MTM ANNOUNCE JANUARY TITLES AND LOOK FORWARD INTO 2005:
MTM Music have announced details of their anticipated January titles. The details and cover art is as follows:
Martie Peters Group - MPG is released January 31 and features the track listing: The Beast Inside . Riot On The 5th Floor . Only Dreaming . Number 1 . Takes Some Time . Heart Is An Empty Space . A World Without You . Take Me Over The Edge . Bird On The Wire . Hard To Choose . Dixie Toot.
Line-Up: Martie Peters - Vocals, Martin Slott - Guitar, Anthony Lledo - Guitar, BJ - Bass, Jakob Schlein – Drums.
After almost 10 years in the band Push it was time for a change for Martie Peters and the challenge to record an album with a solo group seemed like the next natural step forward. He teamed up with long time friend and multi musician (keyboards, guitar, bass) Anthony Lledo for the production while former band mate Martin Slott was invited in as the main guitarist for the new songs.
Martie wanted to cover more ground than what he had previously achieved in a band and so he also hooked up with guitarist Rene Shades, the two played together in the sleaze rock band Sateria from 1987 to 1991, to add different moods for different songs. Rene Shades has recently played with Mike Tramp's touring band. Christian Thiesen is an old school guitarist who added just the right feeling for the cover version of the 1974 Rod Stewart/Ron Wood track Dixie Toot. Various other musicians have been brought in and the result is a fresh album that varies from classic hard rock songs to ballads and mid-tempo tracks, more ground is covered!
MPG was recorded in Copenhagen during 2004 and mixed by no one else than Tommy Hansen who was recently responsible for TNT and Fate. The album, also officially released in Japan, contains of 11 great melodic rock songs and Martie's voice reminds to Mike Tramp at his best days in White Lion: the fans will love this album!
Greenhouze - Greenhouze is released January 24 and features the track listing: The Point . Waterlin . Here In The Air . Remember . Train Song . Insanity . Tall Grasses . Clouds (instrumental) . Rain . Snow On The Roof (instrumental) . Everything . Highway In The Sun.
Line-Up: Solli - Lead & backing vocals; Lars Levin - Electric, acoustic & bass guitars, keyboards, backing vocals; Additional musicians: Frank Tostrup - Drums & percussion; Celio de Carvahlo - Percussion on 4 & 7; Leif Johansen - Backing vocals on 7 & 11; Drums samples played by Mike Sturgis.
In 1999 guitarist Lars Levin (Second Heat, Session musician, producer) was recording a bunch of songs he had written the latest years. Solli (Sons Of Angels, Psycho Motel, 21 Guns) was hired in for backing vocals and it sounded so good they decided to work together on a long term basis. Early 2001 they started recording the first Greenhouze album. It was finished in November 2002. One year later they secured a 3-album contract with MTM Music.
The album features 12 tracks which has a huge, updated AOR sound for the 2000's and beyond. Both the music and the lyrics express urban alienation vs the deep sense of mystic harmony in nature. With this album the Norwegian Rockers have created a unique sound, but at the same time resembles bands as diverse as Pink Floyd, U2, Bad English, Whitesnake, Boston and Mr. Mister! Solli has a voice that goes from melodic and emotional to intense and plain aggressive. Lars Levin combines strong riffs with melodic leads and from time to time an acoustic guitar is in there to. He also plays the lush keyboard landscapes, deep bass guitar as well as singing back up vocals. The drums are handled by Frank Tostrup (Shirley's Temple) who has written the title song for Gene Simmons' new solo album, Asshole.
These Swedes have introduced themselves with a demo CD sent by mail. "Every day we receive demos from all over the world, but only once in blue moon the enthusiasm of the first soundcheck is as great as in Greenhouze's case," says Mario Lehmann, joint owner and managing director of the Munich based label MTM Music, who promptly put of copy of the CD into his car's stereo. There, it's on "heavy rotation" until it can be exchanged by the real pressing.
On this album every song is different from each other, thus maintaining a signature sound. The music of Greenhouze is likely to fit the Hard Rock/AOR audience as well as the mainstream market.
Rhapsody Sweden - Strange Vibrations is released January 24 and features the track listing: I've Done All I Can . Been so long . Crazy Dance . Belly Dancer . Strange Vibrations . The creepers . Take To The Highway. New & unreleased bonus tracks: It's Gotta Be Alright . Sweet Rock 'N Roll.
Line-Up: Peter Åhs - Keyboard; Kjell-Åke Norén - Guitar, keyboard; Benny Ahlkvist - vocals; Torbjörn Persson - Drums, percussion; Rudolf Janszky - Bass.
Rhapsody Sweden was formed as a 4-piece band back in 1974: Kjell-Åke Noren, Benny Ahlqvist, Rudolf Janszky, Torbjörn Persson.
1977 the band was joined by Peter Åhs on keyboard and the same year was fairly successful for the band and they were booked on tons of gigs in Sweden and Scandinavia. Later the same year they were also booked on a tour in Hungary for a month with over 25 gigs. They did TV-shows and a radio show for the national Hungarian radio and TV.
When they came back from Hungary they continued to play concerts in Sweden and the album became a hit on the chart and the album is still cult-rated for the Swedish hard rock/pomp/AOR - audience. Torbjörn Persson: "Now after all these years we're very proud that MTM wants to re-release our album again, and that we could get hold of the master tapes. We have remastered the old songs carefully and we have also recorded two brand new songs as bonus tracks for this re-release. When we recorded these new songs our old chemistry was back and it almost felt like if there were 4 teenagers back in the studio. It was great fun and we decided to record new songs for an album right away."
