He formed "The Hollies", he was part of the supergroup "Crosby, Stills & Nash", he was inducted twice into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", he is an officer of the British Empire Order and he holds four honorary doctorates. Here are some facts about singer and musician Graham Nash. (Photo: mubi.com) 1. He was born on 2 Feb 1942 in Blackpool Lancashire, England. His full name is Graham William Nash. 2. In 1962 he formed "The Hollies", with his classmate Allan Clarke. He immediately became its lead songwriter along with its guitar player and vocalist. 3. The band's first album was released in 1964. By 1967 Nash would release along with "The Hollies" 7 studio albums before leaving the band. 4. Later, in 1983, Nash returned to "The Hollies" to mark the 20th anniversary, releasing two more albums, "What Goes Around" and "Reunion". 5. In 1965, Nash, Clark and guitarist Tony Hicks formed a private label called "Gralto Music Ltd", through which they managed the songs they wrote. The label also signed young Elton John on a recording contract, after being featured on "The Hollies" recordings from 1969-1970. 6. During Nash's visit to the United States, with "The Hollies" in 1966, he first met David Crosby and Stephen Stills . 7. In July 1968 he met them again, in a private party held at Joni Mitchell's home. The two played a new song written by Stills and Nash joined them singing a third harmony. Right at that moment it was clear to the three of them, that there was an amazing vocal chemistry between them, that could not be ignored. 8. The crazy vocal chemistry and the special connection between the three, caused Nash to leave "The Hollies" and join the emerging "Supergroup" which will be called "Crosby, Stills and Nash". (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives) 9. In May 1969, the supergroup's first album " Crosby, Stills & Nash ", was released. 10. About three months after the release of their debut album, "CSN" has already appeared at the legendary Woodstock Festival. It was only their second live show ever. 11. Neil Young will take the stage and join the trio in the second and more "electric" part of the show. This moment will be the trigger that will turn the trio into the quartet "CSNY", when Neil Young joins them as a full member. 12. Already at the early days of the supergroup, Nash wrote some of its beautiful and successful songs such as: "Marrakesh Express", "Our House", "Teach Your Children" and more. 13. He wrote the song "Our House" about his then-girlfriend, singer Joni Mitchell. 14. In 1971 Nash released his first solo album "Songs for Beginners". Nash will later release 5 more studio albums, the most recent being "This Path Tonight" from 2016. 15. In 1972, during the hiatus of "CSNY" Nash and David Crosby worked as a duo to release four studio albums, including the excellent debut named after them: "Graham Nash David Crosby". 16. Nash is known to be very socially active. This is reflected, among other things, in the songs he has written, such as "Military Madness", "Chicago" and "Immigration Man". In 1979 he also founded the Association of Musicians for Safe Energy, while opposing the expansion of nuclear power in the world. 17. In 1997 Nash was inducted into the "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame", as a member of the "Crosby, Stills & Nash". 18. In 2005 he collaborated with "A-Ha" on the song "Over the Treetops". 19. In 2006 he and David Crosby were featured on David Gilmour's " On an Island " album. Later the two also accompanied Gilmour in his performances. 20. In 2010 he will be inducted again into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", this time as a member of the band "The Hollies". 21. At the same year he was also appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire. 22. Nash holds four honorary doctorates, one of them from NYIT University. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 22, 2016, “Megadeth” released their fifteenth studio album “Dystopia”. At a moment when expectations from “Megadeth” were cautious rather than enthusiastic, the album quickly revealed itself as one of the most important statements of the band’s later years. For a group so deeply associated with the golden age of thrash metal, the mid-2010s felt like uncertain territory. Lineup changes had become routine, confidence was shaken after the lukewarm reception to “Super Collider”, and yet “Dystopia” arrived sounding lean, hostile, and unexpectedly vital. This was not a band leaning on history. This was a band fighting for relevance. The period leading up to the album was marked by upheaval. Longtime members - drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick departed, once again leaving Dave Mustaine  and David Ellefson as the sole constant. Instead of attempting to recreate a classic lineup, Mustaine rebuilt the band with intent. "Angra" guitarist Kiko Loureiro joined for the first time, bringing technical fluency and melodic confidence, while Chris Adler of “Lamb of God” handled drums for what would become his only appearance with the band. It was also the final Megadeth studio album to feature bassist David Ellefson. Produced by Mustaine alongside Chris Rakestraw, “Dystopia” sounds cold, tight, and unforgiving. The production strips away excess, emphasizing sharp riffs, locked-in grooves, and vocals delivered with controlled venom. There is no warmth here, only pressure. The sound mirrors the album’s worldview: rigid systems, collapsing trust, and a society driven by fear and manipulation. Lyrically, Mustaine returns to familiar territory, corrupt leadership, manufactured enemies, and the erosion of personal freedom. This time, however, the message never overwhelms the music. The paranoia is embedded within the structures themselves, rigid rhythms, abrupt shifts, and an almost mechanical sense of restraint that makes the album feel claustrophobic by design. “The Threat Is Real”  opens the album by slowly building tension before exploding into a crushing riff, immediately establishing the record’s dark and hostile atmosphere. “Dystopia”  follows with one of the band’s strongest modern hooks, aggressive and direct, balancing memorability with bite. It is undoubtly one of the bands best song in the current milennum, no wonder it won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 2017, the band's first win after 12 nominations. The lead single from the album - “Fatal Illusion”  accelerates the pace, driven by Adler’s precise drumming and Mustaine’s snarling delivery, recalling classic thrash energy (at times remencent of " Loved to Death " from " Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! " ) through a modern lens. The album’s emotional low point arrives with “Poisonous Shadows” , where piano (played by Kiko Loureiro) and orchestration replace speed. The song explores psychological decay and obsession, revealing a weary, theatrical side of Mustaine rarely heard in later-era "Megadeth" material. “Post American World”  sharpens the political edge, its chugging riffs and layered guitars reinforcing a sense of looming instability. The instrumental “Conquer or Die!”  serves as Kiko Loureiro’s defining statement. Rooted in neoclassical phrasing and technical precision, it highlights how vital his arrival was to the album’s identity, injecting fresh energy without breaking from the band’s core language. “Lying in State”  stands as one of the album’s most venomous statements. Built around a grinding mid tempo riff, the song channels pure distrust toward political leadership, media manipulation, and institutional decay. Near the album’s end, "Megadeth" deliver a blistering cover of “Foreign Policy” , originally recorded by the American hardcore punk band “Fear” in 1982. Stripped of its raw punk looseness and rebuilt with thrash precision, the song fits seamlessly into “Dystopia”’s ideological framework. The Japanese edition includes an additional cover version of “Melt the Ice Away”  by the Welsh power trio “Budgie”. In the broader context of “Megadeth”’s discography, “Dystopia” is widely regarded as the band’s clearest late-career revival. The album was embraced as a genuine return to form, earning mostly positive critical responses and restoring confidence after the disappointment of its predecessor. In our view, this can be attributed to three main factors: tight, aggressive songwriting that echoes the band’s classic thrash era, Dave Mustaine ’s vocals sounding focused and controlled rather than strained, and a reinvigorated lineup that injected fresh energy, particularly Kiko Loureiro, whose playing was widely praised. Commercially, its debut at number three on the Billboard 200 made it the second highest-charting album of "Megadeth’s" career in the U.S., surpassed only by “ Countdown to Extinction ”. The Grammy Award win for the title track further elevated its status, giving the album a symbolic weight unmatched by any other post-classic "Megadeth" release. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

