Here are some crazy facts about the Ozzy Osbourne the "Prince of Darkness": (Photo: Wallpaperflare.com) 1. He was born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, on December 3, 1948, the fourth child of a poor Christian-Catholic family with six children. 2. The nickname Ozzy was given to him at school and he has since adopted it as his name. 3. He decided to pursue music when he was only 14, after hearing "the Beatles" song "She Loves You". 4. At the age of 15, he dropped out of school and began working in a variety of casual jobs, including a job at a slaughterhouse. 5. He was a "little criminal" in his childhood years. He broke into stores and houses until he was caught stealing and convicted. 6. Due to his age he was only fined, but his father who wanted to teach him a lesson did not pay the fine which led to Ozzy spending 6 weeks in jail. 7. He used his time in prison to get himself tattoos. The most famous and first he had, was the inscription O-Z-Z-Y on the fingers of his left hand. He did this with a needle. (Photo: Wallpaperflare.com) 8. He did not know how to play any musical instrument, but his father bought him an amplifier with which Ozzy tried to fulfill his dream. 9. He put an ad in a record store in Birmingham that read: "Ozzy Zig Needs Gig — has own PA". This ad caught the attention of Tony Iommi and Bill Ward whose band "Mythology" had just disbanded. Ozzy brought his friend from "Rare Breed" - bassist Geezer Butler and so "Black Sabbath" was actually formed. 10. At the end of 1969 he released together with "Black Sabbath" their debut album "Black Sabbath". (Photo: Warner Bros. Records) 11. In 1978 during Black Sabbath's tour with "Van Halen" Ozzy disappeared for more than 24 hours, after a night of revelry with David Lee Roth. The band members and the police thought someone had kidnapped him, but he just collapsed in a room at a hotel other than the one where the band was staying. 12. Ozzy was fired from "Black Sabbath" in 1979 after finishing the tour of the album "Never Say Die!", due to drug and alcohol problems. 13. He was really hurt from being fired and spent three months in a hotel during which he did nothing but consume drugs and alcohol. 14. Amazingly, it was Sharon Osborne who recommended Ronnie James Dio as a replacement for Ozzy in "Black Sabbath". But do not worry she was not Ozzy's wife then. 15. In 1981 he came to a meeting with CBS executives to sign a recording contract. He brought several white pigeons hidden in his pockets to release them after signing the contract. Ozzy was so "high" that he forgot the original plan and bit one of the pigeon's heads in front of CBS executives who of course withdrew from the contract right after. 16. After all, Ozzy releases his first solo album - "Blizzard Of Ozz" about a year after Ozzy was fired from "Black Sabbath". 17. The first song Ozzy wrote for the album was "Goodbye to Romance", this was his way of saying goodbye to his mother's band. 18. In 1986, Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake sued Ozzy for non-payment of royalties, for their part in writing the songs on Ozzy's first albums. In response, Ozzy re-recorded the bass and drum roles on these albums, along with drummer Mike Bordin of "Faith No More" and bassist Robert Trujillo. 19. The mesmerizing opening of the song "Mr. Crowley" and excerpts from the song "Revelation (Mother Earth)" from Ozzy's first album, were written by keyboardist Don Airey who also did not get credit for his writing. 20. He loves the album "Diary of a Madman", his second album released in 1982, more than any of his solo albums. 21. During the tour designed to promote the album he used to throw pieces of raw meat at the audience. 22. On January 20, 1982, Ozzy bites a living bat during one of his performances. He was forced to receive a series of shots against rabies. That same year, he also cut his hair and gave a very revealing, moving, and touching interview in which he occasionally talked about the incident. 23. A month later, on February 19, he was arrested for urinating at the Alamo Memorial in Texas. He left the hotel where he was staying with his wife Sharon's dress, after the latter had hidden his clothes to prevent him from leaving the room. As a result, he was banned from entering San Antonio for 10 years. 24. In 2001, two artists — Ruben Ortiz-Torres and Jim Mendiola — commemorated the event with a statue of Osbourne that casts its water whenever a sensor detects someone passing by. 25. He married Sharon Arden (Osbourne) on July 4, 1982, the American Independence Day. 26. The reason he chose this date was so that he would not forget his wedding day. 27. On March 19, 1982, the talented guitarist Randy Rhoads, who was also Ozzy's co-writer on his first two albums, died in a plane crash. 28. Two weeks later Ozzy already hires the services of guitarist Bernie Tormé, who previously played with Ian Gillan, and completes the tour to promote the album "Diary of a Madman". 29. Most of the material for the album "Bark At The Moon" was written by bassist Bob Daisley and guitarist Jake E. Lee. The two will also write most of the material for the album "The Ultimate Sin". 