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Home to the articles, eBooks and commentaries by
Ross Muir
Freelance Writer, Music Review & Artist Promotion
Putting the Words to the Music - and a few other subjects
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Home to the articles, eBooks and commentaries by
Ross Muir
Freelance Writer, Music Review & Artist Promotion
Putting the Words to the Music - and a few other subjects
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January Message from FabricationsHQ
A Happy New Year to one and all and here's to health, happiness and peace in 2012.
Pressing and prolonged family matters continue to be a personal priority and will almost certainly continue through the early part of 2012.
All of which means it's still a case of severely reduced time and input in connection with FabricationsHQ.
But that's real life in action, from which music can sometimes be a healthy and necessary escape.
With that in mind there will still be Muirsical Thoughts updates and a review or three throughout each month, but many of the larger articles, features or forthcoming interviews are on the backburner or will appear later than anticipated.
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A Happy New Year to one and all and here's to health, happiness and peace in 2012.
Pressing and prolonged family matters continue to be a personal priority and will almost certainly continue through the early part of 2012.
All of which means it's still a case of severely reduced time and input in connection with FabricationsHQ.
But that's real life in action, from which music can sometimes be a healthy and necessary escape.
With that in mind there will still be Muirsical Thoughts updates and a review or three throughout each month, but many of the larger articles, features or forthcoming interviews are on the backburner or will appear later than anticipated.
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Latest Articles
(click on the title to go directly to the article)
Gig Review - The Big Dish, Glasgow First FabricationsHQ review of the year comes courtesy of friend and fellow music fan David Milloy, who reports on the return of one of the best melodic pop band Scotland ever produced.
Duncan Chisholm - Special Musical Forces The renowned fiddle player has had quite a career already, but recent musical activities may well have produced his most personal and satisfying works yet.
Peter Frampton - black Gibson gold dust - How Peter Frampton was reunited with his favourite guitar thirty-two years after it was presumed lost and destroyed.
The Johnson Brothers - Out of the Blues come Smiles Paul 'Ginty' Johnson is probably the best singer you have never heard. Read why it's important you do hear him and The Johnson Brothers new CD (and the cause behind it).
Scottish National Jazz Orchestra press release The SNJO promises “fabulous weather” for their Scottish shows in February, but it's not a forecast. The line refers to the SNJO performing with very special guest and renowned drummer Peter Erskine, best known for his work with influential jazz-rockers Weather Report.
Book Review - The Rock & Roll Times: Music Industry Bible by Will Beattie
Essential reading for the budding rock God in this electronically re-released work by Beattie. An informative and nicely mapped out Music Industry 101 guide.
Popular older articles
The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest Muirsical Reflection on the most misunderstood rock band of the 70's. Known for their great Glam Rock era, but criminally under-rated in their own country as regards original product and musicianship.
The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story Article on the intriguing history behind one of the most iconic instruments in rock and roll.
(click on the title to go directly to the article)
Gig Review - The Big Dish, Glasgow First FabricationsHQ review of the year comes courtesy of friend and fellow music fan David Milloy, who reports on the return of one of the best melodic pop band Scotland ever produced.
Duncan Chisholm - Special Musical Forces The renowned fiddle player has had quite a career already, but recent musical activities may well have produced his most personal and satisfying works yet.
Peter Frampton - black Gibson gold dust - How Peter Frampton was reunited with his favourite guitar thirty-two years after it was presumed lost and destroyed.
The Johnson Brothers - Out of the Blues come Smiles Paul 'Ginty' Johnson is probably the best singer you have never heard. Read why it's important you do hear him and The Johnson Brothers new CD (and the cause behind it).
Scottish National Jazz Orchestra press release The SNJO promises “fabulous weather” for their Scottish shows in February, but it's not a forecast. The line refers to the SNJO performing with very special guest and renowned drummer Peter Erskine, best known for his work with influential jazz-rockers Weather Report.
Book Review - The Rock & Roll Times: Music Industry Bible by Will Beattie
Essential reading for the budding rock God in this electronically re-released work by Beattie. An informative and nicely mapped out Music Industry 101 guide.
Popular older articles
The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest Muirsical Reflection on the most misunderstood rock band of the 70's. Known for their great Glam Rock era, but criminally under-rated in their own country as regards original product and musicianship.
The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story Article on the intriguing history behind one of the most iconic instruments in rock and roll.
Latest Muirsical Thoughts
America singer Etta James, who musically and vocally crossed many musical genres from blues to rock and roll and soul to jazz, died on the 20th January 2012 after complications of Leukaemia.
The 73 year old made her name in the 1950’s as a rhythm and blues singer but she was quite at home with pop, blues and jazz.
Her biggest hit was 'At Last,' best termed a pop standard but one of her four Grammy Awards was for best jazz vocal (for the album Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday) in 1995.
She had a versatile and emotive voice but her career certainly had its up and downs, due in part to being hard to pigeonhole but more related to the changing musical fashions as the decades progressed and her own drug problems.
A heroin habit in the 1960’s was overcome but she would later use cocaine.
Etta James found herself back in fashion in 2008 when Beyoncé Knowles covered 'At Last' and starred as James in the musical biopic Cadillac Records.
For all the ups and downs and in and out of fashions experienced by Etta James, she will always be known as one of the great American female voices.
In thirty to forty years time I doubt the Beyoncé Knowles of the world will, and how anyone can compare her take of 'At Last' to Etta's (in terms of soulful, emotive vocality) is beyond me. Sorry, beyoncé me.
