Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Rolling Stones Working on New Record



It's been around 13 years since the last time we got a new original record out of rock n' roll icons The Rolling Stones. The last one was 2005's A Bigger Bang. In 2016 they released an album of blues covers Blue & Lonesome. Now though, the band is reportedly working on a brand new album.

The news broke when in an interview with the Wall Street Journal guitarist Keith Richards spilled the beans, saying:

“I’m going to sound like Trump — ‘It will happen; don’t worry about it’ — but it’s in the early stages. We have some stuff down, which is very interesting. It’s more difficult for us to write together the further apart we are, but it also has its benefits in that we come back to it from a different angle.”

I'm not expecting much out of this record if in fact it does ever come out, but that said I'm sure it won't be anything to scoff at either. The Stones will do what the Stones will do and I'm sure there will be at least a couple of decent tracks. Maybe more if we're really lucky.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Led Zeppelin Makes Jason Bonham Change His Band's Name



For years now Jason Bonham, son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham has been celebrating the music his father's band made with his band Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience. They draw thousands of people every year. However, things have taken an odd turn as Bonham has been forced to change the name of the band by Led Zeppelin themselves.

In a recent interview with KSHE 95, Bonham talks about what happened and his response to it, saying:

“I was like, ‘Um, okay, but I need to keep the logo, JBLZE,’. One, I have the tag on my car, and two, I have a huge backdrop that I paid for last year. For me it’s about the music. So the name of it — I just wanted to keep the logo. So I said, ‘I got it. Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening.’ I don’t know what they have planned, but I said, ‘Okay, I will clear the way so they can do what they wish.’”

I really am wondering why Zeppelin would make Bonham change the name of the band but allow him to keep the name 'Led Zeppelin' in it. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. That said, I am curious as to whether or not it has anything to do with the band's big 50th anniversary coming up and there being some sort of big special surprise involved. I guess we'll find out in due time.

Sunday, February 25, 2018

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #154

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. Breadfan, by Budgie

That's right. Metallica didn't write this song. Their version is a cover. Shocker. Now that that's out of the way, Budgie in my opinion is one of the most under rated metal bands of the 70's. Burke Shelley's vocal style isn't for everyone, but it still goes pretty damn well with the kind of music they made. This tune in particular is the one that people who do know them remember them most for. Definitely worth checking out.


2. Can't Deny, by Brothers Moving

You would think from the sound these guys have that they're from the inner city in America, but actually they're from Denmark. Their studio recordings are pretty good, but watching them play live (through video at least) is a LOT more fun and entertaining. Especially when they are playing on a street corner in New York or something. Regardless, the vocal harmonies, gritty jazzy vocals, and the pure raw essence of it all is enough to get and keep anyone's attention.




3. All Dead All Dead, by Queen

Not the most well known track from the iconic New of the World album, but it definitely has that signature and flare of Queen. Guitarist Brian May does some of the vocals here and of course he slays it. May often did lead vocals on a handful of the band's songs. He might not be Freddie Mercury, but May's voice is just as unique and memorable in its own way. He is incredibly pleasant to listen to and a great song writer.




4. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, by Wham!

Yes, I put a Wham! song. It's catchy, fun, and upbeat. I put a lot of different kinds of tunes in these posts, but often times they aren't always the happiest. That said, George Michael was one hell of a talented vocalist, song writer, and performer no matter what your opinion of him is. The guy really had something and it's a shame that he died in his early 50's only little over a year or so ago. We'll never see another like him.




5. Rag and Bone, by The White Stripes

Ok, ok. Back to the drum smashing, amp cranking, string snapping rock n' roll stuff. This is a rather interesting tune from the White Stripes' final album Icky Thump that rather than having straight up lyrics and melodies, it's more like Jack and Meg White are bums who are trying to harass you at your door into giving them whatever random junk you have so they can sell or do something with it all while set to a really thumping rock n' roll tune. If nothing else it's a different way of doing things.



Friday, February 23, 2018

Robert Plant Says There May Be Led Zeppelin 50th Anniversary Celebration



It's hard to believe that this year makes half a century since Led Zeppelin put out their debut album and changed the course of rock n' roll forever while also paving the way for heavy metal to follow it. Now, singer Robert Plant is saying there might just be a celebration of sorts.

