Tag Archives: Hard rock

SATAN’S FALL – Destination Destruction (a review)

Destination Destruction is SATAN’S FALL’s 2nd album. This band from Finland delivers a heavy, 2-guitar, 8 song killer album. Full of big riffs, memorable melodic rockers, and anthems, and just a powerful sound with the production & mix. The first 2 singles “Lead The Way” & “Afterglow” were cool, but favorites here gotta be “Monster’s Ball” with it’s soft guitar built up intro before the band comes in, delivering a great melodic rocker (as light as it gets here), “No Gods, No Masters” with interesting little guitar intro (reminiscent of Saxon’s “Crusader”), before the band kicks in to a faster rocker, there’s a spoken word bit which I presume tells part of the story, and the last track is perhaps the best one here – “Dark Star”, some of this (guitar solo/melody) remind me of Neil Young’s “Like A Hurricane”, but dig this track. These guys even recorded a couple of covers as bonus tracks – one being a theme to a German TV show, and the other being the ‘Power Rangers’ TV show theme! Prior to 2020’s Final Day album, Satan’s Fall had released a few singles & EPs since 2016 – one of which included a decent metalized take of Kenny Loggins’ hit “Danger Zone”!

This is my favorite metal album lately, no bum tracks to skip over, a great listen all the eway through. Recommended to fans of Saxon, Helloween, Grave Digger, and and latter day Judas Priest. Looking forward to getting the actually LP.

LINKS:

https://satansfall.bandcamp.com/album/destination-destruction

https://www.facebook.com/SatansFall

https://shop.season-of-mist.com/satan-s-fall-destination-destruction-lp

SVEN GALI release comeback album ‘Bombs & Battle Scars’

HARD ROCKERS SVEN GALI RETURN WITH EXPLOSIVE COMEBACK ALBUM BOMBS & BATTLE SCARS RELEASED IN CANADA

SVEN GALI’s trademark blend of heavy riffs, gritty vocals, and anthemic melodies span decades. Cutting their teeth in the bar circuit of Southern Ontario, Canada in the late 80’s, SVEN GALI’s live show was a full on circus of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.

Emerging with a record deal with BMG, SVEN GALI released their debut self-titled release in 1992. From the first chord of “Under The Influence” SVEN GALI made their mark. Follow up singles “Tie Dyed Skies” and “In My Garden” paved the way for the ballad number 6 CanCon song of 1993 that also went Top 10 nationwide, “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore.” As the album went Gold, SVEN GALI won the MuchMusic Best Metal Video Award in 1993 for “Under The Influence” and was nominated for two Junos. With a worldwide release, SVEN GALI toured with the likes of Def Leppard, Foreigner and April Wine.

SVEN GALI’s follow-up, Inwire, was partly recorded in in Seattle with producer Kelly Gray and saw the band take on a more alternative experimental tone. The band broke up soon after the album’s release and played sporadic shows before solidifying a new lineup with original members Dave Wanless (vocals), Andy Frank (guitar) and TT (bass) bringing in guitarist Sean Williamson and drummer Dan Fila from former BMG labelmates Varga.

SVEN GALI’s new release Bombs & Battlescars through Canadian label, Music In Motion Ent, combines the best of both SVEN GALI eras. The album contains five new originals. “One Gun” is a relentless driver that sets the battlefield ablaze with its blistering guitar work and commanding vocals. The massive groove of “Coming Home” and fierce anthem “Monster” showcase Sven Gali’s unapologetic attitude while the sonic prowess of “Life Inside” stands side by side with any current alternative metal peers. Closer “Nothing New” showcases the melodic side of the band with a catchy acoustic groove.

Bombs & Battlescars also brings the band full circle with a cover of Triumph’s “Spellbound.” Recorded at Toronto’s Metalworks studio where many of SVEN GALI’s early songs were recorded and demoed, acclaimed Coney Hatch frontman Andy Curran produced the track bringing the song into the modern age. Triumph drummer Gil Moore also appears in the video. The album is filled out with three remastered unreleased tracks from the band’s 90’s recording vault.

