ORANGE GOBLIN To Release Live CD/DVD Additional Dates With Clutch Announced

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Candlelight Records today confirms March 12 as the North American release date for A Eulogy For the Fans-Orange Goblin Live 2012. The CD/DVD is the first proper live recording from ORANGE GOBLIN and will be released in tandem with the band’s first full stateside tour in over eight years. The special recording kicks off a planned year of non-stop touring and continues the success found in 2012 in which the band appeared/topped countless “Best Of” magazine and fan generated polls.

A Eulogy For The Fans-Orange Goblin Live 2012 includes ORANGE GOBLIN’s complete performances professionally recorded at Bloodstock Open Air Festival (England-August 11, 2012) and Hellfest (France-June 15, 2012). The DVD further includes the official Tom Cronin directed videos for “Red Tide Rising” and “Acid Trial,” the latter courtesy of Scion A/V, plus the Matt Chance directed “Red Tide Rising Documentary” and Gaetan Chataigner directed “Highway To Hellfest Documentary.” Art and design was once again provided by Jimbob Isaac under the direction of vocalist Ben Ward.

Discussing the album, Ward says, "for years people have been asking us to release a live album. It's a warts and all recording to highlight exactly what you get at an ORANGE GOBLIN show. It's not over-produced; you can hear the bum-notes and the forgotten lyrics as well as the energy and power emanating from the stage. And the crowd! I think that's what a good live album is all about. It's just the sound of us getting up on stage, plugging in and going hell for leather. Crack open a beer, turn it up loud and bang your head."

England’s Classic Rock Magazine says, “put simply, ORANGE GOBLIN are the best metal band in Britain.” A permanent fixture on the metal landscape since their formation in 1995, ORANGE GOBLIN recordings have been embraced by fans the world over. Their live performances have been hailed as one of the best. Kerrang! says, “ORANGE GOBLIN shows are very predictable… you know they are going to be brilliant before they even hit the stage.” ORANGE GOBLIN signed to Candlelight Records late 2008 and immediately began writing new material for the first time in over five years. Teaming with producer Jamie Dodd and two-time Grammy-nominated engineer Andy Jackson (Pink Floyd), the band completed recording of A Eulogy For The Damned late September 2011. The record was released February 14, 2012 entering the UK Top 200 at 96 and landed on Billboard’s Heat Seekers chart at 38. The album hit the top of CMJ’s Loud Rock album chart on March 7 and ended the year at position 6 on the Top 50 Year-End Album chart. Decibel Magazine called the album,” maximum riffage, turbo-doom biker rock… awesome!.” Hellbound proclaimed, “this dish is one spicy meatball.” Popdose confirmed, “possibly the best record from start to finish that they have released yet.”

A Eulogy For the Fans-Orange Goblin Live 2012 features songs that span the band’s extensive repertoire including fan favorites “Stand For Something,” “Scorpionica,” “Quincy The Pigboy,” “Blue Snow,” “Time Travelling Blues,” and the album’s single “The Filthy & The Few” which is set to impact loud rock radio on February 26.

Complete dates with Clutch are noted below. Ticket preorder goes live via Artist Arena Fanclub on January 22. Public on sale date for tickets is January 25.

ORANGE GOBLIN

3/08/2013 Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH
3/09/2013 Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN
3/10/2013 Pop's – Sauget, IL
3/11/2013 Juanita's Cantina Ballroom - Little Rock, AR
3/12/2013 Cain's Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
3/14/2013 Palladium Ballroom – Dallas, TX
3/18/2013 Black Sheep - Colorado Springs, CO
3/19/2013 The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT
3/21/2013 House of Blues - W. Hollywood, CA
3/22/2013 The Marquee – Tempe, AZ
3/23/2013 Hard Rock Café - Las Vegas, NV
3/24/2013 House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
3/26/2013 Regency Grand Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
3/27/2013 Knitting Factory – Reno, NV
3/29/2013 Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
3/30/2013 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
3/31/2013 Knitting Factory – Boise, ID
4/01/2013 Wilma Theater – Missoula, MT
4/02/2013 Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA
4/03/2013 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
4/05/2013 Flames Central – Calgary, AB
4/06/2013 Odeon Events Centre – Saskatoon, SK
4/07/2013 Union Hall – Edmonton, AB
4/09/2013 Garrick Centre – Winnipeg, MB
4/10/2013 First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
4/11/2013 Wooly's - Des Moines, IA
4/12/2013 House of Blues – Chicago, IL
4/13/2013 Orbit Room - Grand Rapids, MI
4/15/2013 Wescott Theater – Syracuse, NY
4/16/2013 Toad's Place - New Haven, CT
4/18/2013 Sound Academy – Toronto, ON
4/19/2013 Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA
4/20/2013 Ram's Head Live – Baltimore, MD

ORANGE GOBLIN is vocalist Ben Ward, guitarist Joe Hoare, bassist Martyn Millard, and drummer Chris Turner. The band delightfully use/endorse Meinl Cymbals, Lace Pick Ups, Fender Guitars, Marshall Amps, Vater Sticks, Orange Amps, Natal Drums, Rotosound, and Jagermeister.

http://www.orange-goblin.com
http://www.facebook.com/orangegoblinofficial
http://www.myspace.com/theorangegoblin
http://www.youtube.com/orangegoblinofficial
http://candlelightrecordsusa.com

Motörhead to release The Wörld Is Ours Vol. 2 - Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else

On Monday, October 22nd, the loudest, most real and raucous rock ’n’ roll Grammy-winning band in the world, Motörhead, will release The Wörld Is Ours Vol. 2 - Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else, the follow-up to 2011’s The Wörld Is Ours Vol. 1 - Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else.

Like it’s sibling, Anyplace Crazy… will come packed with more magnificent Motörmaterial from 'The Wörld Is Yours Tour,' including the triumphant 2011 Wacken headline appearance as well as highlights from the Sonisphere and Rio shows. The band will commence with their 2012 European Tour on November 5th in Wolverhampton, UK, ending on December 11th in Kempten, supported by Anthrax.

Learn more about the new release in the official EPK video, and head to Motörhead's official site at imotorhead.com for tour dates, ticket information, and more.

Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else Formats:
• 2 CD + DVD + BR Combobox
CD, DVD and Blu-ray all in one digipack
• 2 CD (Jewel Case) - Wacken full show plus
Sonisphere 6 songs and Rio 5 songs
• 2 Vinyl LP 12“ (Gatefold) - Wacken show only

###

 The Wörld Is Ours Vol. 2 - Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else EPK Video:

Ripple Theater - Barry Richards TV Collection Vol.1 featuring Tommy Bolin, Alice Cooper, Humble Pie, Bob Seger

In the 3 years I've been scribbling for Ripple I've received some very cool stuff - lots of great music, some cool feedback on my reviews (Captain Sensible commented on my review of Grand Funk's Live Album!) and the chance to bond with my fellow rock freaks out there. But this DVD/CD that I was just got in the mail might be one of the best perks I've ever received. If you're into kick ass classic rock don't even bother reading this review. Just go to the bottom of the page and click the link to order a copy. Trust me, you're gonna want this as soon as possible.