In a recent interview with The Current Plant talks about the photo book coming up, the live album, and more, saying:

“We're planning to get together and talk about it. Basically, it's very difficult to find stuff that still is unheard. … And the great thing about Led Zeppelin was that we didn't chronicle ourselves. We just kind of went from town to town and sang songs and played guitars and stuff. And then went about our lives.

I wish that we had more stuff to look at, but there will be a book of photographs and stuff. But some of it will be particularly interesting, I think. Beyond that, musically, there's bits and pieces lying around, but not an album or anything like that. But there will be a celebration, I'm sure, somewhere. A cork will pop!”

I seriously doubt that there will be any kind of reunion show, tour, or new album but you never know. After all, if Guns N' Roses can get (mostly) back together then virtually anything is possible. In the mean time we can still enjoy the five decades' worth of stuff they have given us.

Throwback Thursday: "Highway to Hell", by AC/DC



By 1979 Australian hard rock kings AC/DC had come to make quite a big name for themselves in the world of music. They had scored multiple hits and built up quite the reputation. Still, they had yet to REALLY break through into the mainstream commercial market. That's when producer John "Mutt" Lange came into the picture. With his knowledge of studio production and AC/DC's ability to rock put together they made the hallmark classic that is Highway to Hell.

Since Lange's background was in pop, people were afraid that he would take away the band's balls, making them sound over-produced and poppy. This could not be any further from what happened. Highway to Hell sounds better produced than its predecessors, but only in ways that give it more punch and clarity. It essentially brought the sound of AC/DC live into a studio setting, making it the band's best selling record until its successor Back in Black.

"Touch Too Much" in my opinion one of the absolute best tracks on the album. It never became a heavily played radio classic, but maybe that is part of what makes it so special. It has this this popping guitar riff that makes it sound unlike anything else by AC/DC, yet at the same time it still sounds entirely like them. The chorus is HUGE and the vocal harmonies are astronomical. It definitely helped set the blue print for 80's metal.

"Highway to Hell". What can I say about it that hasn't been said about it already? It's a classic and a song that people who don't even know AC/DC that well can sing all of the words to from memory. That intro riff is iconic and will forever immortalize the band for all of the ages yet to come. It might be over played, but as I've said about other songs in the past it is over played for a reason and it certainly deserves it.

Highway to Hell really was the climax of the Bon Scott era of AC/DC. It's just a shame that he died not long after the wrap-up of the tour for it in 1980. They probably could have done some great stuff yet. That said, Back in Black took them to a whole other level yet. Regardless, this album is crucial for any fan of AC/DC or rock n' roll in general to have. If you don't have it already, stop wasting your time here and go buy it right now.

Highway to Hell, by AC/DC receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Highway to Hell
2. Girls Got Rhythm
3. Walk All Over You
4. Touch Too Much
5. Beating Around the Bush
6. Shot Down in Flames
7. Get It Hot
8. If You Want Blood (You've Got It)
9. Love Hungry Man
10. Night Prowler

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Highway-Hell-AC-DC/dp/B00O6L3AFQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1519370127&sr=8-2&keywords=Highway+to+Hell

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Lars Ulrich: "I've never been very interested in ability"



One drummer who gets a lot of flack for his playing style/ability is Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. He has become sort of a running joke in the metal community for his lack of skill and his tool-like personality. In a new interview he apparently does not seem to care.

When asked about how he feels about his style of drumming when interviewed by the Polar Music Prize, Ulrich says:

"I've never been very interested in ability. 'Oh, wow! This guy is so great!' Yeah, he's so great, but it doesn't mean that he can make it swing, or it doesn't mean that he can make it work within a group or a collective."

What's always the most interesting to me about drumming is how do you fit the drums into what else is going on? How does it work [with] accents and special hits and kind of things that make it more rhythmic or more dynamic or just add a kind of a physicality to it?

I've looked at drums as more of a group instrument. I've never been very interested in playing drums by myself — you know, sitting down in a basement, practicing drum solos for hours at a time, that's not my thing."

