Brief Update for Thursday 15th September, 2011

JUDAS PRIEST RELEASE THE CHOSEN FEW THIS OCTOBER

JUDAS PRIEST
New Album: The Chosen Few
Release date: Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

"(Judas) Priest has always meant one thing - take no prisoners. For decades.  Across one continent to the next, they have never wavered in their commitment to treating the Stage as Holy Ground…” – Gene Simmons, KISS

Sony Music are proud to announce the release of a unique Judas Priest album.  'The Chosen Few' is an album curated by Judas Priest’s contemporaries in the music world – each artist picking their own favourite Priest track and explaining why it is special to them. Included are legends such as Ozzy Osbourne, James Hetfield, Alice Cooper, Joe Elliott, Slash, Lemmy, Kerry King and Corey Taylor. All build an album from the very best of Judas Priest – from 1977’s “Diamonds And Rust” through to 1990’s “Painkiller”. A selection of excerpts are below:

LARS ULRICH, METALLICA - BEYOND THE REALMS OF DEATH“The blueprint for the epic rock ballad. Copied thousands of times, never eclipsed.”

OZZY OSBOURNE -  THE RIPPER
“This has always been one of my favorite Judas Priest songs…. I just want to know what the fuck that note is that Rob Halford hits in the beginning of the song. Fucking hell!! That note is probably just below what only dogs can hear.”

ALICE COOPER - LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT
“For a metal band, Priest has always used tons of melody... when you have a singer as great as Rob Halford, you have to write great riffs WITH great melodies, you can’t just have riffs. Living After Midnight is the perfect example…”

SLASH - SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE
“Judas Priest have put out their fair share of great albums to be sure. But my all time favourite is Screaming For Vengeance. It was and still is, one of the best metal records ever produced and the title track is in my humble opinion, still ahead of its time.”

COREY TAYLOR, SLIPNOT - YOU’VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING
“Judas Priest: the blueprint for the ultimate heavy metal band…..”

The Chosen Few tracklisting is as follows:

1) Diamonds And Rust (1977) - chosen by Joe Elliott (Def Leppard)
2) Dissident Aggressor (1977) - chosen by Steve Vai
3) Exciter (1978) - chosen by Accept
4) Beyond The Realms Of Death (1978) - chosen by Lars Ulrich (Metallica)
5) Delivering The Goods (1979) - chosen by Kerry King (Slayer)
6) The Green Manalishi (with the Two-Pronged Crown) (1979) - chosen by David Coverdale (Whitesnake) and Randy Blythe (Lamb of God)
7) The Ripper (1979) - chosen by Ozzy Osbourne
8) Victim Of Changes (1979) - chosen by James Hetfield (Metallica)
9) Breaking The Law (1980) - chosen by Lemmy (Motorhead)
10) Rapid Fire (1980) - chosen by Vinnie Paul (Pantera and Hell Yeah)
11) Grinder (1980) - chosen by Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society)
12) Living After Midnight (1980) - chosen by Alice Cooper and Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
13) Screaming For Vengeance (1982) - chosen by Slash (Guns 'n' Roses)
14) You’ve Got Another Thing Coming (1982) - chosen by Klaus Meine (Scorpions) and Corey Taylor (Slipknot)
15) The Sentinel (1984) - chosen by Chris Jericho
16) Turbo Lover (1986) - chosen by Jonathan Davis (Korn)
17) Painkiller (1990) - chosen by Joe Satriani

Confirmed North American concert engagements:

