remixes of album tracks)
+Super Luxury Boxset - Includes CD+DVD Deluxe Edition, 2xLP Standard Color LP, Poster, Numbered Lithograph, Box Set
+2xLP - Black, 180g, Gatefold (Worldwide)
+2xLP - Silver, 180g, Gatefold (Frontiers' U.S. Store Exclusive) - Limited to 300 Copies
+2xLP - Gold, 180g, Gatefold (Whitesnake UK Store Exclusive) - Limited to 500 Copies
+2xLP - Red, 180g, Gatefold (Frontiers' EU Store Exclusive)
Tracklist CD / 2xLP:
1. Good To See You Again
2. Gonna Be Alright
3. Shut Up & Kiss Me
4. Hey You (You Make Me Rock)
5. Always & Forever
6. When I Think Of You (Color Me Blue)
7. Trouble Is Your Middle Name
8. Flesh & Blood
9. Well I Never
10. Heart Of Stone
11. Get Up
12. After All
13. Sands Of Time
Bonus Tracks Appearing on CD+DVD Deluxe Edition and Digital Version:
14. Can’t Do Right For Doing Wrong (Bonus Track - New Studio Song)
15. If I Can’t Have You (Bonus Track - New Studio Song)
16. Gonna Be Alright (X-Tendo Mix) - DVD Audio Track
17. Sands Of Time (Radio Mix) - DVD Audio Track
18. Shut Up And Kiss Me (Video Mix) - DVD Audio Track
“Winds Of Change” is the long-awaited follow-up to Jim Peterik’s now legendary “Jim Peterik’s World Stage” album. Set for release on April 26, 2019, “Winds of Change”, is another musical masterpiece featuring brand new Peterik songs in collaboration with a who’s who of melodic rock’s greatest superstars, including Kevin Chalfant (ex-The Storm), Dennis DeYoung (ex-Styx), Matthew and Gunnar Nelson Band, Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Lars Safsund and Robert Sall (Work of Art), Toby Hitchcock (Pride Of Lions), Danny Vaughn (Tyketto), Mike Reno (Loverboy), Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Jason Scheff (ex-Chicago), and a very special previously unreleased track by the late, great Jimi Jamison.
“Since the success of my first World Stage album back in 2001 and countless shows since, I have wanted to create a new musical legacy with this format,” says Jim. "Listening to voices blending as one has always inspired me, going back to the Beatles and other great vocal groups. I have always considered myself as much a fan of great bands and artists as I am an artist myself, so a project like World Stage is a dream come true since I get to pay homage to those whose music I love, by writing and performing with them. With "Winds Of Change" I was honored to work with some of the best, adapting my writing and production styles to fit a particular act. Many of the songs were actually co- written with the artists appearing too.”
Jim Peterik and World Stage arose from the initial idea that the musical and spiritual collaboration of great artists and friends could be something truly special. The resulting album clearly displays the many talents of Jim Peterik, enhanced and embellished by a cast of noted singers and musicians.
"Mike Reno: I would always watch from the wings back in the 80’s when Survivor played dates with Loverboy. I’d see the crowd go nuts when they hit "Working For The Weekend", so that’s the vibe Mike and I tried to recreate with "Without A Bullet Being Fired", say Peterik.
He continues, "I am still pinching myself that I am now writing songs with Dennis DeYoung for his new album. "Proof of Heaven" is one of my proudest moments. Same inspiration was behind the title track "Winds Of Change" with Don Barnes and Danny Chauncey (.38 Special). Kelly Keagy and Kevin Chalfant and I had a blast capturing the energy of Night Ranger and The Storm’s hits with "I Will What I Want" and "Sometimes You Just Want More" respectively. And of course "Just For You" with the great Kevin Cronin is a very special moment for me. When I watched Danny Vaughn perform at Frontiers Festival a few years back, I immediately started planning to make him a part of World Stage. "The Hand I Was Dealt" is the result, which we co-wrote. "Home Fires" with the incredible Toby Hitchcock is a song I think any fan of Pride Of Lions will take to heart. And I have created new friendships with Work Of Art and Jason Scheff because of this record.”