And then they were four... On February 2, 1976, "Genesis" released "A Trick of the Tail". This is the band's seventh studio album and its first without Peter Gabriel , with Phil Collins taking his place as the lead singer. The album's story begins with a tour that accompanied the release of the double album " The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway ". In the middle of the tour, Peter Gabriel expressed his desire to leave the band. The message was received in complete shock by the other band members. Just as the band is on the rise and receiving appreciation from critics, precisely when it's at an advanced stage of its musical development, right after the double and most ambitious album, Gabriel announces that he is tired. He want's to retire and spend time with his family. Gabriel was such a theatrical, magnetizing and charismatic character. He was the band's channel of communication with the audience and did this in such a great and unique way, that the other band members were confident that his departure would simply lead to the band to its end. Immediately after touring and while confident that the band would no longer be playing together again, Steve Hackett began work on his first solo album "Voyage of the Acolyte". Hackett collaborated on this album with his "Genesis" friends, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford . At the same time, keyboardist Tony Banks began working on materials for what he thought was going to be his solo album. And so it seemed, that in the absence of Peter Gabriel , each of the members was going his own way. But the four remaining members somehow knew that they had much more to give, creatively, as a band. And so, against all odds, in the middle of 1975 they decided to meet and start working on material for a new album. They started with the material Tony Banks wrote for what he thought would become his solo album. During the work on the new materials, the band tried to find a new singer to replace Peter Gabriel . The four friends realized they needed a dominant and charismatic singer who would be able to get into Peter Gabriel 's big shoes. At that time, no announcement was made about Gabriel's departure and the band published an anonymous ad in the "Melody Maker" newspaper which read: "a singer for a Genesis-type group". In response, the band members received hundreds of requests for auditions and found themselves listening to about 400 recordings of singers who applied for the role. The band managed to finished writing all the material for the album and began recording in October 1975, when there is still no singer to replace Gabriel. So many singers arrived at the studio to be auditioned, but no one was found suitable. At one point, the band members even considered releasing the album as an instrumental album. Phil Collins was teaching the young singers the singing parts for the newly written material, and he often found himself demonstrating to them how to sing. At one point the other members realized that Collins was doing it much better than all the other candidates, and begged him to sing the lyrics himself. Eventually, Phil Collins was convinced and sang the song " Squonk ". The performance was so good that the band members informed him right away that he is the one to step into Gabriel's shoes. Collins was very reluctant about being at the forefront of the stage, but luckily following the pressure of his bandmates he was eventually persuaded to take the role. Thus, we won "Genesis" for years to come, with some amazing albums from one of the greatest bands in Progressive Rock. Phil Collins has proven that beyond being a very talented drummer, he also deserves to serve as the frontman of "Genesis". This "Genesis" album does not fall short of the bands masterpiece from the early 1970s and if you need a stamp of approval for that, then even Peter Gabriel himself, who came to the studio at the time of the recordings said so himself. The opening song " Dance on a Volcano " is perhaps the best opening song in all "Genesis" albums. What a blast of brakes and rhythm changes. The syncopations here just do not sound like anything else heard at the time. What an amazing and crazy C part. This is simply a school for Progressive Rock. " Entangled " is one of the band's most beautiful songs ever. Phil Collins ' singing is soft and the vocal harmonies are just chilling. Tony Banks ' keyboard work here is just remarkable. An abundance of sounds that gradually evolves until they just flood the whole song with sheer bliss. The concluding section of this song is one of the greatest things "Genesis" has ever done. An excellent mix of vocals, harmonies, mellotron, 12-string guitar, frequent rhythm changes, and just one big sensory madness. " Squonk " is as mentioned the first song that Phil Collins performed in the studio. This is just unbelievable since Collins just nails it and certainly proved that he is a soloist who is able to hold a full song like the best vocalists. This song was meant to sound like a combination of "Kashmir" and "When The Levee Breaks", by "Led Zeppelin". This is one of the favorite songs by Phil Collins , who noted that while the song may not sound quite like "Zeppelin", this was the initial intention to mimic John Bonham 's hi-hat and Jimmy Page 's heavy chords. Such a cool groove in this song ha. Tony Banks ' brilliant work with the keyboard toward the end are just mind-blowing. So much beauty and class are compressed in such a short time. The song that seals the first side of the vinyl " Mad Man Moon " starts melancholic, magical, and soft and develops into something that sounds more classic. As soon as the drums go in along with the melody in Phil Collins ' voice and Steve Hackett 's howling guitar in the background, the music just sends chills through our spine... The second side of the vinyl opens up with " Robbery, Assault and Battery ", written by Tony Banks in an attempt to mimic the humor in some of Gabriel's songs. Collins who co-wrote the song also tried to sound like the theatrical Gabriel, who used to come in and out of characters, while performing the band's songs on stage. Phil Collins said he chose to enter the character he played as a child in the musical Oliver!. It's one of the band's most unique songs featuring simple psychic key work, some of Tony Banks ' bests, great Phil Collins drumming and vocals, and a brilliant bridge. " Ripples " was initially written as a song for Collins to sing, just as "More Fool Me" from the album " Selling England By The Pound ". The song opens as a folk ballad with 12-string guitar by Mike Rutherford . The drums only come in during the second chorus and then the song becomes more classical, with one of Steve Hackett 's beautiful solos on the album, using the mesmerizing and so unique "Backward Guitar" effect. The theme song " A Trick Of The Tail " was written by Tony Banks years before the record was released, in 1972. It was originally intended for " Foxtrot ". The lyrics were inspired by a 1955 book by William Golding called "The Inheritors". It's probably the band's attempt to be more radio-friendly, with a slightly "poppy" and bouncy rhythm. Indeed it was also the band's first song to have a video clip. designed to promote it and the album. The concluding section " Los Endos " is simply a grandiose and ambitious Prog demonstration and one big musical celebration. The song was written by the entire band as Phil Collins writes the basic rhythmic structure, inspired by his work with the jazz fusion band "Brand X". The track features a number of transitions and rhythm changes, with references to the songs " Dance on a Volcano " and " Squonk . It also includes a beautiful and touching tribute to Peter Gabriel , with Collins singing a few lines from the song "Supper's Ready" during the fade out. "A" Trick of the Tail" was a great success and received rave reviews. Not only has the band proved that they are capable of surviving after the departure of Peter Gabriel , but they have also shown that they are capable of producing an album that does not fall short of their major albums, with an up-to-date and upgraded sound and with high-level of musicianship and musical material. Phil Collins also proved to be an amazing talent. By no doubt, he passed the test in the studio. Now all he had to do is pass it in front of an audience as well, and he will do it with great success, but that is already a story for another review. For Listening: Spotify , Apple music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 2.2.2004 "I love the tone that's in your laugh, Gasping for an extra breath, Waiting for the time to pass, I believe in days ahead, Don't spend another night alone, Cross and wishing you were dead" Jason Sellards did not have an easy childhood once he gradually came to understand that he was not really attracted to the opposite sex. At the age of 15, following the advice of a close friend, he “jumped into the water” and came out to his parents (his father an entrepreneur, his mother a Baptist), telling them that he was gay. In hindsight, that advice turned out to be disastrous. Sellards, born in 1978 in the city of Mesa (Spanish for “table”), a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, did not exactly grow up in a city known for openness or acceptance of different ways of life, to put it mildly. Certainly not in 1994. In his distress, Sellards found support in a close friend named Mary Hanlon, who became an emotional anchor during his hardest moments. He later gravitated toward New York City, a place far more open to gay culture and identity, changed his name to Jake Shears, and together with Scott Hoffman (Babydaddy) formed the band "Scissor Sisters", whose debut album was released on February 2, 2004. Shears dedicated "Mary"  to Mary Hanlon, his close friend during those difficult years. The song opens as a dreamy love ballad, led by Hoffman’s keyboards, which sound as if they were lifted straight from a mid-’70s "Bee Gees" track. Yet as the song unfolds, it subtly foreshadows what is to come, hinting that Mary herself was struggling to survive the demons in her own life. A year and a half after the song’s release, Mary Hanlon tragically passed away from a brain aneurysm in April 2006. The music of "Scissor Sisters" sounds like a collision of electroclash, disco, and glam rock. Shears was deeply influenced by and openly admired "the Bee Gees", especially Robin Gibb, as well as Elton John , "ABBA", David Bowie , "Pet Shop Boys", Madonna, "the Beatles", and more. The group began to take shape in 1998, when Shears traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to visit a former classmate and met Steve Hoffman there, a gay musician from a Jewish family (his older brother Ben is a comedian and musician). The two later moved to New York and in 2000 formed "Scissor Sisters" as