Further news from MTM Music:
The Northern Light project continues to develop. Kimmo Blom (Heartplay, Urban Tale) finished the vocals for the song Lay Down Your Defences written by mainman Tor Talle, Kimmo and Fredrik Bergh from Street Talk. Kimmo will go into studio next week to record vocals for two new songs. Terje Eide (On The Rise) and Tor have just finished the song High Upon The Sky and Fergie Frederiksen has booked studio and will record the vocal parts for Eye To Eye next week.
Also, Peter Sundell will soon start recording the vocals for Don`t Turn Away written by Tor and Jorn Lande. Tor Talle is happy to have another "Northern Light" on board, Mikael Erlandsson will also be one of the singers on the album, but it is not decided what song he will sing for the moment.
Drums will be played by a great session drummer from Norway called Jango Nilsen. He plays drums on the latest album to Kurt Nilsen. Keyboard will be played by Egil Orvedal, Fredrik Bergh and Tor Talle and Bass guitar will be played by Rune Ganderud and Tor Talle as well. Kjetil Nesheim will be the producer for the album. So all the guys are on board and working hard for an exceptional album which will be out mid of next year! Tor has a new website up soon: www.tortalle.com
After their great comeback album My Religion the boys are back at work. Ronni le Tekro and Tony Harnell of TNT have been writing a couple of new songs right after their live performances at Sweden Rock, Deep Impact and Lorca Festival. In December they come together for the first recording session. We keep you informed.
Brunorock is just finishing the recordings for the new album Interaction. As already announced, Michael Wagener will mix the album and early February the album is mastered at Independent Mastering in Nashville by Eric Conn (Ted Nugent, Dokken and 38 Special!) The album is scheduled for April 24, 2005 and there will be a single release available for free at www.musicbuymail.com shortly before Christmas.
A few days ago we received the finished album of Novak and we were blown away! He has done a very good album...but more about Forever Endeavour in an update soon. The album will be released in March 14th and in Japan a few days earlier.
Broke [N] Blue are back working on their follow up album. After some delay, caused by health problems, they are now mixing the first 6 songs.
SIN are reporting a finished recorded album, ready to be mixed and scheduled for spring next year.
Most of the new Nightvision songs are finished, but the vocals are still not done. They will have some raw materials at the end of January, and then the finished mixed songs are expected approx at the end of February.
We haven't heard back from Tommy Denander from some time but the new Radioactive album is supposed to be finished by mid of December and what else than a brilliant record can we expect from Mr. Denander!?!?
The Axe guys, Bobby Barth and Bob Harris are currently working hard in the studio for the upcoming Edge Of Forever album. Bob Harris finished his vocals and Bobby will start mixing the album right away. Let The Demon Rock 'N' Roll is the album title
Also, Faro is preparing a new album and last but not least the finished album of Zeno Zenology II is just waiting to be released. More news soon!
MÖTLEY CRÜE REUNITES ALL ORIGINAL MEMBERS AFTER MORE THAN SIX YEARS:
Here is the full Motley Crue re-union announcement for those that might have missed it when released December 6.
All Four Original Members of The World's Most Infamous Rock Band Release New Single and Video While Also Heralding New Anthology Album...
Los Angeles (December 6, 2004) - The raucous rulers of the sex-and-drugs-fueled nightlife on L.A.'s Sunset Strip have returned to their old stomping grounds. All four original members of Mötley Crüe, the glam-metal gods who ve sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and who paved the way for other seminal rock acts, have reunited for the first time in six years, announcing a new world tour VH1 & VH1 Classic Present Mötley Crüe Red White & Crüe Tour 2005 & Better Live Than Dead, and giving their fans a live taste of it. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, December 11th at Ticketmaster and VH1.com.
The event at the Hollywood Palladium began at 6:00 p.m. with a press conference announcing the tour, a new anthology album and the debut of a fresh single and video, If I Die Tomorrow. The new tour, it was revealed during the press conference, resulted not only from strong demand by homegrown audiences, but was largely fueled by the diligent efforts of Mags Revell, a UK promoter with Metropolis Music Group, who launched his own grass-roots campaign in the UK designed to get the band to reunite. Taking the unprecedented steps of placing advertising in UK media and putting a hold on concert venues in the UK for June, 2005, Revell's efforts quickly gained traction with fans all across the world who added fuel to the fire by taking to the internet and spreading the word.
Said Revell, "I honestly did not know until now whether Motley Crue would respond to our efforts. With the help of tens of thousands of fans in the UK and around the world, I wanted to show the band that there was a real demand for their reunion and I took a big risk. This is the band that we all never thought we'd have the chance to see live again and I strongly admire them for responding to their fans. It is the realization of a dream for so many people for whom Motley Crue represents what rock music is all about."
"Mötley Crüe are a gang of musicians that climbed the mountain of rock to success," Allen Kovac, CEO of Tenth Street Entertainment, said in a statement. "This tour and new music delivers to all those who love one of rock's most passionate and aggressive bands."
Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Mick Mars and Tommy Lee, the original members of Motley Crue, whose stature as the world's most infamous rock band was made legend in their NY Times best-selling autobiography The Dirt, will be touring the world in 2005, beginning with arenas in the US and Canada in February.
The US portion of the the world tour, dubbed Red, White And Crue Tour 2005 - Better Live Than Dead, is being presented by VH1 and VH1 Classic and goes on-sale to the general public this weekend. Beginning today, however, VH1.com are offering a limited number of seats on their website to fans wanting to beat the box office rush.