"I am a rabid fan of every artist on the album and it was such a thrill to try and bring out their best essence, but for me the most touching moment of this record is reviving an amazing lost track by the late great Jimi Jamison. As I mixed the new version, it was again like having Jimi in the studio with me as his stunning voice came through the monitors. There was not a dry eye in the room. With "Love You All Over The World", his spirit is still with us all," adds Peterik.
In conclusion, Peterik says, "World Stage, which I created soon after I parted ways with Survivor back in 1996, was my way of bringing together the melodic rock community. Setting aside any competition between us to create great melodic rock for the audience that craves it. Since then, every World Stage show has been a total love fest with each show featuring an ever changing array of great artists.”
"Winds Of Change" certainly carries on that tradition and shows are in the planning stages that will reflect the line-up of this record.
Jim Peterik, through the years, has written or co-written some of rock's most memorable songs: "Vehicle" by the The Ides Of March (on which he was lead vocalist), "Eye Of The Tiger," "The Search Is Over," "High On You," and "I Can't Hold Back”, hits for .38 Special such as "Hold On Loosely," "Caught Up In You," "Fantasy Girl," and "Rockin' Into The Night", "Heavy Metal" with Sammy Hagar, and many many more. Peterik, now a part of Pride of Lions with vocalist Toby Hitchcock, is one of the most esteemed and loved recording artists and songwriters, not only on the Frontiers label, but in the larger melodic rock community.
Tracklist:
1. Winds Of Change (featuring Danny Chauncey and Don Barnes of .38 Special)
2. Without A Bullet Being Fired (featuring Mike Reno of Loverboy)
3. Proof Of Heaven (featuring Dennis DeYoung)
4. Sometimes You Just Want More (featuring Kevin Chalfant)
5. Home Fires (featuring Toby Hitchcock of Pride of Lions)
6. Just For You (featuring Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon)
7. The Hand I Was Dealt (featuring Danny Vaughn of Tyketto)
8. Where Eagles Dare (featuring Lars Safsund and Robert Sall of Work of Art)
9. I Will What I Want (featuring Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger)
10. You’re Always There (featuring Jason Scheff)
11. Avalanche (featuring Gunnar and Matt Nelson)
12. Love You All Over The World (featuring Jimi Jamison)
It is with great sadness that we are writing this. But after multiple meetings and discussions we have mutually agreed to part ways with Bigfoot after we have seen out our upcoming tour dates and commitments. No one is giving up music, so keep an eye out and I’m sure everyone will be bringing new music to you in the future.
We haven’t fallen out and are still good friends but we all feel this is the right decision at this time. The band has been our life for the past 5 years and we have worked so hard to get to where we are after starting from the bottom. Pulling the plug has probably been the hardest decision any of us have had to make and we hope that people respect how difficult the decision was and that we have considered all factors.
We would like to thank every single person that has supported us over the years through our ups and downs. Without the support of our amazing fan base, friends and family we couldn’t have achieved what we have and we will forever be grateful for that. We have made some incredible friends that we won’t forget, played with some incredible bands, been to some amazing places in the world and have some of the best memories from it all.
We would also like to thank Sean Seabrook for joining us on lead vocals during such a difficult time for the band which allowed us to follow through with most of our commitments without letting down all the fans, promoters and venues that had invested in the band.
We will be seeing out all the tour dates that have already been announced and will be planning a final farewell tour. We won’t be compromising; you’ll still get 100% from us at all shows!
We hope to see you all out at our final shows to celebrate what’s been one hell of an adventure for us all. We’ll keep you updated about all future activity so stay in touch and don’t forget about us!
Lanvall:"The whole songwriting process for the new album took around 18 months and I soon realized, that we could bring the band sound to a new level. Our trademark sound of course is still there, nevertheless we have numerous interesting experiments on the album, where we explore new shores. Let it be the irish sounding song "ON THE OTHER SIDE", the half-ballad "TAUERNGOLD" with its doom elements, or the 12 minutes epic longtrack "THE LAST OF HIS KIND". Even after the long songwriting and arranging process I am still super excited with the new songs!"
