FRONTIERS RECORDS ARTIST ROUND-UP:
Bleed Me Dry, the new single from Sweden's The Murder Of My Sweet, has entered the national chart in the band's home country at position No. 14. The song is also on #2 on the singles download charts.
Bleed Me Dry was released in Sweden last November 13. The band also presented the release with a launch gig in their hometown on the same day at the Roq Club. The CD single track listing includes: 01. Bleed Me Dry, 02. Bleed Me Dry (instrumental version), 03. Sands Of Time (non-album track).
The Murder Of My Sweet's debut album, entitled Divanity, will be released worldwide on Frontiers Records in late January 2010.
The band was formed by drummer, songwriter and producer Daniel Flores, who after a few false starts of what was to become The Murder Of My Sweet just by coincidence came across the magnificent singer Angelica Rylin, well endowed with the right look, voice and talents, being exactly what Daniel was searching for. The rest of The Murder Of My Sweet's lineup followed guitarist Daniel Palmqvist, bass player Johan Niemann and keyboardist Andreas Lindahl all being mentally, creatively and spiritually the right combination to complete the perfect match.
The Murder Of My Sweet's sound is rich in influence and yet distinctly unique. The lush melodic cinematic landscapes reflect the diversity of the five members own musical experiences. From Angelica's soaring vocal melodies and sweeping choruses to the explosive layers of guitars from Palmqvist and the thrilling orchestral keyboard arrangements painted by Andreas Lindahl backed by the bombastic and dynamic rhythms of Niemann and Flores. The resulting collaborations are a work both haunting and uplifting fuelled by the curiosity of seeing where their burning ambitions will take them.
The band will shortly embark on a promotional tour in France and Germany and will host personal meetings with the press and radios. In the meanwhile the band launched their official website: www.themurderofmysweet.com. Watch the "Bleed Me Dry" video clip on YouTube clicking on the image below.
Danish hard rock veterans Pretty Maids are about to enter the studio in January to begin recording their new studio album for a late spring/early summer release on Frontiers Records.
Pretty Maids' last album, entitled Wake Up To The Real World, was released in November 2006 still on Frontiers Records. Singer Ronnie Atkins stated about the CD, "The new record has all the trademarks a good Pretty Maids album should have, and that's the overall combination of good melodies and strong guitar riffs. But the key word, as far as I'm concerned, is it's gotta be melodic: whether it's the heavier and faster tracks or the more ballad/AOR-oriented kind of stuff; in other words 'good songs', and I think the album has got that!"
Pretty Maids is a legendary hard rock/heavy metal combo from Denmark founded in early 1982 by Atkins and guitarist Ken Hammer. They have released 11 studio albums and over the years have sold hundreds of thousands of records.
Drummer Brian Tichy (Foreigner, Billy Idol, Ozzy Osbourne, Velvet Revolver) and bassist Michael "Denim" Devin (Kenny Wayne Shepherd) have joined Lynch Mob as the band's new touring rhythm section.
Commented Tichy: "It will be fun to get loud and powerful with George [Lynch], Oni [Logan] and Denim as I've always been a fan and I'd be a liar if I was to say I didn't attempt to learn all his rhythms and leads on 'Tooth and Nail' [Dokken] in high school when I was 16! C'mon, he was tearing it up! I was obsessed with guitar back then, as I am now, and he was one of the cats... Well, he still is as so many people nowadays were influenced by him."
"George is so cool that he came over my house with a little rig and he, myself and Denim had two days of jammin' the tunes in my bedroom turned drum room. There was barely any space but we had a great time. Total high school vibe! I should have gotten a picture."
Upcoming Lynch Mob shows:
Nov. 27 - Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues (w/ Dokken)
Nov. 28 - San Diego, CA - The 4th and B (w/ Dokken)
Nov. 29 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues (w/ Dokken)
Dec. 12 - Las Vegas, NV - Feelgoods
Jan. 23 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Manifesto
Jan. 24 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Hard Rock Cafe
Audio samples songs that appear on Lynch Mob's comeback album, "Smoke And Mirrors", are available for download at the Frontiers website following this link: www.frontiers.it/Default.aspx?tabid=85&pl=L. The CD was released in Europe on September 18 (October 13 in the U.S.) via Frontiers Records. Lynch Mob's recording lineup on "Smoke And Mirrors" included Logan and Lynch alongside bassist Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy) and drummer Scot Coogan (Brides Of Destruction, Ace Frehley).
INTRODUCING ROCK-A-HOLICS RECORDS:
Rock-a-holics Records is a new and exciting record label, owned primarily by a London based company, with it's headquarters located in Athens, Greece.
