Author Archives : Dana

THE GOLF COURSE THAT FORMER JUDAS PRIEST GUITARIST K.K.DOWNING DESIGNED GAINS DARREN CLARKE AS ITS AMBASSADOR

Darren Clarke is the new global ambassador and attached professional at The Astbury – home of the first golf course designed by KK Downing, founding member of British heavy metal band Judas Priest.

Clarke, the 2011 Open champion, has agreed a three-year deal at the unique and modern non-members’ facility, which is located in the heart of the Severn Valley, Shropshire.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for me to be involved in the transformation of The Astbury into one of the great inland courses and all the other development aspirations they have,” said the Northern Irishman, winner of more than 20 titles worldwide.

Clarke, who will wear The Astbury’s logo on his left sleeve and attend selected events at the venue, added: “It is only going to get better and better with Kenny’s eye for detail.”

Downing, a lifelong golf fan, designed the championship layout having played some of the world’s finest courses while touring with Judas Priest, who have sold more than 40 million records globally.

“I usually let my guitar do the talking but the agreement with Darren, one of the world’s most recognisable golfers, is crucial in helping The Astbury become the international destination it deserves to be,” said West Bromwich-born Downing, who became one of the leading guitarists in the world after being mesmerised by the legendary sounds of Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall and Eric Clapton as a teenager.

“I have been totally engrossed by the project ever since I put down my plectrum and picked up a pitch mark repairer. I am determined to create the biggest, best and most futuristic spa in Britain. We are also hoping to build a Darren Clarke village along with holiday homes on the premises. It is a very exciting time in my life.”

The par-71 course was opened in 2010 and measures more than 6,500 yards. It has hosted several professional tournaments, including a PGA EUROPRO tour event which was featured on Sky Sports and will take place again in 2014.

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GUITARIST ADRIAN VANDENBERG’S NEW BAND, VANDENBERG’S MOONKINGS, TO RELEASE AN ALBUM NEXT MONTH

Former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg will release an album with his new band, Vandenberg’s MoonKings, next month.

The album includes a cover of Whitesnake’s Sailing Ships with Whitesnake frontman David Coverdale on guest vocals.

It’s the Dutchman’s first full studio record in 16 years. The 13-track self-titled release is released via Mascot Records on February 24th.

MoonKings track listing:

1. Lust And Lies
2. Close To You
3. Good Thing
4. Breathing
5. Steal Away
6. Line Of Fire
7. Out Of Reach
8. Feel It
9. Leave This Town
10. One Step Behind
11. Leeches
12. Nothing Touches
13. Sailing Ships

Watch a video teaser below.

source: classicrockmagazine.com

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LED ZEPPELIN WILL REPORTEDLY REISSUE THEIR FIRST THREE ALBUMS THIS YEAR

Led Zeppelin will begin releasing its long-promised catalog reissues this year. Jimmy Page reported the news via his website last week, but the post was removed shortly after. Rolling Stone confirmed the news today with a representative for the band. He added that the reissues “would be released on the Swan Song/Atlantic label, as they were originally.

The first to come out will be the group’s initial three releases, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II and Led Zeppelin III. The post also announced the release of “some of my own material from the archives” that will arrive this year, but he made no reference as to whether this is Jimmy Page solo material or collaborations with other artists from over the decades.

Page first announced the reissues in November 2012. Each album will come out as a deluxe edition that he told Rolling Stone would include “added sonic and visual thrills.” Page explained that he intended the reissues to include alternate mixes of the band’s songs, as well as concert recordings that were never officially released. He also said that the albums will sound much better than the versions now available. “The catalog was last remastered 20 years ago,” he said. “That’s a long time. Everything is being transferred from analog to a higher-resolution digital format. That’s one of the problems with the Zeppelin stuff. It sounds ridiculous on MP3. You can’t hear what’s there properly.”

Read more at Rolling Stone.

source: rollingstone.com

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EDDIE VAN HALEN ON WHY HE BUILT HIS 5150 STUDIO: “I WANTED MORE CONTROL”

Eddie Van Halen recalls the reasons why he decided to build his 5150 Studio ahead of the band recording their classic album 1984.

Part of it was to prevent arguments with then-wife actress Valerie Bertinelli, but another was that he was a self admitted control-freak who had a desire to stop “butting heads” with producer Ted Templeman.

Van Halen admits the resulting premises were far more extensive that he’d originally planned.

He tells Guitar World, “I used to have a back room in my house where I set up a little four-track recorder. I have a tape of me playing at 5am and you can hear Valerie come in and yell that she’s heard enough of that song.”

He continues, “The bottom line is that I wanted more control. I was always butting heads with Ted Templeman about what makes a good record. My philosophy has always been that I would rather bomb with my own music than make it with other people’s music. Ted felt that if you re-do a proven hit, you’re already halfway there. I didn’t want to be halfway there with someone else’s stuff.”

Eddie’s continued debate with Templeman is one of the reasons 5150 didn’t remain simply a demo studio. “I wanted to show Ted we could make a great record without any cover tunes and do it our way,” he says.

“Donn Landee and I proceeded to figure out how to build a recording studio. I didn’t initially set out to build a full-blown studio, I just wanted a better place to put my music together so I could show it to the guys. I never imagined that it would turn into what it did until we started building it.”

1984 – released 30 years ago this week – remains Van Halen’s best-selling album. It spawned the hit singles Jump, Hot For Teacher, Panama and I’ll Wait, and sales hit 12-times platinum in the US alone.

additional source: classicrockmagazine.com

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GUNS N’ ROSES ANNOUNCE SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

Iconic rock act Guns N’ Roses are setting up tour plans in 2014 beginning with a return to South America for multiple dates in the spring, announced today. The start of the trip south begins with headlining the second night of the Hell & Heaven Metal Festival, followed by stops in four countries. For more information on the tour, fans can go to www.gunsnroses.com. Tickets for Hell & Heaven are already on sale and available at www.hellandheavenfest.com.

Guns N’ Roses tour dates:

Sunday, March 16 Mexico City, Mexico
Thursday, March 20 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Saturday, March 22 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Tuesday, March 25 Brasilia, Brazil
Friday, March 28 Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sunday, March 30 Curitiba, Brazil
Tuesday, April 1 Florianapolis, Brazil
Thursday, April 3 Porto Alegre, Brazil
Sunday, April 6 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Wednesday, April 9 Asuncion, Paraguay

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