He was born on October 16, 1962, a happy birthday to legendary bassist Michael Peter Balzary, aka "Flea" , and we have 30 interesting facts to tell you about him. (Photo: Rich Polk) 1. He was born in Australia to parents of Hungarian and Irish descent. 2. The nickname "Flea" stuck with him in his youth due to his hyperactivity. 3. In his youth Flea did not like rock music at all. He loved jazz and admired well-known jazz artists like Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong. 4. The musical influences on Flea as a child came mainly from his stepfather who was a jazz artist. 5. The first instrument he played was the trumpet. 6. Flea grew up in a very violent environment. He was terrified of his parents, especially of his stepfather who was a violent alcoholic. 7. As part of dealing with the situation, Flea started smoking cannabis when he was only 13 years old. 8. He met Anthony Kiedis , a member of the band "Red Hot Chili Peppers", in high school. They were both outcasts and the common denominator brought them closer together and made them best friends. By the way, Jack Irons and Hillel Slovak who will be part of the "Red Hot Chili Peppers", as well as Slash , Rob Gardner, Tracy Ganz, Lenny Kravitz ,and other celebrities also studied at the same high school. 9. The person who taught Flea to play the bass guitar was none other than guitarist Hillel Slovak . He did this because he thought the bassist of his band at the time, "Anthym", was not good enough and he decided to teach Flea to play bass to replace him. 10. Flea soon became "Anthym's" bassist who changed its name to "What Is This", where he also played with drummer Jack Irons. 11. In 1982 Flea left "What Is This" and moved on to play bass for the punk rock band "Fear". 12. During his time with "Fear", he was invited to a one-time performance with Slovak, Kiedis, and Irons under the name "Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem", at the Rhythm Lounge Club in Los Angeles. (Photo: Gie Knaeps) 13. The reviews from the show were so good that the club owner invited them to play there again a week later and even went on to more shows, not before changing the band name to "Red Hot Chili Peppers". 14. Flea has developed a very unique playing technique on bass guitar and is primarily responsible for the all-too-unique sound of the "Red Hot Chili Peppers". 15. In 1990, Flea and drummer Chad Smith were charged with assaulting a fan during a performance in Florida, after jumping off stage and poking a fan in the ass. They were found guilty, in part dbecausethe offense they were charged with was documented since the show was recorded for MTV. 16. In 1993 he was invited by "Nirvana" to play the trumpet during a performance of the song "Smells Like Teen Spirit". 17. He was a good friend of actor River Phoenix who died of an overdose in 1993. Flea was with him the night he passed away at the Viper Room in Hollywood where they were scheduled to perform and also boarded an ambulance with him on his way to the hospital. 18. The song "Transcending" which seals the album "One Hot Minute" was written by Flea in honor of River Phoenix. 19. He worked with Alanis Morissette while playing bass in the song "You Oughta Know". The one who played guitar on that song was none other than Dave Navarro who that year was a member of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers. (Photo: Warner Music) 20. Later Dave Navarro will attract Flea to his mother band "Jane's Addiction". Flea played bass and trumpet with the band in 1997. 21. Together with "Jane's Addiction's" drummer Stephen Perkins and his Chili Peppers friend John Frusciante , he formed The "Three Amoebas". 22. In 1999 Flea performed at the Woodstock Festival completely naked. He repeated this at the Reading and Leeds festivals that year. (Photo: Unknown) 23. Flea is also an enthusiastic runner. He finished the LA Marathon to win funding that would allow him to build a music school. 24. In 2001 he established the "Silverlake" music school, which provides free music lessons to children at risk. 25. Flea is also an actor who has appeared in no less than 30 films and TV series, among them, Back to the Future 2, Back to the Future 3 ,and Big Lebowski. 26. Flea is active in assisting the bee population. He owns 3 hives numbering over 200,000 items in the backyard of his home. 27. In 2008, Flea began studying music at the University of Southern California. He is quoted as saying there are many things in music that he does not know and wants to learn. 28. In 2009, Flea together with Thom Yorke formed the supergroup "Atoms for Peace". 29. Flea has collaborated with many other artists like The Mars Volta, Tom Waits Johnny Cash, and more. 30. Flea is ranked second on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of all-time great bass players. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 16, 2001, Ozzy Osbourne broke a 6-year "drought" with "Down to Earth" - his eighth studio album. After his previous album "Ozzmosis" from 1995, Ozzy devoted most of his time to the "Ozzfest" festival premiered in 1996. He said that engaging in the metal festival was so much fun for him, that all he wanted to do was to just keep performing like the "Grateful Dead". But the record company demanded new material and the result was "Down to Earth," one of Ozzy Osbourne 's most beautiful albums of the current millennium. For the album Ozzy Osbourne gathered around him "A Dream Team", there is simply no other definition that can explain the collection of talented musicians in the band. Drummer Mike Bordin of "Faith No More" who joined Ozzy's backing band in 1996, but this is his first album with The "Prince of Darkness". Bassist Robert Trujillo who soon after the release of the album will join "Metallica" and guitarist