News
June 19, 2003
DEEP IN THE HEEP
There's a sort of a superband get their mojo working: neither brand tag, nor album title could be provided at the moment, but in URIAH HEEP's chief Mick Box's words, his bandmate, Lee Kerslake is doing an album now in Florida, in company of his friend since Ozzy Osbourne days, bassist Bob Daisley, who also served in HEEP, Bob's singing buddy Jimmy Barnes of OLD DOG MAC, who joined Daisley's THE HOOCHIE KOOCHIE MEN on the same night as another member of this new ensemble, organist Jon Lord, the last element of this musical puzzle being Jon's ex-coleague, DEEP PURPLE guitarist Steve Morse. Terrifying - and terrific.
A FRUITY THANG
Meanwhile, there's a release date for DEEP PURPLE's new album has been announced: August 25th. And if the music hardly holds any surprise for old fans, the record's title does - anyone can easily guess it was Ian Gillan who suggested calling it "Bananas". The content's following:
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1. House Of Pain |
SONGS FROM THE MOOD
Some time ago, it was reported that JETHRO TULL are going to release a Christmas album in an appropriate time. They will, indeed, with former member Dave Pegg featured on two tracks, and the full listing of re-recorded songs, traditional carols and some originals looks like this:
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1. Birthday Card At Christmas |
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9. Pavane |
But that will be later in the year, while TULL's mastermind Ian Anderson's new solo record, "Rupi's Dance" hits the shelves on August 25th:
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1. Calliandra Shade (The Cappuccino Song) |
June 12, 2003
THE LIZARD KING
For many, he came out of nowhere and went into obscurity, yet the least famous of all the KING CRIMSON singers, Gordon Haskell had been on the scene even before he cropped up on "In The Wake Of Poseidon" and spread his wings on "Lizard". In the late '60s, Haskell jammed with Jimi Hendrix, had an album produced by legendary Arif Mardin several years later - only to see his success pale against his schoolmate Robert Fripp's - then went to work with Cliff Richard... to be re-born last year with a massive hit "How Wonderful You Are". That's why there's quite an interest has risen to his previous work, which is gathered now on "The Early Years" compilation that Gordon calls "my first solo recordings".
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1. Good Man Down |
WHO WON'T HAVE TO WAIT TOO LONG
When back in 1970 John Sloman, then a lead singer with URIAH HEEP, warbled "I won't have to wait too long" those who loved his voice hoped the former LONE STAR frontman would keep up well when left on his own in the wake of HEEP's break-up. That wasn't to be - even though Sloman's talent didn't rest unnoticed and the golden-voiced one was invited to join Gary Moore and featured on the guitarist's "Rockin' Every Night". After that John seemed to disappear, and perhaps it's his involvement in PRAYING MANTIS 2003's "The Journey Goes On" that prompted the singer to resume the career - and bring forth his first ever solo album, "Dark Matter", out now. Well about the time: we've been waiting too long.
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1. Humankind (What's On Your Mind) |
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BYRON'S LAST POEMS
Early '80s saw the decline of the charismatic David Byron, whose voice had loomed so large in URIAH HEEP legend, and in 1985 he died. The last project David immersed himself in was THE BYRON BAND he formed in 1979 with a young guitarist called Robin George, the one to work later with another rock casualty, Phil Lynott. Yet with 1981's "On The Rocks" the only output by the band, there remained more decent material in Robin's archives. Two years of seeking out the deal led to nothing, and now "Lost & Found" will be released by George himself and available for purchase in July at www.robingeorge.co.uk, benefitting The Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity. A good cause and a good reason.
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1. Learn The Dance |
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14. How Do You Sleep |
ON THE 7th HOUR, ON THE 7th DAY
They never played together before, yet they thrived on the parallel branches of the DEEP PURPLE family tree: Jon Lord in WHITESNAKE and Bob Daisley in RAINBOW, not mentioning other great gigs the two had been involved in, like PAL or Ozzy Osbourne. Earlier this year though, when retired organ player visited Australia where the bass plucker lives, to perform his own "", Jon came up on stage to enforce the sound of Bob's new band, THE HOOCHIE KOOCHIE MAN. To not document that would be a crime, but crime there won't be with a release of the eponymous double CD and DVD later in the year. A value of the Aussie Jimmy Barnes singing on some tracks is arguable, still.
