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On March 19, 1990, Robert Plant released his fifth studio album "Manic Nirvana". After rebuilding his solo career during the eighties, Robert Plant  entered the new decade determined to sharpen his musical direction. While earlier releases experimented with contemporary production and synthesizer textures, "Manic Nirvana" marked a deliberate return to a more guitar driven sound. The album reflects Plant reconnecting with the blues rooted energy that helped define his earlier career. Although aiming for a more basic sound, Robert Plant  continued with most of the lineup of musicians from the previous album " Now And Zen ". Guitarist Doug Boyle brought a heavier and more aggressive tone that helped shape the album’s sound, while keyboardist Phil Johnstone added atmospheric textures that balanced the raw guitar work. Drummer Chris Blackwell and newcomer bassist Charlie Jones provided a tight rhythmic backbone throughout the sessions. The album was recorded primarily at Olympic Studios in London with production handled by Plant together with Tim Palmer. The goal was to capture a more immediate and organic rock sound rather than the highly polished studio sheen that dominated late eighties rock. The album immediately bursts into life with "Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes on You)" , a powerful opener driven by muscular guitar riffs and one of Plant’s most commanding vocal performances of his solo career. The track blends classic rock 'n' roll with hard rock swagger and modern production, quickly becoming one of the most recognizable singles of the album. Elsewhere, Plant experiments with a wide range of musical textures, but the foundation remains rooted in a return to a guitar driven sound. "Big Love"  introduces swirling guitars built on rhythmic patterns and percussion that highlight Plant’s fascination with world music influences. "S S S & Q"  delivers one of the album’s most direct rock moments, driven by gritty guitar work and a groove that practically demands headbanging. At the same time, the album branches into different directions. "She Said" , which appears only on the CD version, is built around a funky riff. The opening of "Tie Dye on the Highway"  throws us forward in time toward the acid dance rock of "Screamadelica", before its catchy riff pulls things back to Plant’s roots. The intro of "Anniversary"  leans on eighties style keyboards, adding a darker and more introspective tone to the album. The cover of "Your Ma Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night"  adds a nostalgic twist to the record, taking Plant back to the roots of sixties rock and roll. The performance retains the melodic simplicity of the original while injecting a rougher, more energetic edge, highlighting Plant’s ability to reinterpret a classic with a modern and personal touch. The album closes with "Watching You" , a track that blends African style drumming with modern rock, incorporating Moroccan music samples. Its layered sound and hypnotic rhythm provide a powerful finale that captures the restless energy running throughout the album. Although it did not reach the same level of commercial success as his earlier releases, "Manic Nirvana" remains an important chapter in Robert Plant ’s solo career. It marks a turning point where he began moving away from the polished production of the eighties and toward a more organic and roots oriented direction that would define much of his later work. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 19, 1987, Ozzy Osbourne  released his second live album "Randy Rhoads Tribute". The story behind "Randy Rhoads Tribute" is inseparable from the extraordinary and tragically brief career of guitarist Randy Rhoads . When Ozzy launched his solo career after leaving "Black Sabbath", it was Randy Rhoads who helped redefine his sound. Their work on "Blizzard of Ozz"  and "Diary of a Madman"  fused classical technique, neoclassical phrasing, and aggressive heavy metal riffing into something that felt entirely new at the dawn of the 1980s. Rhoads quickly became one of the most celebrated young guitarists in rock, admired not only for his blazing speed but for the precision and musical sophistication he brought to metal guitar. But that meteoric rise was cut devastatingly short in March 1982 when Rhoads died in a plane crash during a tour stop in Florida at the age of 25. The loss sent shockwaves through the metal world and left fans clinging to bootlegs of the early Ozzy tours that captured his playing on stage. Released five years later, "Randy Rhoads Tribute" served both as a memorial and as the definitive document of that early Ozzy band. Much of the material comes from recordings made during the 1981 "Diary of a Madman" tour, particularly a powerful performance in Cleveland. The lineup captured on the album features Ozzy on vocals alongside Rhoads on guitar, Rudy Sarzo on bass, Tommy Aldridge on drums, and Don Airey on keyboards. Producer Max Norman worked with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne to assemble and polish the recordings while keeping the raw intensity of the performances intact. The result is a live album that sounds remarkably clear and energetic, allowing every nuance of Rhoads' playing to come through without sacrificing the atmosphere of a roaring arena show. From the opening moments of "I Don't Know"  the album establishes the chemistry that made this lineup so formidable. Ozzy's frantic vocal delivery rides atop Rhoads' razor sharp riffing while the rhythm section drives the song forward with relentless energy. "Crazy Train"  remains one of the defining moments of the album. The instantly recognizable opening riff slices through the live mix with enormous power, and the song explodes into a massive crowd response. Rhoads expands his solo beyond the studio version, adding additional runs and melodic flourishes that showcase his remarkable command of the instrument. The dramatic "Mr. Crowley"  provides one of the most celebrated performances on the album. Don Airey's eerie keyboard introduction sets the tone before the band crashes into the song's towering riffs. Rhoads' extended solo passage blends classical phrasing with searing electric intensity, producing one of the most iconic guitar moments in heavy metal history. Just before the album takes a slight turn, we witness the explosive power of "Suicide Solution" , which becomes a platform for an extended and deeply expressive guitar solo. The shift arrives with a short set that revisits Ozzy’s earlier material from his "Black Sabbath" days. Songs like "Iron Man" , "Children of the Grave" , and "Paranoid"  take on a sharper and faster edge through Rhoads’ reinterpretation of Tony Iommi ’s legendary riffs, demonstrating how effortlessly he bridged the past and future of heavy metal. In addition to the live material, the album also features studio outtakes of "Dee" , revealing Randy Rhoads’ delicate, classically inspired approach to the acoustic guitar and offering a more intimate glimpse into his musicianship. Interestingly, before his passing, there were plans to record a full live album consisting entirely of "Black Sabbath" songs, but Rhoads and drummer Tommy Aldridge opposed the idea, feeling it would be a step backward creatively. Those plans were ultimately abandoned following Rhoads’ death, though the concept later resurfaced in a different form with the release of Ozzy’s " Speak of the Devil " later in 1982. The album cover reinforces the purpose of the release as a tribute rather than a conventional live record. The stark stage photograph captures Randy Rhoads and Ozzy in a dramatic moment during a live performance, emphasizing the energy and chemistry that defined their partnership. "Randy Rhoads Tribute" ultimately stands as one of the most moving live albums in heavy metal history. It preserves the magic of Ozzy Osbourne 's early solo band while immortalizing the brilliance of a guitarist whose influence continues to shape generations of players. More than three decades after its release, the album remains the clearest window into what made Randy Rhoads so special. His playing is fearless, melodic, and deeply musical, proving that even in a career that lasted only a few years, he left behind a legacy that still resonates throughout heavy metal. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 19.03.1990  "All I ever wanted, All I ever needed, Is here in my arms, Words are very unnecessary, They can only do harm" Martin Gore ’s lyrics convey a sense of preserving the status quo, to the point where even words themselves can shatter that fragile perfection, almost the opposite of what led to "Violator", the seventh studio album by "Depeche Mode", released on March 19, 1990. After the release of their previous album "Music for the Masses" in September 1987, "Depeche Mode" realized they had a much larger fan base than they had initially imagined. They embarked on a U.S. tour that culminated in a massive performance in front of 70,000 people in Pasadena, California. The tour itself was documented in the film and live album "101", but this was only the beginning for "Depeche Mode", who were determined to capitalize on this growing audience. At the same time, the 80s were coming to an end, and synth-pop, which had dominated the decade, was beginning to give way to dance music and rock. "We wanted to take a different direction with this album, for the songs to come across in a more direct way and not to be so fussy.", said Dave Gahan . "Depeche Mode" understood that their working method from the 80s had been fully exhausted. Martin Gore realized he could no longer keep feeding the rest of the band with a spoon by writing everything himself, including the demos, a situation that had begun to create tension within the group. Daniel Miller, the owner of "Mute Records", also recognized the need for change, and brought in a producer who was considered an emerging force at the time, Mark "Flood" Ellis. "I felt we needed a different perspective. Flood was very technical, very musical, very open-minded, and not constrained by rules", Miller said about the producer he brought in. Mark Ellis was perfectly in sync with the mentality of "Depeche Mode". He introduced a new approach to instrumentation, blending electronic elements with more traditional sounds. Beyond Ellis, who managed to guide the division of work among the band members, it was also remixer François Kevorkian and Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn who helped create a calm and focused working environment. "Personal Jesus" , the album’s lead single, driven by its bluesy guitar riff, set the tone for what this record would become. It is an album that blends synth-pop with gothic rock, dance, and alternative music. In many ways, it marked a dramatic shift in both the band’s sound and mindset, with a stronger reliance on guitars over their traditional synthesizers. The idea for "Personal Jesus" came to the members of "Depeche Mode" while touring the United States, where they were exposed to countless television channels, each trying to sell its own "religion". Another influence came from an interview Martin Gore watched, in which Priscilla Presley described her relationship with Elvis. The next single, released five months later, was "Enjoy the Silence" , which explores a relationship through the power of silence. After all, we all know that when things feel uncomfortable, we tend to fill the space with words, but when true understanding exists, even a glance can be enough. Once again, there is a brilliant fusion of dark synth-driven rhythms with beautifully layered guitar work, all carried by the intimate vocal delivery of Dave Gahan . And of course, it is impossible to ignore the outstanding music video, also directed by Anton Corbijn, in which Dave Gahan appears dressed as a king, wandering through vast landscapes, sitting on a chair at the peak of a mountain with the world spread out before him, searching for a moment of peace. Other songs on the album explore themes of religion, such as "Policy of Truth" , as well as sexuality, sometimes in a sleazy and provocative manner, as heard in "Blue Dress" . Among the other standout moments on the album is "World in My Eyes" , which opens the record with a minimalist yet hypnotic electronic groove. "Halo"  continues the dark, sensual electronic direction, featuring rich production and deep layers of sound. "Waiting for the Night"  stands out with its slow, atmospheric approach, almost meditative, offering a moment of tense calm within the album. "Clean" , which closes the record, brings a heavier and more introspective mood, filled with a sense of melancholy that hints at the less glamorous side of success. "Violator" was not just another successful release, but a true turning point for "Depeche Mode". It marked a sharp transition from the catchy synth-pop of the 80s to a deeper, darker, and more mature sound, one that successfully bridged the worlds of electronic music, rock, and alternative. Its influence was felt far beyond the band itself, as many artists in the electronic and alternative scenes drew inspiration from it throughout the 90s and beyond. Moreover, the album cemented "Depeche Mode" as a band capable of evolving without losing its identity, remaining relevant even as the musical landscape around them shifted rapidly. The album was given the deliberately provocative title "Violator" to create the impression of something heavier, almost like a hard rock or metal record. The sales were massive, with the album reaching triple platinum status in the United States alone, selling over three million copies. However, not everything ran smoothly in the kingdom of "Depeche Mode". There is always a price for such success, and as the rise of grunge began gaining momentum, the question remained whether the band would be able to stand firm against the changing tides. That, we will explore in the next review. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is blond... He is a singer... He is a guitarist... He is a huge talent... Get 54 facts about grunge darling Jerry Cantrell. (Photo: Scott Dachroeden) 1. His full name is Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr and he was born in Tacoma, Washington on March 18, 1966. 2. His father was a veteran of the Vietnam War and Jerry only met him for the first time when he was three years old after he returned from the war. His mother was an administrative assistant at a school and Jerry was the youngest of three. 3. His parents divorced when he was seven years old, following the trauma from the war that his father experienced. His father is the main subject in the song Rooster and his mother Gloria is also mentioned in the song. 4. Rooster was a nickname of Cantrell's father when he was a child in light of his "Swiss" personality and the curly hair he had and later stuck to it as part of his service in Vietnam. Rooster is also a nickname for the soldiers who carried the M60 machine gun as well as the unit in which Cantrell's father served in Vietnam. 5. In high school he was a choir singer and competed in national singing competitions, after a year he became the president of the choir and the quartet of brothers sang the national anthem at all the school's basketball games. 6. The drama teacher and the music teacher are the two people who pushed him the most in the musical direction and when Alice in Chains' debut album reached gold status he sent both of his teachers a gold album. 7. The first instrument Jerry played was the clarinet. 8. When he was 12 years old his stepfather who was a guitar player taught Jerry some chords and was surprised by the boy's playing ability. As a result, his mother bought him his first guitar. 9. Jerry started playing seriously and electric guitar only at the age of 17. 10. The first guitar Jerry bought himself was a Fender Stratocaster made in Korea. 11. When he was 21 years old he lost his grandmother and his mother to cancer, the loss put Jerry into depression from which he came out a different person, very different from what he was before. The song Sunshine from the band's first album was written about the death of his mother. 12. Jerry grew up on country music and to this day he admires how the music moves and talks about feelings, he sees himself as half Redneck and half Yankee. 13. Later in his life the artists that influenced him were: Jimi Hendrix, Tony Iommi, Angus Young, Jimmy Page, Heart, Rush, Fleetwood Mac, and many others. 14. One of his first jobs was at a music store called Arnold and Morgan Music Company, where he purchased what he says was his first real 1984 G&L Rampage guitar. 15. His first band was Sinister with Vinnie Chas from Pretty Boy Floyd which later changed its name to Raze. 16. In 1986 Jerry formed a band called Diamond Lie with which he performed in Tacoma and Seattle. To get a recording contract, they recorded a demo of four songs. (Photo: Discogs.com) 17. A year later Jerry met Layne Staley at a party in Seattle where he was the singer of Alice N' Chains, at that time Jerry was homeless because his family kicked him out and Layne invited him to live at The Music Bank studio. So it all started... 18. Jerry got from Line the phone of a girl named Melinda Starr who was a friend of the drummer Sean Kinney , Jerry also needed a bass player and wanted to get Mike Starr with whom he played before, as fate would have it, he was Melinda's brother who picked up the phone and Mike immediately showed up. 19. The three were looking for a singer and really wanted Layne with them in the band. Layne refused because he was interested in starting his own car. So what did the three do? They held auditions for very, very bad singers precisely in Layne's presence, until at the audition of a stripper who wanted to be a singer, Layne broke down and agreed to join the band. 20. After quite several names like "Mothra", "Fuck", "Diamond Lie" and more, the friends decided on the name "Alice In Chains", based on the name of the band the line had. (Photo: Annamaria Disanto) 21. The band's first demo "The Treehouse Tapes" was completed in 1988. He found his way to Kelly Curtis and Susan Silver who managed the bands "Mother Love Bone" and "Soundgarden". The two took the demo to Columbia Records and they signed the band to a contract in September 1989. 22. Jerry is the lead guitarist, lead writer, and additional singer in the band. He gave the band the heavy metal touches that are so familiar, and his amazing harmony with Layne on vocals. 