Saturday, April 7, 2012

News Update for Saturday April 7th, 2012



Guns N' Roses UK Tour - new London date and Thin Lizzy to support!

NEW DATE - 1ST JUNE 2012 - The O2, London
SUPPORT AT ALL DATES FROM THIN LIZZY

Follow this link for tickets:





One of the greatest rock bands of all time is back with the most anticipated tour of 2012!

After selling out arenas around the globe in 2011, Guns N’ Roses“the most dangerous band in the world” - are storming the UK this Spring. It all coincides with the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an honour they nabbed as soon as they were eligible. And, as with everything related to Axl Rose and his cohorts, this tour is guaranteed to cause a stir. Never far from controversy, but always true to the music, GNR are still the most talked about hard rock band of the past 20 years.
G ‘n’ R will be taking the ‘Night Train’ to travel the country with gigs in Paradise Cities Nottingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and London in May.


In a career spanning more than two decades, Guns N’ Roses have become one of the biggest bands, not only in the world, but in musical (and more importantly, rock ‘n’ roll) history. They have sold over 100 million albums worldwide and are considered one of the most influential rock bands the world has ever seen.
After rising to fame in the late 80’s and gaining worldwide recognition with their hit single Sweet Child of Mine in 1988, the band went on to release five albums including the double Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II which was the first in history to walk off with both top spots on the Billboard chart. VHI has also named Welcome to the Jungle ‘Best Hard Rock Song’ - a fitting accolade for such a rock anthem. Guns N’ Roses’ most recent release, and fifth studio album, Chinese Democracy went straight to the top of the charts in thirteen countries, as well as going platinum in 15.

The band’s live shows are always hotly anticipated and demand for tickets is never less than overwhelming, showing that their longevity in the spotlight is by no mistake and is very-much deserved. Don’t miss your change to witness the legendary Axl Rose and co live in the UK.


Thin Lizzy of course, have a legendary relationship with UK audiences and have been back in recent years headlining many shows of their own once again and being a part of major UK rock festivals once more, in the last few years being invited to play at both Download and Sonisphere festivals.

The line up that currently features classic members in Brian Downey (Drums), Scott Gorham (Guitars), Darren Wharton (Keyboards), alongside Marco Mendoza (Bass), whose been a part of different Lizzy lineups since they've reunited after legendary frontman Phillip Lynott passed on in 1986.
Rounded off by frontman Ricky Warwick (Lead vocals / guitars) and guitarist Damon Johnson, who have both been successful in their own right, the band has been playing live shows that are stunning and surprising audiences around the globe once more.
Without doubt, the boys are clearly back in your towns again!

Official weblinks:




And in related Thin Lizzy news ...




Still In Love With You
The Phillip Lynott Exhibition
 5 April - 24 June 2012
 


It's official... The boy's are back in town!

Following an astonishing eight-month run in Dublin, Still In Love With You: The Philip Lynott Exhibition is heading to London! The acclaimed exhibition will be showing for a limited time only at the British Music Experience from the 5 April - 24 June.

Born in West Bromwich to an Irish mother, Philip Lynott was an iconic rock hero, as well as a poet and a songwriter of outstanding quality. As lead singer with the legendary Thin Lizzy, his powerful music reverberated around the world. Now, in Still In Love With You – The Philip Lynott Exhibition, rock enthusiasts, music fans, families and visitors to London alike can take an emotional and inspiring journey through the life and times, the music and memories of a phenomenal rock star and romantic.

From lyrics books and guitars to stage costumes and Phil's personal diary, it paints a fascinating picture of Ireland's first bona fide rock star. "It's an exhibition for anyone who loves music," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said, "and especially for musicians it offers a special insight into what it is to be a musician and a songwriter."
Along with guitars, basses and other equipment used by Philip Lynott, there are tour jackets worn by the singer, flight cases, his personal diary, lyric books, school reports and Lynott's shares in Manchester United Football Club on display – as well as personal letters, cards and dozens of other unique items.

The Philip Lynott Exhibition also features a huge amount of new material from the archives of Irish music magazine Hot Press, as well as additional photographs, original paintings and other exclusive artwork. There are video installations and other audio-visual material, including tributes from Bono, Imelda May as well as Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy and many more.

While on showcase in Dublin, the exhibition attracted visitors from the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Serbia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, the USA, Canada and many more countries around the world, as well as from all over the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Don't miss your chance to find out more about one of rock music's best front men.

