The Damn Truth is a Montreal based hard rock band who have been given the nod to open for Glenn Hughes on his Burn 50th Anniversary UK Tour. Not familiar with The Damn Truth, I thought I’d check them out! A classic hard rock band, with psych and blues influences, and a female vocalist – Lee Baum, who is heavily influenced by Janice Joplin, as well reminded me of Janita (Jenny) Haan of ’70s British band Babe Ruth.
The band has 3 albums out, their most recent being 2021’s Now Or Nowhere. Great heavy guitars, hooks, melodies, and vocals! check ’em out.
Last year Windsor, Ontario musician Rick LaBonte released his ambitious 2CD album Living It Up. His third album since 2016, and first to feature a number of guests, which makes Living It Up a curious release to those who aren’t familiar with Rick. Well known locally, Rick plays with The Formula as well as The Blues Side. He’s also a fellow Uriah Heep fan who performed “Easy Livin“, in 2018 in London, Ontario (soundcheck), and later singing back-up during the encore) . Thus, there’s a few Heep guests on this album, which I must admit was my initial interest in hearing this.
Rick LaBonte – “I have written and recorded 24 songs between two of Windsor’s finest recording studios: SLR STUDIO and HIGHLAND STUDIO. Like the Beatles’ song “With A Little Help From My Friends”, I have called on some friends who I felt best suited the songs that I was recording. Each musician shared his talent and time with me. They respected me enough to give me quality performances on the songs the way I wrote them. I am truly lucky to have friends like these.”
Over the past year Living It Up has received lots of attention through radio, local and online press, where Rick (a featured guest on) Sea Of TranquilityLiving It Up was featured in a great review as well as an interview with Rick, and made the show’s Top 50 releases for 2022. Adds Rick – “All songs are original songs that I wrote or collaborated with. To date, 17 songs out of 24 from my latest album have gotten airplay on radio nationally and internationally.”
Not sure wheat I expected, but I am liking this the more I dig in to it. And Living It Up gets better the more I go back to it. Heck, 24 songs to check out and return to. Most impressive here in not the quantity (OK, a little) – but more so the overall performances and solid production. This sounds better than many major releases sound-wise. And songs, well that is the basis for any decent album, and there is plenty here, and plenty that I find myself returning to.
Living It Up touches on pop rock, hard rock, blues, progressive,… Things kick off rockin’ with “Fragile” and “Full Speed Ahead” – both tracks featuring Davey Rimmer of Uriah Heep on bass and Dusty D’Annunsio (Mark Farner’s American Band) on guitar, as well as drummer Todd Lalonde (Orion Sons) on the opener and Heep’s Russell Gilbrook (drums) on the 2nd, as well as guitarist Chuck Lambrick (Teaze) on the latter. So things are off to a good start. Lalonde plays on most of this album, and I imagine the other numerous players here are from the band’s Rick plays with (notably The Formula) as well as local Windsor bands. But anyway, aside from the first 2 cuts, there’s a number of early favorites here – “I Believe” (feat Rick Carr on lead guitar), “Coda” (a bit of a lighter upbeat track that features Russell Gilbrook, as well as Rick on acoustic guitar and various keyboards), the ballad “It’s A Matter Of Time” (with a nice vocal arrangement, featuring co-writer Jim Kickham on lead guitar). Gotta say, although this set rocks in places – like “Cabin Fever”, it is many of the lighter tunes that stand out, like “Tell Me Now” and “Colour Blind”, as well as the bluesy “Moved On” – which features Joe Konas (The Gods) on lead guitar.
Living It Up is highly recommended, not just for it’s guests , but for it’s songwriting, performances, and production. Kudos to Luc Michaud who played various instruments (all throughout this), as well as co-wrote a few songs here, plus Kevin K. Gagnon & David Pastorius (Pat Travers) – who play bass on a number of tracks each. Excellent album cover-art also (Dan Boshart, Marlene Nead, and Rick LaBonté). Will be interesting to see how Rick can follow Living It Up…up.
