What does an artist who sees the musical reality change before his eyes? If you ask Matt Johnson, the driving force behind "The The" and its only regular member, he will answer: "reinvent himself." On January 25, 1993, "The The" released its fourth studio album "Dusk" and completed its musical transformation from the 80's synth-pop to the 90's alternative. Towards the end of the 1980s, Matt Johnson realizes that his approach in the last decade simply does not work anymore. He realized that if he continued in the line of the New Wave and dance-pop albums, "Soul Mining" and "Infected", it would simply be a commercial suicide. He looks to the right, turns left, and sees before his eyes the Alternative genre raising its head, he sees how the guitars replace the keyboards and how the drums take over the samplers and sequencers. He understands that in the existing musical landscape, there is no longer room for one-man "bands" and that the audience eventually demands to also see a full band playing the songs it records in the studio, on stage. In short, Johnson realized he needed to change his approach and produce something abstract and raw, completely different from the early material of his 80s albums, with an emphasis on a basic rock of bass/guitar/drum format. So what does Matt do? He starts forming a band. He brings in Johnny Marr , the former "The Smiths" guitarist, whom he has known since the early '80s. Matt tried to recruit him to join an early version of "The The" at the time, but it did not succeed because Marr chose to found "The Smiths", which in the meantime disbanded and allowed the "reunion" between the two old friends. Johnson also joins bassist James Eller and drummer David Palmer. He even tries to recruit keyboardist Steve Hogarth, who played on his "Infected" album, but found out that he was a bit late, since Hogarth has already joined "Marillion", replacing Fish . Along with this band, Johnson entered the studio and released "Mind Bomb", his most ambitious album to date and the first to record with a full band, in 1989. There is no doubt that on this album Johnson went a long way from the New Wave/Dance-Pop of previous albums, but his musical upheaval will only be completed with "Dusk". (Photo: uncut.co.uk) If "Mind Bomb" was interpreted by the audience and critics as a temporary deviation and a one-time experience, then with "Dusk" Johnson has already won the "kosher certificate" and the embrace of the alternative community. Johnson chooses to continue with the same band that accompanied him on the previous album and the tour designed to promote it and produces one of the magical pearls of the 90s. A unique musical mix that combines Alternative, Rock, Pop, Blues, Gospel, and more. Each song on this album is painted in a different color of atmosphere and style. The feeling you get when listening to "Dusk" is like a trip to an unfamiliar region, where the changing landscape never ceases to excite and surprise you. Our journey begins at "Dusk" with " True Happiness This Way Lies " and Johnson's statement of intent, which tries to distill the very essence of his credo in a few sentences. Even before the train locomotive moves, Matt Johnson makes us sit down and listen to his preaching and pathos-filled recitation. Johnson explains to us that "The only true freedom is freedom from the heart's desires". Why? Because every time we achieve what we want, instead of stopping for a moment and enjoying our achievement, we immediately turn our attention to the next thrill. The locomotive driver warms up for the ride and in the background, we are accompanied by " Love Is Stronger than Death ", one of the most beautiful and moving songs in Johnson's entire repertoire. A song written following the sudden death of his younger brother Eugene, in the middle of the tour to promote "Mind Bomb", in 1989. To the melancholy organ and the sounds of Johnny M arr's r's acoustic guitar, Matt conveys to us a positive message of "love" - ​​free love that does not depend on anything. A love whose power is "stronger than death". Matt Johnson found therapy in the writing process that helped him overcome his brother's sudden death and his cracked singing reflects the ability of love to blossom in the shadow of mortality. The title of the song comes from the greatest song ever written. A song full of secrets, clues, and holiness. "The Song of Songs" written by King Solomon. The verse from which Matt took inspiration is: "Place me like a seal upon your heart, like a seal upon your arm. Indeed, love is strong as death itself". The sounds of Johnny Mar's harmonica which opens " Dogs of Lust " sound like the steam passing through the locomotive chimney. Matt Johnson informs us that "the heat is rising slowly...", The driver adds coal to the boiler, the locomotive blows, snorts, and whirls and the pistons move the train wheels to the monotonous sounds of Johnny Marr 's guitar, whose influence on the album's style is especially felt in this excellent track. This mesmerizing bluesy song has been rotated on MTV. A song "dripping with sweat" just like the fat and hot locomotive, in which Johnson manages to explain to us, with great success, the total nature of "passion". The varied and colorful journey continues with the "honky-tonk" piano of " This is the Night " - a ballroom piano ballad that serves as a dark tunnel through which our steam train gallops towards the bright and shining light of " Slow Emotion Replay "- such a pure and refined beauty and perhaps the band's most famous song. Johnny Marr 's harmonica playing is a school of arts. The bouncy rhythm and the sweet and catchy melody, sometimes sound contrary to the lyrics, with words like "don't ask me about, war, religion, or God, Love, sex or death"... The landscape continues to alternate throughout the journey with the " Helpline Operator ", whose trumpet and violin sound like the creaking of train wheels on the tracks, but then comes gets Johnny Marr 's guitar line and again we pick up the tempo as James Eller's beating bass and David Palmer's steady drumming keep That train right on track. We speed up the pace with " Sodium Light Baby ". This time, Johnny Marr enlists the Hendrix Wah-Wah effect, to push this heavy train up the mountain and Johnson takes care to explain to us that it is "the strangest feeling I ever had"... The last third of the album is quieter. As if adapted itself to accompany us in the final stages of the journey, with an almost mesmerizing "ambient" atmosphere. The tired locomotive slows its gallop with " Lung Shadows ", which sounds almost like an excerpt from an album of "7 Zero". It approaches a full stop to the melancholy trumpet sounds of " Bluer Than Midnight " and then ... the doors open at the final station and the last picture we see is of " Lonely Planet ". This "Lonely Planet" leaves us with a strong and "green" message that sums up our journey: "If you can not change the world. Change yourself"... For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