23. The band's debut album "Facelift" was released in August 1990, Jerry dedicated the album to his mother Gloria, and his fellow singer Andrew Wood from the band "Mother Love Bone". The singles released from the album are: "We Die Young", "Man in the Box", "Sea of Sorrow" and "Bleed the Freak". This is the first album from the grunge scene to be certified gold and it was also nominated for a Grammy. 24. In February 1992, the band released their first EP "SAP" which consists entirely of acoustic songs. Ann Wilson from the band Heart and another duo called "Alice Mudgarden" are guests on the album. 25. There are stories that in the early 1990s Jerry was still homeless and wandered between the homes of Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis, where he shared a room with Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell's home where he shared his home with his then-wife Susan Silver. 26. In September 1992, Alice's second album called "Dirt" was released. This is the most successful album of the band that created crazy hits like "Would?", "Rooster", "Them Bones" and more...and it was also nominated for a Grammy Award. 27. The band's second EP, also all acoustic called "Jar Of Flies" was released in January 1994 and became the first EP in Alice's history to go straight to number one on the Billboard charts. 28. In July 1994, the band broke up temporarily for six months and returned in November 1995, when the third album bearing the band's name was released. The album directly reached first place in the chart and from it came the singles: "Grind", "Heaven Beside You" and "Again". This album marked the beginning of the end when this time the band did not go on tour to promote the album and did not perform for two and a half years until Unplugged appeared... 29. He plays the role of himself as well as the role of Nona Weisbaum in the "mockumentary" that became a cult "The Nona Tapes" released in December 1995 and intended to promote the band's third album "Alice In Chains". 30. Jerry participated in a short scene in the movie "Jerry Maguire", in which he played a salesman in a printing shop helping Tom Cruise to print flyers, this was in 1996. The movie was directed by Cameron Crowe who also directed the movie "Singles" . 31. In April 1996, Alice held one of the biggest and most talked about performances in the program MTV Unplugged . Jerry came to the show sick from stomach poisoning and Layne seemed completely consumed by drugs and alcohol. 32. That year, the band held its last four shows with Layne, who died six years later in April 2002. From that year, the band was inactive and disbanded completely. 33. That same year Jerry recorded his first song as an independent artist, "Leave Me Alone" which was recorded as part of the soundtrack to the movie "The Cable Guy" starring Jim Carrey. Jerry recorded the song while singing, playing the bass and guitar, and Sheen on the drums. (Photo: Sandy Caspers) 34. During that time, the band released three compilation albums: "Nothing Safe: Best of the Box, Music Bank" "Greatest Hits" and one live concert album called LIVE . 35. Jerry said that he didn't think of starting a solo career, he liked being part of the band, but when the situation looked bad and the future was unknown, he gathered courage and set out on his own. 36. In April 1998, Jerry released his debut album Boggy Depot, to promote the album he went on tour with his two friends from Alice and even opened for Metallica and Van Halen. 37. In 2000, Jerry met William DuVall and occasionally joined as a guest artist in his band's shows. 38. In May 2001, Jerry broke his pinky while playing football with the guitarist he was performing with, he had to undergo several surgeries and was implanted with a titanium plate and four screws. 39. In June 2002 Jerry released his second solo album "Degradation Trip". The album featured artists such as drummer Mike Bordin from Faith No More, bassist Robert Trujillo from the band "Metallica" and guitarist Chris DeGarmo from the band "Queensrÿche" which originates from Seattle. 40. The album was released two months after Layne's death and was dedicated to his memory. In November, the album was released in a revised version with 11 additional songs (really a double album), when the adjustment to a double album was made in view of Layne's death and the writing of additional songs. 41. William Duvall and his band were a warm-up act for Jerry's tour to promote the album, with William coming up to sing occasionally as an additional singer on Alice's songs, hence the connection in the future was inevitable... 42. As of 2003, Jerry is drug and alcohol-free. 43. Jerry worked in 2005 on a new album with drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Chris Chaney, both from the band "Jane's Addiction". The album was planned to be released in 2006 but the reunion of "Alice In Chains" as described below prevented its release. 44. In February 2005, the three remaining members of Alice returned to perform together for the first time in almost 10 years. It was at a fundraising event for the victims of the tsunami. 45. The three went on tour with many varied guest singers to celebrate their love of music and remember the days that used to be. 46. In 2006 William Duvall joined the band officially and became the additional singer the band. It made them want to keep writing and recording new music. (Photo: Johnny Buzerio) 47. In September 2009, the reformed band released their fourth album "Black Gives Way to Blue" , on this album Jerry took the lead on vocals and William served as co-pilot. 48. The album's theme song in which Elton John plays the piano was written as a tribute to Layne. Before writing the song, Jerry said that he was suffering from a mysterious illness of migraines and exhaustion when the doctors were unable to discover the disease, Jerry believes that it is a psychological illness caused by the pain of breaking up with Layne. The album was nominated for two Grammy Awards and included the singles: "A Looking in View", "Check My Brain", "Your Decision" and "Lesson Learned". 49. By the way, this album was released exactly 17 years after the "Dirt" album! 50. In 2012, he received the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for support and help to other artists, on behalf of MusiCares, a non-profit organization designed to help musicians in times of financial, personal, and medical crisis. 51. In May 2013, the band released their fifth album "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" , with Jerry continuing his role as the album's lead singer. This album was also nominated for Grammy Awards and included the singles: "Hollow", "Stone" and "Voices". 52. In August 2018, the band released their sixth album "Rainier Fog" which they recorded at Studio X, where the band's third and last album with Layne was recorded. The album includes the singles: "The One You Know", "So Far "Under", "Never Fade" and the theme song of the album. 53. In February 2017, Jerry released a solo song called "A Job To Do" as part of the soundtrack of the movie "John Wick: Chapter 2". 54. Jerry's third album "Brighten" was released in October 2021, almost 20 years since his second solo album and double. While most of the albums released in 2021 are the product of the corona epidemic, this album was created even before the outbreak of the epidemic in March 2019. 55. In October 2024, Jerry released his seventh album, "I Want Blood". While his previous album had noticeable blues and country influences, this time Jerry returns to his dark, metal roots. As always, his friends Robert Trujillo, Duff McKagan, and Greg Puciato also take part in the album. 56. Jerry collaborated with a huge variety of artists in which he served as a guitarist as well as a singer, among the most prominent are: Danzig's Blackacidevil album, on the "Garage Inc" album. of "Metallica", on the album "Jupiter's Darling" by "Heart", on the cover album "Under Cover" by Ozzy Osbourne , and many others... 