He is tough, he is talented and he is a local multi-instrumentalist, please welcome Assaf Amdursky !! Photo: Michael Topyol 1. He is the son of the singer Benny Amdursky, he was born on January 30, 1971, grew up in Tel Aviv, and in 11th grade, he dropped out of school in order to focus on music. 2. He began his musical career in the late 1980s with the band "Escot Blend". Amdursky was the lead singer and guitarist alongside bassist Amir "Jango" Rossiano and drummer Jeremy Kaplan. 3. In 1991, the band released one album that bore its name and received good reviews and many radio plays. Amdursky wrote and composed most of the songs on the album along with Jango. After the release of the album they disbanded and the three members embarked on solo careers. 4. In 1994 Amdursky released his first solo album, which bore his name. The album had a rock sound with touches of jazz and electronic music. Prominent young Israeli musicians participated in the singing, playing, and writing of the album - Karni Postel, Zohar Fresco, Amir Zoref, Vered Klepter, Amir Rossiano, members of the band Noise, and more. Among the famous songs on the album were "My Dear", "New Love", and "Many Days". 5. In 1995 he released his second solo album, which was also named after him and was characterized by a uniform and calm sound and received good reviews. Among the standout songs on the album are "The Blue Sky," and "He Believed Her." 6. In 1999 he released his third solo album "Silent Engines". The album was more electronic than its predecessors and received good reviews as well as commercial success. Among the prominent songs on the album are "15 Minutes", "Softness and Difficulty", "In a Whirlpool" and "Dark Dream" which includes a recording of the voice of Inbal Perlmutter . 7. In the same year, the band "Kerah Tesha" recorded their last single called "Assaf Amdursky", which Amdursky used to include in his tour. 8. In 2003 he produced, arranged, and artistically directed the comeback album of singer Aric Sinai "We'll Love Until We Die". 9. In the same year, Amdursky published his versions of Shlomo Artzi's songs in the double collection "My Love Songs". 10. In 2005 Amdursky released the album "Forward Back". A double album in which he gives an up-to-date interpretation of Israeli songs he has loved since the 1980s. He co-produced the album with rapper "Pushtak". 11. In 2008, Amdursky released his fourth solo album, "Here You Are". Among the famous songs on the album were "Train to the North", "Surfers" and "Genesis". The album was also distributed in a double edition with five more songs and even reached gold album status. 12. In 2009, Amdursky launched the show "Sharim HaDudaim", in which he and Israel Gurion perform songs from the Dudaim duo, with Amdursky replacing his late father, Benny Amdursky. 13. In 2011 Amdursky released his fifth solo album "Side A". The first single that preceded it was "Where Are You Today". The second single from the album was "A Couple from Heaven". The album opens with the song "The streets take off slowly", based on lyrics by David Avidan. 14. In 2013, the album "Sharim HaDudaim" was released and accompanied by a tour. The album included 18 songs, most of which were recorded in the past by the Dudaim duo, as well as songs recorded for the first time by Amdursky and Gurion. The recordings were attended by, among others, Matti Gurion (son of Israel Gurion), Ahuva Ozeri, choirs, and an ensemble of instruments. 15. In 2016, Amdursky joined the panel of judges for the fourth season of "The Next Star to the Eurovision" in which he participates to this day. 16. In the same year, Amdursky's sixth solo album "Here" was released. The album consists of various materials that Amdursky has collected over the years and with which he has experimented with different styles and tools. Amdursky released this album with the support of mass funding. 17. A year later, Yaheli Sobol's album "Long Runs" was released, which was produced and arranged by Amdursky who also played drums and bass on the album. 18. Amdursky continued to take his father's place and in 2018, another joint album was released for Amdursky and Israel Gurion, which is a sequel to the album "Sharim HaDudaim". This album, which is characterized by a richer production, featured musicians such as Yehuda Poliker, Yehudit Ravitz, and Marina Maximilian. 19. In 2021, Assaf released the album "MEFORAK: Remixes" consisting of 11 tracks that give a different and up-to-date interpretation to the songs he has recorded over the years. The album featured: Rona Keinan, Red Axes, Raiskinder, Avishag Cohen Rodriguez, Yotam Avni, and more. 20. In August 2021 he released the album "432", which consists of 8 songs he wrote and composed on a secluded beach in Sinai. The album cover is a collection of 5 paintings that were sold and donated to the Shanti House Association. 21. Amdursky also participated in soundtrack productions of films. He composed and recorded music for movies and TV series. Among others: "Colombian love", "Lost islands", "You want a site - a bird in a room", "Driver" and "Nina's disasters". 22. He has also collaborated with many different artists such as Shuli Rand, Shalom Hanoch, Berry Sakharof , Aviv Geffen , Daniela Pick, and many others. Listen to his latest studio album "432" on: Spotify , Apple Music Listen to the special playlist we composed just for Assaf . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 30, 1973, "KISS" made its first-ever live show. (Photo: kissonline.com) The show was held at a small club in Queens, New York called the "Popcorn Club." It was the first time ever that the quartet of Paul Stanley , Gene Simmons , Peter Criss and Ace Frehley took the stage, and already then it was with their makeup, but not with the iconic comic book characters known today. Earlier that month, guitarist Ace Frehley auditioned and was accepted into the band, after responding to an ad posted by Paul Stanley , on December 14, 1972, about a band looking for a guitarist. Shortly before the show, the band called "Wicked Lester" adopted the name "KISS" at Paul Stanley 's suggestion. Gene Simmons was the one who suggested the famous logo for the band. Gene Simmons was also the one who got the band their first show, after calling the club manager and convincing him to allow them to perform at his club. Gene Simmons closed the deal for 3 nights, at the fee of $ 50 per night. Peter Chris called a friend whose family owned a printing press, and he helped print the invitations and ads for the show. On the first evening, the band performed in two different sets and rumor has it that there were only a few people in the audience. The band played some of the songs that would later become its big hits including "Deuce" and "Black Diamond". The band's first show with the mythological comic book character's makeup, will take place over a month later, on March 9, 1973. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek... And this time, on the event that inspired the song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by "U2". On Sunday, January 30, 1972, soldiers from the British Paratroopers Unit, shot and killed 13 unarmed Irish civilians who had taken part in a human rights march, in the town of Derry, Northern Ireland. This massacre of unarmed Catholic boys was nicknamed "Bloody Sunday" and inspired a number of protest songs written about it, including "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by "U2". In fact, there are two events in Irish history called "Bloody Sunday". The first of which took place in Dublin, on 21 November 1920. In this event British soldiers shot bullets into the crowd at a football match, in response to an operation carried out by the Irish underground, in which British soldiers and secret agents were killed. The "U2" song refers to the second event event that took place today in 1972. Although the song was written and inspired by the horrifical event, Bono made sure to introduce the song during the band live shows (" Under a Blood Red Sky ") as if it was not a protest song. Or in his words: "This is not a rebel song". Bono even used to raise a white flag while the song was played in the bands shows, as a sign of peace. Indeed, Bono 's lyrics are more about interpersonal struggles, than about the events of that horrific massacre. The violin in the recording of the song is played by Steve Wickham, who will later be one of the founders of "The Waterboys". The unique drum sound in the song was achieved by Larry Mullen Jr. In the stairwell of the studio where the album was recorded. Guitarist The Edge admitted that he was greatly influenced by the band "The Clash", without which the song would probably would not been born. The song was included on the excellent album " War ", which was released in February 1983 and was released as the third single from it in March 1983. The song is included on the list of the 500 greatest songs of "Rolling Stone" magazine. We said there were other artists who were influenced by the events and wrote songs about it, well among them you can find Paul McCartney who wrote the song "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" performed by his band "Wings" and his friend John Lennon who wrote the song "The Luck of the Irish", Both were released in 1972. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 30, 1969, The Beatles made their last public appearance. It happened on the rooftop of the famous Apple Corp building where the offices of Apple's records and film companies were located as well as the offices of The Beatles themselves. (Photo: Ethan A. Russell) The story of this historic show begins on January 2, 1969, when filming began for the documentary "Let It Be", which accompanied the recording of the album of the same name . The Beatles began recording the album and filming it at Twickham Studios in London, with the aim of commemorating their work on what was supposed to be an album back to the rock and roll roots. During the recordings and filming, frictions and disagreements arose between the band members, culminating in a difficult confrontation between Paul McCartney and George Harrison who eventually ended up by Harrison leaving the band on January 10th. The band members eventually managed to convince Harrison to return and the recordings continued from January 22 in the basement of Apple building, where the band's recording studio was located. As part of the idea of ​​"Back to the Roots" the initial thought was to end the film and the recordings with a live performance, which would be the band's first since their performance in San Francisco on August 29, 1966, when the band stopped performing. However, the band members were unable to reach an agreement on the nature and location of the show. Paul McCartney thought of performing at a small club like The Cavern from the band's early days, John Lennon offered a performance outside the United Kingdom even the Sahara Desert was considered, Ringo Starr was due to leave immediately after filming and George Harrison generally opposed to the idea of ​​a show. (Photo: Ethan A. Russell) Eventually, the band members accepted John Lennon 's compromise offer to hold an informal performance on the rooftop of the Apple offices building, located on Savile Row Street near London's Piccadilly Square. Lennon got the idea on Jan. 26 when he climbed to the rooftop of the building to inhale air during the break from the recordings. With the joint decision to hold the show on the rooftop, technician and producer Alan Parsons began working on the technical side of connecting all the instruments and amps from the rooftop to the basement of the building where the recording studio was located, to record the show. The iconic show was held on January 30, 1969. The Fantastic Four were also joined by keyboardist Billy Preston, who was brought to the studio by Harrison during the recordings, thinking that his presence would cool the hot winds a bit. The band managed to play 42 minutes in the bitter cold of January before the police arrived on the scene and stopped the show. The band managed to play 5 songs before the cops turned off their amps, and these are the songs: " Get Back ", " Don't Let Me Down ", " I've Got a Feeling ", " One After 909 " and " Dig a Pony ". Later Lennon will tell that the band longed to be arrested by the police in front of the cameras, but as we know it ultimately did not happen. Here are 5 more facts about the mythological performance: 1. Lennon had to use a page that included the lyrics to remember them. The photographers were asked not to catch the person holding the lyrics pages in the frame. 2. Ringo and Lennon wore their spouses' coats during the show. 3. To prevent the hearing of the wind blowing during the recording, Alan Parsons set out to purchase women's tights with which he wrapped the microphones. 4. The show is now available on streaming services as part of the celebrations of the "Get Back" series (links below). The series itself, which includes this famous show, is coming this week in D.V.D format and will be widely distributed. At the same time, the film of the show will be screened in IMAX format in cinemas around the world. 5. Anyone who watches the show will find out that John Lennon plays the solo in the song "Get Back". This is one of the few times that George Harrison plays rhythm guitar while John Lennon plays the solo. This is probably due to Harrison's departure during rehearsals. In his absence, Lennon had to step in and by the time Harrison "got back" a few days later, the song was already in its final stages. 