It's no surprise that Lars feels this way or at least expresses this. When your back is against the wall for being the butt of so many jokes you have to find some way to talk your way into a position where you don't look as bad. That said, I still don't blame people for making said jokes.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Stevie Nicks on Why She Limits Her Availability With Fleetwood Mac



Fleetwood Mac in recent years seems to have become one of those bands that will fall off the radar for a while and then out of nowhere pop back up for another tour. Usually this is not the way the majority of the band wants to do things, but singer Stevie Nicks limits her availability to the band deliberately.

In a recent interview with TeamRock, Nicks discusses her reasoning for making her time with Fleetwood Mac so sparse, saying:

“A big band like Fleetwood Mac needs to get out of the spotlight, so that’s what we’ve done. We should always be off the road for three years, because when we come back it’s an event. I think that’s very important. There’s a lot of famous bands and a lot of important people out, and you’re going to make a choice of which ticket to buy, and if you haven’t seen one of them for three years or more then that’s going to be at the top of the list. It feels more special.

And being away from each other for three years is good. It really sets you up for a good time because everything’s new and everybody’s got new stories and everybody’s been doing crazy, different things, so when you walk into rehearsal that first day everyone’s really happy to see each other. If we toured every other year it wouldn’t be like that.”

In some ways I kind of understand where Nicks is coming from on all of this. It makes sense that she would want to keep things interesting and fresh, though at the same time I still get a bit of that diva vibe off of her. Then again, I suppose that has always been a huge part of what makes Stevie Nicks Stevie Nicks.

Monday, February 19, 2018

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #153

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. Neverwhere, by Heaven and Hell

Personally, I love it when a band that had a feud within it for decades can be resolved, friendships restored, and a happy ending for all. This was definitely the case for the Ronnie James Dio era of Black Sabbath, who in the late 2000's reunited and changed their name to Heaven and Hell. They toured all the old songs and even wrote some new ones, putting out one final record The Devil You Know before Dio's death in 2010. This tune in particular definitely sounds like a more modern sounding Dio Sabbath song.




2. Boogie for George, by UFO

Believe it or not, Michael Schenker was NOT always the guitar player for UFO. They actually had a couple before Schenker joined the band in 1973. There is definitely a different sound without him, but these tunes are still pretty cool. Definitely a real bluesy edge to them that fits for the particular era that it was. It's too bad that you don't really hear a whole lot of stuff like this out of them at their live shows any more. It's all Schenker and beyond.





3. Nightmare, by Icecross

The 70's had a LOT of great under rated rock and metal bands. Icelandic metal band Icecross is definitely a prime example of this. It's probably due to geography that they never made it that big, which is a shame because their stuff was actually pretty great. It's like Black Sabbath meets psychedelic 60's rock. You will have to listen for yourself to fully understand and appreciate what I mean. It's a unique experience for sure.





4. Heart and Soul, by Michael Schenker Fest

Speaking of Michael Schenker, he has a new solo record coming out next month. He has a star studded line-up for the album with all of the singers he ever worked with in Michael Schenker Group and others as well. In fact, this song in particular has him and Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett trading licks as if they were dueling one another during the solo sections. It's pretty darn gnarly if I do say so myself.





5. Ramble On, by Led Zeppelin

Just in case you have had it with my obscure-ish stuff for the moment, here's some Zeppelin for ya. This song of course needs no introduction whatsoever. It's a classic from their second album Led Zeppelin II and it gets played on the radio all the freakin' time. The way it is put together and the unbridled passion behind it blew the doors off the hinges that were around back in the late 60's/early 70's when Zeppelin was getting started.




Saturday, February 17, 2018

Ozzy Osbourne Discusses Playing "Blizzard of Ozz" Live for 40th Anniversary



It has become a trend in recent years for a high profile artist who has been in the spotlight for decades to some times when a big anniversary for an iconic album of theirs comes up play it in its entirety live. Another one of those anniversaries is coming up in a couple of years, this time for Ozzy Osbourne's debut solo album The Blizzard of Ozz.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone Osbourne was asked about the possibility of paying such a tribute to his most beloved album, to which he responded:

"That was the thing for a while, to play the whole album, but I don't write albums that way, so no. When I make an album, I specifically record songs that I'll never do on the stage.

Like on Blizzard of Ozz, there are songs that I wrote never to play live, because the production was too heavy.

I always do a ballady song, I always like to do a rock song and I like to do what I call album tracks. And I'll do the ballady songs and the rock songs onstage, but the album tracks are just too over the top. But I suppose I could do one."