30. Rumor has it that Daisley even received between £ 50,000 and £ 60,000 from Sharon Osborne, just to write the material for the album. 31. Despite this, the two did not receive credit for their writings. Only Ozzy got the writing credit in the album liner notes. 32. According to the two, they were even forced to sign a contract at the end of the recordings, in which they waive their writing credit. 33. In 1983 a 20-year-old Canadian man claimed that the song "Bark At The Moon" made him murder a woman and her two children. 34. A year later, the parents of a 19-year-old boy in the US sued Ozzy over the fact that the song "Suicide Solution", from his first album, caused their son to commit suicide. 35. On August 7, 1987, the aforementioned well-publicized lawsuit was dismissed. 36. The song "Suicide Solution" was written by Ozzy and Bob Daisley after the death of Ozzy's friend Bon Scott, singer of the band "AC/DC", who died following excessive drinking of alcohol in February 1980. 37. In 1984 when Ozzy was on a joint tour with "Mötley Crüe", during which he sniffed a long line of working ants. 38. In 1989 he tried to strangle his wife, Sharon Osborne, after a night of heavy drinking, he was completely unaware of his actions. 39. Despite this Sharon remained by his side and helped him get rid of drugs and alcohol. 40. In 1991, Osborne decided to retire from performing. He release a farewell album called "No More Tears" and called the accompanied tour "No More Tours". 41. The songs on the album "No More Tears" was written by Ozzy with guitarist Zakk Wylde who co-wrote all the songs. 42. The person who wrote the lyrics to 4 of the album's songs was none other than Lemmy Kilmister from "Motörhead". 43. He returned to music as early as 1995 through his album "Ozzmosis", but even then he did not release an album until 2001 when he released the excellent "Down to Earth". 44. In 1996 he founded the heavy rock festival "Ozzfest". 45. Ozzy only got his driver's license at age 60. He said he had tried several times since the 1970s, but he was never “clean” enough to pass the test. 46. ​​In 1998, the original lineup of "Black Sabbath" reunited with Ozzy and released the live album "Reunion" containing two new songs. 47. Ozzy has a habit of pouring water on himself and on the fans during his performances. 48. In the years 2005-2002, Ozzy starred in the reality show "The Osbournes" on MTV. 49. The show followed Ozzy Osbourne and his family as they were filmed for 24 hours a day. This show became the most successful in the channel's history. 50. Ozzy almost lost his life in a motorcycle accident. Following the accident, he stopped breathing and was revived only thanks to his bodyguard. 51. At the end of 2011 Ozzy and "Black Sabbath" announced another reunion tour and an album produced by Rick Robin. 52. The album called “13” and released in 2013 and stunned the metal community. 53. In January 2016 Ozzy and "Black Sabbath" went on the band's last tour which is simply called "The End". His last performance with the band was in February 2017. 54. On February 6, 2018, Ozzy also announced the last tour of his solo career called "No More Tours II". 55. This tour was stopped after Ozzy was injured and an infection in his hand forced him to be hospitalized. 56. On February 21, 2020, after 10 years without a solo album, Ozzy released “Ordinary Man” - his 12th solo album. 2 years later he will release "Patient Number 9" collaborating with artists like Zakk Wylde, Jeff Beck, Tony Iommi, Mike McCready, Eric Clapton, Josh Homme, Robert Trujillo, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, Taylor Hawkins and more. 57. Two of Ozzy's famous nicknames are: "Godfather of Heavy Metal" and "The Prince Of Darkness". 58. Ozzy has released to date 10 studio albums along with "Black Sabbath" including masterful albums like: "Paranoid", "Vol. 4", "Master Of Reality", "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", "Sabotage" and more. In addition, he has released 13 more studio albums as part of his solo career. 59. Ozzy has sold more than 100 million albums along with "Sabbath" and in his solo career. 60. In 2006 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of "Black Sabbath" and on 2024 he was also inducted as a solo artist. On 5th July 2025 he played his last concert Solo and with "Black Sabbath" as part of the "Back to the Beginning" show. Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025 at the age of 76. This time too we prepared a playlist from Ozzy's repertoire: Click Here. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 22, 1966, John Mayall released his second album and the first as "John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers" - "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton". "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" is an iconic album that not only marks a pivotal point in Eric Clapton's career but also leaves an indelible impact on the history of blues and rock music and on the sound and use of the electric guitar. This influential album may have not been put together if not for Eric Clapton's passion for blues. In March 1965, Eric Clapton and "the Yardbirds" achieved their first major hit with "For Your Love". The song's commercial success led the band to shift towards a pop-oriented sound, which frustrated Clapton, a dedicated blues musician. He left "The Yardbirds" on the day of the song's release. After departing from "the Yardbirds", Eric Clapton joined "John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers" in April 1965. It was right after the release of John Mayall's first album, the live recording "John Mayall Plays John Mayall. This union brought together two blues virtuosos, Mayall's soulful vocals and masterful bluesmanship, and Clapton's unparalleled guitar skills., further establishing Eric Clapton's reputation as a blues guitarist of exceptional talent. Following the success of his first album, John Mayall intended his second album to be a continuation of the live recording approach. The idea was to capture the electrifying guitar solos performed by Eric Clapton during their live shows. With Clapton on board, Mayall saw an opportunity to showcase the brilliance of Clapton's guitar work through a live album. To bring this concept to life, a live set was recorded at the famous "Flamingo Club" in London. The lineup featured Eric Clapton on lead guitar, John Mayall on vocals and keyboards, and Jack Bruce on bass, who would later join forces with Clapton in the legendary supergroup "Cream". The anticipation for the album was high, given the outstanding talent of the musicians involved. Unfortunately, despite the promising setup, the recorded live performances suffered from technical issues and poor sound quality. The subpar recordings failed to capture the true essence of Clapton's electrifying guitar solos and the band's captivating chemistry. Due to these quality concerns, John Mayall and the band made a difficult decision to abandon the live album concept. Instead, they opted to head into a studio setting to recreate the powerful energy and intensity of their live performances while ensuring the fidelity and clarity of the recordings. Undeterred by the setback, the band entered the studio with a slightly different lineup to record "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton". John Mayall on piano, Hammond organ, harmonica, and most vocals; bassist John McVie; drummer Hughie Flint and Clapton on guitars and vocals, the band meticulously crafted each track, capturing the raw emotion and dynamic interplay between the band members. Despite the change of plans, the studio recordings managed to retain the spirit and spontaneity that characterized their live shows, resulting in a remarkable studio achievement. Throughout the album, Clapton's guitar work takes center stage, with a thick, crunching, creamy but powerful sound that was never heard before. In order to achieve that sound, Clapton had to change his gear. He bought a sunburst 1960 "Gibson Les Paul Standard" with two PAF humbucking pickups. Now Clapton was equipped with a guitar whose tone was far from mellow. Its construction and potent humbucking pickups could push an amplifier into unexplored territories of distortion and sustained notes. To complete the set Clapton had to find a mind-blowingly, devilishly powerful amplifier that could unleash the raw fury of his guitar. The answer came from a small music shop in west London owned by Jim Marshal. Musicians in the UK were looking for more powerful amps like the Fender Bassman amp. Since the Fender Bassman amp was rare and expensive, Jim Marshal asked his repairman Ken Bran to build one, and he Did. It was the UK version of "the Bassman". The Marshall 45 watt 2x12 combo, later known as "Marshall Bluesbreaker". And when Clapton plugged in his new Les Paul into the "Marshall Bluesbreaker", the result was nothing less than astonishing!!! (Photo: Michael Putland) The 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard, delivered a mesmerizing array of tones. The two PAF humbucking pickups in his guitar produced a warm, rich sound that beautifully complemented his impassioned playing style. Underpinning Clapton's guitar wizardry was the unmistakable sound of his 1962 Marshall JTM45 combo amplifier, modified by Jim Marshall to provide more gain. This setup gave Clapton the power and distortion he needed to craft his distinctive blues-rock sound. The resulting combination of Clapton's Beano Les Paul and the modified Marshall amp would become the blueprint for countless aspiring guitarists seeking to recreate the same magic. "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" had a profound impact on the blues and rock music landscape. It became a definitive representation of the British blues movement of the 1960s, inspiring a generation of musicians to delve deeper into the blues genre and experiment with its fusion into Rock music and later even Metal. While the album didn't achieve massive commercial success, its significance as a guitar-oriented blues record and its enduring influence on subsequent generations of musicians cannot be overstated. Guitar enthusiasts and aficionados consistently praise Clapton's emotive and technically brilliant solos, considering them a gold standard for blues and rock guitar playing. In retrospective evaluations, "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" often receives accolades as one of the greatest blues albums of all time. Its impact on popularizing blues-rock, coupled with Clapton's remarkable guitar skills, solidified its place in music history. Numerous publications, including "Rolling Stone" and "Guitar World", have recognized it as an essential recording for any serious guitar lover. In 2003 the album was ranked number 195 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". It was also voted number 391 in Colin Larkin's "All-Time Top 1000 Albums" and Robert Dimery included the album in his book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

