News
September 26, 2002
WE BELIEVED WE'D CATCH THE RAINBOW
That wasn't not hard to believe another wave of rumours regarding RAINBOW reunion would come yet there hardly was anyone to say this time the grapevine operator would be none other than Ritchie Blackmore himself. In an interview to the German "Eclipsed" magazine Ritchie was asked as to whether he definitively finished with DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOWב and that's what the guitarist had to answer:
"Not with RAINBOW, we'll even go next year on tour again. It'll be a very nostalgic affair. We do this really only because of the 10.000's of fans all over the world, who have asked and begged for it. With DEEP PURPLE I only have to do that I sometimes integrate old songs of that band in the BLACKMORE'S NIGHT concept, however in acoustic garment and interpreted by Candice, like "Soldier Of Fortune" of the "Stormbringer" album. And, also yes, like before I'm still be friends with Jon Lord. But for the rest DEEP PURPLE is a long past era, on which I'm proud, but with whom I've been since ages cut off. "
Still there's no reason to be happy, as Blackmore in no time informed that he was misinterpreted. No catch!
AHEAD OF "HEAD"
Purple Records have another addition to the DEEP PURPLE bootleg series, called "Live In Denmark, 1972". In fact, compared to "Space" and "Inglewood", it's nothing special, as the Copengaghen concert of March 1st, 1972 was issued before as "Scandinavian Nights" video (the album of the same title comes from 1970's show), so while the sound quality is much better this time the most interesting about new release is the inclusion of some tracks from then forthcoming "Machine Head". Later in the year, the stage set was immortalised on "Made In Japan" but that's how it looked earlier"
CD One:
1. Highway Star |
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CD Two:
1. Lazy |
Yet if this one can be skipped, the next live album is a must, yet there's no release date presently for "Purple For A Day" recorded at Longbeach Arena on July 30th, 1971. Let's wait, then.
GO JAPANESE
Meanwhile, PURPLE alumnus Glenn Hughes took part, having sung on a track called "Highway Roller", in "Coming Through", a solo album by Ryo Okumoto of SPOCK'S BEARD fame. Among other guests is TOTO's Bobby Kimball. The album's due out on October 14th.
STILL PAYIN' THOSE DUES
Another great band, URIAH HEEP, graduate is John Lawton, now a part of THE LAWTON-DUNNING PROJECT. On May 25th they - actually, JOHN LAWTON BAND, Steve Dunning is a bassist with - played a great gig in London'd "Mean Fiddler" club, and now there's a document of the show out. "One More Night" is a title of both CD and DVD; as John himself wrote in, "The live CD to accompany the DVD has only just been released (escaped) with DVD, hopefully, to be out next week." That's what's in:
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1. Still Paying My Dues |
Yes, the tracklisting looks bloody familiar, as it's the same as of "Steppin' It Up" acoustic album out earlier in the year - yet the difference is that the show was electric. Step it up!
GIMME SOME LIVE-ING
"Live In Europe '73" is a new archive release from SPENCER DAVIS GROUP, out soon on Purple Records. The album features the band in concert and on air, and incudes alternate takes, single-only "Mr. Operator" and Winwood-era classics "Gimme Some Lovin and the extended "I'm A Man". The line-up then was Spencer Davis, Ray Fenwick, Pete York, Eddie Hardin and Charlie McCraken.
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1. Let's Have A Party |
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A STAR'S A COCK?
A new supergroup is brewing up, called COCKSTAR. Under this banner work former MOTLEY CRUE members Nikki Sixx and John Corabi, L.A. GUNS guitar-slinger Tracii Guns, Kris Kohl who drummed for ADEMA, and a singer named London. Well, a singer, as this time Corabi is a second guitarist. The material is being written currently for a debut album to be out in 2003.
ON THE EDGE
November 11th will see the release of "Edge Of The World", a new album from golden-voiced Mark Boals. The ensemble really match the singer, with guitar duties worked out by Tony MacAlpine, Chris Brooks, Neil Citron and Jeff Kollman, drumming by Vinny Appice and Virgil Donati and keys tinkled by Erik Norlander. Bass guitar? One Mr. Boals is a multi-talented guy, y'know?
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1. Fly |
September 19, 2002
WAY OUT
Those who had pleasure reading the DME Phil Mogg interview, will have a chance to listen to what his U.F.O. partner in crime, Pete Way, has to say on the business. A two-hour Pete Way / U.F.O. radio special will go on air on October 4th, the same day the man plays Ohio. The radio station is WRUW 91.1 FM - so go here and read all abou the event.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
There's a BEATLES tracks of legendary status, it's even didn't crop up on bootlegs. 14-minutes long, mostly instrumental "Carnival Of Light" had been recorded late in 1966 and played publicly once at an avant-garde festival at the London's Roundhouse in January 1967. Now the track's main composer, Paul McCartney is going to release it as the soundtrack to a film sequence of the Fab Four pictures taken by Linda McCartney in 1967-1970. The track has been planned for inclusion into the "Anthology" package but got vetoed by George Harrison who reckoned it too quirky for THE BEATLES.