Tracklisting:
Fragile Full Speed Ahead Let It Show Living It Up All To Yourself Since I Met You Moved On Now And Then Time Well Spent Tell Me Now You The Gallery Of Love
Cabin Fever My Opinion I Believe Night Shift It’s A Matter Of TIme Coda Drama Jane Doe No Way Memory Lane Colour Blind Big Brother
Musicians:
Jeff Burrows (Drums) – The Tea Party, The Saints Russell Gilbrook (Drums) – Uriah Heep Davey Rimmer (Bass) – Uriah Heep David Pastorius (Bass) – Pat Travers Band, Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy Dusty D’Annunzio (Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals) – Mark Farner’s American Band Chuck Lambrick (Lead Guitar, Ebow, Slide Guitar) – Teaze, Greatest Hits Live Joe Konas (Lead Guitar) – The Gods Michael Hereford (Piano) – British Beat 66 Dale D’Amore (Rhythm and Lead Guitar) – Guitar Army Mike Fortier (Bass) – Guitar Army John Kersey (Bass) – The Blues Side, The Ride Nino Maniaci (Bass) – The Source Kevin K. Gagnon (Bass and Backing Vocals) – The Formula Wayne Bracewell (Drums and Backing Vocals) – The Formula Jim Kickham (Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals) – formerly The Formula Ron McMinn (Lead Guitar) – formerly The Buzzard Band and The Blues Side Kevin Peterson (Bass) – The Soulminors Rick Carr (Lead Guitar) – Crack The Whip Allan Kenney (Lead Guitar) – Vital Sines, The Formula Mark Steven (Drums) – Smoking Purple Monkey Gang Kristopher Marentette (Piano, Keyboards) – J# Major Jim O’ Neil (Lead Guitar) – J# Major Todd Lalonde (Drums) – Orion Sons Luc Michaud (Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Rhythm and Lead Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Percussions, Backing Vocals) – Bigg Wiggle Vic Do Rego (Bass) – Playing Ground, Audiowaves Paul Rigelhof (12 String Acoustic Guitar) – Centerpeace, Icy Redd Dillon James (Drums) – The Blues Side
Living It Up album is available on Spotify, i-tunes and YouTube and at Rick’s website : www.ricklabonte.com
Former DEEP PURPLE bass player, and these days of The DEAD DAISIES, will be undertaking a UK tour in October to celebrate Deep Purple’s 1974 album Burn.
Burn was the first of 3 studio albums Hughes was on while with Deep Purple, as well as new frontman David Coverdale. It would be their most successful of the 3, as it landed in the top 10 in most countries, including #1 in Germany & Austria, #3 in the UK, and #7 in Canada. The title track that kicked off the album is arguably the best album opener in the Deep Purple catalogue. The song was used in the movie Almost Famous, and has been covered numerous times, notably by Riot, Jorn Lande, and WASP. Burn also featured the single “Might Just Take Your Life”, as well as favorites “Sail Away” and epic “Mistreated”.
Glenn Hughes’ band will feature Soren Andersen (guitar), Ash Sheehan (drums) and Bob Fridzema (keyboards). The set will also include songs from the 2 albums that came after Burn with Hughes’ – Stormbringer and Come Taste The Band.
For more info, check out below from the press release, as well as tour dates!
GLENN HUGHES PERFORMS CLASSIC DEEP PURPLE LIVE CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF “BURN”
Planet Rock’s 48-hour ticket pre-sale starts 10am on Tuesday 21 February 2023 VIA WWW.PLANETROCK.COM
Tickets on general sale at 10am Thursday 23 February 2023 from – WWW.THEGIGCARTEL.COM
Glenn Hughes, the former bassist, and singer of Deep Purple, known to millions as the ‘Voice of Rock’, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is pleased to announce, ‘Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the album BURN’ October 2023 UK tour.
*Special guest on all UK shows is Canadian rock and roll band, The Damn Truth.
‘It was 50 years ago, in the summer of 1973, that the BURN album by Deep Purple was written at Clearwell Castle in the Forest of Dean Gloucestershire,” reminisces Glenn. “It was recorded in October in Montreux, Switzerland.”
Continues Hughes, “We all became one in this centuries old castle in the UK countryside, it felt like Deep were a new band, with David (Coverdale) and I as new members, we couldn’t wait to start working on new songs. The atmosphere was electric, in such amazing surroundings.”
“All the songs on BURN were written in the crypt/dungeon, underneath the great hall. We worked on a new song every day, and we were in the flow. Musically we would play, and work out ideas, and David and I would come up with vocal melodies that would later have lyrics. I remember it like it was yesterday.”
“As you could imagine, Ritchie Blackmore was in full prankster mode, Jon had warned me, and he rigged my room one night with a speaker that was hidden, and had ghostly voices delivered to my bedside.”
“The title track was the last song to be written. We came back from the pub, and went down into the crypt, and magic happened.”
Concludes Hughes, “It’s time to celebrate BURN, and I’m really looking forward to seeing you.”
DEEP PURPLE – THE STORY BEHIND “BURN”
“BURN” is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Deep Purple, written and recorded in 1973, and released in February 1974. The album was the first to feature then-unknown David Coverdale on vocals and Glenn Hughes, from Trapeze, on bass and vocals.
The album was recorded in Montreux, Switzerland, in November 1973, with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. With the addition of David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes, Deep Purple’s hard rock sound incorporated elements of soul and funk, which would become much more prominent on the follow-up album, “Stormbringer.”
In 2004 “BURN” was remastered and released with bonus tracks. Coronarias Redig was recorded during the “BURN” recording sessions, used only as a B-side for the Might Just Take Your Life single in 1974. It appears as a bonus track (in remixed form) on the anniversary edition re-release. The 2004 remix version of “BURN” was later used in “Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.”