The album "Nude", the eighth studio album by "Camel", was released on January 23, 1981. This is the first album of "Camel" in the 1980s, and it's last with drummer Andy Ward. After this album, the band will actually become a one-man band, with Andrew Latimer being the only original member of the band. This album comes a little over two years after the legendary keyboardist Peter Bardens left the band, in 1978. During the recording of "Breathless", Bardens expressed his intention to leave the band due to disagreements with guitarist, flutist, and singer Andrew Latimer. Bardens agrees to end the recording of the album, however, he refuses to go on a tour to promote it. Bardens's departure was a shock for "Camel", as he was one of its main writers and leader of its musical direction. Bardens' departure left the "Ship of the Desert" in the hands of Latimer, who chose to steer it in the mainstream direction. Thus, Latimer and his friends produced the band's most commercial album to date - "I Can See Your House From Here" from 1979, which will host Phil Collins and Rupert Hine, who will later produce two of "Rush" albums. But Latimer's brief flirtation with mainstream did not go as planned since the album was not as successful as he had hoped, prompting Latimer to "return to the origins" with a progressive concept album filled with instrumental pieces. The concept album is based on the true story of a Japanese soldier named Hiroo Onoda, who was stranded on an island for years during World War II, and returned years after the war ended. Onoda initially held out with three other soldiers, not believing the war was over. They survived on fruit, hunting, and stolen rice, and occasionally engaged in gunfights with locals and the police. Onoda, was declared dead by the Japanese government in 1959, but after being located and convinced that the war was over, received a hero's welcome upon his return to Japan in 1974. And this is the plot as it appears from the album: Amid World War II, in 1942, Hiroo Onoda found himself living in a harsh imperial regime and in a society governed by strict laws, which changed the way he should live his daily life (" City Life / Nude "). One day Hiroo receives an envelope containing a draft order requiring him to serve in the Japanese army and contribute to the national war effort. Knowing the cruel regime, Hiroo does not hesitate for a moment, and immediately fulfills the draft order (" Drafted "). Shortly afterward, Hiroo finds himself next to other young soldiers on a ship that is making its way to the battlefield (" Docks "). The ship finds itself in battles in the Pacific Ocean. In one of the battles, the ship got hit and sunk, when Hiroo manages to escape, while being swept away to a lonely island (" Beached "). When Hiroo wakes up he finds himself alone on the island. He clings to the hope that he will soon be rescued by his unit and is not at all aware of the fact that he is left behind with the island's landscapes, all alone, and that no one is looking for him (" Landscapes "). Time passes and the years go by. Hiroo gave up on searching for more deserters on the island. He lives in a cave near a lagoon, and constantly tours the jungles (" Changing Places "). Occasionally Hiroo climbs to the top of a high mountain recites the national anthem of Japan and shoots a bullet into the sky (" Pomp & Circumstance "). One day a plane flies over the island and Hiroo receives a large content of leaflets, letters, and photographs indicating the end of the war and urging him to return to his country (" Please Come Home "). Hiroo, however, doubts the truth of the documents and assumes that Allied forces are fooling him. But over time Hiroo feels a change and he concludes that the war is over (" Reflections "). Years later Hiroo was captured and thrown into a boat taking him back to Japan (" Captured "). When Hiroo returns to his homeland, he is greeted by crowds of people with great joy and excitement (" The Homecoming "). Despite the warm welcome, his years of loneliness and lack of communication with civilization lead Hiroo to collapse. At the same time, he is also experiencing a wave of false publications about him (" Lies "). Hiroo's brief fame is quickly converted into a distinction from society and life (as if he had returned to the island). On his 50th birthday, a small group held a party for him and gave him a cake. Hiroo excited by the gesture is left alone to reflect on his past (" The Last Farewell: The Birthday Cake / Nudes Return "). Although this album does not match to the masterpieces of "Camel" from the '70s, it is definitely a worthy. The combination of the vocals and the instrumental sections on the album, is perfect. The rhythmic opening song "City Life", the melancholic track " Drafted " with the melodic classical guitar sections of Latimer, and the "Pink Floydish" section " Lies " are perfectly intertwined with the drama and atmosphere produced by the instrumental parts. This combination creates a sweeping sound image that musically illustrates the story of the act fantastically. Melodic and quiet musical parts to describe the mental state of the protagonist or the landscape while ethnic rhythms illustrate the jungle in which he lives. All these linked passages merge with the lyrics and complete a whole weave of the action story. The comparison to the immortal "The Snow Goose", at least in terms of idea and concept, is just requested. 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Editor's Choice... This is the third album by the band "Of Mice & Men" which was released on January 24, 2014, it can be said that it is the band's best album before the transformation and the big change. After the release of their second album "The Flood", in 2011, the band underwent a significant change. The band members saw their clean vocalist and guitarist/bassist Shayley Bourget break down to pieces in front of them as a result of depression and alcoholism. In an emotional appeal to the band's fans on YouTube, he announced that he was leaving because he felt he was degrading the rest of the band. The band added Alan Ashby as another guitarist who also served as bassist and intended to turn the formidable roaring Austin Caralile into the lead singer. During the album promotional tour, he was joined by a "nerd" bassist named Aaron Pauley who will soon turn from a cute little lion cub into a crazy roaring beast on steroids to become the band leader. After completing a tour to promote the second album, the band entered a recording studio in New Jersey and began work on the third album. Pauley very quickly took a significant part in writing, creating, and singing on the album, what started during the tour became official at the end and Pauley took on the role of the Clean vocalist. (Photo: Rise Records) This album is very high on our list of exploding materials!! It is deadly, powerful, uncompromising, and aggressive like the Vikings on their way to Valhalla !! It starts with a hydrogen bomb as Austin announces "Public Service Announcement" it continues with the first combination between the two singers, Austin and Pauley, an amazing combination in "Feels Like Forever" . We have not yet taken a breath and we are already breaking into the most powerful song on the album "Bones Exposed" , a school of dynamics, an exploding melody, and a sound of drums and guitars that will break your "exposed bones". The album continues with the excellent "Would You Still Be There" , and the strong "Glass Hearts" and then we get the soft part of the