Our motto is: We have a serious ROCKIN' problem and our intention is, to sign many bands and some exciting solo artists, both new and old, releasing many albums (both re-releases as well as originals) on CD and vinyl, over the course of the next few months!
Our repertoire promises to be really eclectic as our A&R team is highly selective and our editions are going to be characterized by the same principle, by being very lavish and offering the fans more value for their dollar/euro/yen...(We are talking about CDs and CD/DVD combos with chrome plating - cutouts - selective UV coating, Steel-boxes etc).
We are open to most kinds of modern rock oriented music! Anything from Lite-AOR to the most blackened Black Metal, will be considered, but only the best artists/releases will be chosen. Since our main A&R guy has a spot for all things classic and melodic however, we might as well be a little more inclined to center our attentions around those genres more often. At any rate, our label consists of many different sub-labels, so each genre, artist and release is going to be treated separately, by a different team, so as to attain the best possible results in a highly competitive market.
We do not intend to flood the market with sub-par releases. Every time that you will see the logo of our company – you will be guaranteed a release that will really sweep you off your feet, mesmerize your senses and blow your mind!
We will also be embracing the modern technology and distribution methods as well, for our newer releases, but with a few interesting twists in the concept and the business model.
Stay tuned for more information, like where to send your press packages, as well as our first artist and distributor announcements, very soon!
In the meantime feel free to visit us, bookmark us and become our friends: www.rockaholicsrecords.com / www.myspace.com/rockaholicsrecords / www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61324178218.
Also feel free to use the contact forms to get in touch with us or alternatively you could use your email client to send a mail our way at info@rockaholicsrecords.com.
Now to the label's first signings:
Arch Rival's debut, "In The Face Of Danger" is an excellent album by a great hard 'n heavy band from out of Ohio and will be re-released as a remastered and expanded 2 disk set featuring the original album plus 2 live cuts, as well as a 13 song, multi-camera DVD with promos and live performances. It's cover is newly designed and printed with selective matt UV coating which lends it a pseudo 3D/comic book cover look! Watch out for it. More info on it, will be made avail very soon!
We're also putting out Darkology's debut album Altered Reflections which is an awesome album and one that we hope could redefine the metal scene and make it interesting once again. It combines the best aspects of Megadeth (riffing, solos) with some brutal drumming, that either is pedal to the metal double bass pounding, or it grooves in a way not too dissimilar with a certain Vinnie Paul and also with some amazing vocals that rival Priest at their best (courtesy of Kelly "Sundown" Carpenter – those of you who have head him, know what we 're talking about – those who don't should check him out immediately.) The songs however are what set this album apart from all antagonism. Mark our words. This is one of the most technical but at the same time most catchy albums you 've heard in a long, long time. Maybe the best album of 2009 ! And some pretty big bands have put out some pretty respectable records this year…
Again the cover is matt UV coated, with details and the logo, sticking out done in pearlesque varnish. The digipack, simply looks stunning! More details on this album will be made available soon as well, along with proper samples from it. Both releases should see the light of day in mid to late November, depending on your locale.
Arch Rival - www.myspace.com/archrivalofficial / Darkology - www.myspace.com/darkologymetal.
Release Dates: UK, Greece and LTD US release Nov. 16 / Worldwide, incl Japan, January 8.
 xx
Last but certainly not least we 're now open to Demo/Promo submissions: You can send your promo package to Rockaholics Records, P.O Box 60093, Post Code: 15301, Athens, Greece.
Please include a photo, a brief bio and either a previously published sample of your work or more, if you 've released an album or an EP previously, or a 3-4 song demo with your best work if you're a newcomer. Also include anything else that you think might support your case. (like printouts or cutouts of good reviews etc.)
All styles from lite AOR to extreme black metal will be considered, but will be put out through different sub-labels, should we decide to sign you.
Also please make sure that you really kick @$$ before you submit us anything. We've heard about a million mediocre releases, being touted as either the next big thing or being called "masterpieces" and guess what, they're neither. No weak productions, no tuneless/hapless vocalists and no 'I recorded this on my laptop crap' please, unless you feel that you have money to waste on postage and CDs!
Bribes in cold hard cash, naked photos and promises of rivers of alcohol, will not work (but feel free to try!) We promise to review your submission and in most cases we will respond to you, anywhere from within a few days after we've received your package, or up to a month at the latest! Don't be discouraged if we turn you down, you can always hit us back with (a brick or) something new after a few months!
