World-renowned guitar legend Bernie Tormé has passed away aged 66, on 17th March. Bernie‘s family made the announcement on his personal Facebook page, posting a photo of Bernie, with the heading “Bernie Tormey 18.3.1952 – 17.3.2019”.
Bernie had been battling double pneumonia for a while. He would have had his 67th birthday today.
Guitar legend, blues rock psychedelic shredmeister, glam punk sleaze rock frontman: Bernie Tormé enjoyed a long and remarkable career. Hit records, world tours and international acclaim came as lead guitarist in GILLAN. After which, Bernie stepped in for Ozzy Osbourne in the aftermath of guitar legend Randy Rhoads’ tragic death before going on to front ELECTRIC GYPSIES and Tormé. Teaming up with TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider and IRON MAIDEN’s drummer Clive Burr, Bernie put together DESPERADO and later reunited with ex-GILLAN colleague, John McCoy and drummer Robin Guy in GMT.
Returning to the stage in 2013, Bernie also began working in his favoured trio format once again, releasing three critically-acclaimed albums; “Flowers & Dirt” (2014), “Blackheart” (2015), the 3CD “Dublin Cowboy” (2017) package (comprising a live, an acoustic, and a new electric studio album) and “Shadowland” (2018). All were crowdfunded, connecting Bernie directly with his fans. Bernie stated: “In the past you were pretty distant and separated from your fans with a record label in between. Making these albums with pledge campaigns has been a great experience. I like having the connection with fans and getting the feedback direct on making an album.”
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently produced an online mini-Documentary on the Rhoads family legacy, entitled RHOADS. Interviews shot with Kelle and Kathy Rhoads at Musonia school of music in North Hollywood, (where Randy Rhoads taught and their family ran for 71 years), as well as at NAMM 2019 for Jackson Guitars in Anaheim California.
Watch the interview here:
The mini-documentary covers topics such as: Randy Rhoads involvement in Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne. The Rhoads family relationships. Kelle Rhoads musical outputs and upcoming projects. Kathy Rhoads’ winery. Delores Rhoads contributions to UCLA music Dept. and the school of Musonia’s musical legacy and continuation.
When asked about the Musonia school of music and it’s popularity in the past and it’s economical sustainability today
“The school was completed in in 1948, the school was very successful in the 50’s and 60’s even through the 70’s. In the 1980’s it shifted to where there was a lot of guitar activity, largely because of Randy and Eddie Van Halen’s popularity. We had a lot of students who were very interested in electric guitar studies. Recently in the millennium we have seen a dramatic decline in students, we are no longer able to make a profit from teaching, we have a couple of other things that we do to keep the school a float. We have less than 6 students today, at one time we probably had 200 students . ” Kelle Rhoads
“To name a few artist that have taught or studied at Musonia, Rudy Sarzo from Quiet Riot and Whitesnake, Nick Menza from Megadeth, George Lynch from Dokken, Joe Holmes from Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde daughter.” Kathy Rhoads
When asked Kelle Rhoads about his musical relationship with his brother and his musical output today
” I started off as a drummer, my brother and I had a band together for a while, the band was called Violent Fox. That band lasted around 9 months, after that Randy played with other bands that eventually became Quiet Riot and I became a singer. After that I made a couple of records in the 80’s, one a solo project and the other called RHOADS (with Nick Menza on drums) which was hard rock, metal. Later on in life I transitioned from singer to classical music composer. I have 4 cd’s that are released world wide. The first ‘TITANIC OVERTURE’. the second one is ‘PORTRAITS of OBLIVION’, the third one is ‘PRIDE & PROFANITY’, and then the last one I came out with is ‘MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION’. The musical style of my music is what I call abstract classical music. A lot of influences from pianist from the 19th century but I am also influenced by some modern keyboard concepts and different kind of instruments. I just don’t only have piano on my albums, I have different pieces of music that have horn, strings etc… I am now working on my 5th album called ‘Architects of Destruction’ the new record still has to be mixed.”Kelle Rhoads
When asked about former Quiet Riot singer Kevin Dubrow personality
“Kevin was a dick. Back in the day when he was in Quiet Riot people used to come up to me all the time and they used to say tell your brother Randy to get rid of that guy. Kevin was loud, obnoxious and mean to people. However what was good about Kevin and I can’t say this about any other singer, Kevin was so persistent and so tenacious that he was only in one real band his whole life and he just wouldn’t give up until finally made it and when he came out with Metal Health and became a huge rock star. ” Kelle Rhoads
When asked Kelle Rhoads about re-recording songs today from the first two Quiet Riot (Randy Rhoads era) albums that were only released in Japan, with limited copies
“I’m thinking about it, I am playing with the idea, I don’t know if I am actually going to do it yet. But I would like to record them with the musicians I work with today. If I were to record them today they would be better than the actual recordings as the originals were recorded in the 70’s and technology today has advanced. I think it would be a really good idea to re-record some songs. Off the bat I would do Killer Girls, Looking in any window, It’s not so funny and Back to the coast which is the only song I co-wrote with my brother Randy. I wrote the lyrics and he wrote the music. I would possible do even more than that but those are the essentials, I would want to start with those. ” Kelle Rhoads
When asked if anyone has anyone ever approached him in acquiring rights to re-releasing the first two Quiet Riot records worldwide
“No, nobody ever has” Kelle Rhoads
When asked about stories of Randy Rhoads that are not true
“There are a lot of stories out there that are not true but because they have been in a magazine or some type of article other people pick up on it and they repeat it and the myth keeps perpetuating. One story that is very untrue is that Randy Rhoads was going to leave Ozzy and not be in the band anymore. Completely not true. Randy was going to work with Ozzy but he wasn’t going to go on the road for awhile cause he wanted to get his degree in classical guitar studies. Kelle Rhoads
The LA Based outfit, A NEW REVENGE, featuring an all star line up will release their debut album, Enemies & Lovers on March 29th, 2019 via Golden Robot Records.