Back in the early 1970's Barry Richards presented a low-budget TV show that featured rock bands playing live. Shit, just having good quality footage of Alice Cooper doing "Eighteen" and "Black Juju" from 1971 is worth whatever they're charging for this. And then there's the smokin' version of "Rollin' Stone" by Humble Pie back when Frampton was still in the band. So good! There's Zephyr featuring a very young Tommy Bolin (Racer, have you ordered your copy yet?) playing a gorgeous Les Paul. This is also back when Bob Seger used to rock hard so you get 3 killer jams including a burning "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man." Bob's really going for it rocking a red, white & blue Gibson Firebird (paint job probably inspired by Wayne Kramer's American flag Strat he played with the MC5) and a drummer with an insane drum kit. There's also some very cool footage of the Byrds backing up Fats Domino and an interview with Little Richard. But the best part for me is excellent performance from Muddy Waters.

The audio CD is also very cool. There are 2 interviews Barry did with the Beatles in 1964 that collectors will love to have. Dr. John also gets interviewed and turns in a great 10 minute version of "Gris Gris." Alice Cooper freaks like me will love the radio concert ad Barry did in 73 as well as the 16 minute interview with Alice and Flo & Eddie.

This review is kinda short because after the first viewing I was pretty dumbfounded. I could write some more but I'd rather go watch this thing again. The booklet has lots of cool photos and interesting liner notes from DC area native Joe Hasselvander of Pentagram and Raven. That guy certainly knows his rock n roll. This is mandatory viewing, don't snooze on it. The cover says it's Volume 1, hopefully there's a lot more of this coming out soon.


--Woody

BUY NOW FROM -

http://elibrown.accountsupport.com/store/index.html

More info

http://barryrichardsshows.com/

EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE SANTANA LIVE AT MONTREUX 2011 ~ 2DVD SET AND BLU-RAY~ Santana Lands February 21 in a Captivating Set of Greatest Hits!

Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Santana Live At Montreux 2011 on a 2DVD set & Blu-ray in a exhilarating set of jazz, Latin, funk, soul and rock 'n' roll. The 23-song show weighs heavily on the side of the songs that fans of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist (inducted in 1998) have loved over the years.

Filmed in high-definition and recorded in DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1 and LPCM Stereo, it's a total jam-packed evening of percolating percussion, soaring lead guitar solos and the kind of funky bass/drum action that has kept this band in the forefront of popular music for over 40 years.

Live At Montreux 2011 is a career-spanning show that covers all the bases: from Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va," Fleetwood Mac's "Black Magic Woman," Babatunde Olatunji's "Jingo" and Willie Bobo's "Evil Ways" to John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." Carlos Santana has always had a knack for making his cover versions become spectacularly his own. His interpretive flair reached its zenith with 2010's Guitar Heaven which contains his scintillating take on Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love." Add his numerous originals, including "Smooth" and "Maria Maria," his signature style of inspired and spiritual guitar playing and you have the kind of DVD that burns with intensity.

Extras include interviews with Carlos and Cindy Blackman Santana, and a very special peek behind-the-scenes. Guest artists include the husband/wife guitar team of Susan Tedeschi and Allman Brother Derek Trucks as well as drummer/wife Cindy Blackman Santana. Over three hours long, this is the Santana concert his fans have been waiting for!

For forty years and as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 90 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won ten Grammy® Awards, including a record-tying nine for a single project, 1999's Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for "Smooth"). In 1998, the group was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, whose web page on their induction notes, "Guitarist Carlos Santana is one of rock's true virtuosos and guiding lights." Among many other honors, Carlos Santana has also been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." His last CD, Guitar Heaven... The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time (Arista) was released in 2010. Celebrating that chart debut, Santana joined the ranks of the Rolling Stones as the only musical act in chart history to score at least one Top 10 album in every decade beginning with the 1960s. "Guitar Heaven" was Santana's 29th Billboard Top 200 charting release, 12th Top 10 album debut and third Top 10 debut in the past 7 years.

Track Listing:

Disc 1:

1) Spark Of The Divine  

2) SOCC 

3) Back In Black  

4) Singing Winds, Crying Beasts  

5) Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen  

6) Oye Como Va  

7) Maria Maria  

8) Foo Foo  

9) Corazon Espinado / Guajira  

10) Benny & Cindy Solo  

11) Jingo  

12) Carlos Speaks / Novus  

13) Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile)  / I Want You  

14) Batuka / No One To Depend On

Disc 2:

1) Duende / Open Invitation   

2) Make Somebody Happy / Right On Be Free  

3) Evil Ways / A Love Supreme  

4) Sunshine Of Your Love  

5) Smooth / Dame Tu Amor  

6) Soul Sacrifice / Dennis Drum Solo  

7) Samba Pa Ti  

8) Into The Night  

9) Love, Peace And Happiness / Freedom

Queen - Days Of Our Lives

THE DEFINITIVE DOCUMENTARY ON THE WORLD’S GREATEST ROCK BAND IS COMING TO DVD AND BLU-RAY

~On January 31~

To Be Released by Eagle Rock Entertainment through Eagle Vision.

"This fantastic and moving two-parter tells the story of the finest live band in the history of rock. There's archive footage of past performances, interviews with the members and, best of all, plenty of insider anecdotes; the choicest being Elton John's reaction to Bohemian Rhapsody: "Are you off your head? You'll never get that played." The Guardian/UK.

In 1971, four college students got together to form a rock band. Since then, that certain band called Queen have released 26 albums and sold over 300 million records worldwide. The popularity of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon is stronger than ever 40 years on. On November 6, 2011, in front of an estimated TV audience of 1.2 billion they were honored with the Global Icon Award at the 2011 MTV EMA.

But for Queen the journey was no bed of roses. No pleasure cruise. Queen had their share of kicks in the face, but they came through - and this is how they did it.

Set against a backdrop of brilliant music and stunning live performances from every corner of the globe, Queen: Days of Our Lives - available in both Blu-Ray and standard DVD formats, brings Queen’s 40th Anniversary year to a close in suitably regal style.

Days Of Our Lives began as a two-part documentary produced by long-term Queen collaborators and life long fans Rhys Thomas (the comedian who famously broke the Mastermind all-time record points score with a specialist subject of Queen) and Simon Lupton, and directed by the renowned director Matt Casey. After 10 years of making Queen DVDs, Lupton and Thomas were asked by the band to produce the definitive 40th Anniversary documentary and after almost a year of painstaking research and editing, this was the result.

Split over two episodes, Part One covering 1970-80, Part Two 1980 – present day, the documentary is a genuine rollercoaster of rock and roll history.

In this film, for the first time, it is the band that tells their story. Featuring brand new interviews with Brian May and Roger Taylor and unseen archive footage - including their recently unearthed first ever TV performance - it is a compelling story told with intelligence, wit, plenty of humor and painful honesty.

Rhys Thomas comments, “We set out to make the definitive Queen documentary. It's a funny, honest, inspiring and ultimately tragic account of ‘a certain band called Queen’, as told by the band themselves. We tell the story of four students who met in West London, slogged hard and conquered the world, ultimately changing rock music forever.”

When originally broadcast in the UK on BBC 2 across two nights in May of last year, Queen: Days of Our Lives was the highest rated TV show on in its slot, beating every other channel and peaking with 3 million viewers. It has been widely regarded as one of the finest rock documentaries made and the critical reaction was outstanding. “Funny that,” says Thomas, “considering Queen were always denounced by the press!”

“The Boys did a fantastic Job on this documentary ... with little interference from us! I think this one will set the bench mark for years to come,” said Brian May.

Thomas explains the transfer of the original BBC documentary to DVD release: “When originally making the series it wasn’t easy condensing 40 years of Queen down to just two hours. In fact, there was so much more to be said and so much more to be seen. Thanks to Blu-Ray and DVD, so much more of that story can now be told…As the two documentaries worked so well, we resisted the idea of making an epic 3-hour ‘Extended Cut’. They are always boring, and as Freddie said to his manager Jim Beach in his last days: “Do anything you want with my music dear, but never make me boring!