Zakk Wylde who returned to the band after most of the material for the album was already written. As is well known, Ozzy Osbourne used to write the material for his albums with the help of his band members, especially the talented guitarists who accompanied him. Therefore, in the absence of Zakk Wylde who joined at a later stage, Ozzy relied on two talented musicians and producers. Tim Palmer who has worked with many good artists like Robert Plant , "U2", David Bowie , and more and even mixed albums of bands like "Mother Love Bone" and "Pearl Jam" on their masterpiece album " Ten ". Palmer was the main writing partner, he also produced and mixed the album and plays rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, and keyboards and sings background vocals. The other partner was Marti Frederiksen, a talented producer, and songwriter who has worked with "Aerosmith" and "Mötley Crüe", among others. This album is very reminiscent of the excellent " No More Tears " released exactly a decade earlier. The musical line is similar and includes a combination of catchy and melodic songs alongside classic heavy metal pieces. Like " No More Tears " the production is very clean, polished, and balanced and the lyrics are very personal, with almost all of them dealing, in one way or another, with Ozzy's private life. For example, the opening song and first single " Gets Me Through " is Ozzy's letter of thanks to his fans, in which he also declares and confesses: "I'm not the Anti-Christ or the Iron Man", the short track " You Know… part 1 " is Ozzy's apology to his son and daughter with the words "Tried to be your father Things just made it harder Sorry if I made you cry ..." and the song " Running Out Of Time " is a kind of mental recognition that no one lives forever and that our time on earth is limited. Musically it is one of the more balanced albums from "Prince of Darkness". It has almost no falls and it flows very nicely in continuous listening, without having to skip songs. Starting with the piano opening of " Gets Me Through " which immediately cuts with Zakk Wylde 's monotonous and mesmerizing riff, through " Facing Hell " with the semi-grungy sound, " That I Never Had " whose riff sounds to us like something guitarist Randy Rhoads could have written, The amazing " Junkie " with the crazy riff in which Ozzy tries to warn his fans of the consequences of drug use, using his experience, " Black Illusion " whose leading riff sounds to us like a combination of "Stone Temple Pilots" with "Black Sabbath" and " Can You Hear Them? " 'ho seals the album with the marching drumming. Ozzy takes care to balance the heavier tracks with ballads and slower tracks like the excellent " Dreamer " which Ozzy called his version of John Lennon 's song " Imagine ", in which he laments humanity destroying the planet, " No Easy Way Out " which it's acoustic opening also reminded us for some reason of "Alice in Chains", the short segment " You Know… part 1 " in which Ozzy apologizes to his children and of course the moving " Running Out Of Time ". There is no doubt that Ozzy went on this album on the cautious side designed to please as many people as possible, especially the record company and his pocket. A catchy album that does not have the boldness and emotion of the first albums. Sure, Ozzy like Ozzy will always "deliver the goods" and this album is definitely not bad, but he lacks the spark and genius we knew at the beginning of his career. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 17, 1977 "Lynyrd Skynyrd" released their fifth studio album "Street Survivors". This is the album that was supposed to make this band great, even more than it already was. A year before the album was released, the band introduced guitarist Steve Gaines, who also wrote material and sang. The band sharpens their sound, polishes their playing, and manages to create their best material to date, which was supposed to break the glass ceiling that floated above them. But in a very unfortunate and chilling way, just three days after the release of the album, on 20/10/1977, a plane leased by the band crashes and suddenly cuts off its musical career, while at its peak. This happened during the grandiose tour that was planned to promote the album, to be exact at the end of the fifth show, when the plane with the band members was on its way from "Greenville" in South Carolina to "Baton Rouge" in Louisiana. Singer Ronnie Van Zant, lead guitarist Steve Gaines, and his backing vocals sister Cassie Gaines were killed on the spot, while the rest of the band suffered serious injuries. Keyboardist Billy Powell's nose was almost torn from his face, guitarist Gary Rossington broke his leg in several places, guitarist Allen Collins was badly injured in the hand and his cervical vertebrae were fractured, bassist Leon Wilkeson broke six ribs, one of which punctured his lung and he also suffered fractures in his arms and legs. Drummer Artimus Pyle, who also suffered from broken ribs, managed to extricate himself from the plane and tried to get help, but when he reached a nearby farm he was shot by the farm owner. The owner of the farm who finally realized he was wrong, brought Artimus into his house and called for help. He then noted that there were rumors of inmates escaping from a near jail and that he was trying to fire a warning shot at Artimus. By the way, Artimus claimed that the same farmer missed the warning shot and hit his shoulder, but this was not proven. The accident was caused after the plane simply ran out of gas. It turns out that the pilots did not calculate the amount of fuel they needed to reach the destination. But that does not all and there are more disturbing facts about this horrific accident. It turns out that the management of "Aerosmith" was interested