The tenth album of the "Foo Fighters" called "Medicine at Midnight" was released on February 5, 2021. The album "Medicine at Midnight" marks the tenth release by the band "Foo Fighters," following their previous album "Concrete and Gold" in 2017. After concluding the tour for "Concrete and Gold" in October 2018, the band announced a hiatus. However, drummer Taylor Hawkins revealed in August 2019 that Dave Grohl had already begun working on demos for their next album. The official recording sessions commenced in October 2019, taking place in a large, old building from the 1940s. Greg Kurstin, who produced their previous album, took on the producer role again. BTW, during Hanukkah 2020 & 2021 & 2022 , Grohl and Kurstin presented songs by Jewish artists. Initially, the band intended to release the album around the "half-anniversary" of their formation, which was 25 years from their debut album . But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release was delayed by almost a year. Grohl mentioned that some songs on the album were completed in just 45 minutes, while one track incorporated a riff that he had been working on since his time in Seattle, 25 years ago. Undoubtedly, "Medicine at Midnight" represents a departure from the typical sound we associate with the Foo Fighters. The album is filled with vibrant energy, happiness, and infectious catchiness that gives it a lively and celebratory atmosphere. The opening rhythm of the theme song "Medicine at Midnight," which shares similarities with Michael Jackson's style, sets the tone for the entire album. The chorus of the opening track "Making a Fire" further exemplifies this new direction, showcasing the album's party-like and upbeat vibe. By listening to these examples, one can truly grasp the distinct and refreshing nature of this album, which stands out from the band's previous works. This album also holds the record as the shortest studio album of the Foo's, with only 36 minutes of music. Grohl aimed to create a "fun" album similar to David Bowie 's "Let's Dance," making it stand out from their previous works. The album is more pop-oriented, and drum loops were utilized during the recording process, according to Taylor. The first single, "Shame Shame," released on November 7, 2020, exemplifies the band's new direction, exploring uncharted musical territory. Bassist Nate Mendel revealed that the song originated from Dave's clicks, with the bass parts added later in the recording process. The single received immense popularity, amassing over five million views in under two months, indicating a positive response from their audience to their experimental approach and musical evolution. On January 1, 2021, the band released the second single from the album titled "No Son of Mine." The song made a powerful impact, starting our year with a burst of energy, featuring a fast and intense riff. NME magazine likened the riff to a homage to "Stone Cold Crazy" by "Queen" and "Ace of Spades" by "Motorhead." Continuing their promotion, the band performed " No Son of Mine " on the late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on January 14, 2021, showcasing their electrifying live performance to a broader audience. On the same day, January 14, 2021, the band also performed another song on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," which happened to be the third single released from the album, titled "Waiting on a War." This particular track held special significance as it was released on Dave Grohl 's 52nd birthday. "Waiting on a War" was inspired by a heartfelt conversation Grohl had with his daughter, Harper Grohl, on their way back from school, during which she asked him if there would be a war. This emotional exchange moved Grohl to immediately pen the song. It stands out as an anti-war anthem and is predominantly accompanied by an acoustic guitar. In terms of both its sound and style, the track remains closest to the classic "Foo Fighters" sound compared to the other songs on the album, providing a familiar and nostalgic experience for longtime fans. Indeed, the three singles, "Shame Shame," "No Son of Mine," and "Waiting on a War," offer a glimpse into the diverse musical styles present on the album. The band's willingness to explore new territories and evolve musically is evident in these tracks, and it seems to have been influenced, in part, by the celebration of their 25th anniversary. However, some listeners may perceive that this desire to experiment and grow musically has resulted in the album feeling more like a collection of eclectic songs rather than a cohesive and uniform album. The songs may vary significantly in style, tone, and arrangement, making it challenging to find a consistent thread that ties them all together. While this approach can be exciting and refreshing for those who appreciate the band's versatility, some fans may prefer a more cohesive and thematic approach to album creation, where the songs flow seamlessly into one another and contribute to a unified narrative or atmosphere. Ultimately, whether this eclectic approach resonates with individual listeners depends on their personal preferences and expectations for a "Foo Fighters" album. Some may embrace the band's willingness to take risks and explore new directions, while others may long for a more traditional and cohesive album experience. In any case, "Medicine at Midnight" remains an intriguing chapter in the band's musical journey. Listen to the album on: 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 - 05.02.1990 He was born into a devout Mormon family in Winterbourne, a sleepy village north of Bristol. Looking back, he recalls that it was a pretty provincial, conservative village. His parents wanted him to follow the family path and groomed him to become a Mormon missionary. Wayne Hussey, however, had completely different plans. He felt he had what it took to build a musical career, was deeply influenced by Marc Bolan, and dreamed of being part of a band in the vein of “Led Zeppelin”. It did not take long before Hussey began taking his first steps toward a career that would eventually peak with the band “The Mission”, whose third album “Carved in Sand” was released on February 5, 1990. At the age of 18, Hussey left his childhood village for Liverpool, where he immersed himself in the vibrant post-punk scene centered around the local “Eric’s Club”, a hub that attracted some of the era’s most exciting artists from bands such as “Teardrop Explodes” and “Echo & The Bunnymen”. Around this time, he also became a devoted supporter of the "Mighty Reds". In Liverpool, Hussey met Pete Burns and soon became the guitarist in his band “Dead or Alive”. The partnership, however, was short-lived. The two did not see eye to eye, and after two years Hussey walked away. The next stage of his career took him to Leeds in 1984, following an invitation to join Andrew Eldritch’s gothic rock outfit “Sisters of Mercy”, there he met Craig Adams, who would later become the bassist of “The Mission”. The two quickly became close friends. Hussey recalled that they've always got on pretty well like "two naughty little kids.” Hussey contributed to both the writing and performances in “Sisters of Mercy”, but tensions between him and Eldritch steadily escalated. After a year and a half and one album, he left the band together with his new ally Craig Adams. In a bold move, the pair formed a new band under the name "The Sisterhood". Eldritch was furious. Not only had they left, but now they seemed to be claiming his legacy as well. Legal threats followed, and after reconsidering, Hussey drew on his Mormon past and renamed the band “The Mission”, inspired by a Mormon missionary journal his parents had given him during his youth, when they still hoped to guide him toward their faith. Hussey and Adams held auditions in Leeds and recruited drummer Mick Brown and Sheffield-born guitarist Simon Hinkler, formerly a collaborator of Jarvis Cocker in an early incarnation of “Pulp”. The rapid growth of the band’s fanbase was partly rooted in the gothic scene, whose gravitational center at the time was Leeds. Their stormy, sensual sound, all-black attire, and self-identification as Eskimos or Missionaries immediately marked them as part of the gothic movement. Hussey insisted that it wasn’t so much that they were part of a movement, It’s just that they found like-minded souls who were into the same kind of music, literature, films, lifestyle, and clothes. The early years of “The Mission” were defined by two albums that made occasional chart impressions, but it was their live shows and scandals that truly cemented their reputation. Hussey explained that America was like a candy land compared to Europe. All those things were easy to get, so of course they went for it. It was a crazy tour, lots of drugs, lots of madness. A big part of being in a band is that you can behave completely outrageously on tour. "You’ve got a license to be a total idiot.” He said referring to the band’s behavior-especially his own-on U.S. tours. The consequences were swift, culminating in Hussey and Adams storming the stage wearing nothing but their underwear, screaming at the audience. Not long after, Adams was handcuffed by the Los Angeles police on the Sunset Strip, drunk and disoriented. He narrowly avoided arrest thanks to the diplomatic efforts of the band’s manager, Tony Perrin. Something of the band’s aspiration toward “Led Zeppelin” was given a significant boost on their next album, “Children” (1988), produced by John Paul Jones. The album reached number two in the UK, and the band went on tour supporting Robert