“So rather than simply dump a load of ‘deleted scenes’ onto the DVD and Blu-Ray, Simon and I decided to edit them all with as much love, time and care as we put into the main documentary. What we have as a result is a great companion to the main story and some real gems, most notably covering the formation of the band and the making of the last three albums which was only touched upon in the televised version. For instance, we learn from Brian how John Deacon made a cut in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ for the record company and Freddie’s reaction; the revelation that Freddie was not sober during the making of ‘Spread Your Wings’/’We Will Rock You’ in Roger’s back garden, and a hilarious sequence about Queen and their love of Scrabble.

“As well as the new sequences, there are 7 new videos. Excerpts were featured in the main documentary, but we have completed them, and here on DVD and Blu- Ray they appear in full.”
The Blu-Ray format allows for additional bonus material and therefore differs in content to the Standard DVD release. Please check credits for each release.


‘Queen: Days of our Lives’ Blu-Ray & Standard DVD content descriptions:

Documentary Part 1 – 59 mins

Documentary Part 2 – 59 mins.


ADDITIONAL VIDEOS – Blu-Ray and Standard DVD (24 mins):

Seven Seas Of Rhye 2011:

A compilation of all four Top Of The Pops and Rainbow Live performances from 1974 – all unseen


Killer Queen 2011

A compilation of two Top of The Pops performances, one the familiar 1974 Christmas Special, the other - discovered in the late British comedian Dick Emery’s private collection, hasn’t been seen since 1974, the original master tape wiped from the BBC archives.


Somebody To Love 2011

This is a new edit of the video using the four takes shot on the day, most of which has never before been seen.


We Are The Champions 2011

In 1977, cameras filmed Queen recording a new version of the song for the promo video. This video shows the band performing and mixing this unreleased version in two live takes. An instrumental version of this closed Part One of ‘Days of our Lives’. Here for the first time the video can be seen in its entirety.


Crazy Little Thing Called Love 2011

A new edit of the video compiled from the rushes including outtakes and unseen angles.


Under Pressure 2011

A new video intercutting Queen’s first live performance of the song in Montreal 81 and Queen + David Bowie at the Freddie Mercury Tribute.


Radio Ga Ga 2011

This new video includes unseen color footage from the 1984 Radio Ga Ga video shoot plus rushes and outtakes.


BONUS SEQUENCES – Blu-Ray (59 mins) / Standard DVD (21 mins only):

Queen: The Beginning
A detailed look at how Queen formed in 1971. Covering Smile, finding John Deacon, and the early struggles of the band.


Queen On Tour 1974-5

Featuring Queen at the Rainbow and unseen footage of the band touring Japan for the first time. Includes excerpts of ‘Now I’m Here’, ‘Killer Queen’ and ‘In The Lap Of The Gods’ live.


Bohemian Rhapsody

Brian reveals how John Deacon made a cut in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ for the record company, only to be dismissed by Freddie: “Either it’s released in it’s entirety or not at all!.”


Working Together

The Band discuss their working relationship, including unheard archive of Queen having a ‘creative discussion!’


Leaving John Reid

An in-depth account of how the band left manager John Reid and set up Queen Productions – plus the revelation that Freddie was not sober during the making of ‘Spread Your Wings’/’We Will Rock You’ in Roger’s back garden.


Don’t Stop Me Now

Brian and Roger discuss ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ and the ‘Guitar Version’ discarded by Freddie.


Flash Gordon

A short sequence on the making of Queen’s first film soundtrack, ‘Flash Gordon’, plus an alternate promo video.


Making Videos

The band discuss the video making process, featuring lots of unseen outtakes.


Scrabble Wars

A hilarious sequence about Queen and their love of Scrabble. You will just have to watch!


From Magic to The Miracle

In the three years between A Kind Of Magic and The Miracle, the members of Queen went through some life changing experiences in their working and personal lives. This chapter sheds light on what went on behind closed doors.


Going Slightly Mad: The Making of Innuendo

In 1991 Queen hit the charts with a No.1 album and single, “Innuendo.” Creatively the band were reinvigorated, their material better than ever, but beneath the surface, they all had to face the fact that Freddie was seriously ill and time was running out.


Made In Heaven

Roger and Brian talk about the making of the last Queen album, Made In Heaven, working with Freddie in his final weeks, as well and working with the material he had recorded after he had passed away and the emotional distress it caused.


Return To Imperial

Brian returns to Imperial College and shows us around the college where he and Roger first met, formed Smile and ultimately Queen.


BONUS INTERVIEWS - Blu-Ray (19 mins). Not included on Standard DVD:

The Bonus Interview section contains various interesting, funny and insightful footage that didn’t fit into any particular sequence but was too great to leave on the cutting room floor.


Official website:
www.queenonline.com 

Paul McCartney's THE LOVE WE MAKE - ~On DVD and Blu-ray December 6~

THE LOVE WE MAKE

~On DVD and Blu-ray December 6~

It was one of the most emotional documentaries ever aired on the Showtime Cable Network. Now, for the first time, on December 6, fans will have a chance to own The Love We Make, a look back at Sir Paul McCartney and his efforts to plan and perform a benefit concert in the aftermath of the worst day in the history of New York City.

Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the film, directed by Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter) and Bradley Kaplan, on DVD and Blu Ray. Shot in stark 16 mm black and white, complete with color concert clips, The Love We Make juxtaposes dramatic images of “The Concert For New York City,” held mere months after 9/11, with that of scenes of McCartney himself as he walks the streets of the town that his former songwriting partner, John Lennon, loved so much.

“It was an honor to be able to help New York and America at that time in its history,” said McCartney of the concert. “There was a feeling of shock and fear in the air that I thought we could help alleviate with music and the fact that so many people stepped up to join us made for a very uplifting evening for us all.”

Recorded in DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1 and LPCM Stereo, the 90-minute film features cameo appearances by President Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford, Jay Z, Billy Joel, Elton John and many more in onstage and backstage moments.

It is a film that no music fan can afford to miss.

Twisted Sister - Double Live DVD/Live At the Marquee CD

A few months ago I wrote a frantic, drooling review of the reissue of Twisted Sister's debut album Under The Blade. It came with a bonus live DVD of their hell raising performance at the 1982 Reading Festival in the UK. As great as that package is, 2 others have come out and blow it away.  In July the Double Live DVD was released containing a full live show from 1982 and their reunion at the 2001 NY Steel benefit, and just a few weeks ago Rhino released an audio CD called Live At The Marquee recorded in 1983.

The 1982 show from Double Live is a revelation. There's not a lot of footage documenting Twisted Sister in their club daze and to have a professionally filmed complete show is nothing short of awesome. Everything you ever heard about their show is true. Five guys in fruity satin outfits bashing out some of the most intense metal of the era. If the opening three songs of "What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)," "Destroyer" and "Tear It Loose" don't kick your ass then you don't have one. Filmed at the North Stage theater in Long Island, it captures Twisted Sister right before the left for England to record Under The Blade with Pete Way of UFO as producer. The energy level is high and the crowd (back when the drinking age was 18) is rowdy. Someone in the front row hands Dee Snider an early issue the infamous Kick Ass fanzine and Dee graciously shows it to the crowd. Kick Ass is one of the publications that helped put Twisted on the metal map back in the day and it's cool that it's documented here. North Stage was supposed to be Twisted Sister's farewell to the club scene but that didn't happen until almost 2 years later when their Stay Hungry album exploded. The footage here documents songs that were retired from their set not long after this show like "I'll Never Grow Up Now," "Lady's Boy," "You Know I Cry" and the anti-disco anthem "Rock N Roll Saviours." The only dud is their cover of "Leader Of The Pack" but, hey, back then the chicks liked it and it gave me time to take a leak and get a new beer before they busted out another heavy one. On this occasion it's a blistering version of "Under The Blade." Headbanging is always easier with an empty bladder and a fresh drink.