For dedicated Crüe fans it's all about the live show. In a marathon Motley Crue Style, the band will launch its world tour in February, starting in U.S. arenas and coming back for an amphitheater tour in August and September. The first leg of the tour will run as follows (* indicates a tentative date):
Feb. 17 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Office Depot Center
Feb. 18 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
Feb. 20 Greenville, SC Bi-Lo Center
Feb. 22 Cleveland, OH Gund Arena
Feb. 23 Toronto, ON* Air Canada Center
Feb. 25 Detroit, MI The Palace
Feb. 27 Ottawa, ON Corel Centre
Feb. 28 Hartford, CT Hartford Civic Center
Mar. 3 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Mar. 4 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Spectrum
Mar. 5 Boston, MA Fleet Center
Mar. 6 Washington D.C. MCI Center
Mar. 8 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
Mar. 10 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
Mar. 12 Milwaukee, WI US Cellular Arena
Mar. 14 Minneapolis, MN* Target Center
Mar. 15 Kansas City, MO* Kemper Arena
Mar. 17 Dallas, TX Nokia Live
Mar. 19 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Pavillion
Mar. 20 Las Vegas, NV* The Joint
Mar. 22 San Diego, CA Coors Amphitheatre
Mar. 23 Los Angeles, CA The Forum (tentative)
Mar. 25 Reno, NV Reno Events Center
Mar. 26 Oakland, CA Oakland Arena
The rest of the 2005 world tour is scheduled as follows:
- May Latin America (exact dates to be announced shortly)}
- June UK Arenas & European Festivals
June 7 Helsinki, Finland Icehall Monsters of Millenium
June 8 Turku, Finland Rock in Turku 2005/Ellysee Arena
June 10 Oslo, Norway Spektrum Skooks Out 2005
June 11 Solvesborg, Sweden Sweden Rock Festival
June 12 Bologna, Italy Gods of Metal
June 14 Glasgow, Scotland SECC
June 15 Manchester, England Evening News Arena
June 17 Birmingham, England NEC
June 18 Cardiff, Wales International Arena
June 19 London, England Wembley, Arena
Killing Joke are announced as the opening act for the five UK dates. Additional dates in Europe will be announced shortly.
- Aug./Sep. Amphitheaters in 43 North American cities including Albany, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Concord (CA), Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Holmdel (NJ), Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Nashville, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Scranton, Seattle, Tampa, Toronto, Virginia Beach, Wantaugh (NY), Washington (DC) and West Palm Beach.
- Nov./Dec. Southeast Asia, including Japan, Australia/New Zealand (exact dates to be announced shortly).
In conjunction with the tour, the band s US & International record labels also announced the release of a definitive 2-CD Greatest Hits collection that chronicles the band s entire career. Scheduled for release on February 1st, the set, entitled Red, White & Crue, includes three brand-new Crue songs including the first single If I Die Tomorrow, which features a highly stylized and autobiographically-driven music video.
The Mötley Crüe saga began in a musical era when rock was still recovering from the emasculation of disco and the punk rebellion has already begun to take root. In 1981, bassist Nikki Sixx left his glam-rock band London and met drummer Tommy Lee, both strung-out adolescents with a penchant for the party life and a knack for creating fist-in-the-air anthems. With the recruitment of guitarist Mick Mars and singer Vince Neil, the band adopted the moniker Mötley Crüe and recorded their first album, Too Fast for Love, a paradigm-shifting effort which stoked the growth of the glam-metal movement based in Los Angeles. Picked up by Elektra, the Crüe released a string of classic albums through the 1980s Shout at the Devil, Theatre of Pain, Girls, Girls, Girls and Dr. Feelgood, generating hit singles from most of their cover tracks as well as Smokin in the Boys Room, Don t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) and many others. They were also selling out stadiums, eventually to the tune of over 10 million concert tickets.
Yet the forces that made Mötley Crüe's kick-ass music so authentic, namely their own reckless lifestyle of excess, gradually took its toll. In 1989 Nikki Sixx was revived after flatlining from a heroin overdose, the most extreme example of the band's indulgences.
The band's current reunion comes at a time of re-growth for all of its members Tommy Lee is currently shepherding his best-selling biography, Tommyland, along with a new NBC reality show to debut in 2005; Vince Neil, having toured continuously as a solo artist, has appeared on several TV sitcoms as well as the WB reality series The Surreal Life; Nikki Sixx has been touring and recording with Brides of Destruction, writing songs and is preparing to release his autobiographical The Heroin Diaries; and Mick Mars, having struggled since his teens with the chronic, degenerative illness ankylosing spondylitis, has been successfully recovering from hip replacement surgery.
A feature film based on the band's best-selling autobiography, The Dirt, is currently being developed by the band in conjunction with MTV Films/Paramount. The screenplay is being written by Rich Wilkes (XXX).
Red, White & Crue Track Listing:
Disc One - Live Wire . Piece of Your Action . Toast of the Town . Too Fast For Love . Black Widow . Looks That Kill . Too Young To Fall In Love [remix] . Helter Skelter . Shout at the Devil . Smokin' in the Boys Room . Use It Or Lose It . Girls, Girls, Girls . Wild Side . You're All I Need . All In The Name Of... . Kickstart My Heart . Without You . Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) . Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.) . Dr. Feelgood.
