On this episode of Westwood One's Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon, new interviews with Canadian guitarist ALDO NOVA and Tesla's FRANK HANNON. Former Guns N' Roses & Great White manager Alan Niven co-hosts.
In our first interview, guitarist Aldo Nova talks about his new album 2.0, where does this reboot lead, future plans, Foreigner's Lou Gramm, his work with Bon Jovi, working with Celine Dion, Rick Hughes and SWORD, Blood On The Bricks, and much more.
Our second interview is with TESLA guitarist, Frank Hannon (interview starts at approx. the 1hr03 min. mark). He talks about his latest release 'From One Place... To Another Vol. 2', Tesla's new album Shock (approx. 1hr 18min.), new producer Phil Collen, Aldo Nova, future solo releases, why he's chosen not to cover Led Zeppelin, the production team of Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero (approx. 1hr 27 minutes), upcoming TESLA deluxe editions (approx. 1hr 34 minutes), his new HUSH video and much more.
Alan Niven mentions the Izzy Stadlin/Bon Jovi tour that almost happened and more. We also discuss George Thorogood's annual Who Do You Love charity drive that starts Monday November 12th and runs until December 24th 2018. For more visit: www.georgethorogood.com
Following a guest performance during Billy Joel's show last night at Madison Square Garden, Joe Perry experienced shortness of breath and was treated backstage by paramedics who gave the guitarist oxygen and used a tracheal tube to clear his airway before taking him to a hospital. This morning Perry remains in the hospital where he is alert and responsive. The Aerosmith guitarist will be unable to appear today at Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp in Florida and apologizes to those attending. Perry is expected to return to the road later this month.
New live single and lyric video LOST ON THE ROAD TO ETERNITY (feat. Tobias Sammet) Out today
British rock icons Magnum will release a new digital single and lyric video today. The new live song "Lost On The Road To Eternity" is taken from the forthcoming live album"Live At The Symphony Hall".
Star guest Tobias Sammet (Avantasia, Edguy) was swept along by this enthusiasm and the blazing interaction between the musicians and their Birmingham audience when he went on stage for this song to lend energetic support to vocalist Bob Catley just like he did for the track's studio recording.
Kane Roberts is back with a new solo album, “The New Normal”, which will be released on January 25, 2019. The first taste of music has been released from the album in the form of the track, “Forever Out Of Place”.
“‘Forever Out of Place’ is one of the “lighter” tracks on the album, although it still kicks pretty hard with a killer chorus,” explains Roberts. “The lyrics are about not feeling at home anywhere, having zero sense of belonging, and the sooner you stop searching for those things, the sooner you realize where you belong. There is a bit of style cross section in terms of the material, but keep in mind that they all include my past, present, and what I hope to be my future, however short or long that might be.”
Kane has involved some really amazing friends in the making of “The New Normal, including Alice Cooper, Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy, Nita Strauss, Babymetal drummer Aoyama Hideki and his former Alice Cooper bandmates: Kip Winger, Paul Taylor, and Ken Mary. Three years in the making, “The New Normal” melds the old and new in metal for a truly outstanding album. Kane comments on how the collaborations came to be: “I noticed artists that were busting down doors and at the same time kickstarting new ways of thinking about life and creativity. I knew I wanted to try to work with some of them. Nita Strauss is a killer guitarist. She really tore it up on the song “King Of The World". Her work on it woke me the f*** up and forced me to explore new guitar techniques to compliment her insane skills!
Alice Cooper....no one individual has scorched the earth like my former boss. I started getting into recording "Beginning Of The End" and realized I needed Alice to sing a duet with me. Not just a line, not just an intro, but sing throughout the song. I took the shot that he might be available at some point to get involved and when I called, he said "I’m in Hollywood. I'll be right over." Full on stroke of luck.
My approach to much of the album was cinematic in the hope that sounds and lyrics would create imagery and emotion beyond what I had done before. Keeping with that idea, I had Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy) fall from the sky like some pissed off dark angel in the middle of the song with Alice and I and burn the place down. Her attitude and singing prowess is stunning and I was so jazzed when she agreed to participate. I was obsessed with getting drum monster Aoyama Hideki from Baby Metal. After he heard the song, he immediately came on board and played with controlled fury like only he can....AMAZING!
I also was also able to work with Brent Smith (Shinedown) and Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) on songwriting and they were of course a blessing to the entire process.