In 2005 an unauthorised documentary about the album was produced as part of “The Ultimate Critical Review” series. It featured brand new interview with the original Deep Purple Mk III bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes.
Lead single “Might Just Take Your Life,” released 4 March, was Deep Purple’s first UK single in two years.
The phenomenal title track started things off at full throttle and challenged the seminal “Highway Star” for the honour of best opener to any Deep Purple album, while showcasing the always impressive drumming of Ian Paice. The fantastic slow-boiling blues of “Mistreated’s” greatness qualifies it for the highest echelons of hard rock achievement, and therefore ranks as an essential item in the discography of any self-respecting music fan.
The 4th album from Oakland’s Blackwulf is now out. Thieves & Liars, featuring 9 tracks, notably the lead off cut & single “Shadow” . These guys deliver a solid massive ’70s inspired heavy album that is not short on killer doomy riffs, hooks and solos, with great vocals that are somewherez between a younger + heavier Ozzy and a young Rob Halford, at times — this, along with melodies and changes should appeal to fans of Black Sabbath and early Judas Priest fans, among others heavy ’70s . Of the 9 tracks that run together nicely, check out the title track, which oddly reminds me of Sabbath’s “Heaven And Hell”, as well as cuts like “Seems To Me”, “Failed Resistance” and “Brother” (w/ singer Alex Cunningham sounding like a younger Rob Halford at times) – all easily likable heavy doom metal rockers. Thieves & Liars is also highlighted by the 8 and a half minute epic “Psychonaut/Edge Of Light”, which featured one great heavy slower doom number that fades in to the ballad featuring acoustic guitars…which blends in to the brief atmospheric instrumental “Mysteries Of This”. One of those albums that just flows so well from track to track, with no duds, and is over before ya know it. Awesome cover art from David North.
Drummer Alex Napier passed away on January 19. He was the original drummer for Uriah Heep, the first in a number of drummers in the band’s early years. Napier was born in Glasgow in 1947. He joined Spice, taking over for Nigel Pegrum, well before the band added keyboard player Ken Hensley and changed their name to Uriah Heep. It is Alex Napier who drummed on the Heep classic “Gypsy”, as well as “Come Away Melinda”, “Wake Up (Set Your Sights)”, and favorites like “Walking In Your Shadow” and “I’ll Keep On Tryin'” on the band’s 1970 debut album Very ‘Eavy…Very ‘Umble . He also played on numerous Spice demos and unreleased from 1969 that were later released on The Lansdowne Tapes CD in 1993.
Paul Newton posted – “…Alex was a strong, powerful player who has been virtually ignored and unrecognized for his work and contribution to Heep’s success. He was a tough, larger-than-life no-nonsense guy who didn’t take shit from anyone so not ideal for those intent on dodgy dealings…Gerry Bron & Ken Hensley were terrified of him but for me a good kind friend back then.”
Alex left the band due to family commitments (the band not making enough in those days to support a young family). After Uriah Heep Alex Napier would play with other bands, such as one called Prism alongside friend Peter Harrison whom I swapped messages with years ago – “(Alex) as a drummer, was a joy to behold. It’s like watching a ballet, he could do more with his feet on double bass drums than most guys could do with their hands. A f**king amazing drummer!” Napier also had the Alex Napier Band (The Party) around 1980-81. This band featured singer Tony Mason, and recorded a 2 song demo (which can be found on Youtube). Alex eventually retired from playing, and worked as a cabinet maker, according to Harrison. “The last time I’d saw him he had quit playing and was teaching his son. He [his son] was playing drums and using his dad’s kit.”
There’s never been a lot of photos out there showing Alex Napier’s time with Spice & Uriah Heep. He left before the debut album Very ‘Eavy, Very ‘Umble was completed, and by the time the band’s first single “Gypsy” was released Keith Baker was the drummer (who played on the B-side “Bird Of Prey”, and appeared on the single sleeve and subsequent band photos). Napier is often overlooked in the band’s history, often seen as just one in a line of many early drummers that played on the band’s first 3 albums. But his performances on that album are brilliant, having left his mark on a classic on a classic British heavy prog rock album. RIP
The Outlaws Anthology (Live and Rare) has been reissued on vinyl. This set was originally released in 2012 as a 4 CD set. The new 4-LP box set comes with book, and colored LPs, and with new artwork. The Outlaws were one of those classic American bands who played southern rock, with elements of country and hard rock. as well. They had a number of hits such as a cover of Stanley Jones 1961 hit “Ghost Riders In The Sky”, as well as “There Goes Another Love Song”, and perhaps best known epic jam “Green Grass & High Tides”. * For more on this release, check out the press release below.
At the crossroads of Southern Rock and Traditional Country music stood one band – Outlaws. Led by a superb triple guitar assault of Hughie Thomasson, Henry Paul and Billy Jones, later dubbed The Florida Guitar Army, Outlaws found themselves at the center of the Southern rock whirlwind of the early ‘70s with no less than Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant singing the band’s praises to anyone who would listen including Arista Records founder Clive Davis, who would sign Outlaws and issue their first 7 studio albums.
