From Brain May's website....the Queen guitarist posted this message after seeing Journey in London:
"I was thrilled to see Journey tonight [14 March] last night at Hammersmith. My GOD ... all new bands should see these guys just once ... to see how it CAN be done if you have huge talent and work damn hard for 20 years ... it truly was magnificent .. You simply DO NOT see anything like this in the world today, except in such a night of rare privilege. Here they are in flight ... with great sound ...!
This picture hardly does them justice ... Jeff Scott Soto, our old friend (who sang with us in Vegas a couple of years ago) delivered a performance which I sincerely don't think any other singer I've ever seen could match - the catalogue of Journey's hits includes songs which in the main require an endless succession of impossibly high notes ... most of them originally sung by the great Steve Perry. Jeff sang about 25 of these monsters more or less back-to-back - and didn't duck a single challenge ... soared flawlessly above this gloriously heavy band sound ... truly awesome. And Neal Schon is a truly wonderful player ... one of the all-time greats in my book - outrageous technique, fabulous sound, melodic, creative ... soulful ... OK - you think I gush too much ? Well, check them out if you can. They are now travelling up to Newcastle to play tonight - Thursday night. If you are anywhere near ... do not miss this!! Next week: Germany ... including Cologne ...
www.brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbmar07b.html#38

Update on yesterday’s YARDBIRDS news –
The Yardbirds info is incorrect. The new CD "LIVE AT B.B. KING BLUES CLUB" will be
available at all the Yardbirds' shows and at www.musictoday.com in the U.S. Digital
downloads will be at iTunes and all other on-line music stores. There will be an
international release. Please see www.favorednations.com for complete details.

It's been confirmed by police sources that late Boston singer Brad Delp committed suicide. He died last Friday, aged 55.

URIAH HEEP are delighted to announce that the drummer RUSSELL GILBROOK has joined the band.

Keith Baker, former Heep drummer (he played on "Salisbury"), is currently fighting prostate cancer. Anyone wishing to send a personal message to Keith can do so through Mike Taylor at WMtaylor57@aol.com Please write "Message for Keith Baker" in the subject line and Mike will make sure that all messages reach him. Thank you.

THE DOORS founding members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger have chosen ex-FUEL lead singer Brett Scallions to front their project RIDERS ON THE STORM, filling the void created when THE CULT's Ian Astbury departed the group last month.

Bobby Rondinelli (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, THE LIZARDS) will sit behind the drum kit for for ZEBRA this Sunday, March 18 at The Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale, New York. Also appearing on the bill are TWISTED SISTER guitarist Eddie Ojeda and BAPTIZED BY FIRE (featuring TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider's son Jesse Blaze Snider).

Come and join us at the new Classic Rock Newswire Forum (vote in the first Battle of the Bands which sees Led Zep vs Deep Purple!) –
www.atfreeforum.com/crnewswire/

PRESS RELEASES

Due to legal affairs MTM have been forced to postpone their planned Tribuzy release, that was originally scheduled for April, to July 2007. Instead of the Tribuzy album the label will instead present a long time sold out and sought after classic album: namely Fate's "Bruisin For Cruisin" which is re-issued via MTM Classix.
The story of this Copenhagen-based Danish melodic rock band began in 1985, when former Mercyful Fate guitarist Hank Sherman (René Krolmark), MAXIM-singer Jeff Lox Limbo (Jens Meinert), bass / keyboard player Pete Steiner (Peter Steincke) and drummer Bob Lance (Bjarne Holm) met and found Fate. With producer Simon Hanhart (Bryan Adams, Asia, 21 Guns, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marillion) the band recorded Cruisin' For A Bruisin' in 1988, which features the ultra-catchy "Lovers" (released as a single plus videoclip in 1988) and a new version of "Love on the Rox" from the band's debut.
Now, Fate's third album is finally getting its well-deserved digitally remastered re-issue as the original CD release has been out of print since more than fifteen years. 80's Melodic Rock at its best!
The full track listing for Cruisin' For A Bruisin' is as follows:
Beneath Da Coconuts, Love On The Rox, Knock On Wood, Lovers, Dead Boy, Cold Meat, Babe, You Got A Friend, Lock You Up, Cupid Shot Me, Diamond In The Rough and Send A Little Money
The release is scheduled for April 20, 2007.


