UFO’s comeback album Walk On Water from 1995 is finally getting released on vinyl. Walk On Water saw Michael Schenker return to the band, reuniting the classic line up with Phil Mogg, Paul Raymond, Andy Parker and Pete Way. This is my favorite UFO album, and arguably their best studio recording, being beefed up with re-recordings of the band’s classics “Doctor Doctor” and “Lights Out”. It featured a number of great riffs, and heavy rockers “Self-Made Man”, “Venus”, and “Pushed To The Limit” – which all featured in the band’s live show, as well (my own) favorites “Darker Days” and “Dreaming Of Summer”. Every track on this album rocks. I always put Walk On Water alongside Deep Purple’s Purpendicular (94) and Uriah Heep’s Sea of Light (95) as the best comeback albums (or just best albums!) of the ’90s.
By the time Walk On Water came out Andy Parker was not on the tour, nor the 2 follow-up albums w/ Schenker. When I saw the band in Buffalo (a show recorded and used as ‘bonus’ material on the next album) Simon Wright (ex AC/DC, Dio) was in the band), and the band was selling a version of the CD at shows with 1 less track. The album’s cover varied from country to country when it came out as well. This vinyl edition of Walk On Water features the band’s 8 new songs on the LP, and the 2 re-recordings on an accompanying 7 inch vinyl. Also being released on vinyl is the band’s live album Werewolves Of London (Live in Wolverhampton 1998). Werewolves is also being reissued on cassette & CD. *I believe this just leaves the 2 follow-ups to Walk On Water — Covenant (2000) and Sharks (2002) as the band’s only studio albums yet to be issued on vinyl LP.
Steppenwolf “The Epic Years 1974-1976” 3CD Box Set To Be Released January 27, 2023
STEPPENWOLF’s 3 albums following the band’s break-up and reformation in the mid 70s is a nice follow up to last years Magic Carpet Ride 8-CD box set, which covered the band’s highly successful era from 1967-71. The 3 albums included here would be the last Steppenwolf band albums, as they’d break-up again, and John Kay would form a new band into the ’80s as ‘John Kay & Steppenwolf’. This era would include a couple of different keyboard players, as well as ex-Kindred guitarist Bobby Cochran – nephew of Eddie Cochrane.
Slow Flux came out in 1974, and featured the band’s last Top 40 hit – “Straight Shootin’ Woman”, as well as the singles “Get Into The Wind” and “Smokey Factory Blues”. Slow Flux was a solid album, which included such other memorable tracks as “Gang War Blues”, “Children Of Night, and “A Fool’s Fantasy”. Following this album keyboardist Goldy McJohn was replaced with Andy Chapin.
Hour Of The Wolf was released in ’75, and featured the single “Caroline (Are You Ready For The Outlaw World)”, which was penned by Mars Bonfire (who’d previously written “Born To Be Wild”). This album didn’t fare well at the time , but I think it’s another good album with cuts like “Two For The Love Of One”, “Mr Penny Pincher”, and the lighter “Just For Tonight”. After this album Chapin left the band and went on to join Ricky Nelson’s band, where he met his end in the band’s plane crash on New Year’s Eve of 1985. This disc adds 2 bonus tracks, notably the B-side “Angeldrawers”.
Steppenwolf would record one further album – 1976’s Skullduggery. I really liked this one. It featured keyboard player Wayne Cook (ex Goodthunder). This album would something of a contractual obligation record, with there being no single from it or a promotional tour, so I can’t imagine it did very well back then. Nevertheless, it features some fine tunes, notably the title track to kick things off, written by Cochran as well as a cover of the Junior Walker hit “(I’m A) Roadrunner”, (penned by Motown’s Holland-Dozier-Holand), “Train Of Thought” (penned by American songwriter Alan O’Day), and the funky instrumental “Lip Service”. Wayne Cook would go on to work with the LA Jets, join Player, and tour with Alice Cooper (he can be found on Live At The Apollo Theatre, Glasgow 1982), among other things. Kay would record a solo album – All In Good Time, in 1978.
