‘Metal’ Mike has written his own story on the 80s Metal bands he grew up with and interviewed. Independently published, at 214 pages, and available on Amazon for a mere $15! Check it out. Also, check out the press info below and links at the bottom.
80’s Glam Metalcast podcaster, “Metal” Mike, takes the reader on a journey through Hair Metal’s highs and lows, from 1986 to 1991. “A Hair Metal Journey” is loaded with stories about Metal’s glory days from past and current members of bands like KISS, RATT, Winger, Dokken, Britny Fox and more! You get a peak behind the scenes of Hair Metal’s classic albums and tours. All along the way, the author looks at back at his own 80’s adolescent journey, going to EPIC concerts, and keeping up with all the head banging fandom that came along with this legendary genre!
The rockers tell similar stories that help paint the picture of what it took for them to get to the top and stay there. It seemed liked the party would stay wild forever until it all came to a clashing halt in 1991. Many reflect on the challenges they faced as Hair Metal got bloated and Grunge emerged. “It’s a breath of fresh air to see someone like Mike release a book that is based on true research and experience.This guy knows his stuff when it comes to Glam Metal. He is a true fan of the genre and proves without a doubt, that his knowledge is deep and genuine. He knows how to ask the right questions and give credit where it is due to the bands who created this genre of Rock music. Great job Mike!!!!” – Steve Blaze (Lillian Axe)
“80’s Glam Metalcast podcaster Metal Mike knows what people want to hear about when he does interviews. That’s what makes his interviews interesting and fun to read.” – Olivier (Editor-In-Chief, Sleaze Roxx)
“Mike the 80’s Metal Man will take you back 40 years. Back when the music had balls, the hair had spray, and bands knew how to party their arses off and entertain a crowd for a cheap price. Bring me back Mike!” – Doc “Killdrums” Wacholz(Savatage/Reverence)
“From one Hair Metal fanatic to another, Mike’s knowledge, passion, and commitment to Rock n Roll’s most exciting, flamboyant, and decadent era is completely unparalleled” – Rob Wylde (Midnite City/Ex Tigertailz)
“Hair Metal Mike knows his shit! He knows how to take you on a trip to way back when. He’s always tasteful in how he gets the artists and readers involved.” – Chris Laney (Pretty Maids)
“I love Metal Mike’s insights into the history, songwriting, and musicianship of my favorite bands. I’ve always been a fan of this music… but I’ve never learned so much as I have from Mike. That’s what makes this book so fantastic. It’s not only packed with more insight, knowledge, and appreciation than could ever fit in a single podcast episode, it’s chock full of Mike’s personal stories and experiences. This is a book not just for the Metalcast audience, but for anyone who loved this music when it first came out… and still loves it today.” – Chad Gervich (Co-Executive Producer, “I Wanna Rock: The 80s Metal Dream)”
Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I is the second studio album by German power metal band Helloween, released in 1987. It marks the first appearance of vocalist Michael Kiske, and is considered the album that created the genre of European-style power metal. Now as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations for Noise, this classic album gets a limited edition reissue on splatter vinyl with album cover poster.
Loudwire named the album at third in their list “Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time” and commented the album is “a tireless LP and perhaps the first genuine power metal album.” ThoughtCo also named the album in their list “Essential Power Metal Albums.”
Tracklisting:
Side A Initiation I’m Alive A Little Time Twilight Of The Gods A Tale That Wasn’t Right
Trapeze albums’s “Medusa” and “You Are The Music…We’re Just The Band” are now available for pre-order on Limited Edition Vinyl (250 copies of each) for the first time in over 40 years! Also Limited Bundles (100 copies of each) with a signed flat by Glenn Hughes.
Celebrating 50 years since he joined DEEP PURPLE, David Coverdale (& Whitesnake) have reissued their 2015 album ‘The Purple Album‘ (remastered), as a special Gold edition (That was followed by the 2017 ‘The Purple Tour‘ album…hmm, wow). Not sure that I need this album again, but this track – “You Fool No One” sounds particularly good, with a cool collage of Whitesnake clips together making up the video. The song is updated, and much heavier than the original Deep Purple classic from Burn. Rhino’s 2CD + blu-ray version of this includes a pile of extra takes, and interesting bits like Coverdale’s Deep Purple Audition tape, which is likely most worthwhile to pick up.