in leasing the same "Convair CV-240" aircraft for the band, but after being inspected by them, they decided that it was not suitable due to poor maintenance. What reinforced the band members' decision not to lease the same plane, was the fact that they saw the pilot and co-pilot pass a bottle of Jack Daniels between them during the plaint pre-check. Another disturbing fact was that just 48 hours earlier, during the band's flight with the same plane from the Lakeland Florida show to Greenville, South Carolina, some of the band members saw sparks coming out of the plane's right engine. The band members refused to continue the tour with the same plane and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines even said she had already found herself an alternative private flight, but singer Ronnie Van Zant pressured everyone to board the fateful flight, for fear of canceling their next show. Survivor band members later noted that before boarding the plane Ronnie was heard saying to Cassie Gains: "If your time is up, your time is up." Creepily, one of the great songs from the album " That Smell " includes the phrase: "The smell of death surrounds you!" The song was written by singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Allen Collins about guitarist Gary Rossington and his drinking and drug problems. Rossington bought a new Ford Torino, got drunk, crashed into a tree, and then into a house. The accident caused an injury that delayed the band's tour and hence the song. Also, the original cover of the album shows the band surrounded by fire, with Steve Gaines' face partially covered by flames. After Gaines' death and at the request of his wife Teresa Gaines, the MCA record company decided to replace the album cover with the band's picture on a black background. Years later in the reissue of the album, the original cover was returned. The album cover along with the name "Street Survivors" created a conspiracy theory that anyone who was not touched by the fire "survived" the crash, but a close look at the cover shows that basically, the fire touches all members of the band in one way or another. "Street Survivors" has become the band's best-selling album and features classic songs like " What's Your Name " based on a real case in which the band members were expelled from a bar after being involved in a brawl and " You Got That Right " written by Gaines Van Zant, who also share singing, both as aforesaid died in the plane crash. Unfortunately, the album also became the band's last, until the reunion albums two decades later, with Johnny Van Zant replacing his brother Ronnie as singer and original guitarist Ed King. The story of the album and the disaster even won a Hollywood version of the film was released in 2020 and bears the name of the album. Drummer Artimus Pyle gave direct testimony to what happened on that fateful day and allows us to experience up close the circumstances that led to one of the greatest disasters in the history of music. Watch the trailer here: For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

"Electric Ladyland", the third studio album of "The Jimi Hendrix Experience", was released on October 16, 1968. This double album is the last from the amazing power trio "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" and is probably also the pinnacle of their work, so let's dive deep into this "electrifying" album and tell you 20 interesting facts about it: 1. This is the last studio album that Jimi Hendrix released during his lifetime. 2. This is the album that took Hendrix the longest time to record. It lasted over a year, a very long time in those times. 3. The album consisted of various sessions, recorded in several locations between July 1967 and August 1968. 4. This is the most successful album by the Power Trio and they're only to reach number one on the charts. 5. Contractual and legal issues had delayed the creation of the album and forced Jimi Hendrix to go on shows to fund the recordings. 6. This is also one of the reasons it is the only album that Hendrix produced with the help of his manager Chas Chandler. 7. Chas Chandler, Hendrix's manager and the one who discovered him, who also produced the album, left during the recordings. Chandler despaired of Hendrix's perfectionism and the dozens of takes he made during the recordings, including the song "Gypsy Eyes". 8. At the time of the recording the band started to disintegrate when, among others, bassist Noel Redding formed his own band in mid-1968 called "Fat Mattress". 9. The album features an immortal cover version of Bob Dylan's song "All Along the Watchtower", which first appeared on his 1967 album "John Wesley Harding". The song featured Brian Jones , a good friend of Hendrix from "The Rolling Stones", who played the percussion. The song also feat. Dave Mason of "Traffic" who played a 12-string guitar. Jones initially tried to play the piano as well but he was not good enough for the taste of Hendrix who did not want to offend him and just moved him to the percussion. 10. Following Hendrix's argument with Noel Redding during the recording of the song, the latter left the studio and Dave Mason took the bass in his place, but in the end, the bass role played in the final recording was performed by none other than Hendrix himself. 11. The song " All Along the Watchtower " became identified with the interpretation given to it by Jimi Hendrix and one of the top singles in 1968. Even Dylan himself thought Hendrix's version was better than his own. 12. Hendrix's version of the song received the "Grammy Hall of Fame" award in 2001, and was ranked 47th in "Rolling Stone" Magazine's 500 greatest songs of all time in 2004. 