Plant. Hussey, however, was unhappy with the heavy sound of “Children” and chose to reunite with producer Tim Palmer, who had worked on their debut. He remembers the sessions for the new album as particularly tense. Cocaine had by then become a staple of his daily routine. Hussey explained that around that time they started making a bit of money, so our drugs of choice changed. “Whilst I was doing cocaine, Simon would be smoking spliff, so we would be in totally different head spaces. That became a problem.” Producer Tim Palmer noticed that Hinkler was unusually quiet and increasingly marginalized in the studio. “In hindsight, if I’d been a little bit more sensitive to what was going on at the time I would probably have seen Simon was struggling,” Hussey later admitted. During the first half of 1989, Hussey spent time writing new material in the mountains of South Wales before the band reconvened in April to begin recording “Carved in Sand”, with the “Eskimos” (the fan club) taking part in the song-selection process. In early 1990, the album’s first single, “ Butterfly on a Wheel ”, was released. It narrowly missed the UK Top 10 and went on to become the song most closely associated with the band. Hussey wrote the song about the breakdown of the relationship between Julianne Regan, singer of “All About Eve”, and her bandmate Tim Bricheno. “All About Eve” and “The Mission” frequently collaborated, and Hussey felt helpless watching two people he cared deeply about emotionally tear each other apart, yet he did not dare intervene for fear of making things worse. The song’s title was inspired by a 1960s editorial by William Rees-Mogg, which questioned the severity of prison sentences imposed on members of “The Rolling Stones” for minor drug offenses. The album’s opening track, “Amelia” , was inspired by a letter Hussey received from a fan in which she revealed details of abuse she had suffered at the hands of her father. Moved by the honesty and openness of her letter, he wrote “Amelia” —not her real name. Several years later, the same woman contacted him again to say how much the song meant to her and to share that she was doing well in life. Other songs on the album include “Deliverance” , and “Into the Blue” , written as an environmental lament reflecting the state of the planet, underscored by lines such as “There’s a shuffling man with plastic on his head” . “Grapes of Wrath”  draws its inspiration from themes of agricultural labor and life tied to the land. During the band’s successful tour, a seemingly trivial argument between Hussey and Simon Hinkler—after a friend of Hinkler’s was not allowed onto the band’s tour bus—escalated into the final breaking point in their relationship. Hinkler left the band, a decision that would later be seen as a watershed moment for “The Mission” at a critical stage in their career. On the eve of the grunge explosion, the band would never again manage to recreate this level of success. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On February 5, 2021, the supergroup "Transatlantic" released its fifth studio album "Absolute Universe". This is the first album of "Transatlantic" since "Kaleidoscope", which was released exactly 7 years earlier (a day less) on February 4, 2014. So for those who don't familiar, "Transatlantic" is an international supergroup that includes the Swedish guitarist Roine Stolt known from the bands "Kaipa" and "The Flower Kings", the English bassist Pete Trewavas known from the band "Marillion", the American keyboardist and singer Neal Morse from the band "Spock's" Beard" and more and drummer Mike Portnoy originally from "Dream Theater", but since then has played in so many bands. Formed in 1999, the group released their first album "SMPT:e" in 2000 to very good reviews and praise. After the second album and another excellent live album, the band broke up in 2002, but reunited in 2009, and in fact, since then, it has been active intermittently. With the release of the news that this band is coming back with a fifth album after such a long period of silence, the internet was fired up and the expectations were crazy, since after all, this is the "all-star" team of progressive rock, the very commando of prog. This album was released in two different versions: the single-disc version called "The Breath of Life (Abridged Version)", which includes about an hour of new music, and the double-disc version called "Forevermore (Extended Version)", which includes an hour and a half of music. The reason for releasing both versions was related to a debate internal between the band members. After all the material for the album was recorded, the band members were busy with other commitments and it was almost a year + the Covid-19 crisis before they got together again to finish the editing. At this point, Neil Morse already thought that the 90 minutes of music written almost a year before should go filtering that would lead to a single disc. Bassist Pete Trewavas agreed with him, but Portnoy and Roine Stolt did not, they preferred the original version. This caused tensions and further delays in the release of the album. In the end, Mike Portnoy came up with the idea of releasing two versions of the album. All the band members agreed The record company also liked the idea. Morse was then tasked with creating the shorter version, titled "The Breath of Life", while Stolt was in charge for the longer version "Foverermore". At the same time, don't think that whoever buys the extended version has all the new material. The shortened album provides different contents from the extended version, including renewed compositions, alternative material, a different mixing, especially in the vocals, and even one song that did not find its way to the double album called: "Can You Feel It". The structure of the album is similar to the supergroup's third album - "The Whirlwind", in that all the songs together create one listening experience. The list of songs in the extended version: "The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (Extended Version)" Track-listing: Disc 1: 1. Overture 2. Heart Like A Whirlwind 3. Higher Than The Morning 4. The Darkness In The Light 5. Swing High, Swing Low 6. Bully 7. Rainbow Sky 8. Looking For The Light 9. The World We Used To Know Disc 2: 1. The Sun Comes Up Today 2. Love Made A Way (Prelude) 3. Owl Howl 4. Solitude 5. Belong 6. Lonesome Rebel 7. Looking For The Light (Reprise) 8. The Greatest Story Never Ends 9. Love Made A Way For Listening: Spotify "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He's cute, small, and special, we mean the first EP of Alice in Chains released in 1992 - "SAP" While the music from Seattle gained momentum, Alice was nominated for a Grammy (again) and their debut album "Facelift" sold more than half a million copies in its first year... The band members went into the studio to record a song for the soundtrack of the movie "Singles" and at the same time start working on the next album. The famous song that was recorded for the movie was " Would? " Which also appeared on the band's next album but in addition to this song they recorded 10 more songs. During the recordings, drummer Sean Kinney dreamed that the band was recording an EP called "SAP". The band decided not to mess with fate and released five beautiful songs from the demos. This is the first time the audience has heard the band with acoustic instruments, without the distortions and drums. Two songs from the EP were performed at the band's phenomenal MTV Unplugged performance. The album opens with the song " Brother " which Jerry Cantrell wrote on his younger brother David, Jerry wrote the song about the time he and his brother did not see each other for 7 years. When their parents divorced the brothers split up, Jerry moved in with his mother and his brother moved in with his father. This is the first time Jerry is the lead singer in the band's song. The last chorus of the song is joined by the amazing singer Ann Wilson from the band "Heart", which gives the song a spectacular breeze !! You were always so far away I know that pain, so don't you run away Like you used to do The next song that was also performed at the same show was " Got Me Wrong ", it came out as a single after his performance in the movie "Clerks" which brought even greater exposure to the album and the band's music. The song is written about the relationship between a man and a woman when one side fails to understand the other side. I haven't felt like this in so long Wrong, in a sense too far gone from love That don't last forever Something's gotta turn out right In the next song starring the "famous" due "Alice Mudgarden", you probably think we're kiddingת but no. " Right Turn " features Chris Cornell from "Soundgarden" and Mark Arm from "Mudhoney", bands that were very prominent in the music scene in Seattle. Jerry, Chris, and Mark, three amazing and moving voices with acoustic guitar, need nothing more than that and it's no wonder Jerry and Layne Staley insisted that the two participate in this EP. In the credits for the album they are not mentioned in their names but they get the nickname "Alice Mudgarden". The song is about a relationship that fell apart between a man and a woman when they both do not understand why there was a breakup and suffer from it. Now we're as low as we can get Can't leave and can't forget We ain't right, we ain't right Not right, we ain't right The fourth and final song (there is also a hidden song) is " Am I Inside ", it is also the only song on the album that Layne wrote and here too the amazing Ann Wilson joins. Already in the opening words one feels the gloomy and deep writing of Layne. Surrounded by empty souls Artificial courage used And because so, once was mine I walk this maze alone The hidden song (and good for that) on the album is " Love Song ", it is a collection of varied noise with swelling, burping, shouting and distortion mowing when someone in the background is angry and shouts loudly about his lover in a megaphone and it ends with a gentle piano playing. It could have been dropped because it is in no way suitable for the album's atmosphere. Wash my face, cut out my teeth and tell me to grin My gums are bleeding! My gums are bleeding! Alice reveals for the first time their spectacular instrumental abilities and their soft side, we think this is one of the biggest bands in unplugged performance in general. Listen to the album on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