Also note that you will need to have sorted your copyrights issues, before you send us anything. Unsolicited works will be received, and might as well be heard or just as easily placed in the bin, as we will carry no responsibility whatsoever about them. After all, you 're the ones who sent them, so please secure your legal rights before you submit anything to us. We're professionals and we expect you to be professional too.
Check out our website (www.rockaholicsrecords.com) (www.myspace.com/rockaholicsrecords) also join us on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Reverbnation.
That's all folks, now get those promo packs prepared and watch out for our releases in November! Ah... and mark the last week of May on your calendars – for maybe the biggest release of 2010!!!
FM BACK WITH A NEW ALBUM AND LAUNCH PARTY:
After their overwhelming success at 'Firefest 6' FM hit the boards again early in 2010 with a gig to coincide with the launch of their brand new studio album "Metropolis". Come and join them for the biggest party of 2010 and see The Mighty FM perform live at the Metropolis album launch extravaganza.
The Roadhouse Covent Garden London, Sunday 7th February
FM on stage 9.00pm
Your ticket enters you into a free prize draw for a signed Peavey guitar used by Steve and Jim on "Metropolis". Full playback of the "Metropolis" album. Meet and Greet. Plus a wealth of other goodies and surprises. After show party with drummer Pete Jupp on the decks.
Tickets On Sale Now! Tickets £12.00 including postage are available, in advance only, from www.fmofficial.com.
It's been a long time coming, so make sure you're there to witness this monumental event when the boys in the band reclaim their crown as Britain's favourite AOR act. Please note tickets will be posted out during the first week of January 2010. More details will be posted on the bands official web site www.fmofficial.com.
ERIC MARTIN FROM MR. BIG RELEASES DEBUT SONY CD TIMELESS:
Eric Martin, the lead vocalist from the seminal 90s pop-rock group Mr. Big (who scored with the song To Be With You) releases his first solo CD Timeless on Sony International. The song reached #1 in six different countries.
In early 2008, Eric was approached to do a project wherein he covered various ballads sung by female artists. The resulting CD, Mr. Vocalist was released in Japan in November 2008 and was a chart topper for months. The multi-format success resulted in the follow-up, Mr. Vocalist 2.
Martin's take on such classics as Time After Time, Hero, Eternal Flame, and I Will Always Love You, make them shine again with his signature vocals. Says Eric, "I sang them with my own interpretations. I inherited these songs as a new messenger."
Martin's song choices have once again brought a renewed spotlight to the works. The online infotainment site The Improper said of the CD, "Frankly, the treatment he brings to each of these songs is tremendous and compelling. And, Times Square Gossip said, (Martin's) take on such chestnuts as Time after Time and My Heart Will Go On are decidedly terrific. He makes them his own!"
Mr. Big reformed earlier this year and are currently on the second leg of their European tour.
WebLinks: www.myspace.com/ericmartinband / www.myspace.com/mistervocalist.
 xx
BORISLAV MITIC DISCUSSES THE MURDER OF MUSIC:
Lion Music have sent out this open letter from artist Borislav Mitic - his take on Internet piracy. Other Lion Music artist news follows...
"My internet friends, I would like to send a message for all those who intend to download my album for free:
Here are a few words on a very important subject to me - illegal Internet file sharing download!!! This is also known as - MURDER OF MUSIC! Since I have a new album "The Absolute" coming out on December 4th now would be the right time to get into this matter of life and death.
You see,... it is very hard to master an instrument. It takes a lot of years of practice, discipline, study and dedication (like going to a university and more) to reach the level of playing that I and similar musicians are at.
It is really very hard work to compose quality music and create something special for you listeners out there. It is very hard to make records too because the studio time is very expensive (making your own project studio is a big cost too and not many can afford it or even know how to operate it). It is also very hard to find a Record label to publish your music these days,... and even harder to arrange real retail music store distribution to circulate the music on the market and make it available everywhere.
But musicians go through all these pains because they love and believe in music and they believe in fair and just financial reward return for hard work of producing beauty of music they offer to the world. Don't you agree that musicians should be paid for their work?
When people illegally post or download free MP3 files on Internet of the music that musician made so many sacrifices to create - it is the sign of ULTIMATE DISRESPECT! This means literally taking the bread off the musician's table and spitting in their face!
The music business works like this... (if you don't know). Musicians who make the music give the album to the label under certain conditions. Then label sells it through its distribution channels and shares the percentage of return income with the musician. Stores and distributors also get their cut for the retail sale service to you - the customer. So the bottom line percentage per a CD that goes back to the musician is quite small in the end. Also don't forget that musician invested money in studio time so this has to be covered before musician makes any real profit money!!!