a kind of performance-art stunt, staging provocative and outrageous shows in clubs such as Luxx, the beating heart of the electroclash scene in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where Shears was living at the time. Not long after, Ana Kirby joined the lineup, better known by her stage name Ana Matronic, who claimed that the band’s ultimate mission was to liberate people’s hidden fantasies and pull them out of everyday routine into a world of dreams and desires. Guitarist Del Marquis (born Derek Gruen) and drummer Paddy Boom (born Patrick Seacor) completed the lineup. Boom learned to play drums by copying the style of Larry Mullen Jr. ("U2") and later became a devoted fan of Stewart Copeland, drummer of "The Police". If elements of "the Police"’s drumming style can be heard in some "Scissor Sisters" songs, that is no coincidence. Boom was also the only openly straight member of the band and the only one with solid stage experience, having previously been part of the ’80s indie art-rock band "Sloan Rangers". After several years of grueling work in New York (including collaboration with the label A Touch of Class), "Scissor Sisters" finally found success in the UK and Ireland. Shears, known for his provocative dancing and flamboyant costumes (a legacy of his past as a go-go dancer and erotic dancer in male strip clubs), did not sit well with American audiences, especially given the band’s heavy inspiration from drag culture and LGBTQ+ themes during its early years. According to Babydaddy, their goal was to create the perfect pop-rock album that grabs you at the beginning, takes you on a journey in the middle, and brings you back to the same place at the end. The album’s opening track, "Laura" , is remembered mainly for Shears’ raw vocal delivery, his piano playing, and the song’s deliberately ambiguous lyrics. At times, Shears linked them to Laura Palmer from "Twin Peaks", while at other times the song referred to an anonymous hairdresser he once knew. Overall, it seems that Shears and Hoffman, the songwriting duo behind the band, deliberately enjoy keeping the meanings of their songs blurred, likely for good reason. In the United States, they were asked to record a toned-down version of the album, a request they refused. The second single, released just days before the album itself, is a masterclass in how to reinvent a cover song. It delivers a polished, rhythmic reworking of the slow and restrained "Comfortably Numb"  by "Pink Floyd", blended with the driving guitar lines of another Floyd classic, "Run Like Hell"  (the opening chords also echo "Bring on the Night"  by "The Police"). The original song was written about Roger Waters’ experiences, not to say hallucinations, after falling ill before a concert in Philadelphia. A doctor initially diagnosed possible food poisoning. “He didn’t listen to me,” Waters told Rolling Stone . “I later found out I had hepatitis.” Waters was given a sedative and persuaded to go on stage. After the injection, he could barely move his limbs. “God knows what he gave me, but it was a very heavy muscle relaxant.” Waters later jotted down a few lines based on the experience, frightening and claustrophobic in tone. The album’s third single, "Take Your Mama" , functions as a form of emotional compensation for Shears’ traumatic coming-out experience at the age of 15. In the song, he introduces his mother to gay nightlife in an attempt to bridge the emotional gap between them. Other standout tracks include the quiet, sorrowful ballad "Mary" , and the UK Top 5 single "Filthy / Gorgeous" , which portrays New York City from its fringes, focusing on escort services catering to the city’s elite, told from the perspective of the girls themselves. In keeping with long-standing musical tradition, the album also includes songs dealing with hard drug use. "Music Is the Victim"  and the closing track "Return to Oz"  address substance abuse in general, and more specifically within the LGBTQ+ community. The band received a Grammy nomination for "Comfortably Numb" , and the debut album proved to be a major success, particularly in the UK, where it reached number one and became the country’s best-selling album of 2004, with all five singles charting inside the UK Top 20. The album is also listed as one of the "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" list. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On February 2, 1981, Iron Maiden's second studio album, "Killers", was released, and it's definitely an album we're willing to "kill" for. There are rare musical moments that manage to burn deep into the visual memory as well. When this happens, every time you listen to the same song you will not be able to do so without the same images running in your memory, flashing before your eyes. For us, the opening sequence of "Killers" and more precisely the instrumental track " Ides Of March " and the song " Wrathchild ", are just one of those music-visual moments. In the early '80s, a videotape of Maiden's mythical performance " Live At The Rainbow " was released in Israel. This historic and rare item (at the time), was recorded before the release of "Killers", during a performance held on December 21, 1980. This live show was one of Adrian Smith 's first appearances with the band. We got lucky and a pirated copy of that show on a VHS tape fell into our hands. It became the focus of a pilgrimage of organized screenings held for members of our friends, all "Heavy Rock" fans. For hours on end, we sat in the small living room and watched the tape to the displeasure of our parents and neighbors. This show opens with " Ides Of March " in the background as Paul Di'Anno and the band are in their final moments before the show. Paul straps on the thick pin belt and the band march towards the stage to the final notes of " Ides Of March " and then... an explosion! with the pulsating bass of Steve Harris , we are witnessing one of the band's greatest songs from the Di'Anno era - " Wrathchild ". The mentioned video tape and album were our entrance ticket to the wonderful world of "Iron Maiden" and since then, for almost forty years, these images will be burned in our memory as the founding moment in which we knew the faces behind the sounds. (Photo: Robert Ellis) What complemented the visual experience that accompanied the amazing music heard from the speakers in that little house in Ramat Gan, was the gloomy and frightening album cover, painted by Derek Riggs. A cover that simply spoke for itself and shouted out the sounds of music hidden inside. "Maiden" came to prove that they are simply a "killer" band that threatens to devour the world. A band that is going to easily skip the second album syndrome and is here to stay, lead and make an impact on the music world for many years to come. The musical style on this album is not much different from Iron Maiden's debut album " Iron Maiden ". The reason for this is probably because most of the album's songs were written in the band's early days. All the songs on the album except " Murders in the Rue Morgue " and " Prodigal Son ", were written before the release of the band's debut album - " Iron Maiden ". Moreover, a version of the "killer" song " Wrathchild " was recorded by the band for the compilation album "Metal for Muthas" back in 1979. The amazing instrumental track opening the album - " The Ides of March ", was written in 1977 By Steve Harris and "Samson" drummer known as "Thunderstick", who was a member of "Iron Maiden" at the time. This track was recorded and released about a year earlier by "Samson" on their second album "Head On", there it was called "Thunderburst". "Samson" (including Bruce Dickinson ), gave credit to Steve Harris on their album, but Harris did not return them a favor on "Maiden's" album and took all the credit for himself. Although the album's musical style was not much different from the band's debut album - " Iron Maiden ", this album still has a positive development in terms of sound compared to the previous album. This development is mainly attributed to two factors. First, the addition of guitarist Adrian Smith - Dave Murray 's childhood friend. Second, the recruitment of super producer Martin Birch , who by then managed to work with "Deep Purple", "Rainbow", "Sabbath" and more, that from this album on will populate the console position at "Maiden" albums For long and good years. Both of these factors greatly influenced the sound on this album, which became tighter, rougher, and thicker than the previous one. Another factor that influenced the sound and style is undoubtedly Paul Di'Anno. He just reflected on what happened in those years in the UK in the style and music. He introduced the band to punk and thus influenced the musical style, especially his more aggressive singing and also the band's look and appearance. Just before the huge success, that will come a year later with the addition of Bruce Dickinson , some memorable moments on this album put it at the top of the list for some of the band's fans. The third track - " Murders In The Rue Morgue " is one of the best songs on the album. A quiet and melodic opening with the arpeggio chords and Harris bass line that connects to the short solo... All this just prepares us for an explosion that comes later. Paul is at his best and proves how great a singer he is. Clive Burr 's drumming is wonderful throughout the song and fits well with the "chase" atmosphere of the poor Englishman suspected of a murder he did not commit and escaped from the police on the streets of Paris, just as in the story of Edgar Allan Poe. It is interesting to note that this song connects to another song on the album " Innocent Exile ", which opens up with Steve Harris ' bass intro and continues the chase story of that escaped Englishman. This chase atmosphere also exists in the theme song " Killers ", but this time the killer is chasing the victim. Harris' pounding bass