October 2011

12 October
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX 

14 October
Concrete Street Amphitheater, Corpus Christi, TX 

15 October
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX 

16 October
Allen Event Center, Dallas, TX 

18 October
Ava Amphitheater, Tucson, AZ 

19 October
Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, San Diego, CA 

21 October
AZ State Fair, Phoenix, AZ 

22 October
San Manuel Amphitheater, San Bernardino, CA 

23 October
Hard Rock, Las Vegas, NV 

25 October
TO BE ADVISED 

27 October

Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, CA

29 October

WaMu Theater, Seattle, WA 

30 October
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC 

November 2011

1 November
Shaw Conference Center, Edmonton, AB 

2 November
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB 

4 November
Maverik Center, Salt Lake City, UT 

5 November
1STBANK Center, Denver, CO 

8 November
US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH 

9 November

Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield, IL 

10 November
The Family Arena, St. Louis, MO 

12 November
The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, Chicago, IL 

13 November
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI 

15 November
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH 

16 November
The Armory, Rochester, NY 

18 November
Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ 

19 November
Cambria County War Memorial, Johnstown, PA

20 November
Paul E. Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA

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 Arena, Reading, PA

27 November
Lawrence Joel Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Winston-Salem, NC 

30 November
1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL 

December 2011

1 December
Bayfront Park Amphitheatre, Miami, FL 

3 December
Hard Rock Biloxi Hotel & Casino, Biloxi, MS 

For more information, visit:
www.judaspriest.com

Six years in the making … at long last MECCA II 'Undeniable' is scheduled for release!

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of MECCA’s anticipated second album 'Undeniable' on November 4th in Europe and January 10th 2012 in North America.

Six years in the making 'Undeniable' is the culmination of hard work, blood, sweat and tears.

Rewind to 2002: the Melodic Rock community is taken by storm by the debut album of a new band named Mecca. Formed by vocalist Joe Vana, he enlisted among others, the services of former Toto members David Hungate (bass) and Fergie Frederiksen on vocals and close friend and former Survivor founding member Jim Peterik, who contributed masterfully to the songwriting and production of the album.

 'Mecca'  created a sonic treasure bringing the energy to drive diamond hard rockers and the finesse to create lush power ballads, all with the texture that, until now, only super-groups such as Journey, Toto or Foreigner could provide. Amazing press responses blessed the album’s release and Joe Vana soon started putting together plans for a follow up album. “I wanted a BAND sound, like the old days where all the guys played together in the room” tells Joe. “We came very close to doing just that... PLUS, I wanted an album Jim Peterik would hear and be proud that he worked so hard mentoring me for so many years. I had a challenge”.
Songwriting started in 2005 between Vana and Swedish guitarist Christian Wolff. In 2007 things really took a ground breaking turn with the songwriting masterpieces that Vana wrote with Swedish Producer/Songwriter/Guitarist Tommy Denander. Vana said: “The writing synergy between Tommy and I has been amazing, we think so much alike in terms of melody and space but sounds very different melodically than what we both have done separately, so it truly is a union of ideas...”.

The musical direction soon showed that new heights in Melodic Rock music could be reached. “Since Tommy and Christian were my co-writers” continues Vana “I had parts of theirs from when we wrote the tunes that were stellar and it integrated wonderfully”.
Several problems created bumps in the road, including the death of Vana's longtime friend and co-producer / engineer Bryan Mitchell which made the completion of the recording process extremely slow. Joe explains: “It took a lot of time to build the right team to produce with me, Mark Alano and Chuck Macak and to get the right combination of guys. I had an opportunity to hand pick a band and I was not going to ruin that! I know I was getting killed on the internet, but I needed to make sure it was ALL correct. The music had to be able to carry the melodies and the lyrical content I had written, this album had to flow correctly and I had a vision sonically I wanted as well... it was not an easy road.... and as far as the songs themselves, it is the best writing Tommy Denander and Christian Wolff have done. They were SO EASY to write with and we make a GREAT team!”.
Vana enlisted the talents of session masters such as Pat Mastellotto (King Crimson, Mr Mister), Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), along with Denander and Wolff. His core band was also created around Rick Vitek on drums, Brian Moritz on keyboards, Wally Hustin on bass, Eric Ragno on keyboards, Mark Alano on guitar and Joe’s ace in the hole....his son Joey (Vana) on guitars and backing vocals.