To make a living from music this way a lot of CDs have to be sold. That CD money also gets re-invested in touring, new albums, promotion, etc. Everybody in the chain of music industry is living from this system of sale... magazines, concert promoters, labels, music stores. Every single CD sold counts and especially today for smaller artists like myself who do not have a big budget at their disposal to promote themselves in mainstream media, TV, Magazines, etc (yes, all that actually has to be paid for and costs quite a lot).
I know,... CDs in stores cost money (16$ a piece?), the world is in economic crises and it's easier to get a free download so that you can put that money into buying your pants and cookies, right? Hey, you can make a cool free collection of thousands of albums with no money invested at all! Woohhhoooo, viva la internet!! How cool is this!!!??? Well,... NOT COOL AT ALL!!!!
Do you eat? Yes...? Me too! (in spite of legends you might have heard even we musicians need to eat). To get food I have to go to the grocery store and pay money for it like you. The same goes for clothes and other products. If you would try to take (or "download") food or clothes from the grocery or clothing store the people dressed in blue outfits called THE POLICE would try to stop you since this is considered a crime of stealing. What if everybody starts stealing food unpunished? How will the grocery store employees survive? What about their family? How would the farmers producing food survive if we take it from them for free? They would not.
Do you catch my drift? Just because you CAN download music for free today on the Internet doesn't mean you SHOULD. You CAN also beat up an old lady on the street and steal her pension from her wallet ... but somebody CAN beat you up too and do the same to you. Would you like this? Or would you perhaps like to go to work 9h-17h for free? Would you like musicians to visit your home and take some of your property for free? Why not? They can use it... the same way you can use illegally downloaded music without paying for it.
This all would be called robbery of course and is illegal and if we would apply this pattern of behaviour to the society in general as a rule of life we would very soon have a society of filthy, wild savages!
My point is - if there is no money coming back to us musicians for the ultra hard work we invest we will all eventually give up and stop making music. If the unchecked Internet theft goes on much longer very soon there will be no more new albums from the artists you like and cherish so much on your illegal free MP3 collections!!!
This will be THE END OF TIMES FOR MUSIC! After we musician give up the labels will fold, the music stores will turn into ... shoe shops for example (you can't download those through internet can you now?)! Soon after that the whole music industry, concerts, fun time, guitars,... will be dead and gone - thanks to Internet and illegal global pirate system! Game over!
So if anyone of you wants to continue supporting - KILLING MUSIC (that you are supposed to love) go and join the Internet gang of music hijackers for free through torrents and file sharing sites! The blood will be on your hands...But If you want the music to SURVIVE please treat it like you would like to be treated yourself and do the right thing by paying for it. I always paid for the music I wanted and I don't see why each of you can't - there's really no excuse!
SPREAD THE WORD!!! SAVE THE MUSIC YOU LOVE! Or let it bleed and die... It's all in your hands - the choice is yours to make. I vote for life but if it's death of music - so be it! We can also live in a world without real music but then don't complain in the future to come how the music in the media around you is bad and lame and "where have all the good times gone".
You have been warned!" - Borislav Mitic.
Borislav Mitic - The Absolute Available 4th December 2009 - more information at: www.lionmusic.com/cd/absolute.htm.
Get Your Free Lion Music 2009 Sampler - Every order (whilst stocks last) from the Lion Music Store will receive a free 16 track sampler featuring tracks from a wide selection of our 2009 releases. Packed in a cardboard sleeve with artwork by Carl Andre Beckston (Monowasp) these are a cool freebie to thank you for your support in 2009. We also hope they might entice you to check out more of the artists on the compilation. The Lion Music store not only holds all the Lion Music back catalogue but a massive selection of releases across the rock/metal genre. All in stock items are generally dispatched same day and we aim to offer the best prices possible. Visit the store at www.lionmusic.com/ShopSelect.htm.
Vendetta Featured On Bruce Dickinson's BBC Radio 6 Rock Show - British traditional metallers Vendetta who have just released their 2nd album "Heretic Nation" received airplay on BBC Radio 6's Bruce Dickinson's Rock Show, with the Iron Maiden frontman declaring the bands new album as "Classic metal all the way". Fans in the UK can catch the band live at Trillians Rock Bar in Newcastle Upon Tyne on Saturday 12th December 2009. More information and new merchandise is available now from the bands official website at www.vendetta-theband.com also check out www.myspace.com/nosafehole.
In addition also view the bands new video for the track "New Horizon" at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9SElfrEEYg.
