Rainbow - Do You Close Your Eyes

Rainbow is not like any band. This band left its mark on rock music history books. The band was formed by Ritchie Blackmore as action / reaction to his first "divorce" from his original band, Deep Purple.

Through the years, the band went through different lineups, but this lineup is different, it is special, if I may say. With their higher than live musicianship they can really and easily shatter metal into small peaces.

We have Ronnie James Dio on vocals, Jimmy Bain on Bass (one of the most unique bass player ever with his technique), Cozy Powel on Drums, Tony Carey on Keyboards, and Ritchie Blackmore, of course, on white Fender Stratocaster.  

The result came out from this line-up is: "Rainbow Rising". Release in 1976. An epic 5 songs masterpiece. The mixing of the album is so amazing that I never heard something like that from that period ever, thanks to Martin Birch - who is known for producing albums described as ahead of their time. 

"Do You Close Your Eyes" is one of the songs from that album. It is not the best song from the album, but it is absolutely one of the best songs Rainbow ever recorded.

I adore this song! 

The song's upbeat and power maybe the reason the band choose to include it in the set list of their live shows. 

There are three versions of the song released. All three are on the Deluxe Edition of the album that came out in 2011.

Rainbow - All Night Long (Live)

A video of Rainbow playing Rainbow on Monster of Rock 1980.

The performance starts with a short introduction to Lazy (Deep Purple) by Ritchie Blackmore before playing the riff to All Night Long with Graham Bonnet coming on stage.

I don't know if this show was ever put on DVD, or even there is a video tape released - there is a bootleg CD of the Tokyo show on the same year as part of the All Night Long Tour 1980 (The song is fourth in the set-list) but I never heard a bootleg or official release on video tape or DVD.

I wish there is.

Another wish from that lineup that didn't come true is another album with Bonnet on vocals.

Rush - Clockwork Angels

Progressive Rock legends Rush released their two years in the making album, Clockwork Angels, last June. The reason for the delay is the extensive touring schedule between 2010 and 2012.

All lyrics are written by Neil Peart, and all the  music were composed by Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson. The first two songs from the album, Caravan and BU2B were written back in 2010 and played live before the release of the album.  The rest of the songs were recorded later.

Initially it was not planned to make a concept album until later stages of writing by it's main lyricist and drummer, Neil Peart.  Basically the album is a story of a young man's journey into the world of fantasy, alchemy and science fiction, as well as the focus on this boy's determination to reach out to what he believes in.

My favorite songs from Clockwork Angels are "BU2B", and "Headlong Fight", but "Seven Cities of Gold" and "Carnies" are the most favorite. Not only that the guitar work on these songs is stunning, but the whole structure and composition is impressive. Adding to that their position on the album having "Halo Effect" as a slow song in-between the two songs just perfect.

The title song is epic.  Anyone can come to the same conclusion while listening to this particular song how Rush remains to this day an influence and inspiration to many of today's bands around the world.

Rush official website already advertising a novelization of the album.  Wondering if this album will turn into a movie one day. That would be cool.

Many wrote  on the Internet that the album needs more than one listen to appreciate it. I listened to the album for the fist time twice in row. Technically, no one dare to argue about musicianship of the trio. The album producer, Nick Raskulinecz mentioned in an interview that he and the band wanted to capture Rush of 1970's on this album.

I believe that Rush did efficiently and brilliantly reached to their 70's era but with a 21'st century twist.

Rush will play London O2 on 24'th of may 2013.

Track List:
No. Title Length
1. "Caravan"   5:40
2. "BU2B"   5:10
3. "Clockwork Angels"   7:31
4. "The Anarchist"   6:52
5. "Carnies"   4:52
6. "Halo Effect"   3:14
7. "Seven Cities of Gold"   6:32
8. "The Wreckers"   5:01
9. "Headlong Flight"   7:20
10. "BU2B2"   1:28
11. "Wish Them Well"   5:25
12. "The Garden"   6:59

The Story Behind WhoCares Double CD

In a recent interview with Ian Gillan, he talked about how the double CD compilation album of him and Iommi released recently under the name WhoCares came about.

Gillan talks about the work with Iommi after all these years - remember he was fronting Sabbath after recorded with the band one of the best albums ever made, Born Again. He explains how Iommi is so easy to work with.

He also tell the story of how the song "Out of My Mind" was written by the super group

We wrote ‘Out Of My Mind’ at Tony’s place.”  He co-wrote the other WhoCares song, “Holy Water” with Steve Morris, with whom he’s worked with on various solo projects. He said that it wasn’t difficult to get everyone onboard. “I called Nicko, who recorded live with Jon Lord, Tony and myself in London. Tony called Jason who played his part in America.”

