Legendary Grammy Award-winner Jim Peterik, songwriting legend & leader of SURVIVOR, IDES OF MARCH And PRIDE OF LIONS, performed on October 24th at Nottingham Rock City‘s inaugural Rockingham Live Show, featuring Alessandro Del Vecchio sharing lead vocals alongside Mario Percudani, Bob Bergland and Alessandro Mori. Video footage from the show has been posted online, watch below.
Commented Alessandro Del Vecchio: I never thought I would sing songs like Man Against The World with the man who wrote these amazing tunes…I feel blessed I can share my humble talents with my heroes, singing and playing the songs that shaped my life. “Who’s Luckier Than Me?”™
Rich’s Rapidfire Recommendations – bite-sized metal morsels to let you know about albums that have grabbed Rich Davenport by the ears, that we hope you’ll enjoy too! ROCK ON!
Artist: JIM PETERIK / MARK SCHERER Album: “Risk Everything” Label: Frontiers Music Srl Released: April 17th 2015
Tracklisting:
Risk Everything
Chance of a Lifetime
Cold Blooded
Desperate in Love
Thee Crescendo
The Dying of the Light
How Long is a Moment
Brand New Heart
Broken Home
Milestones and Independence Day
Jim Peterik / Mark Scherer – Risk Everything. The pairing of Messrs Peterik and Scherer has been a long time coming, their paths having crossed on numerous occasions in the past, with Marc’s voice making a big impression on Jim on first hearing. Years later, Jim overheard Marc working on a session in another room in the studio he owns, and, recognizing that golden voice once again, seized the chance to finally see what a pooling of their combined talents might achieve. The result is an album that shows the AOR genre at its absolute best. Marc Scherer’s voice is indeed impressive, and on the evidence of “Risk Everything”, we can add another name to the list of world class singers Jim Peterik has worked with and written for over the years. Scherer matches a soaring range with passionate delivery, at times bringing to mind Dennis De Young (Styx), but possessing his own clear character. And Mr Peterik has written a tailor-made set of songs which sound like the work of a man not content to rest on his musical laurels; as one of the songsmiths who defined the AOR / Melodic Rock sound, it would be easy for Jim to rely on familiar musical and lyrical moves, but instead he delivers eleven fresh tracks which offer melodies, chord sequences and overall arrangements that hold the attention by heading somewhere new, and his production allows plenty of Rock grit to seep through from the guitars. It’s hard to choose favourites among the likes of “Risk Everything”, “Cold Blooded”, “Broken Home” and “Milestones”, ‘cos every song on the album is a winner. If you’ve enjoyed Jim’s past work with Survivor and Pride of Lions, “Risk Everything” will float your boat clean across the ocean of your choice!
Lead Vocals: Marc Scherer
Guitar: Mike Aquino, Jim Peterik
Keyboards: Jim Peterik
Drums: Ed Breckenfeld, Nick Rich
Bass: Klem Hayes, Bob Lizik, Bill Syniar
Guest and Backing Vocals: Toby Hitchcock, Alex Ligertwood, Shoshana Bean
Rich’s Rapidfire Recommendations – bite-sized metal morsels to let you know about albums that have grabbed Rich Davenport by the ears, that we hope you’ll enjoy too! ROCK ON!
Artist: THE IDES OF MARCH Album: “Last Band Standing” Label: self-released Released: April 18th, 2015
See the complete tracklisting below.
The Ides Of March – Last Band Standing. – The Definitive 50 Year Anniversary Collection Classic Rock doesn’t get any more classic than this! Jim Peterik is widely acclaimed not only as the writer of the run of Hard Rock hits his band Survivor landed on charts around the world, but also as co-creator of favourite singles and album tracks by 38 Special, Sammy Hagar, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others outside the Rock realm. His original band, The Ides Of March, was the outfit in which Jim initially developed and polished his songcraft , and this 4CD / 1 DVD box set charts the amazing 50-year musical journey that saw Jim and his high-school buddies (with the core members still in the line-up five decades on!) literally grow up in public, their own growth mirroring the ascent of the Classic Rock genre itself, with the lads from Chicago taking a cue from those four lads from Liverpool and their British Invasion cohorts, moving on to absorb elements of the exciting array of emerging sounds that rang out through the 60s and 70s, from the Byrds, on to Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, hints of Psychedelia, Soul, Blues, Funk, Gospel and Country Rock.
