He is best known as the singer of "Blind Melon" and he had a very short career but he influenced many artists... (Photo: Ebet Roberts) 1. His full name is Richard Shannon Hoon and he was born on September 26, 1967. 2. He grew up in Indiana with a stepbrother & stepsister and at a young age decided to use his middle name in order to be different from his father Richard. 3. He was an athlete in high school and was part of the baseball team, wrestling team, and pole vaulting. 4. After graduating from high school he joined his first band "Styff Kytten" which was a glam metal band. He took on the role of a vocalist but he also was the one who led the band. 5. In 1985, Hoon left Indiana and moved to Los Angeles to seek his musical future. 6. There he met Brad Smith and Rogers Stevens, the two saw Hoon perform on stage with an acoustic guitar and quickly fell in love with the guy. 7. In 1990 the three members joined by Christopher Thorn and Glen Graham formed the band "Blind Melon". (Photo: bravewords.com) 8. The name was taken from a nickname given by Hoon's father to drug addicts who were in the neighborhood where he lives 9. The five young members recorded a demo consisting of four songs and managed to get a contract with the label Capitol Records 10. At that time Hoon acquired a new friend named Axl Rose who was a friend of his sister 11. The two also became friends in music when Axl invited Hoon to participate in the double and huge album "Use Your Illusion I & II" 12. Hoon performed background vocals on the songs “The Garden”, and “Don’t Cry” and also participated in the video clip of the song “Don’t Cry”. 13. The sharp-eyed will notice the image of Hoon on the sleeve of the "Use Your Illusion I" vinyl 14. In 1992, Blind Melon released their debut album bearing the band's name 15. In order to promote the album, the band went on tour with "Guns N 'Roses", "Soundgarden" and Ozzy Osbourne as an opening act. 16. Simultaneously, the band's famous video clip for the song "No Rain" was released, which was broadcast non-stop on MTV. The video clip and the tour took the band to the sky and they were a huge success. 17. With the success also came the drugs and Hoon became their very heavy consumer. In 1994, the band participated in the infamous Woodstock 94 festival, where Hoon took the stage while drugged and dressed in his girlfriend's dress. (Photo: straight.com) 18. In 1995 the band's second album “Soup” was released 19. During the tour to promote the album, Hoon added a drug rehab therapist to support him 20. But on October 21, 1995, after a marathon night of drugs, which resulted from the band's disappointing performance in Houston, Hoon died from an overdose of cocaine. The band's sound technician found him dead on the band's bus. (Photo: Henry Diltz) 21. In 1996, the band released a compilation album called "Nico" named after Hoon's daughter Nico Blue. A tribute album to Hoon whose entire income was dedicated to his daughter and included special versions, songs recorded by Hoon and completed by the band, and covers 22. The band continued to exist until 1999 with various singers and disbanded. In 2006 it returned to activity with the singer Travis Warren and released its third album "For My Friends" 23. In 2008 a book was published called "A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other: The Story of Shannon Hoon and Blind Melon" by Greg Prato on Hoon and the Band 24. In 2019, a documentary about Hoon was released called "All I Can Say" which consists of footage he took with a home camera. 25. Despite his particularly short life in the world of music, Hoon has had an impact on many artists and some of them even mentioned him in their songs, such as: "Dream Theater", Z by akk Wylde , and more... "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 21, 2003, "Rush" released their live album "Rush In Rio". About a year earlier, on November 23, 2002, Rush appeared in front of 40,000 spectators at the famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to give their 66th show in the tour', designed to promote the album " Vapor Trails ". This is the band's first tour in over five years of hiatus. Due to a severe tropical storm in the area, the band took the stage later than scheduled, at 22:00, without conducting a sound check and without the recording team checking and examining the recording equipment. It's not clear if the band members were motivated by the tension and madness of the day's events, or if they just came with a clear intention to give it their all, explode, knowing it's their last show on tour, but "Rush" has never sounded so great on an officially released live show. Geddy Lee 's bass playing is crueler, more powerful, and aggressive than ever, Alex Lifeson 's guitar work is virtuoso, moving, brilliant, and sweeping throughout the entire setlist, and what about Neil Peart ? His drumming continues to inspire awe and admiration. He pushes the whole band in an unprecedented rhythm attack and just gave his all in every note and song. This show brings us together with a band that goes to the end, a band that manages to surpass itself in perfect playing and precise and tight performance. And the sound, what a sound ... real, authentic, very alive, dynamic. And not only does the band make it through despite all the difficulties, but it also gives its best live performance ever. But it does not end there. Because in this show "Rush" has 4 members for the first time. Geddy, Alex, Neil, and "The Audience." They sweep the band after them in their madness and with the endless energies they have. 40,000 thousand voices singing as one and pushing the band forward, to give one of their best performances. Never was an audience who "sang" an instrumental piece like the Brazilian audience sang "YYZ". From the first note in the opening song " Tom Sawyer " this audience does not rest for a second and accompanies the band as an additional musical instrument, singing the riffs and Melodies with the band. For example, listen to their singing accompanying the riffs and their roars at every break in " 2112 ". After this piece went under the throat of this psychic audience, it no longer sounded the same, and any audience that came after it was already obligated to emulate the vocal accompaniment of the mighty Brazilian audience. But beyond the fact that this album is so musically special, it is also very statistically unique. So here are some interesting facts about it: 1. This is the band's first live album after the long hiatus imposed on it, following the tragic events that befell drummer Neil Peart . This forced Peart to go into an extreme training regime to get back to the fitness before the tragedies and it seems to us that he is back even more strong, accurate, and amazing. 2. It is also the band's first live album which has broken the regular pattern of releasing a live album after every four studio albums. 3. It is also the first live album featuring an entire setlist from start to finish. In addition to the setlist that included 29 songs, two bonus tracks were included on the album, " Between Sun & Moon " recorded in Phoenix, and " Vital Signs " in Quebec, both on the same tour. 4. It is also the band's only live album to be recorded entirely in one gig (except for the two bonus tracks), unlike previous live albums that were made up of a collection of shows. 5. It's also the band's first triple live album. 6. The album features nearly three hours of uninterrupted music in which the band plays songs from 15 albums out of the 17 albums it has released to date, with the only albums not receiving representation here being: " Caress Of Steel " and " Hold Your Fire ". 7. The album with the most played songs in the show is " Moving Pictures ", with four songs. 8. This is the first time the band has performed in Brazil. 9. This is the second largest audience in which the band has ever performed (and we do not refer to festivals). 10. The performance with the largest audience in front of which the band performed, was held one night earlier in Sao Paulo, where the band played in front of 60,000 people. 11. This is also the band's first album featuring an "Unplugged" version. It was " Resist " which is performed by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson on guitars, ending with Neil Peart 's drum solo. 12. Neil Peart 's " O Baterista " drum solo means " The Drummer " in Portuguese. It lasts 8 minutes and it alternates between different music styles, rock, jazz, big band, Latin, and even African. 