In addition, Gillan felt so great about his short reunion with his former bandmate, the late Jon Lord, with some insight into his friendship with late composer.

Full article is can be found here

I bought the CD when it came out, and was not dissapointed, because it contains some gems, songs put together by the two legends that spans their 40 plus career, in addition to the two songs written and recorded on earlier date and came out as a single.

I was surprised but rejoyced seeing "Anno Maudi" among the songs. The album inlay also carries a lot of notes by Iommi and Gillan for each single song.

In short, We have one album with Black Sabbath and Iommi solo stuff, as well as Deep Purple and Ian Gillan stuff in one package.


Track Listing on WhoCares:
Disc: 1
1. WhoCares "Out Of My Mind" Featuring Jon Lord, Jason Newsted and Nicko McBrain
2. Black Sababth "Zero The Hero"
3. Ian Gillan feat. Iommi, Ian Paice and Roger Glover "Trashed"
4. M. Rakintzis feat. Ian Gillan "Get Away"
5. Tony Iommi feat G.Hughes "Slip Away"
6. Gillan "Don´t Hold Me Back"
7. Ian Gillan "She Thinks It´s A Crime"
8. Repo Depo feat. Ian Gillan "Easy Come, Easy Go"
9. Deep Purple feat.Ronnie James Dio "Smoke On The Water"
Disc: 2
1. WhoCares "Holy Water"
2. Black Sabbath "Anno Mundi"
3. Tony Iommi feat. G. Hughes "Let it Down Easy"
4. Ian Gillan "Hole in My Vest"
5. Gillan & Glover feat. Dr.John "Can´t Believe You Wanna Leave me"
6. Ian Gillan & The Javelins "Can I Get A Witness"
7. Garth Rockett & The Moonshiners aka IG "No Laughing in Heaven"
8. Ian Gillan "When A Blind Man Cries"
9. Deep Purple "Dick Pimple"

Adele Sings The Theme for New James Bond

It has been confirmed that Adele has finished recording the theme to the new James Bond movie Skyfall, coming out in November. According to different sources, Adele was spotted at London's Abbey Road studio a couple of weeks ago where the song has been recorded.

The name of the song is... Skyfall!

When reading this I was wondering if the news is true and that Adele was not long ago in the studio to record the song for the movie, isn't that awkward that a movie will be premiered and two months prior to that they record the theme song?  

While thinking of that the answer came rolling to my mind. I remember seeing an interview with Duran Duran two years ago when they mentioned their involvement in recording the theme for 1985's Bond movie, A View To A Kill. Nick Rhodes mentions that production company responsible for 007 franchise has their own culture. Part of their culture when making a Bond movie is to leave music till the very end.

I guess the same thing is happening in the case of Adele.

Rock Star Daughters

I saw this on Ultimate Classic Rock website. It is a selection list of 17 attractive young women who happens to be daughters of rock legends, such as the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Van Halen.

Interesting after reading about each one of them and their path into fame, not by following their fathers route in music industry, but mostly through modeling and fashion design. Some choose acting and scoring in Hollywood blockbusters, and there are also who has been into porn!

UCR could stretch the list to include other rock star daughters, in my opinion. How come 17?

There are others who also involved in modelling and fashion business, such as 18 years old Frances Bean Cobain, daughter of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain and Hole's Courtney Love, or India Waters, daughter of Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, or even Amber Le Bon - if we consider Duran Duran rock, and not Pop.

But I am sure I can come up with more to the list, such as...

Lauren Harris

Born on 6 July 1984. Ms Harris is the daughter of Iron Maiden's founder and bassist, Steve Harris. She started music by forming her own band and released an album back in 2008 called Calm Before The Storm. , and she appeared with her band on a number of rock festivals in 2008, such as Download.

The band played on that album included Richie Faulkner, the new guitarist of Judas Priest who replaced legendary K. K. Downing who left Priest in 2011.

Last year and after the departure of Faulkner, Lauren Harris formed another band and called it Six Hour Sundown and in December 2011 the band released a single called Jekyll and Hyde.  

The music is promising, so hope to see more from this band in the near future.




Toni-Marie Iommi

She is the one and only daughter of the one and only titan in metal, Tony Iommi - a name that would bring shivers when heard in rock and metal circle, of course. Toni-Marie was born in 1983, from a former American model. 

Toni-Marie used to sing as main vocals in the short-lived British band called Lunarmile back in 2007-2008. They released an EP called 4 AM before breaking up. Lunarmile also included on bass guitar Alex Hill, the son of Judas Priest basist Ian Hill). 
 
