ANN WILSON has announced her 2017 20-date solo tour. The ANN WILSON OF HEARTcross-country trek kicks off Tuesday, March 8 at the Moore Theatre in WILSON's Seattle hometown before moving onto Los Angeles, Denver, Philadelphia, Englewood, NJ and New Orleans, among other cities. Tickets will go on sale beginning this Friday, January 13. See the itinerary below and view the trailer here.
"The stage is a magical place where I can be beautifully in and out of control, where I can build a fire and then jump into it," says the esteemed and pioneering Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend who's known for her force-of-nature vocals. "The stage is where I have always lived; where I've expressed my deepest emotions and supreme joys." ANN continues: "I suppose I am addicted to it. I've never been much good at talking, but I can sing, and when I sing I connect with people in a much deeper, higher way."
What will fans experience at these shows? "People can expect the unexpected in 2017," ANN says. "A beautiful, classy set with an elegant, artistic production...The music will be a mix of songs that have powered my life; iconic soul stirring covers, songs from my years of solo work and the unforgettable songs of Heart."
Musicians on board for the ANN WILSON OF HEART tour include Craig Bartock on guitar (Heart member for a dozen years, who also performed in the Ann Wilson Thing for two years) from San Francisco; Andy Stoller on bass (the Ann Wilson Thing member for two years) from Seattle; Denny Fongheiser on drums and percussion (Heart member in the 1990's for two years) from Los Angeles. The name for the upcoming tour, explains ANN, "is to give people a point of recognition; to help people understand who I am and where I came from."
The ANN WILSON OF HEART dates follow the release of HEART's critically acclaimed 2016BEAUTIFUL BROKEN album and summer headlining tour with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Cheap Trick,along with HEART solo shows before and after. "Heart is always evolving, changing," says ANN. "It is a living organism. Right now it's in a cocoon of metamorphosis, and we will see what emerges when the time is right."
Look for ANN to continue to announce more ANN WILSON of HEART tour dates. Here is the current itinerary:
There's no time wasted when it comes to one of Canada's most thrilling metal bands STRIKER.
In 2016, they unleashed their award winning Stand In The Fire, their fourth album and first release via their own independent label Record Breaking Records.
Wasting no time kicking off the new year, the shredders are set to return with their fifth, (self-titled) studio album due out on February 24, 2017 along with tours across the USA and Europe from January till mid April (dates listed below).
The band comments on the upcoming release:
"This is our no bullshit album. We cut out everything that wasn't absolutely necessary and kept everything short and to the point. We pray at the altar of heavy metal everyday, and there are some musical ideas that persist through time and some that don't. We focused in on what keeps listeners coming back and got rid of everything else. You can't climb Mount Everest dragging any useless shit with you; if you want to make it to the top, only bring with you what is absolutely necessary:
Lethal Amounts of Shred." .
STRIKER has launched a pre-order campaign with immediate download of their streaming first single Born To Lose
"Born To Lose, like most of our songs, is about doing what you want in life. When you are born into this world, there is a lot of you life that is predetermined. If you choose to change part of your life you need to go out and live it, not just fantasise about it. We've always wanted to hear music like ours, so we started a band and created it. Born to Lose embraces everything we love about music: speed, nonstop shred, huge vocals, guitars, and drums, and over the top energy and emotion.
If it doesn't make you want to throw down and party then nothing will."
MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST “LIVE” TOKYO
FEATURING THE ORIGINAL MSG VOCALISTS
GARY BARDEN, GRAHAM BONNET AND ROBIN MCAULEY
TO BE RELEASED ON MARCH 24th 2017!
AVAILABLE ON 2CD, 2CD+DVD COMBO, LP, DVD, BLU-RAY, DIGITAL
Michael Schenker - Lead Guitarist (6 years younger brother of Rudolf Schenker) 1970 - At age 15 - Michael records his first album with the Scorpions creating instant international recognition. 1972 - At age 17 - Michael joins the British Rock Band UFO for 6 Albums reaching their highest success ever. 1978 - At age 23 - Michael leaves UFO after recording Strangers in the Night, becoming one of the most successful rock live albums of all time. 1979 - At age 24 - Michael opens the doors to America for the Scorpions with Lovedrive. 1979 - At age 24 - Michael starts his solo career.