An interesting, final chapter in Steppenwolf’s ’70s recordings. These albums may not have featured hits as their previous albums had, but there is certainly is plenty of fine songs that make each of these albums enjoyable. Wish there were a few more rarities or outtakes from this period to include, but oh well – a fine trio of ’70s rock albums.
*Check out the press release , track listings, and pre-order link below.
• NEW 3CD CLAMSHELL BOXED SET FEATURING ALL THE RECORDINGS ISSUED BY STEPPENWOLF FOR THE EPIC LABEL BETWEEN 1974 AND 1976.
• FEATURING THEIR THREE ALBUMS PLUS TWO ADDITIONAL BONUS TRACKS. WITH AN ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET FEATURING AN ESSAY AND INTERVIEWS
Steppenwolf was formed in 1967 in LA by John Kay (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Goldy McJohn (organ, piano) and Jerry Edmonton (drums) who were previously members of the Canadian band The Sparrows. They were joined by Michael Monarch (lead guitar) and Rushton Moreve (bass). The band signed to Dunhill / ABC Records and were propelled to success in 1968 with their classic single “Born To Be Wild” which became even wider known when the track was featured to great effect in the classic 1969 counterculture film Easy Rider.
Over the next four years the band released eight albums and enjoyed huge success. In February 1972 Steppenwolf disbanded, with John Kay recording a solo album, but by ’74 they had emerged once again and over the next three years they would record three further albums for Epic.
Following on from “Magic Carpet Ride,” Esoteric’s acclaimed boxed set of the first era of Steppenwolf’s career, “The Epic Years 1974-1976” gathers together all of these albums, along with two rare bonus tracks. The set also includes an illustrated booklet with a new essay by Steppenwolf aficionado Jim Christopulos.
Track Listing:
DISC ONE – Slow Flux 1 Gang War Blues 2 Children of Night 3 Justice Don’t Be Slow 4 Get into the Wind 5 Jeraboah 6 Straight Shootin’ Woman 7 Smokey Factory Blues 8 Morning Blue 9 A Fool’s Fantasy 10 Fishin’ in the Dark
DISC TWO – Hour Of The Wolf 1 Caroline (Are You Ready for the Outlaw World) 2 Annie, Annie Over 3 Two for the Love of One 4 Just for Tonight 5 Hard Rock Road 6 Someone Told a Lie 7 Another’s Lifetime 8 Mr. Penny Pincher Bonus tracks 9 Angeldrawers (B-side of single) 10 Caroline (Are You Ready for the Outlaw World) (Mono promotional single mix)
DISC THREE – Skullduggery 1 Skullduggery 2 (I’m a) Road Runner 3 Rock n’ Roll Song 4 Train of Thought 5 Life is a Gamble 6 Pass it On 7 Sleep 8 Lip Service
There’s another Ken Hensley release coming which will offer 4 of his albums from 1999 to 2005. This is the period Ken decided to return to recording music and performing live, as well as moving out of the US. Past & Present (Songs In Times) – A Ken Hensley Anthology 1972-2021 follows recent CD box sets The Bronze Years : 1973-1981, and Tales of Live Fire & Other Mysteries. The 4 albums included in full are A Glimpse Of Glory (1999), Running Blind (2001), The Last Dance (2003), and Cold Autumn Sunday (2005). All these CDs are welcomed as a few of them have become pricier and/or harder to find over the years. For whatever reason there is the omission of 2004’s The Wizards Diary, Volume One – which was Ken’s retakes of a number of Uriah Heep classics that he wrote. But for those 4 CDs alone, this package will be worth it to most fans. The first and last CDs here are not necessary IMO, but presumably included to make this a career spanning anthology package. CD one titled ‘Solo‘, consists of a ‘best of’ from Hensley’s Bronze era solo albums, as well as a half dozen Heep gems from Demons And Wizards and The Magician’s Birthday (and not the predictable hits). CD six is titled ‘Collaborations‘ , and includes tracks from Faster (2011, w/ LIve Fire) right through to a pair from Ken’s last album My Book Of Answers. Absent are some of Ken’s real collaborations and guest appearances with some acts (notably the Toni Rowland album Ken produced and played on in 2007); these would’ve been nice gems to add. Also excluded not included here or elsewhere (yet) is Ken’s 1994 CD of unreleased songs & rarities From Time To Time, or any of Ken’s live collaborations with John Lawton, John Wetton or his guest appearances with Uriah Heep. But hopefully some of these will be included on something further down the line.
