News
July 24, 2002
LOOSER GOES MUSICAL
Going to Liverpool, you can have a chat with THE BEATLES' first manager Allan Williams - if you buy him something strong to drink. His stories, immortalised in a couple of books, will have a stage debut any day soon, as Irish actor Ronan Wilmot is writing a musical based on William's life. The musical titled "Allan Williams - The Man Who Gave the Beatles Away," will premiere in Dublin in October. As of bringing in to the Merseyside, plans are none currently.
DEAD MEN WALKING
Whatever weird it may seem, there can be the GRATEFUL DEAD reunion after Jerry Garcia's death. Not that his former bandmates are going to cash in on the name, for the band bassist Phil Lesh, guitarist Bob Weir and percussionists Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann have formed will be titled THE OTHER ONES. Back in 1998, they already played after this moniker, and now will re-appear to perform four sets over two nights on August 3rd and 4th in East Troy, Wisconsin.
MENTAL METAL
Renown for their dabbling with classic rock, N-M-C Music enter the metal scene with some releases which include performances by EXCITER, SKYCLAD and here are details on the other two acts.
The first is VENOM that simultaneously have two CDs out. "Welcome To Hell" features previously unreleased live material recorded in November 1990 during the "Prime Evil" European tour:
Welcome To Hell, Insane, Blackened Are The Priests, Harder Than Ever, Prime Evil, Burstin’ Out, Countess Bathory, Carniverous, Hell Bent For Metal, Witching Hour.
And then there's "Lay Down Your Soul" with a tracks culled from the rehearsals for the "Prime Evil" and "Temples Of Ice" tours of 1991 and 1993 that see band experimenting with their old songs. An added historical value comes from the fact that Al Barnes left shortly after rehearsals began.
Teacher's Pet / Skool Daze, 1.000 Days In Sodom, Black Metal / Insane, Blackened Are The Priests, Bloodlust, Carniverous, Countess Bathory, Diehard, Harder Than Ever, Into The Fire, Skeletal Dance, Welcome To Hell.
Less heavy yet no less glorious are Paul Di'Anno's KILLERS, whose "best of" compilation called "Screaming Blue Murder" contains both live and studio material including IRON MAIDEN classics:
Marshall Lockjaw, Die By The Gun, Wrathchild, Three Words, Murders In The Rue Morgue, Sanctuary,Phantom Of The Opera, Menace To Society, Remember Tomorrow, Think Brutal, A Song For You.
GONNA BE A SHOWDOWN
If there's one band whose fans are dying for something new to see, it's THIN LIZZY. With not much video material from the classic period released at all, the concert DVD "The Boys Are Back In Town" is more than welcome. Recorded in October 1978 at Australia's Sydney Opera House with Gary Moore in the line-up, it features remastered surround sound, a discography and an article on the band's history.
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1. Jailbreak |
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JUICY BLUESY
It's been 30 years since Mickey Moody and Paul Williams played scorching blues in JUICY LUCY. After the band's break-up, Williams fronted John Hiseman's TEMPEST while Moody found his fame with WHITESNAKE. Never to steer far from blues, now the two joined their forces one more time and came up with "Smokestacks, Broom Dusters & Hoochie Coochie Men", an album of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Elmore James perennials. Looks a treat!
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1. Look On Yonders Wall |
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KEYS TO ASCENSION AND KAYE TO DESCEND
It was reported before that YES box set is due to be out shortly but there's an unexpected obstacle got in the way to, possibly, prevent its - and an upcoming DVD - release: a filesuit from Tony Kaye. The original keyboard player states that he was not consulted about the releases and claims 25% ownership of the band name as well as Warners-owned publising entitlements for certain songs. Strangely, he showed no bitter feelings at the time of 1991 reunion so, whether he wins or loses, the moral damage is done anyway.
LIVING IN THE PAST
Not only it comes from rumours but biggest on-line shops are already taking pre-orders for "Past Lives", a live album from BLACK SABBATH to be out on August 20th. Originally pencilled in as "Live In 1975", now the title is changed to correspond with the album's content, as the first CD of the package comprises the previously released "Live At Last" album, recorded in 1973 and released in 1980, while the second disc has tracks from 1970-1978.
There will be two versions of "Past Lives", a standard one and a limited edition digipak which is to include a poster and a guitar pick.
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1. Tomorrow's Dream |
10. Hand Of Doom |
CLASSICS PILE UP
Classic Rock Productions make a step forward to please the fans. What before was only on DVD, will now be re-issued in special sets featuring the DVD along with a CD soundtrack from the film. Called "Sound & Visions", the first titles to undergo re-packaging are live recordings from ASIA and CARAVAN.
As of CARAVAN, Classic Rock have a new release out: "Cool Water", the infamous "lost" album. Featuring the short-lived 1977 line-up on the first seven songs, and the last four recorded with members of Gordon Giltrap's band, the album got shelved until 1994 when it was issued in re-mixed form. Now Pye Hastings decided to give it a go with original sound, saved from the cassette.