57. In addition to the soundtracks we mentioned, Jerry has several other songs in other movies such as: "She Was My Girl" in the movie Spider-Man" (2002), and "Ashes to Ashes in the movie The Punisher" (2004)". Cantrell is an exceptional talent with a rare emotional depth found in only a few special guitarists. You're invited to listen to the album on Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 18, 1982, "Asia" released their debut eponymous album. This is a supergroup of "Progressive Rock" refugees, who sought to survive the "cold winter" that befell on the Progressive genre, beginning in the late 1970s. As well remembered, the 80s were very difficult for the "Progressive Rock" music. Bands like "Gentle Giant" and "Van Der Graaf Generator" disbanded, others like "Yes" and "Emerson, Lake & Palmer" took their last breaths as Prog icons, and other bands such as "Genesis" were simply reborn and became big pop bands. This process did not skip the members of "Asia", who found themselves in a difficult reality in the early 1980s, that required them to "recalculate". Bassist and singer John Wetton led "King Crimson" for several years during the early '70s, replacing founding member Greg Lake . After the "King Crimson" breakup, Wetton moved to play with "Roxy Music" where he met, among others, keyboardist / violinist Eddie Jobson. The two formed "U.K." with drummer Bill Bruford and guitarist Allan Holdsworth, but after two excellent albums the band disbanded, in 1980. Similarly, guitarist Steve Howe found himself "out of job" in the early 80's, after 11 years with "Yes", during which he played on all of the band's major albums and was responsible for designing its sound. "Yes" officially disbanded on April 18, 1981, after the commercially failed "Drama", in which singer Jon Anderson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman were replaced by Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, both from the new wave band "The Buggles". The harsh reality did not miss drummer Carl Palmer. After the great failure of their album "Love Beach", the supergroup "Emerson, Lake & Palmer" also decided to break up and thus created the opportunity for cooperation between the four members of "Asia". In 1981, Howe , Wetton , Palmer, and Downes founded "Asia". Seemingly, this is a meteoric progressive lineup. A collection of superstars from the world of Progressive Rock, that has created high anticipation among fans of the genre. However, with the intention of remaining relevant in the Progressive "Ice Age", this new band chose to base itself on a more distinctive sound of the 1980s, which focused less on musical virtuosity and more on commercial accessibility. The result was an accessible and catchy Pop/Rock album with light Progressive buds. You will not find long and complex progressive rock pieces here, but there is definitely an experienced and cohesive band, with a distinctive sound and style of its own. This musical style rests on Palmer and Wetton 's steady and tight rhythm section, but mostly on Howe's rough riffs and Downes' melodic and catchy keyboards. All the right elements exist in this album. The sound of the band is rough, but the music is very accessible. Downes' sound and melody blend in with Howe's short and catchy solos and above all Wetton's caressing but powerful voice. The music is catchy and accessible, but there are quite a few unexpected musical transitions and improvisational pieces by each of the members, which remind us that they are still four (or at least three) prog giants. The opening track " Heat Of The Moment " is the greatest hit from the album and probably also the biggest of the band that has released 13 studio albums to date. This is the first single released from the album and it best presents the band's special style. It's based on Steve Howe 's dirty riff, Downes' catchy melody, and Wetton's clear and powerful vocals. Immediately after that comes " Only Time Will Tell " which was composed by Downes and Wetton and leans on a catchy keyboard riff and a particularly sweeping chorus. Wetton's cruel bass sound and Howe's clever guitar work, with the short sentences, make it one of the most beautiful on the album. " Sole Survivor " is reminiscent of "Yes" in its early seconds, but then when Wetton starts singing we move to a more 80s sound. Howe's nice guitar solo and Downes' flute-like keyboard solo remind us of the two's glorious past. " One Step Closer " opens nicely with an instrumental section that sounds to us like a hybrid between the sound of "Yes" and "Kansas". This is without a doubt one of the most interesting songs on the album. Similarly, the opening of " Time Again " also reminds us of the progressive days of the band members, especially the energetic part that is a bit reminiscent of "ELP". Howe's guitar solo here is just perfect, Palmer's drumming is great and he's even having some fun with Jazz. Wetton's powerful bass and vocals and Downes's keyboards adorn everything with eighties beauty. The other side of the album is the more "Progressive" side, where prog fans could find some comfort. " Wildest Dreams " includes quite a few changes of rhythm and style. " Without You " is a pleasant ballad and not so typical of progressive, but the solos, the transition part, and the musical development from the middle of the song prove that it is not a simple "hit" song. " Cutting It Fine " is one of the most interesting on this side of the vinyl. It opens quietly and calmly with Howe's acoustic guitar, but very quickly evolves into a sweeping and energetic track with an amazing Downes piano solo. " Here Comes The Feeling " ends the album in an epic way with a strong melody and catchy chorus. "Asia's" debut album was a huge commercial success. It has sold over 10 million copies and has topped the charts in several countries. It is the band's best-selling album. The band continued to operate for another 4 decades but has never repeated the commercial success of this album. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

She is a very special vocalist who is capable in one song, tearing you to shreds, reconnecting you, and then caressing you softly and back all over again. She's just started her career and already has a big impact on the metal world. Here are some facts we've gathered for you about Tatiana... (Photo: Katja Ogrin) = She was born on March 15, 1987, in Donetsk, Ukraine. = Her mother claims she has been screaming since she was little, she would scream so loud that she would often suffer from a "hernia" in her stomach. As a child, she would learn to "scream" Russian and Ukrainian pop songs. = She started singing seriously at the age of eight when she joined the municipal choir. = She got her first musical influence from her brother who was a guitarist in a small local metal band. He is also the one who exposed her to other metal bands and introduced her to the genre in all its subgenres. = In 1991 when the Soviet Union fell and MTV entered the lives of Ukrainians, Tatiana was suddenly exposed to bands like "Nirvana", "The Offspring" and especially "Otep". Tatiana said she learned from her father to record music from MTV on tape and that way she and her friends exchanged music between them. = Tatiana said she decided to become a singer for the first time at the age of 15 after she discovered the band "Otep". She was blown away by the singing style of Otep Shamaya and when she found out that it was a woman and not a man she was shocked. From that moment on she decided that she also wanted to shock people in this way. (Photo: DAC) = "Jinjer" was formed in 2008 by singer Maksym Fatullaiev, guitarist Dmitriy Oksen, bassist Oleksiy Svynar and drummer Vyacheslav Okhrimenko. The band released an EP called "Objects in Mirror Are Closer than They Appear". = In 2009 Tatiana joined the band and replaced the singer Maksym when Roman Ibramkhalilov joined as another guitarist. In 2011 another replacement was made when Eugene Abdukhanov replaced Oleksiy and Oleksandr Koziychuk replaced drummer Okhrimenko. (Photo: Jinjer) = A year later the new band released their first EP "Inhale, Do Not Breathe". Immediately after the release of the EP, the band started performing in every bar/pub/club/basement/single-room apartment/kindergarten... in short, wherever there was a power source and it was possible to put in more than several people, they performed !! = A label called "The Leaders Records" recognized the band's potential and in 2013 they re-released the band's previous EP which included three more songs recorded live. = The band received significant exposure and even won first place in the metal competition for the title "Best Ukrainian Metal Act". = In 2014, the band independently releases their debut album "Cloud Factory". The band continues to embrace the ideology of "If I have no one who has me" and independently organized an international tour. Yes, you heard right, without a promoter, without a road manager, without connections they just started calling every club and trying to arrange a show for themselves around the world. = In the same year, the band left the city of "Donetsk" following the battles that took place in the city, between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian combat units. They moved to the city of "Lviv" but after several months of boredom, they moved back "to civilization", to the capital "Kyiv". = In 2016 the band released their second album "King Of Everything". From the album released the first single "Pisces" which together with the second single "I Speak Astronomy" gain a very large amount of views on YouTube. These two singles but mostly "Pisces", brought the band its big international breakthrough and sold millions of copies. = That year the band performs for the first time in Israel, at HaEzor club. = The band continues to gain momentum and the increased exposure puts it in as a prelude to the tour of "Arch Enemy" and "Cradle of Filth". = In the same year the band wins again the title of "Best Ukrainian Metal Act". The first two albums and all the albums that will come later took over first place in the charts in Ukraine. (Photo: Gina Wetzler) = The increasing exposure and popularity proved itself and the band signed a contract with the big label "Napalm Records". Following the signing, they re-release their debut album "Cloud Factory" in a reissue through the new label. = That same year they broke into the US and landed on the "Next Big Sound" billboard