Personally I think if Ozzy REALLY wanted to he could pull off Blizzard of Ozz in its entirety live. The production on that album wasn't so heavy that the right group of musicians and stage production crew couldn't find a way to make it happen.

Also, I find it amusing how he claims to write the songs on his albums when anyone who knows even a lick of Ozzy history knows that Ozzy has written very few of the songs he has ever performed. It's always been the other musicians like Bob Daisley in his solo band or Geezer Butler in Black Sabbath.

That said, I can't say I blame Ozzy for not wanting to jump on a bandwagon. I have never known Ozzy to be a copycat of anyone else. While he may not be the best musician around, he has always been one of the most unique. He is his own performer. Always has been, always will be.

Friday, February 16, 2018

Throwback Thursday: "Never Turn Your Back on a Friend", by Budgie



You know how some times you will come across a band and wonder why the hell they never got more fame and glory? That is how I feel with Budgie, a Welsh heavy metal/hard rock/prog rock band that got their big start and put out their best material in the 70's. Metallica in 1987 actually covered their best known song "Breadfan" from their third album from 1973 Never Turn Your Back on a Friend.

Never Turn Your Back on a Friend while fitting in with the sound aesthetic of 70's metal/hard rock still had a sound that was so incredibly all their own. It was raw, punchy, loud, grooving, and fast, but it could some times be soft, laid back, and relaxing. The most interesting aspect of their sound however is that their singer/bassist Burke Shelley despite being a man can easily be mistaken for a woman due to the way he sings. That is by no means a bad thing, though. His vocal chops are still incredible.

"Parents" is a 10+ minute cornucopia of rock n' roll sound. It has so many different vibes to it and flows so well that it feels as though you're being taken on a journey. It can be heavy and hard, but it can be tender and soft in places as well. If you listen to the lyrics, they're pretty heartfelt. Regardless, this is where the band truly put a significant portion of their heart and soul when writing and recording this unknown masterpiece of an album.

"Breadfan" is what everyone who listens to Never Turn Your Back on a Friend comes for. It is one hell of a way to open an album, that's for sure. With that iconic guitar riff, that rumbling rhythm section, and those soaring vocals it's hard to not jam out. The only thing odd about this song however is the bit of cognitive dissonance brought about by the bridge section where it goes soft and acoustic for a bit. Granted, the comeback to the electric is awesome but it's still weird.

Budgie is sadly one of those bands that for one reason or another seems to get overlooked by the general public and never made a huge lasting impact the way their peers from that era did. That said, plenty of 80's metal bands like Metallica and Megadeth cite Budgie as a source of inspiration, but had they not mentioned Budgie most people these days who do know of them would never have heard of them. That said, if you want to give yourself a musical treat, pick up Never Turn Your Back on a Friend ASAP.

Never Turn Your Back on a Friend, by Budgie receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Breadfan
2. Baby Please Don't Go
3. You Know I'll Always Love You
4. You're the Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk
5. In the Grip of a Tyrefitter's Hand
6. Riding My Nightmare
7. Parents

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Turn-Your-Back-Friend/dp/B0007LEAU8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518772900&sr=8-1&keywords=budgie+never+turn+your+back+on+a+friend

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Led Zeppelin to Release New Live Album



Although it is 95% unlikely that Led Zeppelin will ever reunite again in any capacity, we are at least getting some live recordings that we have not yet heard from them.

According to a recent interview with Planet Rock, guitarist Jimmy Page announced the in transit live album(s), saying:

“I can't give the game away, but there's a recording that’s another multi-track that we'll release. It's so different to all the other things that are out there. It's another view compared to How the West Was Won or The Song Remains the Same.

I'm looking forward to people hearing that. There's a lot of stuff to come out, a number of releases. I'd like to say that they'll be coming out over the next 10 years. There's more to come for sure.”

In the same interview, Page also announced a new Led Zeppelin book that all the remaining members collaborated on, saying:

“I'm really pleased that we're all doing it collectively, because there are so many other people doing books. There's about 10 that I know of that are coming, which is pretty ridiculous! It will be really good to have an authoritative book, where the band are actually contributing to it rather than being ripped off.”

