Thu
05
Apr

THE CARS Forty Year Road Trip To Rock Hall

Artist: 
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Categories: 
Podcasts & Radio
 
Dallas, TX - April 5, 2018.  North American syndicated Rock radio show and website IN THE STUDIO with Redbeard: The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands celebrates The CARS 40th anniversary on the eve of their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

The Cars‘ zero-to-platinum popularity came amidst the final fizzle of the mid-Seventies Punk Rock sparkler, and the sound and attitude that survived by Spring 1978 was labeled by at least one rock writer as the nebulous one-size-fits-none term New Wave.

The drivetrain of the five man Boston band was always powered by the songs of Ric Ocasek. Growing up in the Otcasek household (Ric(k) later would also drop the “t” from his surname), early 1960s Sputnik paranoia and Telstar technology mixed with Cold War James Bond spy intrigue for Ric, courtesy of his father.

The Cars’ test track where they had tuned up their sound was the mid-Seventies Boston club scene, and the first recording to roll off the assembly line,”Just What I Needed“, contains every musical hallmark of their identifiable style: the catchy simplicity of Ocasek’s songwriting; the half-spoken halting unconventional lead singing by both Ric and bass player Benjamin Orr, allowing The Cars to be a versatile hybrid crossover with all-terrain vocals; the insistent industrial beat by former Modern Lovers drummer David Robinson; the quirky, campy, reedy organ and synthesizer of Berklee School of Music grad Greg Hawkes; and the melodic yet economical lead guitar of Elliot Easton.

"We made that first record in twelve days,” remarks The Cars’ driving force Ric Ocasek in this IN THE STUDIO classic rock interview. What is even more remarkable is that The Cars would accelerate from regional Boston appeal in May 1978 to parked on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine by the following January with the headline “Best New Group”, eventually to sell seven million copies of that incredible debut album.

The Cars  surprise hit debut (#16 on Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 100 Debut Albums of All Time), the torque of the Cars’ “Good Times Roll”, “My Best Friend’s Girl”, “Just What I Needed”, “You’re All I Got Tonight”, “Bye Bye Love”, the mesmerizing “Moving in Stereo”, and the plaintive lead vocal by the late Benjamin Orr “All Mixed Up” all propelled the cross-legged Woodstock generation off of their butts and back onto the dance floor. The sleek polished chrome and glass produced sound by Journey/ Queen veteran Roy Thomas Baker combined distinctive instrumental arrangements from rock and roll’s past in a way that, paradoxically, sounded cutting edge modern.

Forty years later we still rev up this high-horsepower rock roadster which runs as well today as the day in May 1978 when The Cars rolled off the production line. Neck and neck with Heartbeat City as their best seller, The Cars  is highly responsible for shuttling the band from the parking lot to get the green light for entrance into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

 
The Cars 40th & Rock Hall Edition /IN THE STUDIO with Redbeard interview is available now to STREAM at: www.inthestudio.net/online-on-demand/cars-40th-ric-ocasek-greg-hawkes
 

 

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Thu
05
Apr

TNT Issue Statement In Response To Fan Reaction

Artist: 
 
To counter the overwhelming negative reaction to the new TNT track 'Are You Ready For Some Hard Rock', TNT guitarist Ronnie LeTekro has issued the following statement:
 
"The musical direction on the new album contains classic TNT songs and is generally very melodic. In that respect, ‘Get Ready For Some Hard Rock’ is kind of untypical for the album that mainly consists of melodic hard rock in the vein of '80s TNT, but we and Frontiers thought it would be a cool track as a teaser and a ‘message’ to rockers all over the world.
This album is as diverse as 'Tell No Tales' and we are very happy about it. Look out for the first proper 'single' "Tears In My Eyes" coming in May. It can’t sound more TNT than that one! :)
Haters and skeptics will be turned into LOVERS again. - Love & Respect, Ronni Tekro"
 
If you haven't already, check the song out for yourself:
 
 
Wed
04
Apr

HARTMANN Has Both 'Hands On The Wheel' For New Album

Artist: 
Friday, May 18, 2018
Categories: 
News Feed
 
The new HARTMANN album 'Hands On The Wheel' will be released May 18 via Pride & Joy.
 
The history of HARTMANN started in 2005 with the debut 'Out in the cold', often reviewed as 'Album of the month' in a wide range of rock magazines all over the world. With their successful followers 'Home' (2006), '3' (2009), 'Balance' (2012), the live & acoustic DVD/CD 'Handmade' (2008) and the compilation 'The Best Is Yet To Come' (2013) the band has meanwhile worked out their status as being one of Germany’s best modern hard rock bands that is offering international high-class melodic rock. The band also enjoys the good reputation as an outstanding live band and has been called to tour with rock legends as Toto, The Hooters, Uriah Heep, Edguy, Mother’s Finest, Y&T and others. Their latest album ’Shadows & Silhouettes’ (2016) has been accompanied again with a club tour and many festivals last summer.  
 
