News
December 20, 2007
SOMETHING FREE FROM THE FREE MAN
Since his return to the active music life, Andy Fraser has been keeping himself busy. Currently working a new Frankie Miller album, ir rather applying his skills to his old friend's unreleased recordings, Andy nevertheless, took some time to record a new song of his own, "Take Me Home For Christmas", and to shoot a clip to it. The politically-themed slice of rock steady can be downloaded in audio and video formats from Fraser's official site.
ROCKETING OUT
The rock 'n' roll pioneer, for many Ike Turner has been a vicious beater of the famous wife - but it was he who made Tina famous, and it was him behind the powerful 1952 cut called "Rocket 88" which might be the thing that started it all. On the rise again in the recent couple years, Ike snatched a Grammy and a Mojo award, but soon after he's succumbed to the age, at 76, and illness and died on December 12th. Turner will hardly be sorely missed yet, without him, today's world wouldn't be as we know it.
THE HUNTER'S ANOINTING
In the beginning it was Doogie White, then Ian Parry who were said to be a replacement for John West in the ROYAL HUNT ranks, but it's, in fact, the tremendous Mark Boals who's a new singer, the one featured on the forthcoming a new album, "Collision Course... Paradox 2", to be out in February or March, picking up where the 1997's "Paradox" left off. Of course, having worked with Yngwie Malmsteen, Mark's no stranger to the Scandinavian approach to the neo-classic hard rock, yet it's strange he veered off from both his solo career and fronting the RING OF FIRE ensemble.
OLD FRIENDS, NEW BAND
Now, it seems final: THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP are no more. More so, as it was reported before, Eddie Hardin is going to semi-retire. But this decision didn't prevent him from getting together a new combo with his former colleague Ray Fenwick on guitar, plus such seasoned groovers as bassist Gary Twigg and lesser-known drummer Steff Porzel. There's no name to the ensemble as of now but it'll surely appear in time for the February work on their first album and short tour of Germany that's schemed for March.
BAD BAD BOY
Heading towards their 40th anniversary tour, NAZARETH were deadly surprised to learn that the band's former guitarist is shopping his band around as "Nazareth featuring Manny Charlton". The real group led by two original members, Pete Agnew and Dan McCafferty, have issued the oficial statement as regards the issue where they expressed their dismay and warned the fans that the lot can't be misled on the brink of the NAZ new album's release and start of the anniversary trek.
THE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION
"What can be said about Andres Segovia that hasn’t been said already? Let’s just say on the nylon guitar his playing informs my every note! I wrote this as a tribute to his eternal influence", says Steve Hackett of "The Fountain Suite", one of the three tracks the guitarist wrote for his forthcoming album simply titled "Tribute". Bent on classical music which imformed his work as early as in 1972, when Hackett adorned GENESIS' "Foxtrot" with a Bach-inspired acoustic masterpiece "Horizons", Steve's released several instrumental albums in this vein and came up with two concertos for guitar and orchestra. Now, there's going to be a great addition to his canon.
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1. Gavottes BWV 1012 (Bach) |
December 2, 2007
PLUGGING IN AND SPARKING ON
Five last years, since the Mael brothers unleashed their "Lil' Beethoven" on us, have seen a surge of interest in SPARKS, and 2008 is the year when the band release their 21st album. That's a full age of sorts and, therefore, a cause to celebrate. And be sure, Ron and Russell know many ways to do so in style. This time the brothers decide to premiere the record on June 13th at Shepherds Bush Empire where they're going to be playing this as yet untitled album in its entirety - but this is not the trick. The trick is to precede the premiere night by playing live all of the LPs on 20 consecutive nights in London, from start to finish for the Shepherds Bush date to be the grand finale. As Maels said, "That's approximately 250 songs, or for you musicians, 4 million, 825 thousand, 273 notes. Come celebrate each and every one of those notes with us!"
WISHING WELL
If there's a dream British blues collaboration, it's for Paul Rodgers and Maggie Bell to do something together, not only for Maggie to be covering FREE's "Wishing Well". Now, there's a chance, with the two being on the Swan Song label in the '70s, both are scheduled to appear alongside their friends LED ZEPPELIN at O2's stage on December 10th.
THE RIOTER QUIETENS
What a sad news! On November 19th the QUIET RIOT effusive frontman, Kevin DuBrow, passed away. His body was found only six day later. Glenn Hughes is said to have called from LA to Las Vegas and alarmed DuBrow's friend to look for paramedics, after Kevin failed to attend a party at the Hughes', an occasion he tried to never miss on. The death's cause is still not announced but there was no invasion in the singer's appartment. Perhaps, his wasn't metal health as DuBrow's would have it under the title of his band's most famous album which, in 1983, spearheaded by the ""Cum On Feel The Noize" cover, helped shape the glam metal scene. He will be sorely missed by many,
ALL BLUES AND NO DINNER
While the British blues aficionados are eagerly expecting a new album from Jack Bruce and Robin Trower, that's going to be out any day soon, the former CREAM singer / bassist has come up with a new live recording. "Live At 37. Deutschesland Jazzfestival" was laid down in Frankfurt on October 26th, 2006 and feature the Hessischer Rundfunk Big Band. The swinging combo may be an interesting collaborators for Jack who's always dabbled with jazz and shaped his first solo album, "Things We Like" as a pure jazz record (it was released as Bruce's second, after more viable commercially "Songs For A Tailor'. So here's something like a full circle for the veteran.
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1. Never Tell Your Mother She's Out Of Tune |
SAY THIS IS REAL
"Say It's Not True" is not a new song as such: QUEEN + Paul Rodgers unveiled it on their "Return Of The Champions" DVD. But there it was the song's writer, Roger Taylor's solo spot. Now, there's a full recording, with Taylor, Brian May and Paul Rodgers taking a verse each and complete with a heavy section. Before the entire album arrives - it\s likely to see the light of day in 2008 - this, new version and a video for it are available for a free download through Queenonline. It's made available for Nelson Mandela's 46664 before World AIDS Day that was December 1st. There was a 46664 concert on November 30th but, having played two previous events, this time the band are in the studio and couldn't appear there; instead, they sent such a special musical message.
QUEEN who lost their singer Freddie Mercury to AIDS are very likely campaigners for the cause. Says Roger Taylor, "By making the song available for free, we hope to help Mandela with his campaign to get across the message that no-one is safe from infection. We have to be aware, we have to protect ourselves and those we love. The song follows the line of his personal message: it's in our own hands to bring a stop to this".
SQUIRE'S S-CHOIR
Another Christmas comes, another artist serves up the traditional fair, and this time up comes such a non-traditional artist as Chris Squire. The YES leader hushed his thunderous bass for the English Baroque Choir's voices and Steve Hackett's guitar to shine through. A good pairing with Jon Anderson's newly re-issued, with a holiday card's pack, "3 Ships" seasonal album, it features quite an interesting coda, Squire's own "Run With The Fox".
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1. Adam Lay Y'Bouden |
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EIGHT MILES HIGH
For years, the German TV's Beat Club performances have been a treasure trove for the classic rock diggers, and a brief switching of of VH1 Classic will be suffice to ignite the interest, so the "Progressive Times" eight-DVD collection, out on January 19th, is a tremendous visual treat for everyone. Some of the videos previously released on the respective artists collections and some volumes less interesting than the others, there's enough to enjoy nevertheless. Fortunately, each DVD will be available for grabs on its own.
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Vol. 1 |
Vol. 2 |
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Vol. 3 |
Vol. 4 |
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Vol. 5 |
Vol. 6 |
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Vol. 7 |
Vol. 8 |
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