News
March 18, 2006
SHARDS OF GLASS
Sad but rather not unexpected news. What's more surprising is that it has lasted so long, for eight years, but now, having just been inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, BLONDIE announced they would split up after the current tour commitments are over. There can be more life in them, though, and anyway Chris Stein said that he and Debbie Harry "intend to keep working on music together and... would like to be able to do more improvised forms of music than are possible in the BLONDIE situation". Walking out in style is an art form, isn't it?
DOING MOORE
Shuffling constantly between genres, now Gary Moore is back on his blues streak, and the end of April will see the release of his awkwardly titled "Old New Ballads Blues" album. It's not another compilation of the Irishman's hits even though he re-recorded "Midnight Blues" and Otis Rush's "All Your Love" that initially turned the guitarist onto the blues for inclusion on this disc, it's just another great blues collection.
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1. Done Somebody Wrong |
Yet for those who missed Moore's heavy side, he has something up his sleeve. "Gary Moore and Friends, One Night In Dublin. A Tribute to Phil Lynott" is a new DVD, out on March 27th, that documents a show that former THIN LIZZY members, lead by Gary, played last year when Phil Lynott statue was unveiled in his beloved Eireland. A rare chance to listen to the numbers the guitarist hasn't played for a long time.
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1. Walkin' By Myself |
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But if you want to dig Moore and Lynott's past deeper, on the same day, March 27th, another record will hit the shelves, "Live And On Song", by SKID ROW, a band that Gary started in the late '60s and featured Philo on vocals for some time. Real rarities they are, for completists only, perhaps, yet interesting to see the roots of the greatness.
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Song Records singles, 1969 |
DOWN TOO LONG
Last year has brought happiness to many a DIO fan, as the band's shows included not only old favorites from Ronnie James Dio RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH days but also a performance of the classic "Holy Diver" album in its entirety. The October concert at London's Astoria has been filmed and will be released on DVD on May 30th - to be preceded on April 17th by the CD version. To keep the integrity of the centerpiece, the "Holy Diver" song cycle is moved to the first of the two discs, while the tracks that bookended it gathered on the second. Clever! The band in the meantime work on a new record, to be out later in the year.
CD 1:
1. Stand Up And Shout |
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CD 2:
10. Tarot Woman |
OUT OF "INN"
With DEEP PURPLE colors waving proudly all the world over, Ian Gillan doesn't forget to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his introduction to the showbiz and, on April 17th, puts out "Gillan's Inn", that sees the singer cover, with grand guests, a nice selection of his back catalogue, both solo and collective. There's even one new track but... where's Luciano Pavarotti who was said to have taken part in the recording? Anyway, complaints shouldn't be heard on the album's release, as the disc has two sides to it, a CD and a DVD, which is more than one could have expected.
CD side:
1. Unchain Your Brain (with Joe Satriani and Michael Lee)
2. Bluesy Blue Sea (with Janick Gers and Michael Lee )
3. A Day Late And A Dollar Short (with Uli Jon Roth and Ronnie James Dio)
4. Hang Me Out To Dry (with Joe Satriani and Michael Lee)
5. Men Of War (with Steve Morse and John Rzeznik)
6. When A Blind Man Cries (with Jeff Healy and Jon Lord)
7. Sugar Plum (with Roger Glover and Ian Paice)
8. Trashed (with Tony Iommi, Roger Glover and Ian Paice)
9. No Worries
10. Smoke On The Water (with Steve Morse, John Rzeznik, Jon Lord and Ian Paice)
11. No Laughing In Heaven (with Roger Glover and Ian Paice )
12. Speed King (with Joe Satriani and Michael Lee)
13. Loving On Borrowed Time (with Steve Morse and Uli Jon Roth )
14. Ill Be Your Baby Tonight (with Joe Elliott)
DVD side:
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Complete album in 5.1 surround sound |
Many, though, would like to see Big Ian in his prime time, and they can do so with a new DVD, "Live Edinburgh 1980", that captures GILLAN the band rocking out mightily on Scottish TV (STV) - and not only.
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1. Unchain Your Brain |
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SURE KNOW WHERE THEY'VE BEEN
The WHITESNAKE fans have grown tired of waiting for the band's back catalogue to be remastered, and recent DVD, filmed in 2004, hasn't quenched their thirst. Still, something moves on, and David Coverdale works on three projects currently: an archive DVD, an archive live recordings and... yes, remasters that should start being released in May. There will be bonus material on each album, and the tentative tracks are as follows:
"Trouble" (1978)
- Come On (Snakebite E.P.)
- Bloody Mary (Snakebite E.P.)
- Steal Away (Snakebite E.P.)
- Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City (Snakebite E.P.)
- When You Go Down For The First Time (previously unreleased)
"Lovehunter" (1979)
- Belgium Tom's Hat Trick (BBC Session, 29.3.79)
- Love To Keep You Warm (BBC Session, 29.3.79)
- Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City (BBC Session, 29.3.79)
- Trouble (BBC Session, 29.3.79)
"Ready An' Willing" (1980)
- Love For Sale (previously unreleased)
- Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City (Reading Festival 1979)
- Mistreated (Reading Festival 1979)
- Lovehunter (Reading Festival 1979)
- Breakdown (Reading Festival 1979)
REMOVED INTO TODAY
Keeping his profile high enough for both his trio and PROCOL HARUM aficionados to pay attention, Robin Trower has released a fine collection of songs on his last year's album "Living Out Of Time" and now follows the suit with a DVD of the same title. Filmed at the Crossroads Festival in Germany, on March 3rd, 2005, it sees the veteran guitarist in the company of vocalist Davey Pattison, famous bassist Dave Bronze and drummer Pete Thompson do the set that incorporates some of his tremendous classic cuts alongside fresh material. Seeing is believing, and there's not much Trower visuals around, so it's recommended.
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1. Too Rolling Stoned |
POWER OF THREE
Three years on from the release of "P. T. Power Trio", Pat Travers does the trick again and, on "P. T. Power Trio 2", again covers classic blues and hard rock anthems. Quite a trend now, with Jake E Lee and Vivian Campbell doing the same.
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1. You Are The Music (TRAPEZE) |
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