The other disc in this package is their reunion show from 2001 that took place at the NY Steel benefit show after 9/11. There was a lot of bad blood between the members up to this point but they put it all aside for a good cause and kicked major ass. It's a little unfair to compare the two shows since the 1982 one is the band at their absolute peak but the 2001 show is also great. Even though they're wearing street clothes the band still puts on a very energetic show. Dee's banging his head like a maniac and bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza is is even bigger and scarier than ever. Jay Jay French looks ridiculous in his cheap wig but still plays some great solos. The audio source is from the soundboard so the crowd is very low in the mix and Dee's voice struggles at times. The set list leans towards the Stay Hungry era with the hits "I Wanna Rock," "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "Stay Hungry." They don't let the die hards down with some great oldies like "Come Back" and "You Know I Cry." Chances are you're not going to watch this disc that often but it's still cool to have.

Something you're going to listen to all the time is the killer Live At The Marquee CD. In 1983 Twisted Sister built up a huge following in the UK that could no longer be ignored and they were signed by Atlantic Records. They did 2 nights at the legendary Marquee club in March and recorded both nights for live b-sides of their singles. About 8 songs from these shows were spread across 12 inch and 7 inch singles. Over ten years ago I burned them all to CD and sequenced them into a mini-concert that I blasted all the time. I always hoped they would release an entire show and here it is almost 30 years later and it's happened. Worth the wait? FUCK YES!! I'm not sure if this was intentional or not but some of the versions on the CD are different from the ones that were put out on wax. For instance, the version of "What You Don't Know" on the CD the band is introduced by none other than Lemmy. It's probably for the best this wasn't the way it was put out back in 83 because my head would have exploded.

The performances on this disc are tight, potent and LOUD!  Twisted Sister in their prime could really kick out the jams. "Sin After Sin" is brutally hard, almost like Judas Priest playing "1969" by the Stooges. "Destroyer" is heavy as hell and "Tear It Loose" is pure Motorhead speed boogie. The English crowd goes nuts when they play the (at the time) unreleased "I Am (I'm Me)" and "You Can't Stop Rock N Roll." Dee and Jay Jay deliver some hilarious stage raps that give you some insight into what it was like to be a headbanger back then. I still hate Adam Ant and I'm glad that Dee voiced his opinion back then and that it still holds up. This CD is a limited edition from Rhino Handmade and comes in a very cool TS logo shaped cover about the size of a 10".

Everyone in the NY/NJ area who experienced Twisted Sister in their glory years will tell you at length how great the band was but how the albums never captured their true spirit. The proof is out and there's no denying it. Play it loud forever, mutha.

--Woody

GARY MOORE LIVE AT MONTREUX 2010

GARY MOORE LIVE AT MONTREUX 2010

*FEATURING THREE BRAND NEW SONGS*

~ON CD, DVD, AND BLU-RAY SEPTEMBER 20~

Eagle Rock Entertainment will release, on September 20, the very last live performance in the life of acclaimed guitarist/singer/songwriter Gary Moore. Live At Montreux 2010 strikingly shows a major return-to-rock for the musician who spent years exploring the blues. In fact, in the last days of his life, Moore, who died on February 6 of this year, was working on a new rock album.

What makes this release so compelling is the inclusion of three never-before-released gems, “Days Of Heroes,” “Where Are You Now” and “Oh Wild One,” that he previewed for the Montreux audience and had fully intended to put on the album he was writing and recording at the time. The rest of the set is heavy on the 1980s rock he pioneered solo, as well as his late 60s/70s work with Phil Lynott in Thin Lizzy and Skid Row. And, of course, some blues.

Gary Moore was born in 1952 Belfast, Ireland. Heavily influenced by Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green, he joined Skid Row (not to be confused with the American band of the same name) as a teenaged phenomenon in 1969 for three albums before going solo, joining Thin Lizzy, and going solo again. His hit single “Parisienne Walkways” catapulted him into the hearts and minds of discerning music lovers around the globe and subsequent forays into Celtic (Wild Frontier, 1987) and blues (Still Got The Blues, 1990) preceded an album with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce (BBM, 1994).  Much more blues would follow, most notably Power Of The Blues in 2004. Through it all, he maintained the highest level of musicianship and became revered for his constant searching and the redefining of his own artistry.

Track Listing:

CD:

1) Over The Hills And Far Away

2) Military Man

3) Days Of Heroes

4) Where Are You Now?

5) So Far Away/Empty Rooms

6) Oh Wild One

7) Blood Of Emeralds

8) Out In The Fields

9) Walking By Myself

10) Johnny Boy

11) Parisienne Walkways

DVD/Blu-ray:

1) Over The Hills And Far Away

2) Thunder Rising

3) Military Man

4) Days Of Heroes

5) Where Are You Now?

6) So Far Away/Empty Rooms

7) Oh Wild One

8) Blood Of Emeralds

9) Out In The Fields

10) Still Got The Blues

11) Walking By Myself

12) Johnny Boy

13) Parisienne Walkways

Video: Gary Moore ‘Where Are They Now’

Revenge of the Quick Ripple Bursts - Classics Edition - Featuring Rory Gallagher, Peter Tosh, and The Doobie Brothers

Rory Gallagher - Notes from San Francisco

When Rory Gallagher died from complications following a liver transplant in 1995 at only 47 years old, the music world lost one of its most influential and respected guitarists. Hendrix rated Gallagher as one of the best guitarists in the world and many others like Brian May, Eric Clapton, and The Edge cite him as an influence.  This posthumous two CD release from the Irish guitarist archives features a studio album of previously unreleased material recorded in 1977 which finds Rory in fine form tearing through some fiery blues rock cuts like "Persuasion", "B Girl," and "Wheels within Wheels."  This material is excellent alternative versions of songs from his Photo Finish album and elsewhere.  None of this material had ever been released before and its well worth the price of admission to hear this amazing guitarist doing his thing.

But the real treat of this release is Disc Two which consists of a massively energetic live concert recorded in December of 1979 at The Old Waldorf in San Francisco.  Here it's all put out on display.  Rory could play with the best of them and possibly blow the best of them away.   His command over his six-string is awe-inspiring.  Just listen to him cut loose on "Off The Handle," or feel the intensity of the band reaching the boiling point on "Shinkicker."   All the way through, Tte live album is a smoker.  This really shows what Rory was all about.   The solo at the end of "Tattoo'd Lady" is three minutes of mind boggling, all out Rory Gallagher guitar bliss that must have left the audience breathless and sweating in a post-orgasmic flush.  And the whole recording is of very good sound quality for a 1979 live album.  If you love guitar heroes in the truest sense of the word, you can't go wrong here.


Peter Tosh - Legalize it (Legacy Edition)

Peter Tosh was a galvanic performer and rightful legend of reggae, second perhaps only to Bob Marley with whom he shared a band, The Wailers, and essentially created the music we know as Reggae.  Released thirty-five years ago Legalize It, was Tosh's first album as a solo artist, hitting the stores immediately following the breakup of the Wailers, about the same time Bob Marley released Rastaman Vibration and Bunny Wailer Blackheart Man--and, to me,it has all these years seemed inferior to those two classic records.  While it contained some classic Tosh ideas and protests, it lacked the sharp observation and dangerous edge that Tosh would find with his masterpiece,  Equal Rights.

