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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

News Update for Tuesday September 20th, 2011

FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BAND WARRANT, ROCK 'N' ROLL FANTASY CAMPER JOSH LEWIS SOLO ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE.


Editors note: Sorry folks, I didn't see this Press Release until after the last episode of 'Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp.' I still thought it may be of interest to many of you though.

Josh Lewis, participant on Mark Burnett’s record shattering reality show, “Rock N’ Roll Fantasy Camp,” on VH1 Classic, and founding member of multi-platinum recording artists Warrant, will be premiering a commercial spot this Saturday, September 17 during the season finale of ‘Rock N’ Roll Fantasy Camp”.
The music video based commercial features his first single, “Many Times Been Up” as a teaser to the forthcoming music video.

For those that missed the commercial video go to:

“Many Times Been Up”, Josh Lewis exclaims, “is a song about the ups and downs of life as a whole. I’ve had the past experiences of many lifetimes and still I have managed to take that anger  & pain and turn it into something special.”

The music video was filmed and directed by fellow Rock 'N Roll Fantasy Camp participant, Anup Sugunan, who has directed videos for Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar and Grammy winning composer A.R. Rahman's Jai Ho World Tour.

Lewis plans to use tools of the new century to promote his music, something that was not around during the sunset strip hey-days with Warrant. “With today’s technology, creating has never been easier and more economical. I can now take the money I would have spent in the studio and use it to buy commercial time on almost any network of my choice.”
The video and commercial time were entirely funded by Lewis and he is expecting a great return on his investment.

Josh Lewis latest album, 'Jumpin' In' is released on Ten 42 Records and is available now.


Josh Lewis photo credited to Peter Dokus

Album tracklisting:
1. Many Times Been Up
2. Lay Down Your Guns
3. Been Knocked Down
4. Don't Let Your Lovin' Go Bad
5. Her Own Lagoon
6. She Taught Me To Love
7. Fade
8. What Parts About Love (Don't You Understand)
9. Startin' All Over Again
The album features:
Josh Lewis - Guitars, Keyboards and Lead / Backing vocals
Max Mazursky - Drums
David Jenkins - Bass

Album produced by Josh Lewis
Mixed by Brian Kehew (The Who, Hole, Dave Davies)

For further details on Josh Lewis:
You Tube channel:



Meet 'House of Leaf' the new project from Leif Sundin



House of Leaf marks the "solo" debut of one of Sweden’s most talented singers, songwriters and musicians, Leif Sundin. Expect great songs, organic playing, and a timeless sound, steeped in Americana.
Among insiders, Swedish singer/songwriter/multi instrumentalist Leif Sundin is considered a singer’s singer. An amazing vocalist whose talents range from heavy metal to rootsy Americana. He’s been the lead singer of Great King Rat, Michael Schenker Group, John Norum (of the band Europe), and Brian Robertson (ex-Thin Lizzy, Motörhead). Yet, he’s remained one of Scandinavia’s best kept secrets.
Part of the reason for the latter is due to his humble stance. He’s never applied for the job as a vocalist with anyone – they’ve always looked him up. Another reason is his former lack of focus on his own career. He’s always written stuff for others, as well as himself. He’s written and sung backing vocals for acts as diverse as Andy McCoy, A-Teens, Talisman, and Pandora, and dozens of other artists. But he’s never come around to releasing a solo project. Until now.



When you hear the new album, one thing is certain: it’s been worth the wait. Not only does Sundin deliver as a vocalist; he also proves to be a fluent, tasteful player (handling all the guitars on the album), as well as a creator of memorable melodies and heartfelt, soul searching lyrics. Some songs deal with longing and wasted time: 'Wash Away Yesterday,' 'That Train Just Left' and 'Wrongs to Right.' Others display a new found hope, and optimism. They are all different parts of the story, and this is an album in the true sense of the word. But it’s just as easy to imagine hearing these songs on the radio.

Sundin could easily have done a blues rock album, a metal album or a pop album if he wanted. This time, he chose to focus on timeless, rootsy, soulful and slightly country-tinged rock music, using the sound of guitars, bass, drums and THAT voice.
"One of the good things about House of Leaf, is that it’s me and any number of people I choose to work with”, he explains. "There is no fixed line-up. This time, I’ve had help from some of the best musicians in Sweden who also happen to be good friends, helping me make the best possible album”.



The seamless blend of influences heard on the album range from Steve Earle to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Aimee Mann, Ryan Adams and other greats.
"Because I’ve worked with some big names in the harder rock field, a lot of people are probably unaware of the fact that I’ve always liked this type of music – I guess you can call it ”Americana”, in the broader sense of the word”.

Growing up in the Swedish suburbs, Sundin was always the youngest member of the bands he was asked to join. Early on, he was in possession of a mature, bluesy and powerful voice that raised eyebrows – at first locally, then throughout the world.

Aged 19, Sundin started making a name for himself fronting the much-loved, but ultimately ill-fated, Swedish band Great King Rat. Despite major label interest in several quarters, they never landed the deal that would have turned them into a household name. Instead, they were represented by inexperienced industry people who let one opportunity after another pass before their eyes. Luckily, the band managed to create a strong buzz among musicians. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin showered Sundin’s voice with praise, saying ”the nearest thing I’ve seen to a young Paul Rodgers” in legendary British magazine Kerrang! Michael Schenker went even further, and decided to seek out this prodigal talent, and offer him the job as frontman of M.S.G.