Bombs & Battlescars is out now, for both physical and streaming. Videos for “One Gun” and “Monster” are presently available online. The band’s third single, “Coming Home,” is set to coincide with the international release of Bombs & Battlescars on Feb 02, 2024. This date will also feature the debut of “Coming Home” mixed in Dolby Atmos (courtesy of Iguana Studios in Toronto ON) along with a new video for the single.

Bombs & Battle scars on CD and limited edition army green vinyl are available through retail. Signed CDs and LPs are available through their web store. *Watch for the Record Store Day release of Sven Gali’s 1992 debut on marble purple vinyl on November 24!

*Go to Svengali.ca for social media links, videos, merchandise and shows.

CONEY HATCH – Carl Dixon on new live album, upcoming show, and 1982’s debut album

This weekend CONEY HATCH will be celebrating 40 years And the release of a new live album. Postcard From Germany will be released (and available at the show) in a 2CD set, coupled with the band’s classic 1982 debut album (remastered with bonus tracks!). In a recent exchange Carl Dixon answers questions on the band’s new release, as well as their first album, and (potential) future plans. Enjoy the read, and check out the links below. Tickets for this Saturday’s show At the El Mocambo in Toronto are available here – https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/postcard-from-germany-album-release-under-the-neon-palms-at-tickets/13483218

Q: ‘Postcard From Germany‘ has been out for a while via Cleopatra, what was the reasoning for this new release (rerelease?)? 

Carl: We wanted to make a Canadian territory release similar to our early days with Anthem Records, and it’s a great opportunity to pair the most recent with our remastered debut.

So….the 40th Anniversary of the first Coney Hatch album was celebrated at the end of last year, will this celebration on the 11th be different as far as the set-list goes? 

Yes, we’ll feature material from 5 different albums, including the song Andy sings on Postcard, Heaven’s on the Other Side which we did not perform last time!

Will there be some new merch special for this occasion? (a debut album shirt Perhaps)

There is a plan in motion to do just that. The Double -CD package will be available at the show also. 

Might we get (even down the road) a full performance of the Outa Hand album? 

Ah, clever lad, you’ve anticipated our next marketing ploy

Live From Germany turned out to be an excellent live recording; has it inspired (for lack of a better word) you guys to (want to) record any future shows? (Any chance you recorded last December’s El Mo show?) 

Ummm, we haven’t thought about going to the well for more live albums, now having two, but you never know what the future holds

Being your first time playing Germany, and knowing how big of rock fans/ supporters Germans are, what was your biggest memory and lasting impression of playing that HEAT Fest in 2018?

It was most memorable to feel the audience excitement and hear them singing along. We love playing Germany and all Europe.

Both of the new tracks came out very good,  and gave us 2 memorable Coney tunes.  Were you happy with the way they turned out, the feedback, and has this planted the seed for possible new Coney Hatch in the near future?

Very happy, yes. It’s About a Girl and Heaven’s On the Other Side have pointed the way to getting more music recorded together as a band with great new guy (ha, 10 years) Sean Kelly.

Regarding the first album…. Looking back on writing, recording – the whole experience. What is the biggest memory for you from it? And what was the biggest thing you learned from it? (being your first album) 

The biggest thing we learned from recording the first Coney Hatch album was that it’s so important to pay attention to details on every level; the lyrics, the performance, the musical parts that each musician plays, the gear you select, the setting, the scheduling, , staying healthy, even what you do at meal times! 

Do you recall how you felt about the album when it was done and released and if you (guys) felt you had something really special or something you thought might be a big success at the time? (How did you perceive it at the time) 

Kim Mitchell (producer) was very confident that it would be a success when it was done, so we took our cue from him. We felt that we had achieved our goals and even surpassed them. There was no feeling that we’d missed out or been pushed around by the label or producer.

There were a few tracks left off of ‘Coney Hatch’ , which are included as bonus tracks n this new release. And I know ‘Where I Draw The Line’ was bumped in favor of ‘Hey Operator’, but what do you recall of writing and/or recording that one (lyrical ideas), as well as ‘Dreamland’, and even ‘Sin After Sin’? 

Where I Draw the Line started as a musical jam during one of the many rehearsal/writing sessions we did on the road in the early days. I wrote a lyric for it based on my experience of leaving Montreal after being in a band there for a couple of years. Dreamland came out of my blues-rock riffing, probably influenced by Bad Company and Humble Pie, and the lyrics were based on a mix of actual dreams and some dramatic waking experiences. Sin After Sin came from Andy’s love of Judas Priest and similar heavy rock, written about a girl who’d, umm, let him down shall we say. 