It's been over 30 years since "Innuendo" - "Queen's" last studio album released in the life of Freddie Mercury, and the longing for one of the greatest vocals in music is only intensifying. This is our first coverage in a series of reviews of the marvelous albums released in 1991. Click on the tag "Class Of 91" and enter the wondrous world of masterpiece albums released that year. Time Heals? At least that's how we were taught to think. Nonsense! As time goes by you only realize how much you have lost and in this case, we have all lost BIG TIME! Think differently? So think again! If "Innuendo" is what Freddie Mercury and friends managed to produce when the band is injured, bleeding and hurting their good friend's condition, just think what they could have accomplished in the 30 years and more since, and how much we fans have lost. "Innuendo" which was released on February 4, 1991, is Queen's 14th studio album and is also the one whose creative process was the most painful and excruciating for the band members. Exactly today in 1977 another huge album was born from pain. We are talking about "Rumours" by "Fleetwood Mac", created while each of the band member's relationships was falling apart. There are many similarities between the creative process of these two great albums. In both cases, the dynamics were the same, although the situations were different, and we will explain: in the case of "Fleetwood Mac" all the songs on the album were written out of the great pain experienced by the band members as a result of the breakup of each of their relationships. The band members could not even look at each other, so the communication between them was done through the songs they wrote. In Queen's case too, most of the album's songs were written out of the pain of Freddie Mercury's condition, and again this time the band members switched the direct communication channel between them into the songs, only in this case the lack of direct communication was due to embarrassment and sadness, not anger or hate. The story of "Innuendo" begins exactly at the end of the recording of the band's 13th album "The Miracle", released in 1989. Freddie Mercury has already been diagnosed with AIDS. He gathered his bandmates at his home, informed them of his illness, and tell them he doesn't want this to be discovered by the media and that he don't want to talk about this anymore. Mercury indicated that all he wants to do is make music until the moment he could no longer do so physically and that he wanted them to support him. This was actually the only open conversation of the band members on the subject. (Photo: queenphotos.wordpress.com) Following Mercury's announcement, plans for a tour to promote the album "The Miracle" were immediately replaced by plans to record a new album. But, by this time rumors of Freddie Mercury's medical condition had begun to spread and they were inflamed due to Mercury's lack of public appearances. In an attempt to dispel the rumors, Mercury gave an interview with BBC Radio and noted that the band is interested in breaking the sequence of an album and a tour and making an album. Needless to say, that the entire band stood like a brick wall around Freddie Mercury, throughout that period and until his death. They dismissed any rumor and refuted any claim as to his condition. They kept the big secret about Mercury's condition very devout, sometimes even having to lie to their relatives and family members, as long as nothing leaked out. Mercury told his friends that he did not want the fans to purchase his music out of pity, so it was important for him to keep the subject of his disease a secret. This was Mercury's wish and they fiercely defended it. Indeed, at Freddie Mercury's request, recordings for the album began in mid-1989, close to the release of "The Miracle", just as a "War Against Time". But the troubles did not stop, as the media did not give the band a rest and various reporters were flocking outside Freddie Mercury's home and the recording studio in London, in a way that disturbed Mercury's rest and prevented the band from concentrating on recordings. More than that, Mercury's medical condition did not always allow him to record. There were days when he did not come to the studio, on other days he came but was in great pain that did not allow him the record and there were some days when he got tired too quickly or could not even stand. To change the atmosphere and escape the British media, the band moved to a new recording studio in Montreux Switzerland, thinking this will allow them to concentrate on the creative process and the recordings. The band members got very close during the recordings and even though the atmosphere was hard and painful, they managed to enjoy the time together and the fact that they were fulfilling their best friend's last wish by doing what he loves the most. (Photo: queenphotos.wordpress.com) This atmosphere is well reflected in the songs on this album. The first track and the theme song "Innuendo" started as a jam session of the band members in a studio in Switzerland. Freddie Mercury co-wrote the lyrics with Roger Taylor and also created the melody. The song was written as a tribute to "Led Zeppelin" and especially to the song "Kashmir". The flamenco part in the middle of the song, is played by Steve Howe guitarist of "Yes", who just passed by the studio before Mercury asked him to play the classical guitar part. This song is reminiscent of the epic, complex, and classic things the band did somewhere in the 1970s, with many rhythm changes and musical styles that start with Bolero, go through Flamenco, and switch to Hard Rock and Progressive. When this song was released we were just filled with sheer bliss. It was a kind of a closer, since we didn't hear such a grandiose and epic song from "Queen" since "Bohemian Rhapsody". The operatic bridge part definitely corresponds with "Bohemian Rhapsody" and the first seconds in the intro of the classical guitar part correspond with "Love of My Life" from "Live Killers!". The closer is undoubtedly not only ours but mostly the band's. And if we mentioned the band members' communication through the songs, then even though Taylor was an essential part in writing the lyrics to the song, you can actually hear Freddie's voice speaking from the page. He sang of parting ways and liberation: "You can be anything you want to be ... Just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be". And he sings of his disappointment from God the creator: "If there's a God or any kind of justice under the sky, ...if there's a reason to live or die...". Such powerful words that come from Mercury coming to terms with his death. This song was released as the first single from the album, it is the band's longest song released as a single (even longer than "Bohemian Rhapsody") and it became the band's third hit to reach number one on the UK charts (after "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Under Pressure"). The second track "I'm Going Slightly Mad" was written by Freddie Mercury at his home in London, with the help of his friend Peter Straker, who contributed a bit to the lyrics. The music just matches the main idea with weird chords and an unconventional melody that sounds almost psychedelic. John Deacon's bass work in this track is simply ingenious !!! And it is impossible to write about this song without recalling the crazy video that was shot to promote it and simply completes the craziness through Mercury’s theatricality. Next comes "Headlong" originally written by Brian May for his solo album, "Back To The Light", which was released in 1992. But when Mercury sang it May was enthusiastic and agreed that it would be recorded as a Queen's song. It was the third single from the album (worldwide) and the first to be released in the US where it was a huge success, thanks in no small part to its catchy riff. Similarly, "I Can't Live with You" was also written by Brian May for his solo album, following his separation from his wife. This time too, May agreed to contribute the song to the band's album after the three members got excited about it. We return to interpersonal communication through the songs with "Don't Try So Hard" written by Freddie Mercury. The words speak of overcoming obstacles in life, about courage and self-conviction, and the fact that sometimes you need to let go and make no effort. As if Mercury convinces himself that he can be released. This is a song in a very melancholy atmosphere with Mercury's scream "Don't try so hard" that just pierces the heart and with May's solo that just melts every drop of ice at the poles. "Ride the Wild Wind" was composed by Roger Taylor, who even recorded a demo with his own vocals. In the final version, it was Freddie Mercury