A blog dedicated to coverage of rock news, reviews of CD's/DVD's, live gigs and interviews with musicians who have made rock music great!
Coverage of hard rock, classic rock, AOR and popular melodic rock music across the genre.
This blog is the creation of Alun Williams, a Brit now living in Michigan whose previous credits include writing for the following sites:
www.classicrock.about.com
www.classicrockrevisited.com
and www.rocknrolluniverse.com (Now gone)
I hope you enjoy your visit here!
Released on: MVD Visual / Dead line. Release date: Available now!
OK, this White Lion review is such a LONG time coming, seriously, this should’ve been posted a while back, but I have been so deluged in new material for review, it’s insane!
I know you’re all thinking, you lucky so and so and yes, I consider myself very lucky to be in this position but …, I do have a day job as well you know, which means I do have quite limited time to cover all of this great new music!
New albums for review are a lot easier, as they can go on in the car for ease of listening, DVD’s can seriously take a little longer to get to, especially if the other, my better half isn’t in the mood for checking all this music out and the kids are simply not quite old enough, to really appreciate music DVD’s … Yet! LOL!
Anyway, enough of my excuses, right, on to the product!
Here’s the thing with this DVD / CD set, White Lion'Concert Anthology 1987 - 1991' you probably guessed already that I’ve been listening to the ‘bonus’ CD more so than checking out the DVD and you’d be absolutely right folks and there’s a little more as to why as well! The CD is a great compilation of – IMHO – this sorely overlooked and forgotten band, led by Mike Tramp on lead vocals and Vito Bratta on guitars, as to these ears – And maybe I’m losing it, but … - the mix on the CD sounds a little raw, almost fresher than the released, best known albums by this band, Pride, Big Game and Mane Attraction.
For those that didn’t know it too, Pride was actually a double platinum release and Big Game was gold certified. Very respectable sales indeed!
One thing that really also surprises me these days, is that seriously, as much as all the US classic rock and hard rock radio stations play so much of the 80’s bands, White Lion is one band that I can honestly say – Since moving here in 2000. – that I have NEVER heard played ONCE, on the radio. I kid you not and I am stunned! Not even Wait, When the Children Cry or Lady of the Valley.
This package focuses on the period of 1987 – 1991, but also on the DVD captures some footage of Mike Tramp’s later band, Freak of Nature, who I really never heard but on seeing this footage I wish I had!
A great cover of Thin Lizzy’s Bad Reputation too, I was impressed!
The CD as I have already said, has been on and off, as a constant player in the car and it includes: Radar Love (2010 Version. Remixed?), Wait, When The Children Cry, All The Fallen Men, Broken Heart (Great track!), Cry For Freedom, El Salvador, Fight To Survive, Hungry, Lady of the Valley, You’re All That I Need and many more, well, five more anyway!
It really is a great compilation CD, no question, of some great tracks that I didn’t recall, I guess it’s been that long since I played any White Lion from my own collection. Personally, the CD alone was worth it to me!
The DVD on the other hand, is focused on two main shows and I personally would’ve preferred that this had been compiled with one concert’s footage first and then the other, but to be honest I think I understand why they did every other track, from each of the two shows in the running order. Chances are people may watch the New York show footage only and perhaps glance at the Japanese White Lion footage, but probably only once!
The footage from New York is great stuff, it really is. The video / camera work is great from that show, so why isn’t there more of that footage here, rather than the Japanese material which is really terrible quality. Perhaps to appeal to the Japanese buyers, who knows?
The DVD includes the following tracks, Hungry, Don’t Give Up, Lonely Nights, Sweet Little Lovin’, Broken Heart, Fight To Survive, Tell Me, All Join Our Hands, Wait, When The Children Cry, All You Need Is Rock ‘n’ Roll and All The Fallen Men.
There’s also the aforementioned live footage of Mike Tramp’s post White Lion band, Freak of Nature shot in Japan which is pretty good too.
It’s certainly better quality footage, viewing wise than the White Lion Japanese footage.
Additional extra’s here are the various interviews too, which overall, bring the running time to around two hours.