He is one of the most influential bass players in hard rock and metal. His heavy, dark bass sound will lead to the development of genres like Doom Metal. He was a major part of the creation of some of the most important albums in the history of metal. Beyond being a bassist he is also the lead lyricist in his band. The band that his one of its founders is probably the band that created the metal genre. This bassist is Geezer Butler and he's celebrating his birthday today. So we will tell about 40 important facts about him: (Photo: Erika Goldring) 1. He was born on 17 July 1949 in Birmingham England as Terence Michael Joseph Butler. 2. His parents were Catholics of Irish descent and the working class. 3. He grew up in a poor family with 6 more brothers and sisters. 4. The nickname Geezer was given to him at the age of 8 in school because that was how he used to call everyone. It was slang for the word "man." 5. Butler also became a strict vegetarian at age 8 and later transitioned to a fully vegan lifestyle in 1994. After becoming famous he also helped the organization PETA - an organization of people with a moral attitude towards animals. 6. As a teenager he was influenced by the mystical Alistair Crowley. The impact will also be evident in the lyrics he will write later in his career. 7. In 1967 he formed his first band together with Ozzy Osbourne who studied with him in school. It was called "Rare Breed". Butler played guitar there. 8. Butler and Ozzy later teamed up with guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward, and along with slide guitarist Jimmy Phillips and saxophonist Alan "Aker" Clarke, formed "Polka Tulk", which played blues music. 9. After only two shows, in September 1968, the last two were fired and the band changed its name to "Earth". (Photo: Premier) 10. The band played mostly blues and at this point, Butler switched to playing bass, as he was not interested in playing the second guitar alongside Tony Iommi. 11. The first time he played bass guitar was also the first time he took the stage with the band. He even lent a bass guitar to a friend because he did not have one. 12. The bass player who influenced him the most was Jack Bruce from "Cream". 13. After the members found out about the existence of another band called "Earth", the band was renamed "Black Sabbath". The one who suggested the name was Butler was inspired by the horror movie of the same name. 14. When Black Sabbath was formed Butler was still studying accounting, this training of his would help him manage the financial affairs of the band in its early days. 15. The first album called "Black Sabbath" was released on Friday, February 13, 1970. 16. It was not just a debut album, but an album that is the mainstay of the heavy metal genre and the album that will lay the foundations for Doom Metal, with a particularly heavy, metallic, and gloomy sound. 17. This sound is attributed, among other things, to Geezer's bass guitar sound, which was heavy and gloomy, and became so identified with "Black Sabbath". 18. Although metal runs through his veins, he is very inspired by Jazz and in 2005 said he has a lot of jazz songs written. 19. Beyond playing the bass Butler became the band's lead lyricist. His lyrics had motifs from science fiction, fantasy, religion, horror, and occultism. 20. Butler was one of the first to make use of the "wah wah" effect on a bass guitar, as can be heard on "Master Of Reality" album, the band's third album from 1971. 21. After eight albums with Black Sabbath and following the dismissal of Ozzy Osborne in 1979, Geezer left the band for a short time, to deal with a crisis in his marriage that led to the divorce. 22. The band's comeback album "Heaven and Hell", with singer Ronnie James Dio, was recorded with bassist Craig Gruber, but Butler returned to the band at the last minute and managed to re-record all the bass roles before the album's release. 23. Butler left "Black Sabbath" again in 1984, after completing the tour that accompanied the album "Born Again", recorded with Ian Gillan. 24. Butler will return to the band several months later during attempts to record an album with singer David Donato, but he will leave the band again shortly. 25. In 1988 Butler joined his friend Ozzy Osbourne's backing band, with whom he immediately went on a tour supporting the album "No Rest for the Wicked". 26. In 1991 Butler returned to "Black Sabbath" in honor of the reunion of the Ronnie James Dio lineup along with drummer Vinny Appice. Together with this band, he will release the excellent album "Dehumanizer" which was released in 1992 . 