Fast forward to 2011. Mecca II 'Undeniable'  is finally completed and delivered. The results are breathtaking. According to Vana: “This is a thinking man's record with a lot of Chicago AOR, Prog and a good dose of West Coast thrown in! You can listen to the album 10 times, and will hear different things each time...”. An album which perfectly melts the outstanding High-Tech AOR approach of Mr. Mister’s “Welcome to the Real World” to the commercial sheer brilliance of Toto’s “The Seventh One”.

Oh and... the good news is that Mecca III is underway!

If  was born to unveil the treasures of the Melodic Rock genre to the unsuspecting public, then Mecca II 'Undeniable' sets in stone the gospel of this music with stunning arrangements and unbelievable melodies. Mecca is now here to stay....get converted to their music!!!

 'Undeniable' tracklisting includes:
Perfect World; Closing Time; 10life; Life's Too Short; I Know; Did It For Love; From The Start; Deceptive Cadence; W2w; Undeniable ; As I Walk Alone.
The first single – the title-track 'Undeniable' - can be streamed in full on the Frontiers Records web radio www.frontiers.it/webradio
MECCA is
Joe Vana: Vocals
Joey Vana: Guitars
Brian Moritz: Keyboards
Paul Pisciotto: Synthesizers
Wally Hustin: Bass
Rick Vitek: Drums
Mark Alano: Guitars

Official weblinks:
http://www.myspace.com/meccaofmusic
http://www.frontiers.it


Status Quo, 'Hello Quo' documentary on the way

It seems a little recognition of credit where credit is due is coming Status Quo's way in the shape of a new documentary.
Details are brief at the moment, but this was posted at Quo's website:

Status Quo are currently filming their first ever cinematic documentary with Emmy nominated director Alan G Parker. Provisionally entitled 'Hello Quo!', the production is planned for release in the autumn of 2012.

More details to follow.  
http://www.statusquo.co.uk/



STRANGEWAYS: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE: THE DVD - LIVE AT FIREFEST 2010

For the very first time the UK/American AOR Gods Strangeways can now finally be seen live in concert on DVD. Recorded at the reunion show at Firefest 2010 in front of an adoring crowd, Terry, Ian, Jim, Munch and Warren combined some of the greatest AOR tracks ever written such as ‘Love Lies Dying’, ‘Only A Fool’ and ‘Never Going To Lose It’ with some brand new tracks from the comeback album ‘Perfect World’, such as the title track, ‘Borderline’ and the monstrous ‘Bushfires’.

   For those that have waited 21 years, this is finally your chance to see the band in all their glory on stage for the first time since 1989 , and re-live what was for band and fans a truly emotional homecoming in front of a sold out Rock City , Nottingham . We urge you to show your support, not just for Firefest but for Strangeways and grab a copy of ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ by pre ordering on line from the Firefest Webshop at www.thefirefest.com

Check out the You Tube promo video for this item, right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SErIP4AXdsI&feature=player_embedded

Pre-ordering will be available from Monday September 12th and orders will ship on or before October 1st. This is a limited edition of 1000 copies worldwide and features a magnificent jet black cover with Silver ink artwork on the first 500. There will be no reprints , and once they are gone … they are gone. Be sure to grab yourself a copy of what will surely become a treasured collectors item.
Official website:
www.Firefest.com

John Wetton – Raised in Captivity CD review

John Wetton – Raised in Captivity CD review

Released on: Frontiers Records. Release Date: Available now.

John Wetton is an extremely talented player whose background includes stints with Roger Chapman’s Family, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, the short lived jazz rock combo UK, Wishbone Ash and a bunch of others, including of course his biggest success, Asia.

For me, most of his earlier work pales in insignificance to that of Asia, who for me became one of the first true super-groups!