Official weblink:



SCHOOL IS IN FOR MUSIC EDUCATION ...
as Alice Cooper heads back to school

Alice Cooper is doing his bit to help school kids get their musical education on track.

Last night Alice Cooper crashed a Paradise Valley Board Of Education meeting, dropping in to show his support for the Mr Holland's Opus Foundation - http://www.mhopus.org/.

At the meeting, Tricia Steel of MHOF awarded $20,000 worth of musical instruments to Arrowhead Elementary, an Arizona school where students do have mandatory music and art lessons, but where not every child is able to afford an instrument. Currently each school owned instrument is shared by 3 students, making it hard to practice and progress.

Bob Ezrin, who is on the board of the Mr Hollands Opus Foundation, asked Alice to make an appearance to help boost the organization's visibility.
Alice spoke for about 5 minutes, stressing the importance of supporting music and art education in schools.


For everything you need to know about Alice Cooper:




Eagle Rock Entertainment Is Proud To Release
Pink Floyd
The Story Of Wish You Were Here
 


~On DVD and Blu-ray June 26, 2012~ 


New York, NY (April, 2012) — Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to announce the simultaneous release on June 26 of Pink Floyd The Story Of Wish You Were Here on DVD and Blu-ray. 
This is the authorized story of the album made with the full involvement and approval of the members of Pink Floyd


Wish You Were Here, released in September 1975, was the follow up album to the globally successful The Dark Side Of The Moon and is cited by many fans, as well as band members Richard Wright and David Gilmour, as their favorite Pink Floyd album. On release it went straight to Number One in both the UK and the US and topped the charts in many other countries around the world. This program tells the story of the making of this landmark release through new interviews with Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason and archive interviews with the late Richard Wright. Also featured are sleeve designer Storm Thorgerson, guest vocalist Roy Harper, front cover “burning man” Ronnie Rondell and others involved in the creation of the album. In addition, original recording engineer Brian Humphries revisits the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios to illustrate aspects of the songs’ construction.

The band members discuss the album’s themes of absence, the greed of the music business and former band member Syd Barrett, who is famously celebrated in “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, which both opens and closes the album. The program also covers the unexpected visit Barrett paid to Abbey Road during the recording, the difficulties of the early recording sessions and how the decision to split “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” into two sections was the catalyst for the album’s successful completion.

The DVD and Blu-ray releases contain additional bonus material not featured in the TV broadcast version, including further interviews with Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Nick Mason plus Roger Waters and David Gilmour performing excerpts from the Wish You Were Here album.

The Story Of Wish You Were Here is a fascinating document and fitting tribute to Pink Floyd’s outstanding achievement in the creation of this masterpiece.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world.  Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne.
Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide.  Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.

Weblinks:

Thursday, April 5, 2012

News Update for Thursday April 5th, 2012

Hi all,

Sorry no update yesterday, the day just flew by and didn't get a chance to do anything here.
Anyway, here you go, here's the latest!
Cheers, Al


RIP Dr Jim Marshall OBE
July 29, 1923 - April 5, 2012
Mr Marshall Amps!



The man behind the biggest rock concerts for the past 50 years, Jim Marshall OBE, has passed away today, aged 88 years.

The founder of Marshall Amplification, the company that started in London in 1962 - A good year to me ... - had been given the appropriate nickname, the 'Father of Loud.'

In the rock spoof rockumentary 'Spinal Tap' the players in the band boasted that their Marshall stacks were the ultimate, as the dials went up to the number eleven ...!
Most amps show up to number ten.
A classic funny and loved line, that most rock musicians are familiar with, whether they are drummers, singers, keyboard players or guitarists.

It would so often, from the 70's through to present day, be a familiar sight behind many a rock band to have this massive wall of Marshall amplification behind rock and heavy metal bands on stage.

The one thing that many people may not know and that I learned back in 1983 when helping unload Thin Lizzy's gear, during their farewell tour when they stopped off at Portsmouth Guildhall, is that most of those Marshall cabinets are for show and are empty, with typically just one head in use - Look for the orange / red light lit up on the amp head! - and yes folks, this killed a long held 'wow' impression of mine that I had been so impressed with for the previous five years to that!


A familiar sight at many a rock concert ... Marshall stacks, wall of sound!


Such was the impact / impression on rock musicians and fans alike, in the reputation of the 'Marshall stack' behind most hard rock guitarist, that the legend had to be taken to the next level, for show!