Disc Two - Anarchy In The UK . Primal Scream . Home Sweet Home ['91 remix] . Hooligan's Holiday [Brown Nose Edit] . Misunderstood [Successful Format Version] . Planet Boom . Bittersuite . Afraid [Alternative Rave Mix] . Beauty . Generation Swine . Bitter Pill . Enslaved . Hell on High Heels . New Tattoo [single version] . If I Die Tomorrow (new) . Street Fighting Man (new) . Sick Love Song (new).
On the subject of the new Motley single If I Die Tomorrow, former L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns is not a fan! He posted a message on Metal Sludge's "Gossip Board", stating: "OK, I am the biggest Mötley fan in the world and this new song sucks donkey's ass, elephant's ass and my mom's ass. Vince's [Neil] voice has never been better and they made him sing this shit. I am embarrassed. Yes, Nikki's my best friend, but I ain't goin' along with this one 'cause I would look like a donkey's donkey."
SWEDEN ROCK FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FIRST BANDS:
Sweden Rock Festival have announced the first run of bands that will compromise it's 2005 show. Announced so far are: Mötley Crüe . Accept . Kansas . Styx . Dio . Magnum . Saxon . Hammerfall . Blackfoot . Nazareth . Vixen . Sonata Arctica . Robin Trower . Helix . Shakra . Hellfueled . Morgana Lefay . Satanic Slaughter . Symphorce . Crystal Eyes . A.C.T . Thyrfing.
More festival details at: www.swedenrock.com.
JOURNEY'S NEXT DVD A VHS CLASSIC:
It seems the on again/off again release of Journey's Frontiers And Beyond on DVD is back on. Japanese retailers have begun listing the 1983 VHS release as due on DVD January 26. A catalogue number of CRBL-10015 has been assigned.
In related news, Soul SirkUS finally have a chance to blow audiences away with 4 Californian live shows. I've heard a little about the proposed set list and would recommend anyone in the remote vicinity make sure they witness these first shows for the band! The details are:
January 7, 2005, Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA
January 13, 2005, The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CA
January 14, 2005, The Independent, San Francisco, CA
January 15, 2005, Harrah's South Shore Room, Lake Tahoe, NV.
ArtistLinks: www.soulsirkus.com www.journeymusic.com.
NEWS FROM SORCERY STUDIOS ONLINE - TONY HARNELL, TNT, MASQUERADE 7 MARCIE FREE:
Masquerade has just released their new album, entitled In Disguise which takes the listener back to the sounds from their highly regarded debut release. With all the positive reviews and brisk sales of In Disguise the band is already making plans to return to the studio for another new release in 2005 as well as a possible Live CD and DVD. Anyone purchasing the new CD through the bands website will get a free preview of the live DVD for next year. www.masqueradetheband.com
Legendary vocalist Marcie Free has just opened up 'The Vault' on her website that allows fans that join access to download monthly updated high quality MP3's of all her recordings through the years which will include dozens of previously unavailable demo, studio, and live tracks. www.marciefree.com
Tony Harnell is off to Scandinavia for some recording, writing and a couple of little shows with Ronni Le Tekro and friends. "Hectic is a good word for my life right now, but it¹s all good. I can't remember a time in my career when I have done so much music. 2005 will be a very good year if you are a TH fan! Lots and lots of amazing music is coming your way."
A big announcement is coming soon about a secret project I have finished. Stay tuned!
Tony and Ronni are writing for the follow up to My Religion. Until then they have posted a new video download is available for My Religion.
www.tonyharnell.com and www.tnttheband.com.
EMERALD RAIN SLEEPWALKING ON NEW STUDIO ALBUM:
Canadian melodic rockers Emerald Rain have almost completed their next studio album, at this stage tentatively titled Sleepwalk. The album is due for a Northern summer release in Japan, with a European deal far from settled. The band, which will feature the original line-up from Broken Saviours, has a new Japanese deal in place, and continue to look for a European deal. The band's Murray says: "The band are in a position where, because of our careers over here, we don't need the money anymore." That's good news for fans, as he adds: "...we're gonna do whatever FEELS right."
UNLEASH THE NEXT YNGWIE MALMSTEEN ALBUM:
Yngwie Malmsteen has named his new solo album Unleash The Fury. The title is a very tongue in cheek reference to a quote from an audio tape which leaked a year or so back, featuring Yngwie going nuts at someone on a US domestic flight. The band featured on the new album, due in early 2005 is: Yngwie Malmsteen - All Guitars; Doogie White - Vocals; Patrik Johansson - Drums; Joakim Svalberg - Keyboards. Official album release details will be announced soon at: www.yngwie.org.
STYX LINE UP FOR COVERS ALBUM:
Styx have begun work on a new studio album - but not quite an official follow-up to Cyclorama. A covers album will be released sometime in the first half of 2005. Frontman Tommy Shaw had this to say: "Now we're cutting bass guitars, electric and acoustic guitars, and every stringed instrument we can find in my house. In doing these cover songs we are getting a lesson in old school arranging and recording and this will be resonate in whatever comes after these sessions. To see how bands did things before digital recording (not that we weren't one of those bands, but we've long since gotten on board the digital train) has been a real breath of fresh air, and a license to Rock, recklessly and unchained by styles which emerged over the last 30 years is downright emancipating."
Incidentally, Tommy is one of the many vocalists featured on the next Michael Schenker album, due in 2005.
JOHN SYKES STILL A BAD BOY:
The release of John Sykes' new solo live album, recorded on his brief Japanese tour in April of this year, has been delayed until December 29. Bad Boy Live features the following tracks: Bad Boy . We Fall Down . Cold Sweat . Crying In The Rain . Jellyroll . Is This Love . Look In His Eyes . I Don't Wanna Live My Life Like You . Please Don't Leave Me . Still Of The Night . Thunder And Lightning.