rising star, Pauley, in the song "Another You" and continues one after the other, each song is a cluster bomb that is part of a big thing!! This is the penultimate album of Austin who falls ill with a rare disease and leaves the band after the next album "Cold War". From there Pauley takes the reins and becomes a dominant singer and leader who takes the band to two more powerful, aggressive, and heavier albums than anything the band has performed up to that point. You are welcome to listen to the album on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 23.01.1981 "Girls have got balls. They're just a little higher up, that's all". ( Joan Jett) Have you ever asked yourself why, when people talk about musicians who were seemingly born with a guitar in their hands, the conversation has almost always revolved around men? The very term “guitar hero” was shaped around that closed circle. Into that space stepped Joan Jett, rewriting the rules entirely. Her debut album "Bad Reputation" was released on January 23, 1981, and with it came a new definition of what a guitar hero could look like. When speaking about uncompromising artists with the raw power to move things, to challenge norms and push boundaries, Joan Jett sits right at the top of the list. Or, as she once described herself, “I think I was born strong-willed. That's not the kind of thing you can learn.” Joan Marie Larkin was born in September 1958 in Wynnewood, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a Protestant family. Although she attended church, her personal relationship with faith never matched the strict devotion practiced by the rest of her family. In 1967, her family relocated to Rockville, Maryland. At the age of thirteen, young Joan received her first guitar and began taking lessons. That experience was short-lived, however, as her instructor insisted on teaching folk songs. Joan had bigger ambitions and far more electrifying dreams. After her parents divorced and the family moved to California, Los Angeles proved to be a turning point. Joan immersed herself in the music that truly spoke to her, changed her surname from Larkin to Jett, and became a regular at Rodney Bingenheimer’s nightclub, a hub for the glam rock sound she loved so deeply. At just sixteen years old, she co-founded the all-female glam rock band "The Runaways" alongside Sandy West. The lineup also included Lita Ford and Micki Steele (later of “The Bangles”). Over the course of four albums, Jett wrote songs, sang, and played guitar, shaping the band’s rebellious identity. “The Runaways” toured extensively, opening for acts such as "Van Halen", "Ramones", "Cheap Trick", and "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers", before eventually disbanding in 1979. During her time in the band, Jett adopted a visual identity that became inseparable from her presence on stage: a black leather jacket, heavy black eyeliner, and a sharply layered haircut. She later openly acknowledged that both her iconic look and her sound were deeply inspired by Suzi Quatro. Jett admitted that Suzi is the one who made her realize that girls could succeed at playing rock and roll. In the spring of 1979, Jett traveled to England, where she recorded three songs with drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones. One of those recordings was an early version of what would later become her biggest hit, " I Love Rock 'n' Roll ", originally recorded by "Arrows". Afterward, Jett returned to Los Angeles to complete a feature film, the final obligation remaining from her contract with her previous band. It was during this period that she met producer and lyricist Kenny Laguna, who was brought in to help her write the film’s soundtrack. Once the project was completed, the collaboration between Jett and Laguna continued naturally into the creation of her debut album. The record incorporated the three songs she had already recorded in England, alongside new material that moved freely between classic 1950s and 1960s rock and roll, punk rock, glam rock, and even touches of new wave. Roughly half of the album consisted of cover songs, reflecting both Jett’s roots and her defiant reinterpretation of rock history. Among the musicians who participated in the sessions were drummer Clem Burke and guitarist Frank Infante from "Blondie", alongside Steve Jones and Paul Cook from "Sex Pistols". Additional contributions came from members of "Roll-Ups", who served as Jett’s backing band before the formation of the “Blackhearts”. Initially, every major record label rejected the project. Undeterred, Laguna and Jett independently released the album under Joan Jett’s name, selling it directly through record stores and live performances. Only after the album proved successful in its original independent form did Jett secure a deal with "Boardwalk Records". The album was then officially reissued under the title “Bad Reputation”, a phrase that had already been attached to Joan Jett during her years with “The Runaways”. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

What happens when you shut down the electric power of a strong and powerful metal band? Its outcome is simply called "Aurora" , a special compilation album by "Breaking Benjamin" released on January 24, 2020 !! And let's start with a slightly long but worthwhile quote: "This album is a celebration of our incredible fans; for those who have been there since hearing ‘So Cold’ for the first time in 2004, and the new ones who have joined us on this amazing journey along the way. We’ve always shared a unique emotional connection to our music with our fans, and this album attributes to those dark times and euphoric ones. From wherever you joined along the road to Aurora, this one is for you. Thank you." (Hollywood Records) So what's really going on here? What happens is that "Breaking Benjamin's" album called "Aurora" takes 9 songs, most of which are prominent singles from previous albums, and simply turns them into acoustic performances. Sounds pretty ordinary and simple but actually not !! The cheerful friends did not take these good and famous songs and gave them a different interpretation or a melancholy and endearing acoustic performance. no no no!! They took the songs and just performed them with acoustic instruments, you probably tell yourself that it also sounds simple, even simpler than before and there is no "patent trick" here !! So it's not !! It is very difficult to take powerful music with walls of distortions and immense heaviness and just play them with acoustic guitars. It's pretty obvious it's going to sound anemic, shallow, and soulless. Here the band did something beautiful and special and in order to support the acoustic guitars that lack the power of the distortions, they combined it with various strings and wind instruments. And that sounds absolutely amazing !! In the parts you expect the power of the guitars or in the breaking and opening sections that need to reach the heaviness, the strings go in and make it powerful but in another dimension !! Exactly !! This album is "Breaking Benjamin" in another dimension! And there's another beautiful thing on the album, The Drums! Usually, in acoustic ensembles, the drums take one step back, with the drummers using light / thin brushes and the drums