Marshall amps and Gibson Les Paul guitars in my opinion - And I know many others. - epitomises the rock image and sound in most fans eyes and ears.

The Marshall website posted this tribute to the man today:

‘It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved founder and leader for the past 50 years, Jim Marshall. While mourning the Guv’nor though, we also salute a legendary man who led a full and truly remarkable life.

‘Jim’s ascent into the history books as ‘the Father of Loud’ and the man responsible for ‘the Sound of Rock’ is a true rags-to-riches tale. Cruelly robbed of his youth by tubercular bones, Jim rose to become one of the four forefathers responsible for creating the tools that allowed rock guitar as we know and love it today to be born. The ground breaking quartet also includes the late, great trio of Leo Fender, Les Paul and Seth Lover – together with Jim, they truly are the cornerstones of all things rock.
‘In addition to the creation of the amps chosen by countless guitar heroes and game changing bands, Jim was also an incredibly humble and generous man who, over the past several decades, has quietly donated many millions of pounds to worthy causes.

‘While the entire Marshall Amplification family mourns Jim’s passing and will miss him tremendously, we all feel richer for having known him and are happy in the knowledge that he is now in a much better place which has just got a whole lot louder!
‘Rest in Peace and thank you Jim.

‘Your memory; the music and joy your amps have brought to countless millions for the past five decades; and that world-famous, omnipresent script logo that proudly bears your name will always live on.’

Official site:

Editors note - Good luck trying to get the page to load today! So many rockers no doubt trying to see what else is there in tribute to the legend.


Remembering Cozy Powell

Also, today remembering my old hero, Cozy Powell who was killed in a car crash this day back in 1998.
Your memory still lives on and rocks us today my old friend.

Cozy worked with the very best, from his days with the Jeff Beck Group, alongside Rod Stewart, through Rainbow, M.S.G., Whitesnake, Emerson, Lake and Powell, Black Sabbath, Brian May and Peter Green's Splinter Group and so many more.

Cozy Powell - Rock drumming legend
29 December 1947 – 5 April 1998




Joe Bonamassa releases new album "Driving Towards The Daylight"


Internationally renowned guitarist Joe Bonamassa is pleased to announce that his lucky 13th studio album “Driving Towards The Daylight” will be released in the UK on Monday 21st May by Provogue Records.

Produced by Kevin Shirley, “Driving Towards The Daylight” highlights Bonamassa’s signature style of blues, roots, and rock & roll. The album features a unique group of musicians, including Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford (guitar), Blondie Chaplin (guitar), Anton Fig (drums and percussion), Arlan Schierbaum (keyboard), Michael Rhodes (bass), Carmine Rojas (bass), Jeff Bova and The Bovaland Brass, Pat Thrall (guitar), and Whitford’s son Harrison Whitford (guitar).


Joe Bonamassa photo by Arnie Goodman

“Driving Towards The Daylight” includes five Bonamassa-penned originals, including bruising opener Dislocated Boy, the title track Driving Towards The Daylight, I Got All You Need, Heavenly Soul, and Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go. Other tracks include Joe’s versions of Tom Waits’ New Coat Of Paint, Bill Withers’ Lonely Town Lonely Street, and Bernie Marsden’s A Place In My Heart. On the album closer, Australian rock singer Jimmy Barnes sings lead vocals on his 1987 hit Too Much Ain't Enough Love.



Premiering today, and continuing each week for ten episodes is Countdown To Daylight, the new reality series of 3-4 minute webisodes, featuring interviews with Joe and his band as well as behind-the-scenes footage of the band recording Driving Towards The Daylight in the studio. Tune in every Friday for a new episode on Joe’s official YouTube channel here:

Read the official album press release here:

Joe Bonamassa – Official Website





MEAT LOAF ANNOUNCES ‘MAD, MAD WORLD’ TOURKICKING OFF JUNE 22 IN AUSTIN, TX
IN CONNECTION WITH HIS NEWLY RELEASED ALBUM ‘HELL IN A HANDBASKET’

 



“…a blistering screed about the state of the world and a call to arms to fix it.”   – ESQUIRE.COM (3/8/12)


“…you can’t deny the power of Meat Loaf’s voice or his rightful place as King of the Anthems…Vocally and interpretively, Meat Loaf is still on top of his game. You really can’t find another performer who is as natural a talent and puts as much emotion into his performance as him.”                         – CONSEQUENCEOFSOUND.NET (3/16/12)

 

Iconic singer MEAT LOAF has announced the first round of dates for his upcoming “MAD, MAD, WORLD” TOUR in connection with his newly released album HELL IN A HANDBASKET (Sony/Legacy). The trek kicks off in the city of  Austin, TX June 22 and runs through August 2, including stops in Los Angeles, Boston and Atlantic City, with more dates expected to be announced.
 