Check out the video below. Incidentally, Glenn Hughes has been playing one on his current tour celebrating Deep Purple classics as well. See track-listing and links below.
CD 1: 2023 REMIX 1. Burn 2. Lay Down, Stay Down 3. Love Child 4. Holy Man 5. The Gypsy 6. Lady Double Dealer 7. Might Just Take Your Life 8. Mistreated 9. Stormbringer 10. Sail Away (Interpolating “Elegy For Jon”) 11. You Keep On Moving (featuring The Hook City Strings) 12. Lady Luck 13. Coming Home 14. You Fool No One (Interpolating “Itchy Fingers” Dedicated In Loving Memory Of Jeff Beck) 15. Soldier Of Fortune
CD 2: 78:38 THE PURPLE TOUR “FIVE LIVE” 34:48 1. Burn 2. The Gypsy 3. Mistreated 4. You Fool No One 5. Soldier of Fortune
ALTERNATIVE MIXES 6. Holy Man (Unzipped) 7. Stormbringer (Punch In The Nuts Mix… Joel Hoekstra alt solo) 8. Love Child (Joel Hoekstra alt solo) 9. Soldier Of Fortune (featuring Joel Hoekstra & The Hook City Strings) 10. Soldier Of Fortune (featuring The Hook City Strings) 11. Soldier Of Fortune (instrumental featuring The Hook City Strings)
Demos and Audition Tapes (Previously Unreleased)
The DC Purple Audition Tape 1972 featuring The Fabulosa Brothers 12. Everybody’s Talkin’ 13. Get Ready 14. Lonely Town Lonely Street 15. Dancing In The Street 16. 1974 DC Demos/Ideas For “Stormbringer” album
DISC 3 BLU-RAY PURPLE MUSIC VIDEOS 1. Lady Double Dealer 2. Stormbringer 3. Sail Away 4. Soldier of Fortune 5. The Gypsy 6. Soldier Of Fortune (featuring Joel Hoekstra & The Hook City Strings) 7. Soldier Of Fortune (featuring The Hook City Strings)
PURPLESNAKE VIDEOS 8. Lay Down, Stay Down 9. Holy Man 10. You Keep On Moving 11. You Fool No One
LIVE CLIPS 12. Burn (Live “Atlantis” Video) 13. Burn/Stormbringer (Live In The Still Of The Night) 14. Soldier Of Fortune (Starkers In Tokyo)
THE PURPLE TOUR “FIVE LIVE” 15. Burn 16. The Gypsy 17. Mistreated 18. You Fool No One 19. Soldier of Fortune 20. The Purple Album: Behind The Scenes 21. The Purple Album: Song-By-Song
Fresh from the overwhelming success of their latest album ‘IV-Sacrament’, Lancaster’s heavy bards and spiritual hard rock titans Wytch Hazel have gone all in on delivering a fully-fledged, tubular-bell-ringing Christmas single.
Transposing the hymnal classical influences of Handel’s Messiah and the spirit of carols the like of ‘The First Noël’ via the earthy heraldry of Steeleye Span and Wishbone Ash, the band deliver something for which perhaps only they would have the skill, sensitivity and spiritual charge. Replete with Wytch Hazel’s trademark twin-guitar harmonies and finely honed arrangements, ‘King Of Israel’ is both a stirring devotional tribute and a heartfelt message of unity, peace and goodwill to all on Earth.
The 7” red marble vinyl edition is backed by Colin Hendra’s minor key arrangement of “Auld Lang Syne” which was misspelled on the first pressing as “Old Lang Syne” by the Bad Omen elves.
CELEBRATE 40 YEARS WITH LIVE SHOW IN TORONTO ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH
Coney Hatch, one of Canada’s iconic rock bands will release a live album titled Postcard From Germany via Anthem Records on Friday, November 10th. In celebration of this release, Coney Hatch will perform their final live performance of 2023 at the famed El Mocambo in Toronto on Saturday, November 11th.
“We’ve been halfway around the world this summer with shows at Sweden Rock and Hamburg, Germany,” says singer/bassist Andy Curran. “So returning to the El Mocambo is a special homecoming for us. We love playing in Toronto, it’s where we began this ride, and it’s a perfect time to celebrate 40 years together.”
