It’s been a wild and crazy ride these past four years at Metal Odyssey. With coverage and promotion of many Metal genres, along with Hard Rock, Classic Rock, Punk Rock and Alternative Rock in the mix, the Rockin’ journey has been more than memorable for me. I only hope the following news does not hurt the relationships I’ve built with so many Metal bands and Metal Buddies worldwide. I thank you all from the bottom of my (still) Metal lovin’ heart.
Now it’s time for a change. It’s not that I’ve grown tired of Metal. I live for Metal. I breathe Metal. This changeover is all about my wanting to break into the mainstream and be accepted for a change by “the big guys of the Pop Music world” like Rolling Stone magazine and the only way to do so is to cover and promote: Pop Music. I certainly hope and pray that ALL the loyal followers to Metal Odyssey and ALL my Metal brethren will understand and support what is happening here. Metal Odyssey is now… Pop Odyssey.
My dream has and always will be to one day cover the Grammy Awards at the red carpet, as the mainstream chart-toppers get out of their limousines for an evening of justified awards and champagne on ice. I need to experience this and “Metal Odyssey” will not take me there.
Believe me, this has all taken many weeks of soul searching. Change is a good thing. Without this change, life would become boring for me as a writer and lover of music. And…
Stryper, L to R: Robert Sweet (drums), Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Timothy Gaines (bass, vocals) and Oz Fox (guitar, vocals).
_____________________________________
As written by Michael Sweet and reported on the facebook of Stryper:
We start recording our 8th, full length album on Monday 4/1 and I’d like to start it the right way. I’d like to ask all of you to continue to pray for the band and the process of recording what we hope and pray will be our best and most powerful record to date. God is in control and He could take a band like us, a record like this, and do things that have never been done before. I’ve seen God work first hand and many things have happened over the years with Stryper that are nothing short of miraculous! I pray that this record will have the power, message and energy that all the others have had combined, so much so that it’s undeniable to anyone that hears it.
People ask all the time if our faith is still in tact, if we still believe, if we’re still a Christian band and the answer is a loud n’ clear – YES! More so than ever before.
We’re a little tired, beat up and exhausted from the past 30 years but our hearts desire is to continue spreading Gods love through the gifts, talents and abilities that He has blessed us with. God is leading the way, not any one of us.
God bless you for your undying support, belief and encouragement for all that we have done and all that we do.
This record can be our best record yet and we appreciate your prayers. We love you guys and could not have made it this far without you. Love and Respect to all of you, always!!!
Michael
________________________________________________
* For more info on STRYPER, click on the links below!
BLACK STAR RIDERS, the new band featuring THIN LIZZY members RickyWarwick, Damon Johnson, Scott Gorham and Marco Mendoza together with drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (Alice Cooper / Megadeth), have announced All HellBreaks Loose as the title of their debut album on Nuclear Blast Entertainment, which will be released in the UK on the 27th May 2013.
The artwork features a painting by Gil Elvgren (March 15, 1914 – February 29, 1980), the legendary US painter best known for his work on pin-up girls, advertising and illustration:
The artworks ties directly to the origins of the album title. Ricky Warwick explains “I was watching a documentary about World War II bombers and saw the name painted on the side of one of the aircraft. The name just resonated with me and it seemed to encapsulate the turmoil that we, as a society, are currently experiencing. The past few years have been such a wild ride and now with the release of the album, it sounded like a bad-ass album title that summed up what BLACK STAR RIDERS is all about.”
Bound For Glory, the debut single from the album, saw its exclusive first play on Ken Bruce’s Radio 2 radio show on Thursday 21st March 2013. The song is now available to hear HERE!
The single and album were produced & mixed by the legendary Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Rush). The album will be released as a standard CD and also as a special edition digi-pak featuring a bonus track Right To BeWrong and a “Making of” DVD.
A 24-minute compilation of behind-the-scenes video reports from the band’s studio time in Los Angeles can be viewed below:
Confirmed Festival Appearances For BLACK STAR RIDERS Include:
June 1st Hi Rock Festival – Inzell, Germany
June 2nd Hi Rock Festival – St. Goarshausen, Germany
June 8th Sweden Rock Festival – Solvesborg, Sweden
Nov. 29th Hard Rock Hell – N. Wales, U.K.