13. This is the band's only live album featuring three instrumental pieces, even five if you consider " Cygnus X-1 " and the drum piece " O Baterista ". 14. During the instrumental track " La Villa Strangiato " the band goes into a jazz improvisation that includes vocal accompaniment by Alex Lifeson with amusing sentences like: "This is jazz ... jazz is WEIRD!!" also playing an excerpt from the song "The Girl From Ipanema". 15. It took the band almost a year to mix the album because it was recorded with relatively outdated equipment. And now we just hope you can find yourself 3 free hours to listen to this amazing show : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 21, 1976, "Leftoverture", the fourth album in two years by "Kansas", was released. We write quite a bit about the effects of one artist on another, the feedback that always exists between artists and bands with the pendulum shifting the dominance in the music market between England and the US over the years. Basically, the whole concept of our radio show - "Face/Off", of our Facebook page and our site, is built on this tension between old and new, between influential and influenced, and this album is one of the most prominent examples of this. An album that sits on the "crossroads" of influenced and influential. On one hand, it takes from British progressive rock with bands like "Genesis", "Gentle Giant", "Emerson Lake &" Palmer and "Camel" and on the other hand, it was an influence on the bands that will emerge a decade or more later like "Dream Theater", which borrowed some of its brilliant riffs from this album. This album is probably the pinnacle of the band's work. The album that put "Kansas" on the map and moved it from the venues to stadiums. A masterpiece that moves between the magical and the formidable, between progressive and soft rock, and from there to hard rock, and even in this case it's a kind of "crossroads". On the one hand, it has pure progressive tracks like the mighty and amazing " The Wall " which is one of the most beautiful tracks on the album and occasionally makes us flashbacks from our favorite bands "Genesis" and "Camel", " Miracles Out Of Nowhere " where you can hear the influences from Rick Wakeman and "Gentle Giant", " Cheyenne Anthem " whom part of sounded to us like "ELP", the mini-work " Opus Insert " and of course " Magnum Opus " which is a six-part masterpiece consisting of short sections that were not perfected into songs, literally "Leftovers" as the name of The album. On the other hand, this album has rhythmic rock songs like " What's on My Mind ", " Questions of My Childhood " and of course the masterpiece " Carry On Wayward Son ", which was written by guitarist Kerry Livgren, just two days before the end of the recordings and hardly entered the album. It's the band's breakthrough song to international success and the song that actually saved the band, which after the commercial failure of the album "Masque" its future was not clear. In this context, we will mention that the hit " Dust in the Wind " will only come on the next excellent album from 1977 - "Point of Know Return". Singer and keyboardist Steve Walsh had writer block at the time, forcing Kerry Livgren to work harder to produce new material for the album, and indeed the talented Kerry was almost exclusively responsible for writing, with Walsh's assistance only in three of the album's eight tracks. Although the song can be interpreted as dealing with religion, Kerry noted that at the time of writing he was not thinking about religion, but about self-search. Kerry felt a strong need to continue his self-search and by 1980 became an evangelical Christian. He saw himself as the same "rebellious son" who stars in the song and seeks a spiritual answer. The line "Surely heaven waits for you" towards the end of the song became "a self-fulfilling prophecy", as mentioned Kerry saw the light when he became an evangelical Christian 4 years later. The song actually continues from the same point where the previous album "Masque" ended. The last words in the song "The Pinnacle" were "I stood where no man goes Above the din I rose", where the word "Din" means "noise", or "commotion". While the first line in the first sentence of the song "Carry On Wayward Son" (after the a cappella) begins with the words "Once I rose above the noise and confusion", meaning in both cases it is a person who rose above the "noise and commotion". By the way, some claim that the opening riff of the song was borrowed from the song " I'm Gonna Leave You " by "Journey". To the skeptics among you, we will say that the song is taken from "Journey's" album "Look into the Future" from 1975 and that the two bands were on a joint tour that year. Listen and judge for yourself: In conclusion, this is an excellent album that does not have weak moments. There is a perfect balance here between progressive and basic rock, between complex and simple, between melodic and virtuoso, which allows progressive lovers and classical rock lovers to meet at the crossroads created by this album and enjoy it in perfect harmony. And now for the Israeli connection and to detail interesting trivia. The first album of "Kansas" from 1974 has a song called "Aperçu" after which the Israeli band "Aperco" was named. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 20, 1998 "Black Sabbath" released their "Reunion" album. After years of lineup changes and the band members pursuing different projects, "Reunion" marked the triumphant return of the classic "Black Sabbath lineup" — with Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . This double live album, recorded over two nights at the Birmingham NEC, showcases the band revisiting their legendary early catalog while also offering two brand-new studio tracks. The album also won "Black Sabbath" their first ever Grammy Award in 2000 for the live recording of " Iron Man " taken from this album. In the late '70s, "Black Sabbath's" original lineup experienced significant turmoil, resulting in the departure of Osbourne in 1979. His exit led to "Sabbath" experimenting with various singers and lineups throughout the '80s and '90s, while Osbourne embarked on a highly successful solo career. Despite these separate paths, there was always a lingering sense that one day, the classic lineup might reunite. Ozzy briefly rejoined his former bandmates for a single performance on 13 July 1985 at the Live Aid benefit concert in Philadelphia, and again in 1992 for the climax of his "No More Tours" farewell tour, but the fans always hoped for a full-fledged "Black Sabbath" reunion. By the late '90s, the cultural influence of "Black Sabbath" had never been stronger, with countless metal and hard rock bands citing them as the godfathers of heavy metal. Their original records, from " Black Sabbath " (1970) to " Never Say Die ! ", had stood the test of time. Fans and critics alike longed for the original lineup to return and reclaim their throne as the pioneers of doom-laden, riff-heavy rock. After years of rumors and anticipation, that long-awaited reunion finally came to fruition in 1997, with the band announcing a series of live performances, culminating in the recording of "Reunion", a live album that would solidify their return. "Reunion" captured "Black Sabbath" performing in front of a rabid audience eager to witness the rebirth of metal’s founding fathers. From the opening notes of " War Pigs ," it's clear that "Black Sabbath" hadn’t lost their magic. Osbourne's voice, while not as raw as in the early '70s, still carried the haunting power and unique charisma that made him a rock icon. His connection with the crowd was undeniable, joking with them between songs and reviving his infamous role as the "Prince of Darkness". Tony Iommi ’s guitar work, always the backbone of "Sabbath’s" sound, was as menacing as ever. His crushing riffs on songs like " Paranoid ," " Children of the Grave ," and " Iron Man " reaffirmed his status as one of the most influential guitarists in rock history, particularly on deeper cuts like " Into the Void " and " Sabbath Bloody Sabbath ," where his brooding, doom-laden tones echoed throughout the venue. Geezer Butler ’s bass playing provided the dark, rumbling undercurrent that had always defined "Sabbath’s" sound. His basslines, particularly on " N.I.B. ," showed his unmatched skill at combining groove and heaviness. Meanwhile, Bill Ward ’s