Upon hearing a few of the early recordings, Michael Alago (the A&R guy that discovered Metallica and White Zombie, to name just a few) offered to executive produce the project for me and got a lot of things done for that otherwise would have been impossible for me to accomplish. Last, but certainly not least, no one plays bass like Kip Winger or sings quite the way he can. Didn’t think twice about asking him to join up and he delivered, like always.”
“My music has evolved over the years, even though I was out of the spotlight. Stepping into this new project, there are new styles and sounds evident, but I haven’t made some false effort to distance myself from the past. People will notice a blend of influences from classic rock and metal to the hot bands that are emerging more recently,” says Roberts.
He continues, “Zeppelin to Volbeat to Arch Enemy - they’re all bringing crushing energy to rock/metal while creating truly awesome music. I was lucky to have found Frontiers because they allowed me three years to make this album and sort through my truest feelings and vocal/guitar skills to create something meaningful to me. There is a real concern for preserving the creative process at Frontiers and to my way of thinking there’s no better place for me right now”
Of the many iconic images of '80s rock 'n roll, one that has certainly stood the test of time is Alice Cooper’s then “Rambo-looking” guitar player shooting fire from his M-80 shaped guitar. That guitar player is none other than Kane Roberts, an accomplished musician and singer who, after leaving Cooper's band, went on to record a total of four solo albums (including the “Phoenix Down” project released by Frontiers Records in the late '90s).
Kane’s name and musical abilities first came to prominence on Alice Cooper’s “Constrictor” and "Raise Your Fist And Yell" albums. The tours and popular videos for each made Kane a well-known face in the scene, especially for his outstanding guitar skills, but also for his body-builder image and his iconic machine-gun guitar.
As a solo recording artist, he landed some Top 40 hits and his varied musical background includes recording, writing and touring with artists such as Rod Stewart, Desmond Child, KISS, Diane Warren, Alice in Chains, Berlin, Guns N’ Roses, Garland Jeffries, and more. He’s also written or recorded music for films like Light Sleeper, Penelope Spheeris’ Decline of Western Civilization, Friday the 13th IV: Jason Lives, John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness, and more. In 1991, his second solo album for Geffen Records, “Saints and Sinners” was released and included the Top 40 Billboard hit “Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore?”, originally written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.
Tracklisting:
1. King Of The World (Feat. Nita Strauss)
2. Wonderful
3. Beginning Of The End (Feat. Alice Cooper, Alissa White-Gluz, Aoyama Hideki, Kip Winger)
Quiet Riot’s performance at Frontiers Rock Festival 2018 marked the band's first-ever concert in Italy and what a hell of a show it was! This special event is now being released on CD/DVD and Blu-Ray. Entitled “One Night in Milan,” this once in a lifetime performance will be released January 25, 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.
Drummer Frankie Banali had this say about the upcoming release: “‘One Night in Milan’ documents Quiet Riot in real time as it was recorded in Milan, Italy in April of 2018. For anyone interested in the long and storied history of Quiet Riot, this performance chronicles the progression of a band that continues to bring it's brand of music to our longtime fans and new fans as well. The performance was historic as it was the first time that Quiet Riot has played in Italy since the bands inception 35 years ago. The set included a performance of ‘Thunderbird’ with live piano as it was originally recorded in 1983 with help from maestro Alessandro Del Vecchio. The fan response was nothing short of phenomenal and heartwarming, with not just the incredible Italian fans, but also the many longtime fans from all over Europe, many of whom, like the Italian fans, had never seen Quiet Riot live before.”
With the entire club shouting and singing along and calling the band back on stage at the end of the show for an unplanned encore, Quiet Riot literally took no prisoners, offering the crowd a superb selection of their greatest hits plus a very special surprise in “Thunderbird,” a song from the multi platinum album “Metal Health” that the band had never performed on stage before with piano accompaniment. The lineup features classic line-up original member Frankie Banali on drums, bassist Chuck Wright, who has been involved in the band since the recording of “Metal Health”, Alex Grossi on guitar who has been in the band for 14 years, and vocalist James Durbin.
Quiet Riot are in perfect METAL HEALTH and this unique live performance highlights a band that still oozes charisma and power!
