Author Archives : Dana

“IS IT LOUD ENOUGH? MICHAEL SCHENKER: 1980-1983,” SIX CD RETROSPECTIVE, WITH BOOKLET, OUT MARCH 29TH

Is It Loud Enough? Michael Schenker: 1980 – 1983, a newly remastered 6CD, 66 track boxset, brings together Michael Schenker material recorded from 1979 – 1983. It will be released on March 29^th through Chrysalis Records and be pre-ordered, here.

A turbulent time for Michael, following his exit from UFO via Scorpions, features the studio albums Michael Schenker Group, MSG, Assault Attack, Built to Destroy (both UK and US versions) as well as a disc of demos & alternative versions featuring the entire 1979 demo tape, rare monitor mixes and single versions and a disc of completely unreleased material, with early studio takes and rough monitor mixes. At the centre of this package is a 52-page booklet which includes newly conducted interviews with Michael Schenker, Gary Barden and Graham Bonnet, with extensive liner notes by Jerry Ewing of Classic Rock, neatly annotated with rare photographs and imagery. This stylish set comes housed in a two-piece slipcase box with all original album art reproduced as mini-LP sleeves with inner sleeves. All music has been remastered from original tape transfers at AIR Mastering.

Following Schenker’s departure from UFO and Scorpions and having gained a reputation as one of the most exciting guitarists in hard rock, anticipation was high for Michael’s own band – MSG did not disappoint. Leading the burgeoning heavy metal scene, this string of albums solidified their position as one of the most important figures on the scene.

Format: 6-CD two-piece slipcase box set with all material newly remastered at AIR Studios. 52-page booklet with liner notes from Jerry Ewing and interviews with Michael Schenker, Gary Barden and Graham Bonnet. Featuring two bonus discs of previously unreleased and rare music.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1 – Michael Schenker Group: 1. Armed and Ready 2. Cry for the Nations 3. Victim of Illusion 4. Bijou Pleasurette 5.  Feels Like a Good Thing 6. Into the Arena 7. Looking out from Nowhere 8. Tales of Mystery 9. Lost Horizons

Disc 2 – MSG: 1. Ready to Rock 2. Attack of the Mad Axeman 3. On and On 4. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie 5. But I Want More 6. Never Trust a Stranger 7. Looking for Love 8. Secondary Motion 

Disc 3 – Assault Attack: 1. Assault Attack 2. Rock You to the Ground 3. Dancer 4. Samurai 5. Desert Song 6. Broken Promises 7. Searching for a Reason 8. Ulcer

Disc 4 – Built To Destroy: Original Mix: 1. Rock My Nights Away 2. I’m Gonna Make You Mine 3. The Dogs of War 4. Systems Failing 5. Captain Nemo 6. Still Love That Little Devil 7. Red Sky 8. Time Waits (For No One) 9. Walk the Stage U.S. Mix: 10. I’m Gonna Make You Mine 11. Time Waits (For No One) 12. Systems Failing 13. Rock Will Never Die 14. Red Sky 15. Rock My Nights Away 16. Captain Nemo 17. The Dogs of War 18. Still Love That Little Devil

Disc 5 – Demos & Alt. Versions: 1. Just A Lover (1979 Demo) 2. Looking Out From Nowhere (1979 Demo) 3. Get Up And Get Down (1979 Demo) 4. After Midnight (1979 Demo) 5. Breakout (1979 Demo) 6. Cry For The Nations (Radio Edit) 7. Armed and Ready (Guitar Hero: Metallica) 8. Dogs Of War (Edit) 9. Never Trust A Stranger (Monitor Mix) 10. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (Sounds Flexi Edit) 11. Girl From Uptown (Single Version) 12. Dancer (DJ 7” Edit) 13. Don’t Take It Out On Me (Non-Album Track)

Disc 6 – Unreleased: 1. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (Rough Monitor Mix) 2. Attack Of The Mad Axeman (Alt. Version – Monitor Mix) 3. Never Say Die (Live Rehearsal Take) 4. On And On (Rough Monitor Mix) 5. Looking For Love (Monitor Mix) 6. But I Want More (Rough Monitor Mix) 7. Girl From Uptown (Alternate Version) 8. Rock You To The Ground (Rough Alt. Mix) 9. Ulcer (Early Studio Take) 10. Captain Nemo (Early Studio Take).

DIRTY HONEY RELEASES MUSIC VIDEO FOR “COMING HOME (BALLAD OF THE SHIRE)”

Currently on its third consecutive, sold-out U.K./European headline tour, today Dirty Honey releases a brand new music video for Coming Home (Ballad of the Shire) from the band’s current album, Can’t Find The Brakes. 

