Ross Halfin and Rufus Publications have announced the publication of Pete Way By Ross Halfin, a 240-page celebration of UFO’s iconic bass player, containing classic and unseen images by music photographer Ross Halfin, and exclusive new interviews and with Phil Mogg (UFO), Andy Parker (UFO), Neil Carter (UFO), Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Geddy Lee (Rush), Phil Collen (Def Leppard), Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Rick Savage (Def Leppard), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Steve Harris (Iron Maiden), Rick Neilsen (Cheap Trick), Michael Schenker (UFO), Phil Lewis (L.A. GUNS), Gerry Laffy and more, compiled by Mojo writer and author Mark Blake.
Halfin said, “Of all the people I’ve known over the years, Pete could be the funniest and also the most infuriating person. Of all the recent musicians to leave the stage, Pete’s exit hit me the hardest, so I wanted to do this book in his honor with the people that really knew him also sharing their memories. The idea of this book is really to celebrate a friend of mine and for all his faults he was a very funny person and someone I always considered a true friend.”
The Standard Edition: A 240-page book, A4 portrait, casebound with a choice of two printed, laminated covers. £59 ($74.98) plus delivery.
The Deluxe Edition: A 264-page book, A3 portrait, casebound with a recycled leather quarter bind and printed cover. Personally signed by Ross Halfin and complete with a limited-edition print. 150 numbered copies worldwide. £350 ($444.70) plus delivery.
Way passed on August 14th at the age of 69 and is is survived by two daughters, Zowie and Charlotte, and his younger brother, Neill.
Two-time GRAMMY-nominated and millions-selling progressive music titans Dream Theater are back with the latest live installment to their impressive thirty-one-year catalog of releases. Scheduled for release on November 27th, the band is set to unleash their ninth career live album Distant Memories – Live In London. Recorded at their sold-out show at the Apollo Theatre in London, the live release documents the band’s popular world tour in support of their latest critically acclaimed studio album Distance Over Timeand the 20-year anniversary of their seminal concept album Metropolis Part 2 – Scenes From A Memory. Fans can check out the live version of Pale Blue Dot from Distant Memories – Live In London, here.
“Whether you had a chance to see this tour in person and want to relive what was hopefully an awesome concert experience or enjoying the performance on video for the first time, Distant Memories – Live In Londonvery accurately and very beautifully captures the energy and excitement we all felt together at the Apollo this past February,” explains guitarist John Petrucci.
Distant Memories – Live In London is the band’s first since 2014’s Breaking the Fourth Wall. The new live release will be available in various configurations including digital only, a 3-CD and 2 DVD multibox, a 3-CD and 2 Blu-Ray digipak with slipcase, a limited deluxe 3-CD + 2 Blu-Ray + 2 DVD Artbook and a limited 4-LP and 3-CD box set. The video components will also feature a Behind The Scenes look at the band as they get ready for the shows. All formats of Distant Memories – Live In London are now available for pre-order here.
The tracklisting for Distant Memories – Live In London is:
1. Untethered Angel 2. A Nightmare to Remember 3. Fall Into the Light 4. Barstool Warrior 5. In the Presence of Enemies – Part 1 6. Pale Blue Dot 7. Scenes Live Intro 8. Scene One: Regression 9. Scene Two: I. Overture 1928 10. Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu 11. Scene Three: I. Through My Words 12. Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy 13. Scene Four: Beyond This Life 14. Scene Five: Through Her Eyes 15. Scene Six: Home 16. Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity 17. Scene Seven: II. One Last Time 18. Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On 19. Scene Nine: Finally Free 20. At Wit’s End 21. Paralyzed (Bonus Track)
American rock legend Alice Cooper is gearing up to bring his fans a different type of release this fall, something a little spicy. The beloved Godfather of Shock Rock announced today he has partnered with the world’s largest specialty hot sauce distributor, Hot Shots. In collaboration with his publishing company, Primary Wave Music, Cooper is releasing three different hot sauces based on his hit songs, Welcome to My Nightmare, No More Mr. Nice Guy, and Poison. All three hot sauces are now available and can be found at select stores and online globally.