The band line up on this package is:
Mike Tramp – Vocals
Vito Bratta – (Great and underrated !) – Guitars
James Lomenzo – Bass
Greg D’Angelo – Drums
I think the fact that the CD was meant as a bonus to the DVD, it’s a great CD compilation, as I’d already mentioned.
The DVD for me also has enough highlights, that it’s clear to see the ability of the band, now gone with this line up but Mike Tramp is treading the live boards again now, with a new line up of White Lion, who would certainly be worth checking out if you ask me!
Certainly worth getting, for old and new fans of the band alike, is it perfect, no it’s not, but there is a lot of good stuff here to justify my rating to be honest.
On their 'farewell' Epitath US tour, Judas Priest have just posted the following message:
We are pleased to announce more dates of the US leg of our 'EPITAPH' tour.
October 2011
27 October Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, CA
November 2011
8 November US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
9 November Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield, IL
10 November The Family Arena, St. Louis, MO
15 November Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
16 November The Armory, Rochester, NY
22 November Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
23 November Colisee Pepsi Arena, Quebec City, QC
24 November Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
26 November Sovereign Center, Reading, PA
30 November 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Tampa
December 2011
1 December Bayfront Park Amphitheatre, Miami
3 December Hard Rock Biloxi Hotel & Casino, Biloxi
Note: These dates ARE in addition to the previously announced original live dates with Thin Lizzy and Black Label Society.
Black Country Communion hits #1 spot on Official UK Rock Album Chart
Black Country Communion’s second album “2” hit the No. 1 spot in the Official UK Rock Album Chart this week, overtaking the Foo Fighters album “Wasting Light”.
The news follows the rave reviews of BCC’s follow up album, produced by Kevin Shirley and featuring Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham, Glenn Hughes and Derek Sherinian.
The band embarks on a July tour that takes in their only UK dates this year:
Mountain's Leslie West loses right leg through surgery
Spare a thought and prayer for guitar legend, Mountain's Leslie West who has just had to undergo emergency surgery to remove his right leg.
This posted over at Gibson.com:
Guitar legend Leslie West is in stable condition after having his lower right leg amputated. The Mountain legend and heavy metal pioneer is a diabetic and underwent emergency surgery after severe swelling, according to Spinner.com.
His wife Jenni explained in a press statement that: “The doctors tried for two days to save it to no avail. The decision to amputate was one that was necessary to save his life as the infection was spreading throughout his body.” West is expected to make a complete recovery but his family ask that the “the public and media respect his privacy while he comes to terms with this life-changing transition.” West has been working on a new Mountain album, The Unusual Suspects, featuring collaborations with Slash, Billy Gibbons, Zakk Wylde and Joe Bonamassa.
The Sweet are out playing limited US / Canadian live dates
70's / 80's classic pop rockers, The Sweet, who are probably one of the few bands out there, that
can say, they have a song or two that 'everyone' loves, are playing some very limited live dates in the US and Canada through July / August.
With hit's that have been covered by so many act's too, Blockbuster, Love is Like Oxygen, Ballroom Blitz, Hellraiser and Fox on the Run to name just four, will play the following dates:
Saturday, July 2nd
Stars & Stripes Festival
31 N. Walnut Street
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 http://www.funfestinc.com
Friday, August 12th
Edmonton Rock Music Festival
Hawrelak Park Amphitheatre
9330 Groat Road
Edmonton, AB T6G 2A8, Canada http://www.edrocks.ca/home.cfm
Saturday, August 13th
The Redneck Rumble
Wood Mountain Regional Park
Wood Mountain, SK SOH 4L0, Canada http://www.redneckrumble.ca/
Released on: Frontiers Records. Release date: Available now
Black 'n' Blue started in the early 80's amid all the sleaze / glam and hard rock acts developing on the scene, such as Motley Crue, Ratt, L.A. Guns, Slaughter, White Lion, Twisted Sister, Metallica and even Great White as well as so many more at the time, that the market was all of a sudden flooded with new bands, it was tough to keep up with. For me consequently, I maybe heard a track or two here and there, from each one, but with the scene in the UK cranking up too, with our own homegrown talent, not to mention numerous other European and Canadian mainstream rock acts, it meant to many rock fans, you had to pick and choose which ones, you were serious about keeping track of.
