BLACK SABBATH won three awards at last week’s Classic Rock Roll Of Honour, sponsored by Orange Amplification in association with Currencies.co.uk.
They took home Album Of The Year for comeback title 13, Event Of The Year for reaching number one after 43 years, and the previously announced Living Legends award. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler were present at London’s Roundhouse venue to celebrate what the frontman called a “shock year.”
The gala event, presented to an invited audience by prog musician Fish, also celebrated the work of Led Zeppelin, John Mayall, Wilko Johnson, Zakk Wylde and others.
Osbourne said: “I never thought I’d be standing here, what, 45 years later? It’s an incredible event for us all. We’re still in shock. It’s been an incredible year, after I spent all those earlier ones trying to kill myself.”
Bandmate Iommi, who’s continued to tour with the band despite receiving cancer treatment, said: “Thanks for everything – it’s great to see all these old and new faces.”
Jimmy Page accepted the FIlm Of The Year award for Led Zeppelin concert movie Celebration Day, saying: “It was a great concert and we got the energy into the video – well, the DVD… and the Blu-ray. I’m here on behalf of the band and I thank you on their behalf.”
Page returned to the stage to present Wilko Johnson with the Inspiration award. The former Dr Feelgood guitarist, who’s suffering from terminal cancer, laughed: “They told me I had ten months to live and ten months have gone by. How long can this go on? We don’t know. But it’s particularly gratifying to receive this recognition of my efforts.”
John Mayall was given the Classic Album gong for 1966 release Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton, recalling: “We had a lot of fun with it – we just did what we did on stage and had no designs other than making an honest album. The label never did understand how it sold so well.”
Other awards went to Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, Rory Gallagher, Mott The Hoople, and rising stars The Temperance Movement and The Virginmarys.
Classic Rock Roll Of Honour 2013
Best New Band, sponsored by Kraken: The Temperance Movement
Reissue Of The Year, sponsored by Alchemy: Fleetwood Mac, Rumours 35th Anniversary Edition
Film Of The Year: Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day
Album Of The Year, sponsored by Live Nation: Black Sabbath, 13
Band Of The Year, sponsored by Investec: The Rolling Stones
Breakthrough, sponsored by Fuji: The Virginmarys
Spirit Of Prog, sponsored by USM/UMC: Alex Lifeson of Rush
Event Of The Year, sponsored by Roadrunner Records: Black Sabbath hits No1 after 43 years
Innovator, sponsored by Rocksmith: Wilko Johnson
Musicians’ Union Maestro: James Dean Bradfield, Manic Street Preachers
Classic Album, sponsored by Eagle Rock: Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton by John Mayall
Showman: The Darkness
Outstanding Contribution, sponsored by Monitor Audio: Mott The Hoople
Metal Guru, sponsored by Mascot Label Group: Zakk Wylde
VIP, sponsored by Currencies.co.uk: Shep Gordon
Tommy Vance Inspiration, sponsored by Spinefarm Records: Rory Gallagher
Living Legends, sponsored by Orange Amplification: Black Sabbath
Hard Force/MetalXS has uploaded footage of BLACK STAR RIDERS performing ‘Are You Ready’ at Trabendo in Paris, France on November 4th. Watch below:
Opening with a quote from American author and poet Maya Angelou and closing with a quote from THIN LIZZY frontman and bassist Phil Lynott, the new Black Star Riders video for ‘Kingdom Of The Lost’ can be seen below:
Described as “one of the most personal songs for me on the record” by vocalist Ricky Warwick, ‘Kingdom Of The Lost’ comes off the band’s debut album, All Hell Breaks Loose, which entered the American Billboard Heatseekers chart at #5 and the Billboard Hard Music chart at #19 this past May.
Black Star Riders’ tour schedule is as follows:
November
23 – London, England – Shepherds Bush Empire
25 – Bristol, England – O2 Academy
26 – Cambridge, England – Junction
27 – Norwich, England – UEA, Norwich
29 – Pwllheli, Gwynedd, England – Hard Rock Hell
30 – Wolverhampton, England – Wulfrun Hall
December
1 – Cardiff, England – Solus/University,
2 – Oxford, England – O2 Academy
3 – Liverpool, England – O2 Academy
5 – Inverness, Scotland – Ironworks
6 – Edinburgh, Scotland – Picturehouse,
7 – Newcastle, England – O2 Academy
8 – Leeds, England – O2 Academy
10 – Leamington Spa, England – The Assembly Rooms
12 – Nottingham, England – Rock Cit
13 – Manchester, England – Ritz
14 – Dublin, Ireland – Academy
15 – Belfast, Ireland – Limelight
The band has checked in from the road with updates from their European Tour.
