News
January 30, 2002
MAIDEN RUN TO HELP
Former IRON MAIDEN drummer Clive Burr was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and his friends get in the action to help. There are some events planned benefitting Clive Burr Multiple Sclerosis Trust Fund, the first of them being three (one, of March 19th added just recently because the first two are sold out) shows in Brixton.
Then, there's the most famous single featuring Clive, "Run To The Hills", is to be re-released on March 11th in three formats, all limited editions containing previously unreleased material from the "Beast On The Road Tour" recordings made in 1982 at the Hammersmith Odeon and the Reading Festival. CD1 also features a version of the title song taken from the upcoming live album and an enhanced video created from footage from the DVD which will be out later in the year. CD 2 includes a remake of the original 1982's video. The third format is the special red vinyl, replicating the original single.
The aforementioned live album is "Rock In Rio", that will come out on March, 25th as a double CD recorded at Rio's festival in January, 2001. It's over 120 mins of music, and the tracks are:
The Wicker Man, Ghost Of The Navigator, Brave New World, Wrathchild, Two Minutes to Midnight, Blood Brothers, Sign Of The Cross, The Mercenary, The Trooper, Dream Of Mirrors, The Clansman, The Evil That Men Do, Fear Of The Dark, Iron Maiden, Number Of The Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name, Sanctuary, Run To The Hills.
HACKETT TO PIECES... AGAIN
For all those who wondered how Steve Hackett weaves his sonic spells, maestro himself readies the sheet music. So far, the guitarist has completed 19 pieces, which can be downloaded in .pdf format from here.
VAN HALEN ERUPTS FROM THE LABEL
Having served about a quarter of the century to Warner Bros, VAN HALEN parted company with the label. So far, neither of the parties commented on the spilt, while the rumours of the band getting back either David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar for their next endeavour are still abound.
WAY TOWARDS INFINITY
March will see the release of a medieval rock opera called "Beto Vasquez's Infinity" featuring Candice Night on three songs, including "Promises Under The Rain", on which Ritchie Blackmore's missus duets with NIGHTWISH's Tarja Turunen and EDENBRIDGE's Sabine Edelsbacher. As of male voices, there are Jorg Michael of STRATOVARIUS and Fabio Lione of RHAPSODY.
SO WHERE THE TIME GOES?
"FAIRPORT unCONVENTIONal" is the title of the grand box set celebrating the 35th anniversary of British folk rock pioneers. There are not only four themed CDs in it, but also 148-page book, containing the ensemble's history and Pete Frame-sketched definitive Family Tree, plus Cropredy souvenir booklet. All in all 75 digitally remastered tracks, mostly previously unrelased, make over 5 hours of music.
CD1 is a chronological overview of the band's career with singles, key moments, live tracks and rare versions of songs that tell their complete story; CD2 presents a collection of hard-to-find and unreleased material including B-sides, private material, "lost" sessions, live tracks, radio and TV tracks; CD3 compises the songs telling epic tales from British history; and CD4 documents core FAIRPORT repertoire, with mostly non-standard and unreleased versions.
CD1: A History1. Meet On The Ledge (Cropredy, 1990) |
CD2: Rareport Convention1. Sir B McKenzie (1976) |
CD3: A Fairport History1. Sir Patrick Spens (1969) |
CD4: Classic Convention1. Walk Awhile (Bumpers, 1970) |
January 24, 2002
HER MAJESTY'S A PRETTY NICE GIRK
This June, Queen Elizabeth is celebrating her 50th year as monarch, and a part of the celebration will be a rocking event on the Buckingham Palace lawn. Sir George Martin as musical director is to be observing the evening to take part in which are Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder.
The concert will be broadcast on the BBC.
That'll be the day of jewelry rattling apotheosis, won't it?
NAME WRITTEN IN THE DUST
On January 22, 2002, Peter Bardens died in Los Angeles, California, having lost his long battle with a cancer. A prominent artist of Swinging London, in the '60s Bardens would lead his own PETER B's LOONERS, play in SHOTGUN EXPRESS alongside Peter Green and Rod Stewart, used to be in THE BLUES MESSENGERS with Ray Davies and THEM with Van Morrison, but his claim to fame lied with CAMEL, the band Peter was a co-founder of. The legendary keyboardist remained active after leaving the band in 1978 and up to his illness served as a captain for MIRAGE. One of the true masters, he will be sadly missed.
LEGENDS, INDEED
Classic Rock Legends schedule for release a couple of amazing items any true rock fan's directory shouldn't be bereft of.
The first is "Two Sides Of Yes" from Rick Wakeman, who one more time re-recorded classic material of the band he was in. An amazing piece of instrumental beauty adorned with artwork by Roger Dean, a part of the collection, nevertheless, seems to originate from Wakeman's earlier endeavour, "Greatest Hits".