Listening to this box set of live recordings and rare demos, Anthology – Live & Rare, it’s easy to see why. The band were a uniquely electrifying group who wrote and performed together as if they had been playing as a group for decades rather than just the few years it had actually been. These recordings have been released previously on CD and digital but this is the first time that most of these early live recordings have been issued on vinyl. Taken altogether, Anthology – Live & Rare is over 3 hours of incredible southern fried rock showcasing the band at the very height of their powers, playing such epics as “Green Grass & High Tides” plus “There Goes Another Love Song,” “Hurry Sundown,” and lots more!
Each of the 4LPs comes in a unique color with its own full-color sleeve and packaged in a clamshell box with a large 16-page color booklet filled with rare photos and informative liner notes. Available everywhere starting March 31!
LP1 SIDE A Denver, CO (August 1975) 1. Waterhole 2. Stick Around For Rock & Roll 3. Knoxville Girl 4. There Goes Another Love Song STUDIO DEMO 5. Song For You
LP1 SIDE B Bryn Mawr, PA (August 1975) 1. Song For You 2. Prisoner 3. Redneck Friend Cleveland, OH (September 1975) 4. There Goes Another Love Song 5. Freeborn Man STUDIO DEMO 6. Never See Your Face
LP2 SIDE A Cleveland, OH (September 1975) 1. Kansas City Queen Record Plant – Sausalito, CA (November 1975) 2. Song In The Breeze 3. Knoxville Girl 4. Cry No More
LP2 SIDE B Record Plant – Sausalito, CA (November 1975) 1. Green Grass & High Tides STUDIO DEMOS 2. It Follows From The Heart 3. Freeborn Man
LP3 SIDE A Record Plant – Los Angeles, CA (November 1976) 1. Waterhole 2. Stick Around For Rock & Roll 3. Song In The Breeze 4. Lover Boy 5. Freeborn Man
LP3 SIDE B Record Plant – Los Angeles, CA (November 1976) 1. Cry No More 2. Knoxville Girl 3. Green Grass & High Tides 4. There Goes Another Love Song
LP4 SIDE A STUDIO DEMOS 1. Gunsmoke 2. Holiday 3. Hurry Sundown 4. Cold & Lonesome 5. Night Wines 6. Heavenly Blues
LP4 SIDE B STUDIO DEMOS 1. Windy Cities Blues 2. Nighttime’s Passing Dream 3. True Love At First Sight 4. Where Does It Go From There 5. Goodbye Tupelo 6. Alone With You Again 7. Two Time Blues
Ricky Warwick is the lead singer, guitar player, and main songwriter in Black Star Riders. BSR began as a reformed Thin Lizzy, but changed the name when they decided to move on to recording original material. The band’s brand new (and fifth) album is titled Wrong Side Of Paradise (Earache Records), and features the singles “Riding Out The Storm” and “Better Than Saturday Night” (featuring Joe Elliott).
I recently spoke to Ricky about the band’s new album, new line-up, and upcoming tour, among things. Check it out, and check out the links below!
What’s the current line-up of Black Star Riders? You’ve had more changes since making the album.
Yeah, Christian Martucci is no longer with us. He’s had to go back to Corey Taylor because Corey’s busy, working on a new solo record. So sadly Christian had to depart because that’s really Christian’s main gig and the pandemic kinda screwed with our time-line a little bit, and availability and stuff like that. So, right now the line-up of the band is myself, Robbie Crane on bass, Sam Wood on (the other) guitar, and Zak St John on drums. But, for the current 10th Anniversary tour we’re doing in the UK we have Jimmy DeGrasso back on drums, and Scott Gorham is rejoining for the tour – but this tour only!
On the new album you’ve handled most of the writing. How did that go because on previous albums you worked with Scott …
Well I’ve always done the majority of the writing on every Black Star Riders record. I split it with sorta Damon Johnson but i wrote most of the main guitar riffs, I’ve always done that. So it wasn’t really any different for me, I just continued doing what I was doing, and bounce some ideas off Christian. So it didn’t really phase me, I’m a songwriter that’s kinda what I do. You know, Scott didn’t bring in a lot of ideas but what he brought in was always amazing! He’d bring 3 or 4 ideas in on a record, and they were always just fantastic, as you can imagine. So, it wasn’t like suddenly it was all down to me to write it on my own because I’d been doing a bunch of that anyway. Just with the pandemic and not being able to get together I just felt I was able to finish more of the songs on my own before sending them to the guys this time. And in fairness – when I sent them to the guys they were like ‘These are done, let’s record them! We don’t really want to change anything.’ So that’s good on those guys for not tinkering with my vision of what the songs were and just getting it. And that’s just the way it worked out this time around, really.