27. In 1994, after a tour that accompanied the album "Cross Purposes", Butler left the band once again. 28. Butler joined garlic for Ozzy Osborne in 1995 ahead of the recording of the album "Ozzmosis". 29. After recording the album with Ozzy, he formed the band "G / Z / R" and in 1995 he released his first album "Plastic Planet". 30. In 1997, Butler released his second album, "Black Science". This time it was under the name "geezer". 31. That same year Butler returned to "Black Sabbath" ahead of the "Ozzfest" tour and the reunion album with Ozzy "Reunion" that would follow. 32. In 2005 he released his third solo album "Ohmwork", this time under the name "GZR". 33. In 2006 he was again a partner in the "Black Sabbath" Dio era reunion, this time under the name "Heaven & Hell". The band will release the album "The Devil You Know" in 2009. 34. In 2013 he reunite with Iommi and Ozzy and the three released Sabbath's album "13", an album which was a kind of a closer for the Ozzy lineup. Together with this lineup, he will release in 2016 the EP "The End". 35. In 2018 he founded the supergroup "Deadland Ritual" together with Matt Sorum, Franky Perez, and Steve Stevens. The band has released two singles to date and we are eagerly awaiting the album. 36. In 2015 Butler was arrested for assault and vandalism. He attacked a drunken neo-Nazi in a California pub after he started slandering Jews. Butler claimed that his wife - Gloria butler was Jewish and that he wanted to teach the neo-Nazi a lesson. 37. Butler pulled out a spring knife on Malcolm Young from "AC/DC" during the 1977 "Technical Ecstasy Tour" in which "AC/DC" opened for Sabbath. "AC/DC" would leave the stage like a wreck, which took Sabbath's stage workers a lot of time to reorganize. That was enough for the drunken Geezer to pull out a spring knife on Malcolm at the hotel bar where they were staying. 38. Butler's son - Trans "Beef" Butler, is the lead singer of the non-metal band "Apartment 26". 39. In March 2021 Butler stated that he used the "Horns metal sign, as early as 1971. He provided a picture proving his words. According to him, although he used to use it before, Dio adopted the sign and he will always be identified with it. (Photo: Pinterest.com) 40. Butler influenced an entire generation of bass players: Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, John Myung, Billy Sheehan, Jason Newsted, Rex Brown, and others cited Butler as an inspiration in their playing. He visited Israel a few months before October 7th and also managed to entertain us when he posted this funny post on Instagram. On 5th July 2025 he played his last concert with "Black Sabbath" as part of the "Back to the Beginning" show. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek... And this time, on KISS' album "Kiss Symphony: Alive IV" released on July 22, 2003. This is the fourth live album in the masterful series "Kiss Alive", the first two of which were included in the list of the best live albums in Rock. This time the band added a little twist, joining the Melbourne Symphony as an accompanying orchestra. The performance was held at "Marvel Stadium" in Melbourne Australia on 28/2/2003 and was also videotaped. The members of the Melbourne Orchestra wore tuxedos and were all with make-up like members of "Kiss". The Kiss band makes up 3/4 of the original lineup, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss, with the only one of the founding generation missing being Ace Frehley, who was replaced by guitarist Tommy Thayer. Unlike the rest of the shows in the "Kiss Alive" series, the live album was not edited and the order of the songs stayed as the original and matched the chronological order of the songs as played during the show. The album is divided into three parts: the first part included six songs played by the band members only. In the second part, five songs were played acoustically accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Ensemble, and in the third part, ten songs were played with the whole orchestra numbering 60 members. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Something is amazing in drummers who also can sing. They are perceived by us as superhuman. Anyone who lives and breathes music knows that one of the instruments that require the most coordination is the drums. Moreover, compared to other musical instruments they require more physical fitness and lung endurance. Now add to that proper breathing as well, fall on the right scale in singing and especially in background vocals, and you will understand why this rare breed of musicians is perceived in our eyes as supermen. One of these supermen is Don Henley - a drummer, singer, and guitarist of the "Eagles" who was born on July 22, 1947. (Photo: Richard E. Aaron) On all the superhuman qualities of this special man, you can add the following facts: he is a lead writer and composer in the band, and he is also the lead singer in the best hits, such as: "Witchy Woman", "Desperado", "Best of My Love", "One of These Nights ", "Hotel California ", "Life in the Fast Lane", "The Long Run", "Get Over It" and more. Henley is also the most successful of the "Eagles" members to break into a solo career after the band