Sadly then, in all honesty Black 'n' Blue at that time, dropped off my radar, possibly a lot of other peoples also, based on the lack of any real great success back in the day. Sorry guys …
The band did get signed to Geffen for their self-titled debut album, back in ’84 and went on to release three more studio albums, in ‘Without Love,’ Nasty, Nasty’ and ‘In Heat.’ The latter two being produced by Gene Simmons (Kiss), but still any real success eluded the band and they called it a day in ‘89.
There were also two live albums released, ‘One Night Only’ in ’98 and ‘Live in Detroit – 1984’ (2002).
Possibly the most likely information on the band, that many rock fans will be aware of is that Tommy Thayer joined Kiss as Ace Frehley’s replacement in the band, apparently – Although not credited. – playing on ‘98’s ‘Psycho Circus’ before officially being announced in 2002.
Lead vocalist Jaime St. James, replaced Jani Lane in Warrant in 2004 through 2008, recording one studio album with them, 2006’s ‘Born Again.’
Black ‘n’ Blue reunited – Minus Tommy Thayer of course! - in 2003 for a tour and new album … Turned out to be this album in fact, which the release date of, has obviously been pushed back and back as it only now finally available to everyone.
So, what of this new opus then?
Well, first of all I have to be honest and this is possibly for the same reason as before, when I first listened to this, it really wasn’t grabbing me, bar the opening two tracks, but the rest of it has since grown on me.
I recommend the same to you folks, give it a chance!
Opening with a hard rocking prime slice in ‘Monkey’ which takes no prisoners, no messing!
Second track ‘Target’ has perhaps a more commercial hard rockin’ edge, which I’m serious if this was covered by Kiss and released as a single it would probably be a smash! It sounds very much like something not unlike a commercial Kiss number, likewise if another mainstream act covered this, I’d guarantee it would be a hit. Very catchy stuff indeed!
‘Hail, Hail’ up next is a traditional mid paced sleaze rocker, with an almost AC/DC vibe but then that you could easily associate with say even Twisted Sister, who knew how to write a few hits back in their prime time. Very tasty guitar solo too.
In ‘Fools Bleed’ next, wow! This could be Def Leppard! I kid you not, it’s huge! OK, so maybe the vocals as Jaime doesn’t sound like Joe Elliott, but musically this is an absolute winner, in a similar kind of way to say ‘Gods of War.’
‘C’mon’ keeps the train on exactly the same track and sure it’s sleaze edged but this album has so many hooks, it’s great!
I really don’t understand why I didn’t get it right away, but there you go?!
Then we get to ‘Jaime’s Got the Beer’ and I kind of remember why ... OK, it’s just meant to be a laugh maybe, but it’s just a drunken type pub song.
‘Angry Drunk S.O.B.’ isn’t the greatest here, that’s for sure and Beastie Boys come to mind … Enough said!
‘So Long’ up next rocks a little like an AC/DC rockin’ groove, perhaps with that sleazy edge, very catchy contagious riff to it.
Slight breather for the guys next with ‘Trippin’’ which is a brief – Less than a minute – acoustic piece.
Back on track with ‘Falling Down’ which starts acoustically and then it kicks in, with a nice melodic vibe to it. Fairly steady semi-rock ballad style number initially that then picks up in the second half. Love it!
‘Candy’ is a good mid-paced steady rocker, that perhaps Jaime had a Warrant moment when he was putting this together! Nice guitar work!
Ah, now title track ‘Hell Yeah’ will have everyone saying, come on guys that opening riff – That carries on throughout – has been done so many times by AC/DC, Saxon, Ted Nugent, not to mention a hundred or more others along the way. You’ll love it folks!