themselves change in depth and tone to give a flatter sound and less deep and strong in order to match the acoustic and low sound of the guitars. But not here !! Drummer Shaun Foist works with the same set and tone of drums, with the same sticks, so it gives everything that needs to be given according to the original performance and it sounds just huggggge!! Aside from the nine tracks that are a performance of previous songs, there is one new song called "Far Away" featuring "Cold's" singer Scooter Ward. Five of the ten songs feature other artists. (Hollywood Records) The album opens with the song "So Cold" which is the second single released from the band's second album "We Are Not Alone" which was released in 2004 is without a doubt an amazing opening to the album. It is followed by one of the band's strongest and heaviest songs, "Failure" . It's the first single from the band's fifth album "Dark Before Dawn" which came out in 2015 and it's the band's first album with the current and new lineup that came out after 5 years of hiatus and a lot of fights. The song features singer Michael Barnes of the American Christian rock band "RED" and the combination of both is simply amazing. The third song on the album is "Far Away" and as we mentioned it is a new song written for the album featuring Ward. The fourth song is "Angels Fall" which was released as a second single after "Failure" from the album "Dark Before Dawn" . It is followed by the song "Red Cold River" which was the first single released from the band's latest album "Ember" which was released in 2018 and is one of the hardest songs to perform with acoustic guitars, because of the power of the guitars in the original song. This song features "Underoath" singer Spencer Chamberlain. From the same album comes the next song, "Tourniquet" which is the third and last single from the album and is also one of the most beautiful songs on the album. In the seventh song "Dance With The Devil" you feel the power and influence of the strings especially in the opening, a song that starts with the sound of Burnley and the acoustic guitar and immediately goes into the strings, just a great performance. The song is from the third album "Phobia" which was released in 2006, the song features the singer who was previously on "Three Days Grace" and today is in a kind of American Canadian supergroup called "Saint Asonia". Here we must say that it is very intriguing and lacking in the performance that the album is missing the song "The Diary of Jane". The next song is "Never Again" from the album "Dark Before Dawn" and immediately after that comes "Torn in Two" with a fatal opening of acoustic bass and drums, the song from the band's latest album "Ember" . The song that closes the album is "Dear Agony" , an amazing song from the band's fourth album bearing the same name and the first album Burnley wrote when he was completely sober after a hard and extended period of intoxication. The song features singer Lacey Sturm who formed the band "Flyleaf" and today she is conquering the charts with a solo career. The band's fans will have an amazing gift that will take them between the band's albums and give them a different and special feeling, a completely different dimension of the band. For those who are unfamiliar this is a good opportunity to listen to something that is a little different in terms of its acoustic composition and provides a special experience. Do not miss this album, even if you are not a fan of the band, listen on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He was a childhood friend of Slash and rose to prominence with "Guns N 'Roses", but was fired from it following his heroin addiction problems. He tried to return to music and even released several albums as part of his various ensembles, but without significant success. Today we will tell you about the Jewish-American drummer and musician Steven Adler: (Photo: Marc S. Canter) 1. He was born Michael Coletti in Cleveland Ohio, on January 22, 1965. 2. His father Michael Coletti was Italian-American and his mother Diana was American-Jewish. 3. After his father left the family, his mother moved with Michael and his brother to Los Angeles, California. 4. Since at birth Michael was named after his father, which is not common in Judaism, his mother changed his name to Steven, when she returned to live with her parents. 5. He received the surname Adler after the marriage of his mother to Melvin Adler, who also adopted her two children. 6. Adler grew up in the San Fernando Valley until the age of 13, when he was sent to live with his grandparents in Hollywood, due to his problematic behavior. 7. In "Bancroft" middle school, Adler befriended Saul Hudson, later known as the Slash . They met when Adler had a skateboard accident and Slash stopped to help him. 8. After finishing ninth grade, Adler returned to live with his mother and stepfather, in the San Fernando Valley, where he stayed until the end of high school. During this time Adler learned to play the drums. 9. In 1983 Adler returned to Hollywood and co-founded "Road Crew" with Slash and Duff McKagan. The band did not last long as the three members were unable to find a lead singer. 10. After the band disbanded, Adler became part of the "Hollywood Rose" band, which included members Izzy Stradlin and Axl Rose . 11. The band went through several incarnations until June 1985, then it became the classic line-up of "Guns N 'Roses", which included Steven Adler, Slash , Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin , and Axl Rose . (Photo: Paul Natkin) 12. After only two days of rehearsals, the band began its journey with performances in small clubs in Los Angeles. 13. In 1986 the band signed a recording contract with Geffen Records and released their first EP called "Live ?!" @ Like a Suicide" 14. In July 1987 the band released their debut album " Appetite for Destruction " which became the best-selling debut album of all time in the US. Adler records all the drum roles on the album in just 6 days. 15. Legend has it that the sounds of moaning and sex during the song "Rocket Queen", are by Axl Rose making love with Steven Adler's girlfriend, Adriana Smith, in the studio. 16. In November 1988, the band released the album " G N' R Lies ", which also reached the top of the charts and took the 2nd place. 17. In the early 1990s "Guns" began working on their next album, which would become the quadruple monster " Use Your Illusion I & II ". Adler was still part of the band and even participated in the recording of one of the great songs from it "Civil War". 18. Moreover, on April 7, 1990, Adler performed the song on stage with the band, as part of the "Farm Aid IV" festival. Unfortunately, after the band's last appearance with Steven Adler, as he was fired shortly afterwards, due to his drug problems. 19. Guitarist Slash said that Adler would come to rehearsals and stare for hours at the refrigerator that stood in the studio, sometimes filtering between his teeth "butter tray" or "spaghetti". He later found out that Adler was hiding his heroin there. 20. Singer Axl Rose said the band gave Adler countless opportunities to solve his drug problem, and that only after nothing helped did they have to fire him. 21. Guitarist Izzy Stradlin said in a November 1992 interview, that he would have preferred to continue with Adler, but they just could not wait for him to "fix himself". 