In episode 109 of One On One With Mitch Lafon, Mitch is joined by a founding member of SURVIVOR, Jim Peterik.
In this episode Jim discusses his new book 'Through The Eye Of The Tiger: The Rock 'N Roll Life Of Survivor's Founding Member', his new collaboration with Marc Scherer called 'Risk Everything', THE IDES OF MARCH Box set 'Last Band Standing - The Definitive 50 Year Anniversary Collection', working with Frankie Sullivan and creating one of rock's most iconic songs, 'Eye Of The Tiger'.
This Episode of One On One With Mitch Lafon is brought to you by the Heavy Montreal Festival taking place on August 7th, 8th and 9th at Parc Jean Drapeau in Montreal. This year featuring Lamb Of God, Slipknot, Korn, Faith No More as well as '80s artists Extreme, Dokken, Lita Ford and Warrant. Visit: http://www.heavymontreal.com
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
In episode 110 of One On One With Mitch Lafon, Mitch is joined by The Voice of DOKKEN, Don Dokken.
In this episode Don discusses the making of a new Dokken album, talks about George Lynch and Jeff Pilson, chooses Dokken's BEST album, talks about his voice, newest member Mark Boals, Heavy Montreal, and much more.
Quotes from the interview: "Fans expect you to sound exactly like you did on the record that you did 30 years ago and they expect you to sound amazing every night."
"I didn't know George very well and we had friction from day one. We just have totally different personalities."
"Jeff (Pilson) was the most multi-talented of anybody in the band. He plays bass well. He plays guitar well and he plays piano. He's multi-faceted and was always good at recording."
"For me, the masterpiece is Dysfunctional."
This episode is co-hosted by FIREHOUSE guitarist, Bill Leverty.
This Episode of One On One With Mitch Lafon is brought to you by the Heavy Montreal Festival taking place on August 7th, 8th and 9th at Parc Jean Drapeau in Montreal. This year featuring Lamb Of God, Slipknot, Korn, Faith No More as well as '80s artists Dokken, Lita Ford and Warrant. Visit: http://www.heavymontreal.com
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
For 25th Anniversary at Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles on May 28, 2015
Los Angeles - SPIDERS & SNAKES, featuring Sunset Strip underground icon Lizzie Grey, will be recording their first-ever live album in honor of their 25th Anniversary at the Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip in W. Hollywood, CA on Thursday, May 2015 at 10pm. The all ages show is in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the “Glitter n Glam Rockfest” shows that once ruled the Hollywood underground glam rock/shock rock scene of the mid-late 90s and includes sets by REBEL REBEL, WILLOW WISP and MOLLY VAMP. Doors open 8pm.
The 2015 SPIDERS & SNAKES lineup is comprised of band co-founders Lizzie Grey (LONDON, ULTRA POP), on Lead vocals and Tim Yasui (LONDON, ULTRA POP) on drums/Lead/backing vocals and long-time band members Phil St. Vincent on Bass/Lead/backing Vocals and Chris Sheridan (SWEET SAVAGE/JAMES KOTTAK) on Lead Guitars/Lead/backing Vocals - the very same lineup who recorded the band’s ninth studio album “Year Of The Snake” and that is currently on tour this summer in support of this new album.
Already getting a buzz on the net, Year of the Snake features appearances by Billy Sherwood (YES, CIRCA), Angelo Moore (FISHBONE), Ryo Okumoto (ASIA feat Jon Payne/SPOCK’S BEARD/ARETHA FRANKLIN), Betsy Bitch (BITCH) and Rik Fox (STEELER, WASP) and was produced by Gavin Ross in Burbank, California, mixed by Anthony Focx (STEVEN TYLER, VINCE NEIL, NIGHTRANGER, TED NUGENT) in Nashville, Tennessee and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ROB HALFORD, SEPULTURA, YES) in Los Angeles, California during the Chinese calendar Year Of The Snake.