Canada’s APRIL WINE got together in 1968, moved to Montreal, signed to Aquarius Records, and released their first album in 1970. That album featured the hit single “Fast Train”. And from there, April Wine went on to become one of the biggest band’s in Canada. By the time the band’s 3rd album was released Myles Goodwyn was the lone original member. He sang lead, played guitar, and wrote the majority of the band’s material. Over time, he would go on to write almost all of the band’s material, add keyboards, and produce. Guitarist Brian Greenway joined in 1977, and the band took off with the hit “Roller”, from the album First Glance. April Wine split in the mid ’80s, but reformed in the early ’90s, recording more studio albums, and touring extensively. After a number of personal changes only Goodwyn and Greenway remained from the band’s classic late 70s-early 80s classic era. Now Myles Goodwyn has announced his retirement from touring with the band that he lead for 5 decades. Replacing him will be Montreal musician Marc Parent, from the Ottawa based band Eight Seconds. Goodwyn posted on Facebook on December 19 (with the above photo): “New April Wine group to hit stages everywhere in 2023. (l to r) Brian Greenway, Marc Parent, Richard Lanthier and Roy Nichol. Although I’m still in the band writing, recording the guys and producing, I am now officially retired from touring. My last stage performance after 50+ yrs. on the road, will be in Nova Scotia, March 2, 2023. It all started here and ends here for me. I will miss the shows, the fans and the other bands that have been friends for years, but health reasons have made this decision necessary. Cheers everyone and thanks for all the support over the years.”
Brian Greenway commented (further on) – “The new fellow’s name is Marc Parent from the band 8 Seconds. He plays excellent guitar and sings great! He was hand picked and is a gift as he can play and sing a lot like Myles. The song book will carry on. It’s all about the songs.”
In recent years Myles Goodwyn has recorded and released 3 solo albums – Myles Goodwyn and Friends of the Blues (2018), Friends of the Blues 2 (2019), and his most recent (2021) Long Pants. There has also been talk of a new April Wine album over the last couple of years, hopefully that will still happen. The band’s catalogue has more recently been reissued on colored vinyl via Unidisc.
Canadian rockers Coney Hatch have released a track from their forthcoming live album Postcard From Germany. The album will be out early next year. (See previous post for further details.)
The live cut now available is the classic “Devil’s Deck”, which opened the band’s 1982 debut album. The song is one of the album’s best known tracks, along with “Monkey Bars” and “Hey Operator”, and is always a highlight of the band’s live show. The track is available to stream and the album can be pre-ordered digitally – https://found.ee/ConeyHatchPFG (and see Youtube below)
*As previously noted the band will be playing the entire debut album at the El Mocambo on December 29. May be tix still left, see the press release below…
CONEY HATCH CELEBRATE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF DEBUT ALBUM WITH UPCOMING SHOW AT EL MOCAMBO
The El Mocambo in Toronto is undoubtedly one of the most instantly recognizable names when it comes to music venues. After all, such iconic artists as the Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, the Cars, and Stevie Ray Vaughan have all performed at the legendary hall over the years (and also issued recordings from their performances there). And on Thursday, December 29, 2022, Canadian hard rockers Coney Hatch will headline the venue – to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their gold-certified self-titled debut.