The Coming Home video offers an unexpected element from a band best known for its high-energy, sexy, bluesy rock’n’roll and reflects the song’s message about navigating through the peaks and valleys of life.  With lyrics by vocalist Marc LaBelle, the song is a deeply personal, heartfelt tale of love and life’s everyday challenges: the insecurities, the misunderstandings, the words spoken that you wish you hadn’t, and the hurt inflicted that you can’t magically erase.  But, in the end, the realization is that no matter the challenges, home is where your heart is, home is where you belong, and home is just a few more miles ahead.

Said LaBelle, “Being musicians that live on the road, Home has become wherever it is that we’re playing music, rather than a particular place. We wanted to showcase our separate journeys, knowing full well that the music will always call us back home.” 

Directed, shot, and edited by cinematographer Mark Christy, the Coming Home video was filmed in January, taking the band – LaBelle, guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian, and drummer Jaydon Bean – to various U.S. locations.  Explained LaBelle, “We went to Snoquamish for the snow and to Durango and Flagstaff for the train scenes. And we knew Monument Valley was an epic, very American West-looking landscape symbolic of both America’s beauty and the struggle of and vastness of traveling through the American West.” 

You can check out the video below, or catch it in heavy rotation on MTV Live, MTV U, or MTV Spankin’ New.

Having kicked off in Glasgow, Scotland on February 7, heading to Australia in March for their first-ever “down under” concerts, and performing at two major summer U.S. festivals in May, Dirty Honey’s upcoming U.K./European/Australian/U.S. dates are below:

February:

28 Hybrydy, Warsaw, Poland

29 Columbia Theater, Berlin, Germany

March:

 1 Futurum Music Bar, Prague, Czech Republic

 3 Analog, Budapest, Hungary

 4 Simm City, Vienna, Vienna

 5 Backstage Halle, Munich, Germany

 7 Kulturfabrik Kofmehl, Solothurn, Switzerland

 8 Alcatraz, Milan, Milan

 9 Dynamo Zürich (Dynamo), Zürich, Switzerland

11 Apollo 2, Barcelona, Spain

12 LA Paqui, Madrid, Spain

13 Kafe Antzokia, Bilbao, Spain

15 La Machine Du Moulin Rouge, Paris, France

March 28 – April 1 Bluesfest Byron Bay 2024, Byron Bay, Australia

May:

 9 Welcome to Rockville, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL

17 Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, Columbus, OH

THE METAL GOD DISCUSSES THE DIVERSITY OF JUDAS PRIEST’S SOUND, ALSO LISTEN TO THEIR NEW SONG, “THE SERPENT AND THE KING,” OFF “INVINCIBLE SHIELD,” OUT MARCH 8TH

In a new interview with The Plan B Show With Brock And Hunter on the Rock 107 WIRX radio station in Southwest Michigan, Judas Priest iconic singer Rob Halford was asked what he thinks an 18-year-old metalhead who is just discovering the band might take away from the band’s upcoming album, Invincible Shield. He responded (as transcribed by blabbermouth.net), “Well, they’re embracing something that is, I would suggest, unique in the way that we’ve kind of broken the rules, if there were any, as to how heavy metal should sound and feel and what it should say.”

“And so, firstly, if you’re a new heavy metal maniac and you’re just turning 18 or you’re just turning 12 or 14, whatever, thank you,” he continued. “God bless you for coming to this band…And I would say embrace everything that this Priest band does, because, as you know, we can take you everywhere — we can break the law, we can go living after midnight, we can do some painkilling. We can take you on this incredible journey in this world of heavy metal that is exclusively unique to Priest.”

“This band has done many, many things,” he added. “One minute we’re the Sentinel and the next minute we’re gonna be a Turbo Lover. It’s a wild ride, man. It’s a wild ride. And so we really love to have this opportunity, particularly reaching new metalheads, to bring you into our metal community and give you some of the best times in your life that you’re gonna have.”

Asked if he has a favorite track on Invincible Shield, Halford said, “I still keep going towards that opening cut, Panic Attack (listen here). It’s got so much substance…So Panic Attack, which is the title of the opening cut…really carries a lot of weight. So, that is my favorite. But if you ask me five minutes from now, I’ll give you a different song. But I just love the energy and audacity of that particular track, the way it opens up, ’cause it opens up with these really cool — ‘What are these? Is this Turbo again? These synthy-sounding guitars. And is that Scott [Travis, drummer] on Syndrums?’ There’s a lot of, ‘Oh my God. What’s gonna go off?’ And then — bang! The track opens up, that riff that Richie [Faulkner] put together. It’s just mind-blowing. And Scott‘s work, Ian‘s [Hill, bassist] work, and then yours truly wailing on the mic. It’s, like, ‘Oh my God. Thank God for that. That’s still the Priest that we love.’ So let’s go with some Panic Attack and keep that side of Priest alive and proud.”