drumming, though slightly more restrained than in his younger days, remained a driving force, particularly in the intricate rhythms of " Fairies Wear Boots " and " Black Sabbath ." Ward’s presence was especially significant, as he had struggled with health issues over the years, making his participation in "Reunion" a powerful symbol of the band's full-circle return. To make "Reunion" even more special, "Black Sabbath" included two new studio recordings: " Psycho Man " and " Selling My Soul ." These were the first new songs from the classic lineup since "Never Say Die!" released in 1978. Both tracks managed to strike a balance between "Sabbath's" iconic doom-metal sound and the more polished, modern production techniques of the late '90s. " Psycho Man " kicks off with a classic Iommi riff, dark and heavy, reminiscent of the band’s early work. Osbourne’s vocals during the first verse are on the lowest side of his vocal range. " Selling My Soul " slows things down a bit, with a more atmospheric, mid-tempo groove, showcasing Iommi’s mastery of melody within heavy music. "Reunion" was more than just a live album—it was a statement. It marked the definitive comeback of one of the most influential bands in heavy music. Released at a time when the metal scene was going through significant changes with the rise of nu-metal and alternative metal, "Reunion" was a reminder of where it all began. The success of "Reunion" also paved the way for more tours and, eventually, a new studio album, " 13 " released in 2013. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Today we will tell you about Tom Petty, singer, guitarist, creator, and music producer: (Photo: NME) 1. He was born Thomas Earl Petty on October 20, 1950, in Gainesville, Florida. 2. His love for rock 'n' roll officially began in the summer of 1961, when he was only 11, then he met none other than Elvis Presley, on the set of a film. He was simply fascinated by him and has since begun to obsessively listen to his songs. 3. He dropped out of high school at age 17 to join his first band, "Mudcrutch". Petty played bass for the band from 1970-1975. 4. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, "Mudcrutch" disbanded before even releasing an album - but guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench who played with Tom in the band will became members of "The Heartbreakers" and accompanied Petty for five decades. 5. When Tom Petty and his band adopted the name "The Heartbreakers", there was already a band of the same name. They were from New York, performed at the famous CBGB club, and were even invited to be the open-up of the "Sex Pistols" on their US tour. Despite this, Tom Petty's "Heartbreakers" kept their name and won the public memory as the real "Heartbreakers". (Photo: ABC/Shelter Records) 6. He received music lessons from none other than Don Felder, also a native of Gainesville, Florida. Felder will later join the "Eagles". 7. In 1994 Petty invited Dave Grohl to join "The Heartbreakers" as a replacement for Stan Lynch who was fired by Tom. Grohl appeared as the drummer of "The Heartbreakers" in two songs that aired on "Saturday Night Live", but he turned down the offer to serve as the band's regular drummer and went on to form the "Foo Fighters". 8. By the way, Petty is the artist who appeared the most on "Saturday Night Live", it happened 8 times. He even joins the "Five-timers" club which is usually reserved for hosts who appear on more than five shows. 9. His album "The Last DJ" from 2001 is an "indictment" against the record companies. The first contract Petty signed gave the record company 100% of the rights to his songs in exchange for $ 10,000. This led him to declare a "bankruptcy" in the late 1970s and fight for a fairer contract. 10. In early 1981 he refused to release his album "Hard Promises" at MCA after the company asked to price it at $ 9.98, $ 1.00 more than the regular list price of $ 8.98. Petty even considered renaming the album to "Eight Ninety-Eight", but eventually MCA decided to back down. 11. That was not Petty's only story with "MCA." His most successful album from 1989, "Full Moon Fever", which yielded hits like: "Free Fallin '", "I Won't Back Down" and "Runnin' Down a Dream", was barely released because "MCA" thought it would be a failure, in part because it was his first solo album without the "Heartbreakers". Eventually, the album reached 5 times platinum status. 12. The song "Runnin' 'Down a Dream" from the album "Full Moon Fever" was the official theme song of both the NBA Finals in 2006 and 2008. Petty also performed the song with the "Heartbreakers" at the halftime of Super Bowl XLII in 2008. 13. When he recorded the hit "I Won't Back Down" with George Harrison , he had a terrible chill. George Harrison ran quickly to the store, bought Ginger, boiled it, and let Patty breathe the steam. This opened his sinuses long enough for him to record the take that went into the album. 14. By the way, Petty got credit for Sam Smith's song "Stay With Me" because it sounds very similar to the song "I Won't Back Down". 15. Tom Petty and George Harrison were really good friends. In 1988 they even co-founded the supergroup "Traveling Wilburys" with Jeff Lynne , Roy Orbison, and Bob Dylan . 16. Guitarist Mike Campbell offered him the song "The Boys of Summer" in 1984. Petty refused, among others, because he did not like the use of synthesizers. The song eventually became a big hit by Don Henley . 17. Oddly enough despite his successful and influential career Petty did not have an album that reached number one until 2014. It was “Hypnotic Eye” which sold 131,000 copies in the first week of its release. 18. In 2002 he entered the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" with his band "The Heartbreakers". 19. In 2008 Tom Petty revived the first band he played with - "Mudcrutch". He even released an album with them and went on a successful tour and later joined them for another album and a tour in 2016. 20. A significant number of films included his songs in their soundtrack. In two of them, the characters even sang them. The first, Catherine Baker Martin, the senator's daughter in the movie "The Silence of the Lambs," sang "American Girl," and the second, Jerry Maguire sang "Free Fallin'" while driving. 21. Petty has also appeared in several films, including Kevin Costner's "The Postman." 22. He also voiced the character of Elroy "Lucky" Kleinschmidt in the hit series "King of the Hill." 23. Petty also wrote the soundtrack for the movie "She's the One" starring Jennifer Aniston. 24. His first marriage to his high school sweetheart, Jane Benyo, lasted 22 years. They have two daughters from this marriage. In 2001 he married Dana York. 25. Singer Stevie Nicks wrote the successful song “Edge of Seventeen” about him and his wife. She was friends with Petty and heard the story of his acquaintance with Jane Benyo, when she was only 17 years old. (Photo: George Rose) 26. On the morning of May 17, 1987, just as Petty and his family were having breakfast, his California home caught fire. Authorities determined it was an arson. Petty was deeply shaken by the incident. 27. Petty passed away on October 2, 2017, about two weeks before his 67th birthday. 28. His last performance was part of the tour to mark the 40th anniversary of "Heartbreakers". It was held on September 25, 2017 - about a week before his death. 29. During his glorious career, Tom Petty has released no less than 20 studio albums. 13 with "The Heartbreakers", two with "the Traveling Wilburys", two with "Mudcrutch" and three more as part of his solo career. 30. Petty has sold over 80 million albums during his lifetime, making him one of the best-selling artists in the world. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek... "Disturbed's" seventh album was released on October 19, 2018, an album called "Evolution" and reflects it! This is the band's first album that comes only in fourth place on Billboard and does not occupy first place, so it stops the conquest of first place on 5. The previous five albums all took first place on Billboard 200. David Draiman called this album "Black Album" because it marks for him what Metallica went through on the black album , an evolution of a band that changes its style. We do not think the difference is as substantial as in Metallica, but there is indeed a change in style here. Speaking of style... The band members said that for the recordings of the album they were inspired by classic rock albums they grew up on. Inspired, they tried to create freely, without restrictions, restraints, or instructions. David said the sessions were very moving and sweeping, they brought with them a great emotional charge so they also decided to dedicate the album to two very close musicians who passed away, Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) and Vinnie Paul (Pantera) From the band's remarks at the time of the album's release: "The record showcases the most adventurous and eclectic combination of musical styles and moods that we've ever attempted in our careers. Each song truly has its own identity, feel, and power." We pampered you with the deluxe version so you can listen to Myles Kennedy joins the band for a live performance of "The Sound of Silence", to listen on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Another album that celebrates its release today and was released on October 19, 1993 (according to the band website), is ".Chaos A.D" by "Sepultura". This album is the band's fifth and it marks a change in its musical lineת with the entry of Brazilian and groove metal motifs. This change can already be heard in the opening song " Refuse/Resist " which emphasizes heavier and slower riffs. The song opens with a recording of the rhythmic fetal heartbeat of Max Cavalera 's son who was not yet born then and will be called Zyon. These heartbeats predicted something for the future, because Zyon stayed with rhythm and became a drummer. The change in the musical style is attributed, among other things, to the fact that this is the band's first album in which almost all the songs are played by the guitars with a lower half-tuned tuning, which creates a heavier and "doomy" sound. An example of this can be found in the song " Nomad " which features slow and heavy riffs that were described by guitarist Andreas Kisser as Sepultura's response to "Metallica's" "Sad but True". This album includes quite a few songs with a political and protest statements, such as " Refuse/Resist " which we mentioned, where's only its title sounds like a protest slogan in a demonstration and whose video clip speaks for itself, " Slave New World " which refers to censorship, and of course " Territory " which refers to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and whose clip was shot in Israel. The album's themes also include reference to the massacre in the songs " Amen " which tells of the murder of David Cyrus' cult members in Texas, " Carandiru Massacre " which refers to the massacre of prisoners rioting in a Brazilian prison, or " Kaiowas " written as a tribute to an Indian tribe in Brazil who committed mass suicide when the government decides to transfer them from their land. An interesting story about " Kaiowas ". This is the band's first instrumental track which Max defined as a combination of "Led Zeppelin" and "Sonic Youth". This song was recorded live accompanied by acoustic instruments at "Chepstow Castle", an ancient medieval castle located in Wales. In this song, Max Cavalera and Andreas Kisser are in charge of the guitar roles, and Igor Cavalera and Paulo Jr. On all percussion. When the band recorded this song they were sure they would never play it live due to the complexity of recreating the drum patterns on stage. However, the band changed their minds after watching a video of a performance by the American band "Neurosis" in which the band members put down their guitars and started playing drums. The band decided to give it a chance and after one rehearsal that sounded good enough, they did not stop playing the song live. It is interesting to note that during the sessions for the band's album they recorded several cover versions for songs of bands such as "New Model Army" the English punk rock band, "Titãs" and "Ratos de Porão" the Brazilian rock band and "Final Conflict" an American hardcore band. Igor who was a fan of "New Model Army" persuaded the band to add the song "The Hunt" to the album and the rest of the songs appeared as b-sides or on compilation albums. There is no doubt that this album is a milestone in the band's musical development, which continues to formulate the unique sound that characterizes it from the other metal bands that were active at the time. For Listening : Spotify , Apple M usic "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

What happens when "Rush" decides to have some fun with grunge ??? On October 19, 1993 "Rush" released their 15th studio album "Counterparts". It's one of the band's most successful albums in the US, which immediately after its release jumped to second place on the Billboard charts. Why only second place? Because that very day "Vs.", the second album of "Pearl Jam", came out and stole the first place from "Rush". Now you're probably wondering how one of Rush's most successful albums in the US relates to "grunge"? So let's release it right here. "Rush" really had fun on this album with grunge and alternative. Anyone who does not believe, please jump straight to the end of the review and click play on " Animate ", wait for the 0:57 second, and tell us if you do not hear a guitar-bass-drum riff that could easily be a part of the album " Ten " of "Pearl Jam". And if that still does not work out for you, then listen to the lead riff in the song " Stick It Out " or the powerful chord transitions in the opening of the song " Cold Fire ". So how come "Rush", the queen of prog metal of the 70s and the princess of the synthesizers from the 80s, comes to play grunge and alternative in the 90s? 1993 was a year in which the grunge revolution was in full swing. The music industry was simply dominated by bands from Seattle or the like, and "Rush" understood that the music market has changed beyond recognition since releasing their previous album, two years earlier. They understand that to stay relevant they must do it again. They must reinvent themselves and change their musical style once more and adapt to the music era. The band members come together and make a conscious decision to change their sound, but still remain spontaneous while writing. They later confirmed that during the writing process they were influenced by "Primus" who warmed them up on the tour of the album " Roll The Bones " as well as by "Pearl Jam". Alex Lifeson also noted in an interview after the album's release, that there was an agreement among the band members that the guitar would have a more dominant role than the keyboards, something that has not happened since the album " Moving Pictures ". At the same time, behind the scenes, musical disagreements arose between Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee . Alex Lifeson asked Geddy Lee not to use the keyboards at all, but Lee brought them with him to the studio, which clouded the atmosphere. Lee explained that he intended to use the keyboards as an addition, a complementary "decoration" to the music, as was done on the previous album, but Alex Lifeson thought Gaddy Lee was backing away from the agreement and wants the keyboards to be a major and essential part. As you can tell from listening to the album, the result is more in line with Geddy Lee 's version, as the guitar roles in the album almost completely overshadow the keyboards, which serve as an accompaniment in the background and nothing more. Ultimately in this album, there is a perfect balance between the conscious decision to write music that will suit the period, and the consent and desire of the band members to be spontaneous. This perfect balance is what will make the album one of the band's most successful in the US. The rhythm count of Neil Peart which was captured on the recording, opens up " Animate ", the first in a grunge-alternative sequence that opens the album. Geddy Lee thought Neil Peart 's count had a human touch that well conveyed the atmosphere in the studio so it stayed. Interesting to note that Peart plays on this album on an American Ludwig Maple Classic set, which greatly influences the special sound. Immediately after the count, Neil Peart enters with a basic R&B rhythm of 4/4. Immediately after Alex Lifeson joins with the arpeggio chords and Geddy Lee with the dominant and sweeping bass line, while in the background you can hear the keyboards used only as an accompaniment, just as Geddy Lee intended. Geddy Lee plays deliberately with a "faltering" bass amp. This old amplifier was found to be in the studio and was repaired with the help of the recording