Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Brief News Updates for Wednesday 20th July, 2011

EAGLE ROCK RELEASE QUID PRO QUO
FIRST NEW ALBUM FROM CLASSIC ROCKERS STATUS QUO IN FOUR YEARS



New York, NY (July, 2011) — Status Quo, one of the most long-lasting UK rock bands of all time, have sold 118 million records worldwide since their first single, “Pictures Of Matchstick Men,” in 1968. Since then, they’ve enjoyed 63 more British hit singles, 22 of which have reached the Top 10. Eagle Rock Entertainment will release their latest CD 'Quid Pro Quo' on July 12.
The release is the band’s 30th album, and the first since Eagle Records released 2007’s 'In Search Of The Fourth Chord' in the U.S.
Recorded in the spring of 2010, 'Quid Pro Quo' ROCKS, plain and simple, with a primal unadorned directness and honest love for pure unadulterated rock’n’roll. Mike Paxman is again behind the board, producing with Bob Young and Francis Rossi. Led by original members Rossi and Rick Parfitt, the lineup also includes keyboard player Andy Bown (35 years in the band), bassist John Edwards (25 years) and drummer Matt Letley (11 years).

'Quid Pro Quo,' in its hard-charging 15 tracks, is proof positive that their vitality, verve, action-packed aesthetic and musical prowess have yet to diminish. First and foremost, it’s obvious from one listen that a wild sense of pure freedom and abandon inform these tracks as their tightness, their stop-on-a-dime virility and their commitment come to the fore.

Refusing to rest on past laurels, Status Quo is still rocking stages across Europe.
The long-running band is showing no signs of slowing down!

Track Listing:
1) Two Way Traffic
2) Rock’n’Roll’n’You
3) Dust To Gold
4) Let’s Rock
5) Can’t See For Looking
6) Better Than That
7) Movin’ On
8) Leave A Little Light On
9) Any Way You Like It
10) Frozen Hero
11) Reality Cheque
12) The Winner
13) It’s All About You
14) My Old Ways
15) In The Army Now (2010)

Official band website:

In related Status Quo news ...

Status Quo keyboards man Andy Bown to release new solo album



"Unfinished Business", the new album by Andy Bown, is released on 5th September 2011 on Cherry Red Records. The album features ten new tracks and is his first solo album in over 30 years.

The album was produced by Mike Paxman and recorded by Chris West, it features contributions from Henry Spinetti on drums, Mick Rogers on guitars, Trevor Bolder and Brad Lang on basses and vocalists Juliet Roberts and Sylvia Mason-James.
It was recorded at State Of The Ark Studios in Richmond, Surrey in 2010.

Andy has a rich musical heritage, starting from his sixties bands The Preachers and The Herd, where he gave the talented teenager Peter Frampton his first job, on through an endless list of recording sessions with artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Halliday, Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black, Tim Hardin, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Lesley Duncan, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon and many, many more, whilst part forming the ultimate 70's pop rock band, Judas Jump (opening The Isle of Wight Festival 1970) and also appearing with the cult folk band Storyteller.

He played keyboards for Peter Frampton in the early 1970s, switching to bass for several tours after Rick Wills (Foreigner, Bad Company, David Gilmour, Small Faces) departed the band. Andy was the surrogate Roger Waters during Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' tour of 1980 and 81 and he also played on Pink Floyd's "The Final Cut" album and Roger Waters' subsequent release "Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking".
He has previously released four solo albums, the first of which "Gone To My Head" was released in 1972.

Andy continued an intermittent solo recording career, whilst starting to work with Status Quo in 1973, first as a session musician, and then as a full time member, recording "Rockin' All Over The World" with the band in 1977. He plays keyboards, guitar and harmonica with Status Quo to this day and is an integral part of the band, having co-penned many well known Quo songs, most prominently the group's hits "Whatever You Want", "Again and Again" and the 1988 hit "Burning Bridges" which, re-recorded, went on to reach No.1 in the charts as Manchester United Football Club's anthem.

Official website: http://www.andybown.com/




UK's Z Rock Festival 2012 Line Up



The annual Z Rock festival - Seemingly over all it's previous troubles. - for 2012 is due to take place on Saturday May 5th, 2012 at The Robin 2, Bilston, West Midlands, England, UK.
This event although having 'teething' problems in the past, that didn't settle well with some rock fans, seems to have got back on track over the past couple of years much to the enjoyment of many rock fans and the event planners, have now announced the running order for the 2012 event.
This from the site ...

Z ROCK 2012 - MAY 5TH 2012 - LINE UP: PAUL SABU, ARABIA, LEGION, SHAKRA, VANDEN PLAS, STEELE, COLDSPELL!!!!
TICKET DETAILS BELOW!
VENUE: THE ROBIN 2. BILSTON, WEST MIDLANDS, ENGLAND. UK.