So when I heard that both Equal Rights and Legalize It were being released as two-disc Legacy Editions, I was clamoring for the former and not so interested in the later.  Equal Rights will get reviewed soon, but today we're gonna focus on Legalize it, in all it's new found glory.   The two CD set is a plethora of Tosh.  CD one presents the original nine-song, 38-minute album, followed by demo versions of seven of the nine songs, all previously unreleased. CD two then presents Tosh's own previously unreleased original mix of the album, the way he was sending it out to major record labels in 1976. Those nine tracks are followed by a previously unreleased alternate version of the title song, and then six extremely rare dubs, only one of which ever actually made it onto an album ("Igziabeher").

Seen today, Legalize It is a legitimate album in Tosh's catalog.  "No Sympathy," trods down the hard-edged, bass heavy, dub-style Tosh would explore so effectively on Equal Rights.  "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" should be a true classic of devotional reggae with it's massive bass line and intricate piano runs.  Tosh is in fine voice, his rough tenor finding a truly impassioned vein of a man releasing himself to his spirit.  Other songs like "Burial" ""Whatcha Gonna Do," and the title track might seem a touch lightweight in comparison to Tosh's later offerings but still are strong, easy roots songs.

The demo versions are always a treat, and mix on the Jamaican version actually adds more depth to the album, bringing the vocals into a predominant role.  Just listen to the Jamaican version of  "Igziabeher" and feel the drama in Tosh's voice, with so much more edge than on the original US mix.  In the end, Legalize It has gone on to prove that it doesn't deserve to live in the shadow of Equal Rights.  While not the bonafide classic of Tosh's second album, it's a very strong and enjoyable roots album in it's own right.   And with the bonus material and original Jamaican mix, this is the version to buy.


The Doobie Brothers - Live at the Greek Theater 1982

You may not think that a site that reviews Corrosion of Conformity and Henry Rollins would bother to write about seventies smooth rockers, The Doobie Brothers, but I grew up with the Doobies and they'll always hold a special place in my heart.  Maybe it's because I'm from the Doobies hometown in the Bay Area, but no pre-football game beer party ever took place without "Listen to the Music," or "Black Water" or "China Grove" playing on the Camaro's car speakers.    Now, admittedly, I'm a much bigger fan of the harder rocking, more southern jamming style of the early Tom Johnston-led version of the band, than I am the much slicker AM radio ready Michael McDonald years.  But still, the Doobies are the Doobies, so when I got the chance to hear this Live album release from their last tour in 1982, I wasn't gonna pass.

And I'm glad I didn't.  Playing before a revved up hometown crowd at the Greek Theater at the University of California, Berkeley, The Doobies tear through a set of their greatest hits sounding far from a band that was on the verge of breaking up.   With Patrick Simmons still leading the way, the band rips through some cooking versions of "Listen to the Music," and "Rocking' Down the Highway," and "Long Train Runnin'"  With these old classics, all penned by Tom Johnston, it's easy to remember just how good the early Doobies were.  Groovy, rocking, melodic.  These songs had it all.  Sure they might not have been heavy, but they fit somewhere between the Eagles, BTO, and the Allman Brothers with great playing and choruses you could sing all day.  "Black Water," is rightfully a band classic, and I still dig the laid-back Mississippi vibe, slack guitar, and accapela breakdown.  And then there's "Jesus is Just Alright," a Doobies classic that I can never get enough of, with it's heavier riff, killer harmony vocals and sing-forever chorus.

Even the Michael McDonald stuff gets a good spin here, sounding surprisingly vibrant live, away from all the studio gloss.  As an added bonus, original Doobie, Tom Johnston comes out on stage to play the closing with the band, tearing through another version of "Listen to the Music."  Good stuff.  A companion DVD of the whole show adds the visual fun to the music and makes it clear why The Doobie Brothers really were one of the mainstays of early classic rock radio. 

--Racer

Deep Purple – Phoenix Rising

It’s too bad this country is so damn big. My first viewing of this should have been with Racer and Pope since one of the reasons I started Rippling is because those clowns love Tommy Bolin-era Deep Purple even more than I do. But it’s a long way from Brooklyn to California so I had to settle for the next best thing. My friend Vinny lives three blocks away and has a huge TV and also loves Deep Purple. It’s a hell of a lot easier to walk over there with a 12 pack of Bud talls then to deal with airport security to go space truckin to the west coast.

Phoenix Rising is a DVD/CD documenting the polarizing Deep Purple Mk.IV era. You either love Come Taste The Band or you think it’s heresy. I resisted for a long time but finally succumbed to its powers a few years back though I do tend to agree with a statement that Jon Lord makes that it’s a great rock album but not necessarily a Deep Purple album. Even if you’re not a fan you’ll find most of the documentary pretty interesting. Glenn Hughes was the driving force behind the band at this point, as well as the drug abuse, and he does a lot of the talking. Jon Lord provides more of a voice of reason behind the madness. Ian Paice is represented through an archival interview from 1976 and there are some interview clips with Bolin as well. David Coverdale was probably too busy counting his money or shampooing his hair to have been involved in any recent commentary on this part of his career.

One thing that the 80 minute documentary makes very clear is that Deep Purple was HUUUGE in the 1970’s. Millions of album sold, arena tours, private jets, mega egos and tons of drugs. Deep Purple was always more of a drinking band but Glenn Hughes had a major cocaine habit and Tommy Bolin was deeply involved in heroin. The fact that they made a great album and Glenn is still alive is truly astounding. Among the fun facts revealed is that Glenn was sent home from Munich when they were recording because his drug use was so out of control. He says that back then the treatment was large doses of valium. To add intrigue to the story, there’s an incident that took place in Jakarta that resulted in the death of a roadie. Glenn is adamant it was murder, though there’s a disclaimer at the end saying that Coverdale does not agree with this statement. By the time the band reached Japan things were really starting to unravel. Tommy Bolin arrived with his left hand basically useless. The story is that he fell asleep on his hand on a weird angle and woke up unable to play. Whatever the truth is it’s pretty certain that drugs were involved. The band was planning on a triumphant return to Japan and had to work extra hard to pick up the slack to cover for Bolin. Mk.IV ended on kind of a funny note. While on tour in Europe, after the last show Lord and Paice decided to break up the band. Right after they made the decision, Coverdale entered their dressing room to tell them he was quitting. Sadly, not long after Tommy Bolin overdosed ending a career that had a long way to go. Personally, I found the entire thing interesting but I’m a freak. It’s probably about 20 minutes too long and really could have used some other perspective, especially from Coverdale.

The live footage from Japan has been around for years but never in this good quality. All 5 songs from the original VHS are here with excellent fidelity. This was filmed during the final concert at Budokan Hall and it’s obvious that Bolin is sub-par but still pretty damn good. Jon Lord works really hard at picking up the slack and his playing is incredible. The rhythm section of Hughes and Paice is unbelievably tight and Coverdale’s vocals are spot on. What a killer band. There’s a kick ass version of “Burn” and great versions of “Love Child” and “You Keep On Moving” from Come Taste The Band. Mk.II standards “Smoke On the Water” and “Highway Star” get played but the jams are lengthy and self indulgent. And who allowed Glenn sing “Georgia On My Mind” in the middle of “Smoke On The Water?”

