News update for Sunday 31st October, 2010

Happy Halloween everyone!

Hope you've all had a fun weekend, with one thing and another, but enough of that, here's to some news updates for you!

Legendary Prog-Rockers YES Signs New Worldwide Recording Deal with Frontiers Records

New Studio CD, First In Nearly A Decade, Slated For 2011

HOLLYWOOD, CA (October 29, 2010) Grammy Award winners YES, one of the most influential and ground-breaking progressive rock ‘n’ roll bands, today announced the signing of a new worldwide recording deal with the Italian-based record label, Frontiers Records. Songs such as “Roundabout”, “I’ve Seen All Good People”, “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”, and countless others, have served to place the group upon the pantheon of rock ‘n’ roll history. But history is still, yet to be written, because Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White, along with Oliver Wakeman (Rick Wakeman’s son) and new lead singer Benoit David, will enter the studio to record the group’s first new CD in a decade. It is anticipated for release before Summer 2011.

Frontiers Records President, Serafino Perugino said: “I am truly honored and excited to have these Rock and Roll pioneers on the label. YES have written some fabulous pages in the history of this music and I look forward to keep on writing new exciting chapters with them!”

“Having the two new guys in the line-up has inspired the impetus behind the need for YES to return to the studio” explains Chris Squire, while Steve Howe adds “The new lineup has shown that we can operate well as a touring band, so now to expand that to recording would broaden our repertoire and the inclusion of Oliver and Benoit on new recordings will show a new leaf in YES music's continuing development.”

One of the most popular concert attractions of all-time YES’s remarkable career has served to re-define the boundaries of rock. Proving to be a dominant force, for more than four decades, YES has sold over 33 million albums worldwide. Their symphonic use of sound and innovative musical style has made each of the group’s players are virtuosos in their own right.

Band official website: www.yesworld.com/

www.frontiers.it/home/

Also from Frontiers comes this ...

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce ...

Nelson - Before The Rain and Perfect Storm

To be released December 3rd, 2010

The phenomenal success of NELSON’s 1990 debut LP “After The Rain” was literally a dream come true, but it did not happen overnight and it wasn’t an accident. The recordings included in “Before the Rain” document the hard work that stood behind that album. “Before the Rain” tells the story of twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson and their musical journey to reach the Rock N’ Roll Promised Land.

NELSON was conceived and realized as a vocal and melody heavy hit song oriented hard rock band with pop leanings and it took them not less than five exhaustive years for the giving shape to “After The Rain”, from 1986-1990.

In 1986, after writing songs with Dweezil Zappa for his debut LP “My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Momma” and writing and recording the title cut for the film “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” under the band name Power Tool, the Matthew and Gunnar Nelson decided they needed to hone their songwriting craft and learn from experts. They started with writer/producer Jack Ponti in New Jersey and recorded the songs they wrote that year with friends that eventually became the band Skid Row. Next, they journeyed to Australia to collaborate with Little River Band’s hit writer Graham Gobel and other writers for two months Down Under. A subsequent 3 month stay in the UK to write with hit makers Adrian Gurvitz and Argent’s Russ Ballard followed.

Though elements from those experiences and sessions would wound up in later attempts, Nelson finally hit musical pay dirt writing songs in a bedroom in Pacific Palisades California and recorded them in a 16-track demo studio in a converted garage in the San Fernando Valley with an unknown writer/producer named Marc Tanner.

The results are what you can hear now on “Before the Rain”. These are the original demonstration recordings that caught the attention of A&R legend John Kalodner in late 1989 and scored Nelson a recording contract with Geffen/DGC Records which led to eventual sales of more than 3,000,000 copies of “After The Rain” and all that followed, including a World tour with over 300 concerts. NELSON live line-up was even overqualified for the job. With some incredible virtuoso musicians such as Bobby Rock on drums, Brett Garsed on guitar, Paul Mirkovich on Keys and vocals and the addition of Joey Cathcart on vocals and second lead guitar, what you got was 4 part harmony, stellar musicianship, veteran showmanship, twin frontmen, and most importantly - great songs. Nelson played venues ranging in size from 1,200 to 60,000 seats between 1990-1992 from New York to Tokyo, sharing the stage with some great other bands and had some great openers, including House Of Lords, Tyketto, Enuff Z’nuff, Cinderella and Lynch Mob.