VIP tickets will include entry to the venue early to witness part of the soundcheck, plus a meet & greet with all four members and a photo with the band. The band will also autograph one item per person. Details TBA – limited to 50, so purchase quickly before they sell out! Tickets can be purchased via this link: https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/coney-hatch-40th-anniversary-under-the-neon-palms-at-tickets/12695535
The El Mocambo performance will be a homecoming of sorts for the band (lead vocalist/guitarist Carl Dixon, guitarist Sean Kelly, bass player/vocalist Andy Curran, and drummer Dave Ketchum), as they previously played the venue in 1983, and hail from Toronto. To mark this special occasion, the band will be performing the debut album in its entirety that evening (a recording that spawned such hard rock gems as “Monkey Bars,” “Devil’s Deck,” and “Hey Operator”). This is Hatch’s only Canadian show before they start a UK tour in January 2023 (opening a string of dates for Steve Harris’ British Lion). The show will also include additional songs from their extensive catalog.
“The El Mocambo is a venue that has been near and dear to our hearts,” says Curran. “All of the Coney’s loved performing there and we all saw so many amazing bands and artists perform there, as well. It’s so rich in history and the logical place for us to perform our debut record for the 40th anniversary for our hometown Toronto fans.”
Also, arriving soon from the Hatch will be a live album, ‘Postcard from Germany.’ “We’re very excited and grateful that after all these years, we’re still getting along and releasing new songs. We’re a brotherhood and this new live record totally captures the spirit of Coney Hatch live. In your face double guitar attack! Also two spankin’ new songs to boot! That’s a pretty cool thing for our fans.”
But first, Toronto fans will get the unique opportunity to close 2022 by witnessing Coney Hatch perform a classic album…at a classic venue!
QUIET RIOT , the LA band that originally featured guitarist Randy Rhoads, as well as frontman Kevin DuBrow, and longtime drummer Frankie Banali. QR were best known for being the first LA metal band to have a number One album with Metal Health, which had been released in March of 1983 and hit #1 on the Billboard charts in November. That success is often regarded as the turning point for the LA metal scene with major record companies rushing to sing numerous other metal bands. The band’s follow up album Conditional Critical was less successful, and the band would never returned to their massive success as they had in ’83. Line up changes would take place over subsequent albums, followed by breaks, reunions, reformations, etc… DuBrow released a fine solo disc of covers titled In For The Kill in 2004, and in 2006 QR released Rehab. Sadly, DuBrow passed away a year later in November of 2007. A few years later Frankie Banali would resurrect the band, going through years of changing singers, while the band also included guitarist Alex Grossi and bass player Chuck Wright, who’d worked with the band before, even played on a few Metal Health tracks (including the title track). QR even recorded a few new albums in more recent years. Banali was diagnosed with cancer in October of 2019, and sadly passed away in August of 2020. The band carried on, and in 2021 Chuck Wright left the band, and Rudy Sarzo returned.
The ‘new’ track was from the Rehab era, written by Dubrow & Grossi. It features DuBrow, Banali, Grossi, and bass from Rudy Sarzo, as well as a few added players, such as Dizzy Reed on keyboards (Reed plays alongside Grossi, current QR drummer Johnny Kelly, and WASP bassist Mike Duda in Hooks & Blow). The song “I Can’t Hold On” is a classic melodic power ballad. I’ve played this track a dozen times and it’s got to be one of the best things the band ever recorded. In another decade “I Can’t Hold On” would’ve been a major hit. But it is something special to hear this now. The accompanying video was directed by Regina Banali (Frankie’s widow), and it is a moving video featuring plenty of photos and film clips of DuBrow and Banali, pesonal clips of Banali in his last days, as well as recent clips of Grossi and company putting the song together, with Sarzo adding bass in the studio. Apparently there are more tracks that were started by Frankie Banali, and the band is looking to release a full album next summer.