charts. = In 2019 the band releases an EP called "Micro". = In the same year, they released their third album "Macro". "Loudwire" magazine put the album on the list of the 50 best albums in metal for 2019. = In 2020 they release their first live album "Alive in Melbourne". In February of the same year, they made their second show in Israel, at the reading 3 clubs. = In 2021 the band released their fourth album "Wallflowers". = In the same year, on July 3, 2021, the band held their third performance in Israel, at Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv. A little bit more than a year later, in October 2002 "Jinjer" perform again at Reading 3 club in Tel-Aviv. = The band's musical DNA is built around progressive metal, with each album or even each song having different and varied influences that take the genre and stretch it in other directions such as reggae, soul, punk, jazz, and more. Together with the band's sound and Tatiana's phenomenal vocal abilities, they have created for themselves very unique musical characteristics that set them apart from many bands in the genre. = The band has a clear split, Tatiana writes all the lyrics to the songs and the rest of the band writes the music, they rarely interfere with each other in the creative process. = In March 2022 Russia decided to occupy Ukraine, following the war, the band led by Tatiana decided to concentrate all their efforts and capabilities on supporting the Ukrainian people and stop all activities of the band for now. = But... eventually the band released their 5th album "Duél" in 2025. Listen to the album "Duél" on: Spotify , Apple Music   "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 18, 1977, Iggy Pop  released his debut solo studio album "The Idiot". At the moment "The Idiot" arrived, Iggy Pop  was rebuilding himself after the collapse of "The Stooges". Years of chaos, addiction, and a band imploding under its own intensity had left him in uncertain territory. The turning point came when David Bowie  invited him to Europe, beginning one of rock music's most fascinating creative partnerships. Instead of recreating the violent proto-punk energy that defined "The Stooges", David Bowie  pushed Iggy Pop  toward darker and more experimental territory, reshaping his artistic identity in the process. Recording for the album began in 1976 at Château d'Hérouville in France before moving into the creative atmosphere of Berlin, where David Bowie  himself was exploring a new experimental direction. David Bowie  produced the album, co-wrote all the songs, sang backing vocals, played on many of the instruments and a major role in shaping the music, building a sound influenced by European electronic music and stark mechanical rhythms. The result was something completely different from Iggy Pop 's past work: colder, more restrained, and deeply atmospheric. The album opens with "Sister Midnight" , immediately introducing the hypnotic groove that defines much of the record. The rhythm pulses with mechanical precision while Carlos Alomar's guitar moves like a sharp, stabbing counterpoint. Instead of the wild aggression that defined his earlier career, Iggy Pop  delivers the vocal with controlled menace, creating a dark and seductive tension that pulls the listener into the album's unsettling world. The strange minimalist pulse of "Nightclubbing"  stands as one of the album's most iconic moments. Built around a primitive drum machine and eerie piano chords, the track feels almost robotic in its repetition. Iggy Pop 's detached vocal perfectly captures the hollow glamour of late-night city life, turning nightlife into something eerie and strangely hypnotic. A sharper burst of energy arrives with "Funtime" , one of the album's most aggressive tracks. Distorted guitars drive the song forward while Iggy Pop  delivers the repeated chant of "Fun! Fun! Fun!" with biting sarcasm. Beneath the surface excitement lies a darker commentary on excess and nightlife culture, making the song feel more like a sneer than a celebration. Long before David Bowie  turned it into a worldwide hit in the 1980s, "China Girl"  appeared here in its original and far darker form. The arrangement feels fragile and uneasy, built around distorted guitars and synthesizers that give the song a haunting atmosphere. Iggy Pop 's vocal performance carries a wounded sincerity that makes this version emotionally powerful in a way that contrasts sharply with the later polished hit. "Dum Dum Boys"  is one of the most personal and moving moments on the album. The track was written as a tribute to Iggy Pop’s former bandmates from "The Stooges", especially guitarist Ron Asheton. The structure of the song begins in a relatively restrained manner, but gradually builds into a burst of loud guitars that recalls the wild sound of the old band. During the song, Iggy Pop almost recites the names of the band members like a monologue, a moment that gives the track a sense of nostalgia and pain while highlighting the deep connection to the past he was trying to move beyond. Although "The Idiot" reached number 72 on the UK Albums Chart, its long-term influence became enormous. The album helped redefine Iggy Pop  as a solo artist while opening the door for darker and more experimental rock music. Its cold electronic textures and bleak atmosphere would later echo through post-punk and industrial music for decades to come. Even today, "The Idiot" remains one of the boldest reinventions in rock history and a defining moment in Iggy Pop 's career. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is one of the influential figures in the alternative world of the 1990s. He is a guitarist, keyboardist, and bassist, singer, producer, and songwriter. His name is Billy Corgan and we have some facts to tell you about him. (Photo: Daniel Karmann/picture-alliance) 1. He was born on March 17, 1967 as William Patrick Corgan, in Illinois, USA. 2. His father William Corgan was a jazz and blues guitarist. 3. In 1970 his parents divorced and his father married shortly afterward. Corgan and his brother moved in with the father and Corgan noted that during those years he was physically and mentally abused by his stepmother. 4. Corgan's childhood was not easy. He testified that he experienced severe depression in his youth, to the point that he used to cut himself to deal with the pain. 5. In 1976 his stepbrother named Jesse was born. He was diagnosed with various disabilities, including cerebral palsy and Tourette Syndrome. Corgan used to care for, guard, and protect him in his youth. 6. In the early 1980s Corgan and his friends made a short film called "Alien 1/2". The film was influenced by the Ridley Scott's "Alien" movie. 7. Corgan excelled in sports in elementary school, but in high school, he abandoned sports and became interested in music. 8. He decided to learn to play the guitar after visiting a friend's house and seeing a Gibson "Flying V" guitar. 9. His first guitar was an imitation of Gibson Les Paul, which his father bought him from his savings. 10. Although Corgan's father shaped Corgan's musical taste, encouraging him to listen to Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck , he never taught him to play the guitar. Corgan had to teach himself to play the instrument. 11. Corgan's musical taste ranges from Hard Rock to Classic Rock and New Wave. He used to listen to artists like: "Queen", "Boston", "ELO", "Rush", "Bauhaus", "The Cure", John Cale and more. 12. Already during high school Corgan was involved in a number of bands, one of which was called "The Marked". 13. The name "The Marked" came from the birthmarks that Corgan and the band's drummer had on their bodies. 14. Corgan's birthmark is quite large. it's on his left hand as can be seen on the cover of Corgan's solo album "TheFutureEmbrace". 15. Corgan used to write reviews for albums and bands on his school's magazine. In these reviews, he actually predicted the success of bands like "U2", "R.E.M" and "Metallica". 16. He graduated high school with honors. Several institutions offered him scholarships and scholarships, including the University of Michigan. 17. His grandmother left him savings for higher education but Corgan chose to invest the money in music. He moved in 1985 with his band "The Marked" to St. Petersburg, Florida, to try his luck. 18. The band failed and disbanded, then Billy returned to live with his father in Chicago, where he began working in a record store. 19. In the years 1987-1988 he was a partner in the band "Deep Bletue Dream", in which he met Wayne Static who would later form the band Static-x. 20. While working at the record store, Billy met guitarist James Iha and the two began working on materials and recording demos that Corgan later defined as gloomy goth-pop recordings. 21. During this time Corgan played bass, Iha played guitar and the third member of the band had a drum machine. 22. He later met bassist D'arcy Wretzky in a local live show of "The Dan Reed Network". 23. This is how "The Smashing Pumpkins" was founded, when Korgan, Iha and D'arcy play in local clubs accompanied by a drum machine. 24. In preparation for a live show scheduled for the band at the "Chicago Metro Club" on October 5, 1988, the band recruited drummer Jimmy Chamberlin . 