It's nice that we're getting all this new Led Zeppelin stuff, even if it isn't what we all really want. It should be pretty cool to hear previously unreleased live recordings and to finally get a book on them from the source itself.

That said, I'm hoping that Page actually puts out that solo album of his that he has supposedly been working on for a few years now. I would LOVE to hear the stuff that he has cooked up in his refined old age.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Judas Priest's Glenn Tipton Diagnosed with Parkinson's



Judas Priest has been through the mill over the years with all of its members dealing with one tragedy or another. Now it's guitarist Glenn Tipton's turn, as unfortunately he has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

In a recent interview with Kerrang! singer Rob Halford discusses the news as well as what will happen to the band as a result, saying:

“There’s been a lot of emotion today with the announcement. But we’re very happy for Glenn, that he’s been able to make a decision that’s good for him and where he’s at right now. Glenn’s thing was that this was all about the band. It was the band, the band, the band. And we said, ‘No, it’s about what’s best for you,’ and he said, ‘No, I want what’s best for the band.’ Which just goes to show you where his heart is at.

The most important thing is that Glenn is still in Judas Priest. It’s just that his role is going to be different. He can’t tour, but it’s going to be great for fans when he comes out every now and then to do 'Breaking the Law' or 'Living After Midnight.' The love that we’ve had already has been amazing, and I know when he walks onstage whenever we do that, it’s going to be something special.”

During the tour that starts on March 13th, Tipton will be replaced by Andy Sneap, who co-produced their upcoming album Firepower and also has played in the metal bands Sabbat and Hell.

I feel sad for Tipton that he has to deal with such an awful condition. As a guitar player myself I can only imagine how badly it would suck to have my ability to do the one thing I love more than anything else in the world severely hindered by some stupid illness. All I can say is I wish him godspeed in getting to a place in his treatment where it is the least difficult to live with.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #152

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. Ain't No Rest for the Wicked, by Postmodern Jukebox

This song surprisingly, yet not so surprisingly translates into jazz rather well. This time however it has a bit more sexy swagger to it than the pick you up by the scruff and throw you against a wall bluesy vibe the original had. Postmodern Jukebox always seems to find the most interesting ways of keeping all of our favorite songs fresh in that way. At least now we have two different ways to enjoy an awesome song.



2. Fire and Water, by Free

Free is sadly one of those bands that mostly gets overlooked due to having only one song that REALLY made it big on the radio. The title track from the Fire and Water record is pretty darn solid and showcases the dynamic talent that Paul Rodgers and everyone else in the band had at such an early age. You would never guess that they were only in their early 20's when they made and put out this record. I guess when you have it, you have it regardless of age.



3. Dixie Lee Junction, by Elf

Ronnie James Dio wasn't always the God of Heavy Metal. Before he sang songs like "Man on the Silver Mountain", "Heaven and Hell", and "Holy Diver" he was in a blues band called Elf. They actually put out three records and multiple demos and bootlegs during their short tenure in the early 70's. This song off their first album is one of my all time favorites. It flows so well and doesn't stick to one particular vibe.



4. 18 and Life, by Skid Row

Anyone who knows Skid Row even in the slightest instantly thinks of this song whenever the band is brought up in conversation. It's dark, tough, and has some of the absolute best vocals that Sebastian Bach has ever performed and probably ever will perform. The subject matter might be just a little cheesy, but they manage to rock it so damn hard that it really doesn't seem to matter. It's just that awesome.



5. Good Times Bad Times, by Led Zeppelin

This is the track that changed the course of rock n' roll and heavy metal history forever. The opener on Led Zeppelin's debut record, it showed just how heavy, loud, and powerful rock n' roll could truly be. It singlehandedly brushed away all of the psychedelic and poppy sounding rock that had been made up to that point and paved the way for stuff that was on a whole other level. It is definitely considered a classic for a reason.


Friday, February 9, 2018

Michael Schenker Debuts New Song With Metallica's Kirk Hammett


Michael Schenker has been a massive influence to countless rock and metal guitar players alike for well over 40 years at this point, including Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett. Hammett has now just had a dream come true however with the former UFO and Scorpions guitarist giving him a guest spot on a brand new song of his, "Heart and Soul" which will be on his upcoming record Resurrection.