Quiet Riot is also reissung Rehab (digitally) at present. The single “I Can’t Hold On” is available on digital platforms (Spotify, Amazon US…).
Aside from a great new single, Quiet Riot and Kevin DuBrow are also the topic of a new book titled Keep On Rollin’ : My Fan Club Years with Kevin DuBrow & Quiet Riot, by Missy Whitney, who ran the band’s fan club in the ’80s. The book has been in the works for years and is now ready. It includes photos from Mark Weiss and Ron Sobol. Watch a quick preview of the book below and check out the press release, ordering info, and links at the bottom.
Quiet Riot released their debut album Metal Health in 1983. The band made history as the American heavy metal debut album ever to reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts in the United States. Quiet Riot’s Metal Health ultimately sold over six million copies in the U.S. and was credited with leading the way for other heavy metal bands worldwide to find their success. After guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Rudy Sarzo left the original Quiet Riot lineup to join Ozzy Osbourne, Kevin DuBrow picked up the pieces. He started his band under the name DuBrow. And from 1980 – 1982, he played tirelessly in Southern California clubs with multiple musicians until he found the lineup—Kevin DuBrow, Frankie Banali, Rudy Sarzo, and Carlos Cavazo. Missy Whitney worked alongside DuBrow in promoting his band to secure a record deal from the very beginning. DuBrow played a total of 106 gigs (Whitney reports) where she was in attendance, growing the band’s support and fan base. In September 1982, producer Spencer Proffer signed the band to a U.S. recording contract with CBS Records and recorded Metal Health. And with the release of Metal Health, Whitney continued to work with the band in an official fan club capacity by running the Quiet Riot Squad.
She was instrumental in connecting fans to the band, pre-social media, and developing fan newsletters, merchandise, and fan street teams across the U.S. Writing about her time working with DuBrow and Quiet Riot, Whitney completed her memoir entitled, “Keep On Rollin'” – My Fan Club Years with Kevin DuBrow and Quiet Riot in 2020. In it, she shares her unique experiences working alongside Kevin DuBrow and Frankie Banali. In her book, she discusses DuBrow’s untimely death in 2007 and pays tribute to Frankie Banali, who recently died of pancreatic cancer in August of 2020. The book is a collection of personal photos and handwritten letters from Kevin DuBrow. Plus, contributing photographs (and book cover) from iconic photographer Mark Weiss and early Quiet Riot photographer Ron Sobol. Missy Whitney and Mark Weiss partnered in 2020 and published under Mark Weiss’ new publishing company MiMa. Quiet Riot’s bassist, Rudy Sarzo, wrote the book’s foreword and Laura Mandell (Kevin DuBrow’s mother) wrote the afterword.
Keep On Rollin’ is hardcover, 208 pages. Links for purchase: $35 for book https://py.pl/1Kb4C6 $45 for personalized book with collector’s guitar pic https://py.pl/B2IY1
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS: Mark “Weissguy” Weiss is a world-renowned photographer who has traveled the globe photographing legends from Quiet Riot, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, and KISS. His photographs have been published in thousands of magazines worldwide. He is responsible for two of the era’s defining album covers, Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet and Twisted Sister’s Stay Hungry. His inimitable photographs helped craft the visual imagery of rock and metal in the 1980s. Ron Sobol, Quiet Riot photographer (1975-1980). Writer, producer, and director of Randy Rhoads: The Quiet Riot Years. Foreword contributor Rudy Sarzo is best known as the bassist for the heavy metal rock band, Quiet Riot. Also known for playing with such heavyweights as Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Dio, Blue Oyster Cult, and The Guess Who.