Final official number here, ‘World Goes Round’ kind of sounds unlike most thing on here and has an almost Indie type feel to it. It’s still catchy, but a little different kind of vibe. It’s ok …
There’s one more, a hidden track in ‘A Tribute to Hawking (Stephen Hawking)’ which, well it’s about a minute long acoustic semi-version of ‘Hail, Hail’ again, in a Stephen Hawking style voice over …! Hmmm … I guess whatever floats your boat, right?
So, generally speaking this album has grown on me and yes, there’s still some area’s where I’m not really into it, but the general overall feel for me is I like what I’m hearing from Black ‘n’ Blue, more than I did back in the day … Maybe I need to rediscover the bands background?!
(New York, NY) - After a successful run of tour dates overseas, shredder rock-pop metallers and fan favorites Mr. Big,vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey, will be hitting the road in the United States this summer in support of the band's new album, 'WHAT IF...?'
The tour opens in San Diego, June 30th, (see full itinerary below) and marks the first time in 13 years the original line-up has toured North America!
Produced by Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Rush, Iron Maiden), 'WHAT IF...?' is now available as a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia.
The DVD includes videos of "Undertow" and "All the Way Up" plus a documentary "making of" the album including interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the four band members.
Formed in 1988, Mr. Big forged its place in hard rock history by combining trademark virtuosic musicianship with stellar vocal harmonies. The quartet produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres, including the ubiquitous "To Be With You," which was a Billboard Hot 100 #1 single in 15 countries for weeks, propelling the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions.
In other Mr. Big news, the next single from the new album, "American Beauty," will ship to radio in July in support of the tour.
THE SECOND ANNUAL“CARNIVAL OF MADNESS”
ANNOUNCES NEW DATES
Annual Summer Tour to Feature Platinum Artist Theory of a Deadman,
Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry, Adelitas Way and newcomer Emphatic The highly anticipated Carnival of Madness Tour has added more dates to the 15 previously announced. Joining the Carnival this summer will be Theory of a Deadman, Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry, Adelitas Way and Emphatic.
Sponsored by Monster Energy Drink, the trek will steamroll through North America starting August 13 in Twin Lakes, WI. See below for the complete list of shows.
The public on-sale for the first new shows was Friday, June 10. All of the ticket on-sale info can be found at www.carnivalofmadness.com. The “Carnival” ticket price acknowledges the current state of the economy offering an “affordable” ticket that will be in the $25 - $35 range.
The Carnival of Madness Tour made its inaugural launch in 2010 with Shinedown, Sevendust, Chevelle, Puddle Of Mudd and 10 Years, which proved to be one of the biggest Rock shows of the summer as a Top 50 tour.
CARNIVAL OF MADNESS 2011 TOUR DATES
DATECITYVENUE
August 2011
Saturday, August 13 Twin Lakes, WI Shadow Hill Ranch
* Sunday, August 14 Chillicothe, IL Three Sisters Park
* Tuesday, August 16 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
* Wednesday, August 17 Indianapolis, IN The Lawn at White River State Park
Friday, August 19 Council Bluffs, IA Harrah’s Casino
** Saturday, August 20 Sedalia, MO Missouri State Fairgrounds
* Tuesday, August 23 Fargo, ND The Hub (outdoors)
* Wednesday, August 24 Sioux Falls, SD Sioux Falls Arena
Friday, August 26 Louisville, KY KY State Fair/Cardinal Stadium
Saturday, August 27 Waterloo, IA McElroy Auditorium (outdoors)
Sunday, August 28 St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair
* Wednesday, August 31 Albany, NY Times Union Center
September 2011
Thursday, September 1 Allentown, PA The Great Allentown Fair
Saturday, September 3 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino
* Sunday, September 4 Bangor, ME Bangor Waterfront
* Monday, September 5 Fitchburg, MA Central Mass Expo Center
Wednesday, September 7 Baltimore, MD Pier Six Concert Pavilion
* Friday, September 9 Big Flats, NY Tag’s Summer Stage
Saturday, September 10 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues
Sunday, September 11 Huntington, WV Harris Riverfront Park
Tuesday, September 13 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Uptown Amp.