You’ve got a lot of great riffs on the album. What is your process for coming up with ideas and that? Do you carry around a recorder?
Yeah, it’s old-school. It’s an I-phone, it’s as simple as that. Everything is sung and played in to my I-phone, and then i ‘garage-band’ it, very very basic, and send it to the others and get their input and see what they think. I’m a big believer in the song has to be something you can sit down and play and I’d say 90& of when we write is based around that in it’s purest form so you can pick up an acoustic guitar and play the song right through. And then you can start to embellish it, take it apart and start adding riffs and ideas and stuff like that.
Lyric-wise, what do you draw from?
Everything! Lyrics to me, you’re giving your opinion – your opinion on the world, and your life as you see it, and what effects you. Lyrics are like a diary, so that’s just really what it is – ‘this is what I think, and this is what’s going on around me, this is what’s happening to my friends, my family, and this is what I think is going on politically in the world.’ And you’re giving an opinion. I like to tell stories, I like to create a lot of images lyrically, as well, and bring the person in and have some narrative going on. That’s because the lyricists I admire tend to write that way as well.
Can you talk about a few of the songs here, like the title track, Riding Out The Storm, and Better Than Saturday Night – those all stand out.
Sure. ‘Wrong Side of Paradise’ came about out of sheer frustration with the fact that as a species in society, we have all this fantastic technology and all this wealth and instead of it making us better it seems to be dragging us backwards and making us worse. There’s more hunger and starvation and bigotry and hatred; it’s just complete craziness going on in the world – more than there ever seems to be, when we have the means at our disposal to make the world a better place. And growing up in Northern Ireland I saw what hatred and bigotry and guns and bombs did all throughout my childhood. And it solves nothing, we don’t seem to learn from it, we just keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. And it’s people working 3 jobs just to keep a job over their heads, and people just can’t get a head in life, you can’t get that little bit of hope, and we’re all chasing that dream, you know just to get a little piece, and we’re just lied to by politicians, there’s people that are in power that I think should be locked up in jail, and lots of those people should not be anywhere near deciding what’s right for humanity. And it’s just sad. And it’s really directed at that and people that buy in to the whole myth and that whole lie that they have our best interests at heart – because they don’t. And we keep making the same mistakes. So that’s really where ‘Wrong Side Of Paradise’ is about. ‘Riding Out The Storm’ is quite a personal song. It’s quite a narrative of where I’m at in my own life, after losing my parents over the last couple of years and some close friends that passed away, and myself getting older, and the road ahead of me is definitely shorter than the road behind me, And just where I see the rest of my life and where I see what’s happened in the road that I’ve gone down, the choices that I’ve made, the friends that I’ve made And lost. It’s just a reflection of my own life. You know, I gave up drinking alcohol about a year ago and it’s mentioned in the lyrics that ‘the devil comes out when the whiskey goes in’ – I could trace a lot of bad decisions and things being associated with that. And when I stopped things got infintely better. It’s just a reflection on growing up where I grew up and the culture that I grew up in. And ‘Better Than Saturday Night’ I wrote for my youngest daughter, because she’s such an inspiration – she’s so full of life, she’s so positive, she’s so great. I love her attitude, I love the way she deals with things, and I just find that really inspiring so I wrote that song for her. And that’s just a real upbeat, positive tune.
There’s a lot of great tunes here – As far as the live set, how much of it do you hope to play and put in to the live show?
Thank you. We’re playing a few; I think we’re playing 5 from the new record in a 20 song set. So plenty of old material, but you’re going to get 5 new songs as well.
Where did the idea to cover Crazy Horses come from?
(haha). You know, I’ve just always loved that song since I was a kid, and the guys dug it as well. And I said ‘we should just do it’, and we started messing around with it, and it sounded really good, and they said ‘just do it, let’s put it on the album.’ This is the first cover version that Black Star Riders have ever done. People wouldn’t think that would be an obvious choice for us, but it’s such a great riff and a great song. And great lyrics – there’s great meaning in those lyrics. They were way ahead of their time when they’re talking about the pollution of the planet back in the early ’70s. It just always resonated with me, and I thought let’s just do it, let’s have some fun with it, nothing other than that.
So Scott’s gone on to do the Thin Lizzy thing again, will you be involved with that?
Absolutely, yes!
Is there anything lined up with that?
I’m not sure. I really kinda let Scott that’s his thing, I’ll let him work on that. And if he’s ‘Hey we got some shows.’ Boom – I’m there! I know he’s working on some stuff for later in the year, so I’m sure when it’s all put in place I’ll get a call. So yeah, I’m very much still involved in that, which I’m very honored to be, of course!
The Live and Dangerous box came out, did you get it?
Not yet, it came out a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve been in the UK for the last (almost) 3 weeks now, so I believe there’s one waiting for me when I get back to Los Angeles.
How much of an impact did that album have on you?
