Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice interviewed critically acclaimed Rock author Martin Popoff about his new YES book “Time and a Word” Popoff talks ‘Yes’ history, the Breakups, Reunions, the albums and side projects.
Popoff told the Metal Voice, “The roots of progressive metal itself are definitely Rush. Rush I think is the first progressive metal band. Yes is probably the band that is the precursor, the proto progressive metal band. A little bit of Yes, a little bit of King Crimson, little bit of Genesis. A lot of metal people like Yes and they like prog in general.”
Popoff went on to say, “In 1972 Yes came out with Close To The Edge. I was thinking at one point I might do a book of the top 500 progressive rock albums of all time. And I started taking a poll. As I was taking that poll, it basically turned out that Close to the edge would win that poll. Basically Yes Close To The Edge is the greatest progressive rock album of all time.”
Popoff also spoke about one of the most famous projects that never went got going, the supergroup XYZ which included members of Yes and Led Zeppelin, after John Bonham’s death. Popoff said, “Basically in this book I cover off quite a bit of detail all the side bands of YES, including ASIA and all the solo projects of everybody. But one that didn’t get off the ground is this XYZ situation. They (Chris Squire, Alan White, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page), did do a little bit of jamming trying to get things off the ground. But it just didn’t really go anywhere, Robert’s heart and head really wasn’t really into it. Jimmy was a little more game into trying to do something with it. You can hear some of these sessions online. I believe a bunch of this is on Youtube. A little bit of those songs (don’t quote me) which show up on later projects possible the firm and later Yes albums.”
Singer David Reece (Bonfire former Accept) joins Jimmy Kay on Canada’s The Metal Voice to Review Babymetal’s new album Metal Resistance as well as debate if Babymetal is helping or hurting the metal community.
Reece had this to say about their new album, “I will say the guitars are brutal in places, I don’t know who is actually playing them but there are some cool riffs and cool tones. The drum programming is from another planet, whoever he is, he’s got fingers like lightning bolts but some cool programs and the mix is ok.”
Reece went on,“The vocals reminded me when I was a young lad and my mother would hand me Alvin and the Chipmunks records for Christmas, that high squeaky voice I thought was cool when I was 5 years old. Maybe that’s why they call it Babymetal. I don’t know but after listening to the album throughout the day and giving it my honest ears and try to be optimistic and open-minded. I felt like shoving a dagger into my eyeball. Maybe this will appeal to the mass majority crowd of Metalheads somewhere in the universe that like to look at Japanese women in French maid outfits or whatever it is they are wearing and working in synchronization on stage. But I call this a fad and a gimmick like the grunge movement and like grunge I hope and pray this movement eats its young and it ends sooner than later.”
For fans of melodic hard rock, the name David Reece will be a familiar one. Since bursting onto the scene as the then new front man for German legends Accept, David has released no less than 15 full-length recordings and appeared on numerous more. His diverse catalog encompasses his early 90’s success with Bangalore Choir known for their MTV hit “Loaded Gun”, the powerful modern metal project Sircle Of Silence, numerous solo releases and most recently David has been fronting another legendary German act… Bonfire.
Well known for his powerful voice and dynamic stage performances, this new project has the same brand of musical quality stamped all over it.
David Reece has joined forces with Mario Percudani in exciting new hard rock project called R.P.G.
Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon of Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to legendary German guitarist Michael Schenker who just released a live DVD/CD called Michael Schneker’s Temple of Rock“On a Mission: Live in Madrid”
When asked about the making of his new Live DVD CD “On a Mission: Live in Madrid”
“The record company had an idea of making a 3D (sound) listening. I picked Madrid because I always wanted to make a live album in Spain because the fans are playful and very enthusiastic. Later I found out we could not even fix anything because in 3D listening effects you put ambient microphones everywhere and if you try to fix something you still hear the wrong notes, there was something I wanted to fix but I couldn’t so I left it the way it is. We had a really good night, We played well together, the audience was great and it was a great result, no hanky panky.”