For the HELL IN A HANDBASKET tour, MEAT LOAF says, “People who come to Meat Loaf shows know what to expect. They know they’re going to get full-on energy with the best rock ‘n’ roll band in the world. That’s not an opinion. That’s the truth.”  Asked specifically what makes for a good show, he says, “Well, a great play can be done with a table, a light, and four chairs. Great shows are about people. You don’t want to put up a wall with laser lights, production, and dancers. It’s really about going out there and putting on the show of these people’s lives without all of the bells and whistles.”

Joining MEAT LOAF onstage will be his longtime band THE NEVERLAND EXPRESS: guitarist Paul Crook (who also produced the HELL IN A HANDBASKET album), John Miceli (drums, percussion), Patti Russo (lead and backing vocals), Randy Flowers (guitars, vocals), David Luther (saxophone, vocals) Justin Avery (piano, organ, keyboard, vocals), Danny Miranda (electric and upright bass) and Ginny Luke (violin, vocals).
 
MEAT LOAF recently performed on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” where he sang “The Giving Tree” from HELL IN A HANDBASKET. “It’s is the most personal record I’ve ever made,” said MEAT LOAF "It’s really the first record I’ve ever put out about how I feel about life and how I feel about what’s going on at the moment.”  The album, produced by Paul Crook, is an expression of life’s metaphors, driven by excellent musicianship, and of course, the passionate vocals of MEAT LOAF.  “Making this album was a great experience,” said MEAT LOAF, “and I hope my fans enjoy hearing it as much as I did making it.”

MEAT LOAF – whose 1977 breakout album Bat Out Of Hell defined the arena rock genre and remains as one of the world’s five top-selling albums of all-time, with more than 43 million copies sold to date–is excited about HELL IN A HANDBASKET.  It’s a thematic record that easily crosses any number of genres, featuring such unlikely contributors as rappers Chuck D and Lil Jon, country star Trace Adkins, and Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath.


DAY - CITY - VENUE 
Fri
6/22
Austin, TX
ACL Live at the Moody Theater
 

Sun
6/24
Del. Benito Juarez, Mexico
Pepsi Center
 

Wed
6/27
Los Angeles, CA
The Wiltern
 

Sat
6/30
Snoqualmie, WA
Snoqualmie Casino (Mountain View Plaza)
 

Mon
7/2
Eagle, ID
Eagle River Pavilion
 

Sat
7/7
Valley Center, CA
Harrah’s Rincon – Open Sky
 

Tue
7/17
Montclair, NJ
Wellmont Theatre
 

Thu
7/19
New Brunswick, NJ
State Theatre
 

Sat
7/21
Canandaigua, NY
Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Perf. Arts Ctr.
 

Mon
7/23
Englewood, NJ
Bergen Performing Arts Center
 

Wed
7/25
Bethlehem, PA
Sands Bethlehem Event Center
 

Fri
7/27
Atlantic City, NJ
Showboat Atlantic City – House of Blues
 

Sun
7/29
Salamanca, NY
Seneca Allegany Casino Events Center
 

Tue
7/31
Boston, MA
Bank of America Pavilion
 

Thu
8/2
Upper Darby, PA
Tower Theatre
 

Sat
8/4
North Bay, ON Canada
North Bay Summer in the Park Festival – Waterfront Park
 




Sonisphere Festival 2012 at Knebworth cancelled


Sad news for rock fans in the UK, where Kiss were scheduled to headline one night and Queen featuring Adam Lambert to headline another, with Faith No More due to be topping the planned opening night and organisors have declared the whole event is cancelled!

Here's the statement from the organisors:

It is with very heavy hearts and much regret that we announce the cancellation of Sonisphere Knebworth 2012.

Putting the festival together in what is proving to be a very challenging year was more difficult than we anticipated and we have spent the last few months fighting hard to keep Sonisphere in the calendar. Unfortunately circumstances have dictated that we would be unable to run the festival to a standard that both the artists and that Sonisphere’s audience would rightly expect.

We want to express our deepest regrets to the artists and to thank all the staff, suppliers and contractors who worked so hard with us to try and pull off what has proven to be an impossible task and we know how much they share in our disappointment.  We also want to send a huge thanks to the Sonisphere fans who stuck by us and we are so sorry that we can’t fulfil what we set out to do.