Sabine:"As Lanvall already mentioned, the recordings to our new album are fully on and what I heard so far in the studio is more than promising. But this is only the beginning and it already sounds huge. So I am really burning to be behind the microphone soon to contribute my part. "DYNAMIND" seems to have a very special energy and will probably turn much upside down. Be prepared!"
Line- Up:
Sabine Edelsbacher – Vocals Lanvall – Guitars & KeyboardsDominik Sebastian – Guitars Stefan Gimpl - Bass Johannes Jungreithmeier – Drums
On this episode of Westwood One's Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon, new interviews with Foreigner's Mick Jones, Mike Tramp and songwriter Jim Vallance. Alan Niven co-hosts.
Our first interview is a quick ten minute hit n' run chat with Foreigner's Mick Jones. We discuss the upcoming Jukebox Heroes musical, Lou Gramm's 'retirement', the future of Foreigner including more reunion shows this summer and going on without Mick, supporting the Shiner's Hospital, the upcoming Rainbow '78 DVD, the Cold As Ice Canadian Tour and more.
In out second interview, we chat with former White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp. He discusses being in regular contact with guitarist Vito Bratta, KISS & Paul Stanley, vocal issues, his new album Stray From The Flock, leaving America, his debut with Mabel, being a 15 year old 'rock star' and parental support, the end of White Lion is final, opening for KISS, the PRIDE album, rock n' roll is 'the big swindle' and much more.
(Starts at 1hr08 approx) We end the episode with song writer extraordinaire, Jim Vallance. We discuss his approach to songwriting, working with the greats (Bryan Adams, Scorpions, KISS, Ozzy, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper and so many more, the Broadway musical (Pretty Woman) that he scored with Bryan Adams, being a 'song doctor', meeting Bryan Adams, how does streaming affect the business of being a songwriter, Bryan Adams' Reckless album, playing drums on different songs, getting Lou Gramm to do background vocals, receiving the Order Of Canada award, his mantra, and much more.
Even in the highly adrenaline-fuelled music business, it’s rare to find a bundle of energy on a par with Suzi Quatro. The American rock vocalist has successfully worked as a musician for more than fifty years, delivering with unbridled energy her greatest hits such as ‘Can The Can’, ‘48 Crash’, ‘Devil Gate Drive’, ‘If You Can`t Give Me Love’, ‘She`s In Love With You’ or ‘Stumblin In‘ which made her an icon in the 1970s, and wowing her fans again and again with her new material. So it comes as no surprise that she’s not thinking of retiring. “I’ll retire when I go onstage, shake my ass, and there is silence,” she says, fully aware of the fact that that moment is still a long way off.
Suzi Quatro presents eleven new songs (plus two bonus tracks) on No Control. The majority of the material consists of collaborations with her son from her first marriage, Richard Tuckey. Suzi explains: “This was our first attempt at writing and recording something together. The creative progress began with ‘Don’t Do Me Wrong’. And, through this unusually beautiful English summer of 2018, we sat outside, acoustic bass, acoustic guitar, iPad recording app, and lots of paper, throwing ideas back and forth.” With amazing results, as the new album proves - to Suzi herself not only on a musical but, also on a personal level.
For example on ‘No Soul/No Control’, the first single to be released which features the message “Don`t let go of yourself for anyone”. Suzi: “This is my personal mantra. All you have in this world is you.” Remembering the conception of the number, she says: “We were busy as hell, buried in the songs. Richard had a new idea and showed me. It was very unusual and I liked it. A very basic guitar and drum track was put down for me to work on the melody and lyric. I went into the living area of the studio and about 15 minutes later, it was done. It flew out of its own accord, as the best songs do.”