25. The addition of Jimmy Chamberlin led the band in a heavier musical direction. 26. The debut album " Gish " was released in 1991 and showed a combination of musical styles like Psychedelic Rock and Heavy Metal. 27. In a performance of the band at the Reading Festival in 1992, Corgan was so frustrated by the sound, that he broke the guitar and threw it on the audience, it landed on the head of the band's record company manager. 28. The success of " Gish " exceeded expectations, but the band's second album from 1993 - " Siamese Dream " has already given the band dizzying success and much praise from the audience and critics. 29. Despite this, " Siamese Dream " was an album borne out of great pain. It almost led to the band's demise and earned Corgan the nickname perfectionist and control freak after rerecording the guitar and bass parts of Iha and D'arcy. 30. In 1994, the band released the compilation album " Pisces Iscariot ", which included unreleased tracks. 31. In 1995 the band released their third album " Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness ". This is the band's artistic climax. An ambitious masterpiece spread over two discs and three vinyl albums. 32. The album was nominated for seven Grammy Awards that year and had sales of nine Platinum albums. The song "1979" from it became the biggest hit of Corgan and the band. 33. On November 11, 1995, the band made an appearance on the "Saturday Night Live" television program. Corgan first appeared in it with a shaved head. The last filmed video of Corgan with hair is in the clip for the song "Bullet with Butterfly Wings". 34. During a tour to promote the album, on July 12, 1996, drummer Chamberlin and keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin took an overdose of heroin. The keyboardist died and Chamberlin survived, but the incident led to his immediate dismissal from the band. 35. The band's next album " Adore " released in 1998 was already recorded as a trio with the help of a drum machine and a session drummers. 36. The song "For Martha" from the album was written about Corgan's mother - Martha, who passed away in 1996. 37. In 1999 Chamberlin returned to the band and in 2000 the band released the concept album " Machina/The Machines of God ", which led to mixed reviews from critics and audiences due to its style. At the end of the recording of the album, D'arcy left the band and she was replaced by former "Hole" bassist - Melissa Auf der Maur. 38. Later that year the band released the sequel album to Machina - "Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music", which was released for free download via the internet. This was the band's last album in its current format, with the band performing their last show on December 2, 2000. 39. At the end of 2001, Korgan and Chamberlin teamed up with guitarist and singer Matt Sweeney, who was a longtime friend of Korgan, to form the band "Zwan". They added bassist Paz Lenchantin and another guitarist David Pajo to complete the lineup. 40. The band went live in 2002, when their (and only) debut album "Mary Star of the Sea" was released in 2003. 41. In 2004, Korgen embarked on a solo career recording acoustic folk songs related to the history of the city of Chicagoת as part of the "ChicagoSongs project 72". The project has not been released as an album to date. 42. That same year he wrote the song "Forget It", which entered the soundtrack to the film "National Treasure" by Nicholas Cage. 43. In 2005 Corgan released his first solo album "TheFutureEmbrace" which included a combination of electronic music and alternative. The album failed commercially and received rave reviews from various critics. Corgan later released two more solo albums, the most recent - "Cotillions" ,was released in November 2019. 44. In 2005, Corgan announced his desire to get "Smashing Pumpkins" back on track and by April 20, 2006, he had already posted on the band's official website that they indeed planning to reunite. 45. The band's first appearance after the reunion was on May 22, 2007. Along with Corgan and Chamberlin. They where joined by two new band members Ginger Rice on bass and Jeff Schroeder on guitar. 46. ​​On July 10, 2007, the union album " Zeitgeist " was released. Since then, the band has released four more studio albums: " Oceania " from 2012, "Monuments to an Elegy" from 2014, "Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1/LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun". From 2018, " Cyr " from 2020 and of course the triple Rock Opera "Atum" in 2022-2023. (Photo: Photo: Linda Strawberry) 47. Corgan has a hand in no less than ten soundtracks of movies, some very famous like "Ransom" with Mel Gibson and "Rampage" with Dwayne Johnson. In some, he gave only his voice and in some, he was a full partner in the writing and production of the soundtrack and the theme song of the film. 48. He has collaborated with dozens of artists, as a producer, writer, singer and guitarist. He has produced a number of songs for the alternative rock band "Catherine", he has sung on albums by Marilyn Manson , "New Order", Lenny Kravitz, Tony Iommi , "Scorpions" and many more. He has produced and written a number of songs for artists such as: "Hole", Lisa Marie Presley, "Breaking Benjamin", "Taproot", "Korn" and more. 49. In 1998, Corgan co-wrote some of the songs on Hole's " Celebrity Skin" album. 50. He remained friends with Courtney Love and later even had a relationship with her, when in 2006 he even moved in with her and her daughter Frances Bean Cobain at her Hollywood mansion. 51. Corgan also co-wrote and produced a number of songs at the time on the band's fourth and final album "Hole" called "Nobody's Daughter". 52. Immediately after the release of the album Corgan got angry at Courtney for working on the songs without his permission. After that, they began exchanging insults on Twitter and Facebook. It was so ugly and offensive and the two still don't speak to this day. 53. Corgan has a very big fondness for wrestling. In 2011 he founded the organization "Resistance Pro" which holds a wrestling competition in Chicago. In 2015 he was the lead manager of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling when his job was to create characters and write a plot to back up the wrestling fights. 54. Corgan is also very fond of baseball. It started at a young age when he was a collector of baseball cards and, it continued with his admire the Chicago Cubs baseball team, and later he even became a baseball commentator on a local radio station in Chicago. 55. In 2017, Korgan acquired ownership of the National Wrestling Alliance, which was the leading and exclusive body for professional wrestling until the 1980s, when the most famous WWF organization was established. today an independent body that holds competitions on its own. 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On March 17, 1998, "Van Halen" released their eleventh studio album "Van Halen III". For more than two decades, "Van Halen" had been one of hard rock’s most influential and commercially successful bands. From the explosive debut in 1978 through the chart-topping Sammy Hagar era of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the group repeatedly reshaped its sound while keeping the revolutionary guitar work of Eddie Van Halen  at the center of the music. By the mid-1990s the band entered a turbulent period. Sammy Hagar left in 1996, a brief reunion with original singer David Lee Roth  quickly collapsed, and the group ultimately recruited Gary Cherone of "Extreme" as the new frontman. "Van Halen III" became the only album recorded with Cherone and represents one of the most unusual chapters in the band’s long history. The album was recorded during 1997 at Eddie Van Halen ’s 5150 Studios in Studio City, California. Produced by Eddie Van Halen together with television composer Mike Post, the project reflected Eddie’s increasingly experimental mindset. Unlike earlier records where the band functioned more as a tight collaborative unit, many of the arrangements and musical directions were driven primarily by Eddie himself. The sessions produced the longest album in the band’s catalog, and the expanded runtime allowed the group to explore textures and structures rarely heard on previous releases. The brief unusual acoustic instrumental introduction "Neworld"  opens the record and quickly leads into "Without You" . The song immediately presents a heavier and darker tone than much of the band’s earlier material. Gary Cherone delivers an intense vocal performance that differs from both Hagar’s melodic style and Roth’s swagger, while Eddie layers massive rhythm guitars with soaring leads that still showcase his unmistakable playing. It's interesting to note that the song is the first out of 3 only tracks Michael Anthony is playing bass on, while Eddie Van Halen is the one playng the bass guitar on the rest of them. Much of the album explores longer and more progressive song structures. "From Afar"  unfolds gradually with atmospheric guitar textures before building into a powerful chorus, while "Dirty Water Dog"  combines aggressive riffing with shifting rhythmic ideas that highlight Alex Van Halen ’s dynamic drumming. Eddie experiments with layered guitar harmonies