Hi All,

Nick has asked for me to forward this little update - if it is possible to post on your next news update (it shall be on the band's website by Friday 16th March - www.edentheband.co.uk). Thanks in advance, JJ



Quick update on all things EDEN. The guys have now 80% completed 8 new songs for album no.2. Al, James and Paul still have bits to do on these but things are moving along very well.
A few gig dates you might want to put in your diary.
June 8th: The Nightowl in Cheltenham (as part of the Frontiers rock night)
June 10th: Dudley JB's
June 15th The Gasworks in Bradford

Support on the 10th and 15th comes from Tomorrow the world. This is a new band formed by Craig from Taras Secret.
More dates will be announced as and when they are confirmed. We are also hoping to give you a release date for the album soon."
E-Z SOUNDS @ MYSPACE - www.myspace.com/ezsoundsuk
PUNCHLINE PROMOTIONS - www.punchlinepromotions.co.uk

GIG NEWS

ALICE COOPER + MOTORHEAD + JOAN JETT
Nov. 06 - Sheffield - Hallam Arena
Nov. 07 - Glasgow - SECC
Nov. 09 - Newcastle - Metro Arena
Nov. 10 - Birmingham - NEC
Nov. 11 - Notthingham - Arena
Nov. 13 - Brighton - Centre
Nov. 14 - Bournemouth - BIC
Nov. 16 - Cardiff - Arena
Nov. 17 - Wembley Arean
Nov. 18 - Manchester - MEN

Roger Waters could be heading for the Glastonbury Festival this year performing the classic Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon according to ‘Uncut’ magazine.

DREAM THEATER
June
9th Newcastle City Hall

CREDO
September
1st The Peel, Kingston

REVIEWS

SUN CAGED ‘Artemisia’ Lion Music (2007) www.lionmusic.com

Sun Caged return for their second album and a radical line-up change with only guitarist Marcel Coenen left from the debut album! Paul Adrian Villarreal steps up to the mike stand and also supplies the lyrics on here. There is a linked theme running throughout the album looking at people and dreams lost and what might have been.
Again the band swing around genres from the metal riffs on ‘Unborn’ (very Evergrey sounding) through to ‘Bloodline’, which will delight lovers of classic prog rock (excellent drumming on this one, lots of cymbal!). For some serious extravagant soloing check out the (mainly) instrumental ‘Engembert the Inchworm’, all the band members vie to out solo each other, great listening. At the songs end you get some death metal style grunts as well! Highlight for me though is ‘Afraid To Fly’, a beautiful mellow number and one to highlight the vocals of Paul Villarreal.
Whilst keeping some of the band’s debut sound Sun Caged have struck out further by adding more solos and in vocalist Villarreal they have the perfect foil for the band’s prog metal leanings. For me they are producing music ahead of the latest by Dream Theater.

****
Jason Ritchie

Disincarnate: Dreams of the Carrion Kind

Led by James Murphy, and having released only this album so far, this lot was a
pioneer of technical death metal prog. It is said they might be working on
another one, but it might be a long time coming as Murphy has brain cancer. The
band were a death metal supergroup with members of Obituary, Malevolent
Creation, and Dark Carnival to name a few in their ranks. Murphy has been in
loads of bands including the mighty Testament another band which mixed finesse
with a genre that was not considered to be technical... thrash.
Metal (death, black, extreme, or general) fans should probably have a copy of
this album and this re-issue would be a great excuse. With extra tracks
containing demo versions of songs and a remastering of the whole thing, there is
a lot to go with here. The remastering does a good job at demonstrating the
talent. Just take a listen to the title track and tell me if it's not
impressive. If you claim to be a metal fan and don't have this... get it now or
lose your cred.