Michael Schenker, one of music’s greatest rock guitarists, will release Michael Schenker Fest “Live” Tokyo - a sstunning new live recording and filmed concert released by inakustik on CD, DVD, Blu-ray and Digital on Friday 24th March 2017.
Filmed and recorded at Tokyo’s International Forum on August 24, 2016, this historic concert features guest appearances from some of the greatest rock vocalists who have worked with Schenker over the years including M.S.G.’S Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, and Robin McAuley of the McAuley Schenker Group.
Watch the official trailer for Michael Schenker Fest “Live” Tokyo - http://bit.ly/2j8vwL0
“It's been a long time since M.S.G. - Live At Budokan,” says Schenker.
Like a miracle Michael Schenker returns to Japan with his past original singers from the '80's to celebrate the Michael Schenker Fest “Live” Tokyo with Barden, Bonnet and McAuley at the amazing Tokyo International Forum. 5000 fans witnessed an anthology moment of quintessential hard rock music of the highest calibre.
Says Schenker, “It’s a miracle that after all these years, something like this took place with the original band members of “M.S.G.”. Being able to go back to those days and celebrate the music is an exciting experience for us, as well as for old and new fans. To being able to re-experience, and for the new audience to get a feel of what it was like, is incredibly enjoyable.”
Continues Schenker, “It's an amazing feeling to have all of my M.S.G. Family from the '80's performing together and especially with Graham Bonnet, who I never got to play any concerts after our Assault Attack album that was originally released in 1982. Fortunately, being able to have the participation of original M.S.G. members such as Gary Barden, Chris Glen (bass) and Ted McKenna (drums) being part of it, and somehow, to perform with Robin McAuley and Steve Mann (guitar, keyboards) again as well, is pretty awesome.”
The Band:
Michael Schenker - Lead Guitar
Ted McKenna - Drums
Steve Mann - Guitar, Keyboards
Chris Glen - Bass
The Vocalists:
Gary Barden
Graham Bonnet
Robin McAuley
“It was just one enjoyable event from beginning to end,” says Schenker. “Seeing those happy, excited fans right from the beginning before the show even started, was incredible. It was like Budokan all over again.”
Schenker remains enthusiastic and overjoyed at performing Schenker Fest with Barden, Bonnet and McAuley all under the same roof in Tokyo.
“It’s wonderful how we all got on with each other. It felt incredibly natural, as if it was always like this. Right from the start of rehearsal, the chemistry was great. No problems, just pure fun.”
TRACKLISTING:
1. Intro: Searching For Freedom
2. Into The Arena
3. Attack Of The Mad Axeman ft. Gary Barden
4. Victim Of Illusion ft. Gary Barden
5. Cry For The Nations ft. Gary Barden
6. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie ft. Gary Barden
7. Armed And Ready ft. Gary Barden
8. Coast To Coast
9. Assault Attack ft. Graham Bonnet
10. Desert Song ft. Graham Bonnet
11. Dancer ft. Graham Bonnet
12. Captain Nemo
13. This Is My Heart ft. Robin McAuley
14. Save Yourself ft. Robin McAuley
15. Love Is Not A Game ft. Robin McAuley
16. Shoot Shoot ft. Robin McAuley
17. Rock Bottom ft. Robin McAuley
18. Doctor Doctor ft. Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley
Michael Schenker Fest “Live” Tokyo is available in the following formats:
PHYSICAL
2 CD
2 CD + DVD Combo
Vinyl LP
DVD
Blu-ray
DIGITAL
Hi-Res download
Download
Stream
Michael Schenker started his professional career as a recording Artist in 1970 as a young hopeful talent in the Scorpions and followed this with a stint in the British hard rock institution UFO and then his own Michael Schenker Group before moving on to forming The Temple of Rock.
Over the years, Michael has not just experienced the highs and lows of life; but his development as a guitarist has been consistent, from a German Wunderkind to an experienced and technically highly skilled guitarist.
The Michael Schenker Group (abbreviated as M.S.G.) are a guitar-oriented hard rock band formed in 1979 by former Scorpions and UFO guitarist, Michael Schenker.