Before the Rain

Matthew and Gunnar Nelson – All instruments

Amazingly and sadly, throughout the 3 year phenomenon of “After The Rain”, none of the tour’s concerts were ever filmed in their entirety. “Perfect Storm” is all that remains to document the height of NELSONMANIA for posterity. If you were there you are sure to remember how you felt that night experiencing the “After The Rain” tour in person. If you weren’t, you can be back there now.

The right components for success, the right cast of characters, the best fans, everything converging at the right place and time.... NELSON’s After The Rain World Tour was “The Perfect Storm”.

Perfect Storm – performers:

GUNNAR NELSON – Lead Vocals, Guitar

MATTHEW NELSON - Lead Vocals, Bass

BRETT GARSED - Vocals, Lead Guitar

JOEY CATCHCART - Vocals, Guitar

PAUL MIRKOVICH - Vocals, Keyboards

BOBBY ROCK - Drums

http://www.frontiers.it/home/

Thin Lizzy first 3 Decca Albums Remastered and Expanded

Thin Lizzy were formed in Dublin in 1970 and moved to London in March 1971 to sign to Decca Records. The original line-up of Phil Lynott (bass), Eric Bell (guitar) and Brian Downey (drums) recorded three seminal albums for Decca and broke into the UK singles chart with their take on the traditional Irish song 'Whiskey In the Jar' in January 1973. By 1974 they signed to Vertigo and the rest, as they say, is history.

Their first 3 albums - Digitally Remastered with extra tracks...

THIN LIZZY

Thin Lizzy were originally conceived as Ireland's very own power-trio in the same mould as Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience with bassist / vocalist Philip Lynott taking centre stage. The band's debut album from 1971 has now been digitally remastered and expanded with 9 Bonus Tracks including 4 songs which were overdubbed and remixed by the band in 1977.

SHADES OF A BLUE ORPHANAGE

Thin Lizzy's second album from 1972 has now been digitally remastered and expanded with the addition of 9 Bonus Tracks including the hit single, "Whiskey In The Jar" plus its B-side, "Black Boys On The Corner", 3 songs which were overdubbed and remixed in 1977 and 4 songs recorded in session for John Peel's BBC Radio One show.

VAGABONDS OF THE WESTERN WORLD

Thin Lizzy's 3rd and final Decca album from 1973 has now been digitally remastered from the original master tapes and expanded with the addition of 23 songs over 2 CDs.

Disc One contains the original album plus non-album tracks including the German-only B-side, "Cruising in the Lizzy Mobile", and radio promo edits of "Whiskey In The Jar" and "Randolph's Tango".

Disc Two contains 5 live tracks, 2 songs recorded for a John Peel session plus a further 6 songs recorded in session for the BBC.

Official band website:

www.thinlizzyonline.com/

RUSH: BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE -- London, UK - For One Night Only!

London, UK - For One Night Only!
MONDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2010
CINEWORLD HAYMARKET, LONDON, UK
6.00 PM (SHARP)
TICKETS: £10
FOLLOWED BY LIVE Q&A WITH GEDDY LEE
AND FILM DIRECTORS SCOT MCFADYEN AND SAM DUNN
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM
http://www.cineworld.co.uk/
TICKETS ON SALE FROM 9AM GMT MONDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2010
The critically acclaimed documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage is being brought to Cineworld Haymarket, London by Arts Alliance Media, in association with Classic Rock magazine, Universal Music Group and Banger Films.
The film will be followed by a one - off exclusive Q & A with Rush’s Geddy Lee. Also answering questions will be the directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn. The Q&A will be hosted by Philip Wilding.
Geddy Lee will also be accepting the Living Legend Award at the prestigious Classic Rock Awards at The Roundhouse, London on Wednesday 10th November 2010. It will be the first time the main award has been presented to a band, previous recipients include the likes of Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osbourne, Jimmy Page, Alice Cooper and Lemmy.