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1. Cool Water |
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The other new titles of interest come from Rick Wakeman. The first, "Two Sides of Yes 2", a follow-up to "Two Sides of Yes 2", sees the keyboard wiz playing the band's evergreens, instrumental-way, one more time.
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1. Awaken |
The second has a title of "The Yes Piano Variations", and is culled from the tracks originally released by Classic Rock as a part of "Two Sides Of Yes". Interspersed with rock arrangements, pure piano pieces lost some of their magic, which was the reason enough to put them out on separate CD:
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1. Awaken |
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FIRES RINGING AT FAR EAST
The long-awaited live release from RING OF FIRE is out on August 20th. Or are out - because "Burning Live In Tokyo 2002" will see the light of day as both CD and DVD. Recorded earlier this year, the set represents material from both singer Mark Boals' album "Ring Of Fire" and his band's "The Oracle". The line-up is Mark Boals on vocals and acoustic guitar, Tony MacAlpine on guitar, Vitalij Kuprij on keyboards, Philip Bynoe on bass and Virgil Donati on drums.
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1. Introduction - Prelude For The Oracle |
11. Keeper Of The Flame |
July 17, 2002
CAN'T EXPLAIN
That looks confusing but, according to "The Sun", there will be a movie on THE WHO adventurous story with all-star line-up involved. The rumours say, the Keith Moon role is to be played by toothful '60s expert called Mike Myers - a character, sure, while Nicolas Cage told Roger Daltrey who approached him that he's eager to wear the Captain Union Jack jacket of Pete Townshend. Can anyone explain the joke?
FOOL FOR YOUR SNAKEY
Another anecdote-like news has David Coverdale gearing up for the road trek with a new version of WHITESNAKE in the beginning of 2003 to tie-in the tour with promotion of a new 2CD compilation "25 Years Of Whitesnake" that EMI pencil in for February 2003 release. The old beast is rather alive, it seems, and new Dave's album rather dead.
SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE
Not rumours but truth take VOICES OF CLASSIC ROCK on the road across the Pacific to play some USA military bases. Beginning with Tokyo warm-up gig on July 31rd, the star band relocate to Seoul on August 3rd, then go back to Japan to rock the joint at the Sasebo Navel Base, and next to the Diego Garcia base in Indian Ocean. Soldiers are likely to have a lot of fun - as well as musicians, two of which, namely Glenn Hughes and Joe Lynn Turner, once the service is over, will set themselves readying for the September-October European tour.
Called "Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll Tour", the trek is timely to promote the HUGHES-TURNER PROJECT live album, out on August 21st, which features tracks recorded in Tokyo's Club Quatro on May 17th and 19th:
Devil's Road - HTP
Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll - off HTP album
Death Alley Driver - off RAINBOW's "Straight Between The Eyes"
I Surrender - off RAINBOW's "Difficult To Cure"
Stormbringer - off DEEP PURPLE's "Stormbringer"
Dark Days - off Turner's "Slam"
Mistreated - off DEEP PURPLE's "Burn"
No Stranger To Love - off BLACK SABBATH's "Seventh Star"
Can't Stop The Flood - off Hughes' "Building The Machine"
Better Man - off "HTP"
Ride The Storm - off "HTP"
King Of Dreams - off DEEP PURPLE "Slaves And Masters"
Street Of Dreams - off RAINBOW's "Bent Out of Shape"
Spotlight Kid - off RAINBOW's "Difficult To Cure"
EXZ SOME NOIZE
They're back, SLADE. Not that Noddy Holder or Jim Lea made their way into the fold again but Don Powell and Dave Hill did it this May, having recorded new single, "Some Exercise", their first in seven years. With no album on horizon, the single will feature three mixes of the title track: a full band one, radio and a special "H's Mix" which has Dave The Superyob "as you've never heard him before".
THAT LONG BLUES
British blues veteran, ever active Long John Baldry has a new album out, "Remembering Leadbelly". The title needs no explanation - yes, Baldry, erstwhile mentor of both Rod Stewart and Reginald Dwight aka Elton John, comes up with collection of songs by the legendary Huddy Ledbetter.
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1. Lining Track |
July 10, 2002
FACING UP THE CHILDREN
While all the rumours of THE FACES reunion remain no more than rumours, something of a kind is happening indeed. Kenney Jones and Ronnie Wood called to arms Paul Young, ex-BAD CO Robert Hart, FOREIGNER's Rick Wills and Gary Grainger off Rod Stewart's band to record a charity single for all the suffering children of the world. With Jones-established Small Faces All Children Charitable Trust administering the project, the single, "It's All About the Children" will be out on July 22nd .
Says Kenney Jones, "The aim of our charity is to provide support where other assistance may often be unavailable. The only criterion our charity embraces is that of helping all children in difficulty as best we can." The single is to include the original track and two remixes, dance and funky, and all the proceeds from the sales will benefit the charity.
HELLO, HALO!