M:PIRE OF EVIL, featuring ex-VENOM members Tony Dolan (DEMOLITION MAN) and Jeff Dunn (MANTAS) together with drummer MarcJackson (JXN), have checked in with the following message:
“To any promoters, please refrain from using the Venom logo on promotion material for M:Pire Of Evil, we have received a letter via a solicitor from Cronos (Venom frontman) asking we stop. We have not and never have used the logo but some promoters have. We don’t care but it seems he does. Many thanks.”
The band has been confirmed to headline the X-Mas In Hell festival in Patras, Greece on December 14th:
Tickets are €15 in advance and €20 at the door. Go to this location for complete event information.
The band’s new album Crucified, featuring re-recorded Venom tracks from the Dolan years, is out now. Check out the artwork below.
The complete Crucified tracklist is as follows:
‘Temples Of Ice’
‘Parasite’
‘Kissing The Beast’
‘Blackened Are The Priests’
‘Carnivorous’
‘Black Legions’
‘Need To Kill’
‘Wolverine’
‘Crucified’
‘Demone’
‘Taking It All’
Check out an exclusive interview with Dolan about Crucified here.
Universal Music Group is doing production work on the new 40th anniversary edition of DEEP PURPLE’s Made In Japan.
This edition will see the original album coupled with new remixes of all three nights, a new documentary and a 60 page booklet with rare/unseen photos. A release date has been set for March 2014. More info to be released soon.
An interview with guitarist Wolf Hoffmann from legendary Teutonic metallers ACCEPT, has been published on the band’s official website and facebook page. It was conducted prior to the special show, which as we previously reported, took place on 13th November in Helsinki with the SCORPIONS.
Wolf discusses the show as being on their “bucket list for a long time,” plus the huge comeback to the metal scene of ACCEPT along with the addition of vocalist Mark Tornillo. Watch the interview in full below:
ACCEPT have 7 more dates remaining on their Stalingrad worldwide tour of 2013, including Russia and the Ukraine. Check the dates at this location.
Guitar legend MICHAEL SCHENKER has announced a string of North American dates in January/February 2014.
Says Schenker: “I am very much looking forward to touring the States in Jan/Feb, and to introducing my new singer, Doogie White, and material from our brand new album, Bridge the Gap. Doogie, Wayne Findlay and myself will be promoting our new album in the States before teaming up with the album lineup for a World Tour starting in March in Japan. We are all looking forward to rock you. ‘Til then, keep on rocking.”
Dates include:
January
9 – Las Vegas, NV – LVCS
10 – Corona, CA – M -15 Concert Theatre
11 – Ramona, CA – Ramona Main Stage Theatre
14 – Denver, CO – Ecks Saloon
16 – Libertyville, IL – Austins
17 – Libertyville, IL – Austins
18 – Toronto, ON – Rockpile West
19 – Toronto, ON – Rockpile East
20 – Englewood, NJ – Bergan Performing Arts Center
21 – Londonberry, NH – Tuepelo Music Hall
22 – New York, NY – Bb Kings Concert Hall
24 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
25 – Poughkeepsie, NY – Chance Theatre
27 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theatre
28 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Ballroom
30 – Oaklahoma City, OK – Chameleon Ballroom
31 – Houston, TX – Concert Pub North
February
1 – San Antonio, TX – Backstage Live
6 – San Francisco, CA – Yoshi’S
7 – Orangevale, CA – Boardwalk
8 – Portland, OR – Tba
9 – Seattle, Wa – EL Corazon
12 – Hollywood, CA – House Of Blues
15 – San Juan, Capistrano, CA – The Coach House
16 – Hermosa Beach, CA – St Rocke
TEMPLE OF ROCK – featuring Michael Schenker (ex-UFO, SCORPIONS) on guitar, Doogie White (TANK, ex-RAINBOW, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) on vocals, and ex-Scorpions members Francis Buchholz and Herman Rarebell on bass and drums, and Wayne Findlay (MSG, SLAVIOR) on guitar and keys – are gearing up for the release of their brand new studio album entitled Bridge The Gap, due out today November 22nd in Europe and in the UK on Monday, December 2nd.
In preparation for the release, track previews for album tracks ‘Lord Of The Lost And Lonely’ and ‘Rock N Roll Symphony’ have been released.
Doogie White comments on ‘Lord Of The Lost And Lonely’: “’Lord Of The Lost And Lonely’ has a Celtic vibe about it and the riff rocks and rolls. The chorus just bursts out on this song out, and drives right through. It’s that small voice in the back of your mind that you know you really should listen to but can’t.”
On ‘Rock N Roll Symphony’, White says: “’Rock N Roll Symphony’ features Wayne holding the tune down with the Hammond under Schenker’s rolling riff. It’s a celebration of rock’n’roll in all its guises. I took song titles and phrases from the wider rock community and wrapped them up into a lyric.”