disbanded, and he has personally produced quite a few hits as part of his solo career, such as "The Boys of Summer", "New York Minute", "The Heart of the Matter" and "The End of the Innocence". Along with the Eagles, he sold more than 150 million albums, making the band the best-selling in the United States. In addition, he sold another 10 million copies as part of his solo career. Henley has a thing with country music. He was a friend of Kenny Rogers who even produced Henley's debut album with his band "Shiloh". Henley was also part of Linda Ronstadt's band, where he met Glenn Frey with whom he later formed the "Eagles", and he even released in 2015 an album in which he returns to his country roots, called "Cass Country". He was in a relationship with Stevie Nicks in the mid - 1970s. She got pregnant with him and had to have an abortion. She wrote the song "Sara" by Fleetwood Mac out of grief over the loss of both of them. The two also collaborated on the song "Leather and Lace" from Nicks' "Bella Donna" album. He has an interesting collaboration with Axl Rose, who sings background vocals on the song "I Will Not Go Quietly" taken from Henley's 1989 album "The End of the Innocence". Henley returned a favor by performing the song "Patience" with "Guns N' Roses", at the 1989 Music Awards. He also collaborated with other artists, such as: "Aerosmith" singing backing vocals on the song "Amazing", Roger Waters on the song "Watching TV", Sheryl Crow on the song "It's So Easy", Elton John, Kenny Rogers, Patty Smyth, Joni Mitchell, Jerry Lee Lewis, Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash, Randy Newman and more. When Henley was asked after the breakup of the "Eagles" in 1980, when the band would return to play together, he replied: "When Hell Freezes over". Apparently, hell did freeze, because in 1994 the band reunited and called the union album "Hell Freezes Over", an album that included new songs alongside acoustic performances of their big hits, including the memorable acoustic rendition of the song "Hotel California". So here is Henley in a live performance of this timeless song, in a moment that is without a doubt one of the highlights of his musical career: Now you are welcome to follow the link and listen to a selection of his songs: Here. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 21, 1990, the show "The Wall" was held on the "Berlin Wall". The grandiose and extravaganza show took place at "Potsdamer Platz", close to what eight months earlier, was still the "Berlin Wall". As will be recalled, the wall fell on November 9, 1989, in a groundbreaking event that became a symbol of the fall of communist regimes in those years and was the signal for the end of the Cold War. Following the fall of the Wall, East and West Germany were united in 1990, and United Berlin returned to be the capital of Germany. The show was held in front of about 350,000 viewers and was broadcast live to 52 countries around the world, including Israel. During the show, the record for the largest number of spectators for a paid show was broken, when after all the tickets for the show were sold, the production allowed the gates to open and another 100,000 spectators to enter the grounds without the purchase of tickets. After the end of the "Pink Floyd" tour in 1981, Roger Waters announced that he would not perform "the Wall" live again, but he was taking the opportunity of the fall of the Berlin Wall, to breathe "new spirit" into the 1979 masterpiece. The same "new spirit" also blew a new song from "Scorpions". The song "Wind of Change" was written by Klaus Meine, lead singer of "Scorpions", in 1989, following the band's visit to Moscow, during which the band witnessed with their own eyes the gradual disintegration of the Soviet Union. The song that speaks of the winds of change at that time, which culminated in the fall of the Berlin Wall, became a symbol of German unification. Thus, it is no wonder that the same German "Scorpions" was chosen by Waters to open the show in a storm with the performance of the opening song of "the Wall" "In the Flesh?". Among the artists who accompanied Waters on this mighty show are Cyndi Lauper, Sinéad O'Connor, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Marianne Faithfull, Snowy White, Thomas Dolby, Bryan Adams, and more. In terms of scenery and pyrotechnics, the 1990 show matched the band's original show two decades earlier, only bigger and more powerful. The production included larger bricks, larger inflatable dolls, and even a larger audience from each show on the original Pink Floyd tour. The wall stretched over 170 meters and rose to a height of 25 meters. It was built near the "Brandenburg Gate", right on "Potzdamer Platz", which was the no-man's land between East and West Germany. The process of setting up the stage was not simple at all, as, beyond the fact that it was a bombastic and formidable show on any scale, the production team did not know if the area was still mined with mines. Therefore, before the construction of the stage, a thorough "cleaning" of the area was carried out to make sure that no remains of ammunition and mines remained. Needless to say, Waters did not invite his