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The 73 year old made her name in the 1950’s as a rhythm and blues singer but she was quite at home with pop, blues and jazz.
Her biggest hit was 'At Last,' best termed a pop standard but one of her four Grammy Awards was for best jazz vocal (for the album Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday) in 1995.
She had a versatile and emotive voice but her career certainly had its up and downs, due in part to being hard to pigeonhole but more related to the changing musical fashions as the decades progressed and her own drug problems.
A heroin habit in the 1960’s was overcome but she would later use cocaine.
Etta James found herself back in fashion in 2008 when Beyoncé Knowles covered 'At Last' and starred as James in the musical biopic Cadillac Records.
For all the ups and downs and in and out of fashions experienced by Etta James, she will always be known as one of the great American female voices.
In thirty to forty years time I doubt the Beyoncé Knowles of the world will, and how anyone can compare her take of 'At Last' to Etta's (in terms of soulful, emotive vocality) is beyond me. Sorry, beyoncé me.
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After mentioning last month that Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers will be making a rare British appearance when they play the Isle of Wight festival in June, it was recently announced that headlining show will be preceded by a performance at the Royal Albert Hall on the 20th June, just two days before the festival performance.
So not one but two rare treats for the Petty fans.
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So not one but two rare treats for the Petty fans.
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From rare treat to absolutely inevitable…
Scott Gorham has been talking about it being time for Thin Lizzy to write and record new material, and under the Thin Lizzy name.
The Californian six-stringer, who was very much a part of the classic Lizzy line-up, first confirmed the possibility back in March 2011 but it’s a far cry from when the band reformed in 1996 around Gorham and guitarist John Sykes.
Sykes, who was a member of Thin Lizzy before the band’s original disbandment in 1983, felt the reformation was always more of a tribute to Phil Lynott and the classic Lizzy catalogue and it would be wrong to record new material under the Thin Lizzy name.
But that was then. This is now.
And now, with no Sykes, a further revamped version of the band (including one-time Lizzy keyboard player Darren Wharton and founder member Brian Downey) and classic rock gaining more interest than it has since the Hay Daze (but with a much smaller piece of the musical pie for many bands) new material from acts like Lizzy is being welcomed by a new generation of rock fans and some of the back-in-the-day hard core.
New albums/ material from reformed or re-imagined bands is even denting the charts again – no matter how good, bad or indifferent the new musical quality turns out to be.
So it’s no surprise whatsoever that Gorham would be rethinking the recording philosophy, because the name on the tin doesn’t just sell tickets, it now sells CD’s.
Albeit to a far lesser degree.
The debates have already started of course, with fans from the aforementioned die-hard to the casual fan-of-the-music taking stances from “absolutely they should” to “absolutely they shouldn’t.”
The problem with a band called Thin Lizzy is that although musicians like Gorham and Downey (a brilliant yet unheralded drummer who may well be the best musician Lizzy ever had) were core and integral parts of the classic Lizzy sound, Phil Lynott was the heart & soul, primary songwriter & lyrical poet, Irish brogue voice & charisma of the band in one roguish package.
If they had called themselves The Lizzies or some such derivative there wouldn’t be the 'name' calling hoo-hah we have now. But Thin Lizzy it is.
While at the same time Thin Lizzy it isn’t. And never can be again.
It’s the same issue I have with bands like Big Country and It Bites.
Another Country and It Bites Back would have been perfect nods to the past while looking forward, but those names would never carry as much interest or, arguably, ever sell as many tickets.
Best of luck to you, Mr Gorham. I’ll still be at the nearest Limehouse Lizzy gig.
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Scott Gorham has been talking about it being time for Thin Lizzy to write and record new material, and under the Thin Lizzy name.
The Californian six-stringer, who was very much a part of the classic Lizzy line-up, first confirmed the possibility back in March 2011 but it’s a far cry from when the band reformed in 1996 around Gorham and guitarist John Sykes.
Sykes, who was a member of Thin Lizzy before the band’s original disbandment in 1983, felt the reformation was always more of a tribute to Phil Lynott and the classic Lizzy catalogue and it would be wrong to record new material under the Thin Lizzy name.
But that was then. This is now.
And now, with no Sykes, a further revamped version of the band (including one-time Lizzy keyboard player Darren Wharton and founder member Brian Downey) and classic rock gaining more interest than it has since the Hay Daze (but with a much smaller piece of the musical pie for many bands) new material from acts like Lizzy is being welcomed by a new generation of rock fans and some of the back-in-the-day hard core.
New albums/ material from reformed or re-imagined bands is even denting the charts again – no matter how good, bad or indifferent the new musical quality turns out to be.
So it’s no surprise whatsoever that Gorham would be rethinking the recording philosophy, because the name on the tin doesn’t just sell tickets, it now sells CD’s.
Albeit to a far lesser degree.
The debates have already started of course, with fans from the aforementioned die-hard to the casual fan-of-the-music taking stances from “absolutely they should” to “absolutely they shouldn’t.”
The problem with a band called Thin Lizzy is that although musicians like Gorham and Downey (a brilliant yet unheralded drummer who may well be the best musician Lizzy ever had) were core and integral parts of the classic Lizzy sound, Phil Lynott was the heart & soul, primary songwriter & lyrical poet, Irish brogue voice & charisma of the band in one roguish package.
If they had called themselves The Lizzies or some such derivative there wouldn’t be the 'name' calling hoo-hah we have now. But Thin Lizzy it is.
While at the same time Thin Lizzy it isn’t. And never can be again.
It’s the same issue I have with bands like Big Country and It Bites.