Tracklisting: 1.Run For Cover 2.Slick Black Cadillac 3.Mama Weere All Crazee Now 4.Whatever It Takes 5.Terrified 6.Love’s A Bitch 7.Condition Critical 8.Thunderbird 9.Party All Night 10.Freak Flag 11.I Can’t Get Enough 12.Wild & The Young 13.Let’s Get Crazy 14.Cum On Feel The Noize 15.Bang Your Head
Lineup: Frankie Banali, Drums Chuck Wright, Bass Alex Grossi, Guitar James Durbin, Vocals
THE THREE TREMORS release 'When The Last Scream Fades' single and lyric video, taken from their new self titled debut album which is set for release on 18th January.
"The Three Tremors song, When The last Scream Fades is a straight ahead heavy metal rocker that paints a tale of a post apocalyptic world from prophecy and lore. Harry Conklin says, " We have been having a great time playing this one live at rehearsals. It starts out with a somber dark vibe then takes off."
Peck says "There are a lot of bases covered on this record - all styles of metal are represented pretty much. The diversity of the songs and deliveries makes it a fun record to perform all the way through like we will be doing starting September 26th."
THE THREE TREMORS release their storming self titled debut album on 18th January 2019 via Steel Cartel Records
“Three times louder than a sonic boom, three fingers on the hand of doom!” is how the Three Tremors is being described. And when you find out the stellar line-up, there is no denying the mighty vocal power that the newly formed outfit possesses - Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, DIO DISCIPLES), Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin(JAG PANZER, SATAN’S HOST, TITAN FORCE), and Sean "The Hell Destroyer" Peck (CAGE, DENNER/SHERMANN, DEATH DEALER)
DEKO MUSIC LAUNCHES NEW LABEL WITH SPECIALITY VINYL RELEASES
West West Side Music, the company responsible for mastering over 15,000 records (Mastodon, Yes, Monster Magnet, Fleetwood Mac, The Misfits, etc...) has launched the independent label Deko Music, which is distributed by Warner Music Group’s ADA (Alternative Distribution Alliance) in North America and the Target Group in Europe. The label is headed up by West West Side Music owner and Grammy award-winning engineer Alan Douches, with veteran record producer Neil Kernon, Billboard charting artist/performer Charlie Calv and long-time industry sales veteran Bob Ardrey.
The label operates with a full service analog/digital recording facility, mastering facility, 5.1 surround sound room, and separate mixing facility run by Neil Kernon, who has been behind the helm of records as diverse as Hall and Oates, Queensryche, Kansas, Dokken, Yes and many others. Alan Douches states, “Well, it’s a complicated machine this thing called the music business. I guess we’re going to try to help a few artists that we can appreciate along the way, it is about believing in the quality of the art whether it is Hard Rock, Metal or Jazz and not limiting the type of artists we will work with.”
Deko Music’s inaugural releases include specialty vinyl titles from projects with Danger Danger vocalist Ted Poley, and the legendary Angel with Punky Meadows and Frank DiMino (see release listings below). Charlie states, “We are starting out with some veteran artists that we feel best represent their genre and setting our sights on developing some newer acts in the very near future”. In 2019 we will see some archive releases from legendary New York band the Good Rats, former Styx member Glen Burtnik, a special live recording of Tygers of Pan Tang featuring John Sykes (Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake), former Kansas singer Steve Walsh, and the first new studio album in 40 years from legendary jazz composer GilEvans.
December 7: Mike Tramp “Capricorn 20th Anniversary” CD/LP
December 7: Electric Boys “The Ghost Ward Diaries” CD/LP
December 14: Ted Poley “Modern Art” LP (splattered vinyl)
December 14: Punky Meadows/Frank DiMino of ANGEL 12” (etched 3 song single)
The label will announce additional new artist signings and future releases in the upcoming months via the labels official website. Please visit www.dekoentertainment.comfor up-to-date artist and label news and full list of releases.
Acclaimed Swedish dark melodic metal masters EVERGREY are set to release their new studio album, titled 'The Atlantic', on January 25th 2019.
The band has worked extensively on the follow-up to their highly successful 2016’s effort 'The Storm Within' (which entered the charts on high positions in numerous countries). Again, EVERGREY teamed up with Jacob Hansen, who - just like with the band’s previoous releases 'The Storm Within' and 'Hymns For The Broken', took care of mixing and mastering.
EVERGREY’s Tom S. Englund states:
“Guys! This is album number 11!
Isn't that just sick?! It’s also the 3rd album of a concept that might have reached its destination or at least one conclusion. It might also have been something that some of you saw coming or anticipated?
We’ve fought through giant private obstacles as well as an extremely complicated break-in at our Headquarters studio to bring this album to you. So at the same time as it's certainly not been painless or at all easy, it’s been rewarding in new ways and our creativity has been painted in colors of honesty and sincerity.