technician, especially to get an immature and rough sound. At 3:19 we go down a bit towards the entrance to the transition section which includes a beautiful solo by Alex Lifeson and also the word "Counterparts" which represents the name of the album. We harden the sound with the grunge, rough and heavy riff leading the song " Stick It Out " which was also the first single released from the album and reached number one on Billboard. The clip for the song gained a lot of screen time on MTV and undoubtedly contributed a lot to the relative success of the album. This song evolved from a guitar riff that Alex Lifeson played to Geddy Lee and Geddy really liked it. The band stuck to the forceful riff that makes up most of the song, but added several elements to it that made it more interesting. The third track " Cut to the Chase " opens with Alex Lifeson 's "airy" guitar and we already feel the transition from grunge to alternative, especially with the powerful chords in the chorus. Alex Lifeson's solo is one of the most special and beautiful on the album. Amazing to think it was taken from a demo Alex Lifeson made on an analog tape. Alex thought this version was the best. If you will try carefully you will be able to hear a piano that accompanies parts of the song. The album downshifts gear with the fourth track " Nobody's Hero " one of the most beautiful and moving songs on the album that Neil Peart wrote inspired by the death of his friend from AIDS. The song is mostly based on the acoustic guitar of Alex Lifeson and the bass of Geddy Lee and includes an accompaniment by a string choir led by the legendary Michael Kamen. The lyrics to the fifth song " Between Sun & Moon " are the result of another collaboration between Neil Peart and Pye Dubois, who co-wrote with Neil Peart the lyrics to the songs " Tom Sawyer " and "Force Ten" in the previous decade. The musical side of the song evolved from a jam between Geddy Lee and Alex. Alex Lifeson played Geddy the riff and Geddy thought that this does not sound like Alex Lifeson 's playing but rather "the Rolling Stones". Indeed, the two agreed that Keith Richards and Pete Townshend were the inspiration for writing the song. The song " Double Agent " was described by Geddy Lee as "a perfect exercise in self-indulgence." This is the last song the band wrote for the album and Gedy noted that they just wanted to go wild and play whatever they wanted. Geddy Lee also noted that this is the most "nerdy" song they have come out with (probably because of the speech segment in the middle) but he also said he is very pleased with the result. Quite amazingly, the sound of the guitar riff in this song is a kind of window that allows a glimpse into the future, as it is very reminiscent of the sound that the band will have on their albums from the 2000s. The song " Cold Fire " is one of the most beautiful songs on the album. Its power is its dynamic. It opens with a fast guitar riff and from there to a melodic and calm section and back all over again. The band members noted that they had the hardest time finishing this song and that it was rewritten several times, until producer Peter Collins helped them reach the final and satisfactory result. Lee was so pleased with the result that he rated the song as the best on the album in terms of composition. This song reached number two on the US mainstream charts. It is interesting to note that this album includes an instrumental track called " Leave That Thing Alone " which at least in terms of the name is a sequel to the instrumental track "Where's My Thing?" From the previous album. After the release of the album, the band embarks on a limited tour in Canada and the US only. After the tour ended, the band members took a relatively long break, Geddy Lee took over for his family and Alex Lifeson worked on his solo project " Victor ". This album proves that Rush is a band that manages time and time again to adapt itself to the music era and style and thus remained always relevant, just like a chameleon that changes colors according to the place and time it operates and in doing so not only survives but gets better over the years. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

"Pearl Jam's" second album was released on October 19, 1993, two years after the explosion of "Ten" This album is the redhead of the match when it ignites... It is a piece that was worked with a hammer and chisel and then polished with number 3 sandpaper... If the band members claimed that on the first album, the production was excessive and the polishing was too smooth, here they take it in their own direction and do it their way (actually the way of most of them, because Eddie didn't like the studio). This is the first time that PJ has worked with producer Brendan O'Brien, a producer who knows how to take them in the direction they want and create with them together as a band. This album was created under enormous pressure and against everything that the band wanted to happen, this is the well-known dissonance of "Pearl Jam", the desire to make good music, but without the success that came along with it or rather without the consequences of the success. "Ten" brought them exactly the opposite, although it took some time, but his breakthrough was meteoric and had a direct impact on the second album. Regardless of whether it was good or bad, the second album was destined for commercial success due to the momentum of the first album. Just to make it clear, the album "Vs". Broke the sales record for an album in the first week (or rather five days), and it held this title for 5 years !!! "Vs." is also the only "Pearl Jam" album that jumped straight to number one on the Billboard (and if you read our review of "RUSH's" "Counterparts" album, you know that it stole the number one spot from the album that was released on the same day), and held it for 5 weeks. All this sounds amazing and phenomenal but this is exactly what the band did not want to happen... dissonance?? We already said that!! (Photo: Gie Knaeps) A short background When the band members came to record the album in March 1993 after a non-stop tour and the insane success of the previous album, they first wanted to do everything not to flow this wave of success. Part of the approach resulted in the fact that, although the album contained six successful singles, the band did not release a single music video for them, and in another case even omitted a song from the album (the song "Better Man" that would eventually appear on the next album), simply because producer Brandon O'Brien thought it would become a hit As part of the enormous pressure the band experienced following the meteoric success of the debut album, Eddie Vedder experienced great difficulties in writing, and in one of the interviews, he even claimed that this was the album he had the least fun writing. Brandon tried to relieve some of the pressure by dragging the band members to play "softball" every day before the recordings. Imagine the band members every morning after the morning coffee going out for a short game to release pressure and only then entering the recordings. Another thing he did was get the PJ members to record together as a band. In a way, it was "Pearl Jam's" first album as a band, because they wrote the whole album together and no one came with pre-prepared material. To this, must be added the reinforcement player - drummer Dave Abbruzzese who joined the band immediately after the release of the album "Ten" and was part of the tour. We talked about Dave's influences on the band, we mentioned him several times in our podcast and we will talk more about him later. (Photo: Paul Bergen) Another interesting detail is that the band recorded the album in a different way than was customary at the time, each time they worked on only one song and did not move on until they finished it, not only the writing but also the recording, arrangement, and mixing and only then did they allow themselves to move on to the next song. Eddie, who is known for his total dedication, his social and political views, and his attitude toward the music industry, felt very uncomfortable during the recordings. The recordings took place in a modern and well-equipped studio with a pampering and relaxed atmosphere that was very suitable for Dave (this is where the relationship starts to crack) and perhaps also for the other members of the band, but not for Eddie. He didn't like Stone Gossard coming to recordings