In his autobiography “Through The Eye Of The Tiger” (well worth reading for a refreshing change from the standard sex, drugs and scandal fare of many Rock bios), Jim observes that the band went through many musical changes before hitting on their own style in the early-to-mid 70s, prior to going on hiatus until the early 90s. However, that’s not to say that the Ides don’t (or didn’t!) have their own clear musical identity. Over the course of the 4 CDs (and one DVD), you can hear that they already had something special about them right from their first single, the Kinks / Who-influenced “Like It Or Lump It”, released in 1965, and this spark grew brighter through the early sides gathered on CD1, as they honed their trademark vocal harmonies, added a horn section, and Jim’s voice matured into a soulful, blues-infused baritone; these elements all converged perfectly on their 1970 chart-topper “Vehicle”, and you’d be hard pressed to find a funkier, groovier slice of horn-driven Rock anywhere (and if you want further evidence, check out the extras on the dvd, where none other than Tom Jones and Sammy Davis Jr groove on down with their own far-out versions, man!)
From that point on, the Ides had all the necessary tools to capitalise on the chops they’d worked up learning their trade on those early releases, and from that point on, you’ll hear them really flourish as they distill their influences into a distinctive Ides personality, eventually adding a touch of Poco / Eagles style Country Rock to their musical brew, their vocal harmonies rising to the standard set by those Californian contemporaries. Poco’s own Rusty Young makes a cameo on pedal steel on disc 3, which contains sought after tracks from their “World Woven” and “Midnight Oil” albums, collected here on CD for the first time.
After a hiatus, Jim reconvened the band in the early 90s, and CD4 shows the Ides reaping the benefit of his 80s work with Survivor and other Hard Rock luminaries, as he brings elements of the melodic style he helped pioneer back into the IOM’s subsequent material, while still retaining the varied stylistic approach that characterised their best 70s releases. In addition to a selection of live cuts from various eras, the band also lay down 3 fine new numbers, including title track “Last Man Standing”, an autobiographical account of the band’s path from high school shows, on to gigging with Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers, and rubbing shoulders with Beatles!
And the icing on this anniversary cake is a live DVD, filmed on home turf at the Chicago House of Blues, showing the band on potent form as they deliver their own classics and a selection of Jim’s co-written hits from Survivor, 38 Special and Sammy Hagar. On the strength of these effervescent concert performances, I for one would love to hear the band make a studio album along the lines of “The Ides of March Play The Jim Peterik Songbook”.
If you’re already a fan of Jim’s songwriting, then this box set allows you to see and hear a significant part of his musical history in chronological sequence, also showing him to be a first-class frontman, lead vocalist, and lead guitarist in his own right. And for those unfamiliar with the Ides of March, there’s a wealth of great songs to discover and enjoy here. Happy Anniversary guys, long may you Rock!
Tracklist:
CD 1
Last Band Standing
Who I Am
Too Far to Turn Around
Like It or Lump It
No Two Ways About It
You Wouldn’t Listen
I’ll Keep Searching
I’ll Take You Back
Please Don’t Tell Me Lies
Train of Love
Don’t Cry to Me
You Tell Me Why
I Put It Out of My Head
The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore
Roller Coaster
Things Aren’t Always What They Seem
My Foolish Pride
Give Your Mind Wings
Hole in My Soul
Girls Don’t Grow on Trees (Stereo Mix)
I’m Gonna Say My Prayers
You Need Love
Sha La La La Lee
Nobody Loves Me
Strawberry Sunday
One Woman Man
High on a Hillside
CD 2
Vehicle (Mono Single Mix)