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1. Your Move |
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Much more interesting is "The Magician's Birthday Party" from URIAH HEEP, a document of December 2001 event when for one occasion the band were joined on-stage by former members Ken Hensley and John Lawton. There are three versions of the package containing a part of the show (the full setlist is here) - a DVD, a CD and a set of DVD, CD and booklet, all available from HEEP store. The release date is February 28.
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1. Return To Fantasy |
BREATH IN THE LIFE
February 25th is the release date of the reformed MAGNUM album, "Breath Of Life". There are three original members in the current line-up: vocalist Bob Catley, guitarist Tony Clarkin and keyboardist Mark Stanway, while new guys are Al Barrow on bass and, the latest addition to the fold, Harry James on drums.
An interview with Bob Catley is to appear on the site someday soon - follow the In The Pipeline list, and here's what the album has:
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1. Cry |
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There will be a limited edition of the album as well, with three bonus tracks, "The Flood" (live), "Backstreet Kid" (live) and "We All Need To Be Loved" (radio acoustic).
WAKE UP RUDELY
MEGADETH are putting out their first ever live album on March 19th, containing 24 tracks cherry-picked by fans through the band's website and newly recorded by Dave Mustaine, Al Pitrelli, David Ellefson and Jimmy DeGrasso. The artwork for the package (there will be DVD and video) titled "Rude Awakening" is by legendary Hipgnosis artist Storm Thorgerson, responsible for PINK FLOYD graphic masterpieces.
January 21, 2002
DON'T TRY TO MAKE A BIG SENSATION
For many years, THE WHO fans have been slagging the band's original producer Shel Talmy for keeping the master tapes of "The Who Sings My Generation", 1965's debut album, while all the other records were expanded and remastered. Eventually, Talmy and the Universal buried a hutchet, and Spring 2003 will see the release of double-CD deluxe edition which is to include tracks from early singles and EPs as well, all in all 24 songs. The songs will be mixed to true stereo for the first time ever, from the three-tracks masters. And there may be more, as Talmy holds the rights to alternate takes and other rarities.
THE LAST BLOCK IN THE HEAD
There's a last Ian Dury & THE BLOCKHEADS album out in March, called "'Ten More Turnips From The Tip". The late great Dury's voice is featured on eight songs recorded from October 1996 to April 1999, while vocals for other two tracks were supplied by Chaz Jankel and Robbie Williams.
The songs are: Dance Little Rude Boy, I Believe, It 'Aint Cool, Cowboys, The Ballad Of The Sulphate Strangler, I Could Lie, One Love, Happy Hippy, Books And Water / Poem by Jock Scot, You're The Why.
The cover design is by Sophy Dury and her brother Jake Tilson.
THE MAGICA RING BROKEN
Release of DIO's "Magica" saw the reunion of Ronnie The Elf and his guitarist from mid-'80s, Craig Goldie. On the verge of launching the new recording, the partnership is terminated due to reason unexplained, and the slot is taken by Doug Aldrich, who honed his craft with HOUSE OF LORDS, HURRICANE and LION.
FILMING IN THE PAST
JETHRO TULL are busy working on "History Of Jethro Tull" DVD to be released in April. On January 29th filmed will be the original four, Ian Anderson, Mick Abrahams, Clive Bunker and Glenn Cornick. They are going to record a couple of numbers the band's debut, "This Was", and that will be their first joint session since December 1968, when Abrahams left to be temporarily replaced by Tony Iommi and then, for ever, by Martin Barre.
January 15, 2002
TIRED OF WAITING FOR KINKS?
THE KINKS mastermind Ray Davies broke the news to the band's official fun club of getting in touch with brother Dave and discussing the possibility of a new record to be released this year. If it is to be indeed, the recording won't start before Ray is through with his solo album, still to be done at the moment.
HEAR THE CRY FOM THE STREET
With his musical commitments largely on hold, David Gilmour decided to sell his London home with proceeds benefitting a charity which helps homeless. The mansion the guitarist bought in the early '80s is bought now by Princess Diana's brother for neat sum of $6.5 million. In Guilmor's words, he doesn't need the money and very rarely used the house recently.
MORE ACOUSTICALLY DRIVEN
Last year URIAH HEEP released to critical acclaim an album titled "Acoustically Driven". It seems, delighted by the record's success and their recent co-playing with the band, former HEEP members are to go that way too.
At the recent Magician's Birthday Party John Lawton played an acoustic set with guitarist Steve Dunning, and that gig had marked a start of a new project that will result in a CD from Classic Rock Legends. The album, a recording of which starts on January 18th, will include both classic URIAH HEEP material and original songs.