There’s also a 70 minute live CD made up from recordings from Japan and a much better concert in Long Beach, California. You get audio of the five songs from the DVD (though “Burn” is from Long Beach) plus “Getting’ Tighter,” “Lazy,” “Stormbringer” and “Homeward Strut” from Bolin’s Teaser album. And if that wasn’t enough, there are two fat, full color booklets. One contains a band history of DP Mk.IV with lots of photos and vintage press clippings. The other booklet is a reproduction of a 28 page Deep Purple magazine produced in 1976 with articles and interviews with Mk.IV as well as Blackmore, Ian Gillan and Roger Glover. You even get interviews with managers, booking agents and roadies. The packaging is great and even if you don’t watch the movie part of it more than once, this is a great value.

 --Woody

Buy here: Phoenix Rising [DVD/CD Combo]
Buy here: Phoenix Rising [Blu-ray]

Twisted Sister – Under The Blade

 

I’m sure you’ve heard of Twisted Sister but do you know about Twisted FUCKIN Sister? Twisted Sister is the band you saw on MTV and heard on the radio starting in 1984 but loooong before that Twisted Fuckin Sister were blasting fast n loud in the bars and clubs of the tri-state NYC area. In the late 70’s/early 80’s heyday they were one of the heaviest bands out there. They battled against demon disco forces and helped make heavy metal a huge phenomenon on the east coast. They played 4 or 5 nights a week in any dump that could contain them and their ever growing fan base of rowdy sick motherfuckin friends (S.M.F.’s).

I’d heard the name and legend from older burnouts in high school but was first indecently exposed to them when they appeared on the short lived Flo & Eddie TV show. I was already a huge Alice Cooper fan and when I saw Twisted Sister on TV I knew these freaks would be right up my alley. They were introduced and then exploded into the song “Under The Blade.”  It made my little 9th grade mind explode and I went berserk in front of the TV. Luckily it was late at night and no one could see me headbanging and jumping off the couch in my pj’s. Not long after that I tracked down this album, the band’s 1982 full length debut album Under The Blade. Twisted Sister had been releasing singles on their own labels for years but was unable to get a record deal. Finally, a punk label from England called Secret Records (home of The Exploited) took a chance on them. Long out of print, Under The Blade is back and better than ever. 

Under The Blade has always suffered from a thin, low budget sound but the songs are so full of aggression and belligerence it’s never been a problem. The album was produced by Pete Way of UFO but who knows how sober he was during the recording. Twisted Sister had been playing these songs live for years so he probably stayed out of the way and made sure they were fired up enough to deliver good takes. “What You Don’t Know (Sure Can Hurt You)” was their set opener at the time and issues a challenge to rock out or get the fuck out. When I finally got to see Twisted Sister for the first time at Lamour in Brooklyn Dee got right in my face and screamed the line “HOW DO YOU LIKE IT SO FAR?” I like it just fine and still do!

Catchy tunes like the AC/DC influenced “Bad Boys (Of Rock N Roll)” and “Shoot ‘Em Down” point towards the commercial direction that would eventually make them huge stars a few years later. Great songs, but hardcore S.M.F.’s like me always went ballistic for the Judas Priest inspired “Sin After Sin” and the always intense title track. “Destroyer” is probably the heaviest song they ever wrote. Slow and powerful with creepy heavy breathing during the intro, it’s obviously Black Sabbath influenced but sounds more like the Cro-Mags. This was always a major crowd pleaser with a sea of fists pumping the air. “Run For Your Life” starts out slow and heavy before shifting into major high gear. But my favorite Twisted Sister song has always been “Tear It Loose.” It’s a major headbanging boogier. Just imagine if Motorhead was drinking some of Jim Dandy’s moonshine while imbibing some pure crystal meth. You don’t even really have to imagine it since Fast Eddie Clarke plays dueling leads with Jay Jay French on it. “The Day Of The Rocker” is the last song and thuds along like AC/DC or Rose Tattoo at their blusiest.

Even better than having the album back in print is the bonus DVD of Twisted Sister’s notorious set at the Reading Festival in the summer of 1982. I had seen the photos in Kerrang magazine and heard that they blew away the crowd. The footage is everything I had hoped for and more. They come out blazing and basically destroy the audience with full on MC5/Ted Nugent energy and attitude. English festivals are notorious for the crowd throwing shit at bands. Within seconds rolls of toilet paper and eggs are flying up on to the stage. The band never flinches and Dee even challenges the entire crowd to fight after the show. They blaze through 7 songs from Under The Blade with supreme gusto and confidence. To jack up the energy level even more they end the set with their raucous cover of “It’s Only Rock N Roll.” During the breakdown who strolls out on to the stage but Pete Way, Fast Eddie Clarke and Lemmy. Not only do you have a triple axe attack but three bass players, too. Fast Eddie had quit Motorhead not too long before this show and this was the first time Lemmy and Eddie appeared in public together. Not a bad show, eh? The rest of the DVD contains interviews with the band about the Reading Festival and the making of Under The Blade. Great stuff, but the live footage is nothing short of totally mint deluxe.

Fans of Twisted Sister and Twisted FUCKIN Sister are ordered to pick this muther up at once. You won’t be sorry. Other good news for S.M.F.’s is that Rhino is FINALLY releasing an album from the landmark shows recorded at London’s Marquee club in March, 1983. Some of the recordings turned up as B-sides but never a complete show. Until that comes out, keep blasting this one and your worn out tapes of the killer 1982 WBAB radio broadcast from Hammerheads on Long Island. If you need a copy, lemmy know. I’d be glad to hook you up.

--Woody

Buy here: Under the Blade

Ripple Theater - Lemmy: 49% Motherf**ker, 51% Son of a Bitch DVD

Ever since people stopped buying rock records in decent quantities, there’s been an increase in quality documentaries on classic artists like The Ramones and Rush as well as rescuing a band like Anvil from obscurity. Given the subject matter, it seemed like Lemmy: 49% Motherf**ker, 51% Son of a Bitch would be the ultimate portrait of rocks favorite ugly son but unfortunately this one falls pretty short of expectation. While definitely worth watching, the overwhelming feeling I’m left with is “what happened? How did they not get the job done?”

Granted, I’m a bigger Motorhead fan than most Motorhead fans. Motorhead’s music changed my life the first time I shoplifted Iron Fist from Caldors back in 1982, and when I saw them for the first time in 1983 my ears rang for 8 days afterwards. To this day, all live performances are measured against that high energy volume overkilldose. It’s obvious the filmmakers are fans but not stone deaf forever Motorheadbangers. They have stated many times that the movie is about Lemmy and not a history of Motorhead but we all know that those two things are one and the same.

Some of the better parts of the film are about Lemmy’s days before Motorhead, including a great segment about the Rockin’ Vicars, the band he played guitar for in the mid-1960’s. They managed to track down some of his band mates and even legendary producer Shel Talmy (The Who, The Kinks) who make it clear that Lemmy was pretty much the same guy back then that he is now. The section on Hawkwind is also good. Lemmy repeats his often told tale of how he got fired from the legendary space rock band, but you also get to hear Dave Brock and Nik Turner’s side of the story, too. Even the Amazonian dancer Stacia gets some screen time. Unfortunately, there isn’t that much discussion of Hawkwind’s groundbreaking music. No one mentions that everyone should own a copy of Space Ritual and there’s no information about the classic albums Lemmy made with them.