Recorded on December 12, 2018 at HEAT Festival in Ludwigsburg, Postcard from Germany is a live recording of Coney Hatch’s 1st-ever live show in Germany. Comprised of a double CD, in addition to Postcard from Germany, 2 new songs will be included, as well as a remastered version of Coney Hatch’s classic self-titled debut – which will include 3 ‘bonus’ tracks from that period (“Dreamland”, “Where I Draw The Line”, and “Sin After Sin” (demo).
“It was our very first time in Germany and the show was electric,” recalls Curran. “It was full on combat rock!!! We flew many hours to get there and quickly settled in with German beers and Schnitzel. The final results were more raw and in your face compared to previous live recordings. We also included more songs from our ‘Friction’ record in that set list”.
Postcard from Germany features almost all of the expected Coney classics “Devil’s Deck”, “Monkey Bars” and “Stand Up” as well as two newly-recorded studio tunes ‘It’s About A Girl” and “Heaven’s on the Other Side”.
“This album has a different set list from the ‘Live at the El Mocambo’ record, plus two new studio tracks we recorded over Covid. I produced those two new songs and it marks the first time guitarist Sean Kelly has been involved with recording of new Hatch songs. Sean stepped in to the lead guitar role in 2014 and we’re proud to have him.”
In addition to Curran and Kelly, the group also includes original members lead vocalist/guitarist Carl Dixon and drummer Dave Ketchum.
Regarding the two new tracks, the band was willing to give background info about each. Curran: “‘Heaven’s On the Other Side’ was written around the time we recorded ‘Coney Hatch Four,’ and we finally got around to finishing it during the lockdown. The message is simple…keep the faith and trudge on through the bad times because the good times are always just around the corner. I also felt I was long overdue to write another song about the devil!!”
Dixon: “I had an idea driving ‘It’s About a Girl’; women are wonderful, women got the power, women gave every one of us our life. We men will do anything to get their attention. It’s Always About A Girl.”
Along with the ripping live set recording, and 2 new unreleased tracks, ‘Postcard From Germany’ album will be bundled with a remastered edition of the band’s iconic debut record CONEY HATCH, produced by Canada’s favorite vocalist/guitarist Kim Mitchell.
This special edition 2 disc CD will only be available for purchase at the band’s live show and at your favorite local record stores.
Members of Canada’s SPELL – Cam Mesmer and Jeff Black (Glyph, Gatekeeper and Encloaked) have a new single out for Halloween. The song is called “Blood Lust”, penned by Black and Mesmer. Labeled as “The greatest romantic tragedy of the 21st century! Be careful in the graveyard this Hallow’s Eve…”, this tune is an easily likeable rocker, with a killer guitar intro. It’s available on Spotify, as well as a spooky new video directed by Jeff Black, with the story (and lyrics) by Mesmer. Jeff Black comments on FB – “It was my first time filming and editing something like this and it was a very worthwhile challenge. I also fully produced and mixed the song and it’s one of my best pieces to date imo!” *Check out the video below (more details & lyrics in the video description), save the single, and check out the links!
DOKKEN‘s new album Heaven Comes Down is now out. The band has released 3 singles from it, and has upcoming shows in the US in November (dates can be found at www.dokken.net). I recently exchanged questions and answers with guitarist & songwriter Jon Levin about Heaven Comes Down and a bit about his past. As well I’ve added on a brief exchange I had with co-producer/engineer Bill Palmer. Enjoy the read, check out the clips & the new album, as well as the links below!
Heaven Comes Down is the first Dokken album in 10 years. Can you kinda talk about some of the things that went on over the last several years that set the band back (health issues..)?
Yes, unfortunately we had some physical issues to overcome, but everything seemed to work out! For me, no matter what happens I always look at it as there are other people that have far worse, so I just keep on plugging along and try and keep a smile on my face and move forward.
How did Heaven Comes Down come together, as far putting songs together, recording time, and signing with Silver Lining?