Invincible Shield will arrive on March 8th through Sony Music. To listen to additional tracks, from the album, please click on the highlighted song titles: Trial By Fire, Crown Of Thorns and The Serpent And The King (which can be heard below).

Invincible Shield will arrive on March 8th through Sony Music. The band has also announced tour dates, in support of the new record, view the itinerary, here.

LOVERBOY TO LAUNCH PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED SHOW, “LIVE IN ’82,” FULLY RESTORED AND REMIXED ON JUNE 7TH

The story of Loverboy is akin to a Hollywood movie. Overcoming rejection to eventually become one of Canada’s most successful rock bands of all time and selling millions of albums in the process, is a feel-good story for the ages. 

On June 7th, one of their most incredible live performances will be released for the very first time, in high definition. Live In ‘82 has been lovingly restored by Paul Dean from his personal archive of 16mm film, the joyous energy of a band who helped define the golden era of 80’s music captured like lightning in a bottle. With their great music, colorful clothing, outrageous hairstyles (and headbands), and terrific soundtracks for movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ and Top Gun, Loverboy has stood the test of time.

Live In ‘82 will become available on limited CD+Blu-ray, limited LP+DVD and digital streaming and download. Today’s announcement coincides with the launch of the first live track: Turn Me Loose is available as digital single and live video (see below). Also, you can pre-order the album, here.

Loverboy–Live In ‘82 tracklisting:

CD:

1. Intro (LP Side A)

2. Jump

3. Lucky Ones 

4. Lady Of The 80’s

5. Take Me To The Top 

6. It’s Your Life 

7. Gangs In The Street (LP Side B)

8. Turn Me Loose

9. The Kid Is Hot Tonight 

10. When It’s Over 

11. Working For The Weekend

DVD / Blu-ray:

1. Intro 

2. Jump

3. Lucky Ones 

4. Lady Of The 80’s

5. Take Me To The Top 

6. It’s Your Life 

7. Gangs In The Street 

8. Turn Me Loose

9. The Kid Is Hot Tonight 

10. When It’s Over 

11. Working For The Weekend

12. End Credits

For more than 40 years, Loverboy has been “Working For The Weekend” (and on the weekend), delighting audiences around the world since forming in 1979, when vocalist Mike Reno was introduced to guitar hot shot Paul Dean – both veterans of several bands on the Canadian scene – at Calgary’s Refinery Night Club. Along with Reno and Dean, Loverboy still includes original members Doug Johnson on keyboards and Matt Frenette on drums, with Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve replacing the late Scott Smith on bass.

With their trademark red leather pants, bandannas, big rock sound and high-energy live shows, the bandhas sold more than 10 million albums, earning several multi-platinum awards. Their string of hits includes, in addition to the anthem Working For The Weekend’ such arena rock staples as The Kid Is Hot Tonight, Take Me To The Top’ Turn Me Loose’ Jump and many more. Loverboy are not only masters of their craft as songwriters, but also renowned for being a formidable touring act, spending years on the road sharing stages with everyone from Def Leppard to Journey.

In 2009, the group was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and more recently the Canadian Walk of Fame, in the fall of 2023. 

And there is no stopping the band this year, as they embark on a Live Nation promoted North American tour supporting Sammy Hagar, starting in July, dates here: loverboyband.com/shows.

Loverboy socials: Website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.

ACE FREHLEY RELEASES VIDEO FOR “CHERRY MEDICINE,” NEW ALBUM “10,000 VOLTS” OUT TOMORROW

RRHOF-inductee and guitar legend Ace Frehley releases a new video for Cherry Medicine, featured on his new album, 10,000 Volts. 

His highly-anticipated album will be released tomorrow. Produced and co-written by Ace and Steve Brown, the uncontainable energy on the 11-tracks showcases some of Ace’s best works since his ’78 solo album.

On Cherry Medicine, a mean palm-muted chug underlines his pensive vocals where he confesses, “I knew I had to change my ways for sure to keep you by my side.” The track showcases another side of Frehley with its saccharine and sweet, soaring hook as he promises, “I love you, cherry medicine. You heal my every need and some.” He seals the sentiment with another powerhouse solo.