The formation of Motorhead takes up about 120 seconds of screen time. Guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke is on and off the screen way too quickly. Philthy Animal Taylor apparently did not want to be interviewed for the movie and he’s barely mentioned. Again, there’s hardly a word on the incredible run of albums that line up made. Wurzel, Pete Gill and Brian Robertson are written out of the script. Mikkey Dee and Phil Campbell wind up looking like mere sidemen of a band that they’re equal partners in.

Way too much screen time is spent on pointless interviews with Billy Bob Thorton, Jarvis Cocker and the bass player from New Order. Who fucking cares what these clowns have to say about Lemmy? The usual VH1 talking heads like Scott Ian, Dee Snider, Dave Navarro and Henry Rollins have some good stories and there are interviews with all the members of Metallica except, surprisingly, Lars Ulrich. Dee has one of the funniest lines in the movie where he talks about not having seen Lemmy for a long time and goes backstage and it’s all the same roadies that he knew from ten years before. Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible of The Damned share some great tales from the insanity they participated in with Lemmy in the late 70’s. 

One thing that the filmmakers get right is showing just how dedicated Lemmy is to his music. This is someone that has literally sacrificed everything for rock n roll. He’s had some moderate success but lives in a rent controlled 2 bedroom apartment with his enormous World War II collection when he’s not on tour or at the Rainbow Bar & Grill in LA. He has one son that he has a good relationship with and another one he’s never met. When he’s not playing music, he’s reading or gambling but always drinking.

Luckily the DVD helps correct some of the problems with the feature film. It’s worth picking up just for the full interview with Fast Eddie Clarke. It’s up to him to tell the real story of how the band started and he’s the only one to mention original guitarist Larry Wallis by name. Eddie also gives insight into how Motorhead got their signature sound – speedy music played by guys on speed. He claims that speed is a great drug to take when you’re playing music since you don’t have to leave the stage every 20 minutes to re-up. His story on how they wrote their signature song “Overkill” is hilarious and inspiring.

Other cool extras include extended interviews with Lemmy and individual features on Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee. The movie could have used more of this and less ass kissing testimonials. Any movie about Lemmy is worth watching, and this one definitely is, but it should have been so much better.


--Woody


Buy here DVD: Lemmy: 49% Motherf**ker, 51% Son Of A Bitch 
Buy here Blu-ray: Lemmy: 49% Motherf**ker, 51% Son of a Bitch [Blu-ray] 



 

Stone Axe Storm the Shores of Europe and UK with New Tour and Deluxe CD/DVD Package

Classic rock preservationists Stone Axe have officially announced that they’re hitting the road through the UK, parts of Europe, and wrapping up the tour with a night at the illustrious Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland! Starting on April 8^th in Oxford, England and running through April 16^th, this will mark the third time that the band has ventured to foreign soil with the aim of converting new ears to their sonic-brand of classic rock, but this time they’ll be doing it in support of their first CD/DVD package.

Scheduled for release on April 5^th and in time for the tour, Stone Axe has put together a Deluxe Edition of their self-titled debut album. The CD portion of the package features eight bonus live tracks, while the DVD portion features more than 70 minutes of videos, interviews, and live footage! Released through Ripple Music, Stone Axe – Expanded Edition CD/DVD will be available for pre-order beginning February 18^st, 2011 on the label's web site. www.ripple-music.com

Tour Dates:

8th April -The Wheatsheaf, Oxford (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Desert Storm)
9th April- The Unicorn, Camden, London, UK (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Grifter)
10th April- The Earl, Sheffield, UK (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Groan)
11th April- The Captains Rest, Glasgow (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Low Sonic Drift)
12th April- Asylum 2, Birmingham (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Alunah)
14th April- The Vortex, Siegen, Germany (with Stubb)

15th April- MTC, Cologne, Germany (with Stubb+more)
16th April- Roadburn Festival, Tilburg, Holland

Stone Axe has also contributed a song to the Heavy Ripples double vinyl 7” compilation that will also feature three other acts that have put their own unique spin on the sounds from a by-gone 70’s era, showing that rock n’ roll hasn’t died, but simply has gotten better! The compilation record will include tracks from the UK blues-based bike rockers Grifter, Brooklyn-based stoner-fied punks Mighty High, and New England’s southern-rock-tinged Sun Gods In Exile (on loan from incomparable Small Stone Records). The record will be officially released on April 19^th to a world-wide audience!

www.stoneaxeband.com

www.ripple-music.com

Alice Cooper - Theater of Death Tour 2009 CD/DVD

Now, please allow me to manage your expectations. I am a huge fan of Alice Cooper…there I said it. I’m not one of these fly by night types who got into Poison when it came out in the 80’s nor am I one of the sniffy purists who only claim allegiance to the original band between 1970 and 1974 (though obviously this has to be the best era…any fool knows that!!!). No, I am a fan, I won’t turn my nose up at the challenging first two albums when he was in bed with Frank Zappa. I can forgive him Lace and Whiskey because of the good songs and even his early 80’s era, which he forgot before it had even ended, has its moments of quality. So with all this in mind any hope of this being an impartial and objective review are pretty much zero. This was always going to be a good review but whether it would be a great review…well, that would remain to be seen….

When I heard that Alice would be playing a show local to me on his 2009 “Theatre of Death” tour I almost literally busted a nut to get tickets. Impoverished, I begged and borrowed to be able to get two tickets for myself and my wife (one of the fly by night Poison-era fans!!!). On the night Alice delivered backed up by an incredible band…obviously not the classic Buxton, Bruce, Dunaway and Smith line-up, but a stripped down 2 guitar line-up that played the catalogue with skill, fire, passion and due reverence. It’s one thing though standing amongst 2000 other fans watching the spectacle unfold in front of you and it’s quite something else listening to it on a CD in the comfort of your room or watching it compressed to a TV screen on DVD. But this is a good review right? So you already know that I dig the living shit out of this release!!!

Given the benefit of a crystal clear, low end powered, punch in the nuts sound Alice’s live albums have never sounded so good. Chuck Garric’s bass tones threaten to pull your guts out of your ass (maybe a future stage prop?), while the duelling guitars of Keri Kelli and Damon Johnson are the closest Alice has come in years to nailing the Michael Bruce/Glenn Buxton partnership of the original band or even the mid 70’s pairing of Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter. Both players play as if they were born to be in Alice’s band. Former Y&T and Megadeth man Jimmy Degrasso is obviously reveling in his role playing out the hits and the more obscure tunes with millisecond perfect precision. And what of Alice? What of the main man himself? In his 60’s and 40 plus years into his career we could forgive him for sounding a little jaded right? We could forgive him if his voice wasn’t what it used to be, if he strained to hit the higher notes after rasping his vocals chords for more years than most of us have been eating solid food…not to mention blasting them for many years with alcohol? No fucking way!!! Alice is a pro and delivers with the guts and determination of a man a third his age and far from being shot his voice is as strong as ever. In fact the guy must have vocal chords like leather as his voice is tougher, stronger and meaner now than ever before.

What of the material I hear you ask? Is this an attempt to sell the latest album of the time (2008’s magnificent Along Came A Spider) or is this a cash in greatest hits package? Neither, this is Alice delivering the best show he can from a catalogue that that most of his contemporaries would even shudder to compete with. The choice of material stretches as far back as Love It To Death with all the classics you would expect, only Muscle of Love from this era is ignored but as the track list flies buy you’d be hard pushed to notice. Welcome To My Nightmare is featured heavily with no less than seven songs (perhaps setting the tone for his next project, a sequel to that classic album). Even Goes To Hell and From The Inside are represented with classics like the former’s title track and “Nurse Rozetta” from the latter. Most of the 80’s are sensibly ignored though Poison does get the back combed, scantily clad metal chicks frothing at the mouth. Even Alice’s more recent output is given some welcome airing with “Wicked Young Man” from Brutal Planet and the title track from the Dirty Diamonds album. Whatever era is represented here, none of it sounds out of place which is remarkable considering the number of musical u-turns Alice has taken in his career. The band holds it all together with faithful arrangements that give the set a sense of continuity and cohesion.