Supergroup is a term that has been diluted over time. Throwing a bunch of people from other bands into a new project doesn’t automatically make them Super, but their bio’s will tell you otherwise. It’s time to seek revenge and reclaim that word!
A NEW REVENGE is the very definition of a supergroup. One who’s members have more than earned their legendary statuses but also remain humble enough to let the music do the talking and not actually rely on the term. So who is out for A New Revenge?
Featuring one of the finest voices in metal of all time, Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (who’s voice is all over albums from Judas Priest, Iced Earth and Yngwie Malmsteen), one of the most versatile and name checked guitarists in rock Keri Kelli (Slash’s Snake Pit, Alice Cooper, Vince Neil Band and a hundred more) the most iconic bass player in heavy metal history, Rudy Sarzo (who’s work with Ozzy Osbourne, Dio, Whitesnake and many more has earned him an almost revered status in heavy music) and long time Scorpions drummer James Kottak (also from Montrose, Warrant, Kingdom Come & more).
Keri Kelli, the bands guitarist says of A New Revenge coming together; “Beginning the songwriting process we said ‘Let’s get together and come up with three or four original songs.’ Without any pressure, just creating as we went. Finally we got to the eleven songs we were all happy with. ‘Here’s To Us’ was the first song we wrote for this record. It came very fast and was pretty simple to write. Its basically an ode to hard rock fans the planet over”
To further, Kelli comments on the album Enemies & Lovers “It’s been a long time coming but it’s completely finished mixed, mastered and all ready to go. We all really, really excited to finally unleash this on the hard rock community.”
A video for the first single from the albums release ‘The Way’ can be viewed here:
Due to scheduling conflicts, Sarzo was unable to attend the filming of A NEW REVENGE’s videos. The band’s good friend and renowned player Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE, LAST IN LINE) stepped in at the last minute to take his place.
A NEW REVENGE is greater than the sum of its parts, although its parts are pretty damn mind blowing!
A NEW REVENGE will hit the road across the U.S. in support “Enemies & Lovers” throughout 2019 and is looking at locking in a European tour later in the year. The foursome is an explosive combination with every band member’s skillset and battle tested charisma breaking through the bleak wasteland of current day modern heavy metal.
Razor sharp riffs, thunderous drums and those soaring vocals that come charging in from on high to lay waste to the landscape. A New Revenge are forged from the very heart of heavy metal.
Confirmed track listing for Enemies & Lovers
The Distance Between
The Way
Never Let You Go
Glorious
The Eyes
Fallen
Only The Pretty Ones
Enemies & Lovers
Here’s To Us
Scars
Enemies & Lovers will be released on Friday, March 29th, 2019.
Just two days ahead of OZZY OSBOURNE‘s ‘No More Tours 2’ which was due to start in the UK and Ireland, it has been announced via the official JUDAS PRIESTFacebook page that the first four shows have been postponed due to illness. The statement reads as follows:
“It is with great regret we have to announce that the first four UK shows on the Ozzy Osbourne/Judas Priest tour have been postponed due to Ozzy having a very bad case of flu – therefore Dublin, Nottingham, Manchester and Newcastle will be rescheduled at a later date – details to follow once finalised – we are very sorry that this has happened and to disappoint so many fans – we wish Ozzy well and look forward to the Glasgow, Birmingham and London shows together – and to the rescheduled ones in the future.
JUDAS PRIEST – 28th January 2019”
The tour, which should have been starting in Dublin on 30th January, will then move onto Europe with special guests JUDAS PRIEST, before moving onto Australia and New Zealand in March.
Jimmy Kay from The Metal Voice interviewed Pat Guesaldo CEO of The Hall Of Heavy Metal History. Guesaldo spoke about how Ozzy Osbourne graciously gave Lee Kerslake his dying wish in receiving two platinum RIAA discs for Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. In the interview Guesaldo also explains how Kerslake got the discs and how it all happened.
Pat Guesaldo then tells The Metal Voice that the two discs will be presented to Lee Kerslake at this years Hall of Heavy Metal History annual Gala on Wed Jan 23 in Anaheim CA and the presentation ceremony will be filled for Lee Kerslake’s documentary.
