“Emergency” is the haunting opening track of MSG’s upcoming new studio album, Universal, set for release on May 27th via Atomic Fire Records.
The album’s first single comes along with an official music video, produced by Justin Griffiths. Comments MICHAEL SCHENKER, “‘Emergency’ is quite a complicated song with different rhythms but catchy at the same time. It’s fun to play and to listen to. Enjoy and keep on rocking.”
View MSG’s “Emergency” video at THIS LOCATION or below:
Universal will be available as a CD digipak (including two bonus tracks), Earbook (CD including two bonus tracks), on vinyl, and digitally. Find preordering options at THIS LOCATION.
Few rock guitarists on this planet have had such a lasting influence on so many renowned musicians as MICHAEL SCHENKER. With his outstandingly fluid style, inexhaustible wealth of ideas, and instinctive feel for hooks and melodies, MICHAEL SCHENKER is a living legend who, despite his longstanding and distinguished history, still impresses with his unflagging energy and drive. The blond stringsman from Sarstedt, Germany (near Hanover) began his international career in the early 1970s with the Scorpions, achieved worldwide fame after joining British rock group U.F.O., and then seamlessly continued his exceptional global success story under his own name, as well as with acts such as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (otherwise known as MSG), Temple Of Rock, and MICHAEL SCHENKER Fest. SCHENKER and his career, which has spanned more than five decades, are absolute exceptions in the otherwise short-lived music industry.
To celebrate his latest MSG album, Universal, scheduled for release on May 27th through Atomic Fire Records, as well as his 50th anniversary of recording, MSG will embark upon an extended US tour this Fall. The trek will run from September 27th through November 6th. See all confirmed dates below.
MSG US Tour 2022 w/ Eric Martin, Images Of Eden: 9/27/2022 The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA 9/28/2022 Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA 9/29/2022 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA 10/01/2022 Saban Theater – Los Angeles, CA 10/02/2022 Count’s Vamp’d – Las Vegas, NV 10/04/2022 Oriental Theater – Denver, CO 10/06/2022 Pop’s – Sauget, IL 10/07/2022 Des Plaines Theater – Des Plaines, IL 10/08/2022 Arcada Theater – St. Charles, IL 10/09/2022 Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI 10/11/2022 The Art Theater – Hobart, IN 10/12/2022 Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN 10/14/2022 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 10/15/2022 Agora Theater – Cleveland, OH 10/16/2022 Harpo’s – Detroit, MI 10/17/2022 Jergels – Pittsburgh, PA 10/19/2022 The Vault – New Bedford, MA * MSG only 10/20/2022 Flying Monkey – Plymouth, NH 10/21/2022 Cabot Theater – Beverly, MA 10/22/2022 Sony Hall – New York, NY 10/23/2022 Newton Theater – Newton, NJ 10/25/2022 Keswick Theater – Glenside, PA 10/26/2022 Tally Ho – Leesburg, VA 10/27/2022 Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA
w/ Damon Johnson & The Get Ready, Images Of Eden: 10/29/2022 Bogarts – Cincinnati, OH 10/30/2022 Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN w/ W.A.S.P., Armored Saint: 11/02/2022 White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX 11/03/2022 Concrete Street Pavilion – Corpus Christi TX 11/04/2022 Eaton Arena – San Antonio, TX 11/05/2022 Amplified Live – Dallas, TX 11/06/2022 Tulsa Theater – Tulsa, OK
MSG – USTour2022Lineup: Michael Schenker – lead guitar Ronnie Romero – vocals Bodo Schopf – drums Steve Mann – keyboards, guitars BarendCourbois – bass
MSG’s Universal will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs, and inspiring solos. As fans have come to expect, SCHENKER has once again enlisted a number of prestigious fellow musicians for the recording of his new studio production, among them, as main vocalist, Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Vandenberg), who will also be MSG’s frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (Helloween) and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), keyboard player Steve Mann (Lionheart), drummers Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner), Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow), and Bodo Schopf (Eloy), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (Black Sabbath), Barry Sparks (Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken) and BarendCourbois (Blind Guardian, Zakk Wylde), with Tony Carey as a very special guest.
For over 30 years, J.B.O. are the specialists for vociferous escapism at the highest stage. Gold albums, frenetically acclaimed live appearances and top ten chart positions pave their way. Their new album, PlanetPink, makes no exception. Especially in a world we are currently living in on planet earth, with pandemics, insane dictators, ecological disasters, surging prices for beer. Mankind’s only chance is escapism, so let’s enter the orbital glider and head for the stars when PlanetPink, the upcoming album by iconic J.B.O., starts to make its rounds on April 15, 2022 via the metal powerhouse mothership AFM Records!
After previously-released singles, “Metal Was My First Love”, the album title track and just recently, “Nicht Doof” (“Not Stupid“), today the charismatic German-based collective released a new, official music video for “Einhorn” (in engl: “unicorn”).
Escape to Planet Pink & watch J.B.O.‘s new music video for “Einhorn” HERE:
For obvious reasons, Planet Pink was created under very special circumstances. Usually the band bosses Vito C. and Hannes “G.Laber” Holzmann sit together on a couch and exchange ideas. This time they jammed through the phone. It worked out, because Vito and Hannes know each other better than identical twins.
Planet Pink was recorded with producer Christoph Beyerlein at Sound and Groove studio, Nuremberg. Beyerlein is part of the J.B.O. family since 1994 and the fifth band member in the studio. Supervised by the observing ears of Beyerlein, the rest of the crew sorted and refined a lot of demo recordings for only one reason: in the end there will be just one planet glow in the brassiest colours. “It’s Planet Pink”!
Platinum selling legendary LA rockers ANGELES have just released their new full-length album “Running like an Outlaw“, available now worldwide via MVD Entertainment and SONY Music and is now available at Walmart, FYE, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all Digital Streaming retailers. And the band just hit #42 on the Billboard Radio Charts.
The band’s latest video ‘Nothing But Love’ from the album hit #42 on the Billboard Radio Charts. In case you missed the video, watch it here: https://youtu.be/si4LtV17bWY
“Running like an Outlaw“ track-listing and the song credits: 1. All Night – Dale Lytle/ Mason Oliver 2. Nothing But Love – Dale Lytle/ Mason Oliver 3. Running Like An Outlaw – Dale Lytle/ Mason Oliver 4. Creatures Of The Night – Dale Lytle/ Mason Oliver 5. Lords Of Thunder – Dale Lytle/ Mason Oliver 6. Witch Hunter – Dale Lytle/ Allan Curtis 7. Magic Touch – Dale Lytle/ Louis Collins 8. She’s On Fire – Dale Lytle/ John Aquino
“Running like an Outlaw“ album produced by Dale Lytle.
ANGELES are: DALELYTLE – Founder and Lead Guitar MASON OLIVER – Vocals STEVENSTIERS – Bass Guitar and backing vocals DANNY BASULTO – Drums
ANGELES’ next 2022 shows: May 21st at Sharkys June 11th at Whiskey Dick’ s
This year’s Monsters of Rock Cruise was captained by none other than Alice Cooper. Due to the size, the amount of guests on the cruise and the size of the room in which Alice would be performing, the cruise decided to split guests into two groups. The red group would see Alice perform on the 12th while the blue group would see him on the 13th. The red group’s show started at 7:30 PM and the crowd packed in quickly.
The stage was hidden by a beautiful curtain that would rise revealing a scaled down, yet still highly decorated, version of Alice’s normal stage set up. The crowd roared as the intro of “Feed My Frankenstein” began. Members of the band walked on stage and began to play. Right after the first strum all sound in the house vanished. Fans began pointing at their ears trying to let the band know we could not here them. The band finished the song and they all exited the stage, Alice leaving with noticeable anger.
Ryan Roxie informed a group of fans, who attended an unannounced Rock N’ Roll Parking Lot (on a boat), what had happened that night. According to Roxie, Alice was the first band to use the curtain on this cruise. As the curtain lifted it pulled the main cable to the PA system out completely. The crew worked hard and fast to figure out the issue and sound was restored within five minutes. Roxie also let fans know that because everyone on stage was wearing a monitor and could hear what they were playing, they did not realize what was going on. It was not until the second verse of the song that they noticed something was wrong. Roxie said they all looked out trying to find the devoted fans and did not understand why everyone was not singing along.
Once the technical difficulty was fixed the show continued without a single problem. Even though the stage and set up were smaller than normal, that did not stop Alice from pulling out all the stops. Props were used as normal including crutches, knives, and canes. During “Billion Dollar Babies” a giant baby paraded on stage meeting Alice’s minions who brought out a giant confetti cannon that shot gold, silver, and green pieces of confetti, as well as fake money with Alice’s face on it into the audience.
The fun continued all through the show as Alice and his gang of ghouls wowed the audience with their fine-tuned sound and silly stage antics. During “Teenage Frankenstein” Alice chased his band around the stage with arms stretched out in frontof him and knees locked like Frankenstein. It did not stop there. As Alice and his band walked back on stage for the famous encore of “School’s Out” one extra musician joined them. Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat came out to sing and enjoy the pleasure of popping many confetti filled balloons over the crowd with one of Alice’s knives.
Alice has been performing for over 50 years and at the ripe age of 74, is still performing with as much heart and soul as he did when he first began. His voice has not changed and everything you have heard about Alice Cooper you get times 10.
There are few rock guitarists on this planet who’ve had such a lasting influence on so many renowned musicians as MICHAEL SCHENKER. With his outstandingly fluid style, inexhaustible wealth of ideas, and instinctive feel for hooks and melodies, MICHAEL SCHENKER is a living legend who, despite his longstanding and distinguished history, still impresses with his unflagging energy and drive.
The blond stringsman from Sarstedt, Germany began his international career in the early 1970s with the Scorpions, achieved worldwide fame after joining British rock group U.F.O., and then seamlessly continued his exceptional global success story under his own name, as well as with acts such as MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (otherwise known as MSG), Temple Of Rock, and MICHAEL SCHENKER Fest. SCHENKER and his career, which has spanned more than five decades, are absolute exceptions in the otherwise short-lived music industry.
Now his latest MSG album is about to be unleashed, scheduled for release on Atomic Fire Records on May 27th under the programmatic moniker of Universal. His latest offering will feature all the strengths of this exceptional musician: first-rate songs with anthemic melodies, catchy guitar riffs, and inspiring solos.
As we have come to expect from him, SCHENKER has once again enlisted a number of prestigious fellow musicians for the recording of his new studio production, among them, as main vocalist, Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Vandenberg), who will also be MSG’s frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (Helloween), and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), keyboard player Steve Mann (Lionheart), drummers Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner), Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow), and Bodo Schopf (Eloy), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (Black Sabbath), Barry Sparks (Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken), and BarendCourbois (Blind Guardian, Zakk Wylde), with Tony Carey as a very special guest. But more about that later.
First, let’s talk about the basic parameters of the new recording: Like its predecessor Immortal (2021) and the MICHAELSCHENKERFest albums Resurrection (2018) and Revelation (2019), Universal was produced by MICHAEL SCHENKER and Michael Voss (Lessmann/Voss, Mad Max) at Voss’s Kidroom Studio, which has become something of a creative home-away-from-home for SCHENKER. “Michael Voss is happy to wait until I have worked out an idea and takes the time to really get to know the song, simultaneously developing ideas for the vocals,” SCHENKER describes of the fruitful collaboration which has one cog intermesh with the other. “Then we work out the drums, bass, and some keyboard parts together. He always has plenty of great ideas up his sleeve.” Compositional highlights abound on Universal, from the haunting opener “Emergency” and the subsequent “Under Attack” with its casually driving groove to “The Universe,” featuring an atmospheric duet by Ronnie Romero and Gary Barden, “Wrecking Ball,” performed as brilliantly as ever by Ralf Scheepers, and “London Calling” with its homage to the British capital’s musical spirit.
The rock anthem “A King Has Gone” and its intro “Calling Baal” both have a special significance: The track, sung by Helloween frontman Michael Kiske, is a tribute to the immortal Ronnie James Dio, in particular to his performance on the 1976 hard rock classic RainbowRising. For this reason, SCHENKER has brought together an original Rainbow rhythm section consisting of Bobby Rondinelli and Bob Daisley, additionally enlisting keyboardist Tony Carey, who also played on Rainbow Rising, for a terrific Moog synth intro – a direct reference to the iconic intro of the 1976 album opener “Tarot Woman.” The impressive result “Calling Baal / A King Has Gone” is already considered to be one of the most important and successful songs in SCHENKER’s career to date, both musically and lyrically.
In line with all these highlights, the spectacular MSG album cover designed by ZsofiaDankova (Powerwolf, among others) features SCHENKER in a futuristic spaceship, floating high up in orbit. The artwork is based on the guitarist’s own visions, “I had the original idea for the album cover a few years ago, but only now does it seem to fit perfectly. So, I sent some older sketches to my label Atomic Fire Records and based on this the final artwork and album title were created.”
No doubt about it: The title, artwork, and new songs suit MSG as perfectly as his characteristic Flying V suits MICHAEL SCHENKER! Stand by for more from MSG in the weeks to come.
Having been haunting stages all over the world for thirty-three years, goth ‘n’ roll pioneers THE69EYES seem to be a truly immortal part of the dark rock/metal scene. Widely known as the Helsinki Vampires, the quintet gained several platinum albums with BlessedBe and ParisKills and not only reached the #1 spots on the single and album charts in their home country of Finland, but also plunged the world into a sinful cosmos of love, death, and melancholy, outliving any other band emerging from the goth hype of the early 2000s.
By developing their sound further into sleaze rock on Devils (2004) and Angels (2007) and not shying away from pitch black Elvis allusions in singer Jyrki69’s dark voice and unique onstage dance moves, the band has established a worldwide following. Over the course of over three decades, THE69EYES has toured relentlessly throughout Europe, America, Asia, and Australia and released twelve full-length studio albums.
Today, THE69EYES announces their signing to Atomic Fire Records (worldwide excluding Finland). Get your vampire teeth sharpened as news songs and tours are in the horizon!
Singer Jyrki69 comments on this unholy new alliance: “We are back in a full swing! Our paths here in Helsinki crossed with our old A&R guy Gabi Hakanen who was with us when we released our highest selling albums Devils and Angels, so as he heard our new demos, we sort of just continued like right after last time. So, he got us in his label’s studio right away at Vallila Music House (Hanoi Rocks’ Sami Yaffa, Ville Valo & Agents). Simultaneously, we also hooked up with the brand new Atomic Fire Records label which has our classic former Nuclear Blast dream team there, so this ‘new’ and fresh beginning for THE69EYES sounds like a dream, really! New big-time rocking music comes out very soon!”
CEO and A&R MarkusWosgien adds, “We are more than happy to welcome our beloved Helsinki Vampires, the most unique and by far coolest gothic band in hell and on earth. We worked together for more than ten years and their four latest studio albums, and will continue now, reunited under the Atomic Fire banner. This feels like coming home to all of us and we are honored to continue our long term relationship.”
Nearly three years since first setting foot in the studio, Austin, Texas stoner rocker frontrunners GREENBEARD will unveil their long-awaited new full-length, Variant, on April 1st via Sailor Records in the US and Kozmik Artifactz in Europe.
The serendipitously named album was subject to a long incubation period, due largely to Covid-related challenges, as well as lineup changes and industry-wide delays in vinyl production. Nevertheless, Variant emerges as a valiant tribute to new directions, creative experimentation, and engagement with the wider musical community. The album represents a departure in sound for the group, which has traditionally been situated squarely at the intersection of desert and stoner rock. Songs incorporate significant soul and R&B influences, with crooning vocal interludes and surprise instrumentation, while still tapping into their heavy stoner roots.
“Wanting to blend stoner rock and soul, we entered into the recording process with a collaborative mindset, leaving room for the process to unfold in the studio,” remarks GREENBEARD frontman, Chance Parker.
In advance of the record’s release, the band unveils, “Exodus,” the first in a trilogy of singles leading up to Variant’s drop date. Notes Parker, “We chose ‘Exodus’ as the first single because it works as a Trojan horse for all the weird stuff we are about to unload on this album.”
View GREENBEARD’s “Exodus” at THIS LOCATION or below:
Having begun production in 2018, GREENBEARD set forth wanting to depart from the stereotypical derivatives of stoner rock and chose to take elements of soul music with them into the studio. They broughtin layers of strings, slide guitar, horns, and sonorous melodies to realize this vision.
Suddenly Covid-19 struck. The band was unable to play live shows, and their support tour with Texas legends …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead was cancelled. Their former bassist departed, another was hired, then left to look for work in Hawaii. However, in the midst of all these changes, PatSeals (Flyleaf, Kimberly Dunn, Belle & The Dragon) joined the band, bringing signature energy to their stage performances. The band then brought on Joe Samson as second guitarist, rounding out their lineup. The new album represents an openness to change and a melding of minds.
Stand by for Variant artwork, preorders, and further info to be announced in the coming weeks.
RIVERS OF NIHIL will return to the road for a Spring headlining tour with support from Fallujah, Alluvial, and Warforged! The US leg of the Terrestria World Tour begins May 6th in Brooklyn, New York and runs through June 5th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The journey includes a special show supporting Hypocrisy in Austin, Texas as well as appearances by TheZenithPassage and BurialInTheSky on select dates. Tickets are on sale now! See all confirmed dates below.
RIVERSOFNIHIL w/ Fallujah, Alluvial, Warforged: 5/06/2022 Market Hotel – Brooklyn, NY 5/07/2022 Jewel – Manchester, NH 5/08/2022 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA 5/10/2022 Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD 5/11/2022 Blind Tiger – Greensboro, NC 5/12/2022 The Masquerade (Hell) – Atlanta, GA 5/13/2022 The End – Nashville, TN 5/14/2022 The Haven – Orlando, FL 5/15/2022 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL 5/17/2022 Southport Hall – New Orleans, LA 5/18/2022 Scout Bar – Houston, TX 5/19/2022 Amplified – Dallas, TX 5/20/2022 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX w/ Hypocrisy 5/21/2022 Rockhouse Bar – El Paso, TX 5/22/2022 Nile Theater – Phoenix, AZ 5/24/2022 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA w/ The Zenith Passage 5/25/2022 1720 – Los Angeles, CA w/ The Zenith Passage 5/26/2022 Full Circle Brewery – Fresno, CA w/ The Zenith Passage 5/27/2022 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA w/ The Zenith Passage 5/28/2022 Star Theater – Portland, OR 5/29/2022 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 5/31/2022 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT 6/01/2022 Bluebird – Denver, CO w/ Burial In The Sky 6/02/2022 BLVD – Kansas City. MO w/ Burial In The Sky 6/03/2022 Reggies – Chicago, IL w/ Burial In The Sky 6/04/2022 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI w/ Burial In The Sky 6/05/2022 Crafthouse – Pittsburgh, PA w/ Burial In The Sky
RIVERS OF NIHIL will be touring in support of their newest full-length, TheWork, released last Fall on Metal Blade Records. RIVERS OF NIHIL has never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018’s WhereOwlsKnowMyName, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with TheWork, they’ve forged further into new territory, delivering an album that’s as cerebral as it is visceral, and that covers a staggering sonic range, definitively placing them in a category of their own.
Inarguably a dense, heavy collection, TheWork is far too dynamic to be considered a solely metal record and there is a genuine warmth that shows through, particularly tracks like “Wait” and the gorgeous “Maybe One Day.” Additionally, the band has incorporated far more clean vocals alongside the screaming that tears through many of the record’s heavier tracks. Courtesy of their friend Zach Strouse, saxophone once again adds extra layers of atmosphere to the collection, utilizing baritone, soprano, and alto saxes to great effect.
Heavy psychedelic rockers DESERTCLOUDS are pleased to announce that they will release their album Planexit via MandroneRecords on March 25 2022.
The band comments:
“This new album is a journey throughout the inner side of the human being, represented by a nameless man who is trying to escape the surrounding environment that overwhelms him.”
Drawing inspiration from all genres and influences from the likes of SYD BARRETT to LED ZEPPELIN to NIRVANA and TOOL. Lyrically they explore the darker side of the human condition and draw on interests such as the Italian artistic movement Decadentism, along with existentialism. Opening the album is the dynamic title track “Planexit”, taking a humorous twist on Brexit delivers a theatrical and genre mixing experience. Classic, psychedelic rock styles fuse with overdriven guitars and progressive elements to create a distinctive soundscape. From the high-energy, fast-pace of “Mamarse” to the serene, atmospheric “Deceivers”, the new album delves into dystopian themes aptly explored through compelling composition.
Venture on a thrilling voyage with Planexit. Melodicriffs and hard hitting rhythms fuel the powerful impact of the music. DESERTCLOUDS‘ experimental sound produces colourful musicality enhanced with a heavy intensity.
Metalheads hungry for majesty, melody and massive riffing will find much to love on this strong four song collection, which touches on elements of thrash, prog, doom and traditional metal throughout its ambitious twenty-seven-minute running time.
FlightAmongtheTombs is a collection of four epic and powerful songs that will call to mind the historical high drama of Iron Maiden, the desperate doom of Candlemass, and the musical and intellectual depth of bands like Queensryche and Fates Warning. A twin guitar attack, thunderous drums, doom-laden bass and the soaring Dickinsonian vocals of Paul Tiseo characterize their sound.
This brief but engaging collection will impress metal fans with its high level of musicianship, profound lyrical depth, and passionate performances. In short, FlightAmongtheTombs is an epic, powerful, and passionate heavy metal release that reveals an up-and-coming band quickly coming into their powers.
Raised during the 80’s debauchery on the Sunset Strip and still going strong in 2022, JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE recently released their third single titled ‘Gonna Take You Higher’ on all digital platforms. ‘Gonna Take You Higher’ comes from the upcoming albumHELL, CA.which is available to pre-order/add/save now and out on March 11, 2022, through Golden Robot Records.
‘Gonna Take You Higher’ was preceded by two absolutely cracking singles ‘Wanna Be Somebody’ and ‘Soul Mama’ which both show Jizzy in fine form and gives a strong indication as to what to expect from Hell, CA.
HELL, CA. is a collection of 10 hard-hitting rock anthems, all with that distinctive Love/Hate style, with Jizzy Pearl’s trademark vocals taking the songs up and beyond and the heavy guitars doing the rest.
JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE has been a staple on the rock scene since their first record BLACK OUT IN THE RED ROOM earned them “Best Record of the Year 1990” from Kerrang! and Metal Hammer magazines.
LOVE/HATE has been a fixture on the Hollywood Sunset Strip since they released their debut album on Columbia Records BLACKOUT IN THE REDROOM in 1990. BLACKOUT IN THE RED ROOM received much critical acclaim and was awarded “Best Record of the Year” from both Kerrang! and Metal Hammer magazines. The original LOVE/HATE released five records in the 1990’s and toured with such bands as Skid Row, Dio, Ozzy Osbourne & AC/DC.
Since that time, singer Jizzy Pearl has kept the band alive with his own version, JIZZY PEARL’S LOVE/HATE, and at the same time played, recorded and toured with such platinum artists as RATT, L.A. Guns, Steven Adler and currently Quiet Riot. Jizzy Pearl has released five solo records as well, including 2018’s Frontiers record ALL YOU NEED IS SOUL.
Exciting news! We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of a new studio album w/ Frontiers Music. We are looking forward to introducing our newest collection of hard rock music across the globe. A very special thank you to Serafino, Mario & the entire Frontiers Family!
From Frontiers Music srl Twitter timeline:
Autograph has signed to Frontiers and is currently working on a new album! Autograph features vocalist Simon Daniels, guitarist Jimi Bell, bassist Randy Rand, and drummer Marc Wieland. Stay tuned for more news as we have it!
We’re thrilled drummer extraordinaire Brian Tichy has returned to the Daisies fold.
“Well, what a nice way to start off 2022. I’m excited to get behind the drum kit and do some powerful, groovy rocking with my good friends Doug Aldrich, Glenn Hughes, and David Lowy in The Dead Daisies! Looking forward to seeing you all out on tour this year!”- Brian Tichy
Can’t wait to get out and play some showstogether!
Bruce Dickinson, the lead singer of the highly successful heavy metal band Iron Maiden, has taken to the road once again, but not in his usual way. Dickinson brought his spoken word tour to North America. From his days in boarding school and his time in Samson to joining Iron Maiden and his battle with cancer, Dickinson had more than enough stories to share with devoted fans.
The phrase “Spoken Word Tour” seriously undermines what actually goes on at one of these shows. From the second Dickinson walked out on stage he was bursting with energy. They would have been better off advertising this as Bruce Dickinson’s One Man Show. Dickinson was greeted by thunderous applause and a standing ovation as he entered the concert hall. He wasted no time in making the crowd laugh. He began his show where every good story starts…birth. To be more specific, how he did not want to be born, which he refers to as his first act against authority.
Dickinson quickly moved up the time line to his time in Oundle, an English public school, which to Americans is better known as a private school. Here Dickinson had his second brush with authority and was kicked out for peeing in the headmaster’s dinner, but not before falling in love with music. Believe it or not he did not always want to be a singer, but instead he wanted to sit behind the drum kit. Dickinson continued telling the story of his first band where he played the bongos. It was here however that he treated the audience to their first taste of his a-cappella singing. He belted out a quick rendition of the chorus to Let It Be by the Beatles, which happed to be the song that made him realize “maybe I should be a singer”.
He then went on to talking about his time in the band Samson. He brought the audience to tears describing the hysterically funny adventures he went on with the band; including his purchasing of a life size plastic goose for no reason other than he wanted to. Dickinson’s transition from stories of Samson to Iron Maiden was seamless. Fans roared with cheers as pictures of Iron Maiden flashed onto the screen. Those cheers became even louder as Dickinson began to talk about the ever so famous Rock in Rio.
While Dickinson did his best to keep things light hearted and funny there is no escaping the seriousness that is cancer. He explained what it was like for him to get chemo therapy and radiation. In the end he still had to make the audience laugh by making fun of his own beard, which he grew during his cancer treatment, and then how he lost pieces of it at the most inconvenient times. As Dickinson left the stage for intermission, they played TheWritingontheWall Music video on the big screen for fans to enjoy.
After intermission came the question and answer portion of the night. Before the show, fans were able to write a question to Dickinson and have the opportunity to have him answer it on stage. He brought a nice stack of them out on stage and began to answer different things about flying, accidents on stage with Iron Maiden, and other personal yet appropriate topics. If he did not want to answer a question he just threw it behind him. For the very last question he was asked to sing a bit of the song TearsoftheDragon. As he finished his last note he thanked the audience and left the stage once again being met with thunderous applause.
It is one thing reading about Dickinson’s show and seeing little videos from it, but it is a whole other world being there and experiencing it in person. You can feel the passion that Dickinson has for everything he does and he expressed it well with silly voices, funny faces, and one or two self deprecating jokes which makes him that much more relatable.
HOOKERS & BLOW, the now legendary project formed by long time Guns N’ Roses keyboardist Dizzy Reed and Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossihave announced a handful of March tour dates to celebrate the recent success of their debut covers album released last August via Golden Robot Records.
These shows will be HOOKERS & BLOW‘s first live performances since the release of their highly anticipated covers album. After teasing their fan base for nearly 2 decades the band finally released their self-titled covers album digitally, on CD as well as limited edition Vinyl last August via Golden Robot Records. Since the release, the band has had 2 tracks on the album chart internationally, with the initial pressing of the limited vinyl selling out almost immediately.
In addition, the album was picked as one of 2021’s Top 50 Hard Rock/Metal releases by Audio Ink Radio, with HUSTLER Magazine naming them “the greatest cover band of all time”. Along with Reed and Grossi, HOOKERS & BLOW current lineup includes Johnny Kelly (Danzig, Type O Negative), Mike Duda (W.A.S.P.), and Nadja Reed.
Supporting Hookers & Blow on each date will be DEAD FERVOR.
2022 Dates are as follows: 3/03/22 – HOOKERS & BLOW – The Tiki Bar – Costa Mesa, CA 3/04/22- HOOKERS & BLOW – The Whisky A Go Go – Hollywood, CA 3/05/22 – HOOKERS & BLOW – Fremont Country Club – Las Vegas, NV 3/06/22 – HOOKERS & BLOW – Lake Havasu, AZ 3/11/22 – HOOKERS & BLOW – The Roadhouse – Idaho Falls, ID 3/12/22 – HOOKERS & BLOW – Salt Lake City, UT
WILDSTREET had a huge 2021 and are set to follow suit in 2022. They released their stunning new album WildstreetIII via Golden Robot Records. The band spent most of 2021 on tour in the USA which included Rockfest WI, but they remarkably also toured in Europe performing at Swiss Rock Cruise in Switzerland, France and Belgium.
They are set to release 2 new singles on February 15th: One Tattoo’ and ‘Born to Be (RLK)’. Both tracks were originally released in 2014 under the name RAVE LA KILL and both will be released with accompanying lyric videos.
‘One Tattoo’ is an electronic love song which is slick and modern. On ‘Born To Be (RLK)’ the song structure is identical to the version on Wildstreet III. This version has a more modern and electronic vibe, with all the arena hooks one would expect from WILDSTREET. Both singles were mixed by Kyle Kelso and mastered by Howie Weinberg.
Watch the Wildstreet III album version of ‘Born to Be’ HERE
About Wildstreet: After WILDSTREET reportedly broke up in 2013, Eric Jayk and co-founder Jimmie Marlowe teamed up with New Jersey guitarist/vocalist Felix Skiver & using the pseudonym RAVE LA KILL. The project released two singles in 2014, ‘Born to Be’ & ‘One Tattoo.’‘Born to Be’ was later re-recorded and released as part of Wildstreet III, released in 2021. The album has 1.8 million streams on Spotify. They also released a cover of THE 69 EYES classic ‘Mrs.Sleazy.’ They have been added to editorial playlists by Apple Music and Spotify.
In 2022, WILDSTREET has festival dates confirmed in the USA, Mexico, Colombia, the UK and Europe. They will also begin work on a full-length follow up album III.
The New Jersey-based power trio are preparing to unleash their new offering “Rinky Dink City”/ “Slow Cookin'”. Initially forming over a love of lo-fi aesthetics, early 1980s hardcore, classic psychedelia, B movies, heavy metal, and outsider art, PYREFYRE strive to experiment with each release.
The band comments: On “Rinky Dink City”: “This song is about those little cities all over America. They might still have pay phones or arcade machines. Maybe not. Maybe the apartment won’t shut the heat off. Maybe you can’t find good takeout..”
On “Slow Cookin’: “PYRE FYRE have historically eaten a lot of fast food, but that doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a good old fashioned home cooked meal.”
Sludgy overdriven guitars drive the energetic rhythms across the tracks. With humorous lyrics and chaotic genre mixing, the new release from the whimsical bunch is jam-packed with intensity and horseplay. Recorded in Morristown, NJ at Heavy Air Studios, “Rinky Dink City”/ “Slow Cookin'” features amazing background vocals by AMBRIOSIA GAINOUS and a guitar solo by Dustin Bartee of ETHEREAL SEA.
Line-up: Mike Montemarano on drums/vocals Dan Kirwan on guitar AndrewStanish on bass
Italian melodic metal masters STRANGER VISION have recently joined Eagles Nest Production management and have entered the studio to record their sophomore album.
The follow-up to the debut“Poetica”, released in March 2021 via the German label Pride & Joy Music, is being recorded at the renowned Domination Studio in San Marino (LABYRINTH, T/L RHAPSODY, MICHAEL ROMEO). Once again the sound will be shaped by producer Simone Mularoni, who will be taking care of mixing and mastering.
No titles or other album details such as guests have been leaked yet, but the record is going to be a concept based on a poem by famous American poet T.S. Eliot.
Watch for more info on the new album release, new tour updates, and more news on other upcoming STRANGER VISION activities to be posted shortly.
Acclaimed King’s X guitarist, songwriter, and co-vocalist Ty Tabor has today announced his latest solo album, Shades, out on March 4th via RatPakRecords. The upcoming 11th solo album features 10 brand new songs with three bonus tracks and is available via CD, vinyl and digital download and follows the successful release of 2018’s Alien Beans.
“When it comes to what I write for solo material, I don’t really think about bands or anything like that. These new songs explore different sides of life and death,” Ty explains. “I was dealing with the recent loss of my dad when some of this was written. There are lighter moments mixed in to keep it from being too focused on loss or sadness. I also resurrected a couple of old ideas that weren’t ready until now. I just write music that makes me happy, and I’ve ended up with an album I really love!”
From the opening chords of “Come Home,” it is clear that Ty Tabor’s trademark guitar tone lays the bedrock for his latest solo release Shades. Ty tackles a wide array of emotions and topics with layered harmonies, hooky pop sensibilities, and the total riffage that remains a crucial ingredient to the King’s X sound. Songs like “What You’re Thinking,” “One Drop of Water,” and “Doesn’t Linger” show Ty’s penchant for crafting tunes with tremendous melodies, while songs like “Shallow,” and “Your Fantasy,” trend heavy and exemplify why Ty is one of the most influential guitarists of the last three decades!
TRACK LISTING:
01 Come Home 02 Shallow 03 Your Fantasy 04 What You’re Thinking 05 Sister Genocide 06 Best Day in a While 07 Insane 08 One Drop of Water 09 Doesn’t Linger 10 Leaves Falling Down 11 Ashes – (Bonus Track) [CD & Digital Download only] 12 Political Nonsense – (Bonus Track) [CD & Digital Download only] 13 Ashes (Acoustic) – (Bonus Track) [CD & Digital Download only]
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