and unusual arrangements, giving the songs a dense and sometimes unpredictable character. One of the most compelling tracks is "Year to the Day" , a brooding and emotional composition that slowly develops across its extended runtime. The track builds tension through dark guitar passages and introspective lyrics before erupting into one of Eddie Van Halen ’s most expressive solos of the era. In contrast, "Fire in the Hole"  brings a more straightforward burst of hard rock energy with a driving groove and sharp guitar hooks. The album closes with the unexpected "How Many Say I" , which features Eddie Van Halen singing lead vocals while accompanying himself on piano. The song is reflective and subdued, offering a dramatic shift from the guitar-driven identity the band had built over the years. Its introspective tone reinforces the sense that the album captures a band searching for a new direction. Upon release, "Van Halen III" debuted strongly on the charts but generated mixed reactions from critics and longtime fans. Some listeners admired Van Halen’s willingness to experiment and expand the band’s sound, while others missed the concise songwriting and immediate hooks that defined earlier records. Over time the album has remained one of the most debated entries in the band’s discography, yet it stands as an intriguing document of a legendary group pushing into unfamiliar territory. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is the son of... but he is also much in his own right. He's the youngest artist we've reviewed here, but he definitely deserves it. So here are some facts about Wolfgang Van Halen... (Photo: Michael Buckner) 1. He was born on March 16, 1991, in Santa Monica California, as Wolfgang William Van Halen. 2. He is the only son of guitarist Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertinelli. 3. His parents gave him his name after the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 4. From an early age, Wolfgang was educated on music, learning mainly from his father - Eddie Van Halen , to play a variety of musical instruments. (Photo: Instagram) 5. Eddie Van Halen used to perpetuate his relationship with Wolfgang, among other things, by names he gave to various songs and musical instruments during his career. For example, the title of the instrumental piece "316" from the album " For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge ", released in Wolfgang's year of birth, is his date of birth (March 16). 6. Eddie collaborated with "Peavey" to create a series of guitars called "Wolfgang series". 7. In 2008 Eddie gave his costume guitar the name "Fender EVH Wolfgang". 8. The first instrument Wolfgang played was drums, which he began playing at the age of 9. He received several lessons from his uncle Alex Van Halen , but for the most part, he taught himself to play. 9. At the age of 10 Eddie bought him his first drum set, after seeing that he was progressing nicely in playing. 10. Wolfgang later moved on to playing bass guitar, guitar and then learned to play keyboards as well. 11. When he was only 13 he had already taken the stage with "Van Halen" as a guest player. One of the pieces he came up to play alongside his father, was the instrumental track "316", named, as stated, on his date of birth. (Photo: Ethan Miler) 12. In 2006, when Wolfgang was only 15 years old, Eddie van Halen announced that he was joining the band as a full member, replacing bassist Michael Anthony. 13. Beyond performing with the band, Wolfgang recorded the album "A Different Kind of Truth", from 2012, the reunion album of "Van Halen" with David Lee Roth . Wolfgang also sang background vocals and co-wrote the songs. 14. His father used to call him a "rhythm bassist" as on "rhythm guitarist", given his unique playing style that combined rhythm and lead. 15. In September 2012, Wolfgang replaced bassist Brian Marshall in Mark Tremonti 's solo band "Tremonti". He later played on his two albums " Cauterize " from 2015 and " Dust " from 2016. (Photo: Ashley Maile) 16. In June 2021 Wolfgang released his debut album " Mammoth WVH " which is also the band's name. The name was based on one of the first names of "Van Halen", which in 1972 was called "Mammoth". He said he asked the permission of his father and uncle Alex to use the name, then he adds the letters WVH, which are the initials of his name. 17. Wolfgang wrote all the songs on the album and he sings and plays all the instruments on it. 18. The first single released from the album, "Distance", was dedicated to his father Eddie Van Halen , after his death. The video clip for the song includes footage of Wolfgang from Eddie Van Halen's home camera. 19. On June 2023 Wolfgang introduced his second album "Mammoth II". His talent is shining yet again as he is playing on all the instruments in the album with the production of Michael Baskette. 20. On October 20, 2025, Wolfgang released his third solo album, titled "The End," while changing the band's name to "Mammoth." This album continues Wolfgang’s musical style, blending modern rock with classical influences. Once again, the album features material written and recorded by Wolfgang himself, who continues to lead the project almost entirely on his own, just as he did with his previous albums. Listen to the album  "The End" on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

She is one of the godmothers of Grunge and she has a "Heart" of gold that together with her sister influenced the world of music !! (Photo: Nancy Wilson) 1. Her full name is Nancy Lamoureaux Wilson and she was born on March 16, 1954, in San Francisco, California. 2. She has two older sisters, Lynn and Ann Wilson . (Photo: George Rose) 3. Since her father served in the military, the family traveled extensively around the world and she grew up in Southern California and Taiwan until the age of six when her father retired from the military and they moved to Seattle. 4. She remembers the moment of enlightenment when she and her sister Ann knew they were going to be rock stars. It was when they watched together "The Ed Sullivan Show," which hosted The Beatles that evening, she was 8 at the time. 5. During high school her parents bought Ann an acoustic guitar and later they bought Nancy a smaller guitar (children's guitar). Nancy did not like her guitar and often "stole" her sister's guitar. 6. The two began performing together at community church events, amusement parks, and local festivals. They felt they were able to touch the audience, and even though in almost every show half of the people would leave it only strengthened them. 7. In 1973, Nancy joined her sister's band called "Heart". She said it was not that simple. The men in the band did not agree to have Nancy and decided that she must audition. They gave her a task, she had to learn to play the song "Clap" by the band "Yes" in one evening, she, of course, passed successfully! 8. That same year the whole band moved to Vancouver, Canada to record their debut album. (Photo: Michael Putland) 9. In 1975 they released their debut album "Dreamboat Annie". Producer Mike Flicker helped the band polish the sound and to sign a recording contract with Mushroom Records. They released 4 singles from the album that gained momentum one after the other, including the mighty "Crazy on You". From there, the band also broke into the United States, via Seattle, the birthplace of the Wilson sisters. 10. Following a "miss conduct" by the record company in the form of a full-page article in Rolling Stone magazine, which includes a picture of the Wilson sisters bare-shouldered side by side and the phrase: "It Was Only Our First Time," the band broke the contract with the record label. 11. In 1977 the band released their second album "Little Queen" recorded in Seattle. One of the band's most famous songs "Barracuda" conquered the charts and brought "Heart" back to dizzying success. This is a particularly angry song about the record company Mushroom Records, which released their picture in Rolling Stone and spread a rumor that the sisters are allegedly having an affair, all to arouse public opinion. Ann found out about the article by chance when a fan came to her after a show and asked her "how is the relationship"? She thought he was talking about her boyfriend, but when she realized what it was about her and her sister, she was shocked and went to write the song. 12. However, this was not the end of the story with the record company and as a result of a legal commitment the band had with the company, they were required to release another album under its name. They worked a marathon for 4 days to record another album called "Magazine" which was also released in 1977, only to end the contract with the same company. 13. As a result, the band reached an extraordinary achievement with three of their albums marching simultaneously in the charts. 14. If that's not enough, then a year later, in 1978, they released their fourth album "Dog & Butterfly". The album was split in two when the first part was the "Dog" and included more rockish and powerful songs, while the second part the "Butterfly" included ballads and softer songs. The album reached number 17 on Billboard. 