Ace previously released the title track, 10,000 Volts and single Walkin’ on the Moon.

10,000 Volts upholds an incredible legacy for Frehley, spanning 50-plus years in the limelight. Back in 1978, he delivered his solo debut, Ace Frehley. It reached platinum status and exploded as “the highest-selling of the four KISS solo albums in the Soundscan era.” Pitchfork even retrospectively rated it a rare “8.5” score. In 1987, he dropped Frehley’s Comet.Following Anomaly in 2009, he went on to make history once again. His 2014 Space Invader LP captured #9 on the Billboard 200 and emerged as “The only solo album by a past or current KISS member to reach the Top 10 on the chart.” 2016’s Origins Vol. 1, bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart and in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart. He notably maintained his momentum with Spaceman [2018]. 

Rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal simply wouldn’t sound, look, or feel the same without Ace Frehley. Among hundreds of accolades, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® inducted him in 2014 as a Co-founder and the original lead guitarist of KISS. Guitar World named him in the Top 15 of its “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time” and plugged the lead from Shock Me on the “50 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time.” Magnifying the imprint of his catalog as a solo artist, Foo Fighters cut a fan-favorite cover of Ozone, and he even jammed out New York Groove alongside The Roots on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The late Dimebag Darrell of Pantera proudly sported a tattoo of Frehley on his chest, while Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine celebrated him on X/Twitter as “My first guitar hero.”

FEATURING MEMBERS OF EVANESCENCE, ALICE COOPER AND GRANNY 4 BARREL, KILLINGTON PIT, RELEASES COVER OF JUDAS PRIEST’S “RIDING ON THE WIND”

As Killington Pit prepare to release their first original material later in 2024 and play their first live shows, the band recently released another of their hugely popular cover songs. On February 16th the band released a stunning cover of the Judas Priest classic Riding On The Wind. The track comes from Priest’s seminal 1982 Screaming For Vengeance album and is another perfect showcase for the sound and chemistry of newcomers Killington Pit.

The track features a stunning performance video from the band, which can be viewed below.

The new cover version follows the bands initial two single releases. Their cover of Accept’s Balls To The Wall (which can be heard here) and Rainbow’s Kill the King (which is posted below Riding On The Wind) now have over one and a half million streams on Spotify and hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.

The members of Killington Pit connected during the pandemic lockdown and began recording together. As time progressed friendships grew and a core band formed with Terry LeRoi, Will Hunt, Troy McLawhorn and Chuck Garric. Kill The King also featured veteran guitarist Stef Burns (Alice Cooper, Huey Lewis & The News) and vocalist guitarist Jeff Blando (Slaughter, Lynch Mob, Vince Neil).

Will Hunt says, “Riding On The Wind was always my favorite [Judas] Priest tune, before [drummer] Scott Travis, of course. I definitely tried to approach it in a way I thought Scott would play it to give it some modern energy. The fellas and I had a lotta fun with this one.”

Troy McLawhorn comments,“ [Guitarists]Glenn [Tipton] and K K [Downing] were my teachers when I was learning to play the guitar. Not literally, but I listened to Priest constantly when I was a kid and spent a lot of hours trying to figure out how to play their songs on the guitar. Judas Priest is one of my all-time favorite bands. It was a lot of fun and a challenge to try to recreate the guitar parts for our rendition of Riding On The Wind. Again, I stuck pretty closely to the original because I respect and honor what they wrote and recorded, and I wanted to do it justice. I’m not trying to re-invent the song. I just wanted to feel the joy of playing it!!!”

Chuck Garric adds, “[Bassit] Ian Hill of Judas Priest is a Bass icon. Thats what you get from a Metal God.”

Terry LeRoi says, “Screaming For Vengeance is one of my all time favorite records. It’s been a huge inspiration for me over the years. Riding On The Wind is the stand out track for me. Rob Halford’s voice is nothing short of amazing on this song and his midrange tones are ear shattering. His singing style and his willingness to pushing vocal limits is unparalleled and has always been my reference point. When Killington Pit started exploring possible songs to cover…this one was at the top of our list. It’s been such an honor to play with Will, Chuck and Troy and a privilege and great joy to pay tribute to Judas Priest.” 

LeRoi adds, “Over the coming months we will be releasing our full length covers album with accompanying videos. 2024 will see us playing select shows worldwide and releasing original Killington Pit music. We’re looking forward to sharing this with all of the fans.”

Vocals – Terry LeRoi
Drums – Will Hunt
Guitar – Troy McLawhorn
Bass – Chuck Garric

For more information visit: killingtonpit.com.