2019 Hall Of Heavy Metal History inductees include:
– Jon and Marsha Zazula (Founders, Megaforce Records)
– Lita Ford (with 2018 inductee Doro Pesch presenting)
– Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, The Winery Dogs)
– David Ellefson (Megadeth)
– Saxon (with Nigel Glockler accepting)
– Max Norman (Producer: Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth and Savatage | Jean Beauvoir presenting)
– Frank Bello (Anthrax)
– Testament
– Bob Daisley (Ozzy Osbourne, Rainbow and Gary Moore | John Sykes accepting)
– Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Sons Of Apollo)
– Lee Kerslake (Uriah Heep, Ozzy Osbourne | Limited Autograph Signing)
– KLOS FM – 50th Anniversary
– Jeff Pilson
The annual Hall Of Heavy Metal History’s Metal Hall Of Fame gala will take place on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at Marriott Delta Garden Grove in Anaheim, California. The event will be hosted by iconic television, radio personality and heavy metal champion Eddie Trunk, and will feature appearances by heavy metal greats of today and years past.
Pat Gesualdo, Hall Of Heavy Metal History founder/CEO, says: “We are looking forward to another amazing year at the 2019 Metal Hall Of Fame gala, and following up on last summer’s amazing live induction of JUDAS PRIEST and ‘The Metal Queen’ Doro Pesch in conjunction with our festival partners Wacken Open Air.
2019 inductee Bob Daisley says: “I’m very pleased and feel honored to be inducted into the Hall Of Heavy Metal History after all these years. I’m pleased for Lee Kerslake too. He’s been a major player in the genre. Thank you to John Sykes for accepting our awards; I’m grateful and honored to have you do it.”
Rob Halford of JUDAS PRIEST, who was inducted this past summer at the 2018 Wacken Open Air festival, says: “JUDAS PRIEST are thrilled and honored to accept induction into the Hall Of Heavy Metal History and be amongst so many of our friends. This also sends a great message of inclusion for the metal community around the world, and keeps us defending the metal faith together.”
Inductees awarded in previous years include Ronnie James Dio, Randy Rhoads, Lemmy Kilmister, SCORPIONS, Bill Ward, Billy Sheehan, Jordan Rudess, Nick Menza, Munsey Ricci, EXODUS, and many more.
The Hall Of Heavy Metal History is a non-profit organization dedicated to forever enshrining the iconic musicians and music industry executives responsible for making rock and metal music what it is today. Their contribution to the genre is invaluable, and they continue to inspire fans throughout the world, from generation to generation.
The Hall Of Heavy Metal History hosts the annual Metal Hall Of Fame awards gala, in addition to an onstage induction ceremony at Wacken Open Air.
The Hall Of Heavy Metal History is part of the D.A.D. program to help children fight disabilities on a global basis, and is partnered with the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.
In an update to a story making news headlines, the non-profit organization Hall of Heavy Metal History today announced it is helping former Ozzy Osbourne drummer Lee Kerslake who has only months to live, complete his documentary with longtime friends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss, and Iron Maiden drummer Nicko Mcbrain among others.
Kerslake‘s dying wish is to receive his Platinum record awards from Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne for his contribution for co-founding the Ozzy Osbourne band, and for co-writing over 7 Ozzy hits from the “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary of A Madman” albums. They are considered to be two of the most iconic metal albums of all time. Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne have refused to give Kerslake his Platinum album awards, as a result of their legendary legal battles.
On December 7, 2018, Kerslake was inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History. On December 11, 2018, he did an interview with Jimmy Kay on The Metal Voice, where he revealed his terminal illness, saying doctors give him only 8 months to live.
In a statement today, Kerslake says “I am ecstatic over my Induction into the Hall of Heavy Metal History. They are taking donations to fly me the United States via special medical air flight accommodations, in order to help me finish my documentary. I recently contacted Sharon Osbourne to request my Platinum record awards for helping establish the Ozzy Osbourne band. I’ve been waiting for them for years. Life is too short, and I have so much admiration for Sharon as a business woman. I’d like to think that Sharon, Ozzy, and I are friends. It would be a great honor to see them again, and to have them present me with my award at my Induction in January.
“It is a great honor to Induct Lee Kerslake into the Hall of Heavy Metal History,” Says Pat Gesualdo, President of The Hall of Heavy Metal History. “We need to get him to the United States now, he only has months to live. 100% of the donations we can raise go directly to Lee to help him fight his Illness. He has given metal fans around the world so many wonderful memories. Now we all need to be there anyway we can, to help him fulfill his legacy.”
Lee Kerslake will make a final appearance at the Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala on January 23, 2019, 6;00 PM, at the Marriott Delta Garden Grove, Anaheim, CA.
About The Hall of Heavy Metal History:
The Hall of Heavy Metal History is a non-profit organization, dedicated to enshrining forever, those iconic musicians and music industry executives responsible for making Rock and Metal music what it is today. Their contributions to genre is invaluable, and they continue to inspire fans throughout the world, from generation to generation.
The Hall of Heavy Metal History hosts the Annual Metal Hall of Fame Gala. It is part of the non-profit organization D.A.D. (Drums and Disabilities), which provides free therapy services and programs for special needs children, adults and wounded veterans on a Global basis.
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