Rating: 4.5/5
Marty Dodge

Znowhite: Act of God

One of the first examples of female-led thrash bands, Znowhite are sorely
missed. This lot produced an album that is fondly remembered to this day. It is
a considered a masterpiece by many and a classic by many more. This is one of
those albums many have never heard of but you will kick yourself for not knowing
about. This lot was at the forefront of 80's thrash and it blew quite a few
stereotypes out of the metallic water. As with the rest of the remastering
series from Roadrunner this sound is even fuller than when you first heard it,
especially if it was on record. Liner notes are a nice addition as well. It's
another one that every metal-head should own.

Rating: 4/5
Marty Dodge

Testament: The Spitfire Collection

This is thrash metal with a bit of something extra ? something technical, and
progressive at times. Probably the link between Savatage and more prog metal,
this band has shared members with that band. Some might accuse Spitfire of
releasing this 14 track CD as a cash-in, but none the less the material stands
up, especially with the older material in a live form taken for their recent
live CD. There is no denying the quality of "Practice what you Preach" and
"Souls of Black" played by the classic line-up at a gig in London in 2005. The
rest of the new material is good, but not as special as their older stuff. While
not essential per se, quality material such as this deserves the ears of
discerning metal-heads. If you haven't got the albums the material comes form,
get this as a nice little taster. It's thrash tinged with intelligence and skill
never sounded so good.

Rating: 3/5
Marty Dodge

Fifty Caliber Kiss: Armor Class Invincible

Besides loving the geeky Dungeons and Dragons inspired title of this CD, not to
mention the great band name, the metalcore stylings on show are some of the best
I have heard. Not necessarily a fan of the genre, there is something a little
bit special about this lot. Obviously inspired by the likes of Pantera et al but
with a smattering of traditional metal in the musicianship, this band is not
just a bunch of wanna-bes. They are not afraid to show their humorous side with
their titles like "Magnets are for Lovers". This is serious bludgeon metalcore
that takes no prisoners and does not do so subtlety. A bit of maturing could
turn this lot into quite an impressive outfit. Only time will tell.

Rating: 3/5
Marty Dodge

Saxon: The Inner Sanctum

Saxon have been an enduring example of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the
consistency from this band even outdoes the mighty Iron Maiden. This band is no
exception with a consistent 10 track collection of classic heavy metal. There is
no denying the talent of Biff Byford and Co. whether it is the lyrical content
or the musicianship. Biff may have white hair, look like he comes straight out
of Lord Of The Rings, but he has liquid metal running through his veins.
They have a sense of humour as well... notice the various phallic nuances on the
cover. The band are continuing the run of quality albums this new century,
combining classic metal with modern production to produce something truly
special. There is a no such thing as a stand-out track because they all do.
Well, except for the exceptional reminder of the fall of the communism, "Red
Star Falling." Oh yes, and one more thing, they are bloody brilliant live as
well. Check 'em out if you can. This is a great early candidate for album of the
year.

Rating: 4.7/5
Marty Dodge

Magnum: Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow

This has a cover with a wonderful twist of humour and an album that reminds us
all of Magnum when they are at their best. Since their return from self-imposed
hiatus, Magnum have been on the top of their game. Like Saxon and Iron Maiden,
they have been combining the best of classic metal with modern recording
techniques to produce something truly special. They are not nostalgic but using
their past and their future equally well. The most impressive track is "Dragons
are Red' which might cause a snicker from some but has all the proper qualities
of a Magnum song. The band is in fine form with Bob Catley in great vocal form.
Their best since On a Storyteller's Night? Quite possibly yes. Musical
story-telling has never sounded so good. It's an excellent album from a band of
great quality that seems to take growing older as an excuse to be stubborn and
stick to their guns.

Rating: 4.5/5
Marty Dodge