Even more teasing sounds the same plan from none other than Ken Hensley, whose "Running Blind" album is out this February. In preparation to tour with his new FREE SPIRIT band, Ken will go to the studio on January 21st with some 15-18 songs to lay them down accompanied only by Dave Kilminster on guitar and background vocals. There's even a working title to the project, "Acoustic Reflections"; apart from the familiar material Hensley plans to do at least two brand new songs.
ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
Yes, it's truth and not an unbelievable one: Paul McCartney is the Britain's first-ever pop billionaire. With all the deserved riches of his, Macca's last year's fortune has put him much higher in the wealthiest men's list as no less than 300 million pounds came in from THE BEATLES' "1" album, and 200 million pounds Paul inherited from his late wife, Linda McCartney. Fortunately, never the man spoilt by dough, McCartney doesn't rest on laurels and currently is planning to tour his last record, "Driving Rain".
A NEW KISS OF FIRE
Once upon a time, there were three good albums released to the name of PHENOMENA. The project, masterminded by Tom Galley, featured many a great musicians, among them his brother Mel, who used to be in TRAPEZE and WHITESNAKE, Glenn Hughes, John Wetton, Cozy Powell. This year will see the release of a new album for which the pre-production started in October 2001 with a list of performers still to be announced. Meantime, Tom Galley opened a site with infomation on what was and what is to be.
WAKEY VARIATIONS
For many years Rick Wakeman would pull in an occasional quote from classical composers rarely breaking in playing a piece more or less fully, as with "Swan Lager" off "Rhapsodies". Eventually, there's a thorough, serious album of tunes called "Classical Variations.
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1. Pathetique (Beethoven) |
And that's how maestro himself comments on the record:
"It has been common practise throughout the centuries for composers to take the music of their contemporaries and prepare new arrangements or variations on suitable themes in order to give a further interpretation to some of the world's greatest music. It has long been an ambition of mine to create an album by taking some of my own personal favourite classical pieces and perform them in a style that I hope the original composers would approve of. Perhaps more relevant than anything else for the listener is to realise that it is the strength and musicality of the original compositions that enables such an exercise to be undertaken."
CROW AND AN EAGLE
In recent years Sheryl Crow has collaborated with veteran artists and now some of them are gracing her new studio album, out this March.
Off the most famous, Stevie Nicks, who's heard on Crow's 1999's "Live From Central Park" and shared vocals with Sheryl on Nicks' own "Trouble In Shangri-La" is lending her voice now to "You're Not the One". Don Henley, for whom Crow served early on as a backing singer, now reciprocates with "It's So Easy", while Kravitz sings on "You're An Original" and Emmylou Harris on "Weather Channel".
ANGELS IN THE AIR
Angel Air Records, specialists in serving the new and old from classic artists, approach their 100th album and the fifth anniversary in existance now, and some of the upcoming CDs from the label are should be of rare brilliance. Greetings to the Angel Air, and that's what's not to be missed.
Maggie Bell's "Live At The Rainbow" documents the singer's promotional tour of 1974 prior to release of highly praised "Suicide Sal" album. On the recording from bassist Mo Foster's personal archive, Ms Bell does both her solo material and the songs she used to sing with STONE THE CROWS.
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1. Coming On Strong |
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Another great if more obscure musician is John 'Rabbit' Bundrick, one of the most revered keyboardist in the world as witnessed by his sting with FREE, CRAWLER and THE WHO, save for numerous sessions. Angel Air set to release some of the master's works, the first being "Welcome To America" featuring vocals from CRAWLER's Terry Wilson-Slesser and guitar from Geoff Whitehorn and embellished with unseen photos and sleeve notes by FREE biographer David Clayton in the booklet.
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1. It's True |
10. Zaragosa |
And at last, Mick Ralphs, the founding member of MOTT THE HOOPLE and BAD CO, coming up with his second solo outing, "It's All Good", graced with an exclusive live track from BAD CO recorded on 1999's "Original" tour, which features also Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell.
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1. S.E.X. |
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January 6, 2002
LIVING OFF MATERIAL WORLD
The British sources say, this June, on The Queen's Birthday George Harrison will be honoured with the knighthood. This will be the first time the honour will be awarded posthumously, although the 2002's list had been compiled before The Quiet One passed away.
Meanwhile, there's the "My Sweet Lord" single re-issue coming out on January 14th with all the profits to be channeled to the Material World Charitable Foundation. George founded the charity in 1973 in order to support those working with children and the poor - it was set up at the time of Harrison's album, "Living In The Material World", and the artist donating royalties from nine of eleven songs to the foundation.
THE OZZ GOES LIVE
The Summer should bring a new live album from Mr Ozzy Osbourne, who's going to record his upcoming Japanese concerts. With no title as of yet, it's announced the album will include three previously unreleased studio tracks, among them "Black Skies", which was originally recorded for a video game, that is not to be released due to the manufacturer went bankrupt.