The single and music video for the track “Kawasaki City” featuring Ryo Okumoto on keys and Betsy Bitch (BITCH) on backing vocals was released in Japan in early 2015 the album has been reporting strong sales on the import rock charts. “Kawasaki City” Music Video Link: http://youtu.be/0arba6dDE9s
Totally Driven Radio, the weekly radio podcast heard live every Thursday night from 8 - 11 pm Est time on the Totaally Driven Entertainment Radio Network, hosted by Bay Ragni and Nick Wilkinson covers the world of sports and entertainment each week, as well as bringing you celebrity guests interviews.
Totally Driven Radio spoke with Mark Slaughter the former Lead Singer of the Vinnie Vincent Invasion, and long time lead singer of Slaughter to discuss a ton of topics like:
Mark hangs out with us for over 25 minutes...
**The story behind the song Fly to the Angels
**If people have said to him, that they can’t listen to that song anymore, because it relates to someone
**if it was tough for him to perform early on
**his first full length solo album he released “Reflections in the Rear View Mirror”
**How he is being hands on, and doing everything himself independently with the solo album
**that he was offered the Jack Russell’s spot in Great White, and also tried for the Velvet Revolver spot
**his recent appearance on “That Metal Show”
**he discussed the “real” reason, not the “Hollywood” version of why he wasn’t on the first VVI Album
**What if Vinnie Vincent called him today, to record some songs with him?
**any plans for solo acoustic shows, music
**any solo dates to support the solo album
Statement from vocalist PHIL VINCENT announcing his departure from LEGION:
"It is with both disappointment and extreme excitement that I must announce my departure as vocalist and songwriter of the band Legion. It was an honor and pleasure working with Vince O'Regan and I am very proud of the music we created but the lack of financial support, peripheral interference, and new musical opportunities, have combined to lead me to this decision.
The new ventures that have presented themselves will take precedence for me from this day forward and I must dedicate 100% of my time and effort toward these projects. I am very confident my new musical creations will excite and satisfy my fan base and I look forward to unveiling my music to you and the world. My heartfelt thanks to all the Legion fans for your support over the last 5 years and 7 albums and I look forward to rocking with you again very soon.
MelodicRock Records is offering a double dose of Swedish class in July. Already announced is the new CONSTANCIA album and now MRR will crank up the metal once again by releasing the new studio album from Swedish melodic/neoclassical metal outfit VINDICTIV on July 10.
The new album World Of Fear is a huge leap forward for the band and features the vocals of superstar MARK BOALS throughout.
MelodicRock Records is excited to launch a full track preview of the coming album, with the track Paralyzed available below:
Once again, following the fantastic reception to the ROOM EXPERIENCE Special Edition, VINDICTIVWorld On Fire will also be available direct from MRR as a Special Edition limited release – featuring one exclusive bonus track!
Further album details and news of pre-orders will be made available next week.
Also featured on the new album is a perfect cover of the Yngwie Malmsteen classic Far Beyond The Sun. A video for that track has just been released:
VINDICTIV is:
Stefan Lindholm – guitar
Pontus Larsson – keyboards
Nalle Påhlsson – bass
Mark Boals – vocals
Marco Minnemann – drums
History:
One of the best kept secrets of neoclassical metal – so far. Stockholm's Vindictiv introduced themselves to the metal audience in an impressive fashion with their 2008 eponymous debut. The band's sophomore effort ”Ground Zero” followed swiftly the following year, and remains a fan favorite.
From this point on Vindictiv's career path got rockier. ”Cage Of Infinity” arrived in 2013, following an acrimonious split between guitarist Stefan Lindholm and his other band Raven Lord.
Vindictiv's fourth and current effort ”World Of Fear” was created under more harmonious circumstances, and to their guitarist marks both a progression and a return to form.
”The sound is harder, but also more melody-oriented”, muses Stefan (whose resumé also includes Phenomena and Black Sabbath legend Tony Martin). ”Some fans may have found the last album too metallic, but this is more in the veins of ”Ground Zero”.