Twinspirits, YtseJamKr and OnStage Agency are proud to announce a kickass Italian tour happening in December. The two progressive bands will bring what they can do best: a mix of powerful yet melodic songs from the new release "The Forbidden City" and a great selection of Dream Theater songs for the thousands of fans out there. Every stage will host a local prog-metal opening act! Every night will be unique and worth a visit! Here's the calendar, with more dates still in the works:
03/12 - Zoe Club - Milano
04/12 - Ke Me Meo - Argelato (BO)
05/12 - Country Star - Albignasego (PD)
06/12 - Il Blocco Music Hall - San Giovanni Lupatoto (VR)
10/12 - Urban - Perugia
11/12 - Oddly Shed - Caserta
13/12 - Locanda Blues - Roma
The new Twinspirits website has just been launched at www.twinspirits.net, also check out www.myspace.com/twinspiritsband.
Simone Fiorletta has officially become an ESP Guitars Endorser! Simone who released his third solo album When Reality Is Nothing on Lion Music in August 2009 is one of Italy's leading guitar authorities and is also a member of progressive metal merchants Moonlight Comedy who are in the process of writing their third album. More info on Simone Fiorletta can be obtained at www.myspace.com/simonefiorletta or www.simonefiorletta.it.
Guitarist Sean Baker of the Sean Baker Orchestra was recently interviewed by on the worlds leading metal Podcasts "Talking Metal" in Podcast #283 which available via i-Tunes or by following this link. Sean has also just scored an endorsement with Randall amplification. More information on the Sean Baker Orchestra can be found at www.theseanbakerorchestra.com and www.myspace.com/theseanbakerorchestra.
LAST CHANCE FOR DANNY VAUGHN TITLES:
Frontiers Records have deleted Danny Vaughn's last studio album Traveller and it is now officially out of print. Luckily Danny, together with HardRockHouse, were able to strike a deal with the label and have purchased the final 225 copies that Frontiers had in stock and these are now on sale via www.hardrockhouse.com/Shop.htm. As an added bonus to fans who may not have the album Danny has individually signed and numbered each of the 225 CD's to make this last batch of CDs even more special.
In addition to HardRockHouse also have available a very limited number of the 2 CD version of The Road Less Travelled. Only 500 of these were printed and from that batch 50 copies were held back from sale on the initial release as contingency in case of any that were lost or damaged in transit. These are now being released for sale so fans have a final chance to pick up a copy of the full line show recorded at the Cluny, Newcastle in December 2008. The 2 CD edition adds superb versions of Tyketto classics Burning Down Inside and Wings together with Danny's cover of Happy Christmas (War is Over), Is That All There Is, Fly Away & finally Better By Far to the songs contained on the single disc edition of the album.
Both of these albums are available individually, however in the run up to Christmas there are also some fantastic bundled offers available from HardRockHouse with Traveller, The Road Less Travelled & the Standing Alone EP all available @ www.hardrockhouse.com/Shop.htm.
LATEST BON JOVI DVD OUT TODAY:
In 2008 Bon Jovi returned to New York City from a globe-spanning, world-conquering tour to rock their spiritual home of Madison Square Garden. That night was an epic, career-spanning set of greatest hits including 'Always', 'Wanted Dead or Alive' and 'Livin On A Prayer'.
Now for the first time you can experience the power of live Bon Jovi in stunning high-definition and surround sound with the release of 'Live At Madison Square Garden' on DVD and Blu-Ray. Watch the trailer here.
In an exclusive Blu-Ray bonus feature you can discover the inner secrets of one of the biggest success stories in rock music.
Threading intimate band interviews together with candid scenes of life on the road, 'When We Were Beautiful' is a vivid no-holds-barred look at 25 years of brotherhood in one of the greatest rock & roll bands of all time.
'Live From Madison Square Garden' is released on TODAY worldwide (except in the US and Canada). Click here to purchase your copy!
MELODIC BRIEFS:
Roger Taylor's first solo track in a long long time - The Unblinking Eye (Everything Is Broken) - can now be heard and seen at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ZtaDOniZ0.
The Kiss - Live At Cobo Hall DVD (recorded in Sept 2009) - will get an official release in the summer 2010 (probably June my source suggests).
Carmine Appice interviewed at: piercingmetal.com/wordpress/?p=2240.
Joe Perry in concert feature: piercingmetal.com/wordpress/?p=2235.