QUOTES: “I want to say kudos to what you guys (Mark Weiss and Ron Sobol) for what you are doing with Missy’s book because very little is known about the DuBrow period. In 1979 when Randy Rhoads left for Ozzy Osbourne—the period of Missy’s book ties the previous Quiet Riot, Metal Health, the world knows today. This book celebrates Kevin DuBrow, Frankie Banali, and Randy Rhoads. And it should be in the collection of—not only Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne fans but in the collection of every music fan. I am honored to do the foreword because I was there and Missy was the O.G. fan club president.” —Rudy Sarzo, Quiet Riot
“Missy was looking for photo for the cover of her book and my photo was really special to her because she gave Kevin that necklace. He wore it on a one of my photo shoots, he wore it all the time, but it was really prominent in this one photo—which is going to be the cover. Her manuscript was just so genuine and pure—I thought—I gotta get involved with this. I think that people are going to see Kevin in a different way—that I think needs to be shown.” —Mark “Weissguy” Weiss
Fan Review: I can’t recommend anything more strongly than I will recommend this. Any Quiet Riot fan or music history enthusiast would be lucky to count this among their archives. Missy shows us sides of both Quiet Riot and Kevin DuBrow that have been lost to time or reserved only for those lucky enough to have been close to the band in its initial stages – she shows us who DuBrow was on and off the stage in his early days, drawing readers in with candid accounts of her friendship with the man himself. Following DuBrow’s example, she gives an honest account of her time as the Quiet Riot Squad president and a friend of the band that will evoke nostalgia for those who lived through the glory days and a yearning for those who were too young to have been there. Accompanied with rare photographs, a foreword by Rudy Sarzo and an afterword by Laura Mandell (DuBrow’s mother), Missy has built a wonderful tribute to a dearly departed friend that will make readers feel as if they had known him as well. — Shelby Geisert, Grand Valley, CO
SOUTHERN ROOTS ROCKERS ROBERT JON & THE WRECK RELEASE CAPTIVATING ROCK BALLAD, “WHO CAN YOU LOVE”
Produced by the legendary, multi-GRAMMY Award winner Don Was, the song will be featured on the band’s new EP ‘One Of A Kind,’ released 10 March 2023 via Journeyman Records
Southern roots rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck have released “Who Can You Love,” the captivating, Americana-infused second single from their new EP One Of A Kind, out March 10th via Joe Bonamassa’s newest independent label, Journeyman Records. Produced by the renowned, multi-GRAMMY Award winning producer Don Was (Bonnie Raitt, The Stones, John Mayer), “Who Can You Love” was recorded at Hensen Studios in Los Angeles (the same studio that gave us legendary albums including Tapestry by Carole King and “Blue” by Joni Mitchell, and many others).
With its infectious melodies, catchy riffs, and Americana sound, “Who Can You Love” showcases another side of the band following the release of the EP’s explosive lead single “Pain No More,” an outstanding riff-driven roots rock track produced by the eight-time Grammy Award winner Dave Cobb (Europe, Blackberry Smoke, Rival Sons). In contrast, “Who Can You Love” is a reflective, inward-looking track about questioning what you are looking for in a partner. From the uplifting lyrics and velvety vocals of Robert Jon to Henry James’ soul-stirring fretwork, “Who Can You Love” has all the makings of a timeless Southern Rock ballad. The Wreck’s latest track will be right at home alongside cherished classics like The Allman Brothers’ “Melissa” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man,” as well as modern gems like Chris Stapleton’s rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey” and John Mayer’s “Last Train Home (Ballad Version).”
“Who Can You Love” is the latest in a series of singles that Robert Jon & The Wreck will roll out over the next year, beyond the release of the One Of A Kind EP. Prolific songwriters with a wealth of new material who refuse to be constrained by traditional release strategies, the band’s new partnership with Journeyman Records affords them the opportunity to work with the world’s top producers and release a steady stream of high quality singles on an ongoing basis, cutting through the industry chaos and ensuring new music is accessible to fans as intended.
Reigning from Southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck take the Southern rock sound from the east coast and make it their own. Since their inception in 2011, these four native Californians; Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), and Warren Murrel (bass) have been electrifying audiences all over the world with their soaring guitar leads, rich vocal harmonies, and memorable tunes. Simply put, it is difficult to ignore when these talented musicians take the stage.