”Wall Of Pain” is a catchy heavy metal anthem with plenty of double bassdrums. ”Until The Dawn” is slower, a semi-ballad – a little something for the ladies. ”Day” is somewhat poppy – more of a major chord-vibe, unlike the minor chord-oriented remaining songs. At the same time, this is a more technical album than the previous one. I deliver my usual masturbation-style solos!”
Lest we forget – ”World Of Fear” introduces the most star-studded Vindictiv lineup yet. Present as always are Stefan's faithful cohorts Pontus Larsson on keyboards and renowned bass player Nalle Påhlsson (Therion, Treat, Last Autumn's Dream).
By their side we find virtuoso drummer Marco Minnemann (Kreator, Joe Satriani, Steven Wilson) and singer Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Royal Hunt, Dokken). The latter is arguably the most famous on a long list of Vindictiv frontmen that includes Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder), Nils Molin (Dynazty), Oliver Hartmann (At Vance, Avantasia) and Göran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum).
”Mark is someone I've known for some time and it was great to finally make a whole album with him”, says Stefan. ”Marco is a very easy-going guy. I hooked up with him on Facebook and he agreed to do the album as soon as he heard the songs. He's such a quick worker, he nailed his parts almost before he received the songs from me.”
As additional icing on the cake, ”World Of Fear” features guest solos from two keyboard exceptionals. Mark Basile is best known as the singer in Italy's own DGM. The recently deceased Mats Olausson has made stellar contributions to the likes of Yngwie Malmsteen, Lion's Share, Ark and Evil Masquerade.
”These sessions may be the last that Mats ever did before his passing”, says Stefan. ”He appears on three songs, including a cover version of Yngwie Malmsteen's ”Far Beyond The Sun”. Such a sweet guy. We dedicate ”World Of Fear” to him.”
Have Vindictiv finally found a stable lineup? If it's up to their guitarist, the answer is yes.
”I'd really like to bring an element of permanency to the band. And the odds of us five performing live together look real favorable. Sure, some members are busy people and Mark and Marco live in the US. But my goal is to get Vindictiv back on stage and Mark is already on board. After all, playing live is the most fun part of all about being in a band.”
With any luck, these plans will quickly come to fruition. ”World of fear” marks the rebirth of Vindictiv, and it's due time that the band goes from ”best kept secret of neoclassical metal” to ”best revealed secret of neoclassical metal”.
Tom Cochrane is one of my favourite singer/songwriters of all time. He’s right up there with Rick Springfield, John Waite and Paul Laine. I cannot emphasize how much many of his songs mean to me personally.
However, with just a measly two studio albums since 1998’s excellent X-Ray Siera, Tom’s really pushing fan patience. With an 8 year wait between albums, they had better be good.
I’ve left reviewing this album for a while as the last album No Stranger got an initially tepid response from myself, rating it too mellow, too laid back and lacking any real drive.
How wrong that initial assessment was. The album is one I’ve come to appreciate more over time, a very fine release indeed, with some of Tom’s most heartfelt ballads and while laid back, it also features some of his finest lyrical moments.
So with the arrival of Take It Home and that similar initial disappointment for the same reasons – laid back, slow and seemingly very lackluster, I held back to give the album time to grow.
Unfortunately it hasn’t. Tom’s declined further into the slow, acoustic driven old-man-syndrome that other artists like Bob Seger have suffered.
What’s worse, Take It Home crosses genre’s to touch on that other ‘must go to place’ for veteran artists – yes, that Nashville/country vibe, with slide guitar and a distinct twang featured on several tracks.
The album is diverse in nature, covering blues, country, roots and gospel, all delivered with Cochrane’s distinctive wail.
But despite the valid musical integrity of such an outing, there are only a handful of songs that resonate with me here at all, which is tragic when you consider how long fans have waited for this.