KISS OVER EUROPE:
Kiss' European tour - dubbed Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom commences in May 2010. The dates are:
Fri 7th May – Dublin 02 Arena
Sun 9th May – Glasgow SECC
Mon 10th May – Manchester MEN Arena
Tue 11th May – Birmingham LG Arena
Thu May 13th – London Wembley Arena
Sun 16th May – Zurich, Hallenstadion (Switzerland)
Mon 17th May – Geneva, Arena (Switzerland)
Tues 18th May – Milan, Mediolanum Forum (Italy)
Thurs 20th May – Vienna, Stadhalle (Austria)
Fri 21st May – Ostrava, Cez Arena (Czech Republic)
Sun 23rd May – Prague, O2 Arena (Czech Republic)
Wed 26th May – Berlin, O2 World (Germany)
Thurs 27th May – Leipzig, Arena (Germany)
Sat 29th May – Bratislava, Stadium (Slovakia)
Mon 31st May – Hamburg, Colorline Arena (Germany)
Tues 1st June – Oberhausen, Koenig Pilsner Arena (Germany)
Tues 8th June – Trondheim, Lerkendal Open Site (Norway)
Thurs 10th June – Tampere, Sauna Rock (Finland)
Sat 12th June – Stockholm, Stadium (Sweden)
Sun 13th June – Malmo, Stadium (Sweden)
Mon 14th June – Oslo, Valhall (Norway)
Wed 16th June – Aalborg, Gigantium (Denmark)
Fri 18th June – Arnhem, Gelredome (Holland)
Sun 20th June – Clisson, Hellfest (France)
Tues 22nd June – Madrid, Palacio De Los Deportes (Spain)
Fri 25th June – Vitoria, Azkena Rock Festival (Spain)
Sun 27th June – Graspop Festival (Belgium)
SUNCITY RECORDS RETURN TO ACTION:
Suncity Records are back in action and here's their new update. For more information on the bands and audio previews from these - log onto www.suncityrecords.com.
Hello all, We are back in action after a turbulent start to 2009. 2009 has been anything but smooth sailing with natural disasters, the well-publicized death of Gregg Fulkerson as well as a family tragedy too.
But the show must go on and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for being so patient and hopefully the next bunch of signings will be well worth the wait.
Today we will be announcing 7 new signings, yes that's right 7 cracking new signings that will have fans drooling at the chops.
I will start with the announcement of the signing of Femme Fatale. Suncity Records will be releasing one of the most talked about, infamous unreleased albums of all, as we will be presenting Femme Fatale's second unreleased album Lady In Waiting.
Femme Fatale are an outfit that were remembered for the hot looks, rockin' voice and over the top stage presence of its front woman Lorraine Lewis. In an era that was dominated by testosterone driven rock, Femme Fatale became a popular frontrunner in the 80's Rock and Roll scene. The band came together in their hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico and consisted of Lewis (vocals), Mazzi Rawd (guitar), Bill D'Angelo (lead guitar), Rick Rael (bass and Lewis' brother) and Bobby Murray (drums). They quickly picked up and moved to Los Angeles amid the late eighties glam explosion, and after only ten live shows managed to score a major label contract.
The band remixed the song "Touch And Go" from their debut album to release it as a fourth single, which was released by Kerrang! (England's leading metal magazine) as a 'free' flexi disc with their magazine. Femme Fatale was asked by MCA to record a second album and even though a lot of songs were already written, the album was never released, Until now, And with that Suncity Records is proud to announce the release of Femme Fatale - Lady In Waiting. The album was written and recorded in 1988 in Hollywood California. It has been re-worked, re-mixed and re-mastered. The original recordings were engineered by Toby Wright and Femme Fatale. The album was re-mixed by Scott Gutierrez in Hollywood, California. Stand out tracks include, "Lady in Waiting", "I Know" (Co-written with Wes Arkeen - considered the sixth member of Guns 'N' Roses), "One More For The Road" and the heartfelt ballad, "Buried Alive". Lewis' voice is at the top of its game and the band sounds like an aggressive well-seasoned force to reckon with. Rock out!
Merri Hoaxx - Before Cats In Boots, Heavy Bones or Ellis Island there was The Hoaxx. Merri Hoaxx was forged out of the mid 1970s Rock and Roll melting pot of Cleveland, Ohio, the birthplace of "Rock and Roll". Its members; Joel Ellis, Denny Holan, Chris "Grizz" Gryzbowski and Kenny Delaro were weaned on the greatest rock era in history as the music blazed like a volcano from FM radio giants WMMS "The Home of the Buzzard" and M105.