Lead Me Home Gently
Aire of Good Feeling
Symphony for Eleanor (Eleanor Rigby)
Bald Medusa
Home
Wooden Ships/Dharma for One
Superman (Stereo Album Mix)
A. Goodbye
Hymn for Her
Tie Dye Princess
We are Pillows (Prelude to Freedom)
Freedom Sweet
Giddy Up Ride Me
Melody
Reunion
Pepsi (Vehicle Commercial)
Vehicle (Stereo Album Mix)
The Star Spangled Banner
CD 3
Mother America
All Join Hands
Colorado Morrow
Diamond Fire
Flipside
Children
Hot Water
Lay Back
Quicksilver
Roadie Ode
Gotta Share This Feeling
American Express
Rag for a Vagabond Lady
Love’s Got the Power
Summer in the City
Don’t Fight This Feeling
Finally Next Year
CD 4
Friendly Stranger (Vehicle Overture)
Spirit of Chicago
I’d Love Her Anyway
Love Don’t Choose
Age Before Beauty
Moon Out of Phase
One Hit Wonder
Come Dancing
A Day in the Life
The Forgotten Oldie
Pepperhead
Secrets of a Woman
Soul to Soul
For One Moment
Still 19
Live Life
Keep Rocking
DVD
Live in Concert at the House of Blues, Chicago, May 31, 2014 (15 song set)
Last Band Standing (Music Video)
From the Vaults
Vehicle (with Buddy Guy)
CD 1, Tracks 1-3 new recordings, previously unreleased
CD 1, Tracks 4-5 from Epitome single, 1965
CD 1, Tracks 6-7 from Parrot single, 1966
CD 1, Tracks 9-14 rec. 1966, previously unreleased
CD 1, Tracks 15-16 from Parrot single, 1966
CD 1, Tracks 17-18 from Parrot single, 1966
CD 1, Tracks 19-20 from Parrot single, 1967
CD 1, Track 21 rec. 1967, previously unreleased
CD 1, Tracks 22-23 from Parrot single, 1967
CD 1, Tracks 24-25 from Kapp single, 1968
CD 1, Tracks 26-27 from Warner Bros. single, 1968
CD 2, Tracks 1-2 from Warner Bros. single, 1970
CD 2, Tracks 3-7 & 18 from Vehicle, Warner Bros., 1970
CD 2, Tracks 8-13 from Common Bond, Warner Bros., 1971
CD 2, Tracks 14-15 from Warner Bros. single, 1971
CD 2, Tracks 16 & 19 previously unreleased
CD 2, Track 17 recorded 1970
CD 3, Tracks 1-6 from World Woven, RCA, 1972
CD 3, Tracks 7-10 from Midnight Oil, RCA, 1973
CD 3, Tracks 11-13 rec. at Michigan Tech, 1972, from The Lost Tapes
CD 3, Tracks 14-15 rec. 2008, rec. live at Norris Cultural Arts Center, St. Charles, IL
CD 3, Track 16 rec. 2002, rec. live at McInnich Art Center, Glen Ellyn, IL
CD 3, Track 17 from Cubs’ Greatest Hits, 1999
CD 4, Tracks 1 & 5-6 from Age Before Beauty, Ides of March Records, 1997
CD 4, Tracks 2-4 from Ideology, Ides of March Records, 1991
CD 4, Track 7 from Ideology II.0, Ides of March Records, 2000
CD 4, Track 8 previously unreleased remix of original track from Still 19, Ides of March Records, 2010
CD 4, Tracks 9, 12-17 from Still 19, 2010
CD 4, Tracks 10-11 from Idessentials, 2005
The second edition of Frontiers Rock Festival, taking place in less than a week (on April 11-12) in Milan – Italy, has posted more videos on their Official Youtube Channel, featuring Frontiers Music Srl roster artists giving their personal message and invitation to the Frontiers Rock Festival II, check them out below:
Also check out the earlier video messages we posted recently, HERE.
Furthermore Frontiers Rock Festival will draw a Sterling LK100D-BKM (Luke) electric guitar during the festival, read the announcement below:
Once again we have the honor and the pleasure to raffle during the two days of the Festival a brand new ELECTRIC GUITAR, offered by Mogar Music! It is the STERLING LK100D-BKM (LUKE) – black metallic – c/borsa model, which has a market value exceeding 1100 EURO! As if this was not enough we will also raffle the ERNIE BALL 6180 – VP JR. Volume Pedal. A tons of thanks to Mogar and to all who are collaborating to make Frontiers Rock Festival II a SPECIAL and UNIQUE event!
The Festival Day schedules have been unveiled, check them out below:
Also check out the brand new video “Cold Blooded” from Jim Peterik and Marc Scherer. The new album “Risk Everything” will be exclusively on sale at the Frontiers Rock Festival prior to the official release date in the shops! Marc Scherer will also be a special guest of Pride of Lions in their show on Sunday!