GUITAR ZEUS - WAY EASTWARDS
After two highly acclaimed "Guitar Zeus" albums involving top guitarists, drumming legend Carmine Appice is releasing the follow-up with Korean guitar players coming onboard to solo. As of now, the album is at the mixing stage operated by famous Pat Regan. No word on worldwide release at the moment, so the world should hold breath looking at Carmine meeting his old buddy Tim Bogert and Jim McCarty in New York for some playing: as a result, there may be new CACTUS album. That's not all - it's Appice, in the end of the day! - in February he and Tim Stevens will be recording a tribute album to Japanese rock bands. Carmine will sing a song - and not to rest on the laurels, he's to do two drum clinics.
WELCOME TO THE SHANGRI-LA
"Project Shangri-La" is the name of a new album from Lana Lane, that's out on January 23rd. This time, songs for prog metal primadonna are written and co-written by some unexpected musicians: DREAMTIDE’s guitarist Helge Engelke is partly responsible for "Encore", Mark Boals for "(Life Is) Only A Dream" - both men make guest appearances on the album - and there's "I Believe In You" which John Wetton composed. Drums duties for the project are fulfilled by none other than mighty Vinny Appice.
DELIGHTS - THE PRETTY AND THE FUNNY
N-M-C Music have some more unique stuff to share soon with all willing.
The first comes Brian James, the former DAMNED guitarist who compose the first British punk single, "New Rose", with the 2-CD set containing two full-length albums from the early '80s and late '90s. Disc one features "The Dripping Lips Sessions" album, released in 1998 only in the USA, while the second CD is James' solo album unavailable for 10 years.
Disc 1: The Dripping Lips Sessions
Powerful, What's On Your MInd, Such A Lot Of Stars, You Treat Me Too Kind, Hell Girl, Damn You, Push Push, When The Dreams Say No, I Can't Reach Ya, Never Too Old, Once Upon A Time, My Heaven;
Disc 2:
The Twist, Cut Throat, Slow It Down, Another Time Another Crime, I Said No, Bibbly Bubbly Crisis, Ain't That A Shame, Prime Time Blues, You Try, Cut Across Shorty, Polka Dot Shot, Popeyed, I Said No (Dub), Becoming A Nuisance.
Then, legendary Prince Lincoln. There are first outings in a series of catalogue re-issues by great Jamaican featuring many previously unreleased recordings.
"Humanity" is a 2 CD set including the original album plus bonus disc "Liberated Dub"" unissued before:
The album:
San Salvador, They Know Not Jah, Old Time Friends, Unconventional People, Humanity, Mr. Kissinger, Kingston;
Liberated Dub:
Moonlight City, Balefu, Waterhouse, Maverly, Riverton City, Cockburn Pen, Bell Rock, Whitewing Walk, Tower Hill,Central Village.
"True Experience" is Prince Lincoln's unreleased extended 12" DJ-sound system mixes of favourite roots reggae tracks as well as a bonus disc featuring the white label dub album of "True Experience", entitled "Harder-Na-Rass":
Disc 1:
Nobody Here But Me, Blessed Are The Meek, Slave Driver, Jah Love, Babylon Is Falling, True Experience, For Once In My Life, Walk In Jah Light, Jungle Fever, Thanksgiving (While You're Living)
Disc 2:
Interstellar Over Dub, Second Sight, Nebular Dub, Time Wharp, Universally Dubbed, Terrestrial Dub, Gravitational Echoes, Dub Vortex, Regenerated Dub, Cosmic Silence.
ROLLINS BAND recordings receive a new lease of life on N-M-C starting with the 1992's"The End Of Silence". Initial copies of the album will contain a bonus disc of both studio and live material including extended jams of previously unreleased tracks making, thus the complete "End Of Silence" sessions. The album has been remastered by Henry Rollins:
Disc 1:
Low Self Opinion, Grip,Tearing, You Didn't Need, Almost Real, Obscene, What Do You Do, Blues Jam, Another Life, Just Like You, (There'll Be No) Next Time;
Disc 2:
Ghost Rider, Earache My Eye, Do It, Crazy Lover, Low Self Opinion, Tearing, Another Life, Lie Lie Lie, Move Right In, Jam with Vernon Reid, Jam with BUTTHOLE SURFERS.
And, at last, STARCASTLE's "Shine On Brightly", the US proggers caught in the act. Theu were likened to KANSAS, STYX and even YES; this live show was recorded on the band's third album tour promoting their most successful release "Citadel":
Shine On Brightly, Forces, Can't Think Twice, Could This Be Love, Change In Time, Lady Of The Lake. Breath And Thunder, Fountains Of Light.