Huge! Thin Lizzy had a huge impact on me.. and still do to this day. It’s an honor and a privilege that I get to sing those songs, but take away and I’m a Thin Lizzy fanatic – I’m a nut! Phil, to me is the greatest frontman that there ever was. So yeah – huge impact, I can’t stress that enough!
So you have a UK tour coming up. With Scott being there, will that also include songs from the new album?
Oh yeah, we’re absolutely playing songs from the new album. Scott won’t be playing on those. What happens is we come out as a 4-piece and we do about a half dozen songs as a 4-piece and some songs from the new album, and then Scott comes out and rejoins us, and we do stuff from the back catalogue for the rest of the show.
Simon McBride is also from Northern Ireland, I’m wondering what your thoughts are on his being apart of Deep Purple(?)
Oh that’s great! I don’t know Simon, I’ve never met him. But that’s a fantastic opportunity for him, and he’s a great guitar player, so I’m sure he’ll do really really well.
I usually ask people for a Top 10, so I was wondering if you can give me a few albums, obviously the Thin Lizzy stuff….What other albums growing up..
Nevermind The Bollocks by the Sex Pistols, No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith Motorhead, Stiff Little Fingers – Inflammable Material , MC5 – Kick Out The Jams, London Calling by The Clash, Ogdens Nut Gone Flake by the Small Faces… yeah, stuff like that. It’s hard to pick 10 off the top of my head.
Are you familiar with any Canadian bands?
Yeah. I’m a big fan of Danko Jones. I love Danko, I think he’s brilliant, I think the band’s great, I think they’re an amazing band. Obviously so many greats like Bachman Turner Overdrive.
Can you give me a few words on the new album cover?
It just depicts me growing up in Northern Ireland where barricades and walls were everywhere because of the situation back then. You know as a kid I was always like ‘Why is our street barricaded off? Why is there a wall there? What’s on the other side of it? Is it better?’ You become fascinated with it. And sadly, I think as we’ve gone on we’re still erecting walls, we’re still erecting barricades to keep us segregated and separated instead of building bridges to unite us and bring us together and get a bit more empathy and understanding going on in the world.
With all the albums coming out, the variants and stuff – do you keep a collection yourself?
I do! I’m a big vinyl junkie myself. I’ve just done a huge in-store tour in the UK where I did 20 record stores in the last 13 days, And I played acoustically at every in-store as well. I love vinyl, and I love record stores. It’s a great way to meet people who have bought the new album. It was fantastic! So yeah, I’m full on when it comes to that.
Anything else you can tell me about the new album?
Well, obviously we’ve got Joe Elliott singing on ‘Better Than Saturday Night’, so that’s cool – if people want to check that out. Joe’s on there, and sounding great! It’s just a killer record! I’m really proud of it. I think it sounds huge, and it rocks very very hard, and people should check it out.
How did you get Joe on the album?
Joe has been a friend for many many years, and Joe produced 2 of my solo records. He’s a really good friend, and I’ve collaborated before with him on stuff. It’s just a no-brainer, I thought he’d be great on the track, and he’s only too happy to do it, which is just amazing.
American band Journey is celebrating their 50th anniversary. The band is largely known as an AOR rock band with a huge string of hits, including a number of ballads throughout the ’80s, hits and albums that featured the vocals of Steve Perry. The band has carried on since those days with a few changes in personnel, most notably the loss of Perry years ago. The band currently revolves around founding member & guitarist Neil Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain – both of whom happen to be publicly feuding. What many who’ve followed the band since the ’80s, and who are content to hear the band’s hits from Escape and Frontiers is that the band had a life in the ’70s – well before Jonathan Cain and even before Steve Perry. The band’s most famous frontman joined in October of 1977, in time for the band’s fourth album, and Jonathan Cain joined in 1980, prior to the band’s massively successful Escape album. Journey originally included Neal Schon (ex Santana, Azteca w/ Larry Graham) and Gregg Rolie (keyboards, lead vocals, ex Santana), Ross Valory (bass, ex Frumious Bandersnatch, Steve Miller Band), Prairie Prince (drums, soon to be replaced by) the legendary Aynsley Dunbar from Britain (ex of The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, David Bowie), and George Tickner (guitar, ex Jerry Garcia band, Frumious Bandersnatch). Tickner was rhythm guitarist in the beginning, but left after the band’s first album and Dunbar left after the band’s fourth album. Early on the band made a name for themselves as a big concert draw in the San Francisco area, prior to signing with Columbia in 1974, as well as their previous connections. Although the band didn’t have a lot of commercial success in the early years with their more progressive-fusion hard rock, they did turn out a trio of fine albums, the debut being one of my favorite Journey albums. When Steve Perry joined Journey, the band had 2 lead vocalists, tho’ Perry was the frontman and sang more, Gregg Rolie could still add a different voice on record and on stage, and his Hammond organ playing was excellent on those ’70s albums.