The same applies to numbers such as ‘Macho Man’ (Suzi: “It’s a no-brainer that this is an opening live song. You cannot help headbanging to it, it just grabs you”), ‘I Can Teach You To Fly’ (“a definite throwback to the sixties”), ‘Easy Pickings’ (“I’ve been playing this riff on acoustic guitar forever, at least the last ten years. Then all of a sudden, it became a song”) and ‘Love Isn’t Fair’ (“Got this idea sitting in our Hamburg home. I wanted to create a Blondie-meets-Mavericks song, and I think I accomplished that”).
The perhaps most unusual track on the album is called ‘Strings’ and has developed into a true little masterpiece during the studio recordings. Suzi: “This is all about the strings that tie our lives together. Great riff. I drove everyone mad singing nonstop in this weird voice ‘Strings’. I couldn’t get it out of my head, and - hallelujah - it came out in the e recording exactly as I’d imagined.”
You can tell how proud Suzi Quatro is of No Control. Pride and delight at a career, which has lasted for five decades and has maintained the creativity of the American rock icon to the present day. Says Quatro: “I’ve never stopped releasing through the years. Back To The Drive in 2006, In The Spotlight in 2011, Quatro, Scott & Powell in 2016. These albums were thought about and planned out in great detail. I am proud of all three releases, very proud. But my new album No Control is its own animal.”
The new album "No Control" will be released through SPV/Steamhammer on March 29th 2019 as CD DigiPak, 2LP Gatefold, download and stream.
The LA Based outfit, A New Revenge, featuring an all star line up of classic rock players, will release their debut album, Enemies & Lovers on March 29th, 2019 via Golden Robot Records.
Supergroup is a term that has been diluted over time. Throwing a bunch of people from other bands into a new project doesn’t automatically make them Super, but their bio’s will tell you otherwise. It’s time to seek revenge and reclaim that word!
A New Revenge is the very definition of a supergroup. One who’s members have more than earned their legendary statuses but also remain humble enough to let the music do the talking and not actually rely on the term.
Featuring one of the finest voices in metal of all time, Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (who’s voice is all over albums from Judas Priest, Iced Earth and Yngwie Malmsteen), one of the most versatile and name checked guitarists in rock Keri Kelli (Slash’s Snake Pit, Alice Cooper, Vince Neil Band and a hundred more) the most iconic bass player in heavy metal history, Rudy Sarzo (who’s work with Ozzy Osbourne, Dio, Whitesnake and many more has earned him an almost revered status in heavy music) and long time Scorpions drummer James Kottak (also from Montrose, Warrant, Kingdom Come & more)
Keri Kelli, the bands guitarist says of A New Revenge coming together; "Beginning the songwriting process we said 'Let's get together and come up with three or four original songs.' Without any pressure, just creating as we went. Finally we got to the eleven songs we were all happy with. 'Here’s To Us’ was the first song we wrote for this record. It came very fast and was pretty simple to write. Its basically an ode to hard rock fans the planet over”
To further, Kelli comments on the album Enemies & Lovers “It's been a long time coming but it's completely finished mixed, mastered and all ready to go. We all really, really excited to finally unleash this on the hard rock community.”
A New Revenge is greater than the sum of its’ parts, although its parts are pretty damn mind blowing!
The foursome is an explosive combination with every band member’s skillset and battle tested charisma breaking through the bleak wasteland of current day modern heavy metal.
Razor sharp riffs, thunderous drums and those soaring vocals that come charging in from on high to lay waste to the landscape. A New Revenge are forged from the very heart of heavy metal.
Confirmed track listing for Enemies & Lovers:
The Distance Between
The Way
Never Let You Go
Glorious
The Eyes
Fallen
Only The Pretty Ones
Enemies & Lovers
Here’s To Us
Scars
The first music released from Enemies & Lovers comes via The Way.
The video features the band with their good friend Phil Soussan stepping up for Rudy Sarzo who had to bow out at the last minute due to an unforseen scheduling conflict on shoot day.
The video for this track was released on Friday and has already been seen over 33 000 times!
Enemies & Lovers will be released on Friday, March 29th, 2019.
Cult melodic rock/AOR heroes Fortune are back with a new studio album, “II”!