who sang lead alongside Roger Taylor on background vocals. It's kind of a sequel to the song "I'm in Love with My Car" from the album "A Night At The Opera", which focused on Taylor's passion for race cars, only this time it's on high octane with a faster RPM on the drums and a pounding bass line that ads to the feeling of speed, with the sounds of engine roars in the background. Brian May's solo only emphasizes the sense of speed and gives the song a heavier sound. "Days of our Life" was originally written by Roger Taylor about his childhood. It's a song of longing for days that will not return, but it has already taken on a completely different meaning when the band members learned that Freddie was ill. This time too we are witnessing the communication between the band members through words. You can really feel Taylor's emotion shouting from the words he wrote about himself, but there is no doubt that he thought of his good friend Freddie when he wrote them. "You can't turn back the clock ..." sings Freddie Mercury, and one can not remain indifferent to the words that emanate from a dying person's throat. The video clip taken for the song is the last in which Mercury is seen in front of a camera. It was photographed in color but was transferred to black and white to slightly obscure the fact that Mercury just looked bad. And at the end of the clip when Mercury looks at the camera and sings "I still love you" it's hard not to think about what went through his mind during the filming and coming to terms with the impending death. "The Hitman" is May's Heavy Metal performance, but it was written by Freddie Mercury on piano. Mercury just puts on a killer persona here and May's riffs just fit the theme. "Bijou" is simply a beautiful, different, and special song. It was written by Freddie Mercury and Brian May when the idea was to make an Inside-Out song just like in sushi. Upside down, with the guitar replacing the vocals in the verses, and Mercury's vocals set to replace what were supposed to be little Brian May's solos. May's guitar just cries, laments, and mourns the end of friendships and the end of the relationship between him and Mercury, there is simply no other way to describe it. True, not all songs on the album are on the same level. There's the weird "Delilah" with Brian May's guitar sounds that mimic the howls of Freddie Mercury's favorite cat, about which the song was written. Yet again the communication through the songs this time brings us a farewell song from Freddie's favorite pet. And there is "All God's People" which was supposed to be part of Mercury's solo album - "Barcelona" - and was supposed to be called "Africa By Night", but for some reason does not feel part of this album. This album ends with a great cry, a mighty scream, and a huge explosion !!! "The Show Must Go On" was written by Brian May as a farewell song from Freddie Mercury and Mercury takes the stage and gives us the show of his life. He cries out his soul. He sings his own requiem. "I Did It My Way" - "next generation version", improved and upgraded, full of power and emotion and he was not willing to give up until this song was recorded to his satisfaction. There were moments when May feared he would not be able to do this, he was already weak, sick, and exhausted, but when May asked if he wanted to stop recording and go rest, Mercury replied "I'll fucking do it, darling!", took a shot of vodka and went to record. And what an amazing result, what an insane vocal performance. One can not hear or feel, even for a moment, then the true state of Freddie Mercury during the recording. And we are not talking only about the infinite vocal range, the powerful voice, the incredible control, but rather about the "small gestures" like the graded ascent in the middle of the second verse after the words "Does anybody know what we are living for?" Or the vocal harmony he sings with May's guitar. And when Freddie reaches the fracture cries at the end of the song, no eye can stay dry, not even at the one thousand listen. Freddie did it his way, just like in the lyrics, with a lot of makeup but with a big smile on his face, right down to the last note! For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

He is considered one of the leaders of the Glam Rock revolution, he is also one of the producers of the Shock Rock genre. He was a friend of Groucho Marx and bestie of Jim Morrison , Dave Mustain e called him "my godfather". Go ahead and enjoy 40 facts about the singer and creator known as Alice Cooper : (Photo: Ross Halfin) 1. He was born Vincent Damon Furnier, on February 4, 1948, in Detroit Michigan. 2. His father was a preacher at a church in Pennsylvania and Alice was active in it when he was young. Even today, Alice makes sure to go to church regularly. 3. He is considered one of the leaders of the glam revolution of the seventies. 4. He is also known as the godfather of the "Shock Rock" genre. 5. He achieved this title by chance, thanks to an incident known as the "chicken incident". During Alice Cooper's performance at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival in September 1969, someone threw a chicken onto the stage and Alice, who thought the chicken was capable of flying, threw it at the audience and the result was that her blood was scattered everywhere. The shocking incident made its spread and at that moment a legend was born. 6. He formed his first band in 1964, it was called "the Earwigs" and later changed its name to "The Spiders". 7. "The Spiders" recorded their first song - "Why Don't You Love Me" as early as 1965. For the purpose of the recording, Vincent learned to play the harmonica. (Photo: Ross Marino) 8. Later, in 1967 the band changed its name to "The Nazz", but when Alice realized that artist Todd Rundgren also had a band that matched the same name he was forced to choose a new name for the band, and so the name "Alice Cooper" was born in 1968. 9. The band spread a rumor that the name "Alice Cooper" is the name of a girl who was accused of being a witch in the 15th century and that the band raised its soul in a séance ceremony. 10. In 1968 Alice Cooper was the first band to be signed by Frank Zappa 's label. Zappa, who was looking for different and unusual bands, signed the band to a contract to record three albums. 11. The band "Alice Cooper" released their first album "Pretties for You" in 1969. Zappa was supposed to produce the album but in the end, it did not materialize. The album cover is a replica of a painting that hung in the living room of Zappa's house where the band auditioned. 12. The band's first hit that also brought it to the mainstream was "I'm Eighteen" from the album "Love It To Death" from 1971. The song won, among other things, a cover version on the debut album of the thrash metal band "Anthrax". 13. In 1972, the band released the album and hit "School's Out". 14. The band reached its peak of popularity with their sixth album "Billion Dollar Babies" released in 1973. 15. The last album released in the classic lineup of "Alice Cooper" was "Muscle of Love" from 1973. After its breakup in 1975, Vincent adopted it and made it his stage name. 16. He released his first solo album in 1975 called "Welcome to My Nightmare", it was a concept album. 17. Alice's big break into the mainstream came with the album "Trash" from 1989, which included the hit "Poison" among others. 18. The album featured a number of artists, including Jon Bon Jovi and Steven Tyler , and the songs in it were co-written by Desmond Child, John Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora Joan Jett, and more. 19. Alice Cooper's horror shows are full of gimmicks and included snakes, corpses, skeletons, skulls, and more. On stage were monstrous creatures, such as Frankenstein, a guillotine, an electric chair, and more. 20. Alice has appeared in a number of films, the most famous of which is "Wayne's World" which features the famous scene in which Wayne and Gareth bow to him and say the iconic words: "We are not Worthy". 21. He was a guest on "The Muppet Show" in a special episode of "Halloween." 22. In addition since 2004 he has been a radio broadcaster on the program Nights with Alice Cooper. 23. He had a snake as a pet, he called him Julius Squeezer and he died of a rat bite. 24. In 1978 he donated money to renovate the letter "O" on the famous Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. 25. In the early 80s when guitarist Joe Perry left "Aerosmith" Alice began working with him on a joint project. The project was shelved after "Aerosmith" reunited in 1984. 26. Alice is a quite good golfer. 27. He owns a restaurant in Phoenix that goes by the name Cooperstown. The motto of the restaurant is an encounter between rock and humor. 28. In 1973 the artist Salvador Dalí created the first three-dimensional hologram in the form of Alice Cooper. 29. In 1988 he ran for governor of Arizona. 30. Cooper was featured as a singer on "Guns N 'Roses'" "The Garden" from the album "Use Your Illusion I" . 31. That same year Slash returned the favor to Alice when he was featured on his song "Hey Stoopid" alongside Ozzy Osbourne and Joe Satriani . 32. Alice also collaborated with "Twisted Sister" on their song "Be cruel to your school" and with Chris Cornell on the album "The Last Temptation", including songs "Stolen Prayer" and "Unholy War". 33. Alice Cooper's personal life is the complete opposite of his wild image on stage. He has been married to one woman all his life (except for a brief breakup during the time he was addicted to alcohol), which was part of his horror show from 1975-1982 and until recently attended his shows. Cooper claimed he never betrayed her. He has three children and is an exemplary family man. 34. Cooper was a good friend of Groucho Marx who was known as part of the Marx Brothers' comedy lineup. 