Alice’s Welcome To My Nightmare hot sauce is the mildest of the three. With the great taste of the medium heat of Serrano chiles, the sauce also brings an early flavor of lime. Fans nervous of heat shouldn’t be scared off, the robust flavor of garlic and a hint of cumin will leave them feeling right at home with this southwestern sauce.
The No More Mr. Nice Guy sauce tells a different story. This medium level heat contains aged red habanero peppers that create the perfect balance of heat and flavor so good you’ll find it obscene. With a few drops of this, you’ll be swinging back at the good Reverend.
Rounding out the three sauces is the hottest of them all, Poison. The intense heat of this sauce will put you in Alice’s straightjacket. Your senses will tell you to stop when you feel the reaper chiles running through your veins with Poison.
Of the partnership, Matthew Heald (President, Hot Shots) said, “We are honored to partner with Alice Cooper to develop his line of sauces. These sauce recipes were developed by the Godfather of the Hot Sauce industry, CaJohn, and they are sure to be fan favorites – if they can handle the heat.”
Alice adds. “In general I don’t believe food should be painful. But in the case of my hot sauces it is PAIN, PLEASURE, PAIN, PLEASURE. Just repeat until satisfied,”
Original Judas Priest singer Al Atkins spoke with Andreas Andreou of Crystal Logic, excerpts from the interview appear below.
Crystal Logic: In my opinion, there are actually two different Judas Priest bands. Let me be clear: the first one was your band (1969-1970) and the second was the band formed by Kenneth Downing (guitar) and Ian Hill (bass) with John Ellis on drums, joined by you who also brought the name. What’s your personal view in the formation of Judas Priest?
Al Atkins: Well I was in the 1969-70 and 1970-73 line-ups… and we got through four drummers in four years, so I think the link is there with me and they were both my bands. I was the main spokesman, singer and songwriter after all. The name Judas Priestis the main thing no matter who comes and goes along the way, but in my opinion I think now, after 50 years together, it has nearly run it’s course and if Rob (Halford) left again that would be the end of the story. The band first started in 1969, but with lots of bad luck like losing our record contract with Immediate Records and firing the drummer, our bass player Bruno Stapenhill decided to leave us for another band and to tour around Denmark… so that was that.
Crystal Logic: What’s the origin of the “Judas Priest” name?
Al Atkins: Bruno, the bass player, came up with it. He took it from a song called The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest from the album John Wesley Harding by Bob Dylan.
Crystal Logic: Do you really believe that Judas Priest was a “heavy metal” band in your years or just hard rock?
Al Atkins: We were all hard rock or progressive rock, the name “heavy metal” hadn’t been invented back then not until a few years later.
Crystal Logic: At some time you also performed with Trapeze in 1972. What do you remember of your meeting with Glen Hughes and Dave Holland who later joined Judas Priest?
Al Atkins: I remember it well , it was at Henry’s Blues House in town. It was a very famous little venue with a reputation like Liverpool’s Cavern. You could go and see Robert Plant jamming with some band or other and Black Sabbath played there frequently too, in their early days. Trapeze were a great little three piece rock/funk band who were a great bunch of guys.
Crystal Logic: When did you leave the band and how did they continue using the Judas Priest name? Have you ever met Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton during that period?
Al Atkins: I left the band in May 1973. I was the only one married and now with a small child to feed, I decided to get a 9 to 5 job and support my family because we just couldn’t get that big record deal we so wanted to give us some financial backing and although we were getting bigger, we had more overheads to go with it. Norman Hood at the agency helped me out sometimes with some cash but it wasn’t enough.