The band hung out nightly in the notorious Rainbow Bar and Grill in the heart of Sunset Strip during its heyday, stepping out from time to time to play the Sunset Strip club scene in clubs like The Whiskey A Go-Go, The Roxy, Gazzarri's, The Troubadour, The FM Station, The Country Club in Reseda, Palominos' and other undisclosed spots in the L.A. underground and after hour parties. This is where they began to melt into the scene gaining immediate recognition from their peers. Merri Hoaxx also started attracting major record label interest from Atlantic Records, who brought the band onto the label for development through Kenny Ostin where the band worked with production greats like George Tutko and Richie Podlar at American Studios. The band began getting calls from helpful guys like Gene Simmons and Dweezil Zappa off of the cassette tape demos they handed out everywhere. They eventually found themselves becoming major Rock debut contenders in the mid-1980s. Before signing with Atlantic Records, Kenny was replaced on drums by Houston, Texas drummer Randy Meers of Black Oak Arkansas fame.
The 1980s Sunset Strip scene was, to say the least, wild!! The boys became deeply entrenched in the wild side of Hollywood. Unfortunately the record label dragged its feet due to the band's A&R staff at Atlantic being even farther gone into the void of Hollywood's wild side. Joel recalls: "I remember going up to the Atlantic Records offices on Sunset to meet with Kenny (Ostin) or Nick (Loft) to discuss the record's mastering or art work, ya know, the band's business and there would be more cocaine on Kenny's desk than contracts. There was always music playing on his stereo from some new band they were signing but I never heard any of those great new bands make it into the mainstream,".
The tracks that the band recorded between 1983-1987 in Southern California will be released on one CD called Merri Hoaxx The Hoaxx Never Jokes.
So to the next signing we go. Please welcome to the Suncity family, Oregon, Portland's very own - X-Piracy.
X-Piracy are a very hard band to describe but have all the trademarks that Suncity Records loves! In the summer of 1985 in Eugene, Oregon, population 100,000, singer Shane Thornton, guitarist Robb Dee Crabaugh, guitarist Tony Antone, Bassist Danny Jack and stepbrother, drummer Kevin Stacey had found their ways to one another via the popular record store, Record Garden. Thornton, Crabaugh and Antone had attended high school (most of the time) together in nearby Elmira, while Jack and Stacey attended Churchill High. In no time at all, the young men formed a tight bond of music and friendship a Brotherhood, if you will which would blossom into something very special for a long time to come.
In 1989, due to strong audience turnouts at a popular Portland club known as Starry Night (The Roseland, today), the band was invited to take part in the Northwest Battle of the Bands. The competition was solid, with a full evening of worthy talent taking the stage. Around midnight, as the event was winding down, X-Piracy was heralded as the evening's winner and there wasn't a soul in the house who felt inclined to protest.
Feeling confident and strong, the group returned home victorious and scheduled what would be the third sell-out in the Soreng Theater at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts. It would also be perhaps the most talked about X-Piracy performance in the band's history, due in part to the mysterious showering of smelt upon the audience and stage at the end of the set. The group was well known for unauthorised stunts and surprises, but this would prove to be all the Hult Center would tolerate. X-Piracy was banned indefinitely from ever again performing at the prestigious hall.
Despite early warnings from some that the recording industry was turning it's attention north, away from California, the band prepared for a win all/lose all move to L.A., which took place between August and October of 1990. Despite many moments of exuberance and triumph there, the ensuing year would prove to be a tumultuous one for X-Piracy.
As 1991 began, X-Piracy continued to write and record new material, music coming forth amid a backdrop of big city turmoil and increasing hardships. The resulting songs struck a new level of maturity and depth, even pain. The track, "Ever-Lovin' River", set a new precedent within the band's growing repertoire and was as strong a song as any in the industry. Shane one a national poetry contest, which led to meeting comedian Sam Kinison. This new friendship, in turn, led to an invitation for X-Piracy to be the sole music entertainment at Kinison's Halloween Bash. Kinison, who had recently starred in a popular Motley Crue video, vowed to help promote the pirates. Sadly, however, he was killed when he was struck by a 17-year old drunk driver.
The Brotherhood had been broken. Stacey's departure and circumstances leading to it had dealt a painful blow to the pirate camp and the ship was losing momentum. By late summer of 1992, to the great dismay of many faithful fans, X-Piracy disbanded.
Eight lives gone, in a time not so long ago, in a galaxy of leather, lipstick, guyliner and lace sees our next signing Priscilla jump aboard the Suncity train.
There is no denying that Priscilla deserves their place in the footholds of eyeliner addicts and glam junkies the world over. Few bands have emerged onto the arena of rock music and immediately garnered the mass attention of audiences, critics and radio stations alike that Priscilla did when they exploded onto the scene.