35. He was also a friend of Jim Morrison and wrote the song "Desperado" from the Killer album that came out shortly after Morrison's death. 36. Guitarist Dave Mustaine is close to Alice and even calls him "my godfather". 37. Cooper is a multi-instrumentalist who in addition to being a singer also plays harmonica, guitar keyboards, and percussion. 38. In 2011 Cooper was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". 39. In 2015, he co-founded with the guitarist "Aerosmith" - Joe Perry and actor Johnny Depp the supergroup "Hollywood Vampires". 40. During his years of musical activity he has released 30 studio albums, 12 live albums, and 21 compilation albums. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 4.2.1983 “I plan on not dying, but if I have to, I want to die in Liverpool.” (Ian McCulloch) He was born in Liverpool, and he is a devoted supporter of the local football club. Some would say fanatical enough that in 2010, during the protests against then-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, he publicly raised his voice against them in a YouTube video, demanding they leave the club. So is it really surprising that Ian McCulloch, the frontman of "Echo & the Bunnymen", lives and breathes the city of Liverpool? By early 1982, the Liverpool post-punk band had already released their first two albums, and it seemed that a third record could be the one to propel them toward wider growth and recognition. Behind the scenes, however, things were far from smooth. After releasing two albums within the span of just ten months, the band struggled to write new material, despite rehearsing five days a week at “The Ministry”, their rehearsal space in Liverpool. McCulloch aspired for them to become the best band in the world. Bassist Les Pattinson was growing tired of the music industry. Drummer Pete de Freitas appeared as the drummer on the debut single of a new Liverpool band called “The Wild Swans”. Guitarist Will Sergeant recorded an instrumental solo album titled “Theme for Grind”. And as if that wasn’t enough, after completing the recordings for "Porcupine", released on February 4, 1983, Warner Bros. informed the band that they were unhappy with the album, claiming it wasn’t commercial enough, and sent all four members back into the studio to re-record it. With little choice, they returned to the studio. Bill Drummond (later of “KLF”), who had produced their debut album “Crocodiles”, brought in Indian violinist and composer Lakshminarayana Shankar to add string arrangements. By this point, tensions within the band had escalated to near total breakdown in communication between the members. “this one was like we had to drag it out of ourselves,” Pete de Freitas later admitted. The dark, brooding atmosphere conveyed by the music aligned perfectly with the album cover, which features the band photographed on and beside the frozen Gullfoss waterfall near Reykjavik, Iceland. Not everything worked against them, though. “The Back of Love” , the album’s debut single, produced by Ian Broudie (formerly of “Big in Japan”, later of “The Lightning Seeds”), became "Echo & the Bunnymen’s" first song to break into the UK Top 20. The following single, “The Cutter” , became their first true hit, reaching number eight and paving the way for the album itself, which sold over 100,000 copies in the UK and climbed to number two on the British Albums Chart. McCulloch may at times sound almost wailing, but when he chooses to, his vocal delivery can also echo the spirit of Jim Morrison . The repeated recording sessions ultimately turned “Porcupine” into a densely layered album, built from sound stacked upon sound, where each track gains an additional dimension through a tightly unified and carefully constructed mix. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

If you are wondering what a classic album sounds like, if you are interested in knowing what the words "masterpiece album" means, don't try to google it, in a few lines you will discover ... On February 4, 1977, the 11th (or second) album of "Fleetwood Mac", "Rumours" was released. Confused? We are here to explain. This is the 11th album of "Fleetwood Mac", a band that whose roots are in the British blues of the 1960s, with the classic line-up featuring guitarist Peter Green . It is also the band's second album in the Ver 2.0 lineup, which included guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and singer Stevie Nicks (you can read about The Day They Joined The Band Here ) . This album released in 1977 became one of the best-selling albums in the history of music, with sales of over 40 million copies worldwide. Do you get that crazy number ??? It went straight to number one on the United States Billboard 200 album chart and stayed there for 31 non-consecutive weeks!!! The album has also charted in the UK charts for over 800 weeks (yes, yes it just isn’t perceived) and of course, it has also won countless awards, including the Grammy for Album of the Year. This album becomes successful against all odds. It was released at a time when Punk influenced the music world, Disco was burning the dance floors and pop dominated the charts. What’s more, this album came out at a time when all the band members’ relationships were crumbling down to ash. The long-standing relationship between singer Stevie Nicks and guitarist Lindsay Buckingham, who came to the band as a married writing couple and creative duo, has just broken up. Similarly, the marriage of the second couple - bass player John McVie and keyboardist and singer Christine McVie, has come to an end, when Christine was having an affair with the band's stage lighting operator - Curry Grant. Even the drummer and band leader Mick Fleetwood experienced marriage problems when his wife - Jenny Boyd cheated on him with his best friend (sounds familiar? So Jenny is the sister of Patty Boyd who cheated on George Harrison with his best friend Eric Clapton). (Photo: Richard Cremer) Now explain this. how a broken and shattered band is supposed to enter a small studio, and between four walls record the biggest album in its repertoire, one of the most successful and best-selling records in the history of music? It seems that the band managed to channel that unimaginable pain into the lyrics and weave it between the music notes, in a way that made this album the greatest "farewell album" in the history of music (and singer Adele can be happy with second best). They could not look at each other in the eyes, and certainly not talk to each other, so what did they do? They spoke to their partners through music, through lyrics, and it worked perfectly! Buckingham opens the album with " Second Hand News ". and tells Nicks: "I know there's nothing to say Someone has taken my place", and Buckingham just predicts the affair that Stevie Nicks will have with Mick Fleetwood . This song was originally supposed to be acoustic and called "Strummer", but when Buckingham heard the "Bee Gees" song "Jive Talkin'", he decided to thicken the sound and add more and more tracks and instruments. Nicks responded to Buckingham came with the second track - " Dreams ", in which she says: "Now here you go again, you say You want your freedom, Well who am I to keep you down". Stevie Nicks says that after writing the song she recorded a demo of it with only a piano and vocals. She had found the courage to play the demo to Lindsay Buckingham. Despite the murky relationship between them, Lindsay looked up at her and just smiled, he realized this was a great song. Listen to this song carefully and try to discern what is so special about it, because there are not many such songs. Did not find out? This song is based on only two chords !!! Yes, verse, chorus, bridge, everything is based on only two chords. The variations of F and G ... Buckingham did not remain obligated and responded to the Nicks' in the third track on the album, a song whose title speaks for itself - " Never Going Back Again ". He wrote the song when he was already in a relationship with a fan he met on the road, and it's hard for us not to hear "Blackbird" written by Paul McCartney for the Beatles, between the acoustic strings, but who cares? This is an amazing song! " Don't Stop " was written by Christine McVie about leaving the past behind. Just think of a situation where her husband John McVie has to play bass in a song written about him, and how the hell does he manage to do that? It is interesting to note, that the name of the album was supposed to be called "Yesterday's Gone" - a phrase taken from the song, but John actually suggested the name "Rumours", in response to the wave of rumor's circulating each of the band members, during the recording of the album. By the way, President Clinton used this song in his successful campaign in 1992. Christine also sang and played the piano in " Songbird ", which sounds to us just like an outtake from Carol King's "Tapestry" album. In this song, she deals with the loss of true love. On the other hand, Christine wrote " You Make Loving Fun " about her new relationship with the band's lighting technician - Curry Grant. The amazing " Go Your Own Way " opens up with Buckingham's words: "Loving you isn't the right thing to do ..." and the hallucinatory situation in which Stevie Nicks has to sing background vocals in a song where Buckingham is setting her free, is simply inconceivable. The separation the band members managed to make, between