Now the forthcoming new album ’Hands On The Wheel’ – way more rough and rocking and than its predecessor - will be released May 18th 2018 on the artist’s label Sonic 11 Records in cooperation with Pride&Joy Music/Soulfood, again co-produced by Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Beyond The Black, Kamelot). Including the participation of guest musicians as Jimmy Kresic (The Roots, Rock Meets Classic), Karolina Galbavà & Irena Morisakovà (Hans Zimmer), the album will contain the catchy singles/videoclips ’Don’t want back down’ and the very special duet ’Simple man’ feat. Mr. Big vocalist Eric Martin, accompanied by a huge promotion-/video-campaign of Germany’s No 1 rock radio station Rockantenne and a special Facebook & online campaign.  
 
Since the late 90’s founder Oliver Hartmann is known as a highly respected singer and guitarist on the international music scene due to four albums with the band At Vance, studio work for hard rock and metal acts as Hammerfall, Rhapsody, Helloween or Edguy, as a long time studio and live member of top sellers as Avantasia and as part of 'Rock Meets Classic' that is featuring the big names of the international rock scene: Alice Cooper, Ian Gillan, Uriah Heep, Status Quo, Thin Lizzy, Paul Rodgers, Eric Bazilian, Jimi Jamison, Midge Ure, Steve Lukather, Chris Thompson, Bonnie Tyler and many others. Besides that Oliver Hartmann is also fronting the successful Pink Floyd Tribute Echoes that climbed up to No 20 of the German charts in 2015 with their acoustic live DVD ’Barefoot To The Moon’ and received outstanding critics world wide. 
 
Line-up: Oliver Hartmann (vocals, guitar); Mario Reck (guitar); Armin Donderer (bass); Markus Kullmann (drums); additional keys by Jimmy Kresic 
 
 
01. Don’t Want Back Down, 02. Your Best Excuse, 03. Cold As Stone, 04. Simple Man, 05. Last Plane Out, 06. Soulmates, 07. The Harder They Come, 08. Dream World. 09. I Remember * 10. Lost In Translation, 11. The Sky Is Falling, 12. Heart Of Gold
 
 
Wed
04
Apr

EARTH FOR SALE - "Life" (Official Video)

 
Music Video by EARTH FOR SALE performing LIFE From the Album "RESET" (C) 2018 AnderStein Music
 
Earth For Sale are: Silvia Reale - vocals Marco Vecchio - guitars Stefano “Steff” Brusa - keyboards Stefano Cavalloni - bass Fabio Mas – drums
 
fb.me/earthforsaleband instagram.com/earthforsaleband/
 
Wed
04
Apr

Original VICIOUS RUMORS Bassist DAVE STARR Celebrates The 30-Year Anniversary Of 'Digital Dictator'

Artist: 
Categories: 
News Feed
 
ORIGINAL VICIOUS RUMORS BASSIST DAVE STARR CELEBRATES THE 30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAND'S LEGENDARY 1988 ALBUM, 'DIGITAL DICTATOR,' WITH NEW FACEBOOK PAGE
 
Before playing guitar and bass in WildeStarr, and a run with CHASTAIN, Dave Starr was the bassist in one of the world's premier power metal bands; VICIOUS RUMORS (aka VR). As a member for 10 years on all of VR's greatest albums, tours, and videos, Dave was also the one responsible for bringing vocalist Carl Albert and guitarist Mark McGee into the band, thus cementing the greatest lineup in the bands history. 

The first album with this lineup, 'DIGITAL DICTATOR,' was recorded the summer of 1987, and released on Shrapnel records April of 1988. The record became an instant classic worldwide, and the band played tour dates in the USA, Mexico, Canada and Europe. The record is still in print and selling strong - 30 years after its release! 

Dave says: "Digital Dictator is generally regarded by VR fans as the band's best album. Everything clicked - we all contributed to the songwriting, and the amazing chemistry the 5 of us had just came through with incredible results."  

Shrapnel Records President Mike Varney recently said, "Vicious Rumors was one of the early bands that I signed to Shrapnel. Among many other distinctions, VR were a live band and not a studio project. 'Digital Dictator' has become a metal classic and, among other things, introduced amazing vocalist Carl Albert to the world. It's hard to believe that 30 years has passed but the quality of the performances has stood the test of time."

Dave has put together a new Facebook page dedicated to the VR 'Digital Dictator' album 30th anniversary: 
www.facebook.com/groups/DaveStarrVRDD30/?ref=bookmarks
 
This FB page will feature pics and stories from the classic 'Digital Dictator' era, and more importantly, Dave has finally unleashed never before seen videos he had filmed of the band! These videos have sat in boxes for over 30 years, until Dave started to transfer them to digital format this year. LIVE shows, backstage, in the studio, hanging out, etc. - a literal treasure trove of VR videos that are finally seeing the light of day!! The first 4 segments are up now for all the fans to see for the first time ever, with lots more videos to come.

Dave Starr is now available for interviews with the metal press worldwide to discuss the VR Digital Dictator 30th anniversary 1988 - 2018, and the new WildeStarr "Beyond the Rain" CD (issued in December of last year). And you can expect the following from Dave in conversation: 

* Unique insight from Dave Starr, who was the bassist in VR for 10 years, and played on all the bands greatest albums, tours, and videos. 
* Co-writer of 3 songs from the Digital Dictator album: RLH, Digital Dictator, and Replicant
* The straight story, with no BS and no filter. Dave tells it like it was...and is.
* The true story behind how Dave assembled the VR Digital Dictator lineup
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
 
 

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