6. Although many think it was the first ever appearance on a rooftop, "Jefferson Airplane" did it about two months earlier, on December 7, 1968, on the rooftop of a building in New York. For Listening to the mythological performance: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 30, 1984, "Whitesnake's" sixth studio album "Slide It In", was released in England. This album marks the beginning of a significant turning point for the band. Why a turning point? This album is the band's last in its classic era of the Blues-Hard Rock genre. It is also her last album with the famous "Whitesnake" logo. What comes next is a completely different band, both in terms of composition and musical style and in look and appearance. During the recording of the album, David Coverdale become interested in the American market. This will affect the production and final mix of the album and will result in the album being released in two different versions, in terms of the song order, production and even the musicians. The production of the album released in America goes more towards Metal, as during the mixes the guitar and drum channels were amplified at the expense of the keyboard and bass channels. In addition, in the American version, the bass roles by Colin Hodgkinson and guitar playing of Micky Moody , were re-recorded and replaced with a new recording made by Neil Murray and John Sykes respectively. Drummer Cozy Powell replaced Ian Paice and brought a more powerful playing style with him, which dragged the band from the deep Blues-Rock towards Heavy Metal. Cozy also brought bassist Colin Hodgkinson with him. Colin had worked with him on the 1981 solo album "Octopuss". What made it possible to re-record guitar and bass roles in favor of the American version of the album, was the retirement of guitarist Micky Moody and the dismissal of bassist Colin Hodgkinson. Micky Moody , who was David Coverdale 's partner from the beginning of his solo career in 1976, felt an increasing change in David Coverdale 's behavior, during the album recordings, which he claimed had become increasingly arrogant and domineering. In later interviews, he noted that it was no longer the same Coverdale he knew in 1976 and that he could no longer bear his behavior. During the band's performance at a mini-festival in Germany, where "Thin Lizzy" also performed, the band members returned to the hotel and spent time with "Thin Lizzy" members, including guitarist John Sykes . David Coverdale insulted Mickey Moody and humiliated him before John Sykes . It was the straw that broke the camel's back for Moody and he simply left the band, in October 1983. Later, David Coverdale replaced bassist Colin Hodgkinson, after realizing that indeed his style did not suit the band, thus preparing the ground for a re-recording of the guitar and bass role, for the American version of the album. Legendary producer Eddie Kramer began production of the album, but David Coverdale did not get along with him and he was replaced in the middle of the recording process of the album, by legendary producer - Martin Birch . Despite the murky vibe described above, this is one of "Whitesnake's" greatest albums and is also their bestseller from that era. The album in its American version opens up with the theme song " Slide it In ", with an amazing hard rock riff that reminds us of "AC/DC". Cozy Powell 's drumming is precise and powerful and David Coverdale 's singing is amazing and sweeping. Immediately after that comes the more bluesy " Slow An 'Easy ". It's the only song on the album written by Coverdale in collaboration with Micky Moody , and is probably also the best on it. David Coverdale is at his peak here with powerful vocals and so precise singing that it blends in perfectly with the blues-rock style of the song. Cozy Powell 's drumming in this song proves what a great drummer he is. Without a lot of sophistication or complicated techniques, but every snare blow is a kick in your belly, and every pause makes you want more and more of this song. The song reached number 17 on the US charts and finally gave "Whitesnake" its big hit in the US. We continue with the hit sequence with " Love Ain't No Stranger ", which opens quietly with Jon Lord's soft keyboards and David Coverdale's emotional vocals with the acoustic in the background. Then everything explodes powerfully, kicks hard and heavy, and blows up our speakers. This song continues on the dynamic line between soft and heavy, and is the second song to chart in the US. It reach number 34 and gave the band its second hit. Another great track on the album is " Standing in the Shadow ". A catchy and sweeping song that highlights the vocal abilities of David Coverdale , with a wonderfully catchy chorus. You will not find fillers or bad songs in this album. " Gambler " who opens the British version of the album introduces us to Jon Lord in all his glory and the excellent work of Powell and Murray's rhythm section, that propels this song and pushes it forward towards the solo duel between Jon Lord and Mel Galley. " All or Nothing " will bring you strong riffs that will remind you of "Rainbow". The riff on " Give Me More Time " is sure to sound like "AC/DC". " Hungry for Love " will sound like a classic blues-rock track from "Bad Company" and it's "guilty" brother " Guilty of Love " can be used as a soundtrack to accompany you while driving on the highway. It is the only song produced by Eddie Kramer and is fundamentally different on the British version, which includes two solos, while the American version includes one solo played by John Sykes . After the release of the album, the "disintegration" process of the band will be completed and "metamorphosis" will begin, which will turn "Whitesnake" into a completely different band. Keyboardist Jon Lord will be called to the flag and leave the band in favor of "Deep Purple"'s MKII lineup reunion. Guitarist Mel Galley will also find himself out of the band, after suffering a car accident that impaired his playing ability. The last to leave was Cozy Powell . His relations with Coverdale became increasingly tense during the tour, and after the band's last gig in Brazil, he left "Whitesnake". At this point, Coverdale considered disbanding "Whitesnake" and returning to his solo career, but a manager's persuasion campaign at Geffen Records led him to work with guitarist John Sykes on new songs for the band... For Listening to the American version of the album: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 29, 2016, “Dream Theater” released their 13th studio album “The Astonishing”. With “The Astonishing”, “Dream Theater” stepped further away from the traditional boundaries of progressive metal than ever before. This was not an album built around instrumental dominance or rhythmic complexity, but a full-scale rock opera, a double concept album that placed narrative, emotion, and atmosphere at the center of its creative vision. Following the self-titled album from 2013, the band found themselves at a creative crossroads. Guitarist John Petrucci  pushed for a project that would force the band to rethink how they composed music. Instead of beginning with riffs or time signatures, the foundation of “The Astonishing” was a story. It became only the band’s second true concept album, after “ Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory ”. Set against a bleak vision of a future United States, the album unfolds around a small underground resistance known as the Ravenskill Rebel Militia, who rise against the rule of the Great Northern Empire of the Americas through an outlawed and almost mythical force: real music. In this world, creativity has been replaced by sterile, machine-generated sound, and emotional expression is treated as a threat to order. The plot centers on Gabriel, a young man with the extraordinary ability to create real music in a world where it has been completely outlawed. His talent makes him a threat in the eyes of the ruling regime and a symbol of hope for the resistance. Through his relationship with Faythe, the daughter of the empire’s leader, and his growing involvement in the rebellion, the story explores loyalty, sacrifice, and the emotional power of free artistic expression in the face of control and oppression. The narrative reflects Petrucci’s growing unease with technological automation and emotional detachment in modern society, while its cinematic scope draws heavily from fantasy and science-fiction storytelling. In both ambition and structure, “The Astonishing” aligns itself with the tradition of grand rock operas such as “ Tommy ”, “ 2112 ”, “ The Wall ”, and “ Operation: Mindcrime ”. Much like “ 2112 ”, it presents music as a catalyst for awareness and liberation within a controlled, futuristic regime. Petrucci’s long-standing fascination with epic fantasy and science-fiction worlds, from “The Lord of the Rings” to “Star Wars” and “Game of Thrones”, shapes the album’s scale and thematic depth, blending mythological storytelling with a contemporary reflection on the growing dominance of technology over human expression. Musically, the album was written primarily by Petrucci and Jordan Rudess , with composer David Campbell assisting in orchestrating the strings and choirs. Keyboards and orchestral arrangements dominate much of the record, shaping its cinematic character. Petrucci’s guitar work is often restrained and thematic, while Mike Mangini  focuses on precision and dynamics rather than sheer technical display. Recording took place throughout 2015 at Cove City Sound Studios on Long Island, New York, with vocals recorded separately in Canada by James LaBrie . Longtime collaborator Richard Chycki handled mixing and sound engineering, while Petrucci produced the album. The production reflects the album’s theatrical intent, favoring continuity and mood over individual performance highlights. The album opens with “Descent of the Nomacs” , immediately establishing a cold, mechanized atmosphere, before flowing into “Dystopian Overture” , which introduces melodic themes that recur throughout the album. These motifs act as narrative anchors, reinforcing the operatic structure of the work. “The Gift of Music”  introduces Gabriel, the story’s central character, and stands as one of the album’s most emotionally accessible moments. Its warmth and melodic clarity contrast sharply with the oppressive world it depicts. “Our New World”  expands on this sense of hope, offering one of the album’s most uplifting passages. Authority and manipulation dominate “A Tempting Offer”  and “The X Aspect” , where LaBrie adopts different vocal tones to portray multiple characters. The emotional tension peaks with “Moment of Betrayal” , capturing the moment when personal loyalty collapses under the weight of political power. The song reflects Gabriel’s realization that ideals and relationships are fragile when confronted with fear, authority, and survival. In the closing track, “Astonishing” , the story reaches its conclusion through reconciliation and introspection rather than violent confrontation or a clear-cut victory. It is a moment of acceptance and recognition of music’s power to restore humanity and emotion to a world ruled by control and oppression. Leading up to its release, “The Astonishing” was promoted through a dedicated website, fan mailing lists, and cinematic trailers. It debuted in the top ten in nine countries and became the first “Dream Theater” album to reach number one on the US Billboard Rock Chart. The band supported the album with an extensive world tour throughout most of 2016, and it marked their final release through "Roadrunner Records". In retrospect, “The Astonishing” remains one of the most divisive albums in “Dream Theater”’s catalog. It abandons immediacy in favor of immersion, sacrificing aggression for narrative ambition. Whether embraced or rejected, it stands as a defining moment in the band’s history, proof that even deep into their career, “Dream Theater” were still willing to take real creative risks. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Is one of our favorite rockers !!! He is like Hulk, quiet and shy in interviews and talk shows but on stage, he is a powerful and formidable lion !! Photo: Avihai Levy So here are some facts we know to tell you about him: = He was born on January 29, 1970. = His full name is Nahum Petrover. = He attended Telma Yellin High School of Arts. = To the best of our knowledge in everything related to music he learned by himself, he never studied music in an official institution. = Tom served in a military band where he met his wife Orit Shahaf . Photo: Ronen Lalena = After completing their military service, the two teamed up to form the cover band "Tom and the Bomb". = In 1992, the two formed the band "Hayehudim" Photo: Ronen Lalena = The band's name was suggested to them by producer Eldad Ziv and producer Roi Zo-Eretz. = One of the nice things that set this band apart from others is the fact that its fan base and exposure have been created by live shows in every possible pub, club, and venue and not by the popular media. = The radio and television stations were not interested in broadcasting this style of music (still today!!) and therefore the band did not get exposure from any of the leading media channels. = In August 1995, the band's debut album "Separate Reality" was released, which in addition to Orit and Tom were co-creators: Avi Yifrach on bass, Eran Mittelman on keyboards, Shmulik Budgov on guitar and Asher Pedi on drums. = In everything related to the financing of the album, the music videos, and the singles, the support came from Tmira Yardeni who is the founder of Teddy Productions company (The Next Star, The Eighth, Born to Dance, Comedy Store, and more). = On the day of the album's release, a special performance was held at the "12th Night" club, which was attended by less than 20 people. Tom tends to mention this show in their shows when he has a hard time believing where they are today. = The album received significant exposure when 6 songs from the album were part of the soundtrack of the dramatic and tragic film "Young Forever", which aired in December on Channel 2. = Three years later came out the band's second album named after the band. = The first time the band gained