MORE HOOKED
Before it was reported of the work on John Lee Hooker tribute album going on. At the moment the list of artists involved has grown to include the following superstars: Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Vaughn, Sue Foley, Billy Sheehan, Scott Holt, STEPPENWOLF’s John Kay, BB King, Dave Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Bill Wyman’s RHYTHM KINGS, Paul Rodgers, Gary Brooker, Andy Fairweather-Low and, possibly, Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty of THE YARDBIRDS.
Thus, a little project threatens to turn out immensely huge. As of now, Jeff Beck has recorded two tracks, “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” and “Hobo Blues”, while LLC, comprising former TEN YEARS AFTER players, came up with “Jesse James”.
PAICE QUICKENS UP
Recent burst of activity of Ian Paice is stretching out to the joint tour with his old drumming friend Pete York. The two will be joined by Miller Anderson on guitar and vocals and Colin Hodgkinson on bass (Colin played with Pete in SPENCER DAVIES GROUP). Except for performing, the band will, as York saus, “give the audience the opportunity to ask questions about drumming, music, life on the road and life off the road”.
ARJEN, NOT AYREON
Arjen Lucassen is currently working on his new project, which won’t be labelled AYREON. Nevertheless, the album called “Space Metal” will feature AYREON stalwarts like Damian Wilson, Floor Jansen, Russell Allen and Dan Swano playing a certain character from the space films the songs are based on, plus AFTER FOREVER singer Floor.
BOSTON T-PARTY
With rumours of possible BOSTON in circulation, Escape Music set to work on the tribute album to the mighty melodic metal band. The songs will be performed by the genre’s best voices: Tony O’Hara (PRAYING MANTIS), Terry Brock (THE SIGN), Peter Sundell (GRAND ILLUSION), Chris Ousey (VIRGINIA WOLF), Darcy Deutsch (PRISM) and Steve Overland (FM) with the addition of Steve Morris (HEARTLAND), Tommy Denander (RADIOACTIVE), Mike Walsh and Kenny Kaos on guitars, enormous Don Airey on keyboard on guitar, Frank Baker on drums and Dave Hopia on bass… and more to join the list. The album will be out in the beginning of 2002.
FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE AND NOT ALONE
Now living in Cincinatti, Peter Frampton is to host on December 9th a concert at the city’s Taft Theatre with proceeds to be donated to the Clear Channel Relief Fund, which aids emergency personnel working in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks, as well as national and local chapters of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The performers should be BLESSID UNION OF SOULS, ONE featuring 98 DEGREES’ Justin Jeffre, Reggie Calloway of MIDNIGHT STARR fame, PAY THE GIRL and Greg Schaber with HIGH STREET.
SIR PAUL TO HONOUR NOBEL PRIZE
Not the one to receive the Nobel Prize himself, Paul McCartney, as well as Wyclef Jean, A-HA, Natalie Imbruglia, Youssou N’Dour and opera star Russell Watson will perform on December 11th at the Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, Norway, at the Nobel Peace Prize concert. The event will be broadcast on TV in the weeks following.
FREHLEY SENDS A COMET
KISS’ original guitar slinger Ace Frehley will play on November 28th at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom for New York Steel, a benefit concert for victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks together with re-united TWISTED SISTER, whose guitarist Jay Jay French organized the show, Sebastian Bach, OVERKILL and ANTHRAX – the latter still keeping their controversial name. In the beginning Ace wanted to set up the benefit concert of his own, but instead he opted for a joint venture to raise more funds.
Frehley is to perform with his band the material he was doing before KISS reunion. Now, the guitarist plans to invite some of those taking a stage with him to play on his next album, which will be recorded in the studio Ace is currently building. The album, tentatively titled “The Baldest Baby On The Block, must be out by spring.