bandmates, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Rick Wright to the show. And another small trivia detail, "Rush's" drummer Neil Peart, noted in a 2013 interview with "Classic Rock" magazine, that he tried to contact Waters to be part of the show, but Waters refused. And here's the full show as it aired live: "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 21, 1971, "Black Sabbath" released its third album "Master of Reality", which in a similar way to its name is no less than a "Master" Piece. This is one of the most influential albums in metal, which is also considered as an album that led to the development of the subgenre Doom Metal, as well as of the Stoner Rock genre. Admittedly, Sabbath's two previous albums also laid the foundations for the development of the Doom subgenre, but "Master Of Reality" took it further and more radically than its two predecessors, and perhaps this is also why it is considered Sabbath's most successful album Commercially in the classical period. But the impact of this mighty album does not end with the subgenre of metal and stoner rock. Twenty years after its release and nearly 5,000 miles from where it was created, this album also influenced another genre, grunge, and bands like "Soundgarden", "Smashing Pumpkins" and "Nirvana" who would seek to achieve a sound similar to the one invented and born on the album this. The impact of this album is so heavy that Billy Corgan of the "Pumpkins" was quoted as saying that this album spawned grunge. (Photo: Wallpaperflare.com) The album was recorded in the spring of 1971 after "Black Sabbath" returned from its first U.S. tour, a tour that was intended to promote sales of their first two albums released four months apart in 1969. The one who led the special sound of this album was Tony Iommi, who expanded the range of instruments on which he plays acoustic guitar, synthesizer, piano, and even flute. But the biggest impact on the album's sound came after Iommi loosened the guitar strings a bit so that their guitar tune was dropped by a few half tones. To adapt to Tony Iommi's scale, Geezer Butler also lowered his bass guitar tune in the same halftones, thus making the gloomy, dark sound that makes this album so unique. A unique and groundbreaking sound, which laid the foundations for the doom-metal sub-genre, stoner rock, and greatly influenced the heavy metal and grunge genres. Some say that the tuned-down guitar strings by Iommi are intended to make the strings less firm to relieve the fingers of Iommi, who was injured while working in a metal factory several years earlier. Others say the release of the guitar strings was intentional and meant to amplify the dark sound regardless of the accident, but what does it matter when the result is so innovative and perfect. The album opens with Tony Iommi's famous cough choking on a joint that Ozzy Osbourne gave him between recordings, and we're already slowly diving into the heavy and creepy riff of "Sweet Leaf" - a "love song" for a piece of cannabis. Iommi will later confirm that the entire band was under the influence of the drug while recording the song which is also recognized as one of the foundations of the Stoner Rock genre. "After Forever" is a bit more rhythmic and less Doomy than the opening track, including some synthesizers from Iommi. The lyrics were written by Geezer Butler and dealt with Christianity. The song was written as a counter to the harsh criticism of Sabbath, according to which they allegedly engaged in Satanism, and so Butler replies: "Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say if they knew you believe in God above? They should realize before they criticize that God is the only way to love… ” From there we move on to "Embryo" which immediately returns us to the position of the fetus in the womb. A less than half-minute instrumental piece with Scottish influences, which leads us to the epic track that ends the first side of the vinyl - "Children of the Grave", a song that Ozzy Osbourne has often quoted as Sabbath's most headbanging song. Just listen to Bill Ward's crazy drumming in this song, and we have not yet begun to talk about Butler's wild bass line that opens the song and Iommi's sawed-off guitar riff. The song continues with Geezer Butler's anti-war motif, which began with the songs "War Pigs" and "Electric Funeral" from the previous album. The other side of the vinyl opens up with another instrumental track "Orchid". This is a repulsive and mesmerizing folk-acoustic section of Iommi, which undoubtedly adds maturity and character to the album. "Lord of This World" returns to the Doomy style with Ward's very special drumming in the opening and touches of blues rock in Iommi's riffs. "Solitude" puts us in a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere and introduces us to the abilities of Iommi playing acoustic guitar, flute, and piano, as well as Butler's very special bass pattern that once again proves his talent. Osborne's singing here is calm and gloomy with touches of folk. The section that seals the album "Into The Void", is the icing on the cake, simply a metal classic and this is also probably why Iommi mentioned that it is his band's favorite