His voice perhaps to many, isn’t that instant, but with Asia I seriously believe everything simply fell into place as that first album more than proved. I wonder if they, the band, really thought at first it would even work?!

 

 

 

Anyway, I’ve always enjoyed Asia’s music even some of the John Payne stuff too, but John Wetton really masters it best for me.

I really haven’t previously had the chance to check out the man’s previous solo works, with the exception of Qango, which I figured was really his baby, even though it feature Carl Palmer (Asia, E.L.P.), it had a lot of promise too.

I enjoyed seeing them live once as well. Good set, good band!

So, this indeed for me is his first solo work that I’ve ever got to check out and if you will, analyze and I’m glad I did too!

This album features a whole host of guest players from Wetton’s past, all class acts too.

 

 

 

Opener ‘Lost for Words’ features Steve Morse (Deep Purple) as guest guitarist and it rocks ‘like a good ‘un!’ Very up tempo number with a bunch of time changes throughout and yes, I am reminded of someone else musically here, it kind of reminds me of Honeymoon Suite meets Saga ironically, but all very good stuff indeed.

Title track ‘Raised in Captivity’ next is another track I really like and it features Robert Fripp (King Crimson) on guitar and to a degree it reminds me a little of Trevor Rabin era Yes. So from that you can perhaps gather it’s kind of commercial prog but it’s unlike – to me – Asia.

I really love next track, the power ballad ‘Goodbye Elsinore’ which ironically as it builds reminds me a little of Peter Gabriel’s ‘Solsbury Hill.’ That said, I think it’s way better … ‘Solsbury Hill’ although popular, wasn’t really my bag.

Love this though and Steve Hackett plays some nice licks too.

 

‘The Last Night of My Life,’ features jazz fusion guitarist Alex Machacek and this one changes tempos quite a bit and is certainly the most prog like material here so far, still very enjoyable to these ears though.

Next up is ‘We Stay Together’ which kind of drifts a little here and there, but it’s a slower paced number, although kind of not really a power ballad, but a close cousin if you ask me!

 

 

Tony Kaye (Yes) is the guest musician here next on ‘The Human Condition’ and perhaps that’s why at times I’m reminded of Yes’ ‘Leave It.’ This one is though perhaps a little sluggish for me and doesn’t really go anywhere.

‘Steffi’s Ring’ up next includes fellow Asia / Icon band mate Geoff Downes and yet it’s a track that tend to lean more towards an almost renaissance type sound, think Blackmore’s Night. It’s haunting beautiful actually. Nice track.

 

 

 

From Wetton’s UK time comes guest Eddie Jobson for the laid back track, ‘The Devil and the Opera House,’ where the violin in a couple of spot is shifting from left to right channels, which messes with your head .., just a little when listening through headphones. This track actually reminds me a little of ‘Alpha’ era Asia, in its style.

‘New Star Rising’ gets things back the more up tempo track with special guest Mick Box (Uriah Heep), although it’s a little strange arrangement at times with the orchestral backing, it even reminds me a little of some of the Beatles more adventurous tracks, but not as dated as anything from back then. Kind of fun, with Mick’s lead break, doing the left to right channel thing too.

 

 

Tony Kaye returns to guest on ‘Don’t Misunderstand Me’ which is a track perhaps like a big movie epic soundtrack, in its power ballad style.

Final track here is ‘Mighty Rivers,’ a big atmospheric production with guest soprano, Dutch girl Anneke Van Giersbergen who to a degree reminds me of Agnetha Faltskog (Abba), clearly stronger though and there’s also the Seattle Symphony Orchestra here too.

It’s almost like something someone like Yanni would pull off, all power to Wetton though, he’s certainly mixed it up here.