in a robe and flip-flops, he thought that in such an environment you don't create rock music but elevator music or dinner music, and at a certain point, he turned to Brandon and asked him to disappear for a few weeks. Eddie took his car and drove to San Francisco, he slept in the car for several weeks just to get out of his comfort zone. It's the discomfort that makes Eddie creative. Before we get to the songs, let's talk a little bit about the album cover, which is also rough. We talked about dissonance right... So the cover is a photo that Jeff Ament took on a farm in Hamilton Montana of a sheep (Angora) poking its head through a fence. The band members said they chose the photo because it represented what they were feeling at the time. That they are all slaves to the music industry, and that success has turned them into wounded and imprisoned animals unable to break through the barriers of the music industry. The name of the album was also supposed to represent the same concept. Initially, the band gave the album the name, "Five Against One" taken from the first line of the song "Animal" - "One, two, three, four, five against one". This sentence refers to the five band members against one... Against the industry... Against themselves. The name was changed at the last minute, so there are still several tapes circulating in the world that bear the original name and not the final name which is "Vs". (Photo: Joe Giron) And now for the main course Cases where a band succeeds in producing two consecutive masterpieces are rare, certainly when it comes to the first two albums and even more so when the band in general hates everything related to success. So whether the Fantastic Five intended it or not, they released a second masterful album in a row, a bomb album that maintains a high level throughout and that doesn't have a single weak song. It opens with a fast-paced and sweeping bass-drum duel embellished with a random guitar line for the first 30 seconds of the song, a sort of stretching exercise before a sprint, and then... "Ready... Set... "Go" !! The song explodes right in our faces with 8 consecutive snare beats and this frantic song gets this album off the ground. It's amazing to think that the Abbruzzese was the one who came up with the riff that led to this crazy song, which will also be released as the first single from the album. One day when all the members were doing a jam session, Dave pulled out a guitar and started playing the riff, and then Stone asked him what he was playing when suddenly Jeff joined in and Eddie started singing and the rest is history. Eddie hinted that this song is about his car, but there are those who claim that it is a song about child abuse and they draw their conclusion from the lines "Don't go on me versus "Don't you want me", as if the child is asking the parent why he is abusing him. And if you put all your energy into sprinting, then it's a shame because it's going to be a long-distance run that continues with the crazy beat of "Animal" and one of the most beautiful and bouncy riffs this band has ever written. When this opening is played there is not even one foot left on the floor and not one head standing still. This song started with an instrumental part that Stone recorded as a demo and called "Weird A". Mike McCready 's guitar solo on the song was also an unintended consequence. He played a solo for the band's guitar technicians not knowing that it would eventually be included on the album. The lyrics that start with five against one talk about the difficulty the band has with the music industry as we mentioned above. We downshift and change to acoustics with "Daughter" one of the most beautiful and moving songs on the album which was released as the second single. The song talks about a girl with learning difficulties and her mother who doesn't understand the problem her daughter has. The first seeds of the song were planted during the "Ten" album tour when Gossard played to Vedder on the bus the chord progression that would later become the song. This defining moment can be seen in the 2011 documentary "PJ20" by director Cameron Crowe. By the way, the short instrumental break in this song serves as fertile ground for improvisations by the band members at concerts. The first seeds that explain the reason for Dave being fired from the band after this album can be found in the fourth track of the album "Glorified G" . The song was written by Eddie after he found out that Dave had purchased a gun. Dave and Eddie treated the dizzying success differently, Dave enjoying it while Eddie aggressively disliked it. As part of dealing with success, Dave decided to purchase a gun one day. Ament revealed this to Eddie during the writing for the album and Eddie was shocked. He approached Dave and asked him if he really bought a gun. Dave sarcastically replied that he actually bought two. Eddie immediately sat down and wrote the words "Got a gun, fact I got two/That's OK, man, 'cause I love God/Glorified" The song "Dissident" is the fourth single released from the album. The song was almost ready in 1992, even before the sessions for the recording of the album and it talks about betrayal and the feeling of guilt that comes after it. Ament's hypnotic bass line in the song "W.M.A." lays the foundation for a protest song against the violent force used by the police. The album's booklet includes an excerpt about a man named Malice Green, a black man who was killed by the Detroit police in 1992. However, in interviews with Vedder, he stated that the song is based on another case of police violence that he witnessed with his own eyes. The song "Rearviewmirror" takes us on the highway and increases our pulse again with the fast and frantic rhythm and the circular, monotonous, and mesmerizing line of this song, in which Eddie tells how he runs away and breaks away from his stepfather whom he hates. If we learn from the composition, this escape was not easy at all for Eddie because every time we press the pedal and speed up, the breaks come, with the cutting riffs, and the guitars chuckle and slow us down before we go back and speed up. But don't worry, this breakup has a happy ending because Eddie's race car opens up afterburners towards the climactic ending leaving the hating dad with smoke that can be seen through the rearview mirror... and it's just unbelievable that this crazy song wasn't released as a single but just a sidekick to the song "Dissident". We return to acoustics with the track with the longest name in history "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" , is a deliberate result of the band members suddenly realizing that most of their song titles have one or two words. This magical song was written mainly by Vedder and it talks about an exciting meeting between two people who haven't seen each other for a long time, the woman who stayed in the same town all these years, and the man who reunited with her in the end. And yes, this album also includes all the songs with one word in the title, "Blood", "Rats", "Leash" , and "Indifference" , but we need to make the long story short. Before ending, we will tell about another reason for the widening of the rift between Eddie and Dave, which eventually led to the separation of the two after the release of the album. After the recording of the album, the band had a legal conflict with Ticketmaster company because of the excessive ticket prices they claimed, when in this conflict Dave opposed the band's position and wanted to enjoy the money and success. Dave's attitude in this matter only intensified the differences between him and Vedder and is also one of the reasons why he was fired from the band! This sentence will probably put us in the minority, but in our humble opinion, this is the last good album of the band as a studio album, until the release of the album "Gigaton" in 2020. This album brings back our youthful love for the band and its first albums. It has a collection of amazing and immortal songs, which both stand as individual masterpieces in their own right and create a masterful album, as was the case with the band's first two albums. Listen to the album on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek... On October 17, 2000, "Limp Bizkit's" third album came out, we could not have ended this day without mentioning this album, an album with the hallucinatory name (perhaps the most), with an exploding amount of singles and an insane amount of sales !! This album came out a year after the band's breakthrough album "Significant Other" which exploded on charts and radio stations, with the outbreak of nu-metal, as it took over the success of the previous album. Please note that this album sold more than a million copies in the first week of its release !!! In the first week !! 