musicianship, professionalism, and their private lives, is simply admirable. And if you still didn't get the idea, then " The Chain " is the only song on the album that was not written exclusively by one of the band members, but even here all five members managed to put their emotions aside and write together words like: "Damn your love, damn your lies And if, you do not love me now You will never love me again". Over the years this album has taken on a life of its own and has become a cross-border classic. There is hardly a house of music lovers that won't hold a copy of it. An album that is always fun to return to, pleasant to listen and despite the deep pain from which it is forged, it still manages to inspire you with optimism and hope on every listen. Perfect songs like " Go Your Own Way ", " Dreams ", " Don't Stop " and " You Make Loving Fun " are perhaps the ones that made this album a classic. But it is precisely the less powerful songs like " Oh Daddy " and " Gold Dust Woman " that make this album timeless! The fact that even over 40 years later you can still be as excited as at the first time about the combination of Buckingham's electric guitar and the palm-muted acoustic strings in " Oh Daddy ", or re-admire the harmonies of Nicks and Buckingham and the clean sound of the steel guitar in " Gold Dust Woman ", prove That this album is much more than the sum of its parts and is meant for eternal life as one of the great albums released in the history of music. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Pearl Jam's fifth album was released on February 3, 1998 and is a slightly different and special album as the atmosphere inside and outside the house began to change... After in 1996 Pearl Jam released the album "No Code" and failed to promote it with an impressive tour, in light of the confrontation with Ticketmaster but rather something more minimal. The band members returned to their "hometown" tired, mature and hungry going in to the mythical recording studio Studio X in Seattle. So what has changed inside the house...? After three commercially successful albums, the members took a step back with "No Code". over the years Eddie Vedder has transformed from being the new kid in the bunch and the one who adapts himself to the materials written by the rest of the band, to the one who leads the writing and creation. Eddie is the one who, in addition to writing the lyrics, also composed the structure of the songs, the melody and the arrangement, as he slowly took the lead from the rest of the band. After recording the album "No Code", Eddie approached the rest of the band and told them that he was tired of leading the creation and that it was difficult for him to cope with all the stress and load that the writing lead brings with it. He asked them that in the next album everyone would already come up with prepared materials of songs and that everyone would be partners in writing and making decisions. The band members, plus the "new" drummer Jack Irons who also featured on the previous album (and this is his latest album with the band), and producer Brendan O'Brien, all contributed to writing the materials for the album. The atmosphere was very cooperative and open, which the band members testified did not really exist in the past. Eddie openly accepted the ideas of others and worked first on their materials and only then on his. Make no mistakes, not everything was done on bed of roses, there were arguments, there was competition and there were also disagreements. This is how it is when working in a democratic way and everyone wants to express what they have in order for it to be released on the album. There is a nice documentary called "Single Video Theory" that documents the recordings for the album where you can watch the dynamics between the band members. So what has changed outside the house...? From the previous album, the music industry began to change, although the album reached number one on Billboard, it dropped very quickly. At the same time, Nirvana disappeared from the scene in light of Kurt Cobain 's suicide, Soundgarden releases their latest album to that dat and Alice also shrinks, with all of these giants leaving Pearl Jam alone in the turret as the last band in the Seattle grunge scene. Thus, this album came by force of energy to the first place on Billboard, but crashed very quickly. And as Eddie said in an interview: "We're not the same people we were five years ago. There's 'cool' and 'cynical,' which to me is dull and boring…I'm a little more positive about the whole trip now. We've had time to count some blessings. I'm in a tremendous position, being in a band and making music. I'd be an idiot not to enjoy the opportunity." If you ask the band's fans, most of them will say that this album is a kind of return to the origins, to the style of "Ten" , a rough, direct and strong rock and roll. True, there are some tracks on the album that sound like the last two albums but mostly sounds like the early 1990s Seattle. Listen to the album at: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On February 3, 1986 "The Firm" released their second and last album "Mean Business". As well known, "The Firm" is a supergroup consisting of guitarist Jimmy Page , singer Paul Rodgers , bassist Tony Franklin and drummer Chris Slade. The group released their successful debut album "The Firm" in 1985 and the expectation of the record company was to produce a follow-up album that would maintain the streak, as soon as possible. This album did not succeed in surpassing its predecessor, but it is still a good album that is worth listening to, after all, this is a tremendous collection of talents that are responsible for this work and we are here to convince you to give it a try. One of the reasons that this album was not as successful as the previous one, was because of the band itself. The members of "The Firm" decided to break up shortly after the release of the album, thereby conveying a message to the audience and critics, that even we do not believe in our work. It's a bit strange that this wonderful supergroup didn't give itself a chance and performed a quick "Hara-kiri", especially considering the fact that the name of the album is intended to convey exactly the opposite, with a double meaning in which "Mean Business" can be interpreted as the music market is a "tough business" and on the other hand can be interpreted that the band "Mean Business" (The Firm Mean Business). At first listen, this album seems to be less flowing and more uniform than its predecessor. There are some songs that feel underdeveloped and some that feel overproduced. But with each listen, every song seems to get better and better and slowly we discover that this album is actually quite good and original in its own right. (Photo: Spotify) The album opens with " Fortune Hunter ", a song originally written for another supergroup called "XYZ", in 1981. It was a short-lived project formed following the death of drummer John Bonham and the breakup of "Led Zeppelin". Robert Plant and Jimmy Page decided to join forces with Chris Squire and Alan White from "Yes". Where the name of the supergroup alludes to the two "mother bands" (XYZ = eX Yes, Zeppelin). However, this promising supergroup disbanded within a year without producing any recorded material. " Fortune Hunter " is a song from that project, originally written by Jimmy Page and Chris Squire and reworked for the album. A song that faithfully represents the band's sound. Strong and well-known riffs by Jimmy Page , powerful and effortful vocals by Paul Rodgers , the frenzied bass guitar of Tony Franklin who is also responsible for playing the keyboards and the steady and solid drumming of Chris Slade who a few years later will join "AC/DC" to create the album " The Razors Edge ". This is followed by " Cadillac " written by Page and Rodgers, with Franklin's "doped up" fretless bass, a slow trance-like blues fueled by Page's moaning guitars, which we like to call "stoner blues". This is without a doubt one of the more interesting songs on the first side of the album, which is held by the rhythm unit of Franklin and Slade. Singer Paul Rodgers contributes the next two great songs - " All the King's Horses " which is probably the "hit" of the album. A catchy and beautiful pop-rock song driven by Franklin's synthesizers and the beautiful melody in Rodgers' voice, but leaning quite a bit on Page's beautiful guitar work (although there is no solo here at all) and especially on his four-note arpeggio right before entering the chorus. " Live in Peace " closes the first side of the vinyl with a strong and clear message. The song opens with the piano playing of Paul Rodgers which creates an atmosphere that is very reminiscent of "Bad Company", especially in view of his sweeping vocals. Page's strong and surprising guitar blasts, his crazy solo and Franklin's very special bass work enhance the enjoyment of this special song. Interestingly, the song was originally recorded for Paul Rodgers ' first solo album from 1983 - "Cut Loose". The versions differ mainly in the rhythm of Chris Slade playing the mid-pace here compared to the original version, except for the end of the song, but this is actually the strength of the current version, as it adds the necessary drama to the song. Apart from that, it is clear that the accompaniment of three professional musicians is far superior to the Rogers version, who insisted on playing most of the instruments himself on his solo album. Rogers also released a new version of the song on his compilation album "Live in Peace". The second side of