Another Country and It Bites Back would have been perfect nods to the past while looking forward, but those names would never carry as much interest or, arguably, ever sell as many tickets.
Best of luck to you, Mr Gorham. I’ll still be at the nearest Limehouse Lizzy gig.
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Destroyer, the hard glam rock KISS classic from 1976, will be re-released as an expanded 35th Anniversary edition in February.
The release is expected to feature remixes of the original album by producer Bob Ezrin, various outtakes and the original cover art.
The latter might be the most intriguing aspect of the reissue as the original artwork by Ken Kelly was rejected by the record company for being, allegedly, too violent.
The original also sported the band members wearing their KISS Alive! costumes, which were updated for the album, reworked cover and subsequent tour.
You can almost smell “KISS Kollector’s Klassic” in amongst the grease paint and makeup.
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The release is expected to feature remixes of the original album by producer Bob Ezrin, various outtakes and the original cover art.
The latter might be the most intriguing aspect of the reissue as the original artwork by Ken Kelly was rejected by the record company for being, allegedly, too violent.
The original also sported the band members wearing their KISS Alive! costumes, which were updated for the album, reworked cover and subsequent tour.
You can almost smell “KISS Kollector’s Klassic” in amongst the grease paint and makeup.
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As most rock fans will already be aware it was recently confirmed rock legend Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma.
The Black Sabbath guitarist is positive, upbeat and still working on what is hoped to be a new Sabbath studio album this year, the first to feature the original line-up in more than thirty years.
With the illness diagnosed early, it’s also hoped there will be a full and successful recovery.
Similarly, keyboard player and composer Jon Lord announced back in August 2011 that he was battling an unspecified form of cancer.
He too, while taking a break from performance for treatment hasn’t stopped writing and hopes to be back behind the keys at some point this year.
One can only hope Lord and Iommi do indeed make full and speedy recoveries, but it is a stark reminder that even rock legends are not immortal or immune to such dark illnesses.
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The Black Sabbath guitarist is positive, upbeat and still working on what is hoped to be a new Sabbath studio album this year, the first to feature the original line-up in more than thirty years.
With the illness diagnosed early, it’s also hoped there will be a full and successful recovery.
Similarly, keyboard player and composer Jon Lord announced back in August 2011 that he was battling an unspecified form of cancer.
He too, while taking a break from performance for treatment hasn’t stopped writing and hopes to be back behind the keys at some point this year.
One can only hope Lord and Iommi do indeed make full and speedy recoveries, but it is a stark reminder that even rock legends are not immortal or immune to such dark illnesses.
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The Van Halen Update Part 538
No sooner have the Halen-ites got the new single, ‘Tattoo,’ out the door than the ex-members are lining up to conform it isn’t all that new. Sort of.
Original bassist Michael Anthony has confirmed what many already knew or suspected when he spoke recently about some of the new material coming from old material that he helped write. Or that was even written before he joined the band.
Anthony also confirmed he wouldn’t be chasing down any song writing credits however and is happy to let it be having already been there, played that and drunk the Jack Daniels straight from the bottle, rather than buying the JD t-shirt.
Keeping on that Van Halen story it seems that Wolfgang Van Halen, Edward’s son and the band’s bass player, suggested the band revisit the past for their musical present.
Wolfgang apparently instigated the archive and live bootleg search and that would seem to be borne out from the fact ‘Tatoo’ is clearly a reworking of ‘Down in Flames,’ a song that was only ever played live back before the debut album was released.
Last year Sammy Hagar made mention that he had heard the rumour that the next VH album would be made up of such material.
Old musical news is seemingly good musical news for Van Halen, their fans and the inevitable Top 5 Billboard album.
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No sooner have the Halen-ites got the new single, ‘Tattoo,’ out the door than the ex-members are lining up to conform it isn’t all that new. Sort of.
Original bassist Michael Anthony has confirmed what many already knew or suspected when he spoke recently about some of the new material coming from old material that he helped write. Or that was even written before he joined the band.
Anthony also confirmed he wouldn’t be chasing down any song writing credits however and is happy to let it be having already been there, played that and drunk the Jack Daniels straight from the bottle, rather than buying the JD t-shirt.
Keeping on that Van Halen story it seems that Wolfgang Van Halen, Edward’s son and the band’s bass player, suggested the band revisit the past for their musical present.
Wolfgang apparently instigated the archive and live bootleg search and that would seem to be borne out from the fact ‘Tatoo’ is clearly a reworking of ‘Down in Flames,’ a song that was only ever played live back before the debut album was released.
Last year Sammy Hagar made mention that he had heard the rumour that the next VH album would be made up of such material.
Old musical news is seemingly good musical news for Van Halen, their fans and the inevitable Top 5 Billboard album.
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As I start to get back into Muirsical mode for 2012, I’m reminded of just how important the Internet has become as regards music and the music business, because without it I certainly wouldn’t have heard one artist’s work or even heard of the artist.
Late last year singer songwriter Jes Falcon contacted me to ask if I would be interested in hearing his debut album or at least a number of his tracks.
Purest Falcon, which Jes refers to as a "big demo" was actually released in 2010 but with no mainstream U.K. distribution, it was of no surprise I had not heard of Jes or his album until we hooked up.
Originally from Spain but living in Amsterdam (and seeing himself as “an Amsterdammer”) Jes Falcon has a very distinct vocal sound, both in accent and vocality, and delivers songs best described as alternative rock.