Ticket holders will automatically receive a full refund direct from their ticket agents.

Team Sonisphere.

For full details, go here:








Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Brief News Update for Tuesday April 3rd, 2012

Hi folks,
Well, first of all, big thanks to everyone for so many birthday wishes ...
Ha! The life I've lived, at times I never thought I'd make it to 50!!!
Boy oh boy ...

Anyway, enough about me, it's over to the news, but before I sign off my thoughts and prayers reach out to Tony Iommi and his family.
The last update at his site was a week ago - See below in news items. - and I just hope and pray that the treatments are going well and he is being cured ...
I just recall how all the updates for Ronnie James Dio (RIP) indicated he was out to beat his cancer, but sadly it really wasn't until very close to the end, when of course we all learned he'd lost his battle.
Tony, all our sincere well wishes and prayers reach out to you. We wish you well my friend.

Cheers all, Al



Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi continues his battle with cancer




Legendary guitarist with Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi, who has been battling lymphoma, has recently - Last Tuesday. - posted an update at his site.

It reads like this:

Hiya,
A little update on how it's all going:
Well, I've had the last dose of chemotherapy so hopefully my body will start to get back to normal soon, the steroids were the worse. I've now got three weeks of radiotherapy coming up which I'm told can be very tiring so we'll see.
A big thanks to Ozzy and Geezer for coming over to England, it was a big incentive for me, we managed to work most days and have some great new tracks.
And, importantly thanks again for your kind messages, hope to be seeing you soon.
- Tony
 
The worrying thing for fans and friends of Tony's and certainly is playing on my mind, is the way it reads doesn't tell you if all the cancerous cells have been beaten at this time, yet Tony says he's just had his last dose of chemotherapy and that radiotherapy is still to come.
Tony, I really wish you well as I said in my opening comments.
 
Keep up to date with Tony's progress and go ahead and wish him well, over at:
Also:
And these two:
 
 


'SQUACKETT'
to release ...
New Album “A Life Within A Day”
Release date: Tuesday, May 29th, 2012.


Limited edition 7” vinyl single to be release on April 21st for International Record Store Day.
Esoteric Antenna are pleased to announce the release of the hugely anticipated album by SQUACKETT, the collaborative project between two legends of Progressive Rock, Chris Squire and Steve Hackett.
 
With progressive rock (in its many forms) now seemingly more popular than ever a collaboration from members of two the the godfathers of the genre is hugely exciting. Chris Squire has appeared on every YES album and is widely regarded as one of the most influential bass guitarists of all time. Now an established solo artist, Steve Hackett first came to prominence as the guitarist with Genesis. He was in the band from 1970 to 1977 and played on six studio albums and three live albums before leaving to concentrate on his solo career.
 
The two met when Chris Squire was working on a solo album and needed some guitar parts. Chris was put in touch with Steve and through these sessions the idea for SQUACKETT was born.
Over four years in the making, the “Squackett” album is very much more than the sum of its parts. “It was very much about a bunch of pals swapping notes and anecdotes,” says Hackett “I would say if people are looking for uncountable time signatures, in the main that’s not what this album holds. I think the songs are more simple and direct.”
 
“It has a flavour to it that is reminiscent of a few things from different artists,” says Squire. “There is some clever prog rock stuff in there, some jazzy bits but there are parts that have vocal harmonies like Crosby, Stills and Nash
Album tracklisting is as follows:
1. A Life Within a Day
2. Tall Ships
3. Divided Self
4. Aliens
5. Sea of Smiles
6. The Summer Backwards
7. Storm Chaser
8. Can't Stop the Rain
9. Perfect Love Song
The album will be released in the following formats - Standard CD - EANTCD 1002, Limited and Numbered Vinyl Edition - EANTLP 1002, Limited Edition 2 Disc Deluxe Edition (with hardback cover and 5.1 surround bonus disc) - EANTCD 2002.
 
On April 21st the band will release a limited edition 7" vinyl single to tie in with International Record Store Day (www.recordstoreday.com).
The single will be "Sea of Smiles" (single edit) b/w "Perfect Love Song" and Cat number is EANTS 1001 

Official weblinks:




Marco Mendoza Italian tour dates



Sorry folks, slacking with this one, but in case you missed my previous mention about Marco Mendoza's return to Europe for more live dates, here's an update on the live shows Marco is currently playing in Italy.