22. After his dismissal from "Guns" Steven sued Axl for his allegedly illegal dismissals. He won the lawsuit and received 2.5 million dollars in damages and 15% of song royalties. 23. During the trial Adler's lawyer asked "Guns" members to comment on the "spaghetti incident", as Adler claimed this was a code name for his drugs. This question will become the title of the album " The Spaghetti Incident? ", the band's fifth album from 1993. 24. Later, Adler re-formed “Road Crew” with a new lineup that included Davy Vain from the band “Vain”. They recorded an album and attracted the attention of several record labels, but due to Adler’s ongoing struggles with drug addiction, the band eventually dissolved. Material from that lineup, including Adler’s drum tracks, later surfaced on “Vain” albums, among them the 2011 album “Enough Rope”. 25. Adler's drug problems only got more complicated. In 1995, Adler was arrested at his home for possession of heroin. 26. In 1996 he had a stroke which led to temporary paralysis of the left side of his face, resulting in a speech impediment. All this happened after Adler took "Speedball" which is a combination of heroin and cocaine by intravenous injection. (Photo: whatsmyscene.com) 27. In 1998 he formed "BulletBoys", together with DJ Ashba. The band recorded an album, but again due to Adler's problems was unable to realize its potential. This time Adler was charged with violence and sentenced to 150 days in prison and three years probation, provided he goes through a year of mandatory drug and domestic violence counseling. 28. In 2003, Adler formed "Suki Jones", which later changed its name to "Adler's Appetite". The band played songs from "Guns" debut album "Appetite for Destruction". 29. Together with the band, Adler released two mini-albums, the first "Adler's Appetite" from 2005 and the second "Alive" from 2012, including original songs. 30. In 2010, Adler was featured on Slash 's solo album, alongside Flea , Alice Cooper , and more. 31. In 2011, Adler formed a new band simply called "Adler". The band released the album "Back from the Dead" in 2012 which featured Slash . 32. That same year, Adler was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" with members of "Guns N' Roses". 33. In 2016, Adler joined the reunion "Guns" - "Not in This Lifetime Tour", in Ohio and played the hits "Out Ta Get Me" and "My Michelle". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Today we will tell you about the well-known virtuoso bassist John Myung, known from "Dream Theater". (Photo: Dream Theater Official Site) 1. Myung was born on January 24, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. His full name is John Ro Myung. 2. He is a Korean-American and the founding member of the "Dream Theater". He's one of the two members of the band that has been in it since its inception along with guitarist John Petrucci . 3. He played the violin from the age of five, until he was asked at the age of 15 to play bass guitar in a local band. 4. After graduating from high school he enrolled with his guitarist friend John Petrucci to Berklee College of Music , where they met drummer Mike Portnoy . The trio formed the band "Majesty", to which they added keyboardist Kevin Moore and vocalist Chris Collins. 5. The band will change its name to "Dream Theater", shortly before the release of their first album. 6. In the band's first album - "When Dream and Day Unite" from 1989, Myung still played a standard 4 strings bass guitar. Later Myung will switch to a 6-string bass guitar, thus expanding the range of sounds he produces from the instrument. 7. From the second album, Myung participated in writing the band's songs, including: "Learning to Live", "Lifting Shadows Off a Dream", "Trial of Tears", "Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy" and more. 8. Although "Dream Theater" is at the center of Myung's musical activities, he has collaborated and appeared on a number of other projects during his career. One of them is the supergroup "Platypus", with Rod Morgenstein, Ty Tabor and former "Dream" friend keyboardist Derek Sherinian. 9. After "Platypus" disbanded in 2000, Myung, Tavor and Morgenstein recorded four albums as part of the band "Jelly Jam". 10. In addition to his membership in these bands, he has appeared as a guest on several albums such as: Sean Malone's Band "Gordian Knot" and "Raising the Mammoth" of "Explorers Club". 11. On the "Dream Falling Into Infinity" Tour, Myung served as the keyboardist of the "Nightmare Cinema", a fictional band that features "Dream" members playing musical instruments other than their original ones. 12. Myung was influenced by bands like "The Beatles", "Black Sabbath", "The Who", "Iron Maiden", "Rush", "Yes", "Jethro Tull", "Genesis". 13. He noted the following bassists as influencing his playing: Geezer Butler , John Entwistle , Chris Squire , Steve Harris , Geddy Lee and of course Jaco Pastorius. 14. Myung's wife was the bassist of the female metal band "Meanstreak", which also starred the wifes of John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy , his friends in "Dream Theater". 15. Myung released 15 studio albums and 9 live albums as part of "Dream". 16. In 2010 he won the "Music Radar" readership poll as the best bassist of all time. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Noam Asulin "Draconian" Second album "Arcane Rain Fall", was released on January 24, 2005. This Doom album is considered one of the best albums in the genre, even today about two decades after its release. "Draconian" comes from Sweden and was founded in 1994 by drummer and vocalist Johan Ericson, bassist and vocalist Jesper Stolpe, and guitarist Andy Hindenäs. At first, they called themselves "Kerberos" and played melodic death metal with black metal influences. Shortly afterward, vocalist Anders Jacobsson joined them and the band's name was changed to "Draconian". Since its inception "Draconian" has been in a search for their identity, but things seemed to start connecting for them as soon as they added singer Lisa Johansson. Together with Anders Jacobsson, they managed to appeal to a gothic audience with a perfect combination of the "Beauty and the Beast" concept. This move allowed them to "hit two birds with one stone" when on the one hand they did not lose the audience of Doom fans and on the other hand, they brought in a new audience with a gothic tendency and in doing so they shaped the niche DNA that would define them. "Arcane Rain Fell", as mentioned, is their second album. It is a concept album that describes the fall of Lucifer from heaven and the creation of hell. The album begins with the intro " A Scenery of Loss " which leaves no room for doubt. This is a gloomy and melancholy album, even by its name. Raindrops and thunder are heard, preparing us for what is going to happen next. " Daylight Misery " begins with guitars that do not pity the listener. The lead singer, Anders Jacobsson, presents his clean voice, although he is usually in charge of the growls, while the clean vocals are in charge of Lisa Johansson, the second lead singer in the band, who does a wonderful job