This is our heaviest, darkest, and perhaps also our most diverse album to date. It’s everything we wanted to compose and the written words come straight from a place of transparency and never before experienced lucidity. Finally, as of yesterday, we’ve reached new shores. We can’t wait for you to share this journey with us and dive into our worlds, our depths, and the waters of The Atlantic!”
George Lynch, Jeff Pilson, Mick Brown, and Robert Mason have announced that they are changing the name of their previously announced new band, Superstroke, to THE END: machine.
“The recordings are nearly done and we are really happy with the way it is turning out,” says bassist/producer Jeff Pilson. “We think that, notwithstanding the obvious nod to our past experiences together, The End: machine sound has a unique identity. Sonically, this is not just ex-Dokken members with a different singer or a rebooted incarnation of Lynch Mob. This is a new sound. Everyone has been doing great on the album and there is a lot of energy and a lot of focus.”
THE END: machine, featuring George Lynch , Jeff Pilson, and Mick Brown from the classic Dokken lineup together with singer Robert Mason of Warrant (and previously, Lynch Mob) will release their debut album in Spring 2019, via Frontiers Music Srl.
The Robert Rodrigo Band has just released its new album, “Living For Louder!” featuring 10 songs filled with energy and passion, and including instrumental tracks showing of the incredible musicianship this band has always brought to the stage.
Robert Rodrigo Band is: Robert Rodrigo on the guitar, side by side with his longtime companions Miguel Manjon on bass, Pako Martinez on drums, and joined by exceptional guests such as Gotxi Ibarra (Hammond) and the great Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axell Rudi Pell) on vocals.
Frontiers Music Srl is excited to announce the signing of the powerhouse AOR band DECARLO to the label!
DECARLO is the band featuring Tommy DeCarlo, best known for having performed with Boston since 2007.
The band's lineup includes: Tommy on lead vocals together with his son and guitarist Tommy DeCarlo Jr, drummer Dan Hitz, and bassist Brett Nelson.
"I’m extremely proud to be recognized by Frontiers and offered my very first recording contract! Getting to work with such a powerhouse label, that has signed some of the top bands from my era, is an accomplishment!” Says Tommy.
"I’ve had a lot of blessings in my life (getting married to my wonderful wife of thirty years, having two beautiful children, having performed with a legendary rock and roll band, being a grandfather and last but not least having the opportunity to perform alongside my son Tommy Jr. in our band DECARLO. Through all of those blessings songwriting has also played a big part in my life. I’ve always written for myself, for my own enjoyment, it was something I did simply to pass the time never thinking anything would ever come of it - but it has! Frontiers has given me the opportunity to take my music to the next level. The world will finally get to hear the music of Tommy DeCarlo!"
Get ready for a great new album to be released in mid 2019!
A seductive Victorian spirit returns to haunt her past subjects.
Words and music by Jeff Cannata ....Vocals, bass, keyboards, guitars, Tron, drums & programming.
Lead and slide guitar: Shawn Persinger
Recorded and mixed at Oxford Circus Studio. Mastered at Sterling Sound, NYC by Jay Franco.
Special thanks to Robin Beck as “The Dancer” Lockwood Mansion “haunted” corridors (Norwalk) and Newport antique store de-focused footage shot by JC. Additional footage and image credits: The Haunting, Dark Matters, Apparition 3, Sypher–cosmic event film supply, Time-machine images, Trippy Psychedelic visuals, Yellow Submarine, Free as a Bird, ELO, Rabbit Band (Sleep Party People) The Great Beauty. Video production / editing by JC.
Richard, Steve and Pat are re-recording three songs from the PULL era. These three, Slip Through My Fingers, Wheel of Life and Faith Unbroken, were in contention for the PULL album, but for various reasons they were left off. Richard says, “I always loved something about each one of these songs, but we just couldn’t get them to the point where we were all on board, so they fell by the wayside.” The boys have been busy sending audio files back and forth since they live in different parts of the country.
They also brought in Tim Pierce and Luis Conte on guitar and percussion. “It’s been interesting recording this way, where we’re communicating over the Internet rather than being in the studio together. It seems to be working really well”. John Lang, who contributed lyrics to all the Mr albums, is involved as well, tweaking the songs with Richard. Mr. Mister’s fans will surely be excited to hear these ‘lost gems’. A release date hasn’t been confirmed, but keep an eye out for it.