overture, Di'Anno's screams, and Dave and Adrian's mysterious guitars, have a sense of frightening atmosphere, that makes us feel like we're running away from the serial killer mentioned in the song's opening words. And what an amazing playing of all the band members, starting at the 1:00 minute entry. Dave and Adrian's whistling guitars, Clive's precise drumming that helps Steve deliver a steady, fast rhythm, and Paul's excellent and versatile vocals all make this song perfect! A live version of this song exists in the same " Live At The Rainbow " video, which we mentioned above. As stated, the live version was taped before the song was recorded for the album. The melody was there, but the lyrics were not yet completed by Paul. Despite this, Harris insisted on performing the song and Di'Anno had to improvise a bit. Those with a keen ear will probably notice that the words are slightly different from those on the album. The amazing " Purgatory " - is the second and final single released from the album. This is a version of an old song by the band called "Floating", which become more rhythmic, probably the fastest song on the album. The song explodes seconds after it starts as all the band members rush forward. Di'Anno tries to keep up the fast pace and still manages to produce a nice melody and interesting dynamics. It is impossible not to refer to " Prodigal Son " which is without a doubt one of the unique songs in the vast repertoire of "Maiden". We can count on one hand the beautiful melodies, amazing and interesting singing by Paul, and a crazy instrumental piece in the middle, with delightful solos by Dave and Adrian. There are no filler tracks on this album. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith 's frequent rhythm changes and guitar work in the song " Another Life " blow our minds, the blues break starting at 1:27 in " Drifter " destroys our health and even the instrumental piece " Genghis Khan " meant to add time to the album to change the definition of the album to an LP, is an excellent and interesting piece, which manages to sweep us and put us in the right atmosphere of the Mongolian Genghis Khan story, even though there is not a single word there. By the way, this track makes "Killers" as the only "Maiden" album to include two instrumental tracks. It's Interesting to note that the original version of the album also does not include the song " Twilight Zone ". This song was released as a single about a month after the album was released and was later included in the American version. Adrian Smith noted he wrote the harmonies of the song, but did not get credit for it and that the rhythm was so fast that it was difficult for the band to play it. "Killers" is an excellent album, but it marked the end of the Di'Anno era. His drug and alcohol problems will lead him out of the band, with Bruce Dickinson taking his place and marching the band into its golden age. Although the band's big break will only begin on the next album, "Killers" is still an excellent, unique, and different album, which undoubtedly has a place of honor somewhere at the top of the "Maiden" catalog. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

We want to share something with you. There are albums that have accompanied us in so many moments in life, that affected us so much, that we are just trembling with excitement to write about them. Neil Young 's masterpiece album "Harvest", released on February 15 (other sources Feb. 1st), 1972, is one of them! So this time too, we decided to do it differently. Let's do it together, leave everything aside for a moment, put on headphones, close your eyes, click on the link and let's get started: Deezer Bass bass, snare, bass bass, snare, boom boom, tah, boom boom tah, acoustic: E Bm, E Bm, harmonica blowing ... and.... wooooosh we are in the front seat of Neil Young's pick-up, on our way to a weekend in L.A., with the ultimate travel song - " Out on the Weekend " playing in the background. This is how this masterful album, opens up. The album which is considered by fans and critics as one of Neil Young's greatest albums. The album that exposed him to the masses and brought him great commercial success, the one that sold more than any album in his mighty repertoire and the one that became the best-selling album in the US in 1972, starts small, minimalist, simple and yet so beautiful, ice melting, and timeless! It may sound strange to you, but this album is one of Neil Young's most "messy "albums. An eclectic collection of acoustic, electric, live songs. Rock, Country, Folk and even Classical symphony. This album is so mixed up that on paper it was supposed to be doomed to failure. So how did it happen that such uneven album becomes Young's most successful album and the best-selling in the US on 1972? Apparently it's the pure sincerity and honesty (and the Spotify scandal teaches that not just the musically) of Neil Young, that makes this album sound fresh, up to date and relevant even today, 50 years later. But all this musical and cultural beauty, all this dizzying success, would not have happened had it not been for an unplanned coincidence and a burst of spontaneity of Neil Young . The end result is that Neil Young disliked the success of this album. This meteoric success is mainly attributed to one song - " Heart Of Gold ", about which Young wrote the following words in his double compilation album "Decade", from 1977: "This song put me in the middle of the road. Traveling there soon became a bore so I headed for the ditch. A rougher ride but I saw more interesting people there." And evidently, Neil Young who did not feel comfortable with the success of the song, completely ignored the song and refused to play it live in his performances for years. Did we say a burst of spontaneity and an unplanned coincidence? So this album would probably have sounded completely different, had it not been for the strong back pains Neil Young had at the time, which caused him to give up his electric guitar, sit on the stool and concoct songs for an acoustic show. Thus, in the midst of the acoustic tour, in early February 1971, Neil Young arrived to Nashville, Tennessee, the ultimate Country music capital, to be a guest on the Johnny Cash Show. That weekend Young met producer Elliot Mazer, who worked with Bob Dylan and others. Mazer just opened "Quadrafonic Sound Studios" at the time, and invited Young to dinner on Saturday, February 6, 1971, in an attempt to persuade him to record in his new studio. The spontaneous Neil Young was convinced and arrived at the studio that same evening. Young, who really liked the studio players "Area Code 615", wanted to work with them on the new songs he wrote especially for the acoustic tour. The first versions of which can be found on the album "Live at Massey Hall 1971". All that Young asked of Mazer so he can start the recordings was a drummer, a bass player and a pedal steel guitar player. (Photo: Classic Album Sundays) Since most of the musicians were occupied in live shows that evening, Mazer had to "scratch" three musicians who became Young's backing band - "The Stray Gators". Drummer Kenny Buttrey, bassist Tim Drummond (who is rumored to have just walked down the street before mazer dragged him to the studio) and guitarist Ben Keith. That same evening, the three already recorded the basic channels for three songs with Young, including " Old Man ", which Young wrote about Louis Avila, the old man who was in charge of the "Broken Arrow" farm, which he bought in 1970. Drummer Kenny Buttrey said that Young Asked him to play only with his left hand and not touch the Hai-Hat cymbals at all. Kenny thought it was idiotic but did exactly what Young asked him to do. The next night, Sunday, February 7, 1971, Young was a guest on Johnny Cash's show, where he met Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. After the show Young invited them to the studio, where they recorded the background vocals for the songs " Heart of Gold " and " Old Man ". James Taylor later recorded the beautiful banjo for the song " Old Man ". Regarding the song " Heart of Gold ", Young emphasized that it was precisely spontaneity that made this song what it is. The band members did not know the song beforehand and recorded it live in just two takes. The musicians said that when Young played it to them they already knew that this song was going to be huge. The songs " A Man Needs a Maid " and " There's a World " were recorded by Young in March 1971 in London, where he arrived as part of an acoustic tour. During his stay there he turned to conductor Jack Nitzsche who was also a keyboardist on "The Rolling Stones" albums and told him he was interested in recording the songs with an orchestra. Nietzsche organized the "London Philharmonic Orchestra" for the recordings that were held at "Barking Assembly Hall". As for the song " A Man Needs a Maid ", it is interesting to note that it was interpreted as a chauvinistic song, but it was not so, at all. Young wrote it after watching the 1970 film "Diary of a Housewife," starring actress Carrie Snodgress. Neil Young who fell in love with Curry wrote about his feelings in the third verse of the song as follows: "A while ago somewhere I don't know when I was watchin' a movie with a friend I fell in love with the actress She was playin' a part that I could understand" Young eventually married Carrie and the two had a son named Zeke. In April, Neil Young returned to "Quadroponic" Studios to record two more songs from the album, the opening song " Out on the Weekend " and the theme song " Harvest ", which was also inspired by Carrie Snodgressת who was Young's girlfriend back then. The song refers to Carrie's mother Carolyn Snodgress who was an alcoholic. In April, Neil Young 's condition worsened and his back pain did not allow him to continue the recordings. He eventually underwent surgery, in August, due to a herniated disc in his back. The surgery