Wednesday, September 14 Fayetteville, NC Crown Coliseum
Friday, September 16 Tulsa, OK Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino
Saturday, September 17 Poplar Bluff, MS Black River Coliseum
* Sunday, September 18 Dayton, OH Montgomery County Fairgrounds
LEGENDARY ROCKERS URIAH HEEP KICK OFF AMERICAN TREK WITH SOLD-OUT DATE;
NEW ALBUM "INTO THE WILD" DEBUTS TOP 50 IN MULTIPLE TERRITORIES
(New York, NY) - Legendary rockers Uriah Heep have just kicked off their 2011 American trek with a sold-out show at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse on Tuesday, June 14th.
The band is touring in support of their new album, INTO THE WILD(Frontiers Records).
Please see below for American tour dates.
The recently-released CD debuted Top 50 in multiple territories, including Sweden (#29), Finland (#31), Germany (#32), Switzerland (#42) and more and will be available as an LP on July 12th.
Uriah Heep's Mick Box commented, "It is just fantastic to be back in the USA, celebrating the bands 40th Anniversary, with a new CD, called 'INTO THE WILD' on Frontiers Records. The start of the tour in Atlanta could not have been better, with a sold-out show. The fans reaction to hearing five songs from the new CD, alongside the Heep classics, was wonderful. It is an exciting time for the band playing to American audiences once again. By receiving this kind of reaction, it makes us feel like we have never been away."
Uriah Heep's 23rd studio album, 'INTO THE WILD,' was released in North America on May 3rd via Frontiers Records and follows the completion of the band's 40th Anniversary Tour.
'INTO THE WILD' features new material recorded in January, 2010 at Liscombe Park Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, and has been receiving rave reviews from the press and fans alike. Goldmine declared, "...the riffs and melodies are strong and memorable; the songs fully developed and realized...everything is in perfect balance..."
Uriah Heep debuted in 1970 with the release of one of hard rock music's milestones, 'VERY 'EAVY...VERY 'UMBLE,' and have since sold in excess of 30 million albums worldwide. They constantly tour the globe, playing in more than 53 countries. The band's live setlist features classic songs Like "July Morning," Easy Living," "Stealin'" and "Gypsy," which sit alongside some soon-to-be classic Heep songs from their recently-released CD, 'INTO THE WILD.'
Uriah Heep is: Mick Box (guitars, vocals), Trevor Bolder (bass, vocals), Russell Gilbrook (drums, vocals), Phil Lanzon (keyboards, vocals) and Bernie Shaw(lead vocals).
URIAH HEEP on tour in North America:
JUNE 2011
20 Sellersville, PA Sellersville, PA
22 New York, NY B.B. King's
23 Foxborough, MA Showcase Live
24 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn's Peak
25 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
27 Norfolk, CT Infinity Hall
28 Londonderry, NH Tupelo Music Hall
29 Del Mar, CA Del Mar Fairgrounds - Paddock Stage
EAGLE TO RELEASE DEEP PURPLE’S PHOENIX RISING ON DVD JUNE 28
On June 28, Eagle Rock Entertainmentwill release Deep Purple’sPhoenix Rising – a two-hour-plus revelatory documentary including 30 minutes of never-before-seen (not even on bootleg) onstage footage from Japan. Phoenix Rising will be released on DVD, Blu-ray, & in a special two-disc DVD/CD package.
The release is cause for celebration amongst Purple fans due to the rarity of material. Extensive interviews with keyboardist Jon Lordand bassist Glenn Hughestell the tale of a band caught by circumstance into one of its most controversial, extreme and exciting eras of its long career. Ian Gillanand Roger Gloverwere gone. A young unknown singer by the name of David Coverdalewas recruited as was bassist Hughes. The results were the albums Burnand Stormbringer(both released in 1974). But then Ritchie Blackmoreleft the band. Against all odds, they rocked on, recruiting Tommy Bolin(from Zephyr and The James Gang). The album Come Taste The Band (1975) documents the short-lived Bolin era, an era that all came crashing down when the band announced in July of 1976 that it was breaking up. By December, Bolinwould be dead due to a heroin overdose. Nine years of silence would ensue.