Any recollections on the photo taken that ended up on the back of the debut album? (where taken, etc..)

Ha, that photo! We had a couple of photo shoots to get an album cover image, and the label guys felt we showed no “attitude” in the shots we were getting. Tom Berry (Anthem VP) decided to bring a case of beer to the next attempt, and the results were considerably loosened up this time. What they chose from that day was a picture of four semi-pickled young musicians each about four beers in…

Any Coney plans for 2024 – as far as any reissues, archived releases (thinking Cleveland 1982), major festivals, ….? 

Wow, Kreskin, again with the anticipating! Yes, we are looking at Cleveland’82 as one option and some other products to release through Anthem, the record label name we are happily reunited with (even if it’s none of the same people). Some rumblings also of a new album if there is deemed to be sufficient interest from the public. Two European dates on the calendar for next October: Firefest in Manchester and Bully on Rock in France. hoping for more to come in over there!

LINKS:

http://www.coneyhatch.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063052548185

http://www.carldixon.ca

https://www.instagram.com/rushguyyyz/ (Donald Gadziola Photography)

TRAPEZE early albums get vinyl reissue

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.

for mor info & to order: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/reissues/trapeze

WHITESNAKE release video for ‘You Fool No One’

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

LINKS:

https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/artists/whitesnake/the-purple-album-special-gold-edition-2cd1blu-ray/603497830299.html

https://www.facebook.com/Whitesnake.official

WYTCH HAZEL release new 7″ single

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.

To check out the tracks and order the single go to – https://wytchhazel.bandcamp.com/album/king-of-israel-auld-lang-syne?from=fanpub_fnb

LINKS:

https://www.facebook.com/wytchhazel

http://www.wytchhazel.com

https://www.instagram.com/wytchhazel

CONEY HATCH to celebrate 40 Years, Issue special 2CD set



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).

The album can be purchased via the following linkhttps://lnk.to/CH2CD

“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.

Tickets and VIP M&G’s to the Toronto show are on sale now and can be purchased here: https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/postcard-from-germany-album-release-under-the-neon-palms-at-tickets/13483218

LINKS:

http://www.coneyhatch.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063052548185

https://www.instagram.com/coneyhatchmusic/?hl=en

SPELL members release new single/video in time for Halloween.

Artwork- Leon Bakalarz

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!

LINKS:

https://jeffblackmusic.bandcamp.com/track/blood-lust-ft-spell

https://www.facebook.com/spellspell

DOKKEN – An interview with Jon Levin on Heaven Comes Down

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.

https://www.hellfire-magazin.de/02-08-2018-dokken-live-wacken-2018/

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:

  1. Van Halen
  2. Van Halen II
  3. Van Halen “Fair Warning”
  4. Van Halen, “Diver Down”
  5. Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz
  6. Ozzy Osbourne, Diary of a Madman
  7. Lynyrd Skynyrd, “One More For The Road”
  8. Dokken, “Tooth N Nail”
  9. Dokken, “Under Lock And Key”
  10. 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.

https://www.instagram.com/billpalmer73/ https://www.abqjournal.com/things-to-do/from-writing-to-producing-bill-palmer-is-a-creative-force/article_4ff4effe-11c9-5229-abb2-99bbfa7beab4.html

LINKS:

https://dokken.tmstor.es/

https://www.facebook.com/DokkenOfficial

https://www.instagram.com/dokken_official/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/officialjonlevin/

https://www.instagram.com/jonlevinofficial/

https://allthatshreds.com/jon-levin-rokken-with-dokkens-axe-master-the-interview/

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/don_dokken_details_bands_health_troubles_they_wanted_to_cut_off_his_arm.html

https://blabbermouth.net/news/don-dokken-is-very-proud-of-upcoming-dokken-album-heaven-comes-down

DORO covers Bonnie Tyler hit on new album, w/ ROB HALFORD

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.

LINKS:

https://www.doromusic.de/

https://doro.bfan.link/conqueress.ypo

https://www.facebook.com/DoroPeschOfficial