A few months after leaving the band, K.K. and Ian came knocking on my door and asked me if they could use the name Judas Priest and if they could have the songs too and I said yes and best of luck… They said they had found a new vocalist to take my place, named Robert Halford, who I had never heard of but his band Hiroshima had been on our agency books too. They hit the road pretty soon and toured the UK and Europe and the following year they added Birmingham guitarist Glenn Tipton from The Flying Hat Band who were also in the same agency and we both played on the same bill together once at the Plaza Ballroom, B’ham. So now Judas Priest were a five piece for the first time.
Crystal Logic: I am sure you’ve seen…Judas Priest live over the years. How was the feeling the first time and how was the last time?
Al Atkins: It was strange seeing Rob singing my songs after I had left them and I didn’t like his high range vocal style at first, but he got older and his voice matured. He was incredible especially during the eighties… really wicked. I last saw them a few years back at Wolverhampton Civic Hall and they played a great set, but I missed K.K. on guitar. Although, Ritchie is a good guitarist.
I went to see K.K., Tim Owens and Les Binks last year at his new venue The Steel Mill and the band was just amazing. It was great to meet them all back stage later.
Crystal Logic: But life in heavy metal continued. And Al Atkins is still active.
Al Atkins: I have recorded six solo albums, one album with Holy Rage album and have played live all over including Florida, New York to California… Check out my new venture with guitarist Paul May, the Atkins/ May Project, we have recorded four albums now and the latest is The Final Cut, but will it be the final cut? Who knows which way the wind blows. I will keep rocking as long as I can but I have had a great time and life no matter what.
Canadian hard rock veterans Coney Hatch are pleased to announce their first ever Pay-Per-View Web Concert October 3rd.
The band returns to the Legendary El Mocambo in Toronto for the first time since 1983. The concert will feature music from all four of their studio records spanning a 30+ year career and will include a close up interview hosted by Metal Tim Henderson of Brave Word fame.
The show will be recorded for a future release on vinyl and CD which also marks the first ever Coney Hatch live record release. Pre order your copy below with the option to bundle a special limited edition Coney Hatch El Mocambo exclusive event T Shirt. Proceeds from every live stream purchase, in person ticket and T shirt purchase will go towards the Unison Benevolent Fund to aid the Canadian music community.
On September 21st, original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was guest on Eddie’s Sirius/XM show Trunk Nation.
When asked if he still stays in touch with any of his former New York City bandmates, Frehley replied (via blabbermouth.net), “I exchange messages with those guys from time to time. Gene [Simmons] gave me a phone call a couple of weeks ago, actually, and I still haven’t gotten back to him. I’ve been so preoccupied with moving and unpacking and designing… I’m the architect for this new studio [I am building at my new house in New Jersey], so I’ve been pretty jammed up. But I will get back to Gene. I speak to Paul [Stanley] from time to time. I speak to [Peter Criss’s wife] Gigi and Peter. So we’re all friends.”
“It’s a shame that the press makes it out that we all hate each other,” he continued. “After what we created and what we accomplished over the last 40 years — me and Peter, Paul and Gene being the founding members of KISS — there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be friends and let bygones be bygones.”
Addressing whether Frehley would like to play with his former bandmates one more time, before the band is retired, the guitarist replied, “I think it’s a possibility, but they’d have to reach deep into their pockets. I’m not getting up on stage for free, I can tell you that right now. I’m doing it because I love it, but I also love the money and I also love my Jaguar and my new Escalade and my new house, and I have all those things because of the music business and my fans, I give my fans 110 percent, and they give me 110 percent, so it works both ways. But Paul and Gene absolutely have admitted numerous times, they’re in it for the money — sometimes more so than the music. I’m not gonna get up there for free, and I don’t think any of my fans would expect me to. But I think my fans would love to see me up there.”
Frehley recently released his Origins Vol. 2, covers album, on September 18th. Additionally, in a current interview, which can be read here, he listed his favorite KISS solos.