Disc 1:
1. Hideaway |
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Disc 2:
13. The Hoochie Coochie Man * |
MAIDEN DANCING
They still keep their axes high and still are unbreakeable even in unbelievable three lead guitars format, so September will see the release of the IRON MAIDEN new album, "Dance Of Death", which is to be mixed not only in usual stereo but also in 5.1 Surround - a good reason to be dancing. On the side note, there's a bit of trivia about the album: a track "New Frontier" is the first number composed by the drummer Nicko McBrain.
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1. Wildest Dreams |
CLIVE THE CLAVICHORDER
Clive Nolan is one of the most proficient keyboard operators in today's progressive rock. Whether it's with PENDRAGON, with his pet project ARENA, or with Oliver Wakeman, there's always an air of high art about Clive's writing and playing, valued even by John Wetton who invited Nolan to work on the veteran's "Rock Of Faith" album. No doubt, then, such a prolific work must have resulted in certain number of out-takes, demos and other rarities that are becoming available now with a series of arhival releases starting with "Skeletons In The Cupboard (Archive Volume 1)":
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1. Walk On Water (Clive Nolan) |
INTELLECTUAL BACKUP
While many consider "Subterranea - The Concert" the best performance by IQ, there's no limit for excellence - as there's no limit for the opinions: in order to fund new, enhanced stage show and to let the fans indulge in the band's live output, a new project has begun, entitled "The Archive Collection". Coming from the artists' own cupboards, there will be many gig recordings up for taking, the first being IQ20", a soundboard recording of the February 16th, 2002 concert in Germany. "Collections" means "for collectors", so this 2-CD set will be a strictly limited edition of 2,000 copies.
Meanwhile, the new album is at the writing stage, and the mixing of the "IQ20" DVD is being done, that's why the re-recording of "Tales From The Lush Attic" is put on hold for a while.
Disc 1:
1. Intro |
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Disc 2:
8. The Narrow Margin |
June 4, 2003
PLACE WITH THE LONELY CROWD
Pete Brown, most famous as the CREAM lyricist and one hell of an artist himself, looks forward to writing, with journalist Harry Shapiro, an autobiography, tentatively titled "Living Life Backwards". The book will held many revelations on Pete's 40-odd year long career and his fruitful collaboration with Jack Bruce.
Moreover, while many still savour albums Brown recorded with THE BATTERED ORNAMENTS and PIBLOKTO!, there's Pete's live album in the pipeline, featuring among others Clem Clempson and Zoot Money.
MOST YOU HEARD
Another legend has gone to the other spheres. Mickie Most, one of the British invasion beacons died of cancer on May 30th, aged 64. A posessor of controversial personality that led to ugly stories, like shooting down Terry Reid career in the early '70s, Most's professional skills are embedded in many a groove by THE ANIMALS and THE YARDBIRDS, Donovan and Jeff Beck and many more, reaching even to more hard stuff like SWEET and HEAVY METAL KIDS. He's done the most he could and will be much missed.
MIXED EMOTIONS?
The most infamous of prog dinosaurs, YES aren't the band whose tracks are up for remixing. Still, the guitarist Steve Howe's son Virgil, aka The Verge, took a challenge and came up with stunning results that are out on July 8th as "Yes Remixes". It takes listening to say positive on negative, yes or no.
1. Tempus Fugit
2. Arriving UFO
3. Heart of the Sunrise
4. Starship Trooper
5. Awaken
6. Sound Chaser
7. Ritual
8. Siberian Khatru
9. 5 Per Cent for Nothing
10. No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed
11. No Clowns
As for the next bunch of the YES remasters, "Close To The Edge", "Tales From Topographic Oceans", "Relayer" and "Going For The One", augmented with bonus tracks, have been pushed back for the autumn release, and the live box set project to next year.
THE SOUND OF BARRE
Martin Barre, the guitarist with JETHRO TULL, has a new solo album, his third, almost ready. Entitled "Stage Left", according to Martin's live position beside Ian Anderson, holds thirteen tracks, all bar one instrumental, and features usual eclectic yet tasteful blend of blues, jazz and rock.