throughout the album. In the chorus, Anders expresses the power of the song with the help of grunts that penetrate deep into the soul. (Photo: HD Wallpapers und Hintergründe - Wallpaper Abyss) In the fourth track " Expostulation " a surprise awaits us in the form of the Holy Hebrew Language. Anders begins with the words "Lord God Almighty" (In Hebrew) and this section builds drama for the next song. Every song /on this album expresses sadness and it can be heard both in the melody of the songs and in the slow tempo. Keyboards and guitars produce a sound that, in my opinion, causes the emotion of sadness to rise. The words of course are sad and speak of all that is wrong in this world. "Arcane Rain Fall" is one of my favorite albums, mainly because of the last song, " Death, Come Near Me ". A 15-minute piece that is actually a remake of the band's song from a demo called "Dark Oceans We Cry". This piece is very versatile and amazing to me. This song is so exciting in my opinion, precisely because it penetrates deeply into emotion and touches on personal things we experience in our lives, difficulties, and sadness. Towards the end of the song begins a wonderful keyboard solo that only increases the melancholy that this album conveys. In conclusion, in my opinion, this is the ultimate doom album and not in vain. Doom Metal aims to convey sadness and melancholy and this album does it amazingly from every aspect. For Listening: 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 we have a riddle for you. What's the connection between the debut eponymous album " Bon Jovi " which we wrote about earlier today and one of the exemplary musical moments of "The Jimi Hendrix Experience"?? Want to find out?? Stay with us and find out. On January 21, 1968, Jimi Hendrix recorded his version of Bob Dylan 's "All Along the Watchtower". The song first appeared on Dylan's 1967 album "John Wesley Harding". The recording session at the "Olympic Studios" in London, was attended by Brian Jones , Hendrix's best friend from "The Rolling Stones", who played percussion, and Dave Mason from "Traffic", who played the 12-string guitar. It is interesting to note that following Jimi Hendrix's argument with bassist Noel Redding, the latter left the studio. Dave Mason took the bass in his place, but in the end, the bass role played in the final recording, was performed by none other than Jimi Hendrix himself. As for why Redding left the studio, there are several versions. One version tells that he was not happy with his performance and the presence of the guest musicians in the studio. Another version says that he came to the studio drunk after visiting a nearby pub and therefore could barely play. Hendrix was very angry and he simply decided that Redding will not record with them. Over the years, the immortal song "All Along the Watchtower" became more identified with the interpretation given to it by Jimi Hendrix than with the original. It was included on "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" album " Electric Ladyland ". Jimi Hendrix's version came out six months after Bob Dylan's original recording and became one of the top singles of 1968. Hendrix's version received the "Grammy Hall of Fame" award in 2001, and was ranked 47th in "Rolling Stone" Magazine's 500 greatest songs of all time, in 2004. And now for the answer to the riddle: In the review we released earlier about the debut eponymous album " Bon Jovi ", we mentioned that Jon Bon Jovi was working in his cousin Tony Bongiovi's studio, where he also recorded the demos for his debut album. So that same Tony Bongiovi was also the recording technician working with Hendrix on the recording of the song "All Along the Watchtower". He said that Hendrix was not happy with the results at first and slowly doubled his guitar tracks, which forced him as a technician to move the master tape recordings from four channels to sixteen channels tape. Bongiovi noted that the recording of these new ideas by Hendrix forced him to give up some of the channels, while during the mixes he sat down with Hendrix and they both started deleting some of the layers until Hendrix was satisfied. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... And this time "Thunder in the East" by "Loudness", released on January 21, 1985. "Loudness" is a Heavy Metal Japanese band that we really like. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi. In the mid-1980s the band enjoyed great success outside of Japan as well and was in fact the first Japanese metal band to sign a recording contract with a major label in the United States. To date, the band has released 27 studio albums, 3 mini-albums, and a variety of live albums and compilations. The original line-up (except drummer Munetaka Higuchi who died of liver cancer in 2008), continues to release albums even today (the last in 2018). "Thunder in the East" is the fifth studio album by "Loudness" and the first to be released on a major label in the US. It is also the band's first album to be released with the singing entirely in English. For example, the band's previous and excellent album "Disillusion", released in 1984, was originally released with lyrics and vocals in Japanese and only later was also released in English speaking version as well. The band had been looking for the opportunity to break through Japan's borders since 1981. They finally succeed in 1985, when "Twisted Sister" manager- Joe Gerber, got them a recording contract with "Atco Records", which was a subsidiary of "Atlantic Records" in the US. A first and most amazing achievement for a Japanese Metal band. The album was recorded in the United States and became a worldwide success, thanks in part to the "Crazy" single "Crazy Nights", whose video clip won reruns on MTV. This is the first album by a Japanese band to enter the top 100 charts in the US, and not only did it enter the chart, but it also stayed there for 23 weeks. The album opens with the band's most famous song in America, " Crazy Nights ", an anthem with a classic, catchy and sweeping riff. The melodic vocals and harmonic background vocals in the chorus, just force you to swing your fist in the air and scream with the band M-Z-A! M-Z-A !. This song introduces us to the virtuosity of Akira Takasaki and his intelligent playing. These little guitar leaks the melodic scales and the amazing solo just blows our minds. Immediately after the opening track, we get two of the finest and most beautiful songs that "Loudness" ever created. "Like Hell" is a very energetic metal track, with an excellent intro riff, that sets the tone for the whole song. It's a pretty fast track that represents just about everything that Heavy Metal of the '80s is supposed to sound like. Strong, Heavy, In your face Rock! From there we continue to a slightly different track - " Heavy Chains ". A beautiful song that starts as a semi-slow ballad with nice arpeggios and a sad melodic solo, then the song explodes into a heavy, galloping metal beat - "Manowar" style, with strong and sweeping Minoru Niihara singing The song continues to gradually develop, up to Akira Takasaki 's amazing guitar solo, which also ends the song with another short solo, that accompanies the chorus. The album continues with excellent songs maintaining a high