I would go further – if the Punk movement had got tired of their own brand of music one day and decided to invent their own form of slightly off-centre guitar-riff rock they may well have created songs like ‘Nights Are Not the Same Without You’ and ‘No Cover.’
Jes’s voice and to some degree the style of songs, are very much an acquired taste, but there is a discordant warmth and charm to both. Prime examples are the quirky ‘San Francisco Square’ (but then I was probably always going to like it on title alone) and lighter ‘She Came with the Rain.’
But as hinted at Jes Falcon is not for everyone – Boston based Skope magazine were very favourable to what Jes was producing but other reviews/ comments have varied from “creative genius” to “horrid.”
That’s quite a critical swing but both are wide of the musical mark.
Jes has since released Fake Bluff, an album featuring new songs along with re-recordings of tracks that first appeared on Purest Falcon (but featuring stronger production values).
You can make your own minds up by checking out some of the tracks on Jes Falcon’s Myspace page or over at Soundcloud where four tracks were added a few months ago.
http://www.myspace.com/JesFalconforever
http://soundcloud.com/jes-falcon
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Late last year singer songwriter Jes Falcon contacted me to ask if I would be interested in hearing his debut album or at least a number of his tracks.
Purest Falcon, which Jes refers to as a "big demo" was actually released in 2010 but with no mainstream U.K. distribution, it was of no surprise I had not heard of Jes or his album until we hooked up.
Originally from Spain but living in Amsterdam (and seeing himself as “an Amsterdammer”) Jes Falcon has a very distinct vocal sound, both in accent and vocality, and delivers songs best described as alternative rock.
I would go further – if the Punk movement had got tired of their own brand of music one day and decided to invent their own form of slightly off-centre guitar-riff rock they may well have created songs like ‘Nights Are Not the Same Without You’ and ‘No Cover.’
Jes’s voice and to some degree the style of songs, are very much an acquired taste, but there is a discordant warmth and charm to both. Prime examples are the quirky ‘San Francisco Square’ (but then I was probably always going to like it on title alone) and lighter ‘She Came with the Rain.’
But as hinted at Jes Falcon is not for everyone – Boston based Skope magazine were very favourable to what Jes was producing but other reviews/ comments have varied from “creative genius” to “horrid.”
That’s quite a critical swing but both are wide of the musical mark.
Jes has since released Fake Bluff, an album featuring new songs along with re-recordings of tracks that first appeared on Purest Falcon (but featuring stronger production values).
You can make your own minds up by checking out some of the tracks on Jes Falcon’s Myspace page or over at Soundcloud where four tracks were added a few months ago.
http://www.myspace.com/JesFalconforever
http://soundcloud.com/jes-falcon
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The Van Halen update Part 537
Van Halen played an eleven song set in New York earlier in January and included a new song 'She's the Woman.'
The small and intimate press show at the Cafe Wha? on the 5th January otherwise relied on classic VH numbers from original line-ups back catalogue, but the gig itself was a prequel to the now confirmed 2012 tour and album.
US dates are now on the band's official website and further shows are to be added including the possibility of rest-of-the-world dates.
The album, A Different Kind of Truth, is scheduled for release in the US on the 7th February preceded by the lead off single, 'Tattoo,' on the 10th January.
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Van Halen played an eleven song set in New York earlier in January and included a new song 'She's the Woman.'
The small and intimate press show at the Cafe Wha? on the 5th January otherwise relied on classic VH numbers from original line-ups back catalogue, but the gig itself was a prequel to the now confirmed 2012 tour and album.
US dates are now on the band's official website and further shows are to be added including the possibility of rest-of-the-world dates.
The album, A Different Kind of Truth, is scheduled for release in the US on the 7th February preceded by the lead off single, 'Tattoo,' on the 10th January.
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Michael Schenker will be playing four dates in the U.K. in May as part of the Temple of Rock tour and album of the same name from 2011.
The band features ex-Rainbow and Yngwie Malmsteen singer Doogie White and ex-Scorpions members Herman Rarebell and Francis Buchholz, whom Schenker worked with (albeit briefly) in his two stints with the German rockers.
Keyboard player Wayne Findlay completes the line-up.
The set is expected to feature not just songs from the 2011 album Temple of Rock but classic UFO numbers 'Rock Bottom' and 'Doctor Doctor,' original Michael Schenker tunes such as 'Armed and Ready' and 'Into The Arena,' and a couple of noted Scorpions songs including 'Another Piece of Meat' and 'Rock You like a Hurricane.'
The dates are:
9th May - Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
10th May - Manchester, HMV Ritz
11th May - Glasgow, O2 ABC
12th May - London, Shepherd's Bush Empire
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The band features ex-Rainbow and Yngwie Malmsteen singer Doogie White and ex-Scorpions members Herman Rarebell and Francis Buchholz, whom Schenker worked with (albeit briefly) in his two stints with the German rockers.
Keyboard player Wayne Findlay completes the line-up.
The set is expected to feature not just songs from the 2011 album Temple of Rock but classic UFO numbers 'Rock Bottom' and 'Doctor Doctor,' original Michael Schenker tunes such as 'Armed and Ready' and 'Into The Arena,' and a couple of noted Scorpions songs including 'Another Piece of Meat' and 'Rock You like a Hurricane.'
The dates are:
9th May - Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
10th May - Manchester, HMV Ritz
11th May - Glasgow, O2 ABC
12th May - London, Shepherd's Bush Empire
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From old Scorpions to the current/ last Scorpions...
The Scorpions retirement announcement from back in January 2010 hasn’t been rescinded but it’s certainly been delayed.