 

 

 

Overall I think this is a pretty good, clever, varied solo album with a lot of very enjoyable material, a couple of spots, where it seems to lack a little something though. Still much to enjoy here though.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5   

 

Official John Wetton website:

http://www.johnwetton.co.uk/

Frontiers:

http://www.frontiers.it/

       

News Update for Tuesday September 13th, 2011

Hi folks,

Well it seems the old Blogspot formatting is causing me grief again and as much as I hate to say it, I would've added more updates, but due to some of the press releases that I've received, I am not able, it seem to be able to copy and paste the information directly into the Blogspot template - No matter how much I try to change the text format, colour, font style, etc. - so I've had to re-write a lot of what I've received.  So there's a lot of limited info here on some things but I want to make sure you are still aware of the info, so I've provided direct links to the sources. - After having to type up much of the releases?! Weird?!

Anyway, time of late has again been very limited, so much so I am seriously considering - Sorry about this ... - cutting out the regular news updates just to get all the reviews to you, that I'm not having time to get to.

Sorry, it's as simple as that. Family, day job and various other stuff, must come first.

I love doing this, so much so that I quit playing live music myself, which I do miss a lot but ....

I feel there's a lot of bands out there that simply don't get the coverage they deserve and there's material out there, that so many rock fans are simply not aware that it is ... Out there!

I love this music just as much as you all do, so I understand you all wanting to hear about new stuff. It gives me such a buzz sometimes, when I get to hear new stuff so far ahead of release dates and I do consider myself lucky, very lucky, to be in this position.

Anyway, I'm babbling! LOL!

So, if you see a lack of news updates, please understand I am just trying to keep up with getting these reviews out to you, before the releases are too old! :)

Keep on rockin' folks, thanks again for your support, cheers, Al.

EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE

SLASH

FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY

MADE IN STOKE 24/7/11

~ON CD & SPECIAL EDITION CD/DVD SET~

~HITS STORES IN THE U.S. ON NOVEMBER 15, 2011~

New York, NY (September 12, 2011)—Eagle Rock Entertainment is proud to announce the U.S. release of Slash’s first ever live solo album 'Made In Stoke 24/7/11.' The double-disc CD, and a special-edition 2CD+DVD package (featuring five bonus tracks and an exclusive interview with Slash) hits stores November 15.

The iconic, Grammy-winning rock guitarist and songwriter Slash has perfected the science of the six-string for over 20 years as an integral component of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver and as a hugely successful solo artist. On July 24, 2011, he made a very special visit to Stoke on Trent, England, where he was raised, at the end of the 2010-2011 tour in support of his globally chart topping and critically acclaimed self-titled solo debut.

Captured at Victoria Hall as part of an intensive world tour, this 21-song set is a celebration of a legendary career. Joined by Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge on vocals, Slash ripped through cuts culled from his GN’R days, Velvet Revolver, Slash’s Snakepit, and his solo album, (including the single “By The Sword”). His band line-up included bassist Todd Kerns, drummer Brent Fitz and guitarist Bobby Schneck.

With favorites like “Back From Cali,” “Slither,” “Sweet Child ‘O Mine,” and many more reverberating the crowd-filled rafters, this proved to be one rockin’ homecoming.

The track listing for both the CD and the Special Edition DVD is:

1) Been There Lately
2) Night Train
3) Ghost
4) Mean Bone
5) Back From Cali
6) Rocket Queen
7) Civil War
8) Nothing To Say
9) Starlight
10) Promise
11) Doctor Alibi
12) Speed Parade
13) Watch This
14) Beggars & Hangers On
15) Patience
16) Godfather Solo
17) Sweet Child O’ Mine
18) Slither 19) By The Sword 20) Mr Brownstone
21) Paradise City
Bonus DVD:

1.) Ghost
2.) Back from Cali
3.) Beggars & Hangers On
4.) Been there lately
5.) Starlight. Interview with Slash


ABOUT SLASH:

