DIO’s “Holy Diver” To See A Super Deluxe Treatment

May 20, 2022

There had never been a singer like Ronnie James Dio and neither there will be anyone like him. A vocalist of fantastic abilities, a composer and lyricist par excellence, and one of the nicest persons this scribe chanced to meet among artists, Ron would have celebrated his 80th anniversary on July 10th, 2022 if he didn’t leave the world 12 years ago, that’s why, one year short of its own 40th anniversary, his band DIO‘s 1983 debut “Holy Diver” is to see a super deluxe edition on July 8th, reissued as a 4-disc box set and 2LP, clear vinyl versions, as befits the great album which helped define hard rock golden standard of the ’80s.

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All-Stars Homage To Eric Clapton Is Ready For Release

May 20, 2022

“A Tribute To Eric Clapton”: such a simple title is given to a various artists’ tribute that will see the release on CD and vinyl on June 17th – and there’s really no reason to be inventive about what’s written on the album’s cover. What must be imaginative is the treatment of the legendary guitarist’s legacy, which remains supreme – the fact even those who detest his stance on Covid cannot deny – be it with THE YARDBIRDS, CREAM, BLIND FAITH, DEREK AND THE DOMINOS or solo. All these facets of the veteran’s output are reflected here by musicians of impressive pedigree.

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PROG COLLECTIVE Go Folk Rocking

May 18, 2022

The quintessence of today remote-recording method of creating not only single pieces but entire albums, PROG COLLECTIVE seem to be one of the most unnatural rock formations around, as none of the records from this ensemble, masterminded by Billy Sherwood, actually saw performers get together – neither in the studio nor on-stage. Still, there’s always been an interest in hearing easily recognizable musicians play on choice covers – and sometimes originals, as in the case of the band’s latest offering, 2021’s "Worlds On Hold" – so it’s hardly surprising that the platter which will be issued on July 1st looks rather alluring.

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Goodbye, Ricky Gardiner

May 16, 2022

His name has never been a household one, except for his own musical household, yet every listener of any classic rock radio station heard Ricky Gardiner‘s guitar many, many times. The Scottish artist, who passed away on May 13th at the age of 73, may not have been famous for cofounding prog outfit BEGGARS OPERA, but the licks he played on “The Passenger” and “Lust For Life” became as immortal as these Iggy Pop perennials per se; more so, Ricky composed music for the former piece on the album titled after the latter – but not before working with that platter’s certain co-producer named David. Gardiner’s was a prominent presence on Bowie’s “Low” where he laid down six-string lines on “Sound And Vision” and “Always Crashing In The Same Car” alongside few other songs, while the veteran’s subsequent career, which included numbers co-penned with wife Virginia Scott, his old band vocalist, and augmented with drums from their son Tom, saw him experiment with ambient textures.

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Producer Gary Miller Died

May 14, 2022

Gary Miller died on May 10, at the young age of 62. We’ve known each other for more than a decade, ever since he started working on the RAT, Rock Against Trafficking, project, roping in star artists to contribute to the album of Sting songs and benefit the cause which was closed to Miller’s heart. Gary asked me to help him find more participants, and I talked his favorite bass player, my friend Andy Fraser, into joining in – and both of them struck up a friendship too. Sadly, the project still remains unfinished, although the producer was happy to release a few choice covers to the public, which was more important to him than anything he’d done before that. And there was a lot.

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