The band featured on tour and on this record are: John Sykes, Derek Sherinian, Marco Mendoza and Tommy Aldridge.
BRIAN MAY POSTS ONLINE ABOUT 2005 PLAN:
Queen guitarist Brian May has confirmed news of the band's plans for a 2005 tour with Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers in place of Freddy Mercury.
A post to Brianmay.com states: "It really all came about because of the Fender 50th Anniversary gig that I did with Paul Rodgers. We were both so amazed at the chemistry that was going on in All Right Now, that suddenly it seems blindingly obvious that there was something happening here. The shows are a definite for the UK and Europe with the rest of the world still being considered. Barring accidents, Queen and Paul Rodgers will be on the road, pretty much for sure, around April 2005."
The tour will feature songs from both Queen and Paul Rodgers' history, plus other suitable material.
VELVET REVOLVER HEAD DOWNUNDER:
Velvet Revolver will tour Australia and New Zealand for the first time in 2005. The band will begin the tour in Christchurch, New Zealand on February 19. Tickets are on sale from December 17. The dates are:
Thursday 17 February 2005, Westpac Centre - Christchurch
Saturday 19 February 2005, Supertop at Ericsson Stadium - Auckland
Monday 21 February 2005, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Wednesday 23 February 2005, Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Saturday 26 February 2005, Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Sunday 27 February 2005, Vodafone Arena, Melbourne
Wednesday 02 March 2005, Challenge Stadium, Perth
SEARCH FOR INXS ROCK STAR COMMENCES NEXT MONTH:
Inxs' search for a new singer, achieved via the reality TV Show Rock Star will commence in January. The band and show will host auditions in 20 cities around the world, including Auckland, Sydney, Liverpool, Toronto, LA, Chicago, Boston, Seattle and New York.
The series will screen initially in the USA on CBS in July 2005. Full dates for auditions and conditions of entry have been announced and are available at the Official Rock Star site: www.inxsrockstar.com.
TYGERS ON PAN TANG WELCOME NEW SINGER:
The Tygers of Pan Tang are pleased to announce there new vocalist. He is Jacopo Meille. Jack is also vocalist for Italian band Mantra.
Tygers' Robb Weir states: "We are over the moon to have found such a great vocalist .This is something we should have done 3 years ago, gone for a totally professional singer. He fits more into the Jon Deverill way of doing things and that suits me just fine. We already have 3 new tunes done with Jack which just came out of an end of rehearsal jam which we are really happy with. We will be going into the studio with John Mitchell (Arena) to record the new CD and I cannot wait."
Photo line up LtoR is Dean Robertson (guitar) Brian West (bass) Craig Ellis (drums) Jacopo Meille (Vocals) Robb Weir (guitar).
Y&T'S HISTORY GATHERS ON STAGE FOR DVD:
Kevin Cotter was kind enough to e-mail in, reporting from Y&T's show Sunday night at the Mystic Theater in Petaluma, California. The band recorded the show and the Monday night also, for a DVD release.
Kevin says the show was amazing and featured every member that has ever played in the band. "From the opening of Open Fire to the final encore of Forever, it was truly a great rock experience. I never understood why they never made that major breakthrough to super-star status."
The set list was: Open Fire . I'll Keep on Believin . Dirty Girl . Meanstreak . Beautiful Dreamer . Black Tiger . Sail On By . Eyes . 10 Lovers . 21st Century . Quicksand . Hell or Highwater . I'll Cry . Rhythm or Not . Barroom Boogie . My Way or the Highway . Hurricane . Rescue Me . Forever.
JOHN CORABI DISHES HIS OWN DIRT IN AUTOBIOGRAPHY:
Former Motley Crue singer John Corabi's authorized autobiography is finished, and currently being bid over by several publishers. Expect a summer, 2005 release date. Co-author Jake Brown will begin work in April, 2005 with Hanoi Rocks on the band's authorized autobiography with Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy. In other rock biography news, in March, 2005 Brown-authored Behind the Boards Volume 1, the first installment of a 3-volume rock producers anthology will be released. Volume one features interviews with producers Scott Humphrey (Rob Zombie, Motley Crue, Methods of Mayhem) with Tommy Lee, Andy Jonns (Led Zepplin, The Rolling Stones, Van Halen, Joe Satriani), Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Kiss, Alice Cooper), Tom Werman (Motley Crue, Cheap Trick, Poison, Twisted Sister, Ted Nugent), Dave Jerden (Jane's Addiction, Alice in Chains, Social Distortion), and James Michael (Meatloaf, Motley Crue, Sammy Hagar)."
MARCEL JACOB CHECKS IN:
This update from Talisman's Marcel Jacob was recently posted at their official website: www.talismanworld.com.
"2004 has seen some activity...the releases of "the Re-Masters" has continued, with Humanimal, Life + 5Outof5, Truth + Live at Sweden Rock 2001, and finally the rerelease of the first Human Clay album on Closing the book on Human Clay seeing the light of day...the work on the DVD has progressed, to the point that all production parts have been assembled, meaning recordings, edits, mixing, mastering, paperwork etc...it's been no tea party...with for example the original tapes from Sweden Rock lost, and the only hard disc back up suffering an internal meltdown, thankfully Pontus had made a rough mix supposedly to be used as support for overdubs which was decent enough for usage...this of course means there are no overdubs for the SRF concert...TRUE LIVE :-)!