REECE return with LOST IN TRANSLATION, the fourth single from their debut album, IGNITED. The track is a stripped down ballad which shows the bands softer edge.
This follows on from a successful campaign of touring across the UK promoting the single FALLING DOWN, which received critical acclaim following airplay throughout the UK, US, Germany and Australia.
The single featured in the Top 10 indie charts in Canberra, Australia and has been aired on HARD ROCK HELL, TOTALROCK, and PLANETROCK radio shows and heavily featured on ROCK RAGE RADIO in Germany.
LOST IN TRANSLATION will go on sale on Monday, 3rd December on iTunes, Amazon etc... and will coincide with the release of the video. REECE have spent the past few months touring around the UK with new drummer LEE NICHOLAS. Lee comes with a wealth of experience, having toured for several years with the band ALSO EDEN, and has previously played a handful of gigs for Ex-Europe guitarist KEE MARCELLO, who REECE supported on his recent tour of the UK.
REECE are now gearing up for a bumper 2019, with slots at HARD ROCK HELL AOR, ROCKWICH FESTIVAL, GLASTONSELFY, WARTON MUSIC FESTIVAL and DRUNKEN MONKEY FESTIVAL to name a few, with more to be confirmed, alongside a couple of dates in Ireland, and a gig at Bannermans in Edinburgh during March.
The band will wrap up their current Tour at the start of December, to continue writing their next album which should be released around Autumn 2019.
Dark Star Records is pleased to announce that the Chicago based symphonic metal band DiAmorte have just released their new full length album THE RED OPERA featuring Mike LePond (Symphony X) and Markus Johansson (THEM).
DiAmorte is more than music, it is an experience. A story set to the sounds of a savage orchestra, opera, and metal instrumentation. Each show, uniquely presented with live performers that build the atmosphere is each song, setting the nature of stage and bringing to life the lyrics. A stage show honed and crafted over six years time complete with choirs, players, special fx, and various performers whose presences conclude the experience, DiAmorte is as much an opera as it is a metal show.
Don’t Miss DiAmorte as they Perform THE RED OPERA “LIVE” on 11/16/18
In February 2017 Midnight Oil take to Sydney Harbour and announce The Great Circle World Tour. The Circle will begin where the band started out - in Sydney’s pubs - then circumnavigate the globe. It will be their first tour in over 15 years.
Over the next 6 months Midnight Oil played in 16 countries across 5 continents - speaking out for a healthy planet and social justice along the way.
Eventually they returned to circle around Australia - the land that shaped the Oils and their music. Appropriately they started with some homecoming gigs in the outback before hitting the tropical north where they campaigned against nearby coal mines that would further endanger the world’s largest living organism - the Great Barrier Reef. From there the tour braved some torrential downpours as it headed south, down the coast. It then rolled across the country where this band first cut their teeth, rekindling old memories and creating new ones with every song, and every show. From the vineyards of the Hunter Valley. To the banks of the mighty Murray River and the shadow of Hanging Rock.
Onto the cities - Canberra. Adelaide. Perth. Hobart. And then to the Myer Music Bowl on the night after the Melbourne Cup where guitarist Jim Moginie tore his hamstring from the bone onstage and was forced into a wheelchair for the last 4 gigs.
Finally this epic tour circled back to the city where it all began. The venue? Sydney’s Domain - a place that encapsulates a nation’s history. For thousands of years it was a ceremonial site for the local Gadigal people. In 1788 English forces landed nearby and turned this land into the Governor’s personal playground. In the 1830’s it became a public park. It’s been under threat from developers ever since. It’s hosted all sorts of sporting and cultural events but over the 20th century the Domain became best known as the home of soap box oratory and political rallies. From the Great Depression through to the Vietnam War this is the place where people came together to discuss and debate the issues that shaped modern Australia.
And so after 77 gigs to over half a million people around the world this is where The Great Circle would finally come to a close. Two hometown shows in this special place. The first date? November 11. Known to some as Armistice Day.
This release captures Midnight Oil at their explosive, uncompromising best.
Opening song, title track and first video off the new Joe Haley produced CD, "Ruled By Machines" - a song written about humanity's insatiable lust for technology in today's world!
"Ruled By Machines" - is the follow up to ROADKILL's 'critically acclaimed' 2016 CD, "E X T I N C T". Audio produced by Joe Haley Video edited by Zig. (C) 2018 Two Dogs Inc.