This new song is pretty heavy, intense, and loud, just the way a Michael Schenker song should be. Has some great vocal harmonies. The part I'm sure you're all interested in though is what part Kirk fits into in all this. In the solo section, Schenker and Hammett actually square off against one another in a one on one guitar duel. Each of them trade blistering licks back and forth like no one's business till it builds to a crescendo and leads back into the next part of the song.

Resurrection will be out on the second of March and will feature guest spots from a vast multitude of artists he has worked with in the past including: Robin McAuley, Graham Bonnet, Gary Barden, Doogie White, and more.

This record sounds like it is stacking up to be a special one indeed. It's like a big family reunion for Schenker. Would be cool if he had the members of UFO who were in the band when he was joining him on a track or two, but I kind of doubt that will ever happen again.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Throwback Thursday: "Lucifer's Friend", by Lucifer's Friend



The late 60's/early 70's were a very pivotal time in the history of hard rock and heavy metal. A lot of the most influential bands were just starting to get up and running and making a real impact on the world. Some times though, there were bands that unfortunately seemed to slip through the cracks and be lost to history from the mainstream. One such band is Hamburg, Germany based hard rock band Lucifer's Friend who in 1970 put out one hell of a fantastic debut album Lucifer's Friend.

Lucifer's Friend sounds like Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath somehow managed to get together and have a four-way love child. It has the ginormous riffs of Zeppeling and Sabbath and the slightly sinister feel of the latter, the wall of organ of Purple and Heep, and the vocal prowess of all of them. Contrary to what you may think however, NONE of the songs are about supporting Satan in the slightest.

"Ride the Sky" starts off with some of the most foreboding vocal harmonies that then lead into a rather unexpected brief horn section. It doesn't take long though for it to kick into a Deep Purple-like heavy rock swing with some rather Zeppelin/Scorpions type vocals. The organ solo section is pretty sexy. It's dissonant, yet just melodic enough to be followed throughout its monstrous build-up into the next section. This is a great tune to head bang along to for sure.

The title track "Lucifer's Friend" definitely has a spooky foreboding intro, but rather than vocals it's done on various instruments. This leads into another heavy early 70's rock groove. This one is a lot more organ heavy, though the guitar still plays a prominent role as well. Vocalist John Lawton absolutely kills it here. He manages to be melodic, belt, wail, and have the right level of intensity for each part of the song.

If you're someone who loves obscure gems or just hard rock/heavy metal from the 70's in general then Lucifer's Friend is right up your alley. It has the best elements of all of the biggest bands of that era while still managing to do their own thing. It's an absolute shame that so many people have overlooked this treasure of an album and a band in general. The name might be a bit off-putting, but if you can get past that you're in for one hell of a treat.

Lucifer's Friend, by Lucifer's Friend receives 4 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Ride the Sky
2. Everybody's Clown
3. Keep Goin'
4. Toxic Shadows
5. Free Baby
6. Baby You're a Liar
7. In the Time of Job When Mammon Was a Yippie
8. Lucifer's Friend

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Lucifers-Friend-LUCIFERs-FRIEND/dp/B003F0VM6I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518151448&sr=8-2&keywords=Lucifer%27s+Friend

Ozzy Not Retiring After "No More Tours 2" Farewell Tour



The Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne made the world of heavy metal feel a bit sad and down when he announced that his upcoming tour would be his final one, after which he would be retiring. However, it would seem Osbourne has had a change of heart.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Osbourne talks about how he will in fact stop touring, but will not call it a day altogether, saying:

“I’m not retiring. It's 'No More Tours,' so I'm just not doing world tours any more. I'm still going to be doing gigs, but I'm not going on tour for six months at a time any more. I'd like to spend some time at home.

I've experienced fantastic things – it's been an incredible journey. I just need to slow it down a little.

I enjoy being a grandfather. I don't want to go through another generation of Osbournes without seeing them grow up.”

Personally I'm not surprised that Ozzy isn't going to hang up the mic entirely. He is the kind of guy that loves what he does too much and gets bored too easily to ever give up the rock n' roll lifestyle completely. As long as he is happy (and clean) that's what matters.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

AC/DC to Continue with Axl Rose, says Band Biographer



Guns N' Roses front man Axl Rose did a pretty fantastic job of filling in on the rest of the recent Rock or Bust tour for ex-AC/DC singer Brian Johnson when he had to leave the band due to hearing loss. That said, AC/DC band biographer Murray Engleheart is insisting this line-up will continue.