1,054,511 copies !! On the day the album was released it sold 400,000 copies! In the second week, the album sold close to 400,000 copies !! It became the: Biggest first-week sales debut for a rock album in the United States since 1991 (the year the survey began). It maintained the first place on the Billboard for two weeks in a row! Anyone wondering what the origin of the album name is, so after we tell you what its origin is, you will be sorry that you were wondering but we must give you this service... The name of the album is divided into two. The first part is "Chocolate Starfish", which is a nickname for the butt hole in American slang. The second part is "Hot Dog Flavored Water", which comes from a joke by the band's guitarist Wes Borland who at one of the band's stops on the tour in a truck parking lot saw different types of juices with hallucinatory names. This album has some bombshells and anthems that accompanied us a lot in the 2000s, "Hot Dog" consisting of the word FUCK, forty-six times, "My Generation" and "Rollin" strong with the clips we saw non-stop. We can not forget the "Take a Look Around" that put us in constant hypnosis and the deadly "Boiler" . This album also features interesting guests such as: Scott Weiland , DMX, Method Man & Redman, and Trent Reznor. So if you want to break for a moment about the 2000s, click on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 17, 2014, "Slipknot's" fifth album was released. An album that marked the band's "restart" after the dismissal of drummer Joey Jordison and the death of the band's bassist Paul Gray after whom the album is named. You're probably wondering why we say "restart", there's no hiatus here or any break or a band that broke up and suddenly decided to make a comeback. "Slipknot" is also a band that takes its time and does not release album after album at a crazy pace, so what exactly are we talking about ??? This album marks a new beginning. A reboot of a band that lost one of its important members and in addition fired another member who was also very important to the band. Both together were the founders of the band and the core that moved it forward. The bassist, Paul Gray, was found dead two years after the release of the band's fourth album "All Hope Is Gone" . He was found lifeless in a hotel in IOWA after an overdose of morphine. His death severely affected the band members as he was a very dominant figure in terms of writing, creativity, and dynamics among the band members. If you remember, in this album, Paul is the one who drove the creation of the album and tried to unite all the band members who were completely detached from each other. He was the sane and embracing character who managed to connect the band members together. (Photo: Jay West) The song that opens the album "XIX" is a lament that Corey Taylor wrote and opens with the sentence: "This song is not for the living 'This song is for the dead." Shawn Crahan who lost his parents said that losing Paul was even harder, the song made all the band members fall apart especially when the below sentence appeared: “Walk with me, just like we should have done right from the start…. Walk with me, do not let this fucking world tear you apart. ” The unclear dismissals, to this day of Joey who also passed away in 2021, were also a not-so-simple blow to the band. Joey, who is also one of the band's founders, also took a significant part in the creation and writing, and under his hands came out a considerable number of the band's hits. Joey is also a drummer with a rare talent, technique, speed, and combination of rhythms and fillers that are phenomenal. He was one of the standout musicians in the band that gave it its very special sound. After being fired, Joey claimed he learned about the dismissals from the media and did not receive any notice from the band members at all. Both parties did not share the real reasons for the dismissals and gave a laconic announcement that they parted ways as a result of musical disagreement. A few years later it was discovered that Joey had a disease that prevented him from expressing his abilities and did not allow him to play. It's a little weird since he formed another band after leaving, so we'll leave it as is... After Paul's death the band members who were still committed to touring continued without him while recruiting a new bassist. Since it was difficult for them to have someone else take Paul's place, the new bassist played behind the stage when Paul's suit and mask were lying on the stage. After the tour it was clear to everyone that there would be no new album soon, they were too painful and distant and this time there was also no one to unite this extreme band. Only after a few years did they manage to communicate with each other and come up with ideas for the album. Taylor said they were very distant from each other but the relationships were spontaneously renewed at once. They started sharing materials and cosmically everyone flowed with the same idea, which doesn't happen much in "Slipknot" but we know tragedy is uniting. The group entered the studio but did not immediately start working, they had a very hard time letting go and feeling free in the studio. The same unbridled, unobtrusive group suddenly looked like a group of "yeshiva students" waiting for a "rabb"i to arrive. Taylor said it took a while for them to feel comfortable enough to create in light of Paul's loss. Shawn decided that in order to be inspired but also to show respect he puts Paul's Ibanez guitar in the recording studio with part of his mask hanging on it as if he is creating and present with them. (Photo: Slipknot) This album has all the powerful and familiar elements of "Slipknot", from the old to the new. Murderous drums with brutal guitars, deafening roars, and screams, electronic elements that give a dramatic atmosphere as well as a melody, clean singing, and exciting and disjointed ballads. An album consisting of 14 strong and intense tracks, both musically and emotionally. Songs like the first single from the album "The Negative One" which came to introduce the attack of the riffs, the crazy rhythm, and the power. The complex and slow "The Devil in I" that takes you through dramatic passages to synchronized and focused explosions. "Custer" is simply a pile of 5 kg hammers that are thrown to your head without mercy. And "Killpop" that starts slowly and intensifies with dramatic keyboards and clean singing by Taylor until everything goes into a blender and gets a shredded and decomposing devilish mixture... and more... and more... We owe a little story about the "new" drummer Jay Weinberg that we didn't know before "Slipknot" and we've just adored him ever since. Regardless of being the son of Max Weinberg the famous drummer of "Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band" and a regular drummer on Conan O'Brien's famous show is a huge talent. It's really not easy to get into Joey's huge shoes but when you've been a fan of the band since you were a teenager when your dad took you to gigs and put you in a meeting with the band members behind the scenes and you've crazy talent !! You do it smoothly and perfectly. We will not make comparisons here but he is undoubtedly a significant, influential, and prominent part of the band today. When Weinberg just joined the band, Shawn decided to do a baptism of fire for him, after all, "Slipknot" is no normal rock band, it is a collection of talented psychopaths. He flew with him to Paul's grave in IOWA and had him stand in front of the grave for long minutes to pay his respects and recognize Paul's value and contribution to the band. From there they flew together to the recording studio in Los Angeles and for several consecutive weeks, Shawn and Chris Fehn (Shawn's friend of percussion) did him an accelerated "Slipknot Course", tough mentors. They stood in front of him and screamed at him for hours every day, trying to challenge him, get him into a frenzy, make him step out of his comfort zone, and hone his talent and abilities. Taylor said that only in retrospect did he realize that this was also something they had to do for themselves, deal with leaving a friend and making a new friend. So now you do not have many choices, put on headphones (so as not to disturb the neighbors) and bombard yourself with: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