was crowned a success and Young returned shortly afterward to work on the album. Since Young's back problems were solved, he was able to go back and hang his electric guitar on his shoulder, so the songs recorded in the following sessions were more "electric". In September the recordings were moved to a barn at Young's farm. Mazer scattered speakers and monitors in the barn, which gave the recordings a "live" sound, as each microphone placed in the barn also recorded additional instruments. During these sessions, three songs were recorded using a mobile studio: " Are You Ready for the Country ", " Alabama " and " Words ". The background vocals in these three songs were performed by David Crosby , Graham Nash and Stephen Stills . (Photo: Joel Bernstein) " Alabama " corresponds with the song "Southern Man" from the album " After the Gold Rush ". As mentioned, these two songs are Young's protest songs against black racism in southern United States. The songs angered members of "Lynyrd Skynyrd", who adored Neil Young . They literally saw these songs as a personal insult. In response they wrote their big hit "Sweet Home Alabama", that included the following words: "Well, I heard Mister Young sing about her Well, I heard ol' Neil put her down Well, I hope Neil Young will remember A Southern man don't need him around anyhow" In an interview with him from 1976, Neil Young responded and said he was proud that his name was mentioned in a "Skynyrds" song. He also used to perform the song in his live shows. The only song from the album that was not recorded in the studio is " The Needle and the Damage Done ". The song was recorded in a live performance at UCLA University, on January 30, 1971, before all the sessions mentioned above even started. The song was written about Danny Whitten, "Crazy Horse" guitarist and his addiction to heroin. After the release of "Harvest", Young invited Whitten to play on a tour designed to promote the album. However, soon Young realized it was a mistake, since Danny was unable to play because of his addiction. This forced Young to fire him from the band. Young placed a $ 50 bill and a plane ticket in Danny's hands and sent it off. With the money Young gave him, Danny bought the last and deadly dose of heroin that finally killed him on November 18, 1972. This left Neil Young heartbroken and with terrible guilt. The severe trauma and deep depression will be the trigger for three melancholy and depressing albums named "The Ditch Trilogy", the first of which is " Tonight’s The Night ". Deliberately or unintentionally, "Harvest" and the circumstances that followed led Young from the middle of the road down to the ditch, just as he initially wanted ... For Listening: Deezer , Apple Music , Spotify "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice.... And this time, "Frontiers" - Journey's eighth studio album, released on February 1, 1983. A little over a year after " Escape ", which became the band's most successful studio album, with sales of over 9 million copies in the US alone, "Journey" returns with this excellent album, that proved that sometimes lightning can strike twice in the same place. The album reached number two on the US charts and garnered 6 times platinum status in the US, i.e., sales of over 6 million copies. It also became the band's most successful album in the UK, with 4 singles charting at the top of of the charts. The keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jonathan Cain who replaced Gregg Rolie in 1980, has already been revealed as a talented songwriter on the previous album. He joined the band's lead writers duo, singer Steve Perry and guitarist Neal Schon . This time, however, Cain surpassed himself, as he co-wrote all the songs on the album and exclusively wrote one of the greatest hits from it - " Faithfully ". four successful singles that topped the charts, were released from the album : The first, the insane opening song " Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) ", with the amazing synthesizer riff, courtesy of Jonathan Cain, who simply propels this song forward, along with Neal Schon 's guitar playing. The song was written by Cain and Perry who had just experienced tremendous difficulties in their married life, in part due to the sheer intensity that accompanied the band tours. Cain began writing the lead riff on a small Casio synthesizer in his hotel room. The next day the band had already finished writing it during the sound check, before one of their performances. The second single, is the ballad " Send Her My Love " with the bluesy scent led by Steve Perry 's moving and touching vocals. Cain wrote the song at a time he was listening to a lot of "Beatles" albums and claimed that this influenced the song as well. Cain invited Steve Perry to his home and he immediately pulled out the special melody of the song. The third single " After The Fal l" features bassist Randy Jackson. This song was later part of the soundtrack to the movie "Risky Business" with Tom Cruise and Rebecca de Mornay. The fourth single, is the ballad " Faithfully " that Cain wrote solely in just half an hour, when he was on the band's bus on the way to the show. The song addresses Cain's difficulties and longings for his family, during the demanding tour. This is the first song the band has released a video clip for. When singer and musician Prince finished writing the song "Purple Rain", he immediately called Cain, sent him the song and asked for his approval, because he thought that there is much resemblance between the two. Cain gave his blessing, even though the two songs include only 4 overlapping chords. The album features other excellent songs. " Chain Reaction " which became a hit even though it was not released as a single and features a heavy riff and catchy chorus. " Edge of the Blade " whose guitar sound cuts you off like a "blade"." " Back Talk " with Steve Smith's rolling drums and a guitar riff and vocal reminiscent of "Led Zeppelin" and more. It is interesting to note, that the album included two songs that were replaced right at the last minute, before its release. " Ask the Lonely " which was included in the soundtrack of the movie "Two of a Kind" with John Travolta and Olivia Newton John and " Only the Young ", which was part of the soundtrack for the film "Vision Quest". The two songs that replaced them were " Back Talk " and " Troubled Child ". During the sessions the band recorded another song " All That Really Matters " in which keyboardist Jonathan Cain serves as the lead singer. The song was not released until the 1992 in triple compilation album "Time3". In 2005 the album "Frontiers" entered the list of the 500 greatest albums in rock and metal of "Rock Hard" magazine. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

By the time Grunge began its fall or rather sunk, a "semi" anonymous trio from Easy Bay, California began creating an album that would change the world of rock and take the throne from Grunge to Punk Rock !! The album "Dookie" was released on February 1, 1994. The trio that included Billie Joe Armstrong , Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool began their journey as Sweet Children in the music scene in the East Bay. They would frequent the place of pilgrimage of many bands, the Gilman Club, which was run and maintained by music lovers and did not belong to a private owner or management. In 1990 they signed with a local and independent label called Lookout! And released two EPs, the first "1,000 Hours" and the second "Slappy". These two short albums caught the attention of big record companies, who were looking for the next thing with the decline of Grunge, but it was not enough. They released their debut album "39 / Smooth" in the same year, but only a year later with the release of their second album "Kerplunk", it was powerful and attractive enough. Many record labels began to chase after the trio and try to sign them to a record deal. Luxurious restaurants, pampering homes, and even a trip to Disneyland were offered as a temptation to sign a contract. But that is not what seduced this young, rebellious, independent, and talented trio. Only one person managed to get their attention, Rob Cavallo, who was a representative of the record company Reprise. They really liked the work he did as a producer with the punk rock band "The Muffs" so they agreed to sign a contract with his label. They said he was the only person with whom they felt connected and that he conveyed authenticity. (Photo: Catherine McGann) For the fans, the signing did not go smoothly, the move from an independent local label that represented the underground music scene in the East Bay to a large and commercial label, turned the band members into commercial "traitors". They were even banned from performing and entering the Gilman Club and fans simply boycotted all of their shows. In a number of interviews, Billy said it did hurt them, but he knew the band's place was in the big league and not something small and underground. He felt they were a punk-rock band that would fill stadiums and not just smoky clubs. The band members who were very afraid of a hostile takeover and the intervention of the record company decided to put on the role of producer Cavallo with whom they had a connection, and in addition, they came to the recordings when they were already formed and ready to record. Billy said they did not want to get into the recording studio with unfinished materials or demos, and thus allow the label to influence or manipulate them. They wanted to come perfectly prepared, they worked hard on the album even before entering the studio. They wrote, composed, and arranged all the songs in advance and entered the studio with all the roles down to the smallest detail, all you had to do was press the record button. They recorded the album in only two months (including the mix done twice). At the end of the recordings, mixing and mastering, on