The Festival will be presented on stage by the Dj AngelDevil Rock, together with Mario Iob.
After the storming success of the first edition of the Frontiers Rock Festival (held last May 1, 2 and 3 2014), the second edition will be held on April 11 / 12 2015, once again in the magnificent boutique-venue of the Live Music Club in Trezzo Sull’Adda (Milano). It is going to be 2 days where the cream of the crop of the Hard e Melodic Rock artists and fans from all over the World will gather!
Frontiers thanks again all the sponsors supporting the event: Melodicrock.it, Radio Lombardia/Linea Rock, Classixx, SpazioRock plus the new entry Rock Rebel Magazine.
Frontiers Music SRL is honored to present a special tribute album conceived by iconic Grammy Award winner and founding member of Ides of March, Survivor and Pride of Lions, JIM PETERIK, featuring an impressive array of guest musicians. The CD, titled “Torch: The Music Remembers Jimi Jamison and Fergie Frederiksen”, will be limited to 500 copies, to be sold exclusively at the Frontiers Rock Festival II, held at the LIVE MUSIC CLUB in Trezzo sull’Adda in Milan, Italy on April 11 and 12th, 2015.
Just as the musical influence of Dennis “Fergie” Frederiksen (of Le Roux, Angel, Toto, Frederiksen /Phillips, Mecca and Frederiksen/Denander) and Jimi Jamison (of Target, Cobra and Survivor) reverberated inside the melodic rock community, news of their passing within months of one another in 2014 sent waves of disbelief and sorrow throughout the brotherhood of singers, songwriters and musicians who had been touched by their talent and their spirit. The loss so profoundly impacted Peterik’s core that it was difficult at first to imagine a universe in which their lights no longer shined. After filtering his grief through the cathartic process of songwriting, Jim found solace by gathering a group of mutual friends to commemorate their departed comrades the only way they knew how – with music.
Peterik recently produced and co-wrote the debut album “Risk Everything” to introduce the world to the stunning, 5-octave tenor of singer Marc Scherer, who will appear onstage with headliners Pride of Lions at the Frontiers Rock Festival II. Scherer is a featured performer on Torch: The Music Remembers Jimi Jamison and Fergie Frederiksen, along with stars like Dave Bickler of Survivor, Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger, Bill Champlin of Chicago, David Pack from Ambrosia, Mike Reno of Loverboy, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Bruce Gaitsch of Chicago, Alessandro Del Vecchio of Hardline and Ricky Phillips of Styx.
As Peterik explains, ‘Hopefully, these songs and heartfelt performances will bring healing to all those suffering losses in their lives, as well as serve as a celebration of life itself.’
The album is comprised of four new songs and six alternate versions of previously recorded numbers, (never before heard in Europe), along with seven classics distilled from Jimi and Fergie’s most recent releases on the Frontiers label.
Passionate and intensely personal, this collection speaks to the heart of anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Torch: the Music Remembers Jimi Jamison and Fergie Frederiksen resists the temptation to wallow in sadness, choosing instead to joyously celebrate two beautiful souls who made the world a better place through the transcendent, healing power of song.
Please enjoy an EPK trailer of the album by following this link:
Tracklist:
1.) The Music Remembers (A new song featuring Lars Säfsund and Robert Säll of Work of Art)
2.) Heaven Passes the Torch (A new song featuring Marc Scherer, Mike Reno, Bobby Kimball Official Facebook, Bill Champlin and Jim Peterik’s Official Page)
3.) Never Too Late (Taken from the Jimi Jamison album by the same name)
4.) I’ll Be the One (Taken from the Fergie Frederiksen album, Any Given Moment)
5.) Crossroads Moment (Torch Remix) (Previously unreleased – Original version included on the Jimi Jamison album by the same name)
6.) Follow Your Heart (From the Fergie Frederiksen album, Happiness is the Road)
7.) Heaven on Earth (From the Pride of Lions album, The Roaring of Dreams)
8.) Never Enough (A new song, featuring David Pack, formerly of Ambrosia)
9.) Last Battle of My War – Fergie and Friends Version – (Previously unreleased; featuring Bill Champlin, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Bruce Gaitsch, Ricky Phillips and Jim Peterik. Original version was included on the Fergie Frederiksen album, Any Given Moment)
10.) As Is – Treasure Beneath the Tears Mix (Previously unreleased; original version was included on the Jimi Jamison album, Crossroads Moment)
11.) Happiness is the Road (From the Fergie Frederiksen album of the same name)
12.) You’re in Our Hearts (A new song featuring Marc Scherer)
13.) Long Road Home (From the album World Stage, featuring Jim Peterik and Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger)
14.) Alive (Original European Bonus Track from the Jimi Jamison album, Crossroads Moment)
15.) When the Battle is Over (From the Fergie Frederiksen album, Any Given Moment)
16.) Streets of Heaven (Original Japanese Bonus Track from the Jimi Jamison album, Crossroads Moment)
17.) Ever Since the World Began (Previously unreleased version, featuring Dave Bickler)
Frontiers Music SRL presents an album from legendary Grammy Award-winner and founding member of SURVIVOR, Jim Peterik, created around the 5-octave instrument that is Marc Scherer‘s voice. The resulting CD, Risk Everything, is slated to drop on April 17th in Europe and April 21st in North America.