The man who has played alongside many great talents, as part of Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Ted Nugent and the current line up of Thin Lizzy as well as others, still has the remaining live dates to play in Italy.

Marco Mendoza - Live In Italy 2012 - Remaining - dates

APRIL 05 (TBC)
APRIL 12 MARENO DI PIAVE (TV) - CORNER INVERNESS
APRIL 13 ANCONA - LEVEL MUSIC BAR
APRIL 14 SILVI MARINA (TE) - VIRGIN QUEEN PUB
APRIL 15 PONTECAGNANO (SA) - MERMAID'S TAVERN PUB

Featuring:
Marco Mendoza - Bass & Vocals
Favio Cerrone -Guitar
Pino Liberti - Drums

Expect Marco and his band to play material from both his solo albums 'Live For Tomorrow' and 'Casa Mendoza' as well as possible material from his work with the previously mentioned acts.
Miss him at your loss, enjoy the shows Marco my old friend!

Keep up with Marco, right here:




Monday, April 2, 2012

Sunstorm – Emotional Fire album review

Sunstorm – Emotional Fire album review
Released on: Frontiers Records. Release date: Available now



Sunstorm is one of Joe Lynn Turner’s (Rainbow, Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen) many side band projects, but it’s obviously one that is close to his heart, as this is the third release from the project.

Here’s the thing though, in a recent interview I did with Joe – Which incidentally I felt very lucky and honoured to be able to do so … - Joe had explained to me that this latest set of songs, were in fact not chosen by him at all and were sent to him to sing on, backing tracks already done!
He had said he was in fact between two sets of live dates, trying to get a breather, when they landed in his lap.

 
Admittedly they do have a connection with Joe, as they are songs made up from Joe’s history of performing with other artists in one way or another.
i.e. Either songs he helped co-write or that he had previously sung backing vocals on generally.

Of course, me being someone not so close to how some of these projects come into being, to be honest totally surprised me as I think this is a great set of rock / AOR material.

Nice job on the fronts of both Joe and the musicians who provided the backing tracks. Great job guys!

The musicians involved here are on Drums Chris (Schmidtic) Schmidt, Bass, partial guitars and backing vocals provided by the albums producer Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69), Guitars: Uwe Reitenauer, with Keyboards by Justin Dakey.

So, to the material itself then …


Opening number ‘Never Give Up,’ kick things off nicely as its punchy and melodic in the best possible way it could be and Joe Lynn Turner also sounds very much on form indeed.


Title track ‘Emotional Fire’ was written by Michael Bolton – Back in the day – for Cher’s ‘Heart of Stone’ album, that Joe sung backing vocals on and it’s a hugely hook laden number that could, should be a hit single.


‘Lay Down Your Arms’ is slower emotional style rocker, that has some moments that almost fringe on a symphonic metal sound. Almost Evanescence like at times.


The Michael Bolton hit single ‘Wouldn’t Know Love’ is covered next and fits nicely here, as in my mind, it was one of the last good things Michael Bolton did before he turned his back on rock. Joe and the band do it complete justice and you know, if this picked up some radio play it could generate a few more royalty payments all round for sure I would think.

‘Wish You Were Here’ is lovely AOR stuff, it really is. Fans of Joe Lynn Turner or of prime AOR will enjoy this for sure.


With ‘Torn In Half’ it starts with the heaviest guitar riff so far here, but the song retains plenty of melody and hooks to stay on track with everything else offered here.


‘Gina’ next is another Michael Bolton number that Joe sung backing vocals on before from Bolton’s album ‘The Hunger,’ one of his last good works. It has a catchy chorus, as a steady pop rocker overall.


There’s certain urgency in how ‘The Higher You Rise’ starts out, before easing back completely for the verse and then the pre-chorus bridge and chorus picks things up again. Another gem for sure!


‘Emily’ next is prime time slick AOR, from it’s opening stabbing synth chords, right through to the punchy catchy chorus lines.
Nice layering throughout.

With ‘Follow Your Heart’ Joe finds himself singing something that wouldn’t be out of place on a ‘Best of AOR’ type compilation anywhere, elements of say Survivor to this or UK band F.M. Excellent stuff indeed!

 
Final track is the perfect ballad in ‘All I Am,’ to wrap things up, kind of has a feel not unlike Starship about its structure.


I know it’s pretty much a covers set when you really think about it, but seriously, this is a truly enjoyable and class sounding album to me.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Weblinks: