CORNERSTONE are completing work on their new studio album, titled ‘Two Tales Of One Tomorrow’. The album will be released in Europe February 23 via Massacre Records.

Rhino will release DOKKEN’s new album in the US.

Interesting interview with XTC’s ANDY PARTRIDGE –
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/1000034151

The new compilation from Black Sabbath entitled "The Dio Years" will be out Feb.2007. It will contain songs from the albums with Ronnie James Dio - "Heaven and Hell", "Mob rules" and "Dehumanizer" plus 2 brand new songs recorded by Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice.

THE BEATLES back catalogue should soon be available on ITunes.

Bonfire has a new five-disc box set called THE EARLY DAYS OF BONFIRE, in a "strictly limited" run of 500 copies. Three discs are the band's first albums, originally released under the moniker Cacumen: s/t, BAD WIDOW, and DOWN TO HELL. Disc #4 is AFTER THE FIRE from guitarist Hans Ziller's solo project EZ Livin', and disc #5 is the German-language GLAUB DRAN from Lessmann-Ziller, Ziller's project with vocalist Claus Lessmann.

CRYSTAL BALL have signed to MTM for their 6th studio album due next year.

TENACIOUS D make no.8 in the US album charts this week. STAIND debut at no.41 with their Best Of, whilst the RockStar Supernova album debuts at #101, with a mere 16,679 units sold.

PRESS RELEASES

Finally we have got the update that you have all been waiting for. It's taken a while, I know, but as they say “better late than never”.
First off the following three CD's are officially available for purchase - Daniel MacMaster, Sweet Teaze and Dirty Rhythm.
Next up, the news only gets better with two more A-grade signings. We have been lucky enough to secure Canada's finest two hard rock bands Slash Puppet and Ana Black and we are all so excited that these great bands have joined the Suncity family in the pursuit of keeping the flame alight.
Starting first with Slash Puppet.
Most people know Slash Puppet for their stunning 1993 self-titled release but what a lot of people don't know is that they had an awesome debut album they released in 1989 as a cassette only issue. Suncity Records will be presenting their classic debut with all the typical Suncity perks.
After well over a year trying to hunt down the masters, with many leads from many people, we have finally got lucky big time!! These classic recordings will be presented in their full glory and believe me, they sound better than ever. Better news yet, this CD will be released early 2007.
Make sure to check out lead vocalist, Mif's awesome My Space site at - www.myspace.com/mifmaster.
Check out the track Evil Woman off the upcoming Self Titled album for a great idea of how good these guys really are.

The other signing we have for you is wait for it….the signing of my favorite Canadian band ever in the excellent Hollywood legends, Ana Black.
Just when you thought the hard rock heights of Motley Crue's Dr. Feelgood would never be matched again, well every hard rock fan will be overwhelmed with how good this band are. To me, they are Canada's answer to Motley.
Ana Black had a massive following in the late 80's, early 90's not only in their hometown of Kingston, Ottawa, Canada but they were one of the biggest hits on the world famous Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California. So much so they attracted interest from Sony/Epic Records. On the back of the major international success of Motley Crue's Dr. Feelgood, Sony thought these guys may just be the next big thing and therefore they were signed. Gearing up to push the album Who Killed Hollywood? with all the money and backing Sony could throw at them, it was only 21 days before the dream was over.
Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Sprit hit the charts and the rest is history. The music scene was changed forever. Sony then did what every other record label did in the change over period and dropped Ana Black like a ton of bricks.
When I got in contact with Dizzy from Ana Black, he told me that they had a bunch of un-released material, probably around 50-60 tracks. I than had him send them to me thinking I would pick through them to get out 1 or 2 CD's worth of material but there wasn't a dud track to be heard. I then said to him “stuff it, lets release them all”.
At this stage we just don't know exactly how many tracks are in the vault but we are thinking from 4-6 Ana Black CD's!! Now that's exciting.
I have never been more excited about the signing a band in Suncity Records's brief history, I say that with the true belief that Ana Black is the epitome of what the late 80's, early 90's sleaze/hard rock was and is all about.
We have flown the original masters for Ana Black's debut album, She's A Tease from Canada over to Los Angeles to have the entire album re-mixed and e-mastered. She's A Tease sounds 100 times better than the original LP released in 1987.
This is pure sleazed up attitude driven hard rock executed to perfection. These guys truly should have been huge!! Ana Black's first album with Suncity Records will be the Who Killed Hollywood album that Sony had ready to go, this should be in every hard rock collector's collection right next to Dr. Feelgood, Black In Black, Slippery When Wet, Hysteria, etc…
Dizzy and Dave are still heavily locked in the music industry, owning their very own studio out of Los Angeles and currently ripping it up in their new modern rock band, Nero Zero. This time Dizzy has put down the sticks and picked up the guitar and mic. I strongly recommend everyone who likes to dabble in hard rock with a modern twist to check out their My Space site at - www.myspace.com/nerozeromusic.

We will be announcing the signings of another 2 stunning bands in a couple of weeks. The next 2 bands to be announced have a more AOR flavor to them, this should keep everybody happy going into the New Year.
www.suncityrecords.com


From Billboard.Com –
The Eagles Of Death Metal did not fly for very long as a Guns N' Roses support act -- one show, to be precise.
The group began what was to be a 15-date run with GNR on Friday (Nov. 24) in Cleveland. EODM was booed by the crowd, and GNR leader Axl Rose didn't make things better, referring to the group during his own band's set as "the pigeons of sh*t metal." EODM left the tour immediately and was replaced at the next night's show in Auburn Hills, Mich., by the local band Novadriver.
In a statement, EODM frontman Jesse Hughes confirmed that the group had chosen to leave the tour, quipping, "At first the audience refused to welcome us to the jungle, but by the time we took our final bow, it had become paradise city. Although Axl tried to November rain on our parade, no sweet child o' mine can derail the EODM night train. We say live and let die."
Nevertheless, it was surely a disappointment to Hughes, who told Billboard.com just a few days before the tour that the prospect of sharing a stage with GNR was "such a rush ... it bewilders me to even think about it." Hughes said that he got the news about the invitation while EODM were touring with Joan Jett. "I actually giggled probably for 13, 14 minutes," Hughes said.
EODM has not announced any additional tour plans, and GNR has not announced a new regular opener for the vacated spot.


Frontiers Records have announced the release of Danny Vaughn's's new album "Traveller" on February 16th 2007
"Traveller is the best album of my career", proudly states Danny Vaughn. And that's quite a challenge if you consider the high calibre of his musical output over the years.
Coming out of nowhere, he became the lead singer of WAYSTED in 1986 and released the band's most highly acclaimed album, "Save Your Prayers". He learned his trade by opening up for IRON MAIDEN in stadiums and arenas around the world. From there, Danny formed the now legendary group, TYKETTO, in 1990 and released "Don't Come Easy", still regarded today as a benchmark in the Melodic Rock genre. Moving from strength to "Strength In Numbers" was a powerful follow up, but even with 150,000 albums sold, 3 videos and countless tours under his belt, the disappointing changes in the music industry in the mid 90's soon led Danny to, unhappily, leave the band.
In 1999 Danny reunited with former TYKETTO companions: Michael Clayton Arbeeny and Jaimie Scott, to release two very well received albums, "Soldiers And Sailors On Riverside" and "Fearless", under the band name VAUGHN. These were Danny's songs, done in his own style and he was writing better than ever.
In 2003, Danny was approached by Frontiers Records with the idea of releasing a project-record more in the classic Melodic Rock vein, using songs from other writers as well as some of his own. Produced by Fabrizio Grossi, the album FROM THE INSIDE was heralded as a major triumph and a return to the style for which Danny is best known.
So, with all of that, and more to his credit, how could he be so confident in the new album, "Traveller"?
Best to hear it from the man himself: "After several meetings with Frontiers, we all agreed that my next album had to be not only a classic melodic sound, but also a step forward, and it had to be very special. By this time, I had done a couple of years of touring with an all English band, which featured a twin guitar attack, and much heavier sound than I had been known for before. This was well received by audiences all over the UK and Europe, so I had the task of working on songs that reflected that new, live attitude. The band, Tony Marshall (CONTAGIOUS) and Pat Heath (BRAVE NEW WORLD) on guitars, Steve McKenna (TEN) on bass and Lee Morris (PARADISE LOST) on drums, took up the challenge of not only recreating our on stage fire, but recording an album with a very layered and full production. So many of these songs allowed me, as singer, writer and producer to try a lot of ideas that I always had in mind and the result is a monster! While a ll the elements of my usual song writing style are there, there is much less of a reliance on acoustic instruments than on previous albums. Yes, there are still a couple of acoustic songs (it wouldn't be me without them) but, the number of fast paced rockers is much higher than I have done before. I can't wait to play these songs live as they are born to be performed on stage! Clocking in at an hour long, it has a little bit of everything that has come before, and some brand new ideas all in one package. It takes you from place to place, from mood to mood, seamlessly, and we are all extremely excited to have our fans hear it."
"Traveller" is set for release on February 16th 2007 on Frontiers Records with a Japanese release to happen on King Records.
The final track listing for 'Traveller' is as follows:
Miracle Days; Badlands Rain; Traveller; Restless Blood; That's What She Says; The Touch of Your Hand; Lifted; The Warrior's Way; The Measure of a Man; Think of Me In The Fall; Death of The Tiger and Better By Far.

GIG NEWS

JUDIE TZUKE
FEBRUARY
8 - Croydon Ashcroft Theatre
10 - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
11 - Sheffield City Hall
12 - Leeds City Varieties Theatre
15 - Hove Centre
17 - Basingstoke The Anvil
18 - Salford Lowry
19 - Camberley Theatre
21 - Burnley Mechanics
22 - Gateshead The Sage
23 - Milton Keynes Stable
24 - Wimborne Tivoli
26 - Bristol St. George's Hall
27 - London Queen Elizabeth Hall
28 - Worcester Huntingdon Hall

ART GARFUNKEL
9TH MARCH - NEWCASTLE CITY HALL - NEWCASTLE
12TH MARCH - CITY HALL - SHEFFIELD
14TH MARCH - PAVILION THEATRE - BOURNEMOUTH
15TH MARCH - COLSTON HALL - BRISTOL
18TH MARCH - LONDON PALLADIUM – LONDON

THE ANSWER
Mar 3rd - Manchester Academy 2
Mar 6th - Newcastle University Of Northumbria
Mar 9th - London Bloomsbury Ballroom
March 10th - Birmingham Carling Academy 2

REVIEWS

PHENOMENA ‘The Complete Works’ Escape Music (2006 triple CD set) www.escape-music.com

Hold the Best Of 2006 lists this three CD set is my re-release pick of 2006! All three Phenomena albums are on here (although not this year’s ‘Pyscho Fantasy’ released by Escape as well) along with bonus tracks and three new songs of the forthcoming fourth Phenomena album – a real delight all round. The first two albums are genuine five star classics and with the vocal talents of Glenn Hughes, John Wetton, Max Bacon (GTR) and the late, great Ray Gillan you can’t go wrong. The musicians are not to be sniffed at either with Cozy Powell, Neil Murray, Don Airey, Brian May, Ric Sanders (Fairport Convention) and Mel Galley to name but a few featured across the three albums.
Of the debut album ‘Still The Night’ and ‘Kiss Of Fire’ really stand out, whilst ‘Double Six, 55, 44’ and the glorious ‘Did It All For Love’ are highlights on the second album ‘Dream Runner’. Bonus tracks include original rehearsals on the first album and a demo version of ‘Did It All For Love’ which bizarrely sounds really good in its stripped down format. The third album never quite lives up to the first two although with Brian May and Scott Gorham on guitars and Keith Murrell (Airrace/Mama’s Boys) on vocals it still has some fine moments like ‘What About Love’ and ‘Banzai’.
The three new songs of the fourth album all sound promising with the gentle refrains of ‘Karma’ the pick of the bunch. This album will be one to look out for next year that’s for sure.
A truly essential purchase for fans of any of the musicians and vocalists featured on here and a fine example of how to bring together so many varied talents to create timeless, melodic hard rock music. Now all we need are some live shows…

*****
Jason Ritchie

JORN LANDE ‘The Gathering’ Frontiers (2007) www.frontiers.it

A sixteen song ‘Best Of’ from Jorn Lande’s earlier solo albums, which includes some tracks being re-recorded and others re-mixed for a more up to date sound. This is a good a place as any to start if you are new to Lande’s solo output (or the covers album released at the same time as this album). You get the crunching riffs on ‘Bridges Will Burn’ through to the more mellower ‘House Of Cards’. You just can’t fault the vocal performances on ‘Tungar Knivur’ and ‘Christine’, whilst ‘Big’ has a streak of humour running through the lyrics. Occasionally you can guess the style/sound of a couple of songs although there is enough variety on here to keep you listening.
Perfect for new fans to start with a and existing fans will want this for the revamped songs and their sound.

****
Jason Ritchie

10 Q's with MICHAEL LANDAU

Guitarist Michael Landau has appeared on countless albums including Chicago, Richard Marx, Steve Perry & many more. He has a new double live CD just out On Provogue Records which may surprise some as it’s blues rock based. Over to Michael Landau…

1. What are you currently up to? (E.g. touring/studio, etc.)

I'm working on a record of original songs that my wife has written. She calls it "Hazey Jane"...
It's Folk/Stoney Country music. Charley Drayton played drums, Greg Leisz played pedal steel, its going to be a very cool record.

2. Your new live double CD is a blues based one that may surprise some people who know you for your session work. Is this the sort of music you like to play most and how did the band come together?

I've had band's and solo projects starting from the early '90's... This new live record shouldn't surprise people if they have heard my previous records, my music has always been very different than most of the studio work that I do. I grew up on The Beatles, Hendrix etc... these are I guess you could say my "true roots"

3. How has your guitar playing developed/evolved down the years? Any new guitarists out there that catch your eye?

I guess I would say I'm more comfortable improvising over altered chords and changes... I think I play more melodic than before... My new guitar heros are Kirk Fletcher (The Fabulous Thunderbirds) & Derek Trucks... Beautiful players!

4. You've played with some of the AOR legends such as Chicago, Richard Marx, Steve Perry etc Which have been your most memorable and why?

Playing on the Chicago records was a highlight for me. I was really into them when I was a teenager, they were also one of the first concerts I ever saw.

5. Which song(s) do you enjoy performing most live and why?

"The Mighty SB" for the openness of it... "Why U Lie" for getting the aggression out... "Rascal Balls" for the beauty.

6. You have played on hundreds of albums down the years (on the All Music Guide you have eight pages of credits!). Were most a case of just playing what you were given or were you allowed greater input into the music?

I've been called mostly to give sonic & musical input. I'm pretty good at coming up with "hook" parts that you can grab ahold of and remember.

7. If you could create a fantasy band line-up who would be in it and why?

I like playing with a diverse group of people, I like the different interpretation of my songs.
I've been very lucky to play with some of the most interesting musicians in the world...
Maybe the fantasy line-up would be Jaco on bass, Tony Williams on drums, Larry Young on organ,
Billie Holiday on vocals... I would be to nervous to play with them though so I would have to just enjoy them from the audience.

8. How did you get your first break into the music business? What piece of advice would you pass onto budding musicians?

Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro & Danny Kortchmar helped me to get started in the session world.
Steve & Jeff recommended me for a Boz Scaggs Tour when I was 19, it sort of snowballed from there.
My advice to a budding musician would be to develop your own original music and sound.
Please yourself musically.

9. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Having friends over, cookin' up some food, listening to music, playing around the house, getting into trouble...

10. Message to your fans...

I really appreciate you for listening,
Thank you.

RIP – DJ ALAN ‘Fluff’ FREEMAN, one of the greats in rock radio. Not ‘arf!

Muse, David Gilmour, Iron Maiden, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul Simon, Dave Matthews, Dr John and The Goo Goo Dolls all appear in a new 12-part TV series called Live From Abbey Road. Premiering on More4 on January 12 at 11pm, and repeated on Channel 4 each following Monday, the 60-minute programmes feature three artists per show, combining exclusive live performance with interviews.

Rose Tattoo release a new album called Once In A Lifetime through Armageddon Music in February. It includes a track called Black Eyed Bruiser that was penned by AC/DC’s original production team, Vanda and Young. Vocalist Angry Anderson is urging men to have prostate checks after the death of slide guitarist Pete Wells in March.

Singer/songwriter Russ Ballard has a new studio album available via his website: www.russ-ballard.com
Book Of Love features the following tracks: It's My Life (Stand In My Shoes) . Crazy World . In The Dark . When You Sleep . Love Works In Strange Ways . Like Father Like Son . Is There Anybody Out There . I'm Just Not Made For This World . Just Like Me . On To The Next . This Is Not A Love Song . The Road Has No Turning . In My Darkest Hour . Book Of Love . In To The Light . Wonderful World

The reissue of the Electric Light Orchestra’s catalogue continues in February with a 30th anniversary limited edition hardback cover version of Out Of The Blue among its next batch. Jeff Lynne’s pre-ELO band The Move will also be the subject of a boxed set in 2007.

Riff's Bar in Swindon on Saturday 27th January 2007 sees Mick Pointer teaming up with Nick Barrett (Pendragon) on guitar, Ian Salmon (Arena) on bass, Mike Varty (Credo & Landmarq) on keys and John Dexter Jones (Jump) on vocals, performing the whole of Marillion's debut album Script For A Jester's Tear.

The new Man studio album (the first since 2000) Diamonds and Coal will be released in February 2007. The album will initially come as a limited edition Digi Pack. This edition of the album will be limited to just 1,000 copies. 500 of these copies will also be signed by the band. This is the first new studio album from the new line up of Man featuring Martin Ace, Bob Richards, George Jones and Josh Ace and represents a whole new era for the band that celebrates its fortieth anniversary in 2008. The band hopes to play a high profile date to launch the album around the release date. To purchase their new album go to www.diamondsandcoal.com

PRESS RELEASES

Te Rolling Stones have re-captured the "top-grossing tour ever" mantle from U2 with their $437 million A Bigger Bang trek.
From March 28, 2005, to March 2, 2006, U2's Vertigo tour rang up grosses of more than $333 million. That put U2 ahead of the Stones' $320 million Voodoo Lounge tour of 1994-95, and the band's 10 stadium makeup shows this month will take the total to 121 shows and a gross of about $377 million.
But the Stones' numbers from A Bigger Bang shatter that mark. Since the fall of 2005, the band has drawn 3.5 million people to 113 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore. In addition, an estimated crowd of 2 million saw the band perform at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro back in February.
Though nothing's official, it appears likely the band will stretch the tour into 2007, making the $500 million mark easily within reach. "I don't think we're done," Cohl tells Billboard.com. "There are still a lot of cancellations in Europe that the band the band feel obligated to try and make up. So I wouldn't be surprised if it keeps going next year."


LOST WEEKEND TO HEADLINE SHOW IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE. ..

LOST WEEKEND have been asked to headline a show at The Burgess Hall in Cambridgeshire. The bill will also include DRYAD plus one other, doors will be open from 7:30pm and the event will close at 12am. Tickets are priced at £8 and can be purchased from St.Ivo Leisure Centre, Terrys Heel Bar, Foundry Walk, St.Ives, Cambs. Simply Music, Chequers Court, Huntingdon, Cambs. or Tel : 01480 493768. The whole event is Promoted by : LIQUID METAL PROMOTIONS with backing from BBC RADIO CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

More dates will be added for next year, so keep checking out the SHOWS section of www.lostweekend. org.uk for more information! !!

Current Dates Are :
2nd December 2006 - Turkey & Tinsel Xmas Show @ The Sportman's
Hotel, Halifax
3rd February 2007 - Mexborough Civic, nr Sheffield
10th February 2007 - Gasworks Bar, Bradford
16th February 2007 - The Burgess Hall, Cambridgeshire

GIG NEWS

BLITZKRIEG, SINNER and POWER QUEST have been confirmed for the Bloodstock Indoor Festival, set to take place Saturday, September 1, 2007 at the Derby Assembly Rooms, Market Square, Derby, England.
www.bloodstock.uk.com

GINGER
Jan. 18 - London, UK @ Mean Fiddler
Jan. 19 - Nottingham, UK @ Junktion 7
Jan. 20 - Blackpool, UK @ Riffs
Jan. 21 - Glasgow, UK @ Barfly

FROST have pulled out of next year’s Rosfest.

MAN
Wednesday December 27 - The Rhondda Hotel, Rhondda
Friday December 29 - The 100 Club, London
Friday January 26 - Blaengarw Workmen's Hall, Bridgend
Saturday March 31 - Blues Garage, Hannover, Germany
Wednesday April 4 - Downtown Blues Club, Hamburg, Germany
Thursday April 5 - Alte Stadhalle, Melle, Germany
Friday April 6 - Charly's, Oldenburg, Germany
Saturday April 7 - Music Hall, Worpswede, Germany
Sunday April 8 - Alte Piesel, Fulda, Germany
Thursday April 12 - Bastion, Kirchheim/Teck, Germany
Friday April 13 - Cafe Hahn, Koblenz, Germany
Thursday July 19 - Herzberg Festival, Breitenbach/Hessen, Germany

REVIEWS

JORN ‘Unlocking the Past’ Frontiers (2007) www.frontiers.it

Jorn Lande releases two albums in January, a ‘Best Of’ with re-recorded and re-mixed tracks from his earlier work and this, a covers set of bands who’ve been a big influence on him musically. If you’ve not heard Jorn Lande (Masterplan/Ark/Millenium/Allen & Lande) then you have been missing a real treat as he has one of the best vocals in rock and an awesome range. Ten tracks on here (with some covers having been released previously on his earlier albums) and only the Kiss cover ‘Naked City’ fails to get the old adrenalin going, although that’s personal choice as I am not a big fan of kiss!
MSG’s ‘On And On’ is simply wonderful and has a very melodic chorus, whilst Lande slips seamlessly into Coverdale mode on ‘Fool For Your Livin’ (another song involving Coverdale, ‘Burn’ also features on here). Hey there’s a thought a Coverdale/Lande partnership – nice… On Thin Lizzy’s ‘Cold Sweat’ there is a superb guitar solo and Lande puts in a fitting vocal performance worthy of the late, great Phil Lynott. Back-up musicians are top draw including TNT’s Morty Balck and Ronnie Le Tekro, plus Ralph Santolla and Deep Purple’s Don Airey.
There are a lot of covers albums out there but this one is well worth getting and a good introduction for anyone not familiar with Jorn Lande’s voice.

****1/2
Jason Ritchie

ANGEL ‘Live Without A Net’ BGO records (2006) www.bgo-records.com

Angel are one of the 70’s bands, like Starz, that get rave critical reviews but failed to really make it sales wise. Angel, in their all white outfits and a guitarist with the cool name of Punky Meadows, were expected to be as big as Kiss. Sadly they never made it that big despite some truly great pomp rock moments such as ‘Tower’ and ‘Feeling Right’ (both on this double live CD). This re-release is digitally re-mastered although sadly no bonus tracks and the sound quality is very good throughout. Highlights have to be Punky Meadows wild guitar solos and the grandiose keys of Greg Giuffria and they even do a very respectable cover of ‘All The Young Dudes’.
After the band split only Greg Giuffria had any notable success with first his solo band Giuffria and then in the late 80’s/early 90’s with House of Lords. Well worth getting for fans of 70’s rock, with a pomp edge.

***1/2
Jason Ritchie

SPOCK'S BEARD - "SPOCK'S BEARD" INSIDE OUT (2007) www.insideout.de

Looking back into the history of rock music one can compile a long list of bands who used their name as a title for one of their releases - there is nothing unusual about that. What is slightly unusual is for a band to make such a decision having already released eight studio albums. Was it simply lack of inspiration, or is there some sort of hidden message behind Spock's Beard's decision to add their name to the previously mentioned list? The answers will surely vary, but one thing's for certain: Spock's Beard is not by any means an ordinary band, and their latest self-titled release proves it without any doubt.
Having listened to the album more times than I can possibly remember, I begun constructing the plan for my review. Half way through, I felt very familiar with the ideas that I was trying to present, and I felt a strange urge to check on the review that I prepared back in 2005 for the band's previous release "Octane". It was really interesting to discover how many similarities I managed to find between the two albums, yet I am inclined to say that "Spock's Beard" feels more confident than its predecessor.
It may be true that most Spock's Beard fans are still not used to the idea of Neal Morse's departure, but the members of the 'new' line up, with Nick D'Virgilio (vocals/drums/guitar) as the leading figure, seem to be more than happy in continuing their musical quest, in a slightly more straight-forward/melodic direction than the one used in progressive albums such as "Snow" and "V". That means that, with the exception of "Skeletons at the Feast" and the 17-minute opus "As Far as the Mind Can See", both of which will please old-school Spock's Beard and Dream Theater fans alike, the remaining compositions on this new effort will be more fitting to a AOR/Blues/Funk fan, myself included.
One thing that definitely needs clarification is that, in this specific case, melodic should not be interpreted as less impressive/challenging, and there is no better example of the band's ability to compose melodic yet quite multi-layered compositions than the opening track "On A Perfect Day", where Nick D'Virgilio's vocals are simply divine, supported by a very inspirational orchestral theme consisting of violins, cellos and flutes. Having developed an appreciation towards the music of bands like Deep Purple and Whitesnake from an early age, I found no trouble in enjoying the groovy/funky tunes of "Is This Love" (gotcha), "Sometimes they Say", Sometimes They Go" and "Wherever you stand", but I admit feeling completely blown away by two songs - "The Slow Crash Landing Man", whose beautiful organ theme makes it irresistible, and the quite melancholic "Hereafter" where Ryo Okumoto's piano tunes and Nick D'Virgilio's breathtaking vocal result in making this, in my humble opinion, the most inspirational moment of the whole album.
I have often been asked by fellow-Spock's Beard fans as to why I am so supportive over the band's new direction, but to me the answer is quite simple: their music is really good!!! Do you want to spend the rest of your life waiting for Neal Morse's return to the band, or enjoy what an album such as "Spock's Beard" has to offer? Well, I really hope that you will choose the latter - I know I will!

John Stefanis
****

WIN an exclusive sampler of the BEATLES new ‘Love’ album

New interview with PETER BANKS (ex-GENESIS)

DORO gig review & mini-interview

Eric Prydz vs. Floyd will release a new single on January 1 called Proper Education. Prydz, who topped the charts back in 2004 with the Steve Winwood sampled Call On Me, has been given permission to use samples from Pink Floyd’s 1979 number one hit Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2). It’s the first time that Pink Floyd have allowed other artists to use their material.

WESTLIFE top the UK album charts this week beating off new releases by OASIS & THE BEATLES.

The new Magnum album Princess Alice & The Broken Arrow will be released in Europe on March 26, 2007.
The song titles are:
Out Of The Shadows . When We Were Younger . You'll Never Sleep . Eyes Wide Open . Desperate Times . Your Lies . The Gates Of Hell . Be Strong . Inside Your Head . Thank You For The Day . Dragons Are Real . Like Brothers We Stand

VINNIE APPICE will be in HEAVEN & HELL the re-united DIO–era SABBATH as BILL WARD has declined to take part. Their tour will kick off in Canada in march with US dates expected in August and European festivals TBA>

David Ragsdale (KANSAS) has just reissued his solo CD, David & Goliath, which needed all new artwork to conform with copyright licensing. The CDs are in stock now. Details at: www.davidragsdale.com

GIG NEWS

Tickets for the 2007 Glastonbury Festival will go on sale Sunday April 1 at 9am.

Tenacious D debut to a No. 8 in the US album charts with the soundtrack to their film "The Pick of Destiny." The album sold 81,000 copies, nearly double the 42,000 the group's self-titled debut sold in its first week in 2001. That album has since sold 987,000 copies.

VELVET REVOLVER are in pre-production on their new album.

The Killers have recorded a brand new track called A Great Big Sleigh which they will release a download single on December 5th.

Steve Negus will re-join SAGA for the band’s current European tour.

SHAW/BLADES covers album ‘Influence’ gets a European release via Frontiers on 16th Feb.

PRESS RELEASES

John Mellencamp has unveiled the track list for "Freedom Road," his first album of original material since 2001. The set is due Jan. 23 via UMe/Universal Republic and includes the single "Our Country," which is featured prominently in a Chevrolet commercial. The track recently earned Mellencamp his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 in nine years and just the third of his career on Hot Country Songs.
The 10-track set was recorded over the past year at Mellencamp’s Belmont Mall studio in Bloomington, Ind. "It sounds very 1966, but it sounds now," he told Billboard.com recently. "'Our Country' is the most John Mellencamp-sounding record on it. I think people are gonna go, 'Wow!,' or they're gonna go, 'What is he trying to do?'"
"We tore apart ... every song from 1966, 1965," he added. "We listened to all that music, then we learned it, we listened to it, we examined it -- 'How did they do that?' We were inspired by it, we copied it, we stole it. We did everything we could from that era." Joan Baez duets with Mellencamp on the track "Jim Crow."
"Freedom Road" is the follow-up to 2003's "Trouble No More," an album of blues and folk covers. Mellencamp’s last original album was 2001's "Cuttin' Heads."
Here is the track list for "Freedom Road":
"Someday"
"Ghost Towns Along the Highway"
"The Americans"
"Forgiveness"
"Freedom’s Road"
"Jim Crow"
"Our Country"
"Rural Route"
"My Aeroplane"
"Heaven Is a Lonely Place"

GIG NEWS

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
Wed 3 Jan - Newcastle Academy
Thursday 4 Jan - Manchester Apollo
Fri 5 Jan - Birmingham Academy
Sun 7 Jan - Cardiff University
Mon 8 Jan - Hammersmith Apollo

INCUBUS
March
31 Birmingham NEC
April
1 Manchester MEN Arena
2 Cardiff CIA
4 Glasgow SECC
8 Bournemouth BIC
9 Nottingham Arena
12/13 London Brixton Academy

JUDIE TZUKE
8TH FEBRUARY - ASHCROFT THEATRE FAIRFIELD - CROYDON
11TH FEBRUARY - CITY HALL - SHEFFIELD
12TH FEBRUARY - CITY VARIETIES - LEEDS
15TH FEBRUARY - THE HOVE CENTRE - HOVE
17TH FEBRUARY - THE ANVIL - BASINGSTOKE
26TH FEBRUARY - ST GEORGES - BRISTOL
27TH FEBRUARY - QUEEN ELIZABETH HALLS - LONDON
28TH FEBRUARY - HUNTINGDON HALL – WORCESTER

JOHN MARTYN
21ST JANUARY - CORN EXCHANGE - CAMBRIDGE
22ND JANUARY - ST DAVIDS HALL - CARDIFF
25TH JANUARY - SYMPHONY HALL - BIRMINGHAM
27TH JANUARY - THE LOWRY - SALFORD QUAYS

DAMIEN RICE
27TH MARCH - APOLLO HAMMERSMITH - LONDON
29TH MARCH - THE CIVIC HALL - WOLVERHAMPTON
30TH MARCH - APOLLO - MANCHESTER
31ST MARCH - USHER HALL – EDINBURGH

BEN FOLDS
23RD JANUARY - APOLLO HAMMERSMITH - LONDON
25TH JANUARY - CITY HALL - SHEFFIELD
27TH JANUARY - APOLLO - MANCHESTER
28TH JANUARY - THE CIVIC HALL - WOLVERHAMPTON

REVIEWS

FRANK TURNER ‘Vital Signs’ (CDS 2006) www.frank-turner.com

Former singer with Million Dead releases this single on Christmas Day! You can request the download via santa@frank-turner.com In this multimedia age you don’t need shop anymore to
get your tunes and this acoustic song could do well in the post-Christmas lull that the music industry goes through. The addition of strings halfway through the song lifts it up and you have a damn fine tune. The demo on here ‘Heartless Bastard Mother F**ker’ is not one however to play at your family Christmas dinner…

****
Jason Ritchie

THE RIPPS ‘Vandals’ (CDS 2006) www.myspace.com/theripps

Spiky pop rock with a punk edge is how you’d classify this band. Doubtless if you have not heard many songs like these two you’d be impressed but bands like the Buzzcocks did it so much better! Not bad but nothing here to make you want to check them out more.

***
Jason Ritchie

VIA VOCE ‘Faster Than A Dead Horse’ (CDS 2006)

Husband and wife team who take that 60’s psychedelic sound and add in some neat drums and harmonies. Add to this some screeching feedback guitar – it is like the Beachboys meets MC5 at times! This band are good and a cut above many bands out there wanting to be heard.

****
Jason Ritchie

NIGHT RANGER ‘Seven Wishes’ BGO Records (2006) www.bgo-records.com

A real ‘must have’ melodic rock gem gets a re-release here. Sadly no bonus material but it is re-mastered with sleeve notes (although these hardly sing the praises at times of this glorious album!). Released back in 1985 this was the band’s third album and the follow-up to their first big hit album ‘Midnight Madness’. Although never big here in the UK not helped by the fact their albums rarely got released domestically), in their native US and Japan they were big news, especially in the live arena where the band excelled.
Of the ten tracks on here only one real duffer for me in the rather lame rocker’ Night Machine’ but then you do get certifiable classics like the ballad ‘Sentimental Street’, the duelling guitars of Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson let fly on ‘This Boy Needs To Rock’ and the air keyboards intro to ‘Interstate Love Affair’ – superb stuff. With two top draw vocalists in Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy the band really excel at harmony fuelled choruses and with two guitarists they keep the rock quota high. Album closer ‘Goodbye’ is possibly one of the band’s best songs and is still played live today by the band, who have a new studio album due out next year via Frontiers.
If like me you only have the vinyl copy of this album go get this CD now and if you missed out first time add this CD pronto as Night Ranger are one of the best US hard rock bands period.

****1/2
Jason Ritchie

Henry Rollins is to publish a book called 'A Dull Roar (What I Did On My Summer Deracination)'. This is based on diaries he kept during the recent re-union tour by the Rollins Band.

TRIUMPH will be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame during Rogers Wireless Canadian Music Week. Gil Moore (drums/vocals), Mike Levine (bass/keyboards) and Rik Emmett (guitar/vocals) will accept the honour Saturday, March 10th during the Canadian Radio Music Awards at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel. The band will also perform live marking the first time guitarist Rik Emmett has played with the rest of the band in over 15 years.

KICK now added another exclusive song added to their downloads section at www.kickuk.co.uk. The song is Wake Me Up When It's Over, which was the "extra" song for the up close and personal CD Single.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds will release double live DVD on January 29 next year called The Abattoir Blues Tour. The package will contain 21 live tracks recorded at London’s Brixton Academy in November 2004 and the Hammersmith Apollo in June 2003.

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP (MSG) bassist Rev Jones has issued the following statement regarding guitarist Michael Schenker's performance at the group's recent shows in Japan and Thailand:
"I want to apologize to all the fans that wrote to me and all the fans in Japan and Thailand for the talentless guitar player that took place on stage next to me at the last three MSG shows. I myself could not believe how bad Schenker played. Although me, Pete [Holmes, drums], Jari [Tiura; vocals], and Wayne [Findley; guitar/keyboards] all gave 110%, in my eyes he gave less then 1% and that is so disrespectful not only to the band and the crew but also to the loyal MSG fans. So again I apologize for his actions because he would never apologize himself. We have two more shows and it is OVER."

PRESS RELEASES

Finally, we are able to bring you some news about Arjen's next recording project.
At the end of September 2006, Arjen's new studio was finished and ready to use. The very next day, Arjen went in with his trusted little tape recorder, and papers with dozens of song ideas that he'd been working on for the past year.
He has been in his studio nearly every day (and night) since then, getting the ideas translated into songs. The musical ideas are so extremely varied that only one project could possibly hold them all: AYREON.
Arjen has already been in contact with some very interesting and talented people to help create a new dimension of the AYREON Universe. Of course, we'll keep you informed on Arjen's progress over the next months!"
AYREON's last CD, "Ayreon: The Human Equation", was released in 2004. It contained guest appearances by a number of acclaimed vocalists, including James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER), Mike Baker (SHADOW GALLERY), Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH), Eric Clayton (SAVIOUR MACHINE), Devon Graves (DEAD SOUL TRIBE, ex-PSYCHOTIC WALTZ) and Devin Townsend (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD).


The Smashing Pumpkins are more than halfway home on their first album since 2000, according to posts from drummer Jimmy Chamberlin on the group's MySpace.com site. "We have been working day and night in the studio and I am happy to say that the drums are finished!," he wrote earlier this month. "After almost a year of work, to finally sit down and listen to the drum takes, one after another, was a truly joyful experience."

Last week, he chronicled a "magnificent guitar symphony" from Billy Corgan featuring "eight guitars resonating in one big harmonic handshake. It is still ringing in my ears this morning."

His posts carefully worded to avoid any mention of song titles or acknowledgement of who, if anybody, is working with he and Corgan in the studio, Chamberlin has also thanked "the Grateful Dead, Rush [and] Billy Thorpe for their guidance in this hour of need."

"I can honestly say that this has been one of the most musically satisfying and spiritually rewarding trips I have ever been on," he added.

Produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Terry Date, the as-yet-untitled album is expected in late spring, with a tour to follow. No label affiliation has yet been announced; Corgan has released all of his post-Pumpkins work on Reprise.

GIG NEWS

RAVEN
4th March Underworld, London

THE POODLES — consisting of vocalist Jakob Samuel (THE RING, ex-TALISMAN, JEKYLL & HYDE), guitarist Pontus Norgren (THE RING, ex-TALISMAN), bassist Pontus Egberg (ex-LION'S SHARE) and drummer Christian Lundqvist — has been confirmed as one of the support bands for HAMMERFALL on their European tour, which is scheduled to kick off January 18, 2007 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

PAIN OF SALVATION
Feb. 17 - Oslo, Norway @ John Dee
Feb. 18 - Gothenburg, Sweden @ Musikens Hus
Feb. 20 - Warsaw, Poland @ Progresja
Feb. 21 - Krakow, Poland @ Klub Studio
Feb. 22 - Budapest, Hungary @ Schiff A38
Feb. 23 - Wien, Austria @ Planet Music
Feb. 25 - Treviso, Italy @ New Age
Feb. 26 - Rome, Italy @ Alpheus
Feb. 27 - Milan, Italy @ Rolling Stone
Mar. 01 - Pratteln, Switzerland @ Z7
Mar. 02 - Amsterdam, Holland @ Paradiso
Mar. 03 - Paris, France @ Elysee Monmartre
Mar. 04 - Vosselaar, Belgium @ Biebob
Mar. 06 - Augsburg, Germany @ Spectrum
Mar. 07 - Aschaffenburg, Germany @ ColosSaal
Mar. 08 - Bochum, Germany @ Zeche
Mar. 10 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ The Rock

REVIEWS

DOUBLE ECLIPSE ‘Eloquent Face Down’ Indie (2006) www.doubleeclipse.co.uk

Two brothers, Alan and Phillip Hackney, make-up the band with Phillip handling lead vocals. The music is very reminiscent of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo output especially in the vocals and the guitar riffs. The title track, ‘You Talk Too Much’ and the terrific opener ‘All That She Was’ are prime examples of this. Very riff heavy hard rock, stripped down almost to basics with no keys or other added embellishments. Being self-produced it does lack that ‘big sound’ you’d get if this was done via a label having said that it stands up well against label produced albums.
Definitely worth checking out if you like Ozzy’s solo work and classic hard rock. Hopefully the band can get some more recognition and perhaps a label’s backing as the songs are there they just need than final polish.

***1/2
Jason Ritchie

THE ANSWER ‘Come Follow Me’ Albert productions (2007 CDS) www.theanswer.ie

Along with Glyder, Wolfmother and Roadstar, the Answer have made a mark on 2006 with their classic rock based music. They have certainly started to win over the rock fans and just need a tune to break them out more. Luckily in their next single ‘Come Follow Me’ they have just the tune – catchy chorus, great guitars and sure to do well in the charts if given the airplay.
The Answer are growing both in terms of fan base and their live shows, with next year sure to be a key as to whether the band can go up a level and gain wider recognition. With this single they have certainly started off on that road.

****1/2
Jason Ritchie

Evanescence have been forced to cancel their show at Manchester Apollo tonight, November 21. This is because of 'family reasons', affecting an undisclosed member of the band.

Johnny Borrell (Razorlight) and Brandon Flowers (The Killers) are to get together to perform a version of an old Dire Straits Hit. The duo will record Romeo and Juliet, which originally a top 10 hit for Dire Straits back in 1981, for a Live at Abbey Road TV show.

Former DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW singer JOE LYNN TURNER is busy writing and recording the up and coming studio album. The direction will be again in the Melodic Hard Rock vein that characterized the latest studio effort “The Usual Suspects”. Release date is not yet scheduled but Frontiers Records hopes to release it before the summer 2007.

Encouraged by the success of their guest spot in Coronation Street, Status Quo are planning to make a movie. Described as an action thriller, it will be filmed in early 2008 and release to cinemas the same autumn, coinciding with a soundtrack album.

ROBIN BECK is recording a new album for release via Frontiers early next year.

PINK CREAM 69 have signed with Frontiers and release their new album in March.

Paralophone Records will be releasing all of Queen’s singles as a box set next spring. HMV reports that the 10 disc set will be in the shops on March 16 2007 with full details to be confirmed.

Primal Scream are to release Sometimes I Feel So Lonely as a vinyl and download only single on December 18.

Epica have moved quickly to deny reports linking Simone Simons with the position of new Nightwish vocalist.

Viking Skull have brought in a new rhythm section, featuring drummer Jules Cooper and bassist Jess Margera. The band are currently working on their second album, 'Chapter Two'.

PRESS RELEASES

Celebrate Christmas in style and join LOST WEEKEND at the SPORTMANS HOTEL in Halifax on Saturday 2nd December. Entry is FREE and the band are due on stage at 9pm.

RADIO INTERVIEW WITH PAUL & DAVE, PLUS LOST WEEKEND ADDED TO ZROCK
2007 LINE-UP...
A full "1-hour special" rock radio show featuring ..
BOB CATLEY interview
SPIRIT OF MAN tracks
DAVE THOMPSON/PAUL UTTLEY (LOST WEEKEND) interview
FOREVER MOVING ON tracks
OLIVER WAKEMAN (track from MOTHER'S RUIN)
..is set to be aired on BRADFORD ROCKS on BCB 106.6 FM in West
Yorkshire and via Realaudio feed from the station website
www.bcbradio.co.uk
Date: Thursday 23rd November 2006 Time: 9-10 pm GMT (4-5 pm EST) .

LOST WEEKEND have also been added to the bill for ZROCK 2007, which is to be headlined by HOUSE OF LORDS. The show is set to take place on Sunday 27th May at Maximes in Wigan.
Also there are additional dates for February with more to be announced. See the SHOWS section at www.lostweekend.org.uk for more information...

Check out the band's one and only official myspace account, www.myspace.com/lostweekenduk to hear some songs from the band's forthcoming fourth CD - Forever Moving On.

GIG NEWS

KEANE
February
22 Bournemouth BIC
23 Birmingham NEC
25 Nottingham Arena
26 Cardiff CIA
28 London Wembley Arena
March
03 Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
04 Manchester MEN Arena
06 Newcastle Radio Metro Arena
07 Glasgow SECC

Original ASIA
MAR 4 Kinro Kaikan, Nagoya, Japan
MAR 5 Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka, Japan
MAR 7 Koseinenkin Kaikan, Tokyo, Japan
MAR 8 Koseinenkin Kaikan, Tokyo, Japan
MAR 10 Kokaido, Shibuya, Japan
MAR 11 Kokaido, Shibuya, Japan

The THIN LIZZY & CHEAP TRICK Australian tour dates have been cancelled.

JET
Mar 3rd - Glasgow Academy
Mar 4th - Manchester Apollo
Mar 7th - London Hammersmoth Apollo
Mar 9th - Newport Centre
Mar 10th - Portsmouth Guildhall
Mar 12th - Plymouth Pavillions
Mar 13th - Wolverhampton Civic

REVIEWS

‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ by Joel McIver Omnibus Press 19.95 HB (2006) www.joelmciver.co.uk

After a very enjoyable book on Metallica Joel McIver (Record Collector & more) now turns his attention to the colourful history of Black Sabbath. As you’d expect it is thoroughly researched and covers all eras of the band. I personally enjoyed the post-Ozzy chapters as you can read a lot about the Ozzy years already (highly recommended reading for the Ozzy years is ‘How Black Was Our Sabbath’). You get the insights to how Ian Gillan landed the singer’s role for the ’Born Again’ album, the Glenn Hughes & Tony Martin years and it takes the story right up to date with the recent Ozzfest gigs and the rumours of a new album from the band. Reading the tales and tribulations of this band it is amazing the original line-up are still around!
A good objective look at the band and one that will be enjoyed by fans of the band and readers of good, solid rock biographies.

****
Jason Ritchie

The Tracii Gunns version of LA GUNS plan to release a new album next year that will include re-recorded songs and new tracks.

DURAN DURAN have confirmed that the track they recently recorded in collaboration with Justin Timberlake will be included on their forthcoming album, which also features three tracks produced by hip-hop producer Timbaland, and is expected to be released sometime next year.

NEAL MORSE releases his new solo album on 1st March and PAUL GILBERT guests.

MALICE have reunited with original members Mick Zane, Jay Reynolds, and Mark Behn recruiting singer Brian Allen (Last Empire) and drummer Pete Holmes (Black 'N Blue).

Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda says fans should expect something a bit different when the group releases its third album next year. "There is an element to the album that will be familiar to people simply because it's the same guys making the music," he tells Billboard.com. "But at the same time, these guys have grown up quite a bit, and we definitely have a different mind state about making songs.
"Most importantly, we want to make stuff that's hopefully cutting edge and different," he continues. "I feel like we did what we wanted to do with 'Hybrid Theory' and 'Meteora,' and now it's time to step outside the box and try something new."

Cherry Red Records release an unofficial BABYS album this month.

REO SPEEDWAGON plan to release some new tunes on their website plus reveal the new album’s title later this month.

KISS & DEF LEPPARD could possibly tour the US together next year.

AARMOPURED SAINT frontman John Bush has a new role. He's doing voiceovers for Burger King TV commercials in America.

PRESS RELEASES

DOMAIN news –
The band based around guitarist and producer Axel Ritt announces the exit of bassplayer Jochen Mayer and singer Carsten Schulz by their own request, shortly after the release of the new album "Stardawn" (LMP/SPV). Domain wish Jochen and Carsten all the best for their future projects.
Without hesitation, the band is raring to go for the next round. Domain proudly presents Chity Somapala (Ex-Firewind, Avalon, Faro) on vocals und Steven Wussow (Shylock) on bass-guitar as the new line-up. For the first time, the new band will perform Dec. 30th at the "End Of Dayz" - Festival in Pratteln, Switzerland. Some of the new songs of the "Stardawn" album will be played as well.
Additionally, the tour plannings for spring 2007 commenced to advance the well started sales of the new album. In the run-up, an extraordinary meeting has been arranged. Original composer Chris de Burgh and his management were that enthused about the coverversion of "Don't Pay The Ferryman" (contained at the album Stardawn) that they invited the band for a personal meeting / fotoshooting at the Festhalle Frankfurt show 24th November.

GIG NEWS

BRYAN ADAMS
JANUARY
5 - Biloxi, MS Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
6 - Tunica, MS Horseshoe Casino
7 - Florence, IN Belterra Casino
10 - New York, NY - venue to be confirmed
12 - Norwich, CT Foxwoods Casino
13 - Atlantic City, NJ Borgota Event Center
MARCH
23 - Mazdapalace - Milan
24 - Palasport - Padova
25 - Palaonda - Bolzano
27 - Palalottomatica - Rome
28 - Palarossini - Ancona
29 - Geneva, Switzerland
30 - Zurich, Switzerland
31 - Gridelwald Snowpen Air, Switzerland
MAY
4 - Dublin, The Point
5 - Belfast, The Odyssey
7 - Glasgow, SECC
8 - Manchester, MEN Arena
9 - Birmingham, NEC Arena
10 & 11 - London, Wembley Arena
12 - Sheffield, Sheffield Arena

BRYAN FERRY
MARCH
1 - Carlisle Sands Centre
3 - Dundee Caird Hall
4 - Clyde Auditorium
5 - Edinburgh Playhouse
7 - The Sage Gateshead
8 - Symphony Hall Birmingham
10 - Bridgewater Hall Manchester
11 - Sheffield City Hall
13 - Nottingham Royal Centre
14 - London Royal Albert Hall
16 - Bristol Colston Hall
19 - Ipswich Regent Theatre
20 - The Dome Theatre Brighton
22 - Harrogate International Centre
23 - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

REVIEWS

DEPECHE MODE ‘Some Great Reward’ Sire/Rhino (2006)

Released back in 1984 this album is regarded as one of the band’s strongest releases amongst fans. This re-release is re-mastered with a DVD including the album in 5.1 surround sound – electronic music like this was made for surround sound. Plus there is live footgae from the band’s gigs in Basel and Liverpool in 1984 and if this wasn’t enough three additional tracks, including the rather good ‘In Your Memory’. The album included the hit singles ‘People Are People’ (listen to this now and you can see where the Pet Shop Boys got some their sound from!), ‘Master and Servant’ and ‘Blasphemous Rumours’. The piano led ‘Somebody’ is another highlight aside form the singles. Nicely packaged too boot, making this a ‘must have’ classic album for fans of electronic rock music and one that has stood the test of time.

****
Jason Ritchie

MEATLOAF ‘Bat Out Of Hell 3 – The Monster Is Loose’ Virgin (2006) www.meatloaf.net

He’s back with another Bat Out Of Hell release, although this time Desmond Child is in the production seat with Jim Steinman still popping-up on a few songs as lyricist. In fact Meatloaf continues to be a environmentally sound musician recycling old songs with ‘Bad For Good’ (first featured on Jim Steinman’s solo album of the same title) and the Pandora’s Box tune ‘It’s All Coming Back To Me Now’ amongst the four songs on here recorded previously by other artists. Overall it is as you would expect – big production, layers of vocals, lots of guitars and Meatloaf in fine, theatrical voice. There are some real show stoppers on here like ‘It’s All Coming Back To Me Now’, with Marion Raven on co-vocals (what a find she is!) and Brian May lends his unmistakable sound to the rocker ‘Bad For Good’. Meatloaf evens ventures into nu metal sounds on ‘The Monster Is Loose’, whilst the heart wrenching ballads are in place with ‘Cry Over Me’ and ‘If God Could Talk’. ‘Blind As A Bat’ written by Desmond Child proves there is life after Jim Steinman, possibly the best song under the Meatloaf banner for a long time.
This is theatrical rock at its best as you could easily imagine each song being performed in a stage show and Meatloaf has lost none of his vocal prowess. It’s not ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ but then again I doubt he would ever achieve that again. That said it will delight his fans and hopefully win some new ones as nearly all of the music on here could gain airplay.

****1/2
Jason Ritchie

TALLADEGA
Up From Beneath
Cinquanta / Fading Ways Music CCM001

This power pop / anthemic guitar pop album was recorded in 2004 and finally sees the light of day.
The band centres around the talents of singer/guitarist Stewart Whitehead and bassist Sean Bettam.
Opener “To The Ocean” features a pop like Iron Maiden feel, while “Oh Lord I Know” is more typical of late 80s / mid 90s indie pop, bolstered by a strumming acoustic rhythm guitar.
Touches of an MOR Simple Minds or Big Country, some pleasant tunes, more mature than most guitar pop bands around at the moment.

3/5
Joe Geesin

SENSES FAIL
Still Searching
Vagrant VRUK039COX

Take the indie pop of Green Day and U2, and give it a power metal edge. That’s Senses Fail! Yes it’s heavy, powerful, hard, crunchy, but the riffs more akin to what some guitar pop bands are producing, so on one level it works but it does a little odd with it. Some hardcore vocals work OK too. And the metal guitar solos stand out, there’s a touch of Maiden to the solo in “Sick Or Sane”.

When they rock out, it’s actually quite good (the intro to “Shark Attack”), the guitar pop mix is OK, but in places (including “Calling All Cars”) it’s just a little too cliché of the trendy approach to guitar pop.
A funny mix, but OK with it.

3/5
Joe Geesin

UNDEROATH
In Regards To Myself (single)
Virgin

The opening track to their successful Define The Great Line album, this single is a powerful almost extreme track, with forced vocals and noisy guitar in an indie-metal way. Deep bass, and a siren like lead guitar.
It’s ok, but a little disjointed, bit messy, haphazard. I guess that’s what some like in their metal these days.

2.5/5
Joe Geesin

SYSTEM SHOCK
Escape
Mausoleum 251079

Swedish death/doom metal with keyboards, adding a progressive and gothic edge to this extreme sound.
This is the band’s second album, and a concept one too. The rhythms and vocals are extreme, growling, while the guitar ranges from doom to smooth metal solos, and the keyboards nicely layered.
“Engine Failure” is a stand out, with a keyboard intro, super heavy guitars and vocals, and machine gun drums.
An interesting mix, and the booklet features a note under each track to tell out the story.
A good and well worked concept.

3.5/5
Joe Geesin

POD
Greatest Hits (The Atlantic Years)
Rhino

Payable On Death, so it says on the sleeve, this extreme urban metal album (or rap metal some might say), and yes there are similarities with a more polished Body Count, features quick fire vocals with crunchy noisy riffs, and a nod at grunge with attitude.
I’m sure tracks like “Southtown”, “Going Blind”, “Roots In Stereo” and the heavy “Alive” will please fans, and act as a good introduction, but it’s all rather samey to me.

2.5/5
Joe Geesin

The ANDERSON MILLS PROJECT
Crank It Up
Z Records

Featuring vocalist Tony Mills and multi-instrumentalist Linkan Andersson, this hard rock album features some excellent rock vocals, layered harmonies too. Interesting riff on the opening title track, and drum rhythm too, but it’s a little muddy throughout.
“Skin And Blood” continues in a similar vein, the muddled mess of the rhythm sound (is it the production?) sounding like a dent in the speaker cone. Some decent guitar work though, in a rock’n’roll fashion. Other songs add a touch of heavy U2.
Throughout the album there are some good moments, good songs, good vocals, some excellent guitar, but the muddled sound makes a lot of it sound samey and disjointed.

2.5/5
Joe Geesin

Neil Finn has reunited with Crowded House bandmate Nick Seymour for his next solo album, which he plans to release next year.

JEFF SCOTT SOTO will be the vocalist on the UK JOURNEY tour next year.

Alice Cooper is to write his autobiography. It's to be called 'Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: My 12 Steps To Becoming A Golf Addict'. No publishing date has yet been confirmed.

GUNS ‘N’ ROSES have put back the release of ‘Chinese Democracy’ until Dec 19th now.

SIR PAUL McCARTNEY and RINGO STARR look set to reunite to celebrate their home city Liverpool's status of European Capital Of Culture in 2007. McCartney has already been approached to perform at the opening ceremony and now organisers want Starr to take part too.

QUEEN'S Greatest Hits LP has been named the UK's best selling album of all time. The disc has sold a staggering 5,407,587 copies since its release in 1981. In second place is THE BEATLES' SGT PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND, which managed 4.8 million sales. Also in the top ten are OASIS, ABBA and PINK FLOYD
Conspicuous by their absence are THE ROLLING STONES and BOB DYLAN - who don't feature in the top 100.
1. QUEEN, GREATEST HITS
2. THE BEATLES, SGT PEPPER
3. OASIS, WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY
4. DIRE STRAITS, BROTHERS IN ARMS
5. ABBA, GOLD GREATEST HITS
6. PINK FLOYD, THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
7. QUEEN, GREATEST HITS II
8. MICHAEL JACKSON, THRILLER
9. MICHAEL JACKSON, BAD
10. MADONNA, THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION

Former THE DARKNESS frontman JUSTIN HAWKINS will launch a solo career, after he has recovered from his split from the group.

GIG NEWS

DAVE MATTHEWS
Fri 02/23/07 Newcastle, UK City Hall
Sat 02/24/07 Glasgow, UK Clyde Auditorium
Mon 02/26/07 Dublin, IRE National Stadium
Tue 02/27/07 Belfast, UK Waterfront Hall
Thu 03/01/07 Manchester, UK Carling Apollo Manchester
Fri 03/02/07 Oxford, UK New Theatre
Sun 03/04/07 Milan, ITA Teatro Del Verme
Tue 03/06/07 Paris, FRA La Cigale
Thu 03/08/07 Offenbach, GER Capitol
Fri 03/09/07 Brussels, BEL Ancienne Belgique
Sat 03/10/07 Amsterdam, NET Paradiso
Mon 03/12/07 Berlin, GER Columbiahalle
Tue 03/13/07 Cologne, GER E-Werk

IAN GILLAN
Jan. 19 Melbourne, The Palace
Jan. 20 Sydney, Salinas
Jan. 21 Sydney, Revesby Workers
Jan. 23 Newcastle, Panthers
Jan. 25 Wollongong, Shelly's
Jan. 26 Brisbane, The Arena
Jan. 27 Tweed Heads, Twin Towns Services
Jan. 28 Penrith, Evan Theater

REVIEWS

HELLO GOODBYE
Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!
Drive Thru Records

Interesting modern indie / guitar pop album with some rock leanings, opening number “All Of Your Love” is a quirky pleasant tune, with keyboards and occasional crunchy guitar.
The guitar on “Here In Your Arms” is in places nodding towards unnecessary distortion, and on other tracks too, a minor background thing that hints at poor production, which is well constructed in others.
There are some decent tunes throughout, inoffensive, nothing too outstanding. Honest and enjoyable guitar pop. Should do well.

3/5
Joe Geesin

SYBILLA
The Invisible Sandglass

Guitar pop goes metal, giving you the quirky tunes with melody, power and metal all rolled into one. Opener “Burning” mixes hair metal choruses (reminiscent of Heavy Pettin’) with Maiden-esque guitar solos and European power metal rhythms.
The album continues in a similar vein.
“Black Rose” features keyboards with a gothic touch and dark vocals, before the guitars come crashing in.
From dark to progressive to AOR, it’s all here and fun too.
“I.N.F.I.L.A.” is a power metal ballad which nods at Queen.
Enjoyable, worth checking out.
www.myspace.com/sybillaband

3.5/5
Joe Geesin

LOS ABANDONED
Mix Tape
Vapor Records / Sanctuary

Indie metal with a new wave / punk feeling. There’s some hard hitting catchy tunes (opener “Stalk U” an example) mixed with more experimental / whimsical tracks like “Nado Mio Es Fake”.
The female vocals work well, and in places there’s a Blondie feel, abeit with a metal feel.
“Office Xmas Party” is at the new pave / punk pop end, while “Panic-Oh!” is more akin to Terrorvision.
An interesting mix and thoroughly enjoyable.

3.5/5
Joe Geesin

THE WHO
Endless Wire
Universal Republic

The British icons are back, and although just a duo now, the key elements are in place.
You have Pete Townshend, who is more than just a guitarist; song writer, arranger, all round composer, producer, artist, and multi-instrumental.
Then there’s Roger Daltrey, who is more than just a frontman and singer; he’s an actor (in the metaphorical sense) and interpreter. The only person you’d entrust to interpret and front Pete Townshend work.
So how does the first new studio album in nearly 25 years stand up? Rather well, actually.
It’s a far cry from the ‘classic Who’, and rightly so. Both have moved on, and aged rather well. Daltrey’s voice is not strained or ropey at all, it’s still classic and still there. Younger vocalists have not aged so well.
Opener “Fragments” is a good rock tune that hangs in the mind well, and “A Man In Purple Dress” is acoustic, good in that it doesn’t wonder at all.
“Mike Post Theme” mixes modern big production with that classic Who sound.
Every angle is explored by the song writing, The Who play their complete range on this album, which mixes hard rock with acoustic.
The basic Endless Wire encompasses nine tracks, the remaining 10 tracks are the Wire & Glass mini opera, something Townshend clearly put a lot of love and effort into. The concept I won’t spoil for you, go buy and enjoy! Suffice to say it’s well constructed and some of the band’s best work in a long time.
Guest musicians include drummer Zak Starkey, bassist Pino Palladino and pianist Rabbit Bundrick amongst a host of others, with Townshend providing some drums, programming, banjo etc.
The limited digipak comes with a bonus DVD of the band on stage in France, July 2006. Five tracks that close with a 10 minute take on “Won’t Get Fooled Again” must be worth checking out.
Better than any solo work, the pair work well together and it’s strong enough and good enough to work under The Who banner.

4/5

Joe Geesin

GRAVY TRAIN
Strength Of A Dream – The Gravy Train Anthology (2CD)
Castle CMDD1402

Gravy Train were a British prog band who released 4 albums in the early 70s. Their first two appeared on Vertigo, while the second two (1973 / 1974 respectively) appeared on Dawn, and it’s those 2 final albums that appear here in their entirety, with singles and alternate versions making up the extra tracks.
Singer Norman Barrett had a great range, and power too, giving a melodic Uriah Heep sound to the music. There’s harder tracks too that nod and Hendrix and Deep Purple, while there’s a touch of Jethro Tull (the flutes help there).
Both albums are strong, often overlooked and underrated. Not completely consistent but good and worth checking out. Will definitely please fans, and it’s well annotated and well packaged.

3.5/5
Joe Geesin

GRAVE DIGGER
Liberty Or Death
Locomotive / Cargo LM400CD

If there’s such a thing as melodic thrash in the trad sense, this must come close. The keyboards and operatic thrash vocals give a classic Euro sound (think Freedom Call, melodic operatic speed metal etc) with a much heavier thrash leaning.
Few bands could mix thrash (at times its most extreme) with keyboards and get away with it, but they do and do it well.
The opening title track is a great start, while “Ocean Of Blood” takes on some trad metal riffs and puts them through a high speed cement mixer.
Is this the band’s best album yet? Certainly the best extreme metal album I’ve heard in a long long time.

4/5
Joe Geesin

Frank MARINO / MAHOGANY RUSH
Double Live
SPV / Yellow SPV97672

From The Hip
SPV / Yellow SPV304272

Double Live (3.5/5) was Marino’s second live concert album, 10 years after Mahogany Rush Live. This reissue gets the whole album on 1 disc with room for a bonus number.
Encompassing some of the later material, the virtuoso guitar work comes through, it’s a classic hard rock set with occasional prog or jazz nods, but largely just classic hard rock. Think Ruch meets Triumph. “You Got Livin’” is a punchy number, while “Poppy” is an extravagant and self indulgent 10 minute work out with a fusion angle.
Many will recognise and enjoy the 11 minute “Roadhouse Blues”.
A classic hard rock set.
From The Hip (3/5) was Marino’s 11th studio album and with more melodic vocals and a bluesy feel, if in a hard and modern way.
Some great tunes but it’s not Marino’s strongest set. While “I’m Ready” features some great riffs and solos, there’s something I can’t quite put my finger on that make it not as catchy as it should be.
Either way, it’s a good album, and the 16 minute bonus number “Hingston Nights” is a jazzy number.
Both album are remastered and sound good, but the packaging is minimal.
Will please fans though.

Joe Geesin

COSMO
Alien
Frontiers FRCD312

The Cosmo brothers Fran (lead vocals) and Antonio (guitar, bass, keys, sampling et al) are both ex Boston, with bassist Bill Carman also contributing to Corporate America.
This polished hard rock set, although not in the league of Boston circa Walk On, it’s a damn good set that’s heavy, well constructed and enjoyable. Definitely a lot heavier than the AOR of Boston too. And while the riffs are very metallic, there’s some nice vocal harmonies too, which add a melodic touch to the heaviness.
Some acoustic intros add a good range to the sounds.
At the other extreme “Alien” touches on nu-metal.
A good set, worth checking out.

3/5
Joe Geesin

ZION
Zion
Frontiers FRCD313

Featuring the talents of vocalist / multi-instrumentalist Freddy Curci of Alias fame, this solid set will please Alias fans and more no end. Curci has a good range and strong voice, and the guitar work here is superb too. “All It Takes Is A Minute” features a solid yet melodic chorus, while “How Much Longer Is Forever” is more anthemic.
The musicians here have pedigree too, featuring members of Bullet Boys and Coney Hatch.
Either my hearing’s suffering or the production was a little muffled in places, but that aside the music, tunes, heavy guitar all work well.

3/5
Joe Geesin

Ritchie KOTZEN
Into The Black
Frontiers FRCD315

The former Mr Big guitarist is back with a new album, singing and playing everything on this set.
A hard set heavy on the riffs and vocals, mixing melodic and heavy riff, with a slight nod at blues.
The drum intro to “Fear” sounds muffled and programmed, but otherwise it’s a good strong if light rock track. Melodic with a nod at AOR.
“The Shadow” is one of the stand out tracks, well written and almost a sing-a-long feel.
A solid and enjoyable set.

3.5/5
Joe Geesin

STYX & The Contemporary Youth Orchestra
One With Everything
Frontiers FRCD311

Vocalist Tommy Shaw and crew are back with this partly orchestrated live album.
Solid, heavy and catchy AOR at its best, opener “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” grabs your attention instantly. The twin guitar keeps things heavy, the nicely layered keyboards keeps things melodic.
“It Don’t Make Sense” nods at the blues, and there’s a decent cover of “I Am The Walrus”.
A good new album, a good intro to the band and will certainly please fans. Great throughout.

3.5/5
Joe Geesin


Various: Look At All The Love We Found LIVE
A Tribute To Sublime (DVD / CD)
Inakustik

One for Sublime fans really, who I must admit I’m not familiar with, but this various artists live concert is a tribute to the band, with a DVD of the concert and a CD of live and studio covers.
The music ranges from acoustic to ska/reggae to indie metal to urban. There’s interviews and music, videos too.
Bands involved include Fishbone, Los Lobos, Unwritten Law, The Ziggens, Bargain Music and AWOL One.
The music is too varied to be of interest of fans of a particular style, so unless you’re a collector of one of the bands involved, it’s of interest to Sublime fans only.
Plenty of extras to make good value though.

2.5/5
Joe Geesin

BAD BRAINS
Live At CBGB 1982 (DVD)
Wienerworld

3 dates at CBGB starting Christmas Eve 1982, and this concert is culled from all 3 shows. Certainly it will please any punk and hardcore fan, it’s out and out noisy rock’n’roll at its most extreme.
You look at the four sets of dreadlocks and you’d expect some hardcore reggae, which does slip in, but it’s a real punk thrash set you get here, with many of their best known within the 19 tracks on offer here.
A mixed crowd, black and white, some enjoying the moshpit and stagediving, others sitting and watching coolly, in a very snobbish new wave fashion.
If you like it hardcore it’s a lot of fun and a real piece of history. Bonuses include a 1982 interview too.
Noisy, trashy, thrashy, but that’s what this kind of rock’n’roll was all about.

3/5
Joe Geesin

JIMMY PAGE commented at the recent UK Music Hall induction for LED ZEP that he has an album he ‘needs to get out of his system’ and work will start on it in the New Year.

A major fire has all but destroyed the music/club Edwards No.8 in Birmingham (UK). Luckily no-one was seriously injured.

Following on from LORDI’s success last year fellow Fins THUNDERSTONE are entering their native Eurovision Song Contest selection.

PRESS RELEASES

Ian Anderson brings the first Acoustic Jethro Tull Tour to the UK for 11 dates in March 2007. The band will include long time Tull guitarist Martin Barre as well as special integrated guest violinist **Anna Phoebe.

Ian Anderson says. “My role in life was always to be an acoustic musician but for the last 38 years, I have had some very noisy friends! This will be the first time we’ve actually done a really Acoustic Jethro Tull Tour. Over a third of our catalogue of recorded material is acoustic or contains sections of acoustic music and the shows will feature a number of these tracks including Fat Man, Dun Ringill and Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day. We have also re-arranged some of our more rock-oriented songs like Aqualung, Locomotive Breath and My God. So the concerts will contain a varied selection of old and new music.”

Violinist Anna Phoebe will join the band for many classic Tull tracks as well as some Ian Anderson/Tull material not previously performed in the UK. She will NOT be the opening act but will play some tracks from her new album "Gypsy" with Jethro Tull. The acoustic tour first goes to The Netherlands and Scandinavia at the end of November.

EMI Records plan to release a Best Of Acoustic Jethro Tull album in early March 2007. Some bonus tracks of new or unrecorded music will also feature on this CD.

Jethro Tull will play a special early evening, Christmas Acoustic Concert on 19th December at St Brides Church, Fleet Street, London. This will be in aid of charities for the homeless. The Church only holds around 350 people and ticket details will be announced shortly on both http://www.jethrotull.com and http://www.stbrides.com/services/index.htm. This show and all remaining concerts for 2006 will feature the talents of violinist Ann Marie Calhoun.

Full details are:-
March
Fri 23th High Wycombe The Swan Theatre
Sat 24th Cardiff St David's Hall
Mon 26th Birmingham Alexandra Theatre
Tue 27th Leicester De Montfort Hall
Wed 28th Reading Hexagon
Fri 30th London *Shepherd's Bush Empire
Sat 31st London *Shepherd's Bush Empire
* with orchestra
April
Sun 1st Salisbury City Hall
Mon 2nd Derby Assembly Rooms
Tue 3rd York Grand Opera House
Wed 4th Middlesbrough Town Hall

All shows start at 7.30pm and there is no support.

GIG NEWS

GIRLSCHOOL have cancelled their upcoming German/Italian shows.

SNOW PATROL
February
17th Perth, Belvoir Amphitheatre
19th Sydney, Hordern Pavilion
20th Melbourne, Festival Hall

DEFTONES
Mar. 08 - Liverpool, UK - University
Mar. 09 - Leeds, UK - University
Mar. 11 - Manchester, UK - Academy
Mar. 12 - Glasgow, UK - Academy
Mar. 13 - Newcastle, UK - Academy
Mar. 14 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
Mar. 15 - Birmingham, UK - Academy
Mar. 16 - Norwich, UK - UEA
Mar. 18 - Bristol, UK - Academy
Mar. 19 - Portsmouth, UK - Guildhall
Mar. 20 - London, UK - Brixton Academy
Mar. 22 - Paris, France - Olympia
Mar. 23 - Weisbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
Mar. 24 - Koln, Germany - E-Werk
Mar. 25 - Tillberg, Holland - 013
Mar. 26 - Hamburg, Germany - Docks
Mar. 27 - Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle
Mar. 29 - Dortmund, Germany - Westhafallenhalle
Mar. 30 - Dijon, France - Zenith
Mar. 31 - Munich, Germany - Elserhalle
Apr. 03 - Zurich, Switzerland - Volkshaus
Apr. 04 - Milan, Italy - Alcatrazz
Apr. 06 - Clermont-Ferrad, France - Coop de Mai
Apr. 09 - Amsterdam, Holland - Paradiso
Apr. 10 - Brussels, Belgium - Halles de Schaerbeek

BLIND GUARDIAN
April 27 – Thessaloniki @ Mylos
April 28 – Athens @ Fuzz Live
April 29 – Athens @ Fuzz Live

RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS
January 12 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Cox Business Services Conv. Ctr.
January 13 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
January 15 - Saint Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
January 17 - Nashville, TN @ Gaylord Entertainment Center
January 20 - Cincinnati, OH @ U.S. Bank Arena
January 22 - Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center
January 23 - Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Bobcats Arena
January 25 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
January 26 - Charlottesville, VA @ John Paul Jones Arena
January 28 - Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
January 30 - Orlando, FL @ Orlando Centroplex
January 31 - Sunrise, FL @ BankAtlantic Center
February 27 - Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena
March 2 - Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
March 3 - Champaign, IL @ Assembly Hall
March 6 - San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
March 7 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center

REVIEWS

LOST WEEKEND ‘Forever Moving On’ Z Records (2006) www.lostweekend.org.uk

The UK based melodic rockers return with their fourth album and the final recordings of keyboards player Irvin Parratt, who has been replaced by guitarist Squiz – be interesting to see how they sound live with an added guitarist. One of the busiest men in rock is again at the production helm, Vince O’Regan (Bob Catley/Eden/Alibi). In fact one song of Bob Catley’s ‘Spirt Of Man’ album resurfaces on here namely ‘Beautiful Mind’, which is an acoustic driven tune on here. Elsewhere the title track is a blissful example of classy melodic rock and some very tasty guitar riffs. Of course there are ballads with ‘Save the Best ‘till Last’ and epic ‘I Will Be Here For You’ a tune you’d expect to find on a Bob Catley or Magnum album, great stuff!
Possibly the band’s best album to date, with vocalist Paul Uttley putting in a top draw performance throughout the album. A very keyboard led album and be interesting to see how the band develops with two guitarists and no keyboards player.

****
Jason Ritchie

WHITESNAKE ‘Live In The Shadow Of The Blues’ SPV (2006) www.whitesnake.com

A double live CD recorded on the band’s recent tour plus four new studio tracks, all co-written by main man David Coverdale and guitarist Doug Aldrich. Turning to the new songs first ‘Ready To Rock’ does just what it says, a nice heavy tune and sounding not unlike late 80’s Whitesnake. ‘If You Want Me’ is okay, nothing special and the slow number ‘All I Want Is You’ sounds uncannily at times like a reworked version of ‘Is This Love’. Last new song is ‘Dog’ which is a heavy rocker with Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach duelling away on guitars, hinting at maybe a new direction for the band - less polished and more guitars. So two good tracks and two okay tracks and hopefully the new studio album due sometime next year will be worth the wait.
The live set is of course the Whitesnake classics albeit geared more towards the band’s late 80’s output. You can’t go wrong with ‘Slide It In’, ‘Still Of The Night’ and ‘Bad Boys’ (although I wish Coverdale could resist from his dog howl at the start of a few songs on here!). There are some Moody/Marsden era tunes including ‘Fool For Your Loving’ and ‘Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues’. There is even a blues work out on ‘Blues For Mylene ‘06’, although Aldrich as good a guitarist as he is lacks that real blues passion in his playing that you get with Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody. The whole band gels well with Whitesnake veteran Tommy Aldridge keeping it steady on the drums and new boy bassist Uriah Duffy linking in well with Aldridge. Timothy Drury on keys/backing vocals is not drowned out either and gives his all on the Deep Purple medley ‘Burn’/’Stormbringer’.
Of the recent DVD and CD releases this one is the one to get if you only want one due to a wider set list and of course four new songs. Whitesnake and Mr Coverdale are back at their best, although a one-off show with Moody & Marsden would be a real treat if at all possible sometime soon.

****1/2
Jason Ritchie

SOUL DOCTOR have signed with Metal Heaven for their new album due in the summer.

LIBERTY ‘N’ JUSTICE’s upcoming 2007 release, "Independence Day" will feature 15 guest vocalists on 14 songs. They have already announced Jamie Rowe of Guardian as one of the singers on the new CD and now "Monkey Dance" will feature Jack Russell of Great White on and "Snake Eat Snake" will feature David Raymond Reeves of Neon Cross and guitarist Don Webster of Neon Cross The CD will be an acoustic rock project and both songs plus the front cover artwork are online for a limited time at – www.myspace.com/libertynjustice2

Nearly 40 years after its initial release Procol Harum's classic 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' is the subject of a dispute. Former keyboard player Matthew Fisher is suing over alleged unpaid royalties. He's taking frontman Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid to court, clainming that he composed the song's organ part. To date, Booker and Reid have been the only writers credited on the hit single.

WINGER IV will be released in the USA November 21st via Shrapnel Records.

PRESS RELEASES

F2 NIGHT OF PROG!

As previously announced, F2 will be holding a special night of Prog this
month featuring 3 great bands from the label. Ezra will open, followed by
Credo and headlined by Magenta. A night of fun and great music!

F2 NIGHT OF PROG - MAGENTA, CREDO & EZRA
Sunday 26 November 2006 6:00pm (Ezra on stage at 6:30pm)
The Robin 2, Bilston, UK
GBP 12.00 in advance (Door price GBP 14.00)

BUY TICKETS from:
https://www.therobintickets.co.uk/ticketshop/giglist.asp?month=11&year=2
006#684 and save ?2.00 on the door price! Alternatively, call the booking
office on 01902 401211.

Magenta has built a reputation of being an excellent live band, fronted by
Christina, recently voted best female vocalist by the Classic Rock Society.
The band deliver powerful and emotional Progressive Rock with stunning
guitar solos and memorable melodies. They are not ashamed of showing their
influences that include Yes, Pink Floyd and Genesis, amongst others, but
they mix it with their own unique style, flare and energy. Magenta hope to
include two new songs in their set as well as some songs from their 'Home'
CD that haven't been played before, and some new arrangements of songs from
Seven. Don't miss it!

Following superb appearances by Credo at the recent Summers End festival
and their headline gig for the Classic Rock Society last week, this is one
of the last chances this year to see them playing material from their
excellent CD 'Rhetoric'. Credo were recently described as being like
'?discovering a lost gem from the Script For A Jesters Tear / Fugazi era of
Marillion'!

Opening the three-band concert will be Ezra, promoting their third CD
release 'Songs From Pennsylvania'. Their music hints at Rush, Pink Floyd,
It Bites and Yes, and again consists of great melodies and excellent guitar
solos, a trademark of the F2 Music label.

You can hear MP3 samples from these three bands at
www.progrock.co.uk/samples/index.htm

----

F2 PROG NIGHT - COMPETITION WINNER

We had a great response to this competition, and thanks to all that
entered. Unfortunately there can only be one winner of the 2 free tickets
to the F2 Night Of Prog gig in Bilston on 26/11/2006. Roll the drums! And
the winner is: Neil Durbin of Preston, Lancashire, UK. Congratulations
Neil! If you haven't won but entered the competition and would still like
to go, getting tickets is easy - just visit
https://www.therobintickets.co.uk/ticketshop/giglist.asp?month=11&year=2
006#684 and save ?2.00 on the door price! Alternatively, call the booking
office on 01902 401211.

----

CHIMPAN A

The chimpan A album is now available to download from the following
download site:

iTunes
HMV (http://www.hmvdigital.com)
Woolworths (http://www.woolworths.co.uk)
Wippit (http://www.wippit.com)
Sony Connect (http://store.connect-europe.com/countrySelection.do)

chimpan A will be available from Virgin's download site soon, as well as
other popular sites.

You can hear MP3 samples by chimpan A at
www.progrock.co.uk/samples/index.htm

----

FIREWORKS MAGAZINE - Update

As previously announced, F2 will have a cover mount CD and extensive
coverage in the next edition of Fireworks Magazine. The magazine was
originally scheduled for October, but due to printing delays out of our
control, this will now be available in December. The packed CD will feature
tracks by Magenta, Credo, Ezra & Chimpan A, and the magazine will include
comprehensive coverage of the bands with interviews carried out by
Fireworks writer Paul Jerome Smith. Should be a good read! Visit
www.rathole.com/fireworks/ for information of how to buy this magazine.
Price in the UK is GBP 4.00 including postage

----

DON'T FORGET!

All F2 CD's plus MANY more are available at www.progrock.co.uk. So, if you
haven't already, why not give us a try - all of our prices INCLUDE shipping
to anywhere in the world!


If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list (including news about
Magenta, Credo, Abel Ganz, Ezra, and others, and the online shop at
www.progrock.co.uk), please reply to this email with 'unsubscribe' in the
subject box. Thanks.

David Robinson (F2 Music Ltd)
F2 Music Ltd, Festival House, 2 Goldfinch Close, Loughborough,
Leicestershire, LE11 3HG, UK
http://www.f2music.co.uk
http://www.progrock.co.uk

Now available:
Annie Haslam with Magenta - Night & Day EP
Chimpan A - Chimpan A - featuring Sam Brown (Pink Floyd) / Steve Balsamo
(David Gilmour) / Rob Reed (Magenta) and others!
Magenta - Home - NEW STUDIO CD! Double & single version available
Ezra - Songs From Pennsylvania - NEW STUDIO CD!
Credo - Rhetoric - the great new CD from this new signing to F2 Music.

Currently available:
ProgAID - All Around The World - 5 Track CD Single
Magenta - The Gathering - 2 hour concert DVD!
Magenta - Another time, Another Place (Double live CD)
Magenta - I'm Alive (5 track CD single)
Magenta - Seven (latest studio CD)
Magenta - Broken (5 track CD single)
Magenta - Revolutions (Double studio CD)
Cyan - The Creeping Vine
Cyan - Echoes - remastered best of with unreleased material (part 2)
Abel Ganz - Back From The Zone - remastered best of with unreleased
material
The Fyreworks - The Fyreworks
The Othello Syndrome - The Shadow Of Dreams
Erasmus - The Voyage


Credo News Letter
November 2007

Hi to you all out there, as 07 draws to an end and the most memorable year of the bands career reaches it conclusion, a few bits to update you on!

Rhetoric Tour Comes to An End...

Well it was always going to come to an end guys and we are sad, but delighted, to be able to announce the last four dates of the tour:

Sunday 19th November - The Cartoon - Croydon http://www.thecartoon.co.uk/Nov2006.html

You may have heard that the world famous Cartoon is closing at the end of November and we are proud to announce we will be one of the last bands ever to play there. It is our last London date and the last chance for London punters to hear the whole of RHETORIC in a live setting.
With special guests: Jo McCaffertey, The Resonance Association

Sunday 26th November - The Robin - Bilston www.therobin.co.uk

A welcome return to the scene of the show stealing Summers End performance - see below- Not our words, just check the reviews.... With F2 Label mates EZRA and MAGENTA. CREDO will be on second, should be a great great night.....
Friday 1st December - The Riga Bar - Southend
www.rigamusicbar.co.uk

The last night of our dual dates with LANDMARQ, CREDO will be on first around 8.45. This is a great venue and billing that deserves your attention!

Friday 8th December - Riffs Bar - Hook nr Swindon www.riffsbar.biz

The last night of the tour......
This venue has become legendary in Prog circles and a year from opening for ARENA, CREDO return to RIFFS with special guests and good friends ALSO EDEN.

It promises to be a great night, and there is very likely to be an appearance from a very special guest.....

We can't say who, but it will be memorable!!!

Recent Shows

Summers End - Bilston - October
As you may have heard CREDO delivered a blistering 60 minute set, the set list was:
The Game
Skintrade
Seems Like Yesterday
Too Late To Say Goodbye
The Letter
From The Cradle To The Grave
Tim's guitar work was amazing on the day, Jim and Mart were as tight as a well tight thing and Mike was spectacular. The big man had the audience in the palm of his hand from the first minute and the stories reached new heights! The Top Of The Pops story that has been growing recently caused much hilarity!!! The Letter reappeared after a bit of a rest and nearly brought the house down, and then they finished with Cradle....

Loads of RHETORICS, FIELD OF VISION and T SHIRTS sold, a great days work...

Classic Rock Society Herringthorpe - Rotherham - 4th November

Well, what can you say, an "Overnight Sensation" with a combined age of over 200 years! After first playing for the CRS back in 1994 the boys were invited for their very first Major Headline Show and what a what to bring the last few dates of the year long RHETORIC tour to a head.
It was a great night, the place was very full, especially considering it was a first headline and support came from old friend Oliver Wakeman and Anemo, both of whom were well received and laid down the challenge down for the boys....
The set opened with PARTY making a return to live action for the first time in 10 years and from the "Welcome..." intro the band were on top form. The Game, Turn The Gun and Skintrade followed before another surprise in the shape of an acoustic version of ALICIA from FIELD OF VISION, the song was spectacularly received and Jim and Martin returned to the stage for Seems like Yesterday. A poignant Too Late followed by a storming Letter and by now the band were on fire. A KINDNESS returned and Mark donning the balaclava again for the attack section added just the right amount of theatre to the song.
It was the end of the set, but not the end of the night as the audience demanded a return and the boys duly responded with an excellent version of "From The Cradle To The Grave" featuring a guest appearance from a young lad in the audience on tambourine!

Again, plenty of cd's, and shirts sold and loads of new friends!

Be interesting to see what happens in the next CRS Awards Poll after that show....

The Big Man
There are a number of rumours circulating at the moment about Mark and his health, and just to put the record straight Mark has requested that the following statement be issued:

"Guys, as many of you know I was very ill a couple of years ago, sadly I require more surgery, nothing too scary but major surgery never the less. The disease hasn't come back I am pleased to say and it is only repair work that is required. The intention was to tour the album to the end of this year, and that's pretty much what we have done, I will be back in between the RIFFS show and Christmas and intend to be fully back on my feet and ready to perform again by the end of January. Hope you can all make a show between now and then and let's see you all at RIFFS for the last show of the tour, a Christmas extravaganza and to say au revoir before I go into hospital!"
Love and loads of it
ALICIA xxxx

REVIEWS

TWISTED SISTER ‘A Twisted Christmas’ Demolition Records (2006) www.demolitionrecords.com

Yes Dee Snider and co. do their take on all things Christmas with a few guest vocalists along for the ride. ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ starts as an easy listening acoustic number before the real Twisted Sister step forward to rock. Best song has to be either the duet with Doro Pesch on ‘White Christmas’ (Doro singing in her native German) and ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’ which is et to the tune of the Twisted Sister classic ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’! Sounds bizarre but it works well. Lita Ford pops-up to duet on ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’, whilst ‘Deck The Halls’ is another good Twisted Sister take on a festive classic.
But some tracks are sadly below par like ‘We Wish You A Twisted Christmas’ and ‘Heavy Metal Christmas’ – oh dear… Nice touch on the album closer though as bass player Eddie sings ‘White Christmas’ in Spanish.
According to Dee Snider this could well be the final Twisted Sister album which would be a real shame if it was true. A good Christmas rock CD although one that will be bound to alienate some of the band’s fans!

***1/2
Jason Ritchie

LILLIAN AXE hope to release their new album, ‘Water’s Rising’ in Feb/Mar next year via Metro City Records.

HEAVEN & HELL, ie the DIO fronted BLACK SABBATH are now down for headlining next year’s Monster of Rock festival.

Escape Music are pleased to announce Code's much anticipated album title The Enemy Within. Code featuring the multi talented musician and producer Anders Rydholm on bass, guitars, and keyboards (ex-Grand Illusion); on lead vocals Sherwood Ball (Jay Graydon, Gumbo, Guitar god tours/gigs with Albert Lee, Steve Morse,Steve Lukather & Edward Van Halen) ; guitars Ola af Trampe (ex-Grand Illusion), with very special guest on the drums, none other than Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, Joe Satriani, Toto, Gino Vannelli, Counting Crows).
The album release date will be January 21, 2007.
And here is an exclusive track to melodicrock.com - Download: Sign Up For Love.
Track Listing: The Enemy Within . Sign Up For Love . Home Away From Home . In The Shadows . How Do We Stay In Love . My Time . Lucky Town . Alive . Uninvited Guest . Change The World . Flying High . Sworn To Silence.

VAUGHN release ‘Traveller’ on Feb 17th via Frontiers.

Bassist Chuck Wright (ex-HOUSE OF LORDS/QUIET RIOT) has been replaced by Robbie Crane (ex-RATT) in the line-up of Saints Of The Underground, the band featuring Keri Kelli (Alice Cooper) on guitar, Bobby Blotzer (Ratt) on drums and Jani Lane (ex-WARRANT) on vocals. The band's debut was recently mixed by Andy Johns. No release date as yet.

PRESS RELEASES

GLYDER, Ireland's hottest hard rock band, open for Thunder on three dates of their forthcoming tour in November,Manchester 24th, Newcastle 25th and Sheffield 26th.
They won a text voting competition to get this opportunity which was a huge achievement for a foreign band considering that only UK mobiles were valid!
Their critically acclaimed debut album released independently earlier this year has established the name in the world of heavy rock.
Glyder are proving that they have what it takes to be a world class rock band with regular airplay on Bruce Dickinsons BB6 rock show. The track "PUP" was playlisted on most UK rock shows and tracks have been played on Norwegian, Swedish and Irish national radio as well as countless independent radio stations all over the world.
A recent 5K Kerrang live review and a 4K album review as well as reviews and coverage in nearly every rock magazine in Europe have firmly established Glyder as the hottest unsigned rock band from Ireland.
Glyder return to the studio in January with legendary producer Chris Tsangarides to record demos for their second album and are looking for labels to get involved.
www.myspace.com/glyder www.glydermusic.com


Thunder are releasing a new single “The Devil Made Me Do It” in a melee of different formats on the 4th December. The track is taken from their splendid new album Robert Johnson’s Tombstone. All formats include previously unreleased tracks (marked *), which were recorded at the same time as the album, but didn’t make it onto the final LP. They are exclusively available as listed below:

CD1 (Radio edit + 1 exclusive extra track)
The Devil Made Me Do It – Radio Edit
The Girl Is Alright *

CD2 (Album version + 2 exclusive extra tracks)
The Devil Made Me Do It – album version
I'm In Heaven *
Don't Worry About Forever *

Limited Edition 7” Vinyl (radio edit + 1 exclusive extra track)
STC2006-7
The Devil Made Me Do It – Radio Edit
The Outsider *

All tracks above are available from i-tunes and napster.
Download Version (The Big Remix)
STC2006-8
The Devil Made Me Do It – Big Remix 6 minute long version
Please note this download version is exclusive to Townsend Records/7Digital, and not available from any other digital stores, it is at a special price of 79p and can be pre-ordered now.
Of course, being Thunder a news story wouldn’t work without a competition announcement. Fans can win an iPod Nano, courtesy of Townsend Records. The download version (The Big Remix) of “The Devil Made Me Do It” contains a ‘demonic’ message hidden away and to win the ipod fans should check the website www.thunderonline for full details.

GIG NEWS

ANGRA + POWER QUEST + FIREWIND
16.02.07 Fri FR Nancy / Pagney @ Chez Paulette
17.02.07 Sat FR Strasbourg @ La Laiterie
18.02.07 Sun FR Reims @ La Cartonnerie
22.02.07 Thu FR Lyon @ Ninkasi Kao
23.02.07 Fri FR Paris @ Elysee Montmartre
24.02.07 Sat FR Bordeaux @ Barbey Theatre
25.02.07 Sun FR Toulouse @ Havana Café

JOHN YOUNG
3 Dec 2006 8:00 Limelight Theatre (JY Solo) Aylesbury, Bucks
17 Dec 2006 20:00 Riff's Bar (JYB) Swindon
19 Dec 2006 20:00 Rock Cafe 2000 (JYB) Stourbridge
19 Jan 2007 20:00 Offenbach (Bonnie Tyler) Offenbach
11 Feb 2007 20:00 Moscow (Bonnie Tyler) Moscow
12 Feb 2007 20:00 Samara (Bonnie Tyler) Samara
13 Feb 2007 20:00 Ufa (Bonnie Tyler) Ufa
15 Feb 2007 20:00 Ekaterinburg (Bonnie Tyler) Ekaterinburg
17 Feb 2007 20:00 Riga (Bonnie Tyler private show) Riga
22 Feb 2007 20:00 Half Moon (JYB) London

KARNATAKA
24th Feb - FLOWERPOT DERBY 01332 834438 tbc
27th Feb - THE STABLES MILTON KEYNES 01908 280800
28th Feb - ROBIN 2 BILSTON 01902 401211
1st March - THE BROOK SOUTHAMPTON (023) 8055 5366
2nd March - THE BORDERLINE LONDON 0207 534 6970
8th March - LIMELIGHT CREWE 01270 251929
9th March - CLUB RIGA SOUTHEND 01702 348 020
11th March - MR KYPS POOLE 01202 748945
15th March - THE FLEECE BRISTOL 0117 929 9008
24th March - CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY HERRINGTHORPE LEISURE CENTRE
ROTHERHAM 01709 702575
30th March - Y THEATRE LEICESTER 0116 255 7066

BLACKFIELD
16th February : UK, London, Mean Fiddler
17th February : Holland, Helmond, Plato
18th February : Belgium, Vosselaar, Biebob
20th February : Germany, Hamburg, Knust
21st February : Germany, Berlin, Kato
22nd February : Poland, Warsaw, Proxima Club
24th February : Switzerland, Pratteln, Z7
25th February : Italy, Milan, Alcatraz
26th February : Germany, Bochum, Matrix
27th February : France, Paris, Café de la Danse
28th February : Holland, Zoetermeyer, Boerderij
3rd March : Greece, Athens, Fuzz Club
4th March : Greece, Salonica, Mylos Club

LANDMARQ return to Rotherham's Classic Rock Society to headline a show on Saturday 20th January 2007. Also on the bill will be 'Headspace', the new band formed by Adam Wakeman which includes ex-Landmarq vocalist Damian Wilson.

LEAVES´EYES + KAMELOT
29.03.2007 NL - Zoetermeer / Boerderij
30.03.2007 NL - Plato / Helmond
31.03.2007 UK - Cheltenham / PROGPOWER UK-Festival
03.04.2007 D - Bochum / Zeche
05.04.2007 F - Paris / Elysee Monmatre
06.04.2007 B - Antwerpen / Hof Ter Loh
07.04.2007 CH - Pratteln / Z7
08.04.2007 D - Offenbach / Capitol
10.04.2007 D - Nürnberg / Hirsch
12.04.2007 CZ - Zlin / Masters Of Rock Cafe
13.04.2007 HUN - Budapest / Wigwham
14.04.2007 SER - Belgrade / SEC

REVIEWS

CAPDOWN ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ Fierce Panda (2006 CDS) www.capdown.net

Capdown’s new single is a mix of their traditional ska sound mixed with hard rock riffs and it doesn’t sound to bad either! Very fast and catchy tune that should win the band new fans especially from the rock end of music. The other song on here ‘Serious Is Not A Sin’ is not quite so good but still worthy of a listen.

***1/2
Jason Ritchie

COSMO ‘Alien’ Frontiers (2006) www.frontiers.it

Formed around the brothers Fran (vocals) and Antonio Cosmo (guitar/vocals/bass/keys/sampling), Fran Cosmo appeared back in the 80’s on the excellent Orion the Hunter album that featured Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau. Fast forward to the last Boston album ‘Corporate America’ and both the brothers were involved in this album, along with this album’s bass player Bill Carman. Given the band’s past association you’d expect some Boston influences and they are here, especially in the guitars – just listen to the epic rock of ‘Don’t Tell Me Your Lies’ (also done in acoustic mode at the end of the album). A superb song which just highlights what a voice Fran Cosmo has! Opener ‘Communication’ brings to mind Led Zep on the Plant approved chorus wails and Zebra – a cracking rocker to start the album of. Like many of their tracks on here in the background you can hear sampling, sometimes even rapping! This does add greatly to the overall sound, ‘No Surprise’ for instance could gain fans with lovers of nu metal. ‘Helicopter’ brings the tempo down, not unlike a Boston ballad and a great tune. ‘Creep’ and the title track provide more classy hard rock, the guitars really shine out and the production is clear and unlike a few recent Frontiers albums the drums have no ‘tinny’ edge.
A heavy metal Boston? This maybe the nearest comparison but I’d urge any fans of hard rock to check this out as it is a very enjoyable album and hopefully this won’t be a ‘one-off’ project.

****
Jason Ritchie

The Who “Live at The Isle of Wight Festival 1970” DVD Eagle Vision

The Who’s legendary performance from the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival has been re-released with restored pictures and remixed surround sound, and I have to say that they have made a great job of this. The bands 85 minute set includes classics like “I Can’t Explain”, “My Generation” and “Magic Bus” along with 14 tracks from their rock opera “Tommy”, including “Pinball Wizard” and “I’m Free”- during “Tommy Can You Feel Me” there is an on screen tribute to late drummer Keith Moon.
Included in the bonus features are the tracks “Substitute” and “Naked Eye”, and an exclusive new 40-minute interview with Pete Townshend in which he talks openly about his time with the band and even goes so far as to say that he never really wanted to be in the group and felt uncomfortable and trapped by it.
All in all a great document to The Who’s legend and a must have for fans of the band.

Nikk Gunns 4 out of 5.

The Black Crowes “Who Killed That Bird Out On Your Windowsill…The Movie” DVDAmerican

Originally released in 1992 when the band were at their peak, this DVD includes live and backstage footage, exclusive interviews with the band and previously unreleased video material. It also captures some of singer Chris Robinson’s infamous ranting, and gives a real insight into The Black Crowes.
Highlights of this 83-minute film include “Jealous Again”, “Twice As Hard” and “Stare It Cold” live from Moscow- there is also a great rendition of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” live from Atlanta. Fans of the band can’t go wrong with this DVD as all the great songs from the bands first two albums are on here.

Nikk Gunns 4 out of 5.

The Sinisters “Terminal Volume” Fading Ways Music (Cat No FWM045)

Toronto’s The Sinisters have a sound somewhere between The Stooges and The Backyard Babies and new album “Terminal Volume” contains 10 tracks of high-energy rock n roll that had me hooked from the opening track “Mr Disaster”. The band has been touring with the likes of The Ramones, Backyard Babies and Nashville Pussy. Outstanding tracks include “Hometown Hell”, “Just Got Bored” and “Speedthrill Overkill”.

Tracks to burn? “Mr Disaster”, “Hometown Hell”, “Just Got Bored”
Why Buy? Fans of The Backyard Babies style rock n roll will love this album.

Nikk Gunns 4 out of 5.

Hardcore Superstar “Hardcore Superstar” Candlelight Records

This self-titled album is the bands fourth and, in my opinion, best record. Having taken a break, which fans had feared would spell the end of the band, they have come back better than ever- “Hardcore Superstar” has been Grammy nominated, reached number 1 in the Swedish rock charts and 4 of the tracks have been released as singles in Scandinavia. Jocke Berg’s unmistakeable vocals and Silver’s stunning guitar work, combined with their knack of writing great rock n roll songs, means this CD is packed with 12 highlights- including “Kick On The Upperclass”, “Wild Boys”, “Simple Man” and the ballad like “Standing On The Verge”. This is definitely one of my favourite albums of 2006.

Tracks to Burn? “Wild Boys”, “Simple Man” and “Standing On The Verge”
Why Buy? Fans of good, catchy rock n roll will enjoy this CD.

Nikk Gunns 5 out of 5

INXS “Switch” Universal Music

When Michael Hutchence died in 1997, few people would have imagined that 9 years later INXS would have a great new CD to promote and would play to over half a million people in doing so.
Following the world-wide search for a new singer, as followed in the hit TV show Rockstar: INXS, the band found JD Fortune- a man that is more than capable of filling the void left by one of rocks most enigmatic front men.
Fortune’s vocals suit the band well and it is not dissimilar to that of Hutchence, and the band have not lost any of the trademark INXS sound. The highlights on this 11-track album include “Devil’s Party”, the beautiful “Afterglow”, “Perfect Strangers” and forthcoming single “Pretty Vegas”.
This is a revitalised INXS and one which should be around for good while yet. The band are playing in the UK again next June.

Tracks to burn? “Devil’s Party”, “Afterglow”, “Hot Girls” and “Perfect Strangers”.
Why Buy? Long-time and new fans of the band will not be disappointed with “Switch”.

Nikk Gunns 5 out of 5.

Paul Simon, Wembley Arena 10.11.06

This was my first visit to Wembley Arena since it’s major refurb last year- and both the acoustics and the seating have been vastly improved.
Paul Simon is a quietly spoken and unassuming man who obviously enjoys what he does, he led his 8 piece band through 2 hours of hit record after hit record and several times the audience made their way to the front to dance.
Simon’s in between song comments had everyone in the room laughing when he announced that London felt like his hometown there was a few cheers- which he followed up with “I love me too- 30% of the time”.
The band were tight and several of the musicians were multi instrumentalists, which added to the layers of many of songs played. Highlights included “Mrs Robison”, “Cecilia”, “Slip Slidin’ Away”, “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard”- one of the best received songs of the night, “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes”, “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” and “You Can Call Me Al”.
All in all a highly enjoyable show from a truly legendary songwriter.

Nikk Gunns