significant media exposure on the radio was in 1999 when it won the title of "Band of the Year" by the radio station Gali Tzahal. = Tom and the band never put much importance on charts or titles. They started as an underdog and they want to stay as an underdog, which makes them work harder, according to Tom. Photo: Avihai Levy = In July 2002, the band's third album called "Death Fear" was released. = In August 2003, the band released a double album and a DVD of a live performance that took place at the Jaffa Theater Club, a club that is officially considered the home of the band. In 2020 we were informed of the closure of the club as a result of a lockout imposed by the Corona plague. = July 20, 2004, The band released an "Unplugged" double album of acoustic performance, the single from the album "If Already" which was not released or recorded in any other version, was widely played on various radio stations. = In the period after the third album, the band went on tour in the US. They wanted to try to live abroad as a band while performing and writing. In light of the problematic use of the name "The Jews", the band changed its name to "I.U.D.M", Tom said it was the best solution they could find that would reflect the band's name. The experience was crowned a relative failure and the band members returned to Israel. = Five years after the third album, the band's fourth album "Forte" was released, and the album was named "Album of the Year" at the AMI Awards Ceremony. = At that time, Tom and Orit participated in an advertisement for the cellular company Cellcom with the song "You have no place." = After the release of the album and until 2015, 8 years, the band spent most of their time performing non-stop while at the same time, Tom and Orit were building their family cell. = In 2007, Orit and Tom had their first child. = In 2009 the band started working on an album full of English songs but it did not materialize. = At that time, the band performed an acoustic show that was very successful, following which the band went on a long tour called "Hayehudim BeYeshiva". Out of the tour came the cover version of Meir Banai's song "With You in the World", a song that also received many plays on popular radio stations. = Tom wrote and composed the song "Come to You" by Guy Zo-Aretz. = In 2014, there were rumors that Tom and Orit would be part of the judge's panel on the "Next Star" Tv Show, but this did not materialize. = In August 2015, the band's last album "No More" was released. = To promote the album, the band performed the entire album in a live performance in a studio and broadcast the performance online through Walla! website. = There are rumors that in 2017 Tom was offered to participate in the reality show “Golstar” but he politely declined. = The band appeared three times in Caesarea, in 2010, 2011 and in 2019 . Photo: Avihai Levy = Tom and the band were an opening act for a large number of rock bands from abroad such as: Metallica, Rage Against The Machine, and many more... = In 2020 Tom performed for the first time an acting role in the TV series "The Crooks", in the series he plays the role of the charismatic "Mano" who captured the heart of Miri Pascal. He also wrote part of the soundtrack for the series. Photo: Vered Adir/YES = Tom co-wrote soundtracks for several series such as: "Tonight", "Doll of a Country", "The Eight" and more... = In 2021 Tom and Orit participated in an advertisement for the "Quik" shopping app with an adaptation of the song "Looking for an Answer" (Mehapes Tshuva). = When Tom was asked if in ten years from now, he would also continue to make music, he said he was not looking at years and he would continue to make music as long as he had the urge and creativity. = A song by band was chosen for the car company "Fiat" advertisement in the USA. An instrumental section, which accompanies the advertisement from beginning to end, is taken from the song "Here it comes". Photo: Avihai Levy = In 2005 the band released the first single from the forthcoming album called "Like" but it did not enter the "Forte" album, the single was sold on CD in a performance to mark ten years of the album "Separated Reality" at the Raanana Amphitheater. = In 2019 the band released a limited edition of the two albums "Separate Reality" and "Hayehudim" on vinyl. = On June 1, 2022, an extraordinary and unique event took place for the first time in our small country. The band "Hayehudim" who hosted Raviv Kaner, together with 400 musicians, guitarists, drummers, bassists, keyboard players, and singers, with the musical director Guy Mazig, performed two songs in honor of Jerusalem Day. The song "Looking for an Answer" and the song "Jerusalem of Gold", the event took place on the walls of the City of David, hosted by the City of Jerusalem municipality, and was produced by the company "Kapaim". Since your loyal servants took part in that event, we will say with total honesty that it was one of the biggest and most exciting events we took part in!!! = On may 2023 Tom collaborated with singer-songwriter Aliav Zohar. It was his first collaboration outside "Hayehudim". Listen to the band's latest album "No More" which is underrated and is not performed enough in the band's live shows in our opinion: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek ... And this time, the reason why we "don't like Mondays"... On Monday, January 29, 1979, a tragic incident occurred and inspired the writing of the song "I Don't Like Mondays", by "The Boomtown Rats". The sad story goes like this. Brenda Ann Spencer , a 16-year-old high school student, got a rifle as a Christmas present from her father. Brenda lives across from the Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego, California. On Monday, January 29, 1979, she opened fire on the school playground, with the rifle she got as a present from her father. She kills two adults (including the school principal) and injures nine more children. Police surrounded Brenda's house. She waited about seven hours before giving herself up. While waiting at her home she spoke to a reporter on the phone. When asked why she did the horrible act ('Tell me why?'), She replied, "I just started shooting, that's it. I just did it for the fun of it. I just don't like Mondays. I just did it because it's a way to cheer the day up. Nobody likes Mondays". At the same time, Bob Geldof, leader of "The Boomtown Rats", along with band keyboardist Johnnie Fingers, were interviewed on WRAS radio station, at the University of Georgia in Atlanta, USA. A telex message arrived at the station with the shocking headline about Brenda's act and the answer she gave the reporter. Geldof returned to the hotel where he was staying and wrote the song on the spot. The first version of the song was Reggae style. When Geldof arrived in Los Angeles shortly thereafter, he recorded a demo version with piano and vocals. By the time the song was first unveiled during a performance in "Loch