The show was felt to be pretty good, so despite no overdub fixes, out of tune guitars, and sound quality suffering from recording flaws and no balanced mix, it is still possible to listen to it :-)...everybody knows JSS released another solo effort, but Jamie and I got involved with Last Autumn's Dream to do their follow-up CD to their successful debut..."LAD" is the band with Mikael Erlandsson and Fair Warning guitar player Andy Malecek...looks like there may be some shows in Japan in March 2005 to support this album.
I have also been working with Tommy Denander on the upcoming Speedy Gonzales album, writing some songs and playing the bass...this to be released early next year... 2005......maybe a new Talisman album :-) ????"
A SOLO ALBUM FOR DAKOTA'S RICK MANWILLER:
Dakota's Rick Manwiller is following up the band's acclaimed Deep 6 release with his third solo album, titled Chocolate Detox. He is currently recording at Holy HandGrenade Studio in Antioch, Tennessee (outside Nashville) and plans to be finished mixing by roughly the end of January.
Rick says: "It looks like there will be 13 tracks, and possibly some guest stars appearing, but nothing official yet. I will have some song samples up on a website as we get into January, maybe sooner."
ArtistLink: www.digital-mixes.com.
MELODIC BRIEFS:
Glenn Hughes is currently in the UK (Wales to be precise), recording a brand new album with Tony Iommi for release through Sanctuary Records in the Northern Summer of 2005. Featured on the album will be drummer Kenny Aronoff.
The very first ever Ritchie Blackmore Convention (celebrating the forty year career of a guitar legend) took place in England in October. Two interesting reports about the convention are online now. One report also consists of an interview with Jessie Haynes, who flew in from the US to perform at the convention, ex-Blackmore's Night guitarist and singer. Check this out at the Blackmore's Night Official Scandinavian Fan Club: www.blackmoresnight.nu.
Former 38 Special guitarist Jeff Carlisi has joined partners to open a studio complex in Atlanta. www.thishouserocks.com.
MP3 samples of the upcoming Moonstone Project can now be heard at www.moonstone.it. The CD Time To Take a Stand is due in early 2005.
I'm a Bluesman Virgin/EMI (Johnny Winter's latest release featuring Paul Nelson as guitarist/songwriter) has been nominated for a Grammy by the recording Academy for "Best Contemporary Blues Album 2004." The ceremonies will be held February 13 in LA and televised on CBS worldwide.
A stream for the Anthrax video Deathrider can be seen via this link: www.concreteplanet.com/assets/deathrider_300.mov.
Hanoi Rocks have finished work on their new studio album Another Hostile Takeover. The CD will be released in Europe in late January.
Sony Japan are re-issuing the first 4 Toto albums in the limited edition paper sleeve format, all featuring new DSD re-mastering. Toto, Hydra, Turn Back and IV are all due out March 2, 2005.
Axel Rudi Pell's web-shop "ARP Shop" has just launched! Here's the link www.arp-shop.de Amongst other things, you are able to purchase brand new merchandise.
Mars Electric frontman Jacob Bunton has another band to his name. Lynam's debut Life in Reverse is out now. More details at: lynamsucks.com.
Aussie pop rockers Noiseworks will perform for Triple M on Wednesday December 15 at the Gaelic Club in Sydney. The band has reformed for this one gig, with 4 of the 5 original members involved.
The Bon Jovi box set includes a hidden track at the end of the fourth disc (about 20 secs after the last track)... It's a cool funky/rock demo of Living On a Prayer.
PAT TRAVERS AND CARMINE APPICE ON THE NEXT CHRIS CATENA ALBUM:
The legendary drummer Carmine Appice and the great guitar player Pat Travers will appear in Chris Catena next album which will include 12 songs (10 originals and two covers) and which will be harder than Freak Out!. The provisory title is Busted.
Among the other players is worth to mention Doug Aldrich, Bruce Kulick, Kee Marcello, Tony Franklin, Marco Mendoza, Steve Salas and others to confirm.
In the same time Chris is still working on his album of covers Discovery: The Return of the Galactic Freakboy and to a live album Still Alive and Freakin' which has been recorded and will be mixed within December.
MENNEN GET FREAKY FOR NEW ALBUM:
Mennen, the band around former Zintra frontman Joss Mennen, will see a world-wide (except BeNeLux) return with their new album Freakzoid via Escapi Music. The album was mixed by none other than Erwin Musper (Scorpions, Van Halen, Def Leppard) at world-famous Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, The Netherlands.
Originally founded by singer Joss Mennen and guitarist Erik van de Kerkhof in 1994 as a project, Mennen in the time in between have become a real band which immediately – as like Zinatra before – made it straight to the top of the Dutch hard rock & metal scene and also gained wide success all over Europe.
Freakzoid, being their 5th album up-to-date, will once again let the hearts of any hard rock fan out there beat faster. Most recent support live shows with the likes of bands such as Dio, Dare, Whitesnake, Molly Hatchet, Gotthard and the Scorpions again showed the Dutch guys in amazing form and raised high hopes for more!
The Freakazoid album will include 3 exclusive bonus tracks and be released on 24.01.2005 in Europe and 08.03.2005 in the USA.
Mennen are: Joss Mennen (vocals), Erik van de Kerkhof (guitars), Alex Jansen (bass), Fon Janssen (drums).
Discography: Mennen (1994), Back To The Real World (1996), Age Of Fools (1998), Circle Of Live (2001), Mennen (re-release, 2003), Freakazoid (2005).
ArtistLink: www.mennen.net.