Which is of no surprise given the quality of that year’s album Sting in the Tail and the success of the subsequent tour.
To be fair, the tour was always going to run at least two years to cover as many areas and catch as many fans as possible but since the announcement that Sting in the Tail was to be their last album the band have released a covers album and are still gigging.
In a recent interview founder member Rudolph Schenker made it clear he didn't regard the Comeblack covers album to be a new studio album and confirmed the extended tour is still to be their last:
“…this will be the last tour and the last studio album. And we will stick to it. Comeblack is a side-project. It’s something that we did, but there are no new songs on it.”
That’s not quite the end of the musical output however.
Schenker also went on to confirm that the band have a massive amount of unreleased material and a box-set will undoubtedly be released come official retirement time:
“…we have a lot of songs, and what we want to do, especially after we finish, we want to give the fans a box or something, maybe with bonus tracks from the Scorpions, and maybe another film on DVD or Blu-ray, with a live concert of the Scorpions, which will be happening the end of 2012, the beginning of 2013.”
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The Scorpions retirement announcement from back in January 2010 hasn’t been rescinded but it’s certainly been delayed.
Which is of no surprise given the quality of that year’s album Sting in the Tail and the success of the subsequent tour.
To be fair, the tour was always going to run at least two years to cover as many areas and catch as many fans as possible but since the announcement that Sting in the Tail was to be their last album the band have released a covers album and are still gigging.
In a recent interview founder member Rudolph Schenker made it clear he didn't regard the Comeblack covers album to be a new studio album and confirmed the extended tour is still to be their last:
“…this will be the last tour and the last studio album. And we will stick to it. Comeblack is a side-project. It’s something that we did, but there are no new songs on it.”
That’s not quite the end of the musical output however.
Schenker also went on to confirm that the band have a massive amount of unreleased material and a box-set will undoubtedly be released come official retirement time:
“…we have a lot of songs, and what we want to do, especially after we finish, we want to give the fans a box or something, maybe with bonus tracks from the Scorpions, and maybe another film on DVD or Blu-ray, with a live concert of the Scorpions, which will be happening the end of 2012, the beginning of 2013.”
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Talking of lots of back-in-the-day unreleased material...
It seems that before his death in 1986, Phil Lynott gave an unidentified caretaker 150 tapes of nearly 700 songs, all of which are unreleased.
The collection includes out-takes and alternative versions of well known Thin Lizzy songs plus recorded but never released material. The recordings themselves span from 1971 to 1981.
Universal have obtained the rights to the material and project manager Steve Hammond believes it to be "an absolutely stunning find."
Just how stunning a find it truly is will be revealed when the best of the material is released as a box-set later in the year.
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It seems that before his death in 1986, Phil Lynott gave an unidentified caretaker 150 tapes of nearly 700 songs, all of which are unreleased.
The collection includes out-takes and alternative versions of well known Thin Lizzy songs plus recorded but never released material. The recordings themselves span from 1971 to 1981.
Universal have obtained the rights to the material and project manager Steve Hammond believes it to be "an absolutely stunning find."
Just how stunning a find it truly is will be revealed when the best of the material is released as a box-set later in the year.
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Supergroup Black Country Communion look set to keep up their prolific consistency with a third offering later this year.
In an interview with Artisan News Service Glenn Hughes confirmed another album, with the band scheduled to start studio work in June.
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In an interview with Artisan News Service Glenn Hughes confirmed another album, with the band scheduled to start studio work in June.
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The Darkness are now expected to release their new album in March, which will be their first since One Way Ticket to Hell… and Back in 2005.
High-shrilled singer and guitarist Justin Hawkins seemingly wants to release the album on his birthday, 17th of March. Presumably he will send himself a copy as a present, so he can give it a spin.
There was also some spin from Mr Hawkins within some of his recent comments about the forthcoming release: “(we’ve got) nine of the required songs done… got about two weeks of recording in January, and bits of it are already going off to be mixed even as we speak, so it's kind of nearly finished now.”
So kind of not finished, then.
“Rather than a big-name producer we decided to do it ourselves, as per the first record.”
Uh huh.
“We just wanted to develop the songs… and basically take a minimal approach across the board - apart from when we needed to go really over the top.”
Yes. What?
Blimey, if Justin’s wordmeister ability is an indicator of the quality we can expect from the album then no wonder there’s no big name producer on board.
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High-shrilled singer and guitarist Justin Hawkins seemingly wants to release the album on his birthday, 17th of March. Presumably he will send himself a copy as a present, so he can give it a spin.
There was also some spin from Mr Hawkins within some of his recent comments about the forthcoming release: “(we’ve got) nine of the required songs done… got about two weeks of recording in January, and bits of it are already going off to be mixed even as we speak, so it's kind of nearly finished now.”
So kind of not finished, then.
“Rather than a big-name producer we decided to do it ourselves, as per the first record.”
Uh huh.
“We just wanted to develop the songs… and basically take a minimal approach across the board - apart from when we needed to go really over the top.”
Yes. What?
Blimey, if Justin’s wordmeister ability is an indicator of the quality we can expect from the album then no wonder there’s no big name producer on board.
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Although keeping any detailed information close to their chests, Steve Hackett has confirmed the music created and band formed in collaboration with Yes ever-present Chris Squire will result in an album to be released in May.
Working under the moniker of Squackett, the guitarist recently said of the album (whilst talking to Blog Talk Radio): “There’ll be certain things on there that I think you’ll be hard-pressed to say this is a combination of guys that have come from Genesis and Yes. I think it’s bigger than that. We cast a wider net over all the genres.”