February 1, 1994, the album came out with the first single - "Longview" , a song named after a city of the same name in Washington state, where "Green Day" first performed in. The song describes the boredom that a young boy goes through, as he spends his days at home and his agenda ranges from masturbation to smoking marijuana, the song earned an amazing breakthrough. It aired on all California radio stations and MTV aired its music video frequently throughout the day. Mike said he wrote the Bass Riff when he was under the influence of the drug LSD and that's what he and Billy managed to remember from it the next morning. The single was rated by Rolling Stone magazine, as third on the list of best singles for 1994. In addition, it gave the band four Grammy Award nominations in 1995. In August 1994, the second single from the album, "Basket Case" was released. With a music video shot in a real mental health institution and won non-stop air time on MTV. It very quickly became the anthem of the album and the band. The song was written by Billy about the struggle he had from a young age with anxiety attacks. When he was only 10 years old he lost his father to cancer. As a child, he was lost and did not know why and how. No one told him or shared with him what happened and it put him in a state of panic. He said he got lost, did not understand what was happening to him, and thought he was going crazy. He did not understand why he was experiencing anxiety attacks and how to control them, the only thing that saved him was the music. It was the writing of the songs that gave him the ability to unload and deal with the heavy loads. This song also had an insane success, was ranked high on the Billboard charts, and even received a Grammy nomination. In October 1994, the third single from the album "Welcome To Paradise" was released. This is a song from the band's second album "Kerplunk" which was re-recorded. Billy wrote the song about the time the band members left their homes and moved to an abandoned warehouse in Oakland, California. He said it was scary to walk around there at night. The warehouse was inhabited by a variety of different and strange types of musicians, painters, homeless people, drug addicts, and criminals, but despite this, they all lived together in harmony and for them it was paradise. In January 1995, the fourth single from the album "When I Come Around" was released. This is the band's second most successful single to date after "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", it took over the charts in the US and also gained high exposure and rating in many countries around the world. Although it was not re-recorded, the band performed with it back in 1992. The song was written about a child who is in a temporary relationship that he does not believe in, because of his insecurity and low self-esteem, when his partner actually wants something serious and deep. In May 1995, the fifth and final single from the album "She" was released. Billy wrote the song inspired by his then-girlfriend "Amanda" who introduced him to a feminist song called "She". After he heard the song, he wrote a song himself and gave it the same name, but after he played it to Amanda, she dumped him and moved to Ecuador. This song is regularly in the band's stylist and Billy said he would never stop performing it because it is an integral part of it. The album has 10 other songs, except the two, "All By Myself" written by Cole and "Emenius Sleepus" written by Mike, all written by Billy. All the songs are based on experiences and memories that Billy had during his life and talk about topics like anxiety, relationships, sexuality, and loneliness. As you probably know, the album was a resounding success not only in the US but worldwide. Apart from many Grammy nominations and winning the Best Alternative Album award, it topped the charts around the world when it was in the top five. It is also ranked 193rd on the list of 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. This album was officially crowned as responsible for introducing punk rock to the mainstream and crowning "Green Day" as an international phenomenon !! (Photo: Chapman Baehler) Wait... but what exactly is a Dookie ??? So, Dookie is the nickname given by the band members to their "diarrhea". Yes, you heard right! During the tour, the band members would eat a lot of junk food that was often expired, which would cause them to have a lot of diarrhea and to that, they gave the nickname "Liquid Dookie". Since the phrase sounded too awful, they were content to just use "Dookie"! And what about the album cover ??? So the cover is the work of the artist Richie Bucher who, at Billy's request, painted a homage to the East Bay. The cover is a drawing of bombs falling on a replica of Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley (San Francisco), on people and buildings. Inside the painting are hidden many figures from the lives of the trio in the music scene in the East Bay. Listen to the album on: Spotify , Apple Music "On the celebration of the 25th anniversary of "Dookie's" release, a guitar pedal was released with an effect that recreates the dirty and so unique sound that Billy Joe Armstrong used on the album. This pedal is magic, and it does not move from my pedal board. It combines the sounds of two combined effects for one step box with a harmonious and deep sound range. " "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 1.2.1970 In the mid-1960s, James Taylor realized he needed help. He was struggling with drug addiction and severe depression, and at that point he decided to abandon his musical ambitions altogether. In distress, he called his father and asked him to come and rescue him. After a long period in rehabilitation, Taylor decided to try his luck in the music world once again following the failure of his band "The Flying Machine". This time, he chose to do so far from home, in England, believing that the distance might help him keep himself together. There, he did find a measure of success when Peter Asher signed him to "Apple Records", the label owned by "The Beatles". He was a brilliant, somewhat eccentric, close-to-genius musician”, Asher said in an interview with Rolling Stone. All four members of "The Beatles" were impressed by Taylor. George Harrison  was so taken with him that he even borrowed the opening line from Taylor’s song "Something In The Way She Moves" as the starting point for one of his own famous compositions. Despite the artistic recognition, commercial success did not follow. After his debut album, Taylor relapsed into drug use and sank back into depression. This time, it was Peter Asher who took him into his own home and arranged for him to be hospitalized once again. While Taylor was recovering, Asher recruited musicians from Laurel Canyon in California. Some of them had played with Taylor in his original band during the difficult New York years, while others, such as Carole King, would go on to become lifelong creative partners. Once Taylor completed his rehabilitation, he, Asher, and the musicians assembled around him created one of the era’s most successful albums. It was an open, honest, and deeply autobiographical work, led by the song "Fire and Rain" , which traces the long and painful journey Taylor endured on the way to the album "Sweet Baby James", released on February 1, 1970. "Fire and Rain"  was written in part about his childhood friend Suzanne Schnerr, who took her own life while Taylor was in London recording his first solo album. Taylor completed the song while in the process of recovering from his own depression. The songs on the album drew from folk, gospel, pop, and blues. During the recording of the album, James Taylor was effectively homeless, staying either at Peter Asher’s house or sleeping on a couch at the home of guitarist Danny Kortchmar. As Taylor courageously wove elements from his real life into the music, the title track stands out as a clear example. "Sweet Baby James" was written while Taylor was traveling to meet the first child of his older brother Alex. “I was very excited that they had a kid, and very moved that they named it after me, and I was behind the wheel for 20 hours or so straight - maybe 15 hours, driving straight down. And that song just assembled itself as I was driving down there.” "Country Road"  was inspired by some of Taylor’s experiences in hospital while being treated for depression. Bassist Randy Meisner, later a member of "Eagles", plays on the song’s hopeful closing section. The road described in the song carries Taylor away from his family and from institutional confinement, toward freedom. The rest of the album searches for that same balance. Taylor longs for idyllic places in "Blossom"  and "Anywhere Like Heaven" , while returning once again to the subject of his treatment during "Sunny Skies" . Amid all the personal experiences, escapism makes its appearance in the form of "Steamroller" , a song conceived as a parody. Taylor came up with the idea after seeing numerous white college students attempting to perform blues songs by Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, mocking the pomposity and failed attempts to imitate them. Taylor was cold when he recorded the song, which resulted in a vocal tone different from his usual sound. Re-recording it later was not an option, as the sessions were constrained by both budget and schedule. "Steamroller"  was never released as a single, but it has remained one of Taylor’s most popular live staples. When the album was nearly complete, Peter Asher asked Taylor to write one more song. Taylor composed "Suite for 20 G" , knowing that upon completion of the album he would receive a $20,000 grant from "Warner Bros. Records". This carefully balanced mix of darkness, confession, and escapism seemed to arrive at exactly the right moment for a restless nation. “It's one of those things where somebody writes very personal songs about their own experience, and what they're feeling about that experience turns out to be something shared by many people,” Asher told Rolling Stone. “Everyone would listen to those lyrics and hear their own lives in there". By early 1971, Taylor appeared on the cover of "Time magazine", presented as the embodiment of a new singer-songwriter movement. He tended to shy away from such praise, yet he never stopped writing with the same level of honesty. "Sweet Baby James" was ranked at number 104 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". In 2000, it was placed at number 228 on Colin Larkin’s list of the "1000 Greatest Albums of All Time", and in 2002 the album was inducted into the "Grammy Hall of Fame". 