13. The one who served as a technician during the recording of the song was Tony Bongiovi's cousin of Jon Bon Jovi . He said that Hendrix was not happy with the results at first and slowly doubled the number of guitar tracks. He also used the Zippo lighter for the slide guitar sound in the recording. 14. Whitney Houston's mother who was Aretha Franklin's backing singer served as the backing vocalist on the song " Burning of the Midnight Lamp ". 15. In the song " Crosstown Traffic " Hendrix uses the kind of "Kazoo" he made himself from a comb and cellophane paper. The sound created by the Kazoo was used to double the guitar channel. Dave Mason serves as the background vocalist. Hendrix also plays the piano. 16. During the recording of the jam track " Voodoo Chile ", an "All-Star" team of artists participated, including Steve Winwood who was then in "Traffic" and bassist Jack Casady from "Jefferson Airplane". 17. Hendrix tried to recreate the atmosphere of the New York club "The Scene" on 46th Street, which he used to visit during the recording of the album. He entered the club after a performance of "Traffic" and invited a large number of musicians to the same famous jam session, including Jack Casady and Steve Winwood, as mentioned. 18. The song " Voodoo Child (Slight Return) " was written and recorded spontaneously. The day after the jam session, Hendrix, Reading, and Mitchell came to ABC-TV studios to record a documentary about the band. They were supposed to be filmed playing music. Hendrix took advantage of the breaks to teach the other two members a new song. They learned and recorded it on the spot after only three takes. 19. The two alternate covers of the album were not selected by Hendrix and were not acceptable to him. Hendrix wanted the album cover to include a photo taken by Linda Eastman (future McCartney), showing him and his band alongside children playing next to a statue of Alice in Wonderland located in New York's Central Park. Instead, the record company used a grainy photo of Hendrix from his performance at the Saville Theater in Blondes in 1967, while the British label used a provocative photo of 19 naked girls. 20. The album entered the 2003 list of the 100 greatest albums of "Q magazine" and also the list of the 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 17, 2000, guitarist Tony Iommi released his first solo album simply called "Iommi". It's an album featuring an "All-Star" lineup of singers and musicians like: Ozzy Osbourne , Henry Rollins, Dave Grohl , Phil Anselmo , Bill Ward , Billy Idol, Billy Corgan , Brian May , Matt Cameron , Serj Tankian , Skin and more. It took Tony Iommi almost 5 years to create the album. He began the writing process immediately after the release of "Black Sabbath's" " Forbidden " album in 1995, when the first recordings were made beginning of 1996. It should be said that Iommi managed to adapt the style of each and every song on the album to the artist who was hosted on it, without losing the identity and signature sound so identified with him. Each of the ten songs on the album was written by Iommi in collaboration with the artist performing it. During the work, additional songs were written that did not find their way to the album. For example, Iommi recorded three songs with singer Phil Anselmo , but only one of them - " Time is Mine " entered the album, while the song " Inversion of the Saviors " and another song were left out. Also, two songs were written with Billy Idol and two with Billy Corgan , but again this time only one song from each singer entered the album. In addition, Iommi recorded with Scooter Ward the frontman of the band "Cold" a song called " Something Wicked This Way Comes ", which did not enter the album in the end. The song " Who's Fooling Who " features a mini-reunion of "Black Sabbath" and is the first since 1978 to feature Tony Iommi , drummer Bill Ward , and singer Ozzy Osbourne . One of the interesting collaborations on this album is on the song " Goodbye Lament ", which features Dave Grohl on vocals and drums and Brian May on guitar. A kind of combination of metal, industrial, and post-grunge. Other songs worth noting are: " Black Oblivion " with Billy Corgan on vocals, guitar, and bass, " Patterns " with Serj Tankian on vocals, " Laughing Man (In the Devil Mask) " with Henry Rollins, and more. Since the album cannot be found in the various streaming apps, we have made a playlist for you on Youtube "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 17, 1980, Bruce Springsteen released his fifth studio album, "The River". This is one of "the boss" greatest and deepest musical works, both in terms of scope and content. A double album that includes 20 songs spread over almost 90 minutes, which is considered by many to be the last part in a trilogy of three albums that deal with the character of Bruce Springsteen at crucial times in his life. "Born to Run" from 1975, "Darkness at the Edge of Town" from 1978, and "The River" from 1980. This double album features an eclectic collection of songs written in different periods, from the early years of Springsteen's career to new material drawn from various projects and recent tour dates. For example, the songs " Independence Day ", " Point Blank ", " The Ties That Bind ", " Ramrod ", and " Sherry Darling " were outtakes from the sessions for the album "Darkness at the Edge of Town". This album was originally intended to be released as a solo album called "The Ties That Bind" (as the name of the first song on the album) and was intended to be released in late 1979. However, while writing the theme song "The River" Springsteen decided to add more melancholic folk songs and compose another collection of songs From diverse genres and make this a double album. This is why the recording of the album took about 18 months, with director and producer Jon Landau, as well as Steven Van Zandt, joining Springsteen as co-producers. During the sessions, a large number of songs were written and recorded but eventually did not included in the album, such as " Be True ", " Held Up Without a Gun " and " Roulette " which were eventually released as b-sides, as well as songs that Springsteen gave to other artists such as Warren Zevon And songs released as part of Springsteen's boxes and collections later in his career. In terms of sound, this album was aimed at a "live" sound, probably because a significant portion of the album's songs was already featured in Springsteen's live shows, even before its release. Lyrically, the songs are mostly personal and moving with themes ranging from hope to disillusionment. 