Lomond", Scotland, the song had already undergone a dramatic change and approached , closer to the now known familiar version. The lyrics and the video clip that was filmed for the song include an implicit reference to the events of that day and to Brenda Spencer. Brenda's parents tried to prevent the release of the single in the US, but without success. The song was included on the band's third album "The Fine Art of Surfacing", which was released in June 1979 and later also released as a single, on July 13, 1979. It was the greatest hit of the band. It went straight to #1 hit in 32 different countries, but not in the US, probably since gun violence is a big issue in America Years later Geldof admitted that he regret writing the song, since he made made Brenda famous. For Listening to the song: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 29, 2002, "Dream Theater" releases its most ambitious work to date - "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence". This is the band's sixth album and the number " 6 " dominates it with great dominance. From the name of the album " Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence", through the six tracks in it to the six characters that adorn the main musical piece, this album is 6-6-6 . The name of the album is based on the concept called "six degrees of separation". According to which every person in the universe is at a distance of at most 6 social circles from any other person in the world. Meaning, it is possible to connect any person on this planet to another person, through a maximum of 6 people. Did we say ambitious work? So this is a double disc that includes about 100 minutes of music. The first of the two discs is divided into five tracks that have a cumulative length of 54:18. These songs deal with different struggles we go through during life: alcoholism, religion and faith, isolation, the sanctity of life and death. The second disc includes the epic theme musical piece that is divided into eight sections spread over 42:02 minutes, which tell the stories of 6 people who suffer from various mental illnesses. There is no doubt that on this album the band tried to surpass the incredible creative achievement of the previous album " Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory ". It was an exemplary concept album, where the band reached an artistic pick, so it was clear to everyone in the band that it would be almost impossible to recreate. Under these circumstances, the band members "concocted" this frantic piece of work, in their fevered mind - a double album which included only six tracks, one of which is a musical piece divided into 8 parts lasting over 42 minutes. Keyboardist Jordan Rudess said that "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" was an album where the band was in the mood to "break out of the box" and experiment and try some different things. He also mentioned that all of them were into "Radiohead" (" Ok Computer ") at that point and the band was looking to achieve colors that they never did before. Other members mentioned other Influences for the album's writing and recording like: "U2", " Achtung Baby ", "Alice in Chains", " Dirt ", "Megadeth", " Rust In Peace ", "Metallica", " Master Of Puppets ", "Nine Inch Nails", "The Downward Spiral", "Pantera", " Far Beyond Driven " (and the song "Mouth for War"), "Rage Against the Machine", " The Battle of Los Angeles ", "Soundgarden", " Superunknown ", "Tool", "Ænima" and more. As part of the musical chain that the band started on the album " Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory " and will continue on subsequent albums, this album opens up with the static noise and the chilling bell rings that ended the last track from the previous album - " Finally Free ". This is our hallway entrance to a 3-piece work - " The Glass Prison ". A rhythmic, fast-paced piece that not only opens the album, but also opens Mike Portnoy 's "Twelve-Step Suite" saga. A five-part series influenced by Portnoy's coping with his alcohol addiction. The saga will continue on the band's next four albums, with each album featuring one excerpt from the series, depicting the 12 stages of alcoholic rehab, according to Bill W's method applied to the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group. In this way, " The" Glass Prison "refers to the first three stages of the method, the track " This Dying Soul " from "Train of Thought" describes the fourth and fifth stages, the song " The Root of All Evil " from " Octavarium " refers to parts six and seven of the method, " Repentance " from " Systematic Chaos " represents its eight and nine parts, and the song " The Shattered Fortress " from "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" ends the saga with the last three sections of the story. Mike Portnoy began dealing with his addiction problem, in the song " The Mirror " from the album "Awake", released in 1994. His addiction to alcohol and other chemicals increased over the years and it peaked during work on the album " Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory " and the tour Following it. Mike Portnoy said he would drink from morning to evening. Even during the band performances his stage assistant made sure to deliver him alcohol at his request. He claimed, it greatly affected his playing ability, until he decided that he had it. He needs to overcome his addiction. He started the AA rehab program and committed to it, attending meetings during the tour as well. The last drop of alcohol he drank was on April 20, 2000. As soon as he managed to overcome his addiction he decided he was going to write about it, and indeed " The Glass Prison " opens the story with a personal, moving and dramatic text depicting Mike Portnoy 's mental distress. The fact that he was unable to overcome the problem on his own and his cry for help. The lyrics for the second track " Blind Faith ", were written by James LaBrie and they blend well with the mystical atmosphere that envelops the song in its opening, as the music changes and develops along with the question marks posed by LaBrie . The name of the song - "Blind Faith" says quite a bit about the content. LaBrie puts heavy issues of "faith" and "religion" at the center. It's the longest song LaBrie has written lyrics for so far, from there he will stretch it even further with the song " Sacrificed Sons " from the album " Octavarium ". The lyrics to the song " Misunderstood " were written by John Petrucci about the character of a man who always feels that those around him do not understand him, a man who feels isolated and abandoned. Petrucci uses a special technique in his solo. It was written and recorded then implanted in the song played backwards. John Petrucci later taught himself to play the solo as it sounded on the album (Backwards), is this crazy or what? By the way. The psychedelic monotonous riff at the end of the song the band improvises on, reminded us a bit of "King Crimson". John