song. The song tells the story of a group of astronauts who flew into space in search of a star so that the human race could settle there, after the Earth became a place where life could not exist. The song has won quite a few cover versions, the most interesting of which is that of "Soundgarden" who recorded it with a slightly different voice, as part of a bonus EP attached to a special edition of the album "Badmotorfinger", which was released in 1992. In conclusion, "Master Of Reality" is a metal classic, a milestone, a "masterpiece", a must in any music library, period! For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 21, 1992 "Sonic Youth" released their seventh studio album and second double album - "Dirty". "Dirty" marks a pivotal moment in "Sonic Youth's" discography, representing a distinct shift in their sound and overall approach to music-making. This album continued the change in the music style of the band that started with their previous album "Goo". The sound on "Dirty" was inspired by the popularity of grunge music at the time. It was a gritty, unapologetic exploration of the band's noise-rock roots, coupled with a newfound accessibility that allowed them to reach a broader audience without compromising their artistic integrity. Following the release of "Goo", which achieved moderate commercial success, "Sonic Youth" toured Europe and North America twice in 1990, and again in late summer 1991 with "Nirvana" and "Dinosaur Jr.". Maybe this was the reason producer Butch Vig and mixer Andy Wallace, who both had worked in the same roles on "Nirvana's" "Nevermind" album was picked to work with the band on "Dirty". The album opens with "100%", an anthemic track that sets the tone for what's to come. The catchy guitar riffs and Thurston Moore's unique vocals immediately draw listeners into the album's sonic landscape. The song was written about the murder of Joe Cole, a roadie and the band's friend. But, as the record progresses, we encounter an array of emotions and "sonic" textures, each song a unique piece of the puzzle that is "Dirty." Thurston Moore's and Lee Ranaldo's distinct guitar work shines throughout the album, blending discordant noise with infectious melodies. Tracks like "Sugar Kane" (said to be about Marilyn Monroe) and "Drunken Butterfly" (the last single from the album) exemplifies this perfectly, balancing dissonance with hooks that linger long after the music stops. While "Dirty" embraces its noisier and raw elements, the album doesn't shy away from exploring more introspective and sensitive themes. "Wish Fulfillment" (sung by guitarist Lee Ranaldo) and "JC" (also written about the murder of Joe Cole and bears his initials), offer glimpses of vulnerability amidst the wall of sound, revealing a deeper layer to the band's songwriting and lyrical prowess. Kim Gordon's contributions on "Dirty" adds to the album's diversity. Her unique vocal delivery and the fierce energy she brings to tracks like "Swimsuit Issue" (written about a then-current Geffen employee who was remanded to therapy for sexual harassment), are well balanced with her drowsy singing in tracks like "Shoot". "Youth Against Fascism" features Ian MacKaye of "Fugazi" as guest guitar, while The songwriting on "Purr" showcases a more experimental side of "Sonic Youth", pushing boundaries and defying conventional song structures. "Nic Fit" is an "Untouchables" cover sang by Moore. One of the album's highlights is "Chapel Hill", an evocative and dreamy track that in the beginning slows down the pace and showcases the band's ability to create atmospheric soundscapes, but nearing the end adds pace and power. Its contemplative nature acts as a balance amidst the album's more aggressive moments. The song was one of the first written for the album and is about the town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the murder of bookseller Bob Sheldon in 1991. "Sonic Youth's" penchant for experimentation and their willingness to challenge themselves and their listeners is evident in "Dirty." Tracks like "Orange Rolls, Angel's Spit" and "Theresa's Sound-World" take us on a sonic journey, combining noise, distortion, and unconventional rhythms to create a sense of controlled chaos. During the recording of the final track of the album, "Crème Brûlée", Kim Gordon spontaneously played guitar and sang, accompanied by Shelley on drums. Meanwhile, Thurston Moore attempted to turn on his amplifier, and guitarist Lee Ranaldo captured the entire impromptu session. The band had initially recorded 18 tracks for the album, but it had to be trimmed down to fit a CD. The 3 songs omitted from the final press later reappeared in on other releases. "Genetic" and "Hendrix Necro" were featured on the "100%" single, while "Stalker", was added to the album's vinyl version. Overall, "Dirty" is a testament to "Sonic Youth's" artistic evolution and their ability to embrace both their noise-rock roots and a more accessible sound. It remains a definitive album in the alternative and noise rock genres and continues to inspire musicians and fans alike. For listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Here are some facts about Jim Martin known as "Faith No More" Guitarist