And Then There Were Three... No, that's not a mistake. Do not think we were confused with the masterpiece album " ..And Then There Were Three... " of "Genesis", it's just that in the case of "Making Movies", the third album by "Dire Straits", the band also became a trio. In December 1979, after completing the "Communiqué Tour" to promote the band's second album " Communiqué ", Mark Knopfler began writing the material for the band's next album. These were materials that dealt with Knopfler's personal life and were wrapped in complex arrangements and melodies that went a long way from the root rock that the band presented on their debut album, combining genres such as jazz, folk, and country. This masterful album will become a milestone in the band's excellent career, but at the same time, it will also mark the first serious crisis, which triggered the stopwatch which calculated the band's end. In August 1980, while recording the album, Mark Knopfler 's brother David Knopfler would leave the band, following heated arguments with Mark. The crisis between the brothers was so great that all of David Knopfler's guitar roles, which were almost complete, would be re-recorded by Mark Knopfler . This is not a trivial matter, since beyond the fact that they are "brothers in blood", it was David who co-founded "Café Racers" with Mark, in the mid - 1970s, the first band which would later become "Dire Straits". Although this album deepened the band's worldwide success on their way to the top, it would also in some sense mark the "beginning of the end" of "Dire Straits", which had already been dominated by Mark Knopfler , with his phenomenal talent. Before recording the album, Mark Knopfler decided to hire the services of producer Jimmy Iovine, who worked on Bruce Springsteen 's classics "Born to Run" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town". Lavine brought keyboardist Roy Bittan who was part of Springsteen's backing band - the "E-Street Band". This contributed a lot to the sound and theatrical atmosphere of the album, which in some places does remind us of "The Boss" himself. The album opens up with " Tunnel of Love ", which 7 years later will become the theme song and album of Bruce Springsteen , and here you have the required closer of Knopfler's with "The Boss". It's one of the band's three songs that did not give full writing credit to Mark Knopfler . The other two are: "Money for Nothing" and "What's The Matter Baby?". But do not think for a moment that someone helped Knopfler write this masterpiece. He simply gave the credit for the keyboards intro to Rodgers and Hammerstein for the inspiration from the "Carousel Waltz" they wrote. This intro puts us in the mood of the story at the heart of the song. The "Spanish City" Fair and Amusement Park in "Whitley Bay". As a teenager, Knopfler lived in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, about ten miles away. This fair probably made Knopfler choose a musical career, as he has repeatedly noted that this is the first place he has heard rock 'n' roll play at high volume. If you will, this wonderful piece is kind of a nod to where it all started for Knopfler. Immediately after the short keyboard's intro, Knopfler's guitar simply takes over the song and envelops it from all directions with mesmerizing magic. From the precise rhythm of the chords, through the short guitar sentences, and to the amazing solo that starts to warm up engines, modest and small, starting at about 6:00 and only getting stronger and bigger, accompanying us until the end of the song. Despite Knopfler's unquestionable dominance, keyboardist Roy Bittan's incredible contribution to the song cannot be ignored, whether it's in the organ intro that determines the atmosphere of the song, the small piano touches during the verses, or the short solo at the end. Drummer Pick Withers also deserves a good word for the smart and wonderful drumming in this dynamic song. He knew exactly when to fill in the gaps between Knopfler's guitar sentences, when to take a step back leaning on cymbals and beatings on the drum rim, and when to storm forward, as in the bridge section starting at 3:35. The second track " Romeo and Juliet " is perhaps the most beautiful song on the album and one of the great songs of the band and Knopfler in general. An amazing combination of magnificent melody, perfect playing, and witty and clever lyrics. One of the most beautiful love songs ever written. This is the first part of the trilogy, written by Knopfler following the breakup with his girlfriend Holly Vincent, who dumped him during a phone call in the middle of the band's tour in America. This part tells how the woman leaves the man, but still, he has the hope to return to her, even though she is no longer interested in him. The second part of the trilogy is the song " Love Over Gold ", the theme song from the band's next album, in which the man loses hope of returning to the girl and he realizes that she used him to advance herself and her career. The third part is the last song on the album " Love Over Gold " - "It Never Rains", which includes blunt and direct lyrics by Knopfler, who closes a circle with his girlfriend, after discovering how fate has avenged her since she left him. The song is led by the sound of National's "Style O" guitar, the same guitar that appears on the cover of the band's " Brothers in Arms " album, but it also enjoys Roy Bittan's piano melody that adds so much to it. It follows Shakespeare's story of young lovers, in a certain twist, to the sounds of sweeping music that softens and intensifies as the story progresses. In this song, Knopfler proves that not only is he a great composer and performer, but he is a poet that writes with supreme grace! He manages to express so much in sharp and short sentences that just pierce the heart. One of the good moments on the album comes at the end of the first side with " Skateaway ". An amazing song that focuses on a young Hollywood star who goes against conventions and tries to become a "free spirit". She skates on the bustling city streets, listening to the radio in her headphones. There is a kind of rebellion in her skating as she slides against the direction of the bustling traffic, like a contrast between her perception of life and reality. The song, whose lyrics include the name of the album "Making Movies", expands and fades, ascends and descends, like a roller coaster, leaning on the shoulders of bassist John Illsley and drummer Pick Withers leaving enough improvisation space for Knopfler's guitar and voice that conveys the story to the listener. The other side of the album features four shorter and less complex songs. " Expresso Love " is a rock 'n' roll song with a strong guitar riff that is actually a love song about the sad life of a glamorous (maybe prostitute) woman who is getting ready to go out onto town. The song corresponds with the song "Wild West End" from the band's debut album, with the phrase "Hey mister, you wanna take a walk in the wild west end sometime?". It is followed by the quiet " Hand in Hand ". A delicate ballad that opens to the piano sounds of Roy Bittan accompanied by Knopfler's guitar. A song that is a kind of looking back and bringing up memories from a relationship between him and her, and how this has changed from a simple state of going "hand in hand" to something more complex. We return to rock 'n' roll in the third track " Solid Rock " with the kind of bouncy rhythm that excites the audience in live performances. Interestingly, the video clip released for the song includes David Knopfler, as it was filmed before he left the band. The album ends in cabaret style with " Les Boys ", perhaps the most "different song" in the "Dire Straits" catalog. "Making Movies" was a worldwide success and even gained platinum status in the US and double platinum in the UK. After which, the band will thicken its ranks and turn from a band of three musicians into a band of five members. It will continue to build its success with " Love Over Gold " from 1982 and especially with " Brothers in Arms " from 1985, which became one of the best-selling albums in the world, ever. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website