2020’s Last Light On The Highway garnered worldwide acclaim for the band and 2021’s Shine A Light On Me Brother continued their upward trajectory, leading to a collaboration with Journeyman Records. They released two singles in early 2022 “Waiting For Your Man” and “She’s A Fighter.” On September 30th, The Wreck released their latest album Wreckage Vol. 2. which has paved the way for even more new and exciting music from the band.
Peter Hesslein’s Night Drive 3 is out! The album contains 16 new cruising tracks, 15 being instrumental, and 1 song featuring vocals from former Lucifer’s Friend singer Mike Starrs. Night Drive 3 is a fun journey of different tunes highlighting Hesslein’s guitar work, as well as song creation with varying styles and keyboards. It is upbeat, brightly produced and the best of the 3, IMO. On how the guitarist approached the new album, Hesslein states: “My way of developing music is always the same. First I start with a chord sequence or a guitar riff and at the same time I work out the melody, the playbacks, until the song is ready. then come the subtleties and sounds that make the track attractive.”
The disc’s last song “Chapters Of My Life” is an excellent ballad, and will be the highlight for Lucifer’s Friend fans, as it features the vocals of Mike Starrs, who sang on the band’s Good Time Warrior and Sneak Me In albums. Peter Hesslein explains how the song came about: “For the conclusion of the Night Drive trilogy, I wanted to make a song with vocals that could convey lyrics. After all these years, I also wanted to take up the topic “I Did it My Way”. Since Mike is also my age, it is fitting that he wanted to write the lyrics. After all, we have known each other for a very long time.” (Starrs has recorded with Crossover in recent years who have a new CD single out. As well Starrs’ 1974 solo album Electric Garden has also just been reissued on CD through Cherry Red).
Beyond the new album Peter Hesslein still has tracks that were planned for another Lucifer’s Friend album prior to John Lawton’s passing. These tracks require a collaboration with a singer, who can add lyrics as well. Hesslein also recently posted that he was happy with being featured in a new book on German metal, stating: “The book by Frank Schäfer is called “Heavy Kraut” – How Metal Came To Germany. It contains interviews of me and other companions. A very successful work, well researched. Thanks again to Frank Schäfer.” At this time the book is only available in German language.
*For more on Night Drive 3, check out the official press release below, as well as the links.
Peter Hesslein is an original founding member of the band Lucifer’s Friend and an accomplished guitarist. His first Night Drive album was meant to be a one-off, but its success prompted a sequel in Night Drive 2 and now the further demand, from fans, has led to a Night Drive 3.
Lucifer’s Friend was originally formed in Hamburg in 1970 by guitarist Peter Hesslein, singer John Lawton, bassist Dieter Horns, keyboardist Peter Hecht and drummer Joachim Reitenbach. Lucifer’s Friend reformed in 2015 and since then has recorded new studio albums and played concerts and high-profile festivals.
The last track on Night Drive 3, “Chapters of my Life,” features a guest appearance by former Lucifer’s Friend lead singer Mike Starrs.
Peter Hesslein said of his new studio album: “So now I’d like to share with you a third Night Drive album because I had a lot of messages asking about it. When I started the idea, I thought the first Night Drive album would be on its own, but now fans have asked for two more albums for car journeys! I am very grateful fans like this music and they want more from me!”
Steel Panther have released a new video from their upcoming album On The Prowl. The song is “1987”, another track (see Nestor’s “1989”) that celebrates the ’80s.