Samples of all tracks due to appear on the album are now available for streaming at this location.
According to a press release, the new album features 13 hard-hitting, adrenalin fuelled melodic rock’n’roll songs that showcase Schenker’s distinctive and explosive guitar playing, valiantly underpinned by the ferocious rhythm section of Rarebell and Buchholz, marking the first time Schenker, Rarebell and Buchholz appeared on the same album together since the Scorpions’ 1979 Lovedrive.
Scottish vocalist Doogie White, who co-wrote the album with Schenker, soars across every song, and stamps his enthusiastic personality with every note and phrase. Wayne Findlay adds another dimension to the dynamic, classic Schenker sound with his Dean 7 string guitar and keyboard orchestrations.
Bridge the Gap is a thunderous, explosive collection of brand new songs steeped in shades of dark and light. Musically and lyrically, the new album shows a re-energized guitarist at the top of his game, surrounded by top drawer musicians.
The album was recorded from January to March 2013 at Kidroom Studios, Germany and was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss, and engineered by Voss.
“Michael and I had talked about recording an album together after the tour of 2012,” says Doogie White. “We never spoke about it again until January 2013 when he sent me seven ideas he had been working on.”
“Last October I started writing the music for the new album,” adds Schenker. “I sent material to Doogie in the New Year and he started writing melodies and lyrics. I laid down some arrangements at Michael Voss’s studio. There was a lot of energy flying about during the recording process. I had the same drive making this album as I had when I was 16. I wanted it fast, heavy and melodic. It felt like bridging the gap from my teenage and Lovedrive years to what I am doing now. I’m back to where I was a long time ago and I love it.”
“Never having really written with Michael before, apart from When the Devil Knows You’re Dead (from 2011’s Temple of Rock album), I didn’t know how flexible he would be writing wise,” recalls Doogie.” I laid down some vocal tracks as ideas and when Michael heard them we were off and running. Within two weeks we were in the studio laying down tracks.”
Schenker admits that when he wrote this album, he tried to get a balance between songs that are heavy, fast and melodic, complimented by his signature guitar solos.
“I wanted to combine the old with the new. That’s why the album’s called Bridge The Gap. With Wayne playing 7 string guitar we created some low, heavy modern sounds. Since I play and experiment on a regular basis, I always have some new, fresh sparks to share when I record a new album. I am inspired from within. It’s infinite like a kaleidoscope.”
“As former members of the Scorpions, Herman, Francis and I have been out of the loop of rock’n’roll for quite a while. Getting together for the first time since the Lovedrive album is an incredible jump. We’re connecting the past with the present. We’re bridging the gap.”
Schenker remains philosophical about the name of the new album. He believes the name reflects what is going on in the fast-moving world around him.
“Everything that is currently going on in this world is showing that people are desperate for change. We need to bridge the gap of poverty. There are too many innocent people getting killed in terrorist attacks. We need to leave all of this chaos behind us. We have to be strong. We have to continue moving forward, working together in a balanced way.”
Schenker is amazed how melodic the new album turned out, but he still insists the songs still feature a bit of darkness as well.
“I came up with the name of the album, before I even started writing. When Doogie started writing the lyrics to the new songs he had something to go by. I guess Bridges Burned is a new song that is something of a word play on Bridge The Gap. I love this song. Doogie’s singing is excellent on this.”
“Horizons is a really powerful and exciting track from the new album,” says Schenker. “I love the energy and Doogie’s great vocal lines.”
“Neptune Rising is a song I wrote in the studio. It’s about Wayne Findlay. He reminds me of a Neptune with his crazy hair and beard. One day I had this vision of seeing him with the Trident coming out of the ocean. Wayne loves water and the undersea world. So, I suggested that we design a guitar that looks like a Trident. The guitar is almost completed and will be called Trident and will be seen on our next tour.”
“Because You Lied is completely of the wall. I love everything about it. I had a real blast playing the guitar solo. In general, on the new album I have injected each song with a new wave of lead guitar playing. It had a lot of fun making the entire album. Francis and Herman – the original Scorpions rhythm section of Rock You Like A Hurricane seriously rock on the new album.”
Bridge The Gap tracklisting:
‘Neptune Rising’
‘Where The Wild Winds Blow’
‘Horizons’
‘Lord Of The Lost And Lonely’
‘Rock’n’roll Symphony’
‘To Live For The King’
‘Land Of Thunder’
‘Temple Of The Holy’
‘Shine On’
‘Bridges We Have Burned’
‘ecause You Lied’
‘Black Moon Rising’
‘Dance For The Piper’
‘Faith’ (vocals: Don Dokken) (bonus track)
‘Where The Wild Winds Blow’:
Watch the official trailer below:
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