Z ROCK 2012 Tickets are now on general sale at all outlets on June 13th priced £45.00 each.
Ttickets can be purchased on line at http://zrecords.webs.com/apps/webstore/products/show/1928536 or from ST Records Dudley tel: 01384 230726

http://www.zrecords.net/



HEAR RONNIE JAMES DIO'S ROCK ROOTS ON FORTHCOMING 'AND BEFORE ELF…THERE WERE ELVES' RELEASE



Over the years, legendary singer Ronnie James Dio fronted some of the most popular/enduring hard rock/heavy metal bands of all-time, including Rainbow, Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell, and Dio.

But before all of these bands, there was Elf. Described as a "Rock/Honky Tonk/Blues band" a forthcoming release, 'And Before Elf…There Were Elves' will prove that Ronnie could easily handle other rock-related styles.
Released on October 11th via the Niji Entertainment Group, 'And Before Elf' will feature twelve previously unreleased tracks (all from 1971), comprised of both live in the studio and live on stage tracks.

The album will feature a striking Lenticular/3D/Hologram cover, that when you turn it, you will see two alternating images – Ronnie from the first Elf LP, as well as a vintage group shot from 1971. And although these recordings are 40 years old, the sonic quality still passes the test, as longtime Dio engineer Wyn Davis remastered the original tapes.
Formed in 1967 in Cortland, New York, The Elves also featured other members that would carve a niche for themselves in the hard rock world!

Guitarist David "Rock" Feinstein (Dio's cousin) would go on to front the Rods. Elf would last for a trio of albums, before Ronnie exited the group in 1975, to co-form Rainbow with ex-Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.
Ronnie James Dio always had the golden touch as a masterful singer and frontman.
And upon hearing 'And Before Elf…There Were Elves,' you'll discover he possessed his one-of-a-kind voice from the very beginning of his career.
"And Before Elf…There Were Elves" Track Listing:

1. You Shook Me
2. Stay With Me
3. Four Day Creep
4. Buckingham Blues
5. Wakeup Sunshine
6. Driftin'
7. Smile For Me Lady
8. You Felt The Same Way
9. Simple Man
10. Drown Me In The River
11. Cold Ramona
12.. Little Queenie

For more information, visit:
www.ronniejamesdio.com
www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio
www.facebook.com/nijientertainmentgroup



 



MelodicRock Records is excited to announce final details of the next release from the label - Taxxi's 'from the vault' album Traxx.



The classic-style AOR album will be released officially on August 29. Pre-orders are available from today - see below for PayPal link or visit the MRR Store.

Pre-ordered copies will ship out by August 12 at the latest. So if you want to be the first to hear this cracking album, order now. And as an extra bonus, those that do pre-order will recieve a link to one extra track not on this release...a track that should be very familiar to Taxxi fans.


Taxxi are a British rock band best known for the songs "I'm Leaving" and "Cocktail Queen“. The band first came to prominence in the early 1980s with several AOR hit singles and heavy MTV airplay.

Scottish-born singer/guitarist David Cumming, keyboardist Colin Payne, and drummer Jeffrey Nead met in London in the late 1970s. Through an association with Kit Lambert (The Who) the band recorded demos and were eventually signed by Berkeley's Fantasy Records. Teamed with producer Phil Kaffel the band recorded three albums for the prestigious indie label. Filling out the trio's sound were session musicians including bassist Randy Jackson, keyboardist Tim Gorman (The Who), guitarists Marlon McClain and Danny Chauncey (.38 Special), saxophonist Steve Douglas and Journey drummer Steve Smith who lent a hand on tambourine on their second album, “States of Emergency”.
Moving labels in 1985, Taxxi recorded their 4th album “Exposé” with Tom Dowd (Cream, Rod Stewart).

In 2001, “Chequered Past”, a compilation CD was remastered with participation by the band and their original producer - released by Fantasy Records.

Singles such as "Girl (New York City)", "I'm Leaving", "Cocktail Queen“, "Still In Love", “Forever“ and "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter" saw the band get airplay in the US and Europe and a build-up in their fanbase.

On tour, the band opened in concert for The Police, Triumph, Foreigner, Loverboy and the Motels, and released five music videos.


After the late Colin Payne left the band, the duo of Cumming/Nead continued to work on new material following the successful 'Exposé' release. This material would continue in the direction set out by 'Exposé' – more commercial 80's AOR with that Taxxi twist. That material would remain unreleased. Until now.
Following an approach by MRR's Andrew McNeice to the band in 2009, the guys dug back into their archives, and pulled out 11 lost gems that now make up the album “Traxx”. The material was written and recorded from 1987-1988. To get these songs to the release stage, tapes first had to be baked in a controlled environment to recover the files, before being passed to engineer/producer Jeff Northrup in L.A. to remaster.