Slash is widely considered one of the greatest rock guitar players of all time. He has received countless accolades and awards including a 2007 induction into Hollywood’s RockWalk (located in front of Guitar Center in Hollywood) alongside his idols Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix. An original member of iconic rock band Guns N’ Roses, the Grammy-winning Slash helped the band create signature sounds like the guitar riff of #1 hit “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Welcome To The Jungle.” The band dominated the 1980’s and 90’s music scene selling more than 100 million albums worldwide and ushered in a decade of hard charging rock music. After leaving the band, Slash went on to critical acclaim in his personal project Slash’s Snakepit, and global success with supergroup Velvet Revolver. He has been widely sought after by the biggest musicians of all time, performing with everyone from Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder to Ray Charles. Slash recently landed on the top of the charts with his first true solo album, Slash. In addition, Slash was just honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce who named him as an official selection for 2011 to receive a star on Hollywood’s iconic Walk of Fame. In February 2011, he performed at the Super Bowl XLV half time show, seen by more than 106 million people, becoming the most-watched program in U.S. television history (Nielsen Co.). Slash is currently in the studio working on his second solo album due for release in 2012.

Official weblinks:

http://slash.ultimate-guitar.com/

http://www.eagle-rock.com/

Michael Schenker "Temple Of Rock"

To Be Released on CD and LP

October 11, 2011 via MVD Entertainment Group

US Tour Dates with Uli Jon Roth and Leslie West set for October

Michael Schenker, a true purveyor first-class hard guitar rock, is set to release the aptly titled "Temple of Rock" on October 11 on CD, digital formats, and vinyl. He will also be touring with Uli Jon Roth and Leslie West on the 3 Guitar Heroes tour. - Link to full tour dates here:

http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com/tour.php

The list of Schenker's successes is extensive ... As a young man he lent his very special sound, together with his brother Rudolf, to the Scorpions, that later made the band one of the first real international hard rock stars from Germany. In the 70's, he similarly helped British rock legends U.F.O. to their definitive breakthrough, turning songs like 'Rock Bottom' or 'Doctor, Doctor' into songs everyone knows.

In 1980, it was time for him to form the first band of his own ... The Michael Schenker Group or MSG for short. Some of the world's best musicians were assembled, cavorting with founding members such as Gary Barden, Don Airey or Simon Phillips. Not forgetting that no one less than Roger Glover from Deep Purple manned the production console for the first record. Since then, the three letter MSG have become a synonym for honest, hand crafted and impelling premium hard rock.

Now, after extensive touring and following a well-earned rest, Schenker has returned with his group to add a new jewel to his creative work in 'Temple of Rock.' Names such as Pete Way, Wayne Findlay, Neil Murray and Chris Slade still represent the highest of standard and get aficionados' heartbeats racing. One of the biggest treats is his collaboration with the former Scorpions drummer, Herman 'the German' Rarebell, as well as his beloved brother Rudolf ... And yet the list is even longer with Doogie White (Former singer with Rainbow), super drummer Carmine Appice and Elliott Tichy. However, the one name missing in 2011 is Gary Barden.

Michael Voss, the new vocalist is more than 'just' a replacement. The experienced producer and singer showed just what he is capable of during the last MSG tour.

 Schenker says:

"The Temple of Rock is within me where I create since I was introduced to the amazing invention of the distorted Guitar which is for me the most enjoyable and the best possible way to express myself. The Rock Guitar Sound that I fell in love with, mostly expressed as a lead break, is what I have nurtured and treasured all of my life. Combined with the infinite spring from within and the amazing musicians around me, I keep expressing an ongoing development of my Art (Being). With 'Temple of Rock' I am entering a new stage of my life, a new level of existence enjoying life more than ever, reaping the joy of all sorts of developments from the past.

Also, it seems to me that collectively, with true expressive makers of Rock Music, we have been building the external Temple Of Rock for many years and have now come to the point of putting on the roofing and celebrating the almost completion of the Temple. All generations of this period are meeting all over the world on one stage it seems celebrating an Era of 'Hand Made Rock' which will never be the same again due to invention of new technology but of course New Temples and New Wonders will arise to enjoy expressions in new ways."