Sex, drugs and rock n' roll, it was all there in abundance for Priscilla. From an enigmatic frontman awash in groupie-adorned excess, who nearly died after an accidental drug overdose, to a guitarist who battled his own demons and was at odds with the sudden and immediate glory of success that was thrust upon him and his band and felt he had to get out. The Priscilla story is a story of wasted youth. Not wasted in the classical sense, but in the sense that the rewards that are thrust upon the overnight heroes of a local glam generation are sometimes too much for any one group of young men to physically and mentally withstand. The lyrics to the band's Z-Rock chart topping anthem "Wake Up The Neighborhood" could have easily been "Grab Yourself A Line And A Joint" rather than "Grab A Bottle Of Beer", would it not have caused the song to be banned from being played on the radio. But, with the tragedy of chemical and physical excess there also comes the glory and this is also a tale of rock and redemption, atale of conquering hometown heroes set on the streets of a metropolitan city that was begging for something different.
So, as all good things eventually do, Priscilla had come to an end. But still, for a time the group were indeed the darlings of the underground glam and music scene. People who are fans of early Poison, early Tuff, Pretty Boy Floyd and even Roxx Gang will really dig these boys. The album will be entitled "Wake Up The Neigbourhood".
Signing number 4 sees the hard rocking Live Tongue get brought to the limelight. From the ashes of killer glam group Pretty Please, Live Tongue formed in the early 90's. Hailing from Texas, Live Tongue caught the eyes of the public, the world press and the music community in South Texas when they signed to independent label Perris Records.
The band released their first self-titled debut album in 1995 with rave reviews. Some scribes calling it one of the best produced and energetic independent hard rock CD's to emerge in recent decades. The roaring, melodic leads of Chris Johnson and Meatt, the blusesy sound of bassist Joey Monosmith, the thundering, powerful drums of Larry Jentz combined with the dymanic voice and individualistic style of singer Chase Jentz all serve to punctuate electro-acoustic music of Live Tongue.
Following trends is not the path Live Tongue have ever chosen. Their music is straight ahead, in your face, rock 'n' roll; music that has withstood the test of time and is heavily supported by millions of loyal fans throughout the world. They are a powerful live band that captivate their audience with realism and confidence.
Suncity Records will be releasing Live Tongue's second unreleased album that will be titled Snake Eyes.
Next up WOW! another amazingly talented group of rock and rollers with the signing of New Jersey's Kidd Skruff.
Kidd Skruff started as a side project for then Lead Singer/Guitarist Jimmy Forest, who was performing with the popular New Jersey band "Push" in the late 80's and early 90's. At that time, Jimmy was the Drummer/Songwriter for "Push", and had a plethora of musical ideas that he wanted to express but they just didn't quite fit the style of the band and he really needed another outlet.
By this time the Seattle "Grunge" scene had totally taken over and just as quick as it rose to the top, the new sound of Rock and Roll buried the successful 80's and 90's commercial metal scene. The days of long hair, make up, glitter, over indulgence and unrestricted partying was over. The small record company that had recorded "Skruff's" one and only album had gone bankrupt. The original recording was sold only on cassette, had a short release and sold only a few thousand copies.
With the overwhelming popularity of the internet, a lot of these classic "Hair Bands" have gained a whole new audience. Those same bands now tour again with the original lineups and sell out concert venues on a nightly basis. Now as the music of that time is being teamed with the development of guitar video games that often uses these bands songs as the backbone of the game, the youth of the world is once again yearning for that big sound of the guitars, bass, personalities and attitudes that only the 80's could deliver. As Forest sits back with that reminiscing look in his eyes, he states...."We never forgot how to play, people just forgot how to listen.
Suncity Records will be releasing the 10 track full-length album entitled Angels With Dirty Faces.
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The last signing for today are true legends of the sleaze rock scene. First we brought you Swingin' Thing, then there was Blackboard Jungle, now Suncity Records are thrilled to announce the signing of another killer group Alleycat Scratch.
Every Hard Rock fan that loves their Hollywood Glam/Sleaze bands will know about Alleycat Scratch's classic debut album Deadboys From Trash City. Regarded as one of the top Glam/Sleaze albums of all-time, Deadboys was sadly the only album that the boys ever released. The whole "In with the Grunge, out with the Rock" story doesn't need to be rehashed but Alleycat Scratch were just another band that fell by the way side with the change of the musical scene.
Alleycat's unreleased recordings were touted to be released on the Regeneration Records sometime is 2008 but the band were dropped from the label. Good thing is Suncity Records will be releasing a CD/DVD double disc package that will capture all the attitude, energy & unruly fun that the Deadboys had when headlining the Strip back in the day.
15 years later, the time has come for the world to hear the rest of the material Alleycat recorded as well as a bunch of amazing live material. Prepare yourself for Alleycat Scratch - Last Call.
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