All of which means it sounds like it will be far more interesting and, more importantly, carry far more musical originality than the last album Chris Squire was part of, the Yes release Fly From Here.
At least I certainly hope so.
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Working under the moniker of Squackett, the guitarist recently said of the album (whilst talking to Blog Talk Radio): “There’ll be certain things on there that I think you’ll be hard-pressed to say this is a combination of guys that have come from Genesis and Yes. I think it’s bigger than that. We cast a wider net over all the genres.”
All of which means it sounds like it will be far more interesting and, more importantly, carry far more musical originality than the last album Chris Squire was part of, the Yes release Fly From Here.
At least I certainly hope so.
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The ever increasing list of album re-releases, remastered classics and Anniversary or Deluxe Editions continues in 2012 as it left off in 2011.
Generally I take a studio glass half-empty approach as far too many of these albums have suffered recently from unnecessary remixes, rehashed previously available bonus material or a collection of out-takes and demos that are previously unreleased, but you seen hear why.
Two recently announced re-issues plus an e-documentary application (on the making of another) did grab my Muirsical attention, though…
The app product can be downloaded at i-Tunes and covers the making of Bandolier, the classic 1975 release from Welsh heavy rockers Budgie.
Founding member, bass player and vocalist Burke Shelley is featured on audio and from a 2009 interview recalling Bandolier and includes commentary on each track.
Guitarist Tony Bourge and drummer Steve Williams also make appearances on the suitable for i-Pad, i-Phone and i-Pod Touch app but being an i-neophyte (I only have a standard i-Pod and that’s seldom used) I won’t be visiting this app anytime soon.
I am however pleased to see a documentary on what is a classic heavy power-rock album led by driving, intense riffs – and that’s just Burke’s bass lines.
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The first of two reissues that piqued my interest is the news that Peter Gabriel will be releasing a 25th Anniversary edition of So, his critically acclaimed 1986 album.
And for my money and ears, his finest work.
The other re-issue that is probably going to find its way into the Muirsical collection is from Big Country, but I have mixed feelings about what the band are currently up to…
Big Country’s 1983 debut album The Crossing got the 2CD Deluxe Edition treatment in January and although the album has been re-released before (with obligatory bonus tracks) this version looks like a keeper for both the hard-core fan and those with a fondness for the original Celtic-tinged rock of the band.
CD1 carries the original album along with the seven B-sides from the four singles released from the record.
CD2 has 17 tracks and features original demos of the songs plus early versions of some Big Country classics including 'In a Big Country' and 'Fields of Fire.'
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From the original country to the new country. Or another country?
On the subject of Big Country, the band will perform The Crossing during tour dates across the UK and Germany in the first quarter of 2012.
As most Big Country fans will know Mike Peters (voice of The Alarm and his own later incarnations of that band) now fronts the group, replacing the late and great Stuart Adamson (Big Country reformed in 2007, originally as a trio of the remaining members).
There is no argument there is an audience for the songs, as seen on recent tours, and while the members of Big Country have every right to celebrate that music Stuart Adamson’s distinct vocal, role as primary songwriter and his guitar work in tandem with Bruce Watson's make it a different beast with Mike Peters.
The band recently released 'Another Country,' their first single/ new song for twelve years, and although the single will almost certainly lead to an album and an extended life for the band I would have liked to have seen the boys perform and record under the name of that very song.
They would still be paying homage to their own origins and a back catalogue loaded with great tunes, but could look forward while acknowledging this is now a slightly different Country.
But based on the sound and style of 'Another Country' it's hard to gauge just how much looking forward will be incorporated into this new musical chapter for the band.
The single was produced by Steve Lillywhite (who was at the desk for the band's first two albums) and 'Another Country' makes for a punchy, but retro, step back, not forward. It sounds like a cross between early 80's Big Country and The Alarm.
But then with Mike Peters singing and Lillywhite producing, that was probably always going to be the case.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Generally I take a studio glass half-empty approach as far too many of these albums have suffered recently from unnecessary remixes, rehashed previously available bonus material or a collection of out-takes and demos that are previously unreleased, but you seen hear why.
Two recently announced re-issues plus an e-documentary application (on the making of another) did grab my Muirsical attention, though…
The app product can be downloaded at i-Tunes and covers the making of Bandolier, the classic 1975 release from Welsh heavy rockers Budgie.
Founding member, bass player and vocalist Burke Shelley is featured on audio and from a 2009 interview recalling Bandolier and includes commentary on each track.
Guitarist Tony Bourge and drummer Steve Williams also make appearances on the suitable for i-Pad, i-Phone and i-Pod Touch app but being an i-neophyte (I only have a standard i-Pod and that’s seldom used) I won’t be visiting this app anytime soon.
I am however pleased to see a documentary on what is a classic heavy power-rock album led by driving, intense riffs – and that’s just Burke’s bass lines.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first of two reissues that piqued my interest is the news that Peter Gabriel will be releasing a 25th Anniversary edition of So, his critically acclaimed 1986 album.
And for my money and ears, his finest work.
The other re-issue that is probably going to find its way into the Muirsical collection is from Big Country, but I have mixed feelings about what the band are currently up to…
Big Country’s 1983 debut album The Crossing got the 2CD Deluxe Edition treatment in January and although the album has been re-released before (with obligatory bonus tracks) this version looks like a keeper for both the hard-core fan and those with a fondness for the original Celtic-tinged rock of the band.
CD1 carries the original album along with the seven B-sides from the four singles released from the record.