Okay. It’s Easter Sunday. Happy Easter to ALL my Metal brethren who do celebrate this grand religious (and rabbit delivering candy) holiday. Above is one of 3 Easter (or bunny related) albums you’ll find here that I and the other 56 staff members of Metal Odyssey 100% suggest for your Rockin’ Easter listening pleasure. Heck, just look at (some of) the Rockin’ legends that are on that album! ‘Nuff said.
Below are Easter (or bunny related) albums that we either suggest, slightly suggest or don’t suggest at all for your Easter audio experience. Agree or disagree, this is just a semi-useless list of Easter and bunny (related) albums that have been compiled just for you. Enjoy and… Metal be thy name.
Bunny Lake. Who is Bunny Lake? Can’t recommend what we don’t know. Whoa.
Bunny Hop Dance Party. Cool. I guess it can be recommended for kids. Maybe.
Patti Smith Group – Easter. Patti Smith is cool. Patti Smith is hands down a Rock legend. Her group is cool too. Only thing is, no one here at the Metal Odyssey headquarters has ever listened to it. Just don’t tell Patti Smith or her group that.
Jive Bunny. The Album. Whatever. I’m sure, based on the way things are done, Jive Bunny will get elected into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame before KISS. Disgusting.
I don’t know who Parry Gripp is and obviously this person has an album or song out called: Easter Bunny In Space. Um, yup.
The Bunny The Bear – If You Don’t Have Anything Nice To Sayis another album that FINALLY can be suggested for your Easter listening experience! Fabulous album artwork! If you’re into Experimental/Electro/Hardcore/Rock then this is a band and album for you. Whoa.
With a little research, it appears that Lovers And Crypts is electro-dance stuff. Obviously, out of the Metal Odyssey realm. Having a title of Bunny Rabbit must mean it’s an Easter song though. Right?
HELLOWEEN – Rabbit Don’t Come Easy = RECOMMEND! RECOMMEND! RECOMMEND! It’s HELLOWEEN and it’s METAL! Metal be thy name!
Teddy Rock. Teddy Rock! Who is Teddy Rock? The name does Rock. Don’t get me wrong, this nifty list just has to end with The Easter Bunny Song. Maybe not. I’m sure toddlers and ABBA fans should dig it. Whoa.
_____________________________________________
* For more info on HELLOWEEN, click on the links below!
Canadian Rock legend Russ Dwarf’s new WIRELESS album has landed in the #1 spot on Bandcamp.com’s best selling rock CDs, only one week after its release. The album celebrates Russ’ thirty plus year musical legacy with a fresh acoustic perspective on his best known songs including ‘Keep The Spirit Alive’, ‘Stand Tall’, and radio staple ‘Doesn’t Matter’.
“I am over the top with the response I have been getting from press, the media and most importantly the fans,” says a very pleased RUSS DWARF and adds, “this is just the start of a number of new releases I will be delivering this year including a great “Lost” Killer Dwarfs album called Start @ One.”
Wireless is available at iTunes stores worldwide as well as Amazon.com or directly from RUSS at: http://russdwarf.bandcamp.com
The track listing for Wireless is:
01. Keep The Spirit Alive
02. Stand Tall (with Glen Drover ex- Megadeth and Testament)
03. I’m Alive
04. Startin’ To Shine
05. Doesn’t Matter
06. Comin’ Through
07. Dirty Weapons
08. Look Around
09. Four Seasons
10. Driftin’ Back (with Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Bumblefoot)
Bandcamp.com hosts over six million tracks and over 800 000 albums from artists spread amongst 183 countries. It’s one of the premiere sites for artists to sell their music directly to fans in this new Do It Yourself era of Rock.
___________________________________________
(Source: Michael Brandvold Marketing)
* For more info on RUSS DWARF, click on the links below!
Check out the concert flyer for the HARD ROCK FESTIVAL in Lima, Peru! This very cool festival will take place on April 25th, 2013! FIREHOUSE is headlining, with GILBY CLARKE and FASTER PUSSYCAT on the bill! Whoa!
DEEP PURPLE – The 19th studio album, NOW What?!, from the legendary and grand Deep Purple, will be released this April 30th in North America, via Eagle Rock Entertainment.
NOW What?! Features 11 Songs:
1. A Simple Song
2. Weirdistan
3. Out Of Hand
4. Hell To Pay
5. Body Line
6. Above And Beyond
7. Blood From A Stone
8. Uncommon Man
9. Après Vous
10. All The Time In The World
11. Vincent Price
_______________________________
NOW What?! will also be released in a limited quantity with a bonus track and a bonus DVD featuring Deep Purple in conversation plus additional audio material. This edition will be available in a Digipak with a cut out front cover.
NOW What?! will on top be released as double vinyl LP containing 11 tracks plus bonus track, as in the limited edition CD.
JOE SATRIANI – The 14th studio album, Unstoppable Momentum, from Legendary Rock/Heavy Rock guitarist Joe Satriani will be released on May 7th, via Epic Records. Check out the sensational cover art above! Metal be thy name!
_______________________________
Unstoppable Momentum – Musicians Featured:
Vinnie Colauita (Sting, Jeff Beck) on drums
Chris Chaney (Janes Addiction) on bass
Mike Keneally (Dethklok) on keyboards
_______________________________
Track listing for Unstoppable Momentum:
01. UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTUM
02. CAN’T GO BACK
03. LIES AND TRUTHS
04. THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND
05. I’LL PUT A STONE ON YOUR CAIRN
06. A DOOR INTO SUMMER
07. SHINE ON AMERICAN DREAMER
08. JUMPIN’ IN
09. JUMPIN’ OUT
10. THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
11. A CELEBRATION
________________________________________________
JOE SATRIANI – UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTUM– Joe’s new studio album will hit the streets May 7th; yet you can get your presale bundle now! http://www.satriani.com/presale/
________________________________________________
* For more info on JOE SATRIANI, click on the links below!
Richmond, VA – Much to the excitement of Hard Rock fans around the globe, Firehouse legend Bill Leverty has released a fantastic new CD of classic rock covers – guaranteed to thrill even the hardest of rockers! Covers include songs from bands and artists such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Little Feat, The Ohio Players, Three Dog Night, Eric Clapton, Edgar Winter, The Guess Who, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan and Rare Earth.
Says Bill, “These songs were all very personal. In choosing these songs to cover, each had to be a song that I loved before I started playing guitar, that I still love today, a song that hadn’t been covered to death in the genre and a song that I thought I could put my own spin on, while still staying true to the original recordings. That narrowed it down to these ten songs.”
Hailing from Richmond, VA, Bill Leverty and Firehouse first gained recognition in 1991 when they won the ‘Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist’ from the American Music Awards. Signed to Epic Records, Firehouse would go on to release several hit songs throughout the ’90s such as “Don’t Treat Me Bad”, “Love Of A Lifetime”, “All She Wrote” and “Reach The Sky”, to name a few. The band sold over 2 million copies of their debut album ‘Firehouse’, and sold close to a million copies of their second album ‘Hold Your Fire’ in the US alone.
________________________
For their 3rd release the band secured the production chores of famed producer Ron Nevison (Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, Damn Yankees, UFO, etc). ‘Firehouse 3’ went on to be another big seller, especially in Asia. Their next release ‘Good Acoustics’, the first of several albums produced by Bill Leverty, won them a Gold record in several countries. Firehouse would go on to release 5 more well-received critically acclaimed albums as well as successful world tours throughout the 2000’s. The band to this day continues to tour playing their back catalog of hits to cheering fans everywhere and has sold over 6 million units worldwide!
In the mid-2000’s Bill Leverty released several musically diverse solo albums ‘Wanderlust’ (2004), ‘Southern Exposure’ (2007) and ‘Deep South’ (2009). Which leads us to ‘Drive’, Bill’s new covers CD.
_____________________________________
Tracks include:
“Fortunate Son” – CCR
“Spanish Moon” – Little Feat
“Free Ride” – Edgar Winter
“One” – Three Dog Night
“I Shot The Sheriff” – Eric Clapton
“Fire” – The Ohio Players
“No Time” – The Guess Who
“Jesus Children Of America” – Stevie Wonder
“Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” – Steely Dan
“I Just Want To Celebrate” – Rare Earth
_____________________________________
In a recent interview with Jeb Wright of Classic Rock Revisited, Bill explains the exciting rock guitar sound he has created on the album’s recordings, “It all starts with my C.R. Alsip guitar. C.R. Alsip guitars are made right outside of Wichita, KS. Mine is a neck-through-body guitar. It’s hard rock maple with mahogany sides. This wood combination, along with some other very unique design elements, makes the guitar very solid and it has a very favorable tone. I used the bridge pickups, which are Billy Gibbon’s Pearly Gates pickups by Seymour Duncan, on this one. I plugged the guitar straight into my Splawn Quick Rod 100 for a stereo pair of rhythm tracks and into my Fractal Audio Axe FX II for another stereo pair.”
In closing Bill has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “I really want to thank all the people who have supported my career and made it possible for me to be able to work full-time in the music business for over 25 years. It’s been a great ride so far. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep this train rolling for another 50 years. Hope to see you down the road!!”
Check out the recent interview Bill did with Guitar World magazine:
STRYPER–Second Coming, the new studio album of re-recorded Stryper classics, along with 2 new songs, will be released on March 26th, via Frontiers Records. Check out the EPK (Official) below, as vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet discusses the new album! Metal be thy name!
_________________________________________________
Michael Sweet – Lead Vocals / Guitar
Robert Sweet – Drums
Oz Fox – Guitar / Vocals
Timothy Gaines – Bass/Vocals
_________________________________________________
* For more info on STRYPER, click on the links below!
SLAUGHTER REVOLUTION – STONE’S METAL PICK OF THE DAY!
__________________________________
SLAUGHTER REVOLUTION – This fourth studio album from Slaughter, Revolution, may not bestow that same 90’s Arena-style Heavy Rock which skyrocketed this band up the charts; still this is a Slaughter album that deserves to be revisited for its Psychedelic backdrop meets late 90’s Hard Rock. Truthfully, the album cover is much more Psychedelic than the songs! Back when Post-Grunge was heating up the airwaves and Heavy Metal was not getting anymore love from the media, for me, Slaughter honestly released a very memorable album with Revolution back in 1997.
The vocals of Mark Slaughter are toned down here and there on Revolution, yet Tongue n’ Groove is a song that Mark Slaughter nails with excitement! Believe me, Mark Slaughter has his classic moments, vocally, on this album. There’s something about the ambiance of it all, some special Slaughter potion was added here that makes this album still Rock like crazy for me. The album opener American Piemakes me feel like it’s 1970; only in a good way. This American Pie song has all the retro/Psychedelic flavor one could ask for and it seriously sucks me right in.
__________________________________
The (legendary) Joe Walsh gem from 1973, Rocky Mountain Way, is covered here by Slaughter and it sounds exceptionally groovy. Metal as my witness, Slaughter made this song their own… still, the original can never be topped. From beginning to end, Revolution is worthy of listening to in its entirety. I truly don’t want to skip a song on Revolution, each time I listen to it. A sad fact about Revolution is it’s the last time guitarist Tim Kelly would shine on a Slaughter studio album. Tim Kelly had passed away in an automobile accident the following year of 1998.
I’ve seen Revolution for sale on Amazon.com as an import CD, along with the MP3 album. If you’re looking to get your ears into a 90’s Hard Rock album without all the bells and whistles featuring the flavor-of-the-month from that era, then Revolution from Slaughter just might do the Rockin’ trick. By the way, my media version of Revolution is on cassette and it sounds grand while I’m driving my 2000 Ford Taurus. Metal be thy name.
PRETTY MAIDS – The 13th studio album, Motherland, from Danish Heavy Rock legends Pretty Maids will be released on March 26th, via Frontiers Records. This highly anticipated new album from Pretty Maids coincides with an exciting year of many live festival dates the band will be performing at.
Listen to and watch the Motherland EPK below! Metal be thy name!
BLACK STAR RIDERS, the new band featuring THIN LIZZY members Ricky Warwick, Damon Johnson, Scott Gorham and Marco Mendoza together with drummer Jimmy DeGrasso (Alice Cooper / Megadeth), have announced ‘All Hell BreaksLoose’ as the title of their debut album on Nuclear Blast Entertainment, which will be released Worldwide on the following dates:
May 21st – Japan
May 22nd – Sweden
May 24th – Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Norway
May 27th – U.K., France, BeNeLux, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Greece
May 28th – U.S., Canada, Italy, South America
________________________________
About the origin of the album title, BLACK STAR RIDERS frontman Ricky Warwick states:
“I was watching a documentary about World War II bombers and saw the name painted on the side of one of the aircraft. The name just resonated with me and it seem to encapsulate the turmoil that we, as a society, are currently experiencing. The past few years have been such a wild ride and now with the release of the album, it sounded like a bad-ass album title that summed up what BLACK STAR RIDERS is all about.”
Produced & mixed by the legendary Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Rush), the track listing for All Hell Breaks Loose is:
01. All Hell Breaks Loose
02. Bound For Glory
03. Kingdom Of The Lost
04. Bloodshot
05. Kissin’ The Ground
06. Hey Judas
07. Hoodoo Voodoo
08. Valley Of The Stones
09. Someday Salvation
10. Before The War
11. Blues Ain’t So Bad
________________________________
The album will be released as a standard CD and also as a special edition digi-pak featuring a bonus track “Got A Right To Be Wrong” and a “Making of” DVD.
A 24-minute compilation of behind-the-scenes video reports from the band’s studio time in Los Angeles can be viewed on YouTube: http://youtu.be/JEx9gD8RPz8
Confirmed festival appearances for BLACK STAR RIDERS include:
June 1st Hi Rock Festival – Inzell, Germany
June 2nd Hi Rock Festival – St. Goarshausen, Germany
June 8th Sweden Rock Festival – Solvesborg, Sweden
Left to right: Michael Lardie (keys & guitar), Audie Desbrow (drums), Mark Kendall (guitar), Terry Ilous (lead vocals) and Scott Snyder (bass).
_____________________________________
“I genuinely love my fans.” – Terry Ilous
Terry Ilous is no longer the new singer of the legendary Great White. Terry Ilous is the singer of Great White. Make no mistake about it, the electricity is swirling in the air within the Great White camp and Terry Ilous is a credible reason why. One listen to Great White’s 12th studio album Elation and their newly released live gem 30 Years – Live From The SunsetStripand the energy and good-times vibes are contagious, all with a little boost from Terry Ilous.
With previous work with an envious list of who’s who within the Rock, Metal and Pop recording industries, plus previous live lead vocal duties under his belt for Great White, along with being an original member and vocalist for XYZ, Terry Ilous couldn’t have been a better choice for this new era of Great White. Terry Ilous answered the Rockin’ call. Big time.
With an intensely busy schedule, Terry Ilous was very considerate to answer a few questions for me. This music and fan driven artist reflects on his invitation to join Great White, making money, playing live, his greatest moments as a musician and yes… the fans. Here’s what Terry Ilous had to say:
Stone: Terry, how did it all unfold as your becoming the lead vocalist for Great White?
Terry: I was asked to join the band in 2010 to replace Jack (Russell) who was sick. I received a phone call from Mark on Wednesday asking if could perform with the band the next day. I said, ” Yes, of course!” The fans were very supportive. It wasn’t easy, to be honest, as those were big shoes to fill. Jack has recorded some amazing songs. I respect his talent.
The band was very helpful. I developed a strong friendship with them and it helped me tremendously. We performed over 80 shows. When Jack decided not come back in December 2011, I was asked to permanently join the band. Please remember I was initially asked to temporarily join the band, to fill-in during Jack’s absence.
It’s never easy to replace a lead singer. It doesn’t matter how good the singer is! Fans are used to a sound they love. Introducing someone new is very challenging. That’s why when I sing the classic Great White hits, I respect the core structure of the melody.
Stone: Of course, money is essential to live. However, what is more important, selling multi-millions of albums or playing the music that you love in concert for your fans?
Terry: I think both are important. An artist has to have both a business mind and a creative mind. How can I perform for my fans if I have to work two jobs to support my family? And, if I only have a business mind, how can I be creative and genuine for my fans? The music I would create would be calculated and not heart-felt. The fans can feel that. I spend a lot of time with them, I answer my own Facebook questions, not always timely as I receive over 200 emails per day, plus I manage my own Twitter account. I genuinely love my fans.
Stone: Media and fan response to “Elation” and your hit single “Hard To Say Goodbye” has been phenomenal. What were your expectations with the release of “Elation”? I look upon it all as a tremendous fresh and new start for Great White.
Terry: I didn’t know what to expect to be honest with you. All I could do as a singer/songwriter is to be honest with myself. The band sat down, started writing and writing non-stop, comparing ideas. Michael would come up with something then Mark and then myself, not necessarily in that order and we would jam on them and if one idea would please all of us, we would work on it. Audie and Scotty would also be at the studio to comment and help us as well.
At times, it was very exhilarating and at times scary, as we only had 2 weeks to write the songs. We went into the studio with 2 songs. We had to be finished writing, recording, mixing, and mastering within 28 days! It was a lot of pressure! I believe in sincerity and honesty, I know, I’m old-fashioned. So I gave it my very best. Yes, I was nervous, I knew some would welcome me and some would not. I know that replacing a singer is never easy. The fans are used to a sound and it’s sometimes difficult for some to accept a new singer but it’s been done many times before. Dio replaced Ozzy and Coverdale replaced Gillan. Talk about iconic singers being replaced!
We did what a real band does and that’s write music because we love music! They love their fans! Before anything else they are just a bunch of guys getting together to share their same passion for music, not money. Previously, you had asked me about money and the fans. In this case it’s all for the love of music!
Listen to and watch “Hard To Say Goodbye” below!
Stone: Terry, could you pinpoint the greatest moment you’ve experienced as a musician, regardless of how small or large the moment was?
Terry: Coming to America with $500 dollars in my pocket! Getting the deal with XYZ, opening a sold out show for Ted Nugent in Detroit, performing on stage with an acoustic guitar and hearing eighteen thousand fans sing the song a cappella with me, and of course joining the Great White! That’s for sure!
________________________________________________
* For more info on GREAT WHITE, click on the links below!
RUSS DWARF, the two-time Canadian Juno Award nominee and founding member the KillerDwarfs, is pleased to announce the release of his latest album, Wireless, on March 18th. Having stripped back ten of his most recognizable hits from his thirty plus year career, Russ has delivered an album high on raw emotion and inner beauty. Guns N’ Roses guitarist, Bumblefoot, lends a hand with a blistering solo on the album’s closing track, Driftin’ Back.
To support the new album, Russ has launch the all new website, www.RussDwarf.com where fans can pre-order the album and be kept up-to-date on all his latest news. The album is available worldwide as of March 18th via iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and all other distribution channels.
______________________________________
The track listing for Wireless is:
1. Keep The Spirit Alive
2. Stand Tall
3. I’m Alive
4. Startin’ To Shine
5. Doesn’t Matter
6. Comin’ Through
7. Dirty Weapons
8. Look Around
9. Four Seasons
10. Driftin’ Back
Russ is currently on tour supporting the new release and is hard at work on a documentary film about his life tentatively called Tall Tales. The movie with an accompanying book of the same title is set to be released in early 2014.
London, UK – Muli-instrumentalist and former drummer with the longest running KISS tribute act Dressed To Kill, Ian Danter has released his debut hard rock CD ‘Prove You Wrong’ on CherryRed Records. Ian Danter, a well-respected musician in his own right,can proficiently play several instruments, which he displays on his new CD. Ian plays drums, guitars, bass, keyboards and sings background vocals and lead on the three tracks. Lee Small, lead vocalist from the UK hard rock outfit SHY, lends his powerful Dio-esque vocals to 12 of the 15 tracks on the CD. Upon first listening to ‘Prove You Wrong’ classic rock artists like Rainbow and Dio immediately spring to mind. Ian explains, “I loved the music I grew up on because it made me stop and listen. It also made me appreciate good melody and how to construct a song. That is what ‘Prove You Wrong’ set out to do – to recreate the era of the song, the riff, the FEEL rather than following a trend.”
Some say sports and Rock and Roll don’t mix.. yet in the case of Ian Danter, this notion has been proven wrong. As well as his fame in the music industry, Ian is also known for his highly successful and fanatical fan-supported Saturday evening show ‘Football First’ on talkSPORT Radio, as well as presenting both local and national radio programmes in a wide variety of formats for well over a decade. Some may find it peculiar that a renowned sportscaster with an immense fan following would be able to deliver a hard rocking, well written and produced album, yet the CD title says it all. Ian explains, “As for the title, ‘Prove You Wrong’…well that is all about my desire to show that sports broadcasting and rock music are not mutually exclusive career choices! You can be credible as both, despite conventional wisdom, and I want to ‘prove’ that with this album.”
Because of Ian’s fame and work schedule as sports presenter, recording his new CD was not something that happened overnight. Says Ian, “I’ve been meaning to record my original stuff for over a decade now. The spark to actually get me into the studio was a little unfortunate – a couple of local musicians and friends passed away recently, including SHY guitarist/songwriter Steve Harris. At Steve’s funeral, I started talking to a producer friend and the subject came around to my stuff… Steve had been able to complete recording SHY’s best album just before his passing, and it suddenly occurred to me that I had to record my songs as soon as I could…you never know what the future might bring, after all.”
Ian’s musical influences can be heard loud and clear on his new CD, in particular his earliest musical loves Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy and Rainbow. Ian recalls, “My older brothers owned ‘Machine Head’ by Deep Purple, ‘Live & Dangerous’ by Thin Lizzy and ‘Rising’ by Rainbow. Rainbow and Ronnie Dio’s voice were a huge influence on me. ‘Rising’ especially really captivated me…the riffs, the vocals, the sheer scale of it all just blew me away. Then one day at my cousin’s place I saw a couple of KISS albums in his collection and asked to borrow one – that was ‘Alive!’ and it was a total life-changer and had a profound effect on me. Before long I was buying everything I could find in their back catalogue – which wasn’t an easy task in 1970’s England! I’ve remained a staunch foot soldier in the KISS Army ever since.” Ian played drums with the longest running KISS tribute band Dressed To Kill for 5 years. Other musical influences include Dio, Rush, Foo Fighters, Wildhearts, Cheap Trick, Jellyfish, Pantera, Journey and Aerosmith, to name a few.
In closing, Ian has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “I hope you get as much out of listening to these songs as I did putting them together. It was a real labor of love… and hard work should always pay off!”
Ian Danter’s CD release party will be held on Friday March 22, 2013 at Birmingham City FC’s Jasper Carrott Suite.
Our fans are the are the most loyal fans in the world. We are totally grateful and feel very blessed! – Mark Kendall
______________________________________
The story of Great White has many twists and turns; rising to a hard-earned status of world-wide popularity in the 80’s, with millions of albums sold, resulting in an instantly recognizable and branded band name, a 1990 Grammy nomination, touring across the globe with the industries biggest name bands, tragedy, a media intensified change in lead vocalists, lawsuits and then… Elation. With the arrival of Terry Ilous as the new frontman for Great White, a whole new era of Rock ‘N’ Roll spirit was ushered in as well for this legendary band.
Mark Kendall, Great White’s founding member, guitarist and songwriter, has recently took the time from his packed schedule to be interviewed by me; for which I extend a tremendous thank you to this talented and legendary gentleman of Rock. Mark elaborates on what the current vibes within Great White are like, the band’s newest studio and live albums, the changeover with lead vocalists and of course the fans. Here is what Mark Kendall had to say:
______________________________________
Stone: What was (until now) the untold “big break” that Great White encountered during the early days of the band?
Mark: One of our first big breaks was meeting our Manager Alan Niven and making our first 5 song EP. This was such a huge moment for us. Michael Wagener was brought out from Germany to Engineer and Produce it and we already knew of him because of his work with Accept. Then when airplay followed on the 2 biggest Radio Stations in Los Angeles on KMET and KLOS we had really started to get excited.
Stone: After all these years, can Great White declare a feeling of Elation, just as your new album title reads?
Mark: Absolutely! We are really enjoying ourselves at the moment and the energy within the band is very positive!
Stone: During the exit period of Jack Russell was there ever a time when you thought Great White was “on the ropes”?
Mark: I never felt the band was on the ropes, but I felt Jack was. It’s very difficult to watch a person self destruct and you can’t do anything about it. I have never put that much energy and attention into trying to get a person sober and healthy in my entire life. It just wears on you and it’s a very difficult thing when someone just won’t accept help. His addiction unfortunately is winning and it has literally destroyed his body. He has this huge extended stomach, skinny little legs and just looks so sick, it’s very sad. I asked people who have 30 plus years sobriety is there anything I am missing or is there something else I can be doing for him. I was told that if an addict is not ready to surrender to his addiction there is nothing anyone can do. I work with a lot of struggling addicts and alcoholics on a daily basis, as well as I am involved with the Grammy Foundation through MusiCares to give back to the program and help people. What I have found is the ones who do well and are successful are the ones who want it more than anything! One can only hope he finds help before it’s too late..He remains in our prayers…
Stone: Is there a new-found feeling of brotherhood within Great White, now that Terry (Ilous) has become your new lead vocalist?
Mark: Everything is just easy and fun. We are having fun again without any drama. That alone is worth its weight in gold! Terry leaves it on stage every night and always brings everything he has to our live shows. He is a pleasure to be around and always has a positive vibe. He makes you feel good when you’re around him. The brotherhood is totally intact and our creative juices are flowing like crazy! I can’t wait to do the next record.
GREAT WHITE:
Mark Kendall – Guitar Michael Lardie – Keyboards & Guitar Scott Snyder – Bass Audie Desbrow – Drums Terry Ilous – Vocals
______________________________________
Stone: Mark, how did it all unfold as Terry becoming the lead vocalist for Great White?
Mark: He filled in when Jack was on his path of self-destruction. Jack had to pull out of a tour with more than 30 dates on the books. To save face with the promoters we asked Terry to fill in. Terry had already filled in for one show. We actually had Jani Lane fill in for a few shows as well. When Jack reached the point of no return and announced he was moving on, Terry was a no brainer. We loved the man. Terry is such a good singer and a total pro. He is very dedicated and wants to work very hard all the time and is always very motivated. He vibrates at a frequency that’s a little higher than your average person!
Stone: Of course money is essential to live, however, what is more important, selling multi-millions of albums or playing the music that you love, live for your fans?
Mark: Playing live is everything to us!! Selling music has nothing to do with anything as far as just pure enjoyment. The great thing if you are selling millions of records though means your music is reaching a lot of people. That probably means more people will be at the shows and that’s very cool. Playing live is my favorite thing about making music though. Nothing else even comes close!
Stone: I look upon your newly released “30 Years – Live From The Sunset Strip” (Frontiers Records) as not only a celebration of Great White; I look upon it as a band that has persevered and showcases one of America’s greatest live Hard Rock Bands of yesterday and today. Did you guys have to be prodded for this live anniversary album or was it always in the cards?
Mark: No we didn’t. This is a tremendous milestone and we really wanted to celebrate it. We felt what a great way to do it by bringing it back to where it all started for us on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood California! It was such a great night. All our friends, fans and family came down to the show. We brought the video cameras out and recorded the show.
Stone: Media and fan response to “Elation” and your hit single “Hard To Say Goodbye” has been phenomenal. What were your expectations with the release of “Elation”? I look upon it all as a tremendous fresh and new start for Great White.
Mark: The feedback from everyone has been absolutely amazing!I think it’s a very great first effort. It was a lot of fun to make and we are all happy. I think the album is consistent and for writing, recording, mixing and mastering the album in 35 days we can’t complain. I really look forward to doing the next one. I am ready to make a statement and the next album I feel is going to be our strongest ever. I am setting my goals high and I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t believe it. This is a new chapter in the Great White book and we are enjoying riding the wave. Our fans are the are the most loyal fans in the world. We are totally grateful and feel very blessed!
Listen to and watch “Hard To Say Goodbye” below!
Stone: Frontiers Records has continuously signed the crème de la crème of 80’s Rock and Hard Rock bands. Were you approached by Frontiers or did you approach them?
Mark: We approached them and a few others. I think it’s great that there are labels that help get rock and roll music to the people. It’s a different world now than it was back in the day. We no longer have all the mediums like MTV and Radio, so it’s harder to get our music to the people. I just want people to hear our music. Everything is internet now so you really need a good team of people who know how to network.We have a great staff who are doing a wonderful job!
Stone: Mark, could you pinpoint the greatest moment you’ve experienced as a musician, regardless of how small or large the moment was?
Mark: For me it was having a musician father that encouraged me. I had some natural ability and there was always music in my house. I think having a Mother and Father that encouraged just about anything I did musically was a great experience and I don’t think anything else could really compare to that.
WHITESNAKE – YEAR OF THE SNAKE – Here’s some incredible news updates and tour info on Hard Rock legends Whitesnake for 2013! And it’s all… Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day! Metal be thy name!
WHITESNAKE – MADE IN JAPAN:
Deluxe 2CD/DVD Edition/ DVD Edition (1 DISC) Blu-Ray Edition (1 DISC)
RELEASE DATES:
JP Release: Wednesday 3rd April 2013
UK Release: Monday 22nd April 2013
US Release: Tuesday 23rd April 2013
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce Whitesnake’s highly anticipated live concert Made InJapan – released on Deluxe 2CD/DVD Edition, Blu-ray and DVD in the UK on Monday April 22nd (North American release is Tuesday April 23rd).
Multi-platinum Rock band Whitesnake co-headlined the “Loud Park” festival on October 15th 2011 at Saitama Super Arena in Japan during their “Forevermore World Tour.”
23 June – San Sebastian, Spain (Donosti Arena)
24 June – Barcelona, Spain (Palau Olimpic)
26 June – Madrid, Spain (Vistalegre)
28 June – La Coruna, Spain (Coliseum)
Is playing, learning and hanging with members of DEF LEPPARD an item on your bucket list?
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
_________________________________________________
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.