In the past Don and I would always get together and write collaboratively. But due to the Covid pandemic, on this particular album, we were not able to do that so we both wrote independently in our own studios and would email each other ideas. After the Covid vaccine was available, Don flew out to me and I would play music that I had here and we would work. It was a completely different process than we had in the past as in the past we would always get together, because Don used to live near me. As far as Silver Lining, I knew Rod Kukla, who is a VP at the label since I owned a label of my own back in the late ’90’s. We ran into each other when Dokken played the Wacken Open Air Festival in 2018 and that’s how it came about.
How does a Dokken song come to the recording stage – do you guys collaborate or write separately and bring ideas in? Are lyrics usually or always Don’s or do you both contribute fully written songs?
Well, it was during Covid and we were all quarantined. I spent a lot of time in my home studio, writing and recording and Don did the same on his end. I think the vibe of the world created from the Covid pandemic created musical inspiration for me. We would work via the internet. At some point after the vaccines were available, Don came out to my house and we worked in my studio. We have a truly special writing chemistry together. He is my musical soulmate. As far as lyrics, Don writes them on his own. Sometimes I play him a track and he comes up with them on the spot!
Heaven Comes Down is a solid hard rock album, and although there’s no blazing metal anthems (ala ’80s), the songs really suit Don’s vocals. Can you tell me if what sort of ideas or directions you guys discussed taking on this album?
We both wanted a heavier record but you just write and it is what it is. You can’t really force anything. Somehow on this one, I think we just managed to get lightning in a bottle. Since I am a long time Dokken fan, I think that I naturally write in a style that fits into the direction that seems to work. I understand that the music needs to fit into what fans are used to hearing from us and if I come up with something that I don’t think fits, I usually won’t even play it for Don. That said, I had the tracks for “Over the Mountain” and “Saving Grace” – neither of which I were going to play for Don; I said, “hey, I have 2 tracks that I don’t think will work”, and Don said play them for me anyway, so I did. As soon as he heard ‘Over The Mountain’, he sang the first line of the song and said it reminds him of old Gary Moore, “I like it.” So he finished it right then! Same for “Saving Grace”. They were both supposed to be throwaways.
Can you give me any stories, antidotes, … on some of the tracks(?) I love ‘Gypsy’ (and Don’s story behind it), but also ‘Fugitive’, ‘I’ll Never Give Up’, ‘Saving Grace’… Any tracks you’re particularly excited about?
For ‘Fugitive’, the intro riff came to me while on an airplane and it stuck in my head. When I got off the plane, I immediately sang it into my voice recorder. I demoed up the track and Don came out to my house and I played if for him. Here’s what amazes me about Don. There was a mic set up in front of him while he was listening to it and he started singing the lyrics and melodies to Fugitive on his first listening. Right off the top of his head he sang “I’m a Fugitive from life.” Fortunately, I was recording while he was singing. I knew I loved it right away and said , dude that’s freakin great!!!! Don is much more than a singer. He is a true instrumentalists and musician. It’s remarkable to watch him come up with lyrics and melodies on the fly like that. I’ve never seen anyone else do that. It’s truly something to see and it’s really exciting when we’re in a room together and that happens. We have a truly special writing chemistry together. About 4- 5 tracks came together that same way, one of which was “Gypsy”.
One track that really stands out is the last one – ‘Santa Fe’. Love the song and ending the album with such a unique song. Can you tell me a bit about putting that one together, and how it suits the record?
I had nothing to do with ‘Santa Fe’. Don did that one alone on his end and our engineer Bill Palmer played guitar on it. Don sent it to me and asked if I wanted to redo the guitar parts. I thought it was great and told him there is no reason for me to replay this.
Having such a lengthy and cool catalogue of songs to choose from, is it a challenge to put together a Dokken live set, particularly when you have something new out?
It is a challenge, because if we add a new song in, that means we have to take a classic song out. Either way someone is upset. We will be playing songs from ‘Heaven Comes Down’ for sure though.
Over that time away from recording any new Dokken (prior to Heaven Comes Down), were you involved in anything else (recording-wise…)?
I am constantly recording. I amassed about 2 other records worth of material during COVID. It is just not the right material to present for Dokken. I just write what I like. Sometimes I record ideas I like but for example, they are more instrumental, or stylistically, just not the right direction for Dokken.