15. During the band's tour, Nancy discovered that the band guitarist and producer Roger Fisher, who was also her spouse, was cheating on her. After the tour ended, the band members decided to oust Fischer and fired him. This allowed Nancy to take the lead and she took on the lead guitar role. (Photo: Norman Seeff) 16. In 1980 the band released their fifth album "Bébé le Strange". This is the first album without Fisher. The Wilson sisters have always led the band, but from then on they formed the hardcore of "Heart". The album was a resounding success and reached number 5 on the Billboard charts as it spent 22 weeks there. 17. Since the early 1980s, the band has undergone musical changes, mainly softening and squinting in the mainstream direction, with elements of pop, hard rock, and glam metal. The sisters testified that at that time the drugs were all around and the white cocaine powder was scattered everywhere. The climax of the musical revolution was on the album "Heart" which was released in 1985 and included many hits such as: "These Dreams" which was the band's first song to conquer the top of the charts, "What About Love", "Never", "Nothin 'at All" and more. The transition to glam was also reflected in the external appearance as reflected on the album cover. 18. In 1987 came the album "Bad Animals", from which came the single "Alone" which was the band's second single to reach number one. The success was dizzying and tremendous to the point that the tour to promote the album was sold out even before it started and it included 3 consecutive performances at Wembley Stadium. 19. During the tour Ann began to experience anxiety attacks and stage fright, to cover up for her sister, Nancy would perform improvised solos and guitar pieces to hold the audience. (Photo: Daniel Knighton) 20. The Wilson sisters released a total of 16 albums under the band "Heart" with the latest "Beautiful Broken" being released in 2016. They were a great success and appreciated by listeners and critics and many singles conquered the charts and radio stations. 21. In 1991 the sisters set up the recording studio "Bad Animals" named after Heart's ninth album. The famous studio known today as "Studio X" was a huge part of the development of the Grunge scene, where many bands recorded there: Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and many more ... 22. That same year they also formed a side band called "The Lovemongers" which recorded a cover version of Led Zeppelin's song "The Battle of Evermore", for the big soundtrack of the movie "Singles" . A few years later, in 1997, the band released the EP "Whirlygig". 23. Nancy married the film's director Cameron Crowe and later recorded guitar pieces for his films and even wrote soundtracks, including a soundtrack for the film "Almost Famous" . The two divorced in 2010. 24. In those years before and during the blossoming of Grunge, the stars of the scene like Chris Cornell Andrew Wood , Layne Staley , and more, were among the fans of the Wilson sisters. This fact earned them the nickname "Grunge Godmothers". They said that their house was open to all the guys from Nirvana, Alice, and Soundgarden, who would come to their house for parties and play together. 25. In 1995 they released an Unplugged album called "The Road Home" produced by John Paul Jones featuring Layne Staley and Chris Cornell. 26. In 2004, "Heart" released their 13th album called "Jupiters Darling". The album featured Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez from Alice In Chains and Mike McCready from Pearl Jam, among others. 27. In 2012 the sisters received a star on Hollywood Boulevard. 28. In 2013, the band was inducted into the "Music Hall of Fame". The speaker for the band's induction was Chris Cornell. In his speech, he explained with great emotion how much the Wilson sisters influenced him and his friends from the Grunge scene. 29. In 2016 the album "Beautiful Broken" was released which is "Heart" sixth album, which combined new songs and old songs of the band in a renewed performance. The album features James Hetfield from the band Metallica. 30. That same year, Ann's husband was arrested on charges of assaulting one of Nancy's children. This allegedly happened during the band's performance at the White River Epithet in Washington. Rumor has it that following that incident, the sisters stopped talking and switched to communicating through texts. 31. In the same year, Nancy and Liv Warfield (who was in Prince's band) formed the band "Roadcase Royale". They released one album called "First Things First" in 2017. (Photo: Jeremy Danger) 32. In 2019 the sisters announced that the band "Heart" had returned from the "hiatus" they had taken and that they were performing again together. 33. They went on a "Love Alive Tour" tour. The round was so successful that the sisters even extended it, but it was stopped due to the COVID-19 crisis. Maybe we'll see them in the Holy Land again !! 34. In 2021, Nancy released her first solo album "You and Me". She created the album without any prior planning and mostly because she was bored at home, so instead of putting together puzzles she created music, like a lot of artists we know. Listen to the album on Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 16, 2018, Stone Temple Pilots released their seventh studio album "Stone Temple Pilots". After decades of success, tragedy, and reinvention, "Stone Temple Pilots" returned in 2018 with one of the most pivotal records of their career. At the time, the band had already endured the loss of former frontman Scott Weiland  and the earlier departure of Chester Bennington , whose brief tenure with the group produced the " High Rise EP ". For guitarist Dean DeLeo , bassist Robert DeLeo , and drummer Eric Kretz, continuing the band meant proving that the musical identity of "Stone Temple Pilots" could survive even after losing two defining voices. The search for a new vocalist was extensive. After reviewing thousands of submissions, the band introduced Jeff Gutt as their new frontman in late 2017. Rather than attempting to recreate the past, the group approached the album as the start of a new era. The record became the first full-length studio release to feature Gutt and the band’s first studio album in eight years. Recording sessions placed the creative focus firmly on the DeLeo brothers, whose songwriting partnership has always been the musical backbone of "Stone Temple Pilots". Producing the album themselves allowed the band to concentrate on their natural chemistry. The result blends muscular guitar riffs, melodic bass lines, and layered arrangements that continue to reflect the distinctive sound the band established during the 1990s alternative rock explosion. The album opens with "Middle of Nowhere" , a confident reintroduction that wastes no time presenting the revitalized lineup. Driven by a sharp guitar riff and a tight rhythm section, the track showcases Jeff Gutt’s ability to carry the band’s melodic hard rock style without attempting to imitate the vocal personalities that came before him, Although the resemblance to Scott is really noticeable. Momentum continues with "Meadow" , the album’s first single and one of its most immediate highlights. The song rides a powerful groove built on Dean DeLeo ’s crunchy guitar work while Robert DeLeo ’s bass adds melodic depth beneath the soaring chorus. The track captures the swagger and hook-driven songwriting that helped define the band’s earlier successes. A more reflective mood emerges with "Thought She'd Be Mine" , where the band slows the tempo and explores atmospheric textures. Jeff Gutt delivers a restrained vocal performance supported by layered instrumentation that allows the song to unfold gradually and emotionally. The heavier "Roll Me Under"  pushes the record into grittier territory. Eric Kretz drives the song forward with pounding drums while thick guitar distortion gives the track a darker edge that recalls the band’s harder moments from earlier albums. Right after, "Never Enough"  combining power and tenderness, rock and blues. Heavy guitar layers and a sharp solo create one of the album's most beautiful moments, reminding listeners that "Stone Temple Pilots" know how to balance melody and roughness as they did in their early days. Another standout arrives with "The Art of Letting Go" , one of the moving and impressive pieces on the album. Caressing guitars and a melodious chorus create a sense of reflection that mirrors the band’s own journey through loss and renewal. The butterfly artwork featured on the album cover reinforces the themes of transformation and rebirth. For a band that has faced tragedy, lineup changes, and shifting eras in rock music, the imagery symbolizes a group evolving while remaining rooted in the musical chemistry that first defined them. "Stone Temple Pilots" ultimately stands as a testament to resilience. Jeff Gutt proves himself a strong addition to the lineup, while the songwriting partnership of Dean and Robert DeLeo continues to deliver the melodic depth and powerful arrangements that have long defined "Stone Temple Pilots". Rather than attempting to recreate their past, the band uses this album to demonstrate that their creative story is still unfolding. For Listening: Spotify  | Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website