The never-before-seen 30 minutes, “Rises Over Japan,”has the Coverdale/Lord/Bolin/Hughes/Paice lineup delivering the goods in 1976 on eight songs: “Burn,” “Getting Tighter,” “Love Child,” “Smoke On The Water,” “Lazy,” “Homeward Strut,” “You Keep On Moving”and “Stormbringer.”(The double-disc package contains these eight songs on CD.) This segment is some of the only video footage that showcases Tommy Bolinperforming in Deep Purple.
The 90-minute documentary portion, “Getting Tighter,”recounts the trials and tribulations of a band in turmoil, riding the rock’n’roll roller coaster to total excess. With its live images, backstage footage, never-before-told stories and original video material carefully culled from years of research, it’s a veritable bonanza for Purple fans and fans of Rock History. No stone is left unturned…and sometimes it’s not pretty. Gritty, truthful, wild, this is the story of an era in the 1970s that is simply unforgettable.
Powerhouse Vocalist Toby Hitchcock to debut solo with 'Mercury’s Down'
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of Toby Hitchcock’s debut solo album 'Mercury’s Down' on August 23rd in North America and August 26th in Europe.
Toby Hitchcock name and abilities came to the attention of Melodic Rock fans when former Survivor founding member Jim Peterik chose him as the lead singer for the band that would mark his return on the scene: Pride of Lions.
With Pride of Lions, Toby had the chance to sing on three studio albums which are considered as true classic among the fans. Toby also appeared live fronting the band and his performances at the Lokerse Feesten in Belgium and at the United Forces of Rock in Germany created a vast consensus about his amazing abilities. Often compared to Bobby Kimball (Toto), Jimi Jamison (Survivor) or Lou Gramm (Foreigner),Hitchcock’s voice has the depth, the feeling and the extension of each of them, still keeping his own identity and trademark.
While Pride of Lions took a small hiatus (but they are already preparing their full comeback album for 2012), Toby took the chance to hook up, under suggestion from Frontiers Records President Serafino Perugino, with the Swedish songwriter and producer Erik Martensson (Eclipse), whose name came to prominence when he wrote and produced the very popular W.E.T. album which saw the return of singer Jeff Scott Soto to Melodic Rock.
Erik’s abilities impressed so much Toby that another marriage made in AOR Heaven could not be avoided! Consequently Erik started to write another bunch of amazing songs which have been sung with ability and passion by Toby. “I feel really great about this album release and I am looking forward to it. I can't wait for people to listen and hopefully enjoy the music that Erik and I put our hearts into. I love every song on the album. Every song is filled with passion and emotion. They are all amazing!” says Toby.
'Mercury’s Down,' shows and carves in stone the unbelievable talent of two young guns. Toby is definitely a top vocalist and Erik songwriting and producing abilities keep getting better and better. There is no reason to miss this record, which promises to be easily one of the top Melodic Rock debuts of the year!
'Mercury’s Down' includes the following songs:
This Is The Moment; Strong Enough; How To Stop; Let Go; One Day I’ll Stop Loving You; I Should Have Said; If It's To Be (It's Up To Me); Just Say Goodbye; Summer Nights In Cabo; Tear Down The Barricades; A Different Drum; Mercury's Down.
Includes bonus videoclip: This Is The Moment.
You can enjoy the album EPK following the link below :
Michael Anthony has reported in on his Facebook page to make two statements,
'Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes!
The only thing that makes my day better is that mixing on the new Chickenfoot CD is done! It's a lot heavier than the first record and I can't wait to get it out there! The first single should hit the airwaves sometime this summer with the full enchilada to follow in the fall. Stay tuned for all the details and we hope to see you all real soon! Mad Anthony'
Stevie Nicks, the voice so many people know only too well associated with Fleetwood Mac, is about to hit the road again, on another solo trek.
After an earlier tour this year with Rod Stewart, she heads out on a new bunch of solo headline dates, in support of her latest album, 'In Your Dreams,' released last month.
New Summer 2011 Tour Dates Announced Upcoming Shows