The result is a bright and rejuvenated set of songs that if released back in the day, would have been classed as Taxxi's best record to date. The songs speak for themselves and the performances are typical Taxxi – highly emotional, instantly catchy and perfectly crafted classic-style AOR.




Taxxi is: David Cumming – Vocals, Guitars, Synthesizers (pictured - right); Jeffrey Nead – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals (pictured - left).
With: Kevin Russell – Guitars, Backing Vocals; Arthur Barrow – Bass, Keyboards; Earl Slick – Guitars (Cupid's Arrow); The Fowler Brothers – Horns (Lust For Gold).
All Songs by: David Cumming and Jeffrey Nead except for Writing On The Wall and Never Lived A Dream by: David Cumming, Jeffrey Nead and Jesse Harms.

Produced by: Arthur Barrow and Taxxi.

The album is dedicated to the memory of Colin Payne.

Track Listing:

01. Writing On The Wall (4:17)
02. I Just Want To Be With You (3:54)
03. I Want You Back (4:20)
04. Last Of The Red Hot Lovers (4:51)
05. Never Lived A Dream (4:14)
06. One Man One Voice (3:58)
07. Cupids Arrow (4:14)
08. Lust For Gold (4:10)
09. It Ain't Over (4:14)
10. Hot Shot (3:29)
11. Restless Heart (4:26)

Audio samples available at:
http://melodicrock.com/


 
GUITAR VIRTUOSO YNGWIE MALMSTEEN TO UNLEASH THE FURY ON NORTH AMERICA THIS FALL:
MALMSTEEN'S FIRST NORTH AMERICAN TOUR IN MORE THAN THREE YEARS KICKS OFF IN OCTOBER


(New York, NY) - It's been a long wait for American and Canadian fans ..., but come this October guitar legend Yngwie Malmsteen will make his triumphant return to North American stages with a Fall headlining tour. In support of Malmsteen's latest release, 'RELENTLESS,' the trek will kick off on Thursday, October 13th at New York City's Irving Plaza. Please see below for the itinerary, more dates will be announced shortly.
Of the upcoming dates, Malmsteen commented, "I am very much looking forward to playing new pieces from 'RELENTLESS,' as well as Malmsteen classics. Fans can expect the unexpected...I raise the bar with every performance I do and this tour will be no different."
In other Malmsteen news, baseball fans will soon get a treat as the guitar legend is scheduled to not only perform his explosive version of the National Anthem, but he will also throw out the first pitch at the Florida Marlins home game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, August 6th.


Released late last year, Yngwie Malmsteen's aptly-named latest album, 'RELENTLESS,' contains more than 60 minutes of new material and showcases the guitar great at his best with the signature virtuosity and mind-blowing technical speed for which he has come to be known. The album also features striking vocals from Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth), who first collaborated with Malmsteen on 2008's critically-acclaimed 'PERPETUAL FLAME' (Malmsteen's first album for the Rising Force Records label). 'RELENTLESS' has received rave reviews from both critics and fans alike.
Malmsteen recently graced the February cover of Guitar Player, with the magazine avowing, "RELENTLESS continues the guitarist's long string of insane, epic and jaw-dropping releases."
For nearly three decades, Grammy-nominated Swedish guitar icon Yngwie Malmsteen has been amazing audiences with dazzling technical speed and ability. Malmsteen's signature style of playing, which combines elements of seemingly disparate styles of music - metal and classical, spawned the now commonplace genres of heavy metal known as "shred guitar" and "neo classical" and earned Malmsteen the title "the Paganini of heavy metal".
Malmsteen was the first guitarist to have his own Fender signature guitar model (even before Eric Clapton). He has graced the cover of more than 200 magazines worldwide, has won every guitar award imaginable and to date, has sold millions of records. Time recently named Malmsteen one of the "Top Ten Greatest Electric Guitar Players", an honor he shared with the likes of Les Paul, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix.
"Guitar Hero" enthusiasts know they have arrived when they are bestowed with the Yngwie Malmsteen award in the Xbox 360 version of "Guitar Hero 2". The award signifies a 1000+ note streak in succession.

Yngwie Malmsteen North American headlining tour:
 OCTOBER 2011

13 New York, NY Irving Plaza
15 Silver Lake, MD Fillmore
18 Montreal, QC Club Soda
19 Toronto, ON Phoenix
21 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
23 Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre
26 San Francisco, CA Fillmore
28 Anaheim, CA House Of Blues
29 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia


NOVEMBER 2011

1 Houston, TX House Of Blues
2 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
5 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution

For more information please visit:
www.yngwiemalmsteen.com



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