Going back to your time before Dokken, can you tell me what sort of bands (any recordings) you were involved in, and can you talk about what lead you to go in law, And then get back in to playing in bands (w/ Dokken) in the early 2000s?
Before Dokken I played with Doro in the late ’80s. After that, I was in another band that got signed to Atlantic records which also was ’80s rock type material. After that didn’t work out, I moved to Los Angeles and had yet another band. Then grunge rock hit the scene and as soon as that happened there was really no more guitar soloing. I didn’t know what to do so I went to law school. It was just by chance that one day in 1998 Jeff Pilson called me and asked if I would play some solos. When I got that message, I was at my father’s house for dinner and he convinced me to go down and play. I really didn’t want to because I hadn’t played much Guitar for years at that point. I had a record label and a law practice. I had no idea it was for Dokken or frankly, I never would have gone. When I went to the studio to my surprise the whole band was there. I was still in a suit and tie from having been at work that day! I remember Don opened up the studio door, handed me a Guitar and told me to play. I ended up playing a solo on the demo for what later became “Maddest Hatter”, and on a song called the “Irish Song”, which was released as a bonus track in Japan. A few weeks after that Jeff called me and asked if I could play a show at the Dallas Starplex with the band on July 4, 1998, which I ended up doing.
Can you give me a few of your favorite players and bands from growing up, as well as a ‘top 10’ favorite albums from your younger years?
Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Randy Rhoads, George Lynch, Michael Schenker and Nuno Bettencourt. Favorite albums, in no particular order:
Van Halen
Van Halen II
Van Halen “Fair Warning”
Van Halen, “Diver Down”
Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz
Ozzy Osbourne, Diary of a Madman
Lynyrd Skynyrd, “One More For The Road”
Dokken, “Tooth N Nail”
Dokken, “Under Lock And Key”
Dokken, “Back For The Attack”
What are you listening to these days?
I just go on Youtube and find live clips of bands I like Jimi Hendrix, Michael Schenker, Eric Gales, Joe Bonamassa, etc…
From BILL PALMER : Bill Palmer co-produced Heaven Comes Down, as well he played the acoustic guitars on the final cut “Santa Fe” (something I hadn’t realized when I sent questions to Jon). I wrote Bill and he was kind enough to give some insight to the song, and it’s direction. Bill works as a producer & engineer out of Austin, TX, as well as his studio in the border town of Terlingua. “There’s an old church that I make a lot of records in. People come out here to get the desert border vibes. It’s magical! Very remote.” Bill is on Instagram (see below), and I’ve tagged on a local article about him. I asked Bill how the track “Santa Fe” came about, and kept as just an acoustic song to close the album – “Don had the idea that he wanted to do an acoustic “western” type song that painted a picture of his life and his move to the desert, a sort of spiritual journey. It doesn’t really have a chorus until maybe the very end. It just unfolds, much like his life….Don told me what chords he wanted, and I played the part. When it was all said and done, they liked what I played, and we left it”.…I like it. If anything, I hope he might do more of this type of songs in the future. “We’ve discussed it. The way his voice sounds nowadays really suits that type of sound.” I think that would be an awesome direction for him, especially with story-type things like ‘Santa Fe’, and ‘Gypsy’ or ‘Fugitive’ – “When we were starting to make the record, Don and I discussed songwriting and how he had so much to say. Hence the story songs on this one.”
DORO’s brand new album Conqueress – Forever Strong And Proud features a duet with Judas Priest’s Rob Halford on a cover of Bonnie Tyler’s hot “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”. Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler recorded in 1983, penned & produced by Jim Steinman for her. The song was a #1 hit in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and a few others. German metal singer Doro (Pesche) also shares vocals with Halford on a cover of Judas Priest’s classic “Living After Midnight” on DORO’s new album as well. Metallica’s “The Four Horsemen” is covered as a CD bonus track. *Check out both clips below.
TRAPEZE, the classic 70s British rock band from Wolverhampton have a new single out from the forthcoming Lost Tapes Vol. 1, CD, to be released November 24. The song “Breakdown”, featuring Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley and Dave Holland was recorded in the 90s. Check out the video clip below. *For more info check out :https://ramzine.co.uk/news/trapezes-breakdown-available-now/
Outsider Rock 