With the recent announcement of their sixth studio album On The Prowl and the launch of their “Who’s Your Daddy(‘s Jokes)” series on YouTube, California rock legends Steel Panther have released another song from the upcoming album available worldwide on February 24, 2023. “1987” is a reflective look at one of the greatest years in rock music supported by unforgettable hooks, relatable lyrics and fretboard fireworks. Satchel, Michael Starr, Stix Zadinia and Spyder pay homage to the icons of the year including Guns N’ Roses, Poison, Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne and Van Halen to name a few. The music video was directed by longtime collaborator J.T. Arbogast and follows a young duo who find an abandoned recording studio. When one of the kids plugs in a hidden 1987 pedal (available for purchase HERE), he is transported to the time in the studio when Steel Panther recorded the song and lives the memories of 1987 in his own way.
To celebrate the release of “1987,” Steel Panther is also announcing a massive world tour in support of their latest release. The On The Prowl World Tour 2023 is set to kick off in February and will run throughout North America through April. Crobot and Tragedy will be joining the band on the North American tour. The band will take a short break before bringing the party to the United Kingdom and Ireland in May. These new shows will be added to the 2022 year-end dates in Vancouver and the warmup weekends in January 2023 that were previously announced. Additional Information on all ticket and VIP packages including meet and greets, exclusive merch items, early entry and more for the On The Prowl World Tour 2023 can be found HERE.
On The Prowl World Tour 2023 Dates 2/24/23 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues 2/25/23 – Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues 2/26/23 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee Theatre 2/28/23 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater 3/1/23 – Houston, TX – House Of Blues 3/3/23 – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues 3/4/23 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom 3/6/23 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works 3/8/23 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room 3/10/23 – Orlando FL – The Plaza Live 3/11/23 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live 3/12/23 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre 3/14/23 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live 3/16/23 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza 3/17/23 – Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theatre 3/18/23 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom 3/19/23 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium 3/21/23 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore 3/22/23 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone 3/24/23 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room 3/25/23 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues 3/26/23 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre 3/28/23 – Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Club Stage 3/29/23 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore 3/31/23 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre 4/1/23 – Denver , CO – The Fillmore 4/2/23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot 4/4/23 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom 4/6/23 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go 4/7/23 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go 4/8/23 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues 5/14/23 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy 5/15/23 – Newcastle, UK – O2 City Hall 5/17/23 – Manchester, UK – Academy 5/18/23 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy 5/20/23 – London, UK – O2 Forum Kentish Town 5/21/23 – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy 5/23/23 – Leeds, UK – O2 Academy 5/25/23 – Belfast, UK – Ulster Hall 5/26/23 – Cork, IE – Cyprus Avenue 5/28/23 – Dublin, IE – Vicar Street Previously Announced Tour Dates 12/29/22 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom 12/30/22 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom 1/5/23 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore 1/6/23 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades 1/7/233 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater 1/27/23 – Greensboro, NC – Piedmont Hall 1/28/23 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House Of Blues 1/29/23 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
On The Prowl was produced by Steel Panther and is now available for pre-order in multiple configurations including CD, Cassette, and 2 different color variant vinyl records HERE. From the opening synth intro of “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight)” to the thunderous outro of “Sleeping On The Rollaway,” Steel Panther is back with the infectious riffs, pounding drums, unforgettable vocals alongside the witty humor that has earned them a global audience. Songs like “On Your Instagram,” “Magical Vagina” and “One Pump Chump” are sure to fit in on the biggest live stages next to the band’s most-memorable songs. “1987” is an incredible retro look at that unforgettable year and the band even slows things down on the reflective “Ain’t Dead Yet.” A music video for “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight) was previously released and can be seen HERE.
Tracklisting: 1) Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight) 2) Friends With Benefits 3) On Your Instagram 4) Put My Money Where Your Mouth Is 5) 1987 6) Teleporter 7) Is My D**k Enough (feat. Dweezil Zappa) 8) Magical Vagina 9) All That And More 10) One Pump Chump 11) Pornstar 12) Ain’t Dead Yet 13) Sleeping On The Rollaway
Steel Panther: Michael Starr [lead vocals], Satchel [lead guitar], Spyder [bass], and Stix Zadinia [drums]