CD2 has 17 tracks and features original demos of the songs plus early versions of some Big Country classics including 'In a Big Country' and 'Fields of Fire.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the original country to the new country. Or another country?
On the subject of Big Country, the band will perform The Crossing during tour dates across the UK and Germany in the first quarter of 2012.
As most Big Country fans will know Mike Peters (voice of The Alarm and his own later incarnations of that band) now fronts the group, replacing the late and great Stuart Adamson (Big Country reformed in 2007, originally as a trio of the remaining members).
There is no argument there is an audience for the songs, as seen on recent tours, and while the members of Big Country have every right to celebrate that music Stuart Adamson’s distinct vocal, role as primary songwriter and his guitar work in tandem with Bruce Watson's make it a different beast with Mike Peters.
The band recently released 'Another Country,' their first single/ new song for twelve years, and although the single will almost certainly lead to an album and an extended life for the band I would have liked to have seen the boys perform and record under the name of that very song.
They would still be paying homage to their own origins and a back catalogue loaded with great tunes, but could look forward while acknowledging this is now a slightly different Country.
But based on the sound and style of 'Another Country' it's hard to gauge just how much looking forward will be incorporated into this new musical chapter for the band.
The single was produced by Steve Lillywhite (who was at the desk for the band's first two albums) and 'Another Country' makes for a punchy, but retro, step back, not forward. It sounds like a cross between early 80's Big Country and The Alarm.
But then with Mike Peters singing and Lillywhite producing, that was probably always going to be the case.
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Couldn't have spoofed it better myself...
Music Industry admits "we've run out of songs." Full story here:
http://www.newsbiscuit.com/music-industry-admits-weve-run-out-of-songs
Except it isn't all spoofery, is it?
-sigh-
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Music Industry admits "we've run out of songs." Full story here:
http://www.newsbiscuit.com/music-industry-admits-weve-run-out-of-songs
Except it isn't all spoofery, is it?
-sigh-
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The Show Must Go On…
Something I made mention of exactly two years ago in one of my ‘Muirsical Re-Imagining’ articles may well come to be.
In November 2009 Roger Taylor and Brian May suggested they may tour with Adam Lambert (that year’s American Idol runner-up) and in a recent interview with Billboard Taylor revealed that he and May were talking to Lambert about the possibility of live dates in the future.
Lambert has performed with Queen before (at the 2011 MTV Europe Awards) and, according to Taylor “…has grown into a really great performer with an astonishing voice with a range that's great."
Taylor also confirmed to Billboard that plans were nearing completion for his Queen Extravaganza show, the tribute project he has been putting together over the last few months.
The officially endorsed tribute act will undertake a three month tour in May 2012 and will incorporate three singers and a five piece band.
As regards (Queen) tributes, or at least those based in the United States, Taylor has in the past been critical of their overall quality and has now decided “…there are so many of them I thought we need to have the one (we endorse).”
The Show(s) Must Go On, eh Rog?
And On. And On.
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Something I made mention of exactly two years ago in one of my ‘Muirsical Re-Imagining’ articles may well come to be.
In November 2009 Roger Taylor and Brian May suggested they may tour with Adam Lambert (that year’s American Idol runner-up) and in a recent interview with Billboard Taylor revealed that he and May were talking to Lambert about the possibility of live dates in the future.
Lambert has performed with Queen before (at the 2011 MTV Europe Awards) and, according to Taylor “…has grown into a really great performer with an astonishing voice with a range that's great."
Taylor also confirmed to Billboard that plans were nearing completion for his Queen Extravaganza show, the tribute project he has been putting together over the last few months.
The officially endorsed tribute act will undertake a three month tour in May 2012 and will incorporate three singers and a five piece band.
As regards (Queen) tributes, or at least those based in the United States, Taylor has in the past been critical of their overall quality and has now decided “…there are so many of them I thought we need to have the one (we endorse).”
The Show(s) Must Go On, eh Rog?
And On. And On.
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Mark “Moogy” Klingman lost his battle with cancer in November 2011 (as had George Harrison ten years before him) and on the day many commemorated Freddie Mercury’s two-decade memorial others remembered rock drummer Eric Carr’s sad cancer-related passing that very same 1991 day, at only 41 (Carr will be best remembered for his ten years with KISS).
The positives that come from such unfortunate passings are the comments and tributes that remind us of such talents, along with the musical reminiscences and conversations struck up.
I myself ended up having a good old chin-wag with keyboard player and composer Tommy Zvoncheck, a musician I have to admit I musically lost touch with after his Blue Oyster Cult days of the mid to late ‘80s.
Tommy, a multi-instrumentalist, was telling me he had the good fortune to get to know Moogy Kilingman a few years ago when he first met, then played, with Moogy around the New York area:
“Moogy and I met through a mutual friend in 2005, I was playing local bars after five years of not performing at all. I invited Moogy to sit in, he did and it was a lot of fun. We did several bar gigs after that. Moogy would invite me to the city if any cool keyboard players were playing. We saw Mose Allison, and Jimmy Smith. He was the older brother/ keyboard buddy I never had.”
Tommy has also played tribute to Moogy when performing live by incorporating ‘Conquering of the West’ in a trilogy suite (Conquering is a Klingman tune that became part of Todd Rundgren & Utopia’s Magnum Opus ‘The Ikon’).
It was nice to share Moogy stories with Tommy and talk a little about his own solo album, ZKG, as I had completely missed the fact it had been remastered and re-released a few years ago.
The reissue includes two new tracks, one a collaboration with Jon Anderson.