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On January 31, 1994, "Black Sabbath" released its 17th studio album, "Cross Purposes". The story of this album begins where the story of the album " Dehumanizer ", on which we wrote a review last June, ends. So click on the link, take a few minutes and read the review, we are waiting... Great, you're back, we can start ... So as you already read in the review of " Dehumanizer " the reunion of the Ronnie James Dio line-up survived only a few months. Already in November 1992, only five months after the album " Dehumanizer " was released, Ronnie James Dio left the band after his friends asked him to go on a joint tour with Ozzy Osbourne and serve as his warm-up show. Similar to what happened in the 1980s, this time too, drummer Vinny Appice left with Ronnie James Dio and the two reform "Dio" and start recording the band's sixth album " Strange Highways ", which will be released in 1993. The original intention of Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler , was to try and reunite the original lineup of "Black Sabbath" so they decided to spend time until they manage to reunite the band in a small side project. However, pressure from the record company forced the to use the name of "Black Sabbath". The two recruited singer Tony Martin who was part of the band on three albums, starting with "The Eternal Idol" in 1987, through "Headless Cross" in 1989 to " Tyr " from 1990. Drummer Vinny Appice was replaced by Bobby Rondinelli familiar to us from "Rainbow", when keyboardist Geoff Nicholls who became a full member of the band in the previous decade, continued to fill the keyboardist role. (Photo: Screenshot from cover of "First Purposes" bootleg CD) This album is among the best of the band in its Tony Martin era. The added value on this album over the other three, is the fact that it is the only one of the Tony Martin era in which bassist Geezer Butler participates. Geezer, who agreed to take part in Tony Iommi 's little adventure and waited for the original lineup to reunite, will leave the band shortly after the album was released and will form the band "GZR", with whom he will release the album "Plastic Planet" in 1995 and two more albums later. Before Geezer left "Black Sabbath", he went on a tour with the band, in which they recorded a live show on April 13, 1994. This show will be released later as an album and DVD named "Cross Purposes Live". This is Black Sabbath's only live album with singer Tony Martin and includes, among other things, a beautiful rendition of the song " The Wizard " (with the famous harmonica), a song the band didn't perform since the early 1970s. Now, if the Ozzy Osbourne era of "Black Sabbath" was characterized by metallic and "Stoner" blues and if the Ronnie James Dio era plunged deeper into the heaviness and dwelled in a sea of ​​Doom, then this album probably combines a bit of both era, with adaptation to the 90s. We have " I Witness " and " Psychophobia ", which for a moment reminded us very much of the Ronnie James Dio era and even sounded to us at times as a direct sequel to " Dehumanizer ", with it's heavy and dark sound. On the other hand, we get the bluesy " Dying For Love ", which in its first minute, when we closed our eyes, we were ready to swear that the legendary Gary Moore came to the studio and played the bluesy and dirty solo in the intro to the song. But no! It's Tony Iommi in his own right with a perfect playing that proves, once again, that the band's roots are planted in their unique metallic blues, somewhere in the early 1970s. Some flickers from Tony Iommi 's riff in the song " Evil Eye " reminded us of the riff from the song "A National Acrobat", back from the Ozzy Osbourne era. It also happens to be the only song in which guitarist Eddie Van Halen participates in writing playing guitar, although he did not receive credit for it, due to his contract terms with "Warner Bros. Records" . And where is the adaptation to the 90s you ask? So a great example of this can be heard in the fourth track " Virtual Death ", which brings up memories of another band, younger and fresher, located thousands of miles west and called "Alice in Chains". Yes, we are dealing with a band that was influenced by "Black Sabbath" and suddenly become influential on "Black Sabbath", just like a spinning wheel... the same heavy and thick riffs, the same vocal harmonies a la the duo Staley -Cantrell, even the first Tony held back and there is no guitar solo in here, while the second Tony struggled to sound sloppy and suffering just like a real Grunge idol. The album also includes " Cross Of Thorns " which tries to stick to the epic formula of "Children of the Sea", "The Sign Of The Southern Cross" or even "Heaven and Hell", but fails to match them, although it's an excellent song. There's also " Immaculate Deception ", which starts like a slow "walk" and moves to the fastest "sprint" just like "Speed Metal". " Cardinal Sin " sounds like "Kashmir"'s less successful brother, but even though manage to deliver the goods. It is interesting to note in this context that the song was originally meant to be called "Sin Cardinal Sin", but due to a typo the first word was deleted and the band did not bother to correct the error. The album received mixed reviews, but it is interesting to note that "Guitar World" magazine included it among the 50 iconic albums that defined 1994, which was a great year in music. A year after its release, the band will release their last album with Tony Martin - " Forbidden " , an album that will compete for the title of the band's worst album. For Listening: Youtube , Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 30, 1995, "Porcupine Tree" released their third studio album, "The Sky Moves Sideways". The album captures a decisive turning point in the band’s history. Until this stage, "Porcupine Tree" had largely existed as a studio-based project, effectively a vehicle for Steven Wilson’s ideas rather than a functioning band. During the recording of "The Sky Moves Sideways", that model shifted. What began as another Wilson-led studio work gradually evolved into a collaborative unit, making this the first "Porcupine Tree" album to document the project becoming a real band in the process of its own creation. As this transition unfolded, a core lineup began to take shape around Wilson. Keyboardist Richard Barbieri, formerly of "Japan", brought a distinctive textural and ambient sensibility, Colin Edwin added a restrained and fluid bass presence, and drummer Chris Maitland completed the rhythm section. This emerging chemistry replaced the project’s earlier studio-driven approach with music built on interaction and collective dynamics and intuition that would define "Porcupine Tree’s" future sound. That evolution is etched directly into the album’s track list. Two songs, "The Moon Touches Your Shoulder"  and "Dislocated Day" , are performed entirely by Wilson and reflect the project’s earlier, more solitary phase. These tracks feel inward-looking and self-contained, rooted in atmosphere rather than interplay. The remainder of the album features the full band, and the difference is immediately apparent. The music breathes more naturally, unfolding through collective dynamics rather than layered construction alone. As a result, "The Sky Moves Sideways" carries a rare dual identity: part farewell to "Porcupine Tree’s" origins, part opening chapter of its future. Musically, the album represents the band’s deepest immersion into psychedelic and atmospheric progressive rock. The two-part extended 18 minutes pieces at the beginning and end of the album - " The Sky Moves Sideways " dominates the record and serves as its conceptual core (and thus the comparison to "Pink Floyd's" " Wish You Were Here "). Phase 1 : unfolds patiently, built on drifting keyboards, echo-soaked guitar textures, and subtle rhythmic motion that creates a sense of suspension and weightlessness. Phase 2: introduces darker tones and greater momentum, hinting at the more structured and rhythm-focused direction the band would later pursue. Together, the two sections form a single extended journey where mood and immersion take precedence over traditional song structure. Elsewhere, the album’s emotional depth emerges through restraint. "Stars Die"  stands as one of Steven Wilson’s most affecting early compositions, pairing melancholy melodies with a feeling of isolation that grounds the album’s expansive soundscapes in something deeply human. "Moonloop"  (an edited version of a 40-minute improvisation by the band) moves further into freeform territory, embracing improvisation and reinforcing the album’s dreamlike, fluid character. The production is deliberately spacious and unhurried. Guitars are often treated as textures rather than lead instruments, keyboards drift in and out like distant signals, and the rhythm section serves the atmosphere rather than asserting dominance. Silence, decay, and repetition are used as compositional tools, allowing the music to unfold organically. In retrospect, "The Sky Moves Sideways" occupies a unique place in "Porcupine Tree’s" discography. It is their most overtly progressive-psychedelic album and the final point before the band gradually shifted toward a heavier, more defined, and song-oriented approach. But more than anything, it stands as the moment Porcupine Tree truly became a band and at the same time, it laid the emotional and structural foundations for everything that followed. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He's a drummer, he's a singer, he's a song writer, he's playing the piano, he's an actor, he's even a writer, he's so versatile that you'll find him playing Prog, Fusion, Pop, Rock and more. He happens to be one of only three solo artists who have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide as part of a band and as a solo artist. His name is Phil Collins and we want to tell you about him some interesting facts: (Photo: Graham Wood) 1 Phil Collins was born as Philip David Charles Collins, on 30 January 1951, in a town in west London. 2. He received his first drum set (toy) as a Christmas present when he was five years old. 3. He is left-handed so his drum set is arranged differently than usual. 4. He taught himself to play the drums and even developed a technique and musical marking language unique to him. 5. Already at the age of five he participated in a young talent competition as a singer. 6. The big influence on him as a child was "The Beatles" and especially the drummer Ringo Starr . 7. Another big influence on Collins was the big band and jazz drummer Buddy Rich. 8. Already in high school he formed his first band " The Real Thing". Later he moved to "Freehold" with whom he wrote his first song "Lying Crying Dying". 9. At the age of 14 he took acting lessons and by 1964 he had already won a significant role in the musical "Oliver", which was staged at the "West End" Theater in London. 10. As part of his acting career he has served as an extra in the films "A Hard Day's Night" by "The Beatles" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". 11. After becoming famous with "Genesis" and in his solo career, Collins will get more significant roles in films, such as the lead role in the 1988 film "Buster" and a role in Steven Spielberg's "Hook". 12. Simultaneously with his playing career, Collins continued to try his luck in music. He played in several bands until the end of the sixties and in 1969 won, together with the band "Flaming Youth" his first recording contract. The band recorded one album and disbanded. 13. In 1970, Collins played drums in George Harrison 's song "Art of Dying" from the masterpiece " All Things Must Pass ". 14. George Harrison was not aware of Collins' contribution to his album, until the release of the extended edition marking the 30th anniversary of the album. As soon as he heard about it he thanked Collins and from then until Harrison's death the two maintained close friendships. 15. In August 1970 he joined "Genesis" after responding to an ad. He auditioned successfully at Peter Gabriel 's parents' home and joined the band. (Photo: Prog Archives) 16. Since then, Collins has played drums and sung background vocals on all of the band's albums, from the masterpiece album " Nursery Cryme " from 1971 to the album "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" from 1974. 17. He also sang lead vocals in two songs during Peter Gabriel 's era: "For Absent Friends" and "More Fool Me". 18. In 1975 Collins joined the jazz and fusion band "Brand X", with whom he would release several studio and live albums. 19. In '74 and '75 he participated in two masterpiece albums: "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)" and Another Green World", both by Brian Eno. 20. In 1975, after Peter Gabriel left "Genesis", Phil Collins also became the band's lead singer, starting with the 1976 album "A Trick of the Tail". Collins will release masterful albums with the band as a drummer and lead vocalist, thus proving that this was still a band that is at the forefront of progressive rock, despite Peter Gabriel 's departure. 21. Together with "Genesis", Collins will release a total of 13 albums. The band will change their style during the 1980s and Collins will continue to lead them with great success and huge hits that will conquer the music charts. 22. After Keith Moon 's death in 1978, Collins was ready to leave "Genesis" to join "The Who". He spoke to Pete Townshend about the matter and offered his services, but Pete Townshend told him that they had already found a new drummer. 23. In 1981, in parallel with his work with "Genesis", Collins began his solo career and released the highly acclaimed album "Face Value", which included the hit "In the Air Tonight". 24. While working on the song on the studio, Collins and recording technician Hugh Padgham invented the "Gated Reverb" sound technique. 25. Guitarist Eric Clapton is featured on the song "If Leaving Me Is Easy" from the album. 26. As part of his solo career, Collins has released 8 studio albums, which includes hits such as: "In the Air Tonight", "Against All Odds", "One More Night", "Sussudio", "Two Hearts", "Another Day in Paradise" and more 27. Collins is the artist who during the 1980s released the largest number of hits that entered the top 40 on American Billboard. 28. In 1982 he worked with Frida from "ABBA" on her solo album "Something's Going On". 29. Collins plays drums on the 1982 albums "Pictures at Eleven" and "The Principle of Moments" from 1983, Robert Plant 's first two solo albums. 30. Collins has collaborated, played and sung on the albums of many other artists such as: Philip Bailey, Steve Hackett , Anthony Philips, David Crosby , Peter Gabriel , Michael Rotherford, Adam Ant, Peter Banks, John Martyn, Tommy Bolin , John Cale, Paul McCartney more and more. 31. In 1985 Collins produced some of the songs on Eric Clapton 's "Behind The Sun" album. 32. Clapton returned the favor four years later, when he played solo on Collins' song "I Wish It Would Rain Down", from the album "...But Seriously". 33. That same year he produced and played the song "No One Is to Blame" by singer Howard Jones. 34. Still in 1985, Collins played in the reunion performance of "Led Zeppelin" at the " Live Aid " show, replacing the legendary drummer John Bonham . 35. Collins also played a set of his songs on the same show and was even the drummer in Eric Clapton 's performance at the aforementioned fundraising show. 36. Collins was also the only musician to perform at both "Live Aid" shows, in England and in the US. Immediately after the performance with "Led Zeppelin" in London, Collins boarded a helicopter that took him to Heathrow Airport, where he boarded a Concord plane that flew him to New York and from there in another helicopter straight to a show in Philadelphia. 37. Collins plays drums in the song "Woman in Chains" from the album "The Seeds of Love" by "Tears for Fears". 38. Phil Collins' son - Simon, followed in his father's footsteps and is the drummer and singer in the prog band "Sound of Contact". 39. His son Nic is also a drummer and he fills Phil's place on the drums during Genesis' "The Last Domino" tour. 40. And speaking of his children, his daughter Lily Jane Collins is the famous actress and model (of Jewish origin) who became famous, among other things, for her participation in the film "Love, Rosie" and the series "Emily in Paris." Collins is an activist and part of various animal welfare organizations. 42. And a little about his health in recent years. As a result of an acute ear infection in 2001, he became deaf in his left ear. 43. In 2009 it was reported that Phil Collins had undergone neck vertebra surgery and that he would not be able to continue drumming. 44. In 2014 he reported to the media that due to nerve problems, he had difficulty holding the drumsticks. 45. In 2017 it was reported that he also has a limitation in walking due to previous back surgery. 46. In 2018, pictures of Collins walking with a cane have been published, but all this did not prevent him from continuing to perform (while sitting), initially as part of his solo career on the "Not Dead Yet Tour" tour, which began in 2017 and lasted until 2019, and later on "The Last Domino" tour by "Genesis". 47. ​​Collins is an expert with extensive knowledge of the Alamo Battle, which took place in the 19th century, and he even wrote a book about it called: "The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector's Journey". (Photo: Photo: Stephanie Pistel) 48. In 1999, Collins won an Oscar for the song "You'll Be in My Heart", which he wrote for the soundtrack of the movie "Tarzan". 49. Collins has also won seven Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards, three American Music Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and a Disney Legend award. 50. In 1994 he was awarded the title of the Royal Victorian Order of the United Kingdom, due to his contribution to music. 51. In 2005, Collins made an unforgettable performance at Bloomfield Stadium, Israel. 52. In 2010 he was inducted into the "Rock Hall of Fame", along with "Genesis". 53. In 2015 he re-shot all of his solo albums covers and released them with up-to-date photos, in remastered versions, released in a box under the name: “Take a look at me now…”. 54. He is one of three solo artists who have sold more than 100 million albums as part of a band and as a solo artist. The other two are Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. (Collins has sold about 150 million albums with "Genesis"). 55. Collins is the second richest drummer in the world after Ringo Starr . In December 2024, a two-hour documentary about Collins was released on the drumming learning platform "Drumeo." The film, called "Phil Collins: Drummer First," is about the career of Collins, who, as the film's title suggests, defines himself as a drummer first and everything else later. Now let's listen to the playlist that reviews his glorious career, that we have prepared especially for you: Spotify "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website