September 11, 2002
DRUID DUDES LIFTING THE VEIL
Looks like another title is joining John Lennon's remaster program with "Mind Games" being reissued on October 7th in Europe and the next day in the USA. The bonus tracks are said to be as following: "Aisumasen" (alternative version), "Bring On The Lucie" (home recording) and "Meat City" (alternative version).
FROM INSIDE A CLOUD
Yes, now it's official: November 19th is the release date of George Harrison's new album. Entitled "Brainwashed" - not a "Portrait Of A Leg End" or "Portrait Of A Boot Leg" - the album, featuring eleven new songs and a cover, is produced by George himself, his som Dhani and, sure, Jeff Lynne.
Says Lynne, "We started working on the album in 1999. George would come round my house and he'd always have a new song with him. He would strum them on a guitar or ukulele. The songs just knocked me out. George talked about how he wanted the album to sound, he told Dhani a lot of things he would like to have done to the songs and left us little clues. There was always that spiritual energy that went into the lyrics as well as the music."
The first single from the album will be "Stuck Inside A Cloud" with radio premiere set for November 1st.
SOUND SIDE OF THE SKY
Seems like getting ready for the YES tour didn't prevent Steve Howe from completing work on a solo album. "Skyline" featuring also Swiss piano player Paul Sutin who the guitarist released two records with, is out on November 4th. No Roger Dean's artwork this time...
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1. Small Acts Of Human Kindness |
MINSTREL PLAYS ON
And here's another Steve the guitarist, Steve Hackett, who's working on a new album in his new studio while his last year's Buenos Aires shows are finally to be out this October: a single DVD in the USA but the DVD and two CD package in Europe, with acoustic 2001's show from Budapest to follow in this format early in 2003.
The acoutic show proved to be highly successful, so Steve is keen to perform this way but on an occasional basis rather than booking a whole tour.
SLAM OPEN
Now deleted, limited to 500 units single "Whiter Shade Of Pale / Like A Rolling Stone" by Phil Lynott's GRAND SLAM has opened the floodgates to the artist's post-LIZZY music. Coming from the band's keyboard player Mark Stanway's archive, "The Studio Sessions" is a deluxe two CD box containing SLAM's studio recordings, mostly unreleased, with only "Sisters Of Mercy" having debuted on THIN LIZZY box set and "Nineteen" issued as Lynott's solo single. Hopefully, there'll be much more rarities released soon on Zoom Club.
CD 1:
1. Nineteen |
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CD 2:
1. Phil's 1984 interview |
A REASON TO BE HAPPY
Hard to say what KING CRIMSON call an album but their newest EP, "Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With", out on October 8th, comprises no less than eleven tracks, among them another installation of the grandiose "Lark's Tongues In Aspic" instrumental saga.
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1. Bude |
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Meanwhile, the work is nearing completion on "Ladies Of The Road", a big live release of the CRIMSO 1971-1972 incarnation in the same way that "The Night Watch" and "Absent Lovers" were for other line-ups.
GET IRONED
IRON MAIDEN fans should be the unfortunate folks with their idols releasing a box set every once in a while. This time November 5th will see "Eddie's Archive" box and "Edward The Great" greatest hits collection placed on the shelves.
"Eddie's Archive" contains three double CDs of rare live recordings from 1979 to 1988 and is to be presented in a unique 270 x 190 x 60 mm limited edition silver Eddie embossed casket with a crystal Eddie Head shot glass and an individually numbered Pete Frame family tree on parchment scroll in a specially designed Eddie ring. The first of the double CDs is "BBC Archives" featuring radio tapes from 1979-1988, the second "Beast Over Hammersmith" coming from 1982 tour, and the third is tellingly called "Best Of The B'Sides". In full, the tracks look like this.
BBC Archives:
CD 1Friday Rock Show Session 1979:
1. Iron Maiden Reading Festival 1982Wrathchild |
CD 2:Reading Festival 1980
1. Prowler Monsters Of Rock, Donington 19887. Moonchild |
Beast Over Hammersmith:
CD 1
1. Murders In The Rue Morgue |
CD 2:
1. Transylvania |
Best Of The B'Sides:
CD 1
1. Burning Ambition |
CD 2:
1. All In Your Mind |
September 4, 2002
A BROTHERHOOD OF MEN?