Former ALICE COOPER GROUP guitarist MIchael Bruce continues his work with N-M-C Music in the wake of his "In My Own Way - The Complete Sessions" set with upcoming live album called "Halo Of Ice". Recorded earlier this year in Iceland, it features mostly classic tunes and is a must for Cooper fans:
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1. Hello Hooray (intro) |
ALONG FOR A STRIDE
They're chili hot, these two LITTLE FEAT sets of previously unreleleased live material spanning more than three decades, from 1970 up to 2002, one called "Raw Tomatos", the other, yes, "Ripe Tomatos". Bite in!
CD 1:1. Crack In Your Door |
CD 2:1. Rock 'n' Roll Doctor |
Raw Tomatos |
Ripe Tomatos |
CD 1:1. Teenage Nervous Breakdown |
CD 2:1. The Ingenue |
July 7, 2002
NEW MARQUEE MOON
It's been six years now that The Marquee Club, an erstwhile Soho house for the likes of THE ROLLING STONES, THE WHO and SMALL FACES is closed. No more soon, it seems, as July will see the legendary venue in London's Wardour Street turned into a dining and concert complex - with expense of 4 million pounds. A timely thing, as 2003 marks the 45th anniversary of the club which's brand name belongs currently to Dave Stewart of EURYTHMICS and Mark Fuller, the entrepreneur behind London's Sugar Reef and Embassy club.
As press release goes, new Marquee is to be a 1,000-capacity club and restaurant with a Michelin-starred chef, "concrete and chandeliers" decor in an upmarket Islington shopping development featuring Gap and Borders bookshop, and will have the biggest dance floor in London as well as production and editing facilities, and a VIP viewing gallery.
TIMEFUL OF WORDS
Before, it was in a word, about Rhino releasing the YES anthology-like 5CD-box called "In A Word: Yes (1969 - )". Now, came a time to look inside this treasure trove adorned with new artwork from - who else? - Roger Dean. Rarities aren't many therein yet, if you found some old compilation too little and having all the albums too much, this box is exactly what one needs.
CD1:
1. Every Little Thing |
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CD2:
1. Roundabout |
CD3:
1. Siberian Khatru |
CD4:
1. Tango (previously unreleased) |
CD5:
1. Lift Me Up |
BY HIGH NUMBERS?
Heroes never die, you say? Likely, as the death of THE WHO bass master, John Entwistle, on June 27th didn't stop his surviving bandmates Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey from launching the U. S. tour. Scheduled to start on June 28th, the treck had to be postponed - but the two shows will be played on later dates. Now, the tour is a tribute to The Ox and is supported by the late maestro's family who consider the band's decision as what John would have wanted. "The Ox has left the building — we've lost another great friend. Thanks for your support and love," Townshend and Daltrey collectively said in a statement. The bassist's shoes are filled now by famous session man Pino Palladino.
THE BAND PLAYS ON. ORCHESTRA TOO.
September 23th is the release date for the fully remixed and remastered editions of DEEP PURPLE's "Concerto For Group And Orchestra", which goes to mark the 33th anniversary of the original album, out on September 24th, 1969. But editions? Yes, there will be no less than four formats of the historical performance with the Sir Malcolm Arnold piece only on the DVDA and SACD versions. The latter, Super Audio Compact Disc will be able to play on regular CD machine, unlike the "Machine Head" SACD, to be released in August, that allows those not in posession of a special player listen only to the album, not the multi-channel mixes.
But as for the "Concerto", you can get a hold of:
- DVD - the film of the show, with just the "Concerto" on, as the band were not filmed.
- DVDA - audio only, remixed in 5.1, has Malcolm Arnold's 6th Symphony on it, the full PURPLE set, "Concerto For Group And Orchestra" and the encore, a shorter version of the 3rd movement.
- Double SACD - audio only, remixed 5.1, is of the same content as DVDA, and can be listened to on any CD player - but without the 5.1 sound.
- Double CD is remixed and has the PURPLE set on it, "Concerto" and the encore.
"QUADRA" MEANS "FOUR"
Exactly - but there's more to the title of the ASIA new release. Or not so new, as "Quadra" is a 4CD-box set which contains officially sanctioned (as Zoom Club who release it say, though Geoff Downes seems to be of the other opinion) three bootleg recordings of the first '80s supergroup. What we can be sure of is that the deluxe packaging containing rare photos and an exclusive interview with Carl Palmer are guaranteed - Phil Lynott's "Live In Sweden" received the similar treatment. And now, what's in...
CD1: Pittsburgh, PA, April 25th, 1982
1. Without You |
CD2: Worcester, MA, August 22nd, 1983
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CD3: Worcester, MA, August 22nd, 1983
10. Don't Cry |
CD 4: Frankfurt December 13th, 1990
1. Wildest Dreams |
1. Wildest DreamsFREE SPIRIT FOR FREE MARKET
Strange thing, indeed: Ken Hensley and his FREE SPIRIT are to play in Togliatti, Russia, this September before President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of celebrating a launch of a joint venture between General Motors and AvtoVAZ. The two automobile enterprises are to build a new vehicle. "Love Machine", anyone?