BIG FOR THE LAST TIME
MR. BIG are no more but, to bid farewell, they resurrected their spirit one more time, the result being “Mr. Big – Influences and Connections”, an album and a DVD which see the band members and their celebrity guests do songs that gave the world the group and those Billy Sheehan and Co gave to the world.
The standard is set as high as to bring in Paul Rodgers who co-wrote and sang the original version of “Mr. Big”, a piece which lent the American rockers their name, to record it again with Billy stepping in for Andy Fraser – and it’s the only track with Sheehan on; the other vocalists include Glenn Hughes handling “Price You Gotta Pay” and “Alive & Kicking”, John Waite on “Wild World”, Joe Lynn Turner on “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy” and Ann Wilson of HEART on “Promise Her The Moon”, while the guitars duties go to Steve Lukather and Marty Friedman, yet there’ll be more big names involved.
With Pat Regan producing, the CD and DVD are released at the end of June.
NO AXIS BOLDER
Classic rock seem to be dying, with so many a great performer passing away one by one. The latest is Noel Redding whose solid and bold bass playing provided a real axis for Mitch Michell’s bottom groove and Jimi Hendrix’s guitar pyrotechnics. He served for the JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE from the very off, when in 1966 THE ANIMALS’ former bassist Chas Chandler brought the axeman over to Britain and arranged for him a band that would cut such groundbreaking albums as “Are You Experienced?” and “Electric Ladyland”. With Hendrix surrounding himself with black musicians, Redding founded a heavy psychedelic combo FAT MATTRESS, popular among the collectors, and later did session work. Noel died on Sunday, May 11th at his home Southern Ireland home, aged 57.
BEASTIE VISUAL
You don’t need to be a Maidenhead to keep in esteem the beast of a project IRON MAIDEN are to unleash on June 2nd, a double-DVD set“Visions Of The Beast” comprising every promotional videos the British ensemble ever made from 1980’s “Women In Uniform” through to 2001’s performance of “Brave New World'”. To up the value and the volume, thereon are previously unseen Camp Chaos animated versions of six tracks, discography and hidden extras. A treasure trove where Eddie lives on.
Disc 1:1. Women In Uniform |
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Disc 2:1. Bring Your Daughter |
GETTIN’ DEEP
Some may think that new EMI series, “Early Years”, will be another long line of budget compilations, yet the DEEP PURPLE entry will prove them wrong as, in order to make the collection special, forgotten master tapes had been revisited and worked on for inclusion on a CD alongside regular material. So there might be a chance to explore new ground with…
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– And The Address (remix) – Blind (remix) – I’m So Glad (remix) – Kentucky Woman (alternate take) – Lalena (instrumental – Hey Joe (remix) – Hush (remix) – Bird Has Flown (backing track) |
Meanwhile, here‘s a cover artwork for the upcoming BLACKMORE’S NIGHT album, “Ghost Of A Rose”, out on June 30th.
A LAD INSANE
May 26th will see another re-issue of another classic, David Bowie’s “Alladin Sane”, this time – following in the wake of “Ziggy Stardust”, which received similar treatment – as a 2-CD deluxe edition with extensive sleeve notes, unseen photos by Mick Rock, a chronology and other time-pieces expanding the perspective of 1973’s artefact further, as if the bonus disc of single versions and live cuts isn’t enough. Fans must be jumping insanely… Will there be “Pin-Ups” next?
CD 1 – the original album:1. Watch That Man |
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Disc 2 – bonus material:1. John I’m Only Dancing (sax version)
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