I’ve compiled a list of classic Journey songs from that first decade with Gregg Rolie, and many with Aynsley Dunbar who deserves a lot of credit on those early albums.
Of A Lifetime
The first song on the band’s debut album, “Of A Lifetime” was written by Schon, Rolie, and Tickner. It features a memorable riff played throughout and leaves plenty of room for the band just to jam away on this heavier progressive heavy number, clocking in at nearly 7 minutes. Not sure if this one ever got much radio play, but I’m sure it was in the band’s live show for a number of years. Probably my favorite Journey song of the decade.
Topaz
Journey’s first album also included a few lengthier instrumental cuts, such as “Kohoutek”, and this one on side 2. Written by George Tickner, this is just a fantastic trip of a song, with highs and lows, love the guitar throughout, as well as the different keyboards adding to the atmosphere here. I’ve read press articles that label Journey back then as a ‘jazz rock’ and even ‘latin-rock’ band; these guys were pretty out there. Classic late-night ’70s guitar driven prog rock.
Look Into The Future
The epic title track to the band’s 2nd album. Look Into The Future (the album) was more of a straight ahead hard rock album, but it did have some really good songs on it. This song offered a bit more, I think. I presume a great live number during the era. Cool cover art. Look Into The Future also included a cover of George Harrison’s “It’s All Too Much”.
I’m Gonna Leave You
Clocking in at 7 minutes, co-written by Rolie, Schon and George Tickner (who was no longer in the band). This is probably the heaviest track on Look Into The Future. A classic ’70s heavy progressive cut, full of heavy guitars, and Hammond organ, like these guys could’ve been mistaken for a British band. A fine album closer.
Spaceman
Kind of an interesting song for an album opener. Co-written by Rolie and Aynsley Dunbar, this one opens featuring piano, not exactly a hard rocker, nor a ballad, but what a great track. i presume this one is about skydiving or handgliding – Don’t be so wise, I was born to fly, Not without a place in the wind, Walked off a cliff, then I closed my eyes, Oh, I’m not a spaceman, no, no Oh, I’m not a spaceman. This one was a single, a shame it wasn’t a hit. The piano and melody are a hint of what was to come.
Nickle And Dime
The lone instrumental piece from the Next album. Credited to Valory, Schon, Rolie, and George Tickner! An excellent track, a bit of jazz, progressive, and rockin’…. a definitely reminds one of Rush’s epic “Xanadu” in a few parts- which followed 6 months later. “Nickel And Dime” was the B-side to “Spaceman”. Songs from those first 3 Journey albums would make up the 2 LP compilation In The Beginning, released in 1979.
For You
The first track to feature Robert Fleischman as a co-writer, and the only released Journey song with his lead vocals (on the Time 3 compilation). I’ve included it as it shows a more commercial approach, plus it’s a good song, and Fleischman had a good rock voice and range. The singer would re-record this song (“All For You”) for his 1979 solo album Perfect Stranger.
Wheel In The Sky
Following the band’s third album the band’s record label wanted Journey to get a frontman, and start turning out some hits. The band’s first choice was Robert Fleishman. For various reasons Fleishman only lasted a few months as the band brought in Steve Perry. But, Fleishman did co-write and demo a number of songs with the band, a few of which ended up on 1977’s Infinity– the first with Steve Perry. “Wheel In The Sky” would be the band’s first big hit, co-written with Diane Valory and Neal Schon.
Feeling That Way / Anytime
I’ve put these 2 together, because of the way they run together – one ending with a vocal and the other quickly beginning the same. They are usually played together on the radio (especially FM), and in the live show (see the Captured live set). “Feeling That Way” starts out with piano (ala Elton John) and Gregg Rolie’s vocals before Steve Perry and the band come in. Infinity featured 3 hit singles with “Anytime” (co-written by the band (w/ Fleischman) being one of them. Both songs featuring both singers, great guitar solos, the band’s harmonies… Journey never got much better than this! The last album to feature Aynsley Dunbar.
Just The Same Way
Another classic featuring Gregg Rolie singing lead, and Steve Perry singing back up. This one from 1979’s Evolution album. Co-written by Rolie, Schon and Ross Valory). A pretty short tune, but another excellent example of how good this line-up was. Evolution was the first to feature drummer Steve Smith. It also featured the hit “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'”, which reminds me of Uriah Heep’s “Your Turn To Remember” from 1975.
Anyway You Want It
A great start to a hard rockin’ album, co-written by Steve Perry & Neal Schon (like most songs here). I hear this song and I can’t help but think of Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack! This album is Perry’s best with the band , IMO. He co-wrote every song; sang all but one, and Departure featured less ballads than the previous 2 records, and would be the first to include Kevin Elson as producer. Elson would continue with the band during their most successful period in the ’80s.
Someday Soon
One of 2 tracks that Gregg Rolie co-wrote on Departure, and the last one he sang lead on. An excellent song. Too bad it wasn’t released as a single!