Petrucci also wrote the lyrics to the track " The Great Debate ". This is a kind of dynamic and complex work that lasts about 14 minutes and deals with the study of stem cells, a topic that made headlines at the relevant times. The original name of the piece was supposed to be "Conflict at Ground Zero" but after the September 11 disaster and the reference to the place where the Twin Towers were located as "Ground Zero", the name of the piece was changed. We are sure you can hear the "Rush" influences especially from "Natural Science" on 3:18 Min. The first disc is sealed with the song " Disappear ", a kind of ballad for which LaBrie wrote the lyrics for. The song addresses the subject of death and it was supposed to be called "Move On". The second disc is, as mentioned, a one long track, the theme work " Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence ". This long work is divided into eight parts and refers to 6 characters with different mental problems. John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy shared the words with each of them writing about 3 different characters. When the band wrote the piece, the intention was not to exceed 20 minutes, so the album will be released on a single disc. However, as the writing progressed, more and more new ideas came along and the piece stretched beyond the 40-minute limit. Although there is no connection between the 6 different characters on this track, it is still a kind of "concept album" inside a mega-album. The work has a clear structure. Symphonic opening - "Overture" which includes musical motifs that will be repeated during the work. The body of the work that is changing and dynamic and includes reference to all the characters. And an epic ending with the gong beat and the long open chord (which resonates for almost 2 minutes), in the song " Losing Time/Grand Finale " and serves as the opening chord of the song " As I Am " which opens up the next album: "Train of Thought". "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" does not match the masterpiece that preceded it, but it is definitely an album that deserves to be included among the band's greatest works. The downside of the album is precisely in its length, as it is difficult to listen to it continuously, and therefore it was also difficult for listeners and critics to "digest" it. However, if you see it as two different albums and listens to them separately, one can appreciate the band’s tremendous accomplishment more easily. 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 - 29.1.1990 On July 18, 1987, the band Marillion performed at the Loreley Amphitheatre in Germany in front of 20,000 enthusiastic fans. A band that had begun its career as an art-rock outfit had, almost overnight, transformed itself through a single album, " Misplaced Childhood ", and two massive hit singles, "Kayleigh"  and "Lavender" , into a hugely popular act selling out shows in advance. The members of "Marillion" suddenly found themselves constantly on the road and making a lot of money well, to be precise, it was mainly their manager John Arnison who enjoyed the financial rewards. For the band itself, however, these endless tours had a very different effect. Pressure began to build to deliver yet another successful album, all while moving relentlessly from one performance to the next. Frontman Fish felt he was losing his sense of direction. He began to sink into alcohol and drug abuse, eventually realizing that if he continued living this way, he would not live to see the age of 30. With no real alternative in sight, "Marillion" released one final album together, " Clutching at Straws ", after which the split became inevitable. Fish left the band, setting his sights on a solo career that officially began with his debut album "Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors", released on January 29, 1990. Fish was born Derek William Dick in April 1958 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His musical and songwriting influences included artists such as Joni Mitchell, "The Moody Blues", "Pink Floyd", "Genesis", David Bowie , and others. Beyond his love for music, Fish was also a voracious reader. His literary influences ranged from Jack Kerouac and Truman Capote to Robert Burns and Dylan Thomas. When he began writing and pursuing music seriously, he realized he would need to change his name.“With a real name of Derek William Dick, it became very necessary to find a nickname as quickly as possible,” he admitted. At one point, while living in a rented apartment, he developed a habit of spending long periods soaking in the bathtub. The landlady, annoyed by the amount of water he was using, nicknamed him “Fish.” The name stuck and eventually became his permanent stage name. After leaving "Marillion", Fish began writing and recording his first solo album, "Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors". The album showcased a wide range of musical styles, including progressive rock ( "Vigil" ), pop rock ( "Big Wedge" ), hard rock ( "View From the Hill" ), and folk ( "The Company" ). Primarily a lyricist rather than a composer, Fish collaborated with keyboardist Mickey Simmonds on all the songs except "View From the Hill" , which was written and recorded with Janick Gers , guitarist of Iron Maiden during the 1990s. Additional songwriting contributions came from former Dire Straits guitarist Hal Lindes ( "State of Mind" , "Family Business" , and "Cliché" ), who also played guitar on the album, alongside Frank Usher, a longtime collaborator of Fish dating back to his pre-"Marillion" days. Drums were handled by Mark Brzezicki ("Big Country") and John Keeble ("Spandau Ballet"), with bass played by John Giblin. Additional percussion was provided by Luis Jardim, while backing vocals were performed by Tessa Niles and Carol Kenyon, who previously sang on "Temptation"  by "Heaven 17". Although not a concept album, several of the songs reference the idea of “the hill” as a metaphor for greed and consumerism. The album addresses themes Fish was always passionate about writing personal experience and politics. "State of Mind"  and "Big Wedge"  stand out as the most overtly political tracks. "State of Mind"  powerfully reflects the growing civic disillusionment during the later years of Margaret Thatcher’s rule, while "Big Wedge"  delivers a direct critique of capitalist greed, American society, and U.S. policy. The single’s cover art famously features Uncle Sam offering a fistful of dollar bills to the viewer. Other songs such as "Vigil" , "The Company" , and "View From the Hill"  express a broader rejection of materialism. "Family Business"  addresses domestic violence, while "The Voyeur"  explores television voyeurism. "A Gentleman’s Excuse Me"  and "Cliché"  are love songs. The phrase “wilderness of mirrors” originates from T.S. Eliot’s poem " Gerontion"  and later became a widely used metaphor for disinformation in espionage and thriller literature, genres Fish avidly read. The album artwork was illustrated by Mark Wilkinson, who had previously created the album and single covers for "Marillion". The artwork contains numerous references to the lyrics, political allusions, and hidden messages intended primarily for fans, including subtle depictions of Marillion keyboardist Mark Kelly and manager John Arnison. At the center of the image stands a “hill” composed of towering heaps of consumer waste in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Atop it, a couple dressed in pseudo-Eastern clothing stare into the distance while holding an hourglass. The man’s cloak, billowing in the wind, resembles the eastern coastline of Scotland, with the upper southern region Fish ’s home area illuminated by beams of light seemingly emanating from the hourglass. This serves as a nod to Fish ’s deep interest in Scottish culture. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