TESTEMENT SET FOR CLASSIC VHS RELEASE ON DVD:
Escapi Music have signed Testament for their first ever official DVD release! TESTAMENT, the world's leading and most ground-breaking Thrash Metal band, has found a new home at Escapi Music for their first DVD release entitled Seen Between The Lines.
Originally released in 1991 on VHS, this fully re-mastered DVD contains live material of the band centered around founder members Eric Peterson and vocalist extra-ordinaire Chuck Billy. The footage shown was shot during Testament's 1991 world-tour at various places all over the world.
As an extra bonus, the DVD will also cover video clips for the songs Nobody's Fault, Practise What You Preach, Souls Of Black and The Legacy, rare video interview clips, "a dinner with Testament", scenes from the Japanese leg of the tour plus additional discography, image gallery & biography sections.
Seen Between The Lines without any doubt is a must have for any fan of this outstanding and highly influential Thrash Metal band and nothing else than a definite highlight release in the Bay Area heroes 25 years long career.
The DVD will be released world-wide on March 8th, 2005 through Escapi Music.
Testament are: Eric Peterson (rhythm guitar), Chuck Billy (vocals), Steve DiGiorgio (bass), Jon Allen (drums), Steve Smyth (guitar).
ArtistLink: www.testamentlegions.com.
GERMAN METAL BAND SCENES SIGN NEW DEAL:
German progressive metal band Scenes are to release their debut album Call Us At The Number You Provide on Escapi Music.
Scenes originally started in 1995 as a two-piece project which turned out to become a real band when the line-up was finally completed in 1998. In the following year, the band recorded the demo New Beginning which sold about 600 copies inside Germany alone. After a couple of line-up changes – singer Nektarios Bamiatzis took part in one of the German versions of Fame Academy/ Pop Idols and made it into the finals there – and SCENES looked for new territories to approach.
The band these days consists of Chris Lorey (guitar), Florian Wentzel (keys), Hendrik Edelthalhammer (drums) and Jan Ebert (bass) plus new singer Alex Koch (ex-Powergod, ex-Spiral Tower). Their sound stands synonym for heavy, diverse metal with influences from various genres. Melodies and technical finesse nevertheless remain to be the guide. Playing live belongs to the biggest strengths of the band as it was proven many times in the past by supporting bands such as Uriah Heep, Bonfire and many more.
Scenes' first full-length release Call Us At The Number You Provide immediately raised the interest by Escapi Music and ended up in a multi-album deal for the band. Being produced by Chris Lorey, Florian Wentzel and Ecki Erlenbusch, the album was finally was mixed and mastered by Tommy Newton (Victory, UFO) at his Area 51 Studios in Hannover, Germany.
Call Us At The Number You Provide contains 9 highly-versatile but nevertheless catchy progressive metal tunes including a new, astonishing version of Talk Talk's smash hit Such A Shame. Former singer Nektarios handled the lead vocals on the songs Safe The Light and My Own Life whereas vocalists Dirk Thurisch (Angel Dust) and Marcus Juergens (Pump, ex-Brainstorm) took over the backing vocal duties for I Will Stay.
The CD will supposedly be released on Escapi Music in Spring 2005.
Track listing: 1. (So) Father, 2. You Walk Away, 3. My Own Life , 4. Start Again , 5. Deep Inside My Heart , 6. I Will Stay , 7. Safe The Light, 8. Such A Shame, 9. Nothing Left To Say (Unforgiven).
Current live dates: 30.11.2004 D-Aalen, Rock It (with Evergrey & Mercenary); 23.12.2004 D-Karlsruhe, Karlsruher Tempel (with Valet & Dialhard)
ArtistLink: www.scenes.de.
SATCH HEADS DOWNUNDER IN 2005:
It looks like Joe Satriani is heading to Australia and New Zealand for dates in early 2005. Announced for March 2005 are the following dates:
12 Sat St. James Auckland, NZ
14 Mon Arena Brisbane, AU
16 Wed Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU
18 Fri The Forum Melbourne, AU
20 Sun Thebarton Theatre Adelaide, AU
22 Tue Metro City Perth, AU
RICK PRICE SHOWCASES HIS VERY BEST:
Australian melodic pop/rock singer/songwriter Rick Price has issued a career spanning best of compilation. The Best Of Rick Price features the following tracks: Not A Day Goes By . Heaven Knows . Walk Away Renee . River Of Love . To Be With You . You're Never Alone . Bridge Building Man . Fragile . Tenterfield Saddler . If You Were My Baby . What's Wrong With That Girl? . A House Divided . Where In The World . Love Never Dies . All On Your Own . Goin' Through The Windows . Mary Red . Jessie.
STEPHEN PEARCY FUELS USS NIMITZ WITH VISIT AND OFFERS RATT GOLD AWARD FOR COMPETITION:
Perris Records is proud to announce a giveaway of an autographed Ratt Invasion Of Your Privacy Gold Award. This is from Stephen Pearcy's own personal collection that was given to him in the 80's commemorating 500,000 albums sold. The first 50 customers that buy Stephen Pearcy's Fueler CD from Perris will go into a drawing to win the Gold record. The drawing will be held on December 21st.
The picture of the award and details regarding the cd is posted at Perris web site: www.perrisrecords.com.
Meanwhile, back in the Ratt Camp, do I hear whispers of a 2005 re-union? It's possible, but apparently guitarist Warren DeMartini is a very long way from agreeing to any plans.
In further Pearcy news - (Los Angeles, CA - December 6) Ratt's former lead vocalist Stephen Pearcy will be bringing some home cooked rock n' roll to the crew of the world's largest aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) this holiday season. On Friday, December 17th Pearcy will fly to the carrier off the coast of California for a concert and over night visit.