According to Engleheart, this line-up will not only continue to tour, but they will also be recording a brand new record as well. In a recent Facebook post:

“Speculate all you want but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: AC/DC will continue with Axl on vocals – new album, touring, the whole nine yards.

What was a massive gamble by Angus turned out to be an equally enormous triumph that has set the scene for the future.”

Personally while I wouldn't be surprised by such a move, I'm not going to believe anything in regards to this until the band actually makes an official statement about it one way or the other.

That said, I don't think it is necessarily the best idea to make such a move. Lead guitarist Angus Young is the only original or even iconic member of the band left, so it wouldn't feel right to call it AC/DC. It was fine to hire Axl on to finish the tour, but this seems like a different beast altogether. If they called it something else, then that would be fine but I don't think it's the best thing for them to use the old name for the sake of sales and publicity.

Then again, who cares about integrity these days?

Sunday, February 4, 2018

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #151

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. The Machine, by Motion Device

The further on this young Canadian metal band fronted by a teenage girl goes, the more interesting and creative they get. This song sort of has a Dream Theater vibe to it, honestly. Also, I am MUCH more impressed by the quality of the lyrics of this song than I have been by original material I have heard from them in the past. They have definitely become more seasoned musicians and have upped their game big time.




2. Being a Gentleman (Gets You Nowhere), by Crisis Cage

I wrote this song when I was a strapping young lad of 19 years old. A very angry and hormonal young man, was I. What better way to channel my feelings about being taken advantage of by a girl I liked at the time than by writing a song about it? Oddly enough, as simplistic as this song was it became one of our favorites to play at practice and live when we were still together in this band. I do have fond memories of pounding at those chords.




3. I'm Gonna Stop Drinking Again, by Paice Ashton Lord

Once in a blue moon you might come across an LP from a group you might not have ever heard of had you not already been digging around the internet for stuff relating to bands you already like (in this case, for me it was Deep Purple). I discovered Paice Ashton Lord's only album Malice in Wonderland a while back and was pleasantly surprised by just how fantastic the songs were. It's a shame that they weren't around to do another couple of albums, but they all went on to do bigger and better things.




4. Monday Morning, by Fleetwood Mac

On a happier note, this has to be one of the absolute best songs the iconic Fleetwood Mac line-up ever put out. It's the first track of the first album they did together and it tells you almost everything you need to know about them. It's full of charming melodies, luscious vocal harmonies, and a rhythm that makes you feel just plain good. Honestly, I really don't know why this song doesn't get all that much airplay considering how bright and catchy it is.




5. Public Enemy #1, by Motley Crue

This has to be my all time favorite Motley Crue song. I was hoping and praying that they would play it on their farewell tour when I saw them, but sadly this did not come to pass. They don't seem to care that much about their first album and it makes me sad. It's chocked full of gems that are just waiting and begging to be rediscovered by the general public. This song in particular has so many great guitar melodies and the vocals are just dynamite. Definitely worth checking out.



Saturday, February 3, 2018

AC/DC's Brian Johnson Didn't Want to Cheat the Fans



By now we're all well aware of long time AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson's departure from the band in 2016 due to worsening hearing problems. There are many speculations as to how that all went down, but Johnson has just given an update with more info on the topic.

According to Johnson in a recent interview with Sunday Times, it was getting more difficult to properly perform and he didn't want to cheat the fans. Johnson says:

“Onstage it was getting harder and harder to hear the guitars, even hear the keys, and I was basically going on muscle memory. And I’m not the kind of guy who likes to cheat. The way I look at it, I had a great run.”

Johnson of course has kept busy since his departure with being a radio and TV host while also making a small handful of brief on stage live appearances. Currently there is no news whatsoever of whether or not he will ever make a full return to the band.

Personally, I can't say I blame Brian for his decision. If you're going solely off of muscle memory and not actively controlling and in full awareness of what you're doing then you're making a huge gamble when it comes to performing live. Plus, you're then not really having a good time and giving it all you've got in a way that isn't struggling to just deliver a basic product. When it becomes too much of a struggle and hassle to keep doing something, it's time to hang it up.