Sundin accepted. Aged 24, he found himself in a Tuscon, Arizona rehearsal room, creating melodies for Schenker’s riffs, and writing lyrics in his hotel room at night.
"Of course I was living the dream! I had hardly been to America before”, he smiles. Soon, he recorded and/or toured as lead vocalist of Michael Schenker Group.
Since then, he’s been here, there and everywhere, fronting different bands, providing vocals, singing duets with the likes of international movie star Izabella Scorupco, performing with people like Slash, while constantly writing and demoing songs.

Following the M.S.G.gig, he was the lead vocalist in John Norum Band, forging a creative relationship that still lasts. More recently, he provided lead vocals for the long-awaited solo album by ex-Lizzy legend Brian Robertson.
And now, it’s time for House of Leaf. Written and produced by Sundin himself, recorded and engineered with Robert Wellerfors, the album consists of the best songs he’s written over the years. It’s organic, it’s real, and it’s based on performances, rather than studio trickery. This is the real deal, and you can feel it.
Sundin would be the first one to admit that he’s too often been wasting time hanging around, instead of utilizing his considerable talents as a singer, writer, player, and producer.
But things have changed. His warm, soulful voice was always there, but there’s a new sense of purpose to his delivery. House of Leaf may have been a long time coming, but once it’s started it will be very hard to stop.
Not that anyone in their right mind would want to.

Just listen and judge for yourselves!
The new E.P. is available through:
iTunes here:
CD Baby:

Official weblinks:


Classic Rock magazine Presents AOR 4: Bon-Jovi



Classic Rock Magazine Presents AOR issue 4 features Bon Jovi and the making of their landmark Slippery When Wet opus – the classic 1986 album that brought us Livin’ On A Prayer, You Give Love A Bad Name and Wanted Dead Or Alive.

Featuring previously unpublished pictures from the album sleeve session by official band photographer Mark Weiss, we investigate the making of Bon Jovi’s make-or-break third album which subsequently catapulted them into superstardom.

PLUS

• In-depth features with the highly influential Franke Previte of Franke & The Knockouts plus America, one of the biggest soft rock singles bands of the early 70s.

• We pay our respects to recently and sadly deceased songwriter and frontman Jani Lane with an in-depth look at the his life in and around Warrant.

• Features on Coney Hatch, Diane Warren, Bai Bang, House Of Lords, Lionville, Steve Newman, Toby Hitchcock, plus many more and all the usual AOR new album and live reviews.

This month’s accompanying disc of 15 carefully-chosen AOR tracks, titled Get Your Wings featuring FM, Issa, White Widdow, Seb Bach, Riverdogs and more.
All this and much more, AOR issue 4 is on sale from 28th September.
More details right here:


Scandinavia’s finest secret THE MAGNIFICENT is unleashed to the unsuspecting Melodic Rock crowd !
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of the self-titled debut album from THE MAGNIFICENT on November 4th in Europe and November 1st in North America.



With Scandinavia becoming more and more the promised land for quality Melodic Rock bands, it was just natural that Frontiers would dig deep in the scene to find and expose the best new talents around. Then imagine if two of the most gifted guys from the Prog Metal scene in two different Scandinavian countries decided to join forces in a monumental new band project. The result should be nothing but stunning right? Then get this: Circus Maximus singer extraordinaire Michael Eriksen from Norway and Finnish producer/guitarist Torsti Spoof (of Leverage fame) have decided to join forces together in a new Melodic Rock band aptly called The Magnificent.

With the help of musicians including Rolf Pilve on drums, Sami Norbacka on bass and Jukka Karinen on keyboards, The Magnificent offer a monster Melodic Rock album, a record melting the contemporary sound of Brother Firetribe and classic Europe, with obvious hints to the fathers of the genre: Journey and Foreigner.

Songwriting contributions also come from Pekka Heino (Brother Firetribe, Leverage), Tomppa Nikulainen (Brother Firetribe), Tuomas Heikkinen (Leverage), Mats Haugen (Circus Maximus), Kimmo Blom (Urban Tale) and others.

Torsti Spoof said: “A lot of my musical influences come from the 80`s and I always wanted to make an album in that spirit. Now the dream has came true! This one was truly a joyride. Great musicians, songwriters and an AMAZING Michael Eriksen! I think together we`ve made a perfect blend of the old school songwriting with a big up to date sound” Michael Eriksen added “I grew up in the 80`s and with this album the 80`s are BACK ! Working together with Torsti has been a privilege and I believe together we have created a rock album that will apply to all fans of rock music out there. So turn up the volume and enjoy!”
The resulting debut album oozes class, stunning melodies and fabulous arrangements. Eriksen’s powerful vocals perfectly complement the spectacular musical landscape created by Spoof and his cohorts. “The Magnificent” is an album that screams for the attention of all Melodic Rock fans.

“The Magnificent” includes the following tracks:
Holding On To Your Love; Cheated By Love; Memories; Angel; Satin & Lace; Love`s On The Line; Bullets; Smoke & Fire; Tired Of Dreaming; If It Takes All Night; Lost; Harvest Moon.
“Cheated By Love” can be listened in full on the Frontiers webradio on www.frontiers.it/webradio

THE MAGNIFICENT
Lead and Background Vocals: Michael Eriksen
Lead Guitars, Keyboards and Background Vocals: Torsti Spoof
With Drums: Rolf Pilve
Bass: Sami Norbacka
Keyboards: Jukka Karinen
Backing vocals: Antony Parviainen
Except on: Memories: Guitar, Bass, Keyboards : Mats Haugen / Drums : Tommy Jacksonville
Satin & Lace, Bullets, Harvest Moon: Guitars: Tuomas Heikkinen
Tired of Dreaming: Bass: Torsti Spoof

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