level throughout its length. The fast and rhythmic " Get Away " just makes you bang your head, "We Could Be Together " with a riff reminiscent of Vivian Campbell 's "Dio" early days blending nicely with the Munetaka Higuchi drumming and the very slow and heavy " Run For Your Life ", with a unique opening riff and a melodic and catchy chorus. Then we come to a fast and furious sequence that starts with the amazing " Clockwork Toy " and its psychic solo, giving a serious fight to Yngwie Malmsteen and without a doubt one of the most beautiful songs on the album. From there we once again step up the tempo with “ The Lines Are Down ” featuring excellent bass work from Masayoshi Yamashita. The album comes to Peace and Tranquility, with the ballad " Never Change Your Mind " that seals it, where the band proves that they also know how to write an excellent "Power Ballad" and level up with glam bands like "Cinderella" and "Poison". In conclusion, "Thunder in the East" is a recommended album for lovers of classic Heavy Metal. It has catchy metal anthems, amazing guitar arrangements, strong riffs, and fast and melodic solos that make it a special, original, and beautiful Metal piece. And now you must listen to this special album: Youtube "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 21, 1984, "Bon Jovi" released their debut eponymous album, which was the opening chord to a successful and glorious career. But the birth of this album was not simple at all and the rich career of "Bon Jovi" was almost never happened. In 1980, a young boy named John Francis Bongiovi, a native of New Jersey, began working at the "Power Station" recording studio in Manhattan New York. The studio was partly owned by his cousin Tony Bongiovi, and John took advantage of the time in the studio to record demos for the songs he wrote. He sent the demos to all the local record companies and radio stations, but without success. John did not give up, he dared and in 1982 came to the "WAPP 103.5 FM - The Apple" radio station from New Jersey with the demos. "WAPP" was a new station and did not even have a receptionist, so he managed to get in and go directly to DJ Chip Hobart. He persuades him to listen to the demos. DJ Chip was impressed, he loved the song "Runaway" and even included it on the station's compilation album - "Homegrown", of local young bands. The song was played on the same station until it came to the attention of another radio station in New Jersey - "WDHA", which also included the song on its own compilation album of young bands, that do not yet have a recording contract. One day the recordings rolled onto Derek Shulman who worked for "Mercury Records". Shulman was a very talented musician himself, one of the leaders of the Prog-Rock band " Gentle Giant ". He immediately recognized the potential of young John and signed him on a recording contract. At this point, young john began a race to form a band that will accompany him on the album, as well as choosing a name for the band. The guys from the record company suggested the name "Bon Jovi" and John liked the idea and even adopted the stage name, Jon Bon Jovi . As for the band, the first band member Jon Bon Jovi called, was keyboardist David Rashbaum who later changed his name to David Bryan . David called his bassist friend Alec John Such and drummer Tico Torres. To complete the lineup, Jon Bon Jovi recruited his childhood friend, guitarist Dave Sabo , who will soon leave and be replaced by guitarist Richie Sambora . (Photo: Bon Jovi On Twitter) It is interesting to note that Sabo will later form "Skid Row" together with Sebastian Bach. As childhood friends, there was an unwritten agreement between Sabo and Bon Jovi, that if one of them succeeds in the music industry, he will help the other. Jon Bon Jovi kept his promise to Sabo and made sure that Bon Jovi's manager would arrange a recording contract for "Skid Row". Jon Bon Jovi even did more than that. He made sure that his childhood friend and his band "Skid Row" will warm up "Bon Jovi", during the tour that accompanied their third album " Slippery When Wet ". But the hardships did not end there, as after choosing the name and assembling the band, the members were pressured to finish writing the material for the album and start the recordings, all while they only have one finished at their hands. The pressure, the lack of experience of the band, and the fact that its members have not yet formed their own musical direction, greatly influenced the result, meaning the lack of uniformity that can be found in this album. " Runaway " was recorded by Jon Bon Jovi back in 1981 with studio musicians called "The All Star Review" - including keyboardist Roy Bittan, known from the band "E Street Band" of Bruce Springsteen . The recorded version with the session players found its way to the album with no changes at all. It is interesting that even though, the video clip released for MTV, shows all the band members although none of them really played in the original recording. The third track on the album, " She Don't Know Me ", was written by keyboardist and producer Mark Avsec. It holds the dubious title of Bon Jovi's only song not being written by any of the band's members. It was written by Mark for another band that was signed with the same record company, but the record company thought Bon Jovi's album needed one more hit, so they asked Mark to offer the song to "Bon Jovi". This is the second single released from the album and it had also won relative success. “Shot Through the Heart”  illustrates the hunger and ambition of a young band at the very beginning of its journey, built on a striking combination of a gritty guitar riff and dominant keyboard lines that give it an early melodic character. Jon Bon Jovi ’s vocal delivery is raw and almost defiant, while the lyrics deal with emotional pain and betrayal in a direct, no-frills manner. Released as the album’s fourth single, the song serves as an early hint at the more commercial direction the band would later learn to refine. Two songs on the album " Love Lies " and " Breakout ", were written by Jon Bon Jovi along with David Bryan , who on this album still received credit as David Rashbaum. Four more songs were written by Jon Bon Jovi along with Richie Sambora , including the excellent " Roulette " and " Burning for Love ", which was released as the third single from the album. This album is far from being perfect, but thanks to songs like " Runaway ", " Roulette " and " She Don't Know Me " it is a good opening shot for an amazing career that will come later. "Bon Jovi" eventually built their audience with their second album " 7800° Fahrenheit ", but their big break came only in 1986, with " Slippery When Wet ", where the band had already established control of 80's Hard Rock and defined the Glam Metal genre of the period. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On January 21, 1977, "Pink Floyd" released their tenth studio album, "Animals". This is a concept album that was influenced by the book " Animal Farm ", by the English writer George Orwell . The book, published on August 17, 1945, near the end of World War II, is a satirical story about the communist regime in the Soviet Union and the status of the individual vs. the regime. Orwell shows in his book, how the communist idea of ​​equality and social and economic justice, can turn to corruption and exploitation, all in an allegorical, cynical, and satirical way. Thus, in Orwell's story, a bunch of animals decides to rebel against the cruel farm owner. They manage to evict him from the farm, when a free and happy future is in sight. However, after a short time, the pigs take advantage of their wisdom and ascend to control the animal farms. Slowly it seems that there is no difference, at all, between the pigs and the humans or the cruel farm owner. They enslave the rest of the animals, exploit them and even move into the house of the farm owner, in a way that questions the viability of the rebellion and the results of the revolution, carried out by the animals. The idea for the album was conceived by Roger Waters, who was born around the time the book was released. Waters took the idea from Orwell's book, adapted it to the time and place, and developed it into an anti-capitalist musical protest, that serves as a mirror to British society and is a kind of counter to the punk revolution that took place in England at the time. This album for the most part is a Roger Waters solo project, which in a sense symbolizes the beginning of the end of "Pink Floyd" as a band. All of the songs on the album were written by Waters except for "Dogs" co-written with David Gilmour , while Richard Wright and Nick Mason serving as studio session players. What helped Waters to take over the creative side, was the fact that at the time keyboardist Richard Wright became a shadow of himself, due to The dissolution of his marriage and a his heavy drug addiction. Waters recognized Wright's weakness and immediately filled the vacuum with an almost complete dominance that hovered over the whole creative process. This "takeover" by Waters even influenced the musical style of the album. In the absence of Richard Wright who pulled the band in the Progressive direction, this album is more inclined in the Rock direction. The musical piece on this album is divided into five parts, with Waters introducing us to the main characters who will star in the story of the act. The pigs - members of the upper class, at the top of the chain with wealth and power, control society with a strong hand. The dogs - middle class, backstabbers, traitors, crooks who will do anything to rise up the social chain. The sheep - the working class, the passive herd, which is repeatedly exploited by the dogs and pigs. The album begins and ends with the track " Pigs on the Wing ", on its two parts. These are essentially different tracks from the rest of the dark and gloomy ones on the album. They are meant to open and close the album with an optimistic message of hope and brotherhood,. With the notion that love can protect people from all the evils of the world, including the evils depicted in other songs of the album like hypocritical and exploitative human behavior. The two parts song, was written by Waters for his then-wife, Carolyn, and it effectively replaces Orwell's pessimistic ending, with an optimistic message. The second track " Dogs " is, as mentioned, the only track on the album in which another member of the band received credit - David Gilmour . The song is about a bad and cruel businessman who eventually finds himself dying of cancer, lonely and helpless. The piece was written by Gilmour and Waters in 1974 and was originally titled "You've Got to Be Crazy". Waters changed the lyrics a bit, changed the title to fit the concept of the album, and changed the tone a bit, so that the singing could fit both him and Gilmour. This is the longest song on the album that exceeds the 17-minute mark. It's interesting to note, that at 15:30 approx. Waters says the words "Who was trained not to spit - in a fan". Indeed, Waters eventually spat at a fan during the "In The Flesh" tour that promoted the album. Stunned by his reaction, Waters got the idea of ​​isolating himself from the audience through a wall that would be placed along the stage, thus creating the concept of the album " The Wall ". The third track that opens the second side of the vinyl is " Pigs (Three Different Ones) ". There are 3 verses in the song, each of which represents a different "pig". This song features one of David Gilmour 's beautiful solos, in which he uses the "Talk Box" effect, meant to mimic a "pig" voice. This is the first time this effect has been used by Gilmour on a 'Pink Floyd" album. David Gilmour also plays the bass guitar in this song, as well as on the next song “ Sheep ”. The next song " Sheep ", represents the working class. The song includes a hidden parody message in the form of a quote from Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, He converteth me to lamb cutlets". Similar to " Dogs ", this song was also written and performed in concerts back in 1974, then it was called "Raving and Drooling". The album closes with the second part of " Pigs on the Wing " and with an optimistic message of love, hope, and brotherhood. The iconic cover of the album was designed and created by the iconic studio "Hipgnosis" headed by Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, and it was photographed at the "Battersea" power station in London. The animal displayed between the chimneys of the power station was a huge balloon in the shape of a pig (created by Waters) filled with Helium and tethered to a makeshift base on the ground. The work of photography was not easy at all and it took the team three attempts to get the desired image, as it appears on the cover, and this also happened only with the help of editing tricks. The camera team hired a sniper whose job it was to shoot the pig Disconnecting the balloon. On the first day, the team was unable to pick up the pig and place it between the chimneys, so the team had to return there the next day. The second day, the pig was disconnected from its cables, but the sniper decided that he would not be paid for the first day, and so it happened that the pig flew away and drifted away. London. It moved towards the Heathrow airport flight path. The pig finally landed on a farm and its owner called the police that the pig had landed on his property and was spooking his cows. A picture of a pig taken separately was pasted on the photo. Despite Waters' attempt to wrap his heavy and dark work in a positive message, a very great dissonance is present between Waters the creator, and Waters the person. This masterpiece has become a poignant parody whose arrows are directed toward its creator. Waters' domination and tyranny towards his bandmates during the recording of the album, simply scream out, in a way that makes Waters the tragic hero of the musical story he himself created. Waters' takeover would force Gilmour and Wright to release solo albums in 1978. During the tour designed to promote the album, Waters isolated himself and move further and further away from band members. The tyranny and alienation will increase and their pick will come in the form of total disintegration of this mighty band. Although this is a formidable album, "Animals" will be remembered in the pages of history as an album that marked the beginning of the end for "Pink Floyd". 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