 Check out the single 'Miss Claustrophobia' here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6YDXtAotNE

  For more information go to:

http://www.michaelschenkerhimself.com

Roadrunner Records Presents

You've waited, we've teased you and now the big news is finally here!

The brand new Nickelback album, 'Here and Now,' is heading your way November 21, 2011 also known as "NICKELBLACK MONDAY!" 

The first singles, "Bottoms Up" and "When We Stand Together" will ship to rock and pop radio respectively on September 26th, 2011.

Stay tuned for even more big news and keep an ear open for the new music!

www.NICKELBACK.com

 

 

Judie Tzuke - John Martyn, Old Grey Whistle Test and One Tree Less News

Updates from British songstress Judie Tzuke mailing list, take it away ...

Right now on Soundcloud are four tasters from the new album, 'One Tree Less.'

Feel free to listen and comment, they are still, 'works in progress' but we are getting close to the finished article now and are on course for an Autumn release.
Soundcloud ~ http://soundcloud.com/bigmoonrecords

With the album being more imminent, we will be ending the Gold Disk Pre-orders at the end of September. So if you want to be involved there are only three weeks remaining.
Gold Disk Pre-Order ~ http://www.tzuke.com/shopcart/studio_cds.php

Judie recently recorded some exclusive tracks for Bob Harris helping to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Old Grey Whistle Test. The shows are on BBC Radio 2 on Wednesday nights at 10pm (GMT).

We aren't sure which show Judie will be on, this week is 1973/74 so it will be a few weeks at least.
Old Grey Whistle Test 40 ~ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b013z9c5

Lastly Judie has a track on a John Martin tribute album called "Johnny Boy Would Love This....A Tribute to John Martyn", Judie sang 'Hurt In Your Heart' and the album and Judie has been receiving very favourable reviews. Last week Bob Lefsetz a very respected voice within the music world, wrote a glowing review of the album, I have included the entire review at the end of the email (See below).  In it he described Judie's contribution as one of the stellar tracks.

John Martin ~ http://www.johnmartyn.com/

Bob Lefsetz archive ~ http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
Bob Lefsetz Twitter ~http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz

Official Judie Tzuke links:

http://www.tzuke.com
http://www.myspace.com/tzuke
http://www.twitter.com/the_pink_house
http://soundcloud.com/bigmoonrecords

 

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

2011 Winter Tour On-Sale

Experience the New Rock-Holiday Tradition!

Hello TSO fans,

Tickets for Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 2011 Winter Tour go on-sale to the general public as early as today - Friday, September 9th. (Editor's note: Sorry I was late on this folks.)

Visit trans-siberian.com or check out the tour dates below for shows near you. The [Tickets] links will take you to the official ticketing page where you can find prices and more details. Also, help spread the word by clicking on the [RSVP] link and let your friends on www.facebook.com know that you're going to the show!

We can't wait to see you on the road!

TSO

* * * * *

Official Site: www.trans-siberian.com
Official Fan Club Site: www.trans-siberianexpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TSO

 

JOHN WAITE

LAUNCHES FALL TOUR SEPTEMBER 10

IN SUPPORT OF NEW SINGLE

“IF YOU EVER GET LONELY”

FROM HIS

‘ROUGH & TUMBLE’ CD

 

As his new single “If You Ever Get Lonely” arrives at radio, rock legend JOHN WAITE will hit the road for a fall tour kicking off September 10. An urgent mid-tempo pop rock song that is classic WAITE, “If You Ever Get Lonely” is the latest release from ROUGH & TUMBLE that was released earlier this year on Model Music Group/Fontana.

The video for the song can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkfUXx8FAgA.

“If You Ever Get Lonely” is the follow up to the album’s first single, the title track which reached #1 on Classic Rock charts.