What's the deal with Judas Priest influence on rock star daughters??

Since 2010, Toni-Marie Iommi  is engaged to Mikko "Linde" Lindström, the guitarist of Finnish rock band HIM - Lindestrom notably played guitars with his father in law (and the super group WhoCares) on the song "Out of My Mind". 




Gillian Glover

If you are a Deep Purple fan, then you would recognize Gillian Glover quickly. She is the daughter of the legendary Roger Glover. She also sang a couple of songs on her father’s solo albums, Snapshot and If Life Was Easy.

Apart from her music writing and singing skills, she a professional scuba diving master and jewellery designer of recycled guitar strings. 

Started singing when she was 22 years old, but joined her first band Beat:Root in 2001.  She also recorded her first solo album called Red Hand in 2005. After that she joined her current band Human Beans, and in early 2011 released Still Life With Music.  The band is based and perform mainly in London.

Gillian Glover and her band bass player, Travis are partners and in 2009 had a son.

New Live Albums Coming Your Way

In one week news came out about three heavy weight acts in music releasing live albums.

One of the bands that I regret not going to their live concert is AC/DC. I have problems with big arenas, maybe that's the reason.

Their new album 's Live At River Plate is taken from three shows they did in Argentina and came out on previous DVD released last year. However, the new live CD will include extra songs.

I have seen different live DVD's of this great Australian band, but the their 1990's LIVE album still in mind as my favorite. Nevertheless, this band still deliver one of the best shows on earth every year, the proof is obvious in reviews and by people I talked to who has been to their concerts.

The song listing of the album will be:
1. Rock N Roll Train
2. Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be
3. Back In Black
4. Big Jack
5. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
6. Shot Down In Flames
7. Thunderstruck
8. Black Ice
9. The Jack
10. Hells Bells
11. Shoot To Thrill
12. War Machine
13. Dog Eat Dog
14. You Shook Me All Night Long
15. T.N.T.
16. Whole Lotta Rosie
17. Let There Be Rock
18. Highway To Hell
19. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

Paul Simon, Live in New York City is not only a CD, it is a DVD and CD set loaded with songs from this magnificent musician career.

Last week I was watching a documentary on him during the recording with a number of African artists.

Without doubt, Simon is a great musician, and that is obvious from his diversity in musical elements he put in his music - whether that is disputed or not, it is not our discussion here, but the humbleness and coolness this man has during the recording session is outstanding.

I don't think anyone would argue of joy such a concert would bring to fans everywhere.

Live in New York City’ track listing is:
1. The Obvious Child
2. Dazzling Blue
3. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
4. So Beautiful Or So What
5. Mother And Child Reunion
6. That Was Your Mother
7. Hearts And Bones
8. Crazy Love, Vol. II
9. Slip Slidin’ Away
10. Rewrite
11. The Boy In The Bubble
12. The Only Living Boy In New York
13. The Afterlife
14 Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
15. Gumboots
16. The Sound Of Silence
17. Kodachrome
18. Gone At Last
19. Late In The Evening
20. Still Crazy After All These Years

The third live album coming out soon is by the band that is considered as one of the three pillars created hard rock: Led Zeppelin. It is from their live performance in 2007 at the O2 Arena in London. The album is called "Celebration Day". Not known yet if the album will only be on DVD or CD/DVD.
Many people, including me waited for a long time for this, and can't describe my happiness of the news.

It started when the band's Facebook page showed a FIVE on its main page and started with a countdown prior to the official announcement. The obscurity of the event triggered a lot of speculations. Some thought that the band is recording a new album and launching a big tour. These speculations were ruled out, especially seeing Robert Plant's commitment to two bands at the same time. Even with that, people's imagination went too far by saying that Plant has been replaced by Glenn Hughes.
That was the funniest thing I ever heard. I love Glenn Hughes, but seeing him with Zeppelin is difficult to imagine (like seeing David Coverdale singing with Black Sabbath). Besides, Glenn is touring now promoting Black Country Communion new album coming out next month, Afterglow.

Zeppelin never had another vocalist but Plant and it is very difficult to imagine anyone else taking the helm.

Celebration Day tracklist:

1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Ramble On
3. Black Dog
4. In My Time Of Dying
5. For Your Life
6. Trampled Under Foot
7. Nobody’s Fault But Mine
8. No Quarter
9. Since I’ve Been Loving You
10. Dazed And Confused
11. Stairway To Heaven
12. The Song Remains The Same
13. Misty Mountain Hop
14. Kashmir
15. Whole Lotta Love
16. Rock And Roll