Jim discovered Scherer’s talent while Marc was recording vocals for his band at Jim Peterik’s World Stage International studios in Burr Ridge, outside Chicago. Impressed with what he heard, Peterik chose Marc to demo the tunes he wrote for the Pride of Lions album, Immortal. Scherer’s back-up singing blended so seamlessly with frontman Toby Hitchcock’s voice that Peterik was then inspired to write songs specifically for it.
‘When I first heard Marc’s amazing voice pouring through my studio door, I could not believe my ears’, says Jim. ‘Truly, one of the best voices I’ve heard – and I’ve worked with the best!’
One of the songs originally intended for Immortal – Change Everything – became Marc’s debut single on a compilation of melodic rock artists titled MRCD – 15 Years Later, which is available from http://www.melodicrock.com.
Risk Everything, co-written by both artists and produced by Peterik, provides the perfect frame for Scherer’s gift – a voice of such astonishing clarity and glass-shattering power that it is hard to believe he isn’t already a major star.
An integral part of Peterik’s genius is his ability to tap into and perfectly utilize the talent that surrounds him. For this project, he called on Pride of Lions drummer Ed Breckenfeld and Buddy Rich’s grandson, Nick Rich, for percussion. Then, he got bassists like Klem Hayes (also from Pride of Lions), Survivor’s Bill Syniar and noted studio musician Bob Lizik to contribute. POL’s Mike Aquino was smoking hot on guitar, along with Jim, who doubled on keys. Guest vocalists Toby Hitchcock, Santana’s Alex Ligertwood and Broadway star of Wicked, Shoshana Bean, rounded out the creative brain trust.
As Scherer says, ‘Jim and I have had a few near-miss opportunities to work together, but the stars didn’t align until this project. I am utterly in awe of the man’s songwriting, producing and musical talent. He takes guitar playing to another level. His work on Cold Blooded is so nuanced and expressive, it’s like another voice singing along with me.’
One listen to that Survivor-inspired track or the Styx-influenced Thee Crescendo proves that Risk Everything has brought out some of the finest songwriting of Jim Peterik’s phenomenal career, enhanced by Scherer’s powerful, off-the-chain, melodic rock tenor.
Scherer will appear as a special guest of Pride of Lions when they headline at Frontiers Rock Festival II on April 12th in Trezzo Sull’Adda (Milano), Italy. There will also be a special surprise Festival only release from Jim Peterik (featuring Marc Scherer and more legendary artists) to be announced shortly. For details, visit http://www.frontiersrockfestival.com.
Enjoy an EPK trailer of the album below:
The Risk Everything track list includes: Risk Everything; Chance of a Lifetime; Cold Blooded; Desperate in Love; Thee Crescendo; The Dying of the Light; How Long is a Moment; Brand New Heart; Broken Home; Milestones and Independence Day.
Lead Vocals: Marc Scherer
Guitar: Mike Aquino, Jim Peterik
Keyboards: Jim Peterik
Drums: Ed Breckenfeld, Nick Rich
Bass: Klem Hayes, Bob Lizik, Bill Syniar
Guest and Backing Vocals: Toby Hitchcock, Alex Ligertwood, Shoshana Bean
Artist: JIM PETERIK / MARK SCHERER
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 