One of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, Diamond Head, will be returning to the States for tour dates in May and in August. From May 17-27, the band - led by co-founding member/guitarist Brian Tatler - will be playing headline shows (and two dates with Ross the Boss, as well as a performance at the Legions of Metal Festival in Chicago with Armored Saint, and an appearance at Rocklahoma in Oklahoma). And then from August 19-25, Diamond Head will return to the US for another festival appearance (Psycho Vegas 2017 in Las Vegas), as well as additional headlining gigs.
“Excited to be back in the US this spring, playing songs from the new album ‘Diamond Head’ along with many classics from Lightning To The Nations, Borrowed Time & Canterbury’.” -Brian Tatler, 5/4/17
As part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s, Diamond Head came up in the same scene as eventual global headliners Def Leppard and Iron Maiden. And while Diamond Head did not achieve the same commercial success as the aforementioned bands, they did influence countless subsequent musicians - especially Metallica, as it was a then-teenaged Lars Ulrich that befriended the band early on and became a major fan. Subsequently, Metallica has covered such Diamond Head classics as “Am I Evil,” “Helpless,” “The Prince,” and “It’s Electric” multiple times - on multiple platinum releases.
In addition to performing these classics at their upcoming U.S. shows, expect to also hear material performed off their latest release - 2016’s self-titled offering. Their seventh studio albums overall, the album has become one of their most critically acclaimed of their entire career - as evidenced by Classic Rock Magazine saying, "It just fu*kin' rocks in glorious timeless fashion" and Metal Hammer simply adding, "This is rather excellent."
And soon, many U.S. fans will get to see the legendary Diamond Head on a nearby concert stage.
"When we made 'Kill Em All', it was just Diamond Head and Motörhead" Lars Ulrich - Metallica
"We're a combination of the two heads, Diamond Head and Motörhead. The epic feel is definitely from Diamond Head, while the simplicity came from Motörhead." James Hetfield - Metallica
"I'm influenced by the likes of Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page and Brian Tatler".
Dave Mustaine - Megadeth
DIAMOND HEAD LINE-UP 2017:
Brian Tatler - Guitars
Rasmus Bom Andersen - Vocals
Abbz Abberley - Guitars
Dean Ashton - Bass
Karl Wilcox - Drums
DIAMOND HEAD US TOUR 2017: Additional dates to be announced shortly.
W 5/17 Columbus, OH Ace of Cups
Th 5/18 Indianapolis, IN The Headquarters w/Ross The Boss
F 5/19 Rock Island, IL RIBCO
S 5/20 Chicago, IL Legions of Metal Festival w/Armored Saint
Su 5/21 Savage, MN Neisens w/Ross The Boss
M 5/22 Joliet, IL The Forge
T 5/23 Newport, KY Southgate House
Th 5/25 Springfield, MO Nathan P Murphy's
S 5/27 Pryor, OK Rocklahoma Festival
S 8/19 Las Vegas, NV Psycho Vegas 2017 Festival
W 8/23 Portland, OR Bossanova Ballrooms
Th 8/25 Seattle, WA El Corazon
GRAHAM BONNET BAND ANNOUNCES LIVE ALBUM & HOME VIDEO, "LIVE...HERE COMES THE NIGHT" AVAILABLE ON CD/DVD & BLU-RAY ON JULY 7TH ON FRONTIERS MUSIC SRL.
Legendary rock vocalist Graham Bonnet is back with a new live album and home video captured during his acclaimed performance at Frontiers Rock Festival III in Trezzo (Milan, Italy) on April 24, 2016.
Accompanied by a stellar band featuring founding member Beth-Ami Heavenstone on bass, South American guitar sensation Conrado Pesinato on lead guitar, and Mark Zonder (known for his work with Warlord and Fates Warning) on drums, Bonnet masterfully delivered a thrilling “Best of” set which included songs from his stints with bands such as Rainbow, McAuley Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, Impellitteri, and of course his solo material too.
Bonnet says: "It's been a very long time since I last released a live video, 33 years to be exact, with Alcatrazz. Myself and the band were very excited to film and record our performance at the Frontiers Rock Festival for a live album and video and are very happy with the final result!”
Bonnet has a powerful and distinctive vocal style and, indeed, a distinctive image – preferring to let the music, rather than the conventional heavy metal look, do the talking.
The Graham Bonnet Band has spent the last two years touring regularly around the world and this past winter, released his latest successful release, “The Book.” With the band and Bonnet fine tuned from all their touring when they got to Frontiers Rock Festival, this stellar set that was captured there makes for a new live album that will blow GBB (and heavy rock fans in general) away!
Bloody Heels has been around since year 2012 and since then the band has released two videos, an EP and toured all over The Baltics and Europe. The EP called "Summer Nights" was released on year 2014, and this year, on May 20, Bloody Heels will release their long-awaited debut album “Through Mystery”.