I’m glad I got reacquainted as ZKG is a criminally under-heard rock instrumental album featuring progressive, fusion and rock based tunes, plus the vocal piece with Anderson ('Rain in Florida'). It certainly hits a Muirsial note or three with me.
Keyboard-based instrumental, with plenty of guitar melodies and percussive drive included for good measure. And all in the style of Keith Emerson, Moogy Klingman, Roger Powell (another Utopian) and a splash of Rick Wakeman.
Check it out via samples on Tommy’s zkgmusic.com site or Myspace page.
Better still, just grab a copy over at Amazon (US or UK) or CD Baby.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The positives that come from such unfortunate passings are the comments and tributes that remind us of such talents, along with the musical reminiscences and conversations struck up.
I myself ended up having a good old chin-wag with keyboard player and composer Tommy Zvoncheck, a musician I have to admit I musically lost touch with after his Blue Oyster Cult days of the mid to late ‘80s.
Tommy, a multi-instrumentalist, was telling me he had the good fortune to get to know Moogy Kilingman a few years ago when he first met, then played, with Moogy around the New York area:
“Moogy and I met through a mutual friend in 2005, I was playing local bars after five years of not performing at all. I invited Moogy to sit in, he did and it was a lot of fun. We did several bar gigs after that. Moogy would invite me to the city if any cool keyboard players were playing. We saw Mose Allison, and Jimmy Smith. He was the older brother/ keyboard buddy I never had.”
Tommy has also played tribute to Moogy when performing live by incorporating ‘Conquering of the West’ in a trilogy suite (Conquering is a Klingman tune that became part of Todd Rundgren & Utopia’s Magnum Opus ‘The Ikon’).
It was nice to share Moogy stories with Tommy and talk a little about his own solo album, ZKG, as I had completely missed the fact it had been remastered and re-released a few years ago.
The reissue includes two new tracks, one a collaboration with Jon Anderson.
I’m glad I got reacquainted as ZKG is a criminally under-heard rock instrumental album featuring progressive, fusion and rock based tunes, plus the vocal piece with Anderson ('Rain in Florida'). It certainly hits a Muirsial note or three with me.
Keyboard-based instrumental, with plenty of guitar melodies and percussive drive included for good measure. And all in the style of Keith Emerson, Moogy Klingman, Roger Powell (another Utopian) and a splash of Rick Wakeman.
Check it out via samples on Tommy’s zkgmusic.com site or Myspace page.
Better still, just grab a copy over at Amazon (US or UK) or CD Baby.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Usually I’m sceptical or cynical about any musical comeback, reappearance, re-invention or what-have-you, primarily because it’s usually to do with tapping in to the classic rock resurgence and little to do with the music.
There are exceptions to every rule however and none more so than Dick Wagner’s own musical – and physical – comeback...
Guitarist Wagner, who was part of the classic Alice Cooper Band, is playing his first shows in five years after recovering from a heart attack, stroke and other serious debilitating illnesses.
The heart attack and stroke left Wagner unable to play the guitar and the years that followed included the further setbacks of kidney failure and a coma.
In January of this year he suffered a near-fatal blood clot.
However physical therapy, having to re-learn the guitar, “sheer determination and some brilliant doctors” (as Wagner himself reported to the Detroit Free Press) have put him back on a stage again and he is currently touring in the US with Prakash John.
Now that’s a comeback.
Wagner, who appeared on Alice Cooper’s recent album Welcome 2 My Nightmare, is also planning to write his autobiography. And that should be some story…
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There are exceptions to every rule however and none more so than Dick Wagner’s own musical – and physical – comeback...
Guitarist Wagner, who was part of the classic Alice Cooper Band, is playing his first shows in five years after recovering from a heart attack, stroke and other serious debilitating illnesses.
The heart attack and stroke left Wagner unable to play the guitar and the years that followed included the further setbacks of kidney failure and a coma.
In January of this year he suffered a near-fatal blood clot.
However physical therapy, having to re-learn the guitar, “sheer determination and some brilliant doctors” (as Wagner himself reported to the Detroit Free Press) have put him back on a stage again and he is currently touring in the US with Prakash John.
Now that’s a comeback.
Wagner, who appeared on Alice Cooper’s recent album Welcome 2 My Nightmare, is also planning to write his autobiography. And that should be some story…
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After the huge success a few years ago of Jeff Wayne’s touring production of War of the Worlds, it seems Jeff has decided to do some tweaking…
In a move that parallels the current fashion for re-mastering and/ or re-recording classic albums, Wayne has decided to revisit his musical and will be bringing a brand new stage production to the UK in December 2012.
The new show will be a new interpretation of the original and Liam Neeson has been cast as George Herbert, the story's narrator (originally performed by Richard Burton).
According to Wayne the new production “…gives me the chance to re-interpret my compositions with the production techniques of today, exciting from a musician’s point of view… and I believe audiences and listeners alike will find Liam’s interpretation (of the narration) no less compelling (than Burton’s).”
In a move that parallels the current fashion for re-mastering and/ or re-recording classic albums, Wayne has decided to revisit his musical and will be bringing a brand new stage production to the UK in December 2012.
The new show will be a new interpretation of the original and Liam Neeson has been cast as George Herbert, the story's narrator (originally performed by Richard Burton).
According to Wayne the new production “…gives me the chance to re-interpret my compositions with the production techniques of today, exciting from a musician’s point of view… and I believe audiences and listeners alike will find Liam’s interpretation (of the narration) no less compelling (than Burton’s).”