the vinyl opens up with " Tear Down the Walls " written by Page and Rodgers. A good and catchy pop-rock song that could have been the next hit from the album, had it been released as a single. In this case, the song leans on the rhythm division of Slade and Franklin when Page pads the song by playing an acoustic guitar that wraps around the streetcar sound from all directions. Next comes the jazzy " Dreaming " written by Tony Franklin whose guitar work and general vibe, for some reason, reminded us of "King Crimson" and Robert Fripp . This is undoubtedly the unique gem of the album, which contains some very surprising turns. It is interesting to note, that in the solos of the last three songs (" Live in Peace ", " Tear Down the Walls ", " Dreaming ") Jimmy Page uses a special device that is mounted on his Fender Telecaster guitar and is called a B-Bender. This is a device originally used by country and country-rock artists to mimic the sound of a pedal steel. This rig gives Page the ability to bend his guitar's B string up a whole note and provide a smoother sound in his solos. We come to a close with " Free to Live " which starts with another Jimmy Page rooted riff, but immediately takes a turn with bass work, vocals and a beat very reminiscent of "Bad Company". " Spirit of Love " written by Paul Rodgers was chosen to close the album, and it is very clear to us why this choice was made. It's a song that opens in an epic way with Rodgers' piano work, but also closes in an even more epic way with the chorus and the choir that accompanies Rodgers until the end and creates a "rock opera" atmosphere. This is probably the song that Page had the least influence on this album, although it does feature a number of solos. In conclusion, although it probably doesn't quite reach the level of the debut album "The Firm" from 1985 "Mean Business" is without a doubt an album worth listening to. It's an excellent rock album with many strengthsת that left a taste for more from the excellent supergroup that could and should have done more and last longer than its short life. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

And this morning we'll tell you about the album that predicted the symptoms of the Covid-19 virus back in 1981 (well, not really). We are referring to the album "Difficult to Cure" the fifth studio album by "Rainbow", which was released on February 3, 1981. This album continues the trend that started after the album "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" from the Ronnie James Dio era and passed through the previous album "Down To Earth". A trend led by the vision of "The Man in Black", Ritchie Blackmore, who frantically sought a hit that would conquer the world's radio stations. The change in perception comes to Blackmore after "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" who manages to enter the top ten on the UK charts and even spawn some singles with minor hits like "LA Connection" and of course the theme song. Blackmore was not content with the aforementioned minor success and sought to make significant changes in the sound and direction of the band. As a result, Blackmore and Dio parted ways. Dio later joined "Black Sabbath", while Blackmore began realizing his vision. It started with the addition of singer Graham Bonnet and a reunion with his longtime friend Roger Glover who took the bass role. The changes Blackmore made and the friendlier sound adopted by the band paid off, with the 1979 album "Down to Earth" producing two radio hits in the form of "Since You Have Gone" and "All Night Long", which help the album climb to sixth place in the British chart. But as you're already guessing, Blackmore was still not content with the relative success of that album and push the band even in a more commercial direction, with one of the role models for hin being "Foreigner". Cozy Powell smelled the commercial change and was the first to "abandon ship". He managed to hold on for one more album after Dio left, but was no longer willing to accept the fundamental change in style and sound. Immediately after, singer Graham Bonnet also left the band, both of whom will eventually find their way to the "Michael Schenker Group". Work on the material for the album begins while singer Graham Bonnet is still in the band. There is even an early version of the song "I Surrender" with Bonnet on vocals. But it was precisely this song that created the controversy between Bonnet and Blackmore and would eventually lead Graham to leave the band. The musicians selected to replace Powell and Bonnet, are drummer Bob Rondinelli and singer Joe Lynn Turner, both of whom were fairly anonymous until then. Turner's band "Fandango" from New York just broke up and he wandered between auditions and studios in search of a new lineup. One day he got a call from a guy named Barry Ambrosio who started asking him questions about "Deep Purple" and "Rainbow." It seemed strange to Turner and he asked Berry why he was asking him all these questions. Berry replied that he was currently standing next to Ritchie Blackmore asking to find out if he would be willing to audition. Turner thought he was laying with him, but Ritchie Blackmore grabbed the phone and a few days later Turner had already arrived at the Long Island studio where he met Blackmore and Glover. The two played him songs intended for the album and ten minutes later he had already started singing them. He knew his performance was good because he saw Glover and Blackmore beyond the studio glass shaking their heads in a positive way. They later asked him to sing "I Surrender". He asked if he could improvise and Glover and Blackmore confirmed. After his performance, Blackmore walked into the studio with some beers and told Turner he got the job. When singer Joe Lynn Turner joined the band, most of the musical parts, that were tuned to Bonnet's voice had already been recorded. As a result, Turner was forced to sing in a higher-than-usual tone and only because of this he deserves a compliment for his performance on this album. It can be said that Ritchie Blackmore's vision came true, as the album became one of the band's most successful, not least thanks to the excellent production of Roger Glover who not only played bass, but also sharpened and crystalized the songs in his role as producer. This album produced Rainbow's most successful single of all time - "I Surrender", which also won a nice clip and reached number three on the UK charts. This song was written by musician Russ Ballard who even helped "Rainbow" create another hit from the previous album - "Since You've Been Gone". It is interesting to note that according to a version given by Biff Byford from "Saxon", Russ Ballard first offered the song to the producer of "Saxon", but in the end, it was sold to "Rainbow". But the album is certainly not just the hit "I Surrender". It features other worthy songs like "Spotlight Kid" written by Ritchie Blackmore in collaboration with Roger Glover and features excellent drumming by Rondinelli. The song with the fast pace was Ritchie Blackmore's favorite opener in the band's shows. Blackmore's guitar playing is wonderful and his solos are classic, brilliant and amazing. All is left to wonder, whether the lyrics are a sort of autobiography about "The Man in Black". "No Release" starts with a cool intro full of reverb combined with distortion. It develops into a number with "Zeppelin" influences. Turner's singing in the first verse reminds us of Paul Rodgers's. Overall this song seems to have much more potential if Blackmore had given up the unnecessary applause section in the middle of it. "Magic" is simply a sweet and melodic "magic", on the verge of Pop, with amazing singing by Turner. It is also the third single released from the album, written by Brian Moran. The instrumental piece "Vielleicht Das Nächste Mal" is a bluesy, weepy piece that manages to excite, with perfect Blackmore playing and excellent keyboard work by Don Airey, who also co-wrote it with Ritchie Blackmore. This is not the only instrumental track on the album. There's also the theme track "Difficult to Cure", which is a kind of reproduction of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which has even received writing credit here. Ritchie Blackmore used to improvise on this piece at length during the band's performances. At the band's performance at Budokan, Japan in 1984, this piece was even played accompaniment by an entire orchestra, a sort of nod to "Deep Purple's" "Concerto for Group and Orchestra". If we have already mentioned the mother band, then this piece was also played at "Depp Purple's" performances, after their reunion. "Can't Happen Here" opens up the second side of the vinyl in a storm, with its catchy riff and rhythmic and sweeping chorus, that includes vocal harmonies with a gospel scent. This is the second single released from the album and the choice was clear and in line with Ritchie Blackmore's ambitions to break through into the mainstream. The song was written by Ritchie Blackmore and its lyrics are a kind of sarcastic protest on environmental issues. It is interesting to note that the b-side chosen for this song is "Jealous Lover", an excellent track that was recorded after the album's release and was not included in it. The lyrics to the song recorded on Ritchie Blackmore's 36th birthday, were written by Joe Lynn Turner in five minutes, during an argument between him and Blackmore over another song. It was also released later that year as part of an EP of the same name and includes another new instrumental track that was not included on the album "Weiss Heim". "Freedom Fighter" continues the commercial line, influenced by 1980s Rock. This is the first song that singer Joe Lynn Turner wrote lyrics for. In contrast, in the song "Midtown Tunnel Vision" written by Turner, Blackmore and Glover, has a scent of "Rainbow" from the days of Ronnie James Dio. The album cover looks very relevant in the face of the Covid-19 virus. It was initially offered to "Black Sabbath" for their "Never Say Die!" album, but was rejected. It is interesting to note that the recording technician on the album is Flemming Rasmusse, who was then only 23 years old. Fleming was also one of the owners of the studio where the album was recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark, and his work on this album would earn him world fame. "Metallica" who was enthusiastic about the sound of this album, will come to this studio three years later and ask to record the masterpiece album "Ride The Lightning" with Flemming as a producer. Fleming will also produce Metallica's next two albums, "Master Of Puppets" and "...And Justice For All". For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