“If You Ever Get Lonely” was a song the Los Angeles-based British singer and songwriter worked on as part of a Nashville writing session in early 2010 with Matchbox Twenty's Kyle Cook. 

WAITE says, “It’s about “getting a phone call at night…perhaps the love of your life that you sort of lost track of dials you by mistake or maybe she’s out at a party and after a bottle of wine thinks she’ll just say hello.” He adds: “It’s one of those things where you pick up the phone and you stop breathing. It’s about distance. It’s about lives going on after they’ve been damaged.”

WAITE’s live performances will include songs from ROUGH & TUMBLE along with classic hits from his solo career and the two bands he fronted, The Babys and Bad English.

His fall tour will take the Grammy-nominated artist through the holidays and includes a stop in New York City on November 16 at BB Kings.

WAITE’s live performances continue to draw praise from the media: “throughout his long solo career, Waite's clear, soaring vocals have always been his defining characteristic. His flawless ability to raise a whisper to a scream without losing any clarity or depth has always been what's made him one of the more distinctive and enduring vocalists in the rock genre,” (Creative Loafing, June 2011) and “Waite’s voice was clearly in fine form and the crowd was on their feet rocking out from note one,” (www.Examiner.com, AZ, August 2011).

ROUGH & TUMBLE features an eclectic mix of rock, pop and blues, including several collaborations with Matchbox 20’s Kyle Cook. Here are some critical quotes on ROUGH & TUMBLE:

“...rocking harder than he has through most of his solo career. Certainly, there are some slower and soulful moments--arriving fairly quickly in the album, too--but there’s grit to these ballads and they’re surrounded by some of Waite’s toughest rockers of recent vintage. As good as it is to hear this in the production, what makes ‘Rough & Tumble’ one of Waite’s better efforts is how the songs..are a solid set of rockers and ballads, a sturdy set of tunes that benefit considerably from their lean, lively production.”

-- Allmusic.com, (Feb. 2011)

“The album shows a new and fresh side of the British singer/songwriter’s creative output…”

-- Jambase.com (Dec 2010)

WAITE recorded five albums with The Babys before launching a solo career with Ignition, a record which spawned the MTV/rock radio staple, “Change.” The hit song laid the groundwork for one of the greatest pop/rock ballads of all time--“Missing You,” which has received a rare 6 million+ spins on radio airwaves and has been covered by many artists, including Tina Turner, Alison Krauss, Rod Stewart and Orianthi. WAITE continued his success with supergroup Bad English with a string of Billboard Top 40 hits, and the #1 position, once again, when the band topped the charts with “When I See You Smile.” WAITE’s fast-paced, no-holds-barred live album, In Real Time, released in 2010, was recorded with his super-charged three-piece band in tow. The record successfully captures the electrifying live performances WAITE is known for and fueled the approach to the hard-rocking L.A. sessions for ROUGH & TUMBLE.

The preliminary fall tour dates are as follows:

DATE CITY VENUE

Sat 9/10 Tipton, IN Tipton County Pork Festival (Gone)

Fri 9/16 Corpus Christi, TX Brewster Street Ice House

Sat 9/17 Biloxi, MS IP Casino, Resort & Spa

Thu 10/13 Wilkes-Barre, PA Genetti Hotel Ballroom

Fri 11/4 Newport, KY Newport Syndicate

Wed 11/9 Reading, PA Reverb

Fri 11/11 New Hope, PA Havana New Hope

Sun 11/13 Shirley, MA Bull Run Restaurant

Wed 11/16 New York, NY BB Kings

Thu 11/17 Norfolk, CT Infinity Hall

Fri 11/18 Salisbury, MA Blue Ocean Music Hall

Sat 11/19 Fairfield, CT Stage One

Thu 12/1 Houston, TX Stereo Lie

Fri 12/2 Grapevine, TX Glass Cactus

New site coming soon at:

http://www.johnwaite.com/