We can get a glimpse of how the album will sound like by listening to their newest kickass, rock n’ roll single "Cheap Little Liar”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hZsEfXNRzg
“Well, actually, we have put a lot of effort in the writing process, just to get the right sound and the right feel.
The album is well balanced, there are fast and heavy songs yet not missing slower and more melodic sounds and you surely can feel the 80s influences, yet it’s a modern rock album, so we’re excited to finally show the songs to our fans, ” says Bloody Heels.
After eight studio albums in 10 years Whitesnake had managed to keep hard rock relevant, in an ever-changing ‘80s rock market in the UK, while America had yet to fully embrace the band. Bandleader, singer, songwriter David Coverdale was sidelined with a potentially career-ending chronic sinus infection midway through this project. Coverdale reveals to IN THE STUDIO producer and host Redbeard just how serious his health scare was.
“He (the doctor) put a small flashlight into my mouth... and said, ‘This is the worst sinus infection I’ve ever seen, I’m surprised you could even talk’. I came back and prepared for surgery and a 50% chance I would never be able to perform again.” - David Coverdale
Three million dollars in debt and having just recovered from throat surgery, Coverdale put it all on the line.
“We shot three videos in two weeks, “Still of the Night”, “Here I Go Again”, “Is This Love” and things just went nuts.” - David Coverdale
Featuring Original Members Rob Lamothe, Nick Brophy, and Vivian Campbell
The Riverdogs ARE BACK! Original members, Rob Lamothe (vocals, guitars), Nick Brophy (bass, vocals) and Vivian Campbell (lead guitar), along with long time drummer Marc Danzeisen, have reunited to record their fifth album, “California". The album will be released on July 7, 2017 via Frontiers Music Srl. You can watch a behind-the-scenes video about the making of the album here:
Mixing the soulful vocals of Lamothe with the edgy guitarwork of Campbell and solid rhythmic lines from Brophy and Danzeisen, the album marks a definitive return to the sound of their critically acclaimed 1990 self-titled debut album.
On the making of the album, lead guitarist Vivian Campbell says, "[w]hen my friends at Frontiers suggested a Riverdogs album in the spirit of the original debut record, I jumped at the chance to make it. In my opinion, "Riverdogs" was a highlight of my career with some of my best guitar playing and definitely a record that flew under the radar. Having a clear direction of exactly what kind of record to make really helped the four of us create the music and there was an intense collective focus throughout the entire process that never wavered. I really think that we hit the target in creating a record that has all the hallmarks, the integrity and the emotional strength of the original debut. The fact that we've all remained such close friends throughout all the years only added to the joyous experience that was the making of this record."
“Going in to this project, my goal was to enjoy the opportunity of making music with some of my best friends, to share this incredible experience with my family...and to create something that Riverdogs fans will probably think is pretty bloody awesome. Big guitars! Beautiful melodies! Words about crazy, complicated, real stuff! I feel like Nick, Viv, Marc and I all brought our 'A-Games' to the writing and recording sessions. That's way more important than money and awards and fame to me,” adds vocalist and guitarist Rob Lamothe.
Bassist Nick Brophy sums up the writing process for the album: “In summer of 2016, I found myself in Los Angeles, reunited with 3 of my closest friends, about to begin a new Riverdogs album. Marc had arranged a rehearsal environment at a friend’s house which was to provide the creative atmosphere for writing new material. I stood there with bass in hand thinking “OK, now what?” Little did I know that a few days later we would have six new Riverdogs songs and the album ‘California’ was born. The remaining six songs came, surprisingly, just as easily, a testament to the amazing talents of Vivian, Rob, Marc and the effortless way in which we work as a group. Our clear goal for this album was to remain true to the original Riverdogs sound and provide fans with a new set of songs which carry on the legacy of a truly remarkable band.”
Riverdogs formed in Los Angeles at the end of the 80’s, when flashy, glitzy hard rock ruled the day, but they were determined to avoid clichés and adopted an original sounding blues rock style. Vivian Campbell of Sweet Savage, Dio and Whitesnake fame at the time (soon to join and become a long-standing member of Def Leppard and later, founding member of Last In Line as well) was initially brought on board to produce the band's first demo, but was so impressed with the band that he actually became a member and played on the debut album. Soon after the release, Marc Danzeisen joined Rob, Nick and Vivian to complete the line-up.
Though fans and critics gave the album a warm reception and high regard, the unfortunate and age old story of change of personnel at their record label came about and eventually led the band members to go their own ways, with Campbell settling into the Def Leppard lineup and Nick Brophy becoming a respected engineer and producer. Riverdogs, with a reformed line-up, released two more records in 1993, "Bone" and "Absolutely Live", before going on an extended hiatus. They reconvened, with the original line-up, in 2003 to record new material and play a few reunion shows. Those new songs were recorded as demos, but only completed in the studio in 2011 when their last album, “World Gone Mad” was released.
Now, six years after their last studio album, Riverdogs have crafted “California”, a record that truly recreates the magical sounds of their early days and that will surely be welcomed with open arms by fans both old and new!