On the plus side is the pop/rock mid-tempo acoustic Can’t Stay Here, which despite a country slant features a nice smooth vocal and decent chorus.
Diamonds is more Tom Cochrane sounding and is a refreshing high quality mid-tempo tune.
Despite the title, Country Girls Never Get Old, still manages to deliver a crossover old/new TC sound, mixing slide guitar with organ and electric guitar.
Pink Time is a beautiful laid back ballad with some extraordinary co-lead female vocals (from who I don’t know, I have a digital promo only thus far).
On the negative for me is several unfortunately. The jangly lead single Sunday Afternoon Hang is simply Life Is A Highway meets Kid Rock and is the best of neither; When The Light Starts To Fade is pure blues/country but goes nowhere; First Time Around is a distorted fuzz/rock tune that just grates; A Prayer For Hope is old-school country and Back In The Game is just hokey R&B.
Tom’s vision of creating a southern American themed album featuring country, blues and gospel is achieved here. There’s a lot of heart and soul poured into these songs and for that you can’t fault Tom. But for me it’s just not something I want to keep coming back to, especially when some of the songs just don’t have enough life in them to draw you back and a couple of others just grate on my ears.
There are a couple of new TC classics for sure and the depth of lyrical talent is still there, but the catchiness and the traditional Tom Cochrane sound is not.
There are a lot of big names releases this year already with plenty more to come. It’s just one of those banner years. But we must not ignore the newer bands and indie releases as it isn’t just the big boys that can deliver.
One such act is Illinois rockers Red Monday. Formed around guitarist/songwriter and producer Jim Miller and mixed and mastered by Ides Of March’s Larry Millas, with guest spots from Millas and fellow Ideas man Scott May; Red Monday produce a brand of guitar driven classic rock with an organic Midwestern feel.
Sometimes the guitars break out a little more such as the spirited opener She’s On Fire and the fast paced Sanctuary and bar room rocker You Move Me.
Elsewhere on the album the sound diversifies into Tom Petty, John Kilzer and John Mellencamp territory, albeit with a more prominent guitar presence.
It’s quite a varied album, but the best quality here is the production – it’s a big sound for an indie release and Millas has delivered a very balanced mix.
There’s a lot to like about this album. The only small issue I have is with the vocals. Singer Rick Harris has a tone that’s not for everyone and I think takes away from a couple of songs. On others it’s no issue at all, but surprisingly Jim Miller takes lead on the upbeat southern rocker Broken Promises and I find myself preferring his voice over the main one.
That’s a small issue though and one which different folks are going to have different views on.
Fans of classic rock, Midwestern Americana and 80s American hard rock should take a listen to the album via the showcase on this site.
They might just be another new band worth adding to your collection.
Since reforming, Magnum has kept an increasingly busy recording/touring schedule that bands half their age would be envious of. The band’s last studio album was Escape From The Shadow Garden, which has spawned this document of the tour that followed.
There are very few heritage bands that have a fan base willing to indulge the band with a set list heavy with new songs rather than relying on milking the classics to within an inch of their life.
But each album and each tour sees Magnum change things up to showcase the new material and the fans lap it up, and here is no different.
The entire first half of this live album is all new tracks and I have to say, they translate into the live arena beautifully. There’s energy there, there’s passion and conviction in the delivery.
Live Til You Die and the ultra-heavy Dance Of The Black Tattoo shine; while the second half of the set includes the legendary All England’s Eyes, Kingdom of Madness, Les Morts Dansant (another stunning version), plus a just brilliant version of Vigilante and an iconic 11 minute How Far Jerusalem.
Bob Catley might sound a little croakier than once upon a time, but his tone and delivery still capture my attention and respect every time.
The band packs a punch as usual and the recording quality and the live mix is really impressive.
Another memorable live release from one of Britain’s great melodic rock acts. A rousing delivery of some new and old makes for a really enjoyable ride.