Pearcy graciously accepted the invitation to perform for the crew after receiving an invite from the Public Affairs Officer, Lieutenant Commander Brad Fagan. "This is a great honor for me. It's going to be an amazing feeling to perform for 5,000 men and women who are serving and protecting our country," says Pearcy.
The band will consist of crew members who will be performing such classics as Your In Love, Lay It Down, Round & Round, Walkin The Dog and the new single Drive With Me from Pearcy's latest solo album Fueler (Top Fuel Records).
For more information on Stephen Pearcy please visit: www.stephen-pearcy.com.
SECRET SMILE WORK ON NEW ALBUM, TED POLEY DROPS IN TO CONTRIBUTE:
Ted Poley of Danger Danger took a day out of his busy schedule to hang out with Secret Smile in the studio and lay down some smoking vocals for their upcoming new CD! The band are all huge fans of D2, and they look forward to meeting up with him again soon on the road!
The band's new CD is slowly coming along and will feature 13 new songs and a surprise cover song that Ted Poley and Jeff Cannata appear on! Cannata is also producing the CD for the band. The guys have a new Christmas song available - Have A Merry Little Christmas is complete and you can pick up a copy at www.secretsmile.net.
LIMITED EDITION LIVE BLUE OYSTER CULT ART AVAILABLE:
Legendary Rockers Blue Oyster Cult are making available a very limited edition set of prints (400 prints only) of the album cover art from their most recent live album and DVD Long Day's Night. The print is numbered and signed by founding members Buck Dharma, Eric Bloom, Allan Lanier and cover artist Ioannis (Deep Purple, Allman Brothers, Fates Warning, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Yngwie Malmsteen). It's on a first come basis and comes with a certificate of authenticity. You can view the print and order it at: www.dangerousage.com/boclongdays.html.
QUIET RIOT ANNOUNCES UK TOUR DATES AND POSTS MP3 SAMPLES OF QUIET RIOT "LIVE & RARE" TRACKS:
Quiet Riot will commence their 2005 world tour in England, where the group has not performed in twenty years, with the following dates:
2/11/05 Bradford, UK - Rio
2/12/05 London, UK - The Underworld
2/13/05 Nottingham, UK - Rock City
2/14/05 Dudley, UK - Jb's
Additional tour dates for Europe will be announced shortly.
Three MP3 music files have been made available from the Quiet Riot Live & Rare - Vol. 1 CD which will be released on Cleopatra/Deadline Records. MP3 downloads are now available at this location: www.wtv-zone.com/DRUMA/live_and_rare_mp3.html.
They include Metal Health (Bang Your Head) and Condition Critical both recorded live in 1984, as well as the studio demo of Thunderbird which was recorded by Kevin DuBrow and Frankie Banali along with Chuck Wright (Bass) and Bob Steffan (Guitar) in 1981.
Live & Rare Volume 1 is out January 4.
MORE BRAZEN ABBOT NEWS:
Nikolo Kotzev has sent me an update on the latest news about the new Brazen Abbot studio album. Nikolo says: "Everything has been recorded except the guitar leads, which are being recorded now. Mixing of the album is scheduled for January 09th, 2005 and will probably be completed by January 25th."
The album will have 12 tracks: Tracks with Joe Lynn Turner - Resurrection, More Than Money, Dreams, Rage Of Angels (featuring Erik Mårtensson).
Tracks with Göran Edman - Bad Madman, Flying Blind, Shades Of Grey, Beggar's Lane (featuring Erik Mårtensson).
Tracks with Tony Harnell - Another Day Gone, Can't Be Found, Godforsaken.
Tracks with Erik Mårtensson - The Shadows.
ROBERT FLEISCHMAN A BUSY MAN WITH NO LESS THAN FOUR NEW PROJECTS ANNOUNCED:
Robert Fleischman has announced the official release of his four latest musical projects for December 2004. This is an exciting time for Robert and his fans with lots of new music on the horizon. Though primarily known as a rock and roll singer/songwriter, much of his new music is a bold departure from the past and takes an exciting new direction that once again underscores Robert's trademark cutting edge and always-adventurous musical vision.
Dreaming In Tongues - A beautiful and sometimes surrealistic voyage with cello and acoustic guitar taking a minimalist instrumental approach. Robert's vocals bring the whole thing together making this CD a classic and an original by any standard.
The Lord's Prayer - In this Christian contemporary rock release, Robert writes and sings a hauntingly beautiful melody to the Lords Prayer.
Kinetic Phenomena - This Electronica release is a heavy duty mixture of pulsating rhythms and hypnotic soundscapes that will definitely alter your consciousness!
Electric Raindrops - A beautiful arrangement of soothing ambient sounds.
Coming up - New Order – AOR Fans are anticipating this work in progress which is Robert's follow up release to the World In Your Eyes album on Frontier Records. Featuring a bonus track with an acoustic guitar version of Wheel In The Sky.
ArtistLink: www.robertfleischman.com.
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Roger Scott Craig e-mailed in an update. It goes like this: "We should have the Best of Harlan Cage CD available in July and AORHeaven and MTM (and others) will be carrying it. It will be on our own Record label, Gypsy Rock Records. We just had a re-union of the old Fortune band and we will be releasing the 1985 album Fortune on CD in August plus three bonus tracks (two old recordings from 85, plus an old song re-recorded by all five original members which was a blast). Several bootlegs of this album are already out, so we figured we might as well do it ourselves since nobody wants to pay us!"
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