8 singles have been released from the album and it includes some of the boss' beautiful and exciting works, among them: The theme song " The River " is based on conversations Springsteen had with his brother-in-law after he lost his job in the building. A hard-working man who worked hard to support his wife and young child, but never complained. Springsteen wrote " Hungry Heart " following a meeting with Joey Ramone intending to give it to the "Ramones", but eventually decided it was too good of a track to give away. The moving " Independence Day " is written about Springsteen's relationship with his father, who worked at the "Nescafé" factory. They did not get along, but later in life, Bruce realized that his father was working very hard to support his family and began to appreciate him. " Cadillac Ranch " is one of a variety of songs Springsteen wrote about cars, which refers to a collection of 10 Cadillac cars to which visitors may add graffiti, in a wheat field near Amarillo, Texas. " I Wanna Marry You " - is a mature song that is a departure from many of Springsteen's previous songs about wild and free life. " Out in the Street " is one of the few songs that sits on the border between the two styles in the album ranging from bouncy and energetic songs versus working class melancholy. And of course, the amazing " Point Blank " which was the last song recorded for the album, and its title was borrowed from a 1967 film of the same name starring Lee Marvin, one of Springsteen's first "story" songs to be perfected later in his career in ballads like "Nebraska" and "The Ghost Of Tom Joad". "The River" became Springsteen's first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200, where it stayed for four consecutive weeks. Springsteen called this album a "gateway" to his future writing, with the albums "Nebraska" and "Tunnel of Love" directly drawing stories and themes that originated on this album. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 16, 1976 "Thin Lizzy" released their 7th studio album "Johnny the Fox". This album showcases the band at their creative peak, blending hard rock with blues, folk and even funk and soul elements, while maintaining their signature twin guitar attack. The album was born out of a challenging time for frontman Phil Lynott . After falling ill with hepatitis, Lynott was hospitalized in Manchester during June and July of 1976, forcing the band to cut their "Jailbreak" tour short. Despite the setback, Lynott made the most of his time, armed with an acoustic guitar, and wrote the songs that would form the backbone of "Johnny the Fox" in his hospital bed. It is the last "Thin Lizzy" studio album with guitarist Brian Robertson and it surprisingly features Lynott’s friend Phil Collins of "Genesis" on percussion. The album opens with " Johnny ," a gritty, narrative-driven rocker about an outlaw, immediately drawing listeners into Lynott’s world of complex characters. The sharp ear listener will surly notice the brass instruments in the background, which will visit later on the album enforced with string arrangements. "Thin Lizzy's" signature dual guitar harmonies, delivered by Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, are in full force throughout the record, with tracks like " Rocky " and " Massacre " showcasing their technical prowess and energy. Tracks like " Borderline " and " Fools Gold " delve into more introspective themes, offering a softer side to the album’s otherwise gritty rock sound. The heartfelt ballads " Old Flame " and " Sweet Marie " provide a contrast to the tougher, streetwise narratives, showcasing Lynott's ability to balance vulnerability with raw power. " Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed " has a funky vibe that highlights the band's willingness to explore new sonic textures. A key moment in the album’s creation was the tension between Lynott and Robertson over the composition of " Don't Believe a Word ." Initially, Lynott introduced the song as a slow 12-bar blues, but Robertson famously dismissed it as "shite." The song was reworked into the fast-paced rocker that fans know today, though the original bluesy version would later resurface when Lynott and guitarist Gary Moore recorded it for Moore's " Back on the Streets " album in 1978. Although "Johnny the Fox" didn’t achieve the commercial success of "Jailbreak", it stands as a testament to "Thin Lizzy’s" creativity and resilience. Written under the shadow of Lynott's illness and internal band tensions, the album retains a raw energy and narrative depth that make it a standout in their discography. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... And this time, "Sign Of The Hammer" the fourth album from "Manowar", which was released on October 15, 1984. On the one hand Power metal that will break your bones, with songs like " Thor (The Powerhead) ", " The Oath " and " Animals ", and on the other hand epic, melodic and immortal ballads like " Mountains " and " Guyana (Cult of the Damned) ". This is the album that really does it for us from the band's huge catalog and it's important to us that you do not miss it. This album is different and unique from the variety of "Manowar" albums. It starts with the minimalist cover, which exceptionally to the band's catalog does not include formidable Vikings, hammers, and swords (take out Thor's hammer symbol). It continues with more diverse and mature content, which for the first time does not include warfare, Nord mythology, swords, and sorcery. And it ends with a cohesive and immature sound that still manages to devoid the excess production that will take over the band from the next album. This is the band's fourth album in just two years, and one should be overwhelmed by the band's burst of creativity, and the fact it managed to release a large number of excellent albums in such a short period. The album features a crazy sequence of great songs: " All Men Play on 10 ", which some say is a hint of the band's guitar amplifiers that were always tuned for maximum volume, " Animal " which swelled with Eric Adams ' "animal screams", and includes great guitar work by Ross the Boss, " Thor (The Powerhead) " which is one of the band's great songs, written about the god Thor and his formidable hammer, the melting " Mountains " which stretches over almost 8 minutes and features excellent bass playing by Joey DeMaio , "The Oath" with the fast-paced rhythm on the verge of Speed ​​Metal and of course the chilling " Guyana (Cult of the Damned) " which tells the story of the mass suicide that took place in 1978 in Jim Jones' cult. And it is impossible of course without Joey DeMaio 's famous bass solo which this time surpasses itself with " Thunderpick ", which on the one hand stands out beautifully on its own, and on the other hand, serves as the perfect intro to the song " Guyana (Cult of the Damned) ". This album strives for metallic perfection. It's probably the band's best at the time and one of its best ever. So if you do not know the band and crave for a great metal album or whether you claim to be one of the "Manowarriors" but have skipped this album we recommend you listen to it here: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 15, 1984 "AC/DC" released their only EP "'74 Jailbreak". It is a 5-track EP that serves as a snapshot of the band’s early work during their Australian-only releases in the 1970s. These tracks were originally recorded between 1974 to 1976 but had not been widely available internationally until this release. The EP showcases the raw, unpolished energy that would eventually make "AC/DC" a hard rock powerhouse. The EP kicks off with the explosive title track, “ Jailbreak ,” that was originally released in 1976 on the Australian version of the "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" album. It is a gritty, rebellious anthem that exemplifies "AC/DC's" early themes of defiance and freedom. With Bon Scott ’s unmistakable raspy vocals and the blistering guitar work of Angus Young , the song is a prime example of the band’s signature sound: simple, powerful, and direct. The riff-driven structure builds tension before erupting into an unforgettable, hard-hitting chorus. It's one of the highlights of "AC/DC's" early catalog and a live staple. The EP's four other tracks were originally released on the Australian version of the band's debut album, " High Voltage ", recorded in 1974 and released early the following year. “ You Ain't Got a Hold on Me ” is a bluesier, laid-back groove with a swinging rhythm that complements Scott’s charismatic, cheeky delivery. “ Show Business ,” is a fast-paced, rock n' roll number that takes aim at the music industry’s sleazier side. “ Soul Stripper ” is another standout. It’s a slow burner, stretching out with a hypnotic, bluesy intro before building into a more powerful groove. “ Baby, Please Don’t Go ,” is a high-octane cover of the classic blues standard of "Them". "AC/DC’s" version is faster, raucous and electrifying, with Angus Young ’s wild guitar antics taking center stage. Overall, "'74 Jailbreak" is a thrilling glimpse into "AC/DC’s" roots. An album designed to complete the collection for all those who purchased the missing international editions of the band's first albums. The energy, attitude, and musicianship displayed on these early recordings showcase the raw foundation upon which the band would build their legendary career. While it may be a brief collection, it’s packed with the youthful vigor and unfiltered rock 'n' roll spirit that "AC/DC" would come to embody. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Alcatrazz's fifth album "V" and it's first with singer Doogie White, was released on October 15, 2021. This is the band's second album within a year, after 34 years of musical drought. The title of the album "V" is related to the fact that this is the band's fifth album, but also to the fact that this is a kind of Victory of the band. It is also interesting that the band chose to release the album exactly on the day their debut album "No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll" was released in 1983. "Alcatrazz" was formed in 1983, and knew how to combine a mix of heavy metal melodies performed by guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen and later Steve Vai . That same year the band released their debut album "No Parole from Rock 'n' Roll", which featured the hit "Island in the Sun". The band continued to build popularity with the album "Disturbing the Peace" which was released in 1985 and included the hit "God Blessed Video". After the third album "Dangerous Games" from 1986, the band ceased to exist and for 34 years did not release any new material. As you may recall, the trigger for the release of the comeback album "Born Innocent" in 2020 were three reunion shows of the band, which were held in 2017 in Japan. The