Yoko Ono seems to have become too generous in giving permission to use her late husband, John Lennon's songs. Amnesty International is an institution with some dubious affairs under their belt, yet Yoko decided to allow them take "Imagine" for a human rights education campaign to start in October. It won't be an original version though, the song is to be recorded by a children's choir.
ANOTHER ONE IN THE WALL
Well, yes, it's hard to escape the word "another", because "The Songs Of Pink Floyd" is another PINK FLOYD tribute (though with not so original title) and another tribute album to emerge from Bob Kulick's cutting table. So there are all the usual suspects:
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1. Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Steve Lukather, Marco Mendoza, Vinnie Colaiuta |
MASTERS' PIECES
In a hushed tones, but finally Steve Howe and Martin Taylor collaboration have resulted in an album called "Masterpiece Guitars" and is out now. For all the guitar aficionados, there's a collection of originals and all-time classics:
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1. Smile (C. Chaplin / J. Turner / G. Parsons) |
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September 3, 2002
BOXED IN
Riding high on the wave of their enduring success, URIAH HEEP had to delay the plans to present the fans with a new album any day soon. Hopefully, recording will take place sometime next year, and that's what the bandleader Mick Box sent in to the eager Heepsters:
"Hello! Well, I thought I should just update everyone regarding our recording situation. Unfortunately, we are behind schedule in this regard due to our live work. Being one of the principle song writers and the bands manager, guitarist, tour manager and secretary slaving over a hot computer and red hot telephone, it has been a difficult time to successfully put in the time on the writing pad. We seem to finish shows on the weekend which necessitates that on Monday / Tuesday I tie up the weekends accounts etc, then Phil and I get together for writing on Wednesday and then it is Thursday / Friday preparing for the next shows.
But all is not lost as the songs we have written so far we are very happy with. Trevor has been writing too so he has a few under his belt, so to speak. It is a shame we are not further down the line but we have decided not to put too much pressure on ourselves so that the quality of the final product does not suffer. We will keep battling on and, after the HeepVention in the USA, we can really buckle down and get the job done. Although saying that, we will have to do some rehearsals for the Magicians Birthday Party which once again will take us away from the recording job in hand.
There is also the added time consumer of getting the rehearsal studio and recording studio when we are ready and of course Pip's availability. We shall as always do our best and be rest assured we want to be able to be proud of the next CD and retain the quality that we have already established over the years. As always, keep on Heepin' on, and those that have seen us live over the last couple of months I hope you enjoyed the shows as much as we have.
'Appy Days, Mick Box"
'Nuff said - frankly.
BALLROOMS OF MARC
In last decade Marc Bolan's fans were inundated with alternate versions of albums, tons of out-takes and demos... And they're still aplenty, but some of this bonanza make a bulk of a new Marc Bolan & T. REX box set entitled "20th Century Superstar". The 4 CD compilation comprises both famous singles and long lost 45s, solo and groups recordings, B-sides and classics, alternative takes and mixes, as well as two previously unheard songs, a poem and live performances. Plus 64-page booklet. OK, that's how it goes...
CD One :
1. The Road I'm On (Gloria) (Toby Tyler) |
CD Two:
1. King Of The Rumbling Spires |
CD Three:
1. Jeepster (T. REX) |
CD Four:
1. Venus Loon (T. REX) |
AN EVENING WITH A FAIRY
Annie Haslam, the former singer with RENAISSANCE, is releasing her second live CD early November. To follow in the wake of European release of RENAISSANCE's "In The Land Of The Rising Sun" concert album, Annie's endeavor, called "One Enchanted Evening" and recorded at the Upper Tinicum Church in PA in June, 2001, is to be out on her own White Dove Records label. There'll be some new songs, too.
PURE GENIUS
The long awaited "Genius" rock opera is getting near, with Episode One, "A Human Into Dreams' World", appearing on Frontiers Records on October 23rd. That's the reason enough for the man behind the trilogy, Italian guitarist Daniele Liverani, to go in the open with a special site. Only two principal players, Liverani handling guitars, bass and keyboards, and drummer Dario Ciccion back an amazing array of singers. Here's the cast of characters:
Mark Boals - Genius
Lana Lane - Doorkeeper
Daniel Gildenlow - Twinspirit n. 32
Chris Boltendahl - Stationmaster
Joe Vana - King Mc Chaos Consultant
John Wetton - King Mc Chaos
Steve Walsh - King Wild Tribe
Oliver Hartmann - King Wild Tribe Consultant
Midnight - Maindream
Philip Bynoe - Storyteller
Olaf Senkbeil, Hachy Hackmann, Chris Boltendahl - Choirs
And here's what's inside the first part:
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1. Without Me Today (Mark Boals) |