He is part of one of the most important and big bands of the 90s. Robert DeLeo was born on February 2, 1966, and yes, he is the brother of Dean DeLeo !! (Photo: Jeff Berting) = He and his brother were born and raised in New Jersey, his brother is 5 years older than him. = Besides music Robert started surfing at the age of 9 and was also on the Point Pleasant Beach skateboarding team. = Although he grew up in a beach town and his soul always tried to take him there he had to pursue his musical destiny and after graduating high school he moved to Los Angeles. = Since he had no money or friends he lived in his car for a year trying to break into the Los Angeles music scene and form a band. = In 1985, Robert met Scott Weiland in a Black Flag show. While talking about music and other things, fate wanted and they found out they are in a relationship with the same woman !! After the (lucky) girl left and moved to Texas, the two decided to take her apartment in San Diego, live together and try to form a band. = They added drummer Eric Kretz and Robert embarked on a campaign to persuade his brother to join the band, although it was not easy, Dean finally agreed and joined the band. = They gave her the name "Mighty Joe Young" inspired by the movie of the same name. They began appearing in bars throughout San Diego and the Hollywood area, eventually signing a record deal with Atlantic Records in 1992. (Photo: John Eder) = But they had to change their name because it was already taken by a blues musician. Scott is the one who brought the name "Stone Temple Pilots" just because of the "cool" acronyms taken from the oil company STP, the initial name was generally "Shirley Temple's Pussy", the band members said that there is no meaning at all it just matched the acronyms. = At the beginning of the band's career Robert worked for "Schecter Guitar Research"ת which was a company that manufactures guitar parts. During his time there, Robert built his first bass guitar, which was a prototype and eventually became a Signature Guitar. = In September 1992, the band released their debut album " Core " . It was the band's breakthrough album, one of the best-selling debut albums of all time, with sales of over 8 million copies. Twice as much as the album " Dirt " by "Alice in Chains", which was released the same day. In light of the style and musical sound of the album the band automatically joined the grunge scene that conquered the world at the time. = But despite this, the band received quite a bit of criticism and slander from critics who called it an impersonator or imitation as it was not part of Seattle's music roots. But this of course did not affect the listeners themselves who voted with their ears and raised the band to the top of the charts. = In 1994 "STP" broke through the "Second Album Syndrome" when its second album "Purple " was also a huge success. The band did so while taking a risk, which involved a conscious decision not to repeat the winning recipe from the previous album. While changing and diversifying the musical material that this time included influences of psychedelic, progressive, folk, funk, southern rock, blues, and even jazz. = Even during the recordings, Scott's condition began to deteriorate as drug and alcohol use increased significantly. Due to its poor performance, the band decided to take a break until the third album "Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop" was released in 1996. It is an album that was a turning point in the band's musical style as it abandons the grunge sound and explores other areas, one step ahead of what began on the previous album. = The rift between Scott and the other members widened and reached its peak after the album's release, Scott's growing addiction, behavioral problems, and inability to function pushed the other three members to set up a side project in the meantime, hoping they could return to function as a band. Together with singer Dave Coutts from the band In Inch Man, they formed a new band called Talk Show and even released an album bearing the band's name in 1997. (Photo: John Eden) = Apparently time really heals the wounds because the four members managed to transcend themselves, resolve their differences and return to work together in early 1998. The reunion put positive energies in the band that the four members poured into the writing process, with all the songs written by all members together in the studio. The legendary producer who regularly worked with the band, Brendan O'Brien, pushed them to put their heart and soul into the album and in 1999 released their fourth album " No. 4" = Two years later the band releases their fifth album " Shangri-La Dee Da " . The album also produced by Brendan O'Brien, is the band's most experimental album, it cruises between genres of rock, psychedelia and even pop, with influences from The Doors, The Beatles, and even Bowie. It is very different from their previous album but resembles the album "Tiny Music". = In light of the ongoing rift that only widened between Scott and the rest of the band, the band officially disbanded in 2002. = In 2003 the DeLeo brothers reunite with other artists and this time together with the singer Richard Patrick from the band Filter and the drummer Ray Luzier from the band "Korn" who formed the band Army of Anyone. They released one album bearing the band's name in 2006, which did receive great reviews and love from fans of the parent band but did not yield significant sales or commercial success. (Photo: Army of Anyone) = In the same year, the DeLeo brothers produced the album "TruANT", the third album by the band Alien Ant Farm. = In 2007 Robert collaborated with the Japanese rock band "B'z", he recorded with them two songs on the album "Action" and five songs on the album "New Love" which also featured guitarist Joe Perry = In 2008 the band was invited to perform privately at a fundraising event, as history teaches us in these events, this "one-time" event reignited the spark of the four members and they went on a tour to celebrate the reunion. = In 2010, 9 years after their fifth album, the band releases their sixth album bearing the band's name. This album was mostly influenced by the country style as well as the 60s rock style. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. (Photo: STPLegacy) = After the release of the album and for three years the band suffered from extreme instability. Tough internal struggles and confrontations between the three band members and Scott began to intensify and take on different and weird forms. Scott was accused of preferring his solo career over the band, drug, and alcohol use was a regular theme in the fights and also his ability to perform on stage was a point of confrontation. In 2013 Scott was officially fired from the band, after some legal battles they managed to gain the rights of holding and performing under the band name. = In May of that year, a veteran but not anonymous fan named Chester Bennington fulfilled his long-time dream as he took the stage with the idols of his youth, Stone Temple Pilots. A few months later Chester becomes the band's official singer and they release an EP with five songs called "High Rise" , all songs were written by Chester, and "STP". But this love story does not last long and ends in 2015 in light of Chester's commitments to "Linkin Park". = In February 2016, the band launched an online campaign to recruit a new lead singer for the band, they requested the audience to send a recorded demo and performed a number of auditions when the singer Jeff Gutt was finally selected. = In 2018 the band released its seventh album which also bears its name, with its new singer Jeff, where the album marked the band's new beginning. (Photo: Michelle Shiers) = In 2020 the band released their eighth album "Perdida " . This is not a typical "STP" album and you will not hear even one rough riff or a small power cord for medicine here. True, there is nothing different or innovative here, but there is still an album that manages to evoke in us longings for other and beautiful times, manages to elaborate on the capillaries of emotion, and reminds us how fun it is sometimes to suddenly press the brake, a magical pause, in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. = Robert is a talented musician who has been a full partner in writing, arranging, and producing the band's albums and other bands. Listen to the band's latest album " Perdida " on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website