The added bonus here is that, not only do you get to hear Alice do what he does best in a live environment, flip the DVD on and you can watch it all in glorious, glorious technicolour as it all went down on that fateful night in old London Town. Capturing the live Alice Cooper experience on film is never going to be easy but the direction is sharp yet retains that in-the-audience vibe that some live footage can miss. To see Alice putting everything into his performance at an age when most people are contemplating holidays by the sea and cocoa before bed is inspirational, particularly as he endures being killed onstage not once, not twice but four times by guillotine, lethal injection, hanging and in the Iron Maiden. Here, as well, Alice’s band prove themselves to be no mere side men. Each member works the stage and the crowd as if this was their own life’s work they were presenting. Garric even gets to take the role of front man during “I Love The Dead” while Alice is resurrected from one of his many deaths.

There must come a time when Alice Cooper has to consider how long he can keep doing things to this level but when he does decide to retire to his armchair to pull the legs off spiders this CD/DVD package will remain for the faithful to fill the void. The fact that I received this on Christmas Eve 2010 and it immediately hit the higher reaches of my top 10 for a year full of highlights should give some indication as to how essential a purchase this is. Buy it…unless you’re a pussy scaredy cat!!!


--Ollie

Buy here: Alice Cooper - Theatre Of Death-Live At Hammersmith 2009 (DVD W/Bonus CD)
Buy here: Alice Cooper - Theatre Of Death-Live At Hammersmith 2009 (Blu-ray W/Bonus CD)
Buy here: Theatre Of Death-Live At Hammersmith 2009 (CD/DVD)

Ripple News - Jeff Beck – Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul DV

Filmed on June 9, 2010 at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, forever associated with the legendary Les Paul, this DVD captures Jeff Beck celebrating the great man with a selection of Les Paul songs and other great rock 'n' roll tracks on what would have been Les Paul’s 95th birthday. Jeff Beck is joined by some very special guests including Imelda May and her band led by Darrel Higham on many of the tracks plus appearances by Gary US Bonds, Brian Setzer and Trombone Shorty. The intimate setting puts you right there in the audience for a performance featuring stunning musicianship and truly great songs.


TRACK LISTING

1) Baby Let’s Play House

2) Double Talkin’ Baby

3) Cruisin’

4) Train Kept A Rollin’

5) Poor Boy

6) Cry Me A River

7) My Baby Left Me

8) How High The Moon

9) Sitting On Top Of The World

10) Bye Bye Blues

11) The World Is

Waiting For The Sunrise

12) Vaya Con Dios

13) Mockin’ Bird Hill

14) I’m A Fool To Care

15) Tiger Rag

16) Peter Gunn

17) Rocking Is Our Business

18) Apache

19) Sleep Walk

20) New Orleans

21) Walking In The Sand

22) Please Mr Jailer

23) Casting My Spell On You

24) Twenty Flight Rock

25) The Girl Can’t Help It

26) Rock Around The Clock

27) Shake, Rattle & Roll



Bonus Features

1) Interview with Jeff Beck

2) Behind The Scenes

3) At home with Jeff Beck & his guitars

4) Jeff Beck & Les Paul – Rock ‘n’ Roll Tonite

5) Les Paul & his little black box.

Ripple Theater - UFO/MSG Rockpalast DVD's

Are you ready to rock? Hot n ready? Armed and ready? Then you are ready to for these two new kick ass DVD’s to rock your television into the ground. Rockpalast (Rock Palace) is a German music TV show that’s been around since 1974 and they’re starting to release some of their historic concerts. Yours truly has already drooled all over the ZZ Top and Thin Lizzy releases here on Ripple but this double dose of primo heavy rock is a major cause for celebration.

First up is UFO live, loud, proud and drunk in Dortmund, Germany from November 1980. True, that means no Michael Schenker or Paul Raymond but the excellent Paul Chapman is on lead guitar and this is the tour supporting the solid No Place To Run album. Starting off with the high energy “Lettin’ Go” UFO comes out blazing. Chapman doesn’t have the charisma of Michael Schenker but his fiery playing is terrific and it gives Pete Way an excuse to jump around even more than usual. Watching vintage Pete Way in action, it’s obvious what a big influence he was on Steve Harris and Nikki Sixx, not only in his playing but for his awesome stripey jumpsuits. Andy Parker is one of the most underrated drummers in rock. He’s hard hitter with a huge sound and never overplays. Neil Carter does a fine job on rhythm guitar and keyboards and mainly stays out of the way. Phil Mogg is in excellent voice and his tipsy in between song banter is always entertaining. There are some great shots of the crowd. Some 13 year old little shit loves flipping the bird to the camera every time it gets near him. Classic.

The entire UFO concert is great but does drag a bit in the middle with a few too many slower songs like “No Place To Run,” “Making Moves,” and “Love To Love” all in a row. Luckily they wake everyone up with their blistering cover of “Mystery Train,” one of the highlights from the No Place To Run album. Old favorites like “Only You Can Rock Me,” “Lights Out,” “Doctor Doctor,” and of course “Rock Bottom” kick major ass. Chapman really scorches on “Rock Bottom” and proves he was probably the only guy who could replace Schenker in this classic band. (Lots of people forget that he actually played side by side with him in the short lived twin axe attack UFO line up of 1974).

Watching UFO in 1980 is the perfect warm up for the Michael Schenker Group 1981 live show. What a band! You get Paul Raymond on guitar & keyboards, Chris Glen from the Sensational Alex Harvey Band on bass and Cozy Powell on powerhouse drums. The only weak link, unfortunately, is vocalist Gary Barden. He sounds good on the opening number “Armed & Ready” but not long after that it’s obvious his voice is pretty shot. He’s not really a great frontman, either. Despite a lot of cracked notes, Schenker rescues the concert with superb playing. On a good night there are few guitarists that can come close to his tough yet melodic playing. It’s incredible what that guy can do with just a Gibson Flying V, a wah-wah pedal and FOUR STACKS of 50 watt Marshall amps.

In 1981, only the first MSG album was out so the best songs from that like “Cry For the Nations,” “Victim of Illusions” and “Into The Arena” get played alongside UFO standards “Natural Thing,” “Doctor Doctor” and “Lights Out.” It’s a lot of fun to compare these versions with the ones on the UFO DVD. Schenker and Phil Mogg never got along too well but they did make a great team. As much as I love Andy Parker, it’s too bad they never built a super UFO with Mogg, Schenker, Chapman, Cozy, Paul Raymond and Pete Way. These 2 DVD’s is the closest we’ll ever get. Get a 15 pack of Strohs and tell the old lady to hit the road when you bring these home. Tell me your ready to ROCK!!

 --Woody

Buy here:  UFO - Rockpalast: Hardrock Legends Vol. 1
buy here CD: Rockpalast: Hardrock Legends 1
buy here mp3: Rockpalast: Hardrock Legends Vol. 1

Buy here: Michael Schenker Group - Rockpalast: Hardrock Legends Vol. 2
Buy here CD: Rockpalast: Hard Rock Legends Vol. 2
Buy here mp3: Rockpalast: Hardrock Legends Vol. 2