When asked about the Michael Schenker fest at this years Sweden Rock Festival
“Michael Schenker fest having Gary Barden, Robin MCauley, and Graham Bonnet there and the original Assault Attack rhythm section line-up. This is the beginning of something bigger to come because I want to take things to the next level. I want to perform my past and present with the original singers and so the newcomers can experience the way it used to be and so that means bigger venues, bigger shows.”
When asked if he would ever record another album with Graham Bonnet
“That is a possibility.”
When asked if he would ever consider recording with the Scorpions
“No I can’t because I am very disappointed in Rudolf, what I found out about Lovedrive (Deluxe edition) bio. I was 23 when I finished with UFO, when Rudolf found out I had left UFO and Mathias who just joined could not do the album with the Scorpions to their liking, they asked me to help out. I came over and when I finished my work on the Scorpions Love drive album they didn’t want to let me go, they got rid of Matthias. They basically persuaded me to be in the Scorpions after the Lovedrive recording and all the management in America they were all very interested in wanting to sign the Scorpions. I started touring but after two weeks I could not do it I went away and was too shy to confront them I couldn’t do it . My brother found me he called me back he cried on the phone and it was so embarrassing I came back a second time and after the second time I realized, this is not it . I need to stop this and I went away again. I found out they got Matthias back.”
“Later I get a phone call from Rudolf if I would let him play my black and white guitar design, I said okay. He also asked me if I would give him the song writing credit for Coast to Coast, all the melodies were written by me and I didn’t pay attention. I was the six part (member) of the Love drive album and I have a contract everything was divided by six.”
“So when they approached me just recently for the Scorpions (Lovedrive ) Deluxe Box I found out that they put a bio out that was completely the wrong story. I found out there was nobody credited for what I wrote on Holiday, it’s the intro to Holiday 45 seconds long, that intro that I wrote. And then Rudolf asked me to give the melodies for Coast to Coast. And those two things were the most tastiest and the easiest parts to copy because Rudolf is not really a great guitarist. And all the managers finding out they wanted to sign that band the Scorpions that I was part of I guess he figured how he can misrepresent and fool people all these years because I didn’t pay attention until just recently. There was not a picture of me on Lovedrive, there was no mention on Holiday who wrote and played that intro and of course Rudolf persuaded me to give him the Coast to Coast melody. I must say I am now finding out more and more weird stuff about Rudolf. I have to stay away from him and I can’t trust him anymore period.”
Watch the interview here:
Joining Schenker at the show were Doogie White (vocals), Herman Rarebell (drums), Francis Buchholz (bass) and Wayne Findlay (guitar, keyboards).
“On A Mission: Live In Madrid” track listing:
Disc 1:
01. Ocean Odyssey – Intro
02. Doctor Doctor
03. Live And Let Live
04. Lights Out
05. Where the Wild Winds Blow
06. Natural Thing
07. Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead
08. Victim Of Illusion
09. Lovedrive
10. Coast To Coast
11. Vigilante Man
12. Rock My Nights Away
Disc 2:
01. Saviour Machine
02. Too Hot To Handle
03. Only You Can Rock Me
04. Lord of the Lost and Lonely
05. Rock You Like A Hurricane
06. Rock Bottom
07. Horizons
08. Attack Of The Mad Axeman
09. Communion
10. Blackout
Disc 3:
01. Searching For Freedom – Outro
Bonus Materials
* Rehearsal
* Before The Show
* Soundcheck
* Individual Interviews With Each Bandmember
Producer Jimmy Kay and reporter Giles Lavery from Canada’s The Metal Voice teamed up globally with Chief Editor Owais Vitek Nabi from India’s Metal Wani, to discus, analyze and review the Axl Rose and AC/DC concert that took place in Lisbon Portugal on May 7, 2016.
As well as Axl’s future with AC/DC and the Positive and negative feedback from the fans
Check out the report, review, pictures and video here:
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to FLOTSAM AND JETSAM’s guitarist Michael Gilbert as the band is set to release their new self titled album on May 20, 2016 on AFM records.