I’m Cryin’
I was going to stop at 12, but listening to this one, I had to include it. The other co-write from Perry & Rolie on Departure. A ballad, but heavy with Schon’s guitar playing, organ, and Perry’s best lead vocal here. A few other good rockers here with “Where Were You” and “Line Of Fire” (which both featured in the live show, see Captured).
Later in 1980 Journey would record & release Dream, After Dream, a soundtrack album to a Japanese film titled Yume, Yume No Ato. This was more about instrumentals to suit the movie, with less proper rock-vocal songs. No singles, and I’m not really a fan of this one. It also featured a number of Japanese musicians guesting. In early 1981 the band released Captured – a double live album from the Departure tour. This marked the end for Gregg Rolie, and the end of an era. The keyboardist/singer went on to record a number of solo albums, most recently Sonic Ranch from 2019, as well as a pair of albums in the ’90s with The Storm. Robert Fleischman would go on to record with the bands Channel and The Vinnie Vincent Invasion in the ’80s, and later record solo albums. Aynsley Dunbar would go on to join Jefferson Starship, and record with numerous artists including Bowie, Ronnie Montrose, Pat Travers and UFO . George Tickner left the band to go to medical school, but stayed active in music, and recorded an album with VTR in 2005 (along with Ross Valory).
The Future Never Waits –The Brand New Album, CD / VINYL – 28 April 2023
Hawkwind have announced a brand-new studio album. The Future Never Waits follows their critically acclaimed 2021 album Somnia and 2022 double live album We Are Looking In On You. The band’s 35th studio album is an outstanding progression to their varied and celebrated catalogue.
Opening track The Future Never Waits delivers a ten minute instrumental led space-age march, before progressing into the guitar driven follow up The End, featuring Dave’s trademark vocals and chugging machine gun riffs. Innovative additions to the Hawkwind canon such as Aldous Huxley and They Are So Easily Distracted introduce a gradual, almost lounge-like quality, with deliberate piano, audio samples and saxophones lamenting over a futuristic backdrop and roaming guitar solos. Other tracks like Rama (The Prophecy) and I’m Learning To Live Today sit tightly in the Hawkwind groove, providing old and new fans alike with the intense and concentrated fusion of musical styles they’ve come to expect and celebrate.
The Future Never Waits is presented by Hawkwind, (Dave Brock, Richard Chadwick, Magnus Martin, Doug MacKinnon and Tim “Thighpaulsandra” Lewis) on both CD and double vinyl and will be released to coincide with live shows in the spring and summer.
UK dates so far:
Friday 28th April – Manchester Academy I Saturday 29th April – Rock City, Nottingham Sunday 30th April – Northern Kin Festival, Durham Friday 16th June – Hall for Cornwall Monday 28th August – Castell Roc, Chepstow Castle
Following the announcement of new guitarist Sam Wood (Wayward Sons), Black Star Riders, the Anglo American rockers featuring Ricky Warwick (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Robert Crane (Bass Guitar) and drummer Zak St. John, are excited to release their new single “Riding Out The Storm”, which is accompanied by a video, directed and produced by famed video maker Tony Aguilera (Jerry Cantrell, Killer Be Killed, Orianthi) in Los Angeles.
Ricky Warwick comments: “As we get older, sadly we start to lose the ones around us who we love, having lost both my parents and some dear friends in the last few years I’ve started to question and look at my feelings on my own mortality and morality. I’ve come to realize that death is a part of life and even in the darkest days (that we all get sometimes), I’ve come to understand that every aspect of life should be an intensified experience and never taken for granted.”
He continues: “The video was shot in downtown Los Angeles and directed by Tony Aguilera. I love the cinematography and different camera filters that Tony used during the shoot. I think it complements the essence of the song, which conveys reflections of mortality and consequences of choice. Life must end eventually, but love doesn’t.”
“Riding Out The Storm” is taken from the band’s forthcoming album Wrong Side Of Paradise, which features 11 tracks, and was recorded in the Autumn of 2021 at Studio 606 in Northridge California and Toochtone Sound in Redmond Oregon with producer and longtime BSR associate, Jay Ruston.
Wrong Side Of Paradise is available for pre-order worldwide here: https://webstore.earache.com/black-star-riders. Formats include: limited coloured vinyl (including green, blue, red and black/white split), black vinyl, signed CD, cassette and digital download. A special edition of the album containing two bonus tracks can be found on CD (which comes with a 24-page song booklet) and USB stick formats. Various collector bundles are also available, including one with an exclusive 12”.
The band’s UK tour in February 2023, a special 10th anniversary run of dates, as well as their headline sets at Planet Rockstock and Earache Records’ 35 Years Of Noise party, see the band welcome back guitarist Scott Gorham and original drummer Jimmy DeGrasso for the celebrations.
Special Guests Michael Monroe and Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons on all shows except Belfast where Trucker Diablo open.
Outsider Rock 