It is one of the most successful albums of the band "Bullet for My Valentine", selling over 2 million copies, the album "Scream Aim Fire" was released on January 28, 2008. The Welsh band that was a very significant part of the rock scene in Cardiff, England, pressed the clutch and shift to a higher gear on this album. Their first album "The Poison" released in 2005 brought them recognition and relatively moderate success, all despite the fact that they were the open act for quite a few big bands, including Metallica and Guns and despite their excellent single "Tears Don't Fall". But this album that came out 3 years later was already something completely different. On this album, whose name hints a lot on what's going on inside, the band puts a lot more aggression, speed, strong riffs and crazy transitions into their bubbling musical stew. If in the past, singer Matthew Tuck, who is also the band's lead writer and lead singer, expressed that they were mostly influenced by Metallica and Nirvana, then the previous album was Nirvana on Speed ​​and this album is Metallica on Speed. It is not for nothing that Lior has already stated in the first podcast that this band should have been Metallica's natural successor (yes, yes, he got a long monolog from David on that). (Photo: Bullet For My Valentine) The album gives almost no rest, even in the ballads and the "soft" songs it still maintains rhythm and power. A hurricane storm at a high km / h that occasionally slows down to refuel while in motion. It feels that the band is a bit of a leap forward in terms of maturity and confidence. The songs sound solid and constructed properly, everything is produced smoothly and there are no loose edges. The rhythm division does an amazing job here as it holds the changes and transitions at these speeds and the guitars dance and connect rhythms to solos. The vocals ranges from not too aggressive growling to clean and good poetry with interesting and clever lyrics. The theme song opens the album mercilessly and right at the first chorus it’s hard not to wave your hands in the air and roar the lyrics, a crazy rhythm with a break that lets you take a breath, fill the cartridge, get into shooting mode and keep suppressing fire. Another interesting song that opens beautifully is "Hearts Burst Into Fire" which seems to give a bit of an insanely calm moment. The tracks "Waking The Demon" and "Disappear" are two more great ones that continue the line of the first song with surprising elements of guitars and vocals. The song "Say Good Night" is an excellent ballad reminiscent of the metal style of the eighties, which gives a slightly different scent to the album, but do not worry, it immediately return with the power and speed to "End Of Days". The song that closes the album "Forever and Always" is a perfect ending. If we talked about the band going through a process of maturity on this album, then the last song seems to put the stamp and give the band the seal of approval to join the major leagues and fill stadiums. A slightly slow and powerful ballad that feels like it was created for the big arenas, just before the end of the show when the band goes out to encore. An excellent and satisfying ending to a powerful and deadly album. The album went straight to number four on the Billboard 200 and number five on the UK Albums Chart. The deluxe version of the album includes 4 more songs that are great on their own (and should have been included on the album), in addition it also came out in two DVD versions, one deluxe and the other Japanese, the versions include videos, photos, documentary and comics. If this is your first acquaintance with them, we recommend listening to their next albums... Listen to the album at: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

"Inviolate" is guitar legend Steve Vai 's tenth solo album, released on January 28, 2022. This is Steve Vai 's first since "Modern Primitive", released in 2016. It's insane, but what you hear on this album is played by Steve Vai after recovering from finger surgery and after tearing a tendon in his shoulder. Do not believe? See for yourself what Steve does in " Knappsack " and you will realize that the man is simply a deadly and unstoppable machine. The album features musicians at the highest level, each in his own field: Dave Rosenthal, Vinny Colaiuta, Terry Bozzio, Henrik Linder, and Bryan Beller. Steve Vai noted that this is the first time he is recording an album when his band members and guest musicians are not together in the same studio. The situation forced him to work using the "file sharing" method. He sent excerpts to his band members and featured artists and they added their own instruments to them. The virtuoso guitarist noted that he took advantage of the Covid-19 lockdowns to specialize in playing and experimenting with new and challenging techniques. The result can be heard in excerpts like " Candle Power ", " Knappsack " and " Teeth of the Hydra " which Steve Vai claims was the most challenging. Vai did not only played with new techniques, but also new equipment. Vai is known for in the developments and additions to his guitars, so this time it is a triple-necked guitar that he designed and on which he plays in the opening section " Teeth Of The Hydra ". We also do not remember seeing Vai playing with a semi-hollow body electric guitar, so it happens in the crazy piece " Little Pretty ", where the weird chords and Vai's playing reminded us a bit of Robert Fripp 's (and not just because of the type of guitar). This album is diverse and full of musical styles. The Blues of " Greenish Blues ", the Jazz influences in " Sandman Cloud Mist ", the Prog-Metal of " Avalancha " and the crazy Fusion of " Apollo In Color ". Steve also noted that some of the tracks will sound to us like songs and not instrumental, well, indeed " Zeus In Chains " is one of them. There is no doubt that guitarists and shred lovers will surely enjoy this album, but we bet that not only. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website