On the difference in musical styles from their last albums to their new self titled album
“What we did differently is we really focused on the songs because the last two years the feedback we got is we really want you guys to go back to old school thrash. We have been experimenting with a lot of stuff, we have been using some samples here and there, we slowed some songs down, and we’ve gone to some different genres. Just exploring a little bit, which feels good to me but what really feels like home is the thrash metal, the fast, speed metal we were doing on the first two records. So we got together and writing this album made more sense to me to play that type of music and it just feels more like home, ok this is what we belong to, this is what we do.”
On their reason for writing and releasing as a first single a song called Iron Maiden
“It was never a convinced idea, hey let’s do a song that kind of sounds like an Iron Maiden song. It was never designed for that at all. This one was one of Steve’s ideas and by the time it was done and Erica A.K. put that vocal melody on it, it was like oh wow this is pretty cool. We have gotten a lot of really great feedback. I haven’t seen one bad review on it yet.”
On if the band was ever upset with Jason Newsted for leaving them in 1986 to join Metallica
“It’s was a great opportunity for him. I’m still great friends with Newsted I talk to him at least once or twice a month. Nobody was ever really mad at him. It was just a decision he wanted to make. We all knew Newsted was the guy for this, so we kind of expected it. Jason was definitely the right guy to fill Cliff’s shoes, really nobody can but Jason brought to Metallica his personality to that band. He has always been an over the top personality. Just an awesome character to hand out with, he is very funny, he is larger than life when you hang out with him.”
On if Jason Newsted regretted quitting Flotsam and Jetsam after Metallica lowered his bass parts on And Justice for all
“When he left this band he was deep into it, he was a full member and there would be no other band that he would leave to go join Metallica. Garage Inc came out before that and you can hear the bass on that and it sounded killer. And when Justice came out there was no bass and I am not speaking because he told me this or that. Oh shit what the hell did I just do, I’m still in this band and but I am not heard. Which is awful because that guy is a tremendous bass player? “
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently conducted an interview with METAL CHURCH’s returning singer Mike Howe who was away from the music business for 21 years. Mike Howe also fielded some fan questions in the interview.
Asked how things have changed in the last 21 years that he has been gone.
“I can’t say things have changed for the worst, honestly it’s all good. Things have changed in the way of recording, in the way that we deal with record companies and the way that and the way that we are enjoying the process of writing and recording and playing our music compared to the 21 years ago. Electronic computers to aid the writing process, keeping the chemistry from not having to stop and re-do things that is an advantage that way and a small record label.
We can speak to the owner Joe O’Brian at Rat Pack anytime we want to on a daily basis and see what is going on with the work they are doing for us. That is a huge advantages from the past of being lost in a gigantic record company and not knowing if anybody cared or was doing anything for you, you weren’t actually allowed to talk to anybody. Just having control of your destiny.”
When asked what was the turning point to coming out of retirement.
” It was Kurdt Vanderhoof’s power of persuasion and hearing the amazing riffs and songs he put together in the demos stage. The allure of getting together and having that magical writing and chemistry that we had back in the late 80’s.”
When asked about his favourite songs that he sang on and that he didn’t sing on
“I really prefer to sing brand new songs, the ones we have written are the most exciting for me to sing. The ones of Dave Wayne era my favorite is Beyond the black.”
When asked at what point did he had enough of the music business that caused him to retire
“Hanging in the Balance was very difficult for us cause it was the beginning of the end .All the things that were going to get in our way to dismantle the band, break it up came together in the perfect storm. The last straw was the album cover of Hanging in the Balance it was a very big sticking point for me. I didn’t not like the album cover it was embarrassing for me. It was forced upon us.”
When asked about his thoughts about Axl Rose joining AC/DC
“For me, I was a Bon Scott fan for ACDC so he was a huge influence when I was young, I wanted to be Bon Scott and Rob Halford in the mix as a singer so of course there will be no other singer and especially not Axl Rose”
On his thoughts on the US presidential election
“It’s an embarrassment for me, the United States has become a reality TV show and I wish it was a little more professiona”
Watch The whole interview here:
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Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
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