performances were recorded on the live album / DVD called - "Parole Denied - Tokyo 2017". The reactions the band received pushed the members to write new material. The album "Born Innocent" featured a reunion of the legendary singer Graham Bonnet with the two original members of the band, keyboardist Jimmy Waldo and bassist Gary Shea, adding guitarist Aish Joe Stump, known from the bands "Trash Broadway" and "Reign of Terror" and Mark Benquechea on drums. This lineup continues in the current album, with the exception of singer Graham Bonnet who retired from the band on December 4, 2020, due to disagreements with the rest of his bandmates over the management of the band. Bonnet has announced that he does not intend to give up the band's name and that he will continue to use the name "Alcatrazz". He added that he is working on an album with the band's new lineup. It seems that the unfortunate case of "Queensryche" who in 2013 released two albums of two different lineups of the band, is about to repeat itself here as well. Whoever replaces Graham Bonnet as a singer is none other than the legendary Doogie White, who was known among others as the frontman of "Rainbow", Yngwie Malmsteen , Michael Schenker and more. In June 2021, the first single from the album " Turn of the Wheel " was released. It was also the first to be written by the new line-up featuring singer Doogie White." About a month later the second and excellent single " Sword of Deliverance " was released and proved that the album "V" is going to be an amazing album for the second time in a row. Doggy White defined it as: "mighty, metal monument! A call to arms for the Alcatrazz collective" At the beginning of October 2021, the band released another single - " Grace of God " which addresses the fear of going to war in the Middle Ages, invading countries you did not know and conquering nations you did not know existed, for your king. Notice the similarity to Ritchie Blackmore in the playing of guitarist Joe Stump especially during the solo. Song List: Guardian Angel Nightwatch Sword Of Deliverance Turn Of The Wheel Blackheart Grace Of God Return To Nevermore Target Maybe Tomorrow House Of Lies Alice’s Eyes Dark Day For My Soul "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Well, this is without a doubt one of the best Heavy Metal live albums, maybe even the best of them! "Live After Death" by "Iron Maiden" was released on October 14, 1985. After the release of " Powerslave " in 1984, it was already clear to even the greatest skeptics that "Iron Maiden" is the biggest heavy metal band in the world. As befits its status, "Iron Maiden" has embarked on its biggest tour, one of the longest and most intense for a rock band to date. The "World Slavery Tour" began in Warsaw on August 9, 1984, and lasted 331 days, during which no less than 187 performances were made. During the tour, the band visited places where they had not performed before and became the first heavy metal band to play behind the "Iron Curtain". The highlight of the tour was the band's performance in Rio, where they played for the first time in front of an audience of no less than 300,000 people !!! Both the stage and the set were grandiose on every scale and corresponded with the main theme of the album " Powerslave " - Ancient Egypt. The stage was adorned with Egyptian sarcophagi and hieroglyphics, and a mighty representation of Eddie as a mummy that towered proudly above the stage. The show itself included effects and invested pyrotechnics including the character of Eddie who came to life at the height of the show and emerged from the mummy. The combination of the amazing scenery, the length of the show, and the careful selection of songs, together with the theatricality, virtuosity, and meticulous playing of the band members, have made this tour one of the best and most famous tours of "Iron Maiden". Under these circumstances, the expectations from the band to release a live album that would sum up the tour were high, especially when by that time the band had not released any official live album ("Maiden Japan" was an EP from the Di'Anno era that included 4-5 songs). The double album documents the band's performances at the Long Beach Arena in California, from March 14 to 17, 1985, when the fourth side of the album was recorded during the band's performances at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on 8, 9, 10 and 12 October 1984. This album gives us a glimpse into how this mighty band sounds and looks at its peak (the Long Beach shows were also recorded on video and released on VHS). A live album that conveys directly and authentically what was happening on stage. A live album that really sounds "alive". The band's classic lineup that includes Steve Harris , Dave Murray , Adrian Smith , Bruce Dickinson , and Nicko McBrain sounds direct, tight, and remarkably accurate here (except for Bruce Dickinson's little stumbles when sounded a bit strenuous in some of the songs, and rumor has it he was sick while recording them). The chemistry between the five friends is well felt and even those who do not watch the VHS tape knew to tell that it just goes through the speakers. The song list consists of the band's best "hits" from all five albums it has released so far. From the iconic opening with the speech of Winston Churchill which puts us in the gates of " Aces High ", we are witnessing a heavy bombardment of hits: " 2 Minutes to Midnight ", " The Trooper ", " Flight of Icarus ", " The Number of the Beast ", " Run to the Hills ", " 22 Acacia Avenue ", " Children of the Damned ", " Hallowed Be Thy Name ". The Paul Di'Anno era is also well represented with " Wrathchild , " Running Free ", " Phantom of the Opera " and of course " Iron Maiden " and it's impossible without mentioning the two epic songs " Powerslave " and " Rime of the Ancient Mariner " that apparently steal the show. This amazing show is conducted by a magician-producer Martin Birch whose abilities have already been proven on the band's studio albums, but he also knows a thing or two about producing live albums, he nevertheless worked on one of the best - "Made in Japan" by "Deep Purple". This short summary would not be perfect if we did not mention the album cover which is one of the most beautiful and meticulous the band has ever created. Derek Riggs painted Eddie rising from the grave and next to him is his tombstone engraved with an alleged quote from "H. P. Lovecraft" when this time the painting also has the back cover and includes a lot of hints and mentions from previous covers. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On October 14, 1977, "Genesis" released their second live album "Seconds Out". The album was recorded at a crucial juncture in the band's evolution. Most of the album was captured during the " Wind & Wuthering " tour at the Palais des Sports in Paris between June 11–14, 1977, with one exception: “ The Cinema Show ,” recorded in 1976 at the Apollo in Glasgow during the " A Trick of the Tail " tour with Bill Bruford on drums. This album also marks the last "Genesis" performance with guitarist Steve Hackett , which left the band during the albums' mixing process, making it as a significant moment in their "Genesis" history. Musically, "Seconds Out" showcases the band’s technical prowess and their ability to recreate their intricate studio compositions in a live setting. The album predominantly features songs from the Phil Collins era with 5 of the 12 song coming from the " A Trick  of the Tail " and " Wind  & Wuthering " albums, but it also representing the highlights from the Peter Gabriel era of "Genesis". By this point, Phil Collins firmly established as the band’s lead vocalist, brings his distinctive voice and energetic drumming to the forefront. His performances of older Gabriel-era songs such as " The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway ", " I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) " and " The Cinema Show " display his ability to make these classic pieces his own, while maintaining their dramatic essence. More than that, in our opinion Phil Collins ' vocals take center stage. While Collins' vocal range is somewhat more limited, particularly in the lower tones, he proves that he is more than capable of stepping into the role previously held by Peter Gabriel . Although he lacks Gabriel's theatrical qualities, he manage to bring a fresh energy to the songs. His performance on the 24-minute epic " Supper’s Ready " is particularly impressive, as he seamlessly inhabits the role Gabriel once filled, demonstrating his ability to deliver the song's complex shifts in mood and intensity. Collins' command over the dramatic elements of the song, coupled with his emotional range, shows what a skilled vocalist he had become by this point. The album is filled with many highlights, including " Dance on a Volcano.. .", the closing section from " The Musical Box " and of course " Firth of Fifth ," where the band delivers a technically precise rendition. However, it is worth noting that the live version lacks Tony Banks ' iconic piano intro from the original studio recording, and Gabriel's flute solo is also absent. Despite these omissions, the performance retains the song's majestic feel, driven by Banks' synthesizer work and Hackett's soaring mind-blowing guitar solo, which remains a key moment. Other tracks, such as " The Carpet Crawlers ", " Afterglow " and " Squonk ," are played with both precision and emotional weight. The drumming, particularly during the powerful instrumental “ Los Endos ,” where Collins and Chester Thompson perform a dynamic drum duet, stands out as a showcase of the band’s rhythmic tightness. As for the song picking, the band knew that fitting their entire setlist on two vinyl records was impossible, so several key pieces were cut from the final tracklist, including " One for the Vine ," " Inside and Out " (release just few weeks before the shows), " Eleventh Earl of Mar ," and the fan-favorite " The Knife ," which closed many of the shows. Despite these omissions, "Seconds Out" remains a definitive live document of "Genesis" during their transitional period from progressive rock to a more streamlined sound. The production quality on "Seconds Out" is excellent, offering a clear and balanced sound that highlights each instrument's contribution. Steve Hackett 's guitar work, while a bit low in the mix at times (unfortunately the band made sure of that in his absence), adds a textured layer that complements Banks' lush keyboard arrangements and Mike Rutherford 's steady bass lines and 12-string guitar fills. In many ways, "Seconds Out" serves as a retrospective of "Genesis'" progressive rock years while simultaneously pointing towards their future direction. With Hackett’s departure shortly after the tour, the band would start to shift toward a more commercial, pop-oriented sound in the coming years. However, this album captures them at their progressive rock peak, blending the theatricality of the Gabriel era with the more polished musicianship of the Collins-fronted period. Despite the missing tracks and a few small adjustments missing in the mixing process, "Seconds Out" remains an essential live album for "Genesis" fans, offering a snapshot of the band at the height of their progressive rock powers and at a pivotal moment in their history. It’s a powerful, emotionally resonant album that bridges their past and future, showcasing the enduring talent that would carry them into the next phase of their career. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website