The seeds of Fortune were planted by brothers Richard and Mick Fortune, who came from a family of professional musicians. Their mother was a singer and their father a singer and bassist. Richard started playing the guitar when he was 16 and went on to play guitar and tour with the likes of Buddy Miles, Booker T & The MGs, and Spirit, while Mick started out as an accordion, keyboard, and trombone player before switching to drums. The brothers formed Fortune in the '70s and cut a self-titled album, "Fortune" for Warner Brothers in 1978, but by 1982 had totally revamped the group. A key acquisition for the new version of the band being the recruitment of Roger Scott Craig. A classically trained pianist from the age of 8, the Irish born keyboard player was previously known for a successful stint with the Scouse pop group Liverpool Express in the '70s. The lineup was rounded out by Larry 'L.A.' Greene, also of Top Gun soundtrack fame, on vocals and Detroit area session player and Elton John bassist Bob Birch.
Fortune eventually released their second self-titled album in 1985 (not to be confused with the 1978 album) to a warm reception, especially in Japan and Europe. It is still highly regarded today by fans of the genre as being a crucial AOR/melodic rock release of the time period. For many fans, it is indeed considered one of the best, if not THE best AOR album of all-time. While this is of course very much open to debate, the reality is that Fortune’s album is one of those lost gems from yesteryear that has aged like fine wine while the years have passed.
Camel/MCA Records (the same label that had, at the time, launched Night Ranger and Giuffria to stardom) was the label home for the '85 album, but unexpectedly declared bankruptcy for undisclosed reasons not long after the release and refused to give up the masters of the album, making an album re-release impossible until fairly recently. The band remained silent for years and while Larry Greene and Roger Scott Craig started working together with the band Harlan Cage (who released several albums in the second half of the 90’s and early 00’s), the Fortune brothers started the band back up again as a trio in 2006, until a proper band reunion happened in 2016 when the band performed at the Rockingham Music Festival that same year and then - thanks to the acclaim that followed that performance - in 2017 as well. These appearances ultimately led to discussions with Frontiers about a new studio album, "II". Fortune hasn't lost a step and their new studio album promises to be one of the AOR highlights of 2019!
The band will also perform live at Frontiers Rock Festival on April 28th in Milan, IT. For more information, visit www.frontiersrockfestival.com
TOTO TO RELEASE 40TH ANNIVERSARY DVD/BLU-RAY/AUDIO SET 40 TOURS AROUND THE SUN
MARCH 22nd Release Date
On March 22nd, Eagle Rock will release TOTO’s 40 Tours Around The Sun. The set will be available in multiple formats – DVD, Blu-Ray, DVD & 2CD’s, Blu-Ray & 2CD’s, 3LP Vinyl, 2 CD’s and digitally as well. The set will be available worldwide outside of North America. The North American release date will be announced in the near future. Fans can pre-order here: http://smarturl.it/TOTO40Tours
This live performance was filmed in front of a sold-out crowd exceeding 18,000 fans on March 17, 2018 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. TOTO performed a wide range of songs, including hit singles, rarely performed live deep cuts, and two recently recorded tracks which appeared on their new Greatest Hits album (40 Trips Around The Sun).
Also included is the “40 Tours Featurette,” a brand new interview with band members: Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro and Joseph Williams.
TOTO will be busy in 2019. The band just returned from a standing room only run of Australia and New Zealand, and head to Japan (including a sold out show at Budokan in Tokyo) and Indonesia in February. This spring in to the Summer, they’ll stage a long tour of Europe, combining top billing festival appearances and headline dates, after which they’ll bring their “An Evening With” show to North America this Fall. The 40 Trips Around The Sun tour is the band’s most extensive run in years with many more announcements to come.
I’m honoured to have once again been given the privilege of writing the liner notes. It’s an amazing set too!
BRIGHTON ROCK RELEASES 1st ORIGINAL SINGLE IN OVER 28 YEARS
Canadian rockers Brighton Rock have released a new single 'End Of Time' mixed by legendary producer Beau Hill. It's the first original single released since their last album 'Love Machine' back in 1991.
You can see Brighton Rock live later this month on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise. The single is available on iTunes & all other platforms.
:::WAKE THE NATIONS chart with "Heartrock" in Finland's physical sales chart on #6 in the first week!:::
"Heartrock" is the Finnish band's second album which was recorded and written in cooperation with some of the best melodic hard rock professionals in Scandinavia during the years 2016-2018 including gurus such as Sören Kronqvist (Joe-Lynn Turner/One Desire) and Thomas Wikström (Therion), mixing and mastering was conducted by the almighty Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse/W.E.T.), producers include Ilkka Wirtanen (Reckless Love/The Nights). The end result being a solid yet diverse melodic AOR album with stadium rock sounds, a hint of the 80’s, and interesting stories of life and love.
The album is available on CD & digital in all fine Rock stores now!
::: UK guitarist Neil Fraser returns with his new band TRISHULA :::
British band ‘Trishula’ is the brain child of UK Guitarist Neil Fraser and was born out of Neil’s work on his first solo project which started in 2015. In the mid-eighties Neil played in a number of local rock bands from the Staffordshire area of England, and achievements during this time included gaining airplay on Radio Luxembourg with a track called ‘Poltergeist’, along with securing support slots with bands such as eighties glam rock band ‘Wrathchild’ who were gaining lots of attention at the time. Since the late nineties Neil has played, toured and/or recorded with bands and artists such as TEN, Rage of Angels, Tony Mills (TNT, SHY). During his time with the band Rage of Angels, Neil had worked alongside Welsh vocalist Jason Morgan and Portuguese drummer Joao Colaco, so when forming ‘Trishula’, Jason and Joao were Neil’s first choice to complete the lineup for recording the album.
The bands debut album ‘Scared To Breathe’ was initially recorded in Neil’s home studio (Farmyard Studios), demo vocals were recorded in various locations in Wales, with final vocal recordings being captured at M2 Madhat Studios (Magnum) under the watchful eye of Sheena Sear, additional keyboards were also added at M2 Studios by Magnum Keyboard player Rick Benton, drums were recorded in Black Sheep Studios in Portugal, with final mixing and mastering was also being undertaken by Sheena Sear and Mark Stuart at M2 Studios.
Check out the video "Scared To Breathe" in advance:
Tracklist: 1. I can see it in your eyes, 2. Scared to breathe, 3. A thousand pieces, 4. Secrets & lies, 5. I never cried, 6. Homeland, 7. Don’t let go, 8. A love so cruel, 9. Magnetic memories, 10. Jealousy, 11. For a friend (Instrumental)
::: Swedish guitarist Peter H. Nilsson debuts with his “Little American Dream” on AOR Heaven!”
Swedish guitar player Peter H Nilsson has been in the musical business for many years in different bands in and extensive touring in his home country. In 2016 Nilsson started to work in his studio tracking new ideas for an album and in June 2017 all songs were done.
Nilsson was at the same time looking for a singer and found what he was looking for via the world’s leading music production marketplace Soundbetter: Chris Biano from Nashville, Tennessee and started to discuss the possibility to work together and finally, in July 2017 the first song was tracked.
At the end of 2017 the majority of all songs were ready but the guitar player felt that the tracks needed something extra. He then started to look for a drummer on Soundbetter and soon found session drummer Jason Meekins from Austin, Texas who was recruited for the album in January 2018. long-time friend and bass player Patrik Adiels from Gothenburg joined for the album in early 2018.
Thomas “Plec” Johansson started to mix the record, which is called “Little American Dream”, in September 2018 at his Panic Room Studios in Skövde, Sweden where the record also was mastered.
All songs written by: Peter H Nilsson and Chris Biano
Line up:
Peter H Nilsson: Guitars, Keyboards
Chris Biano: Vocals
Jason Meekins: Drums
Patrik Adiels: Bass
Tracklist: 1. You Better Run, 2. Me And You 3. Am I Dreaming 4. Timeless 5:20 5. Little American Dream 6. Haunted 7. Love Is Worth Fighting For 8. Rumours 9. Magic