Michael Schenker's solo career instantly took off right from the start 1980 when the eponymous debut album, "Michael Schenker Group", featuring Gary Barden on vocals, entered the top 5 UK Album and Single Charts with Armed and Ready, followed by the release of Live At The Budokan.
In 1982, Graham Bonnet who had just left Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow was temporary replacing Gary Barden and recorded with M.S.G. the album Assault Attack which was to become many musicians’ favorite featuring Chris Glen on bass and Ted McKenna on drums.
In 1986, Schenker and vocalist Robin McAuley formed the McAuley Schenker Group, which lasted until 1992.
M.S.G.’s music is best described as mostly melodic hard rock with progressive undertones. Michael Schenker is famous for his black and white Gibson Flying V and for his unorthodox approach to lead guitar. Michael is sponsored by Dean Guitars and is well known in the neo-classical genre.
A teaser for the new swedish hard rock project, Gathering Of King's upcoming single "Forever And A Day", is available below. The single will be released soon.
"Forever And A Day" is written by Victor Olsson and is taken from the yet untitled debut album, which will be released in 2017.
The album is being helmed by producer Thomas "Plec" Johansson, who has previously worked with Watain, Onslaught, Scar Symmetry, The Night Flight Orchestra, among others. "Plec" has managed to fill his studio walls with multiple platinum and gold record awards as well as taking home three Swedish Grammy awards. The cover artwork was created by hugely talented Lizette Lannhammar.
Line-up on "Forever And A Day":
Bjorrn Strid - Lead Vocals (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra)
Escape Music is delighted to announce the release date for the debut album from USA singer STEFANIE. The album is due February 24.
Stefanie is:
Vocals - Stefanie Johnson
Acoustic Guitar - Paul Franceschini
Guitar/ Bass/ Drums/ Keyboard - Brian J. Anthony
Special Guests:
Guitar - Paul Crook (Meat Loaf), Ken Dubman (Prophet)
Keyboards - Charlie Calv (Shotgun Symphony and Punky Meadows)
Backing Vocals - Hasan Smith, Tonya Price, and Shekinah Glory Kee
Track Listening:
1. All I Know
2. Master of Disguise
3. Stranger
4. Everything You Need
5. Word Man
6. Hello Love
7. One Life
8. In My Shoes
9. The Second Time Around
10. The Song I Was Meant To Write
11. We Will Fight
Stefanie was born and raised in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, once home to some of the country's largest steel manufacturing and the subject of Billy Joel's 1982 hit 'Allentown'. The towering Steel Stacks have become the backdrop for a flourishing music scene, the home of Musikfest, and the beginning of Stefanie's songwriting journey.
Stefanie discovered her passion for music and songwriting at a young age. She got her start by singing her song ideas into her grandfather's old cassette recorder. As she dove deeper into songwriting, she learned to play guitar which took her writing to the next level. She began to showcase her songs by taking the stage at Lehigh Valley's Musikfest, as well as appearing on the tv music series 'Steel Sessions', and singing the National Anthem at Coca-Cola Stadium.
In 2011 Stefanie ventured to Nashville and performed at the legendary Bluebird Cafe and 12th & Porter. Two years later she traveled to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to further expand her life journey. These experiences have led to the collection of songs from her debut CD.
In 2015, Stefanie began recording her album with producer Brian J. Anthony who immediately embraced her vision. Brian helped create a sonic landscape by mixing bits of rock, pop and country while not losing the intensity of her voice or deep personal reflection in her lyrics. The result of these tracks gained the attention of some of the area's best-known musicians who all jumped at the opportunity to be part of this release.
Stefanie continues to captivate fans of all ages with her love torn lyrics and catchy hooks. She is ready to take center stage as one of Pop/Rock's best up and coming artist.
British vocalist DAVID A SAYLOR passed away following a massive heart attack last week.
His bprevious band WILD ROSE paid tribute:
With tears in our eyes and with great sadness we would like to inform you that the singer of our two albums "Dangerous" and "Hit 'N' Run" David Antonio Saylor has passed away this morning.
We will always remember him as a friend, a great person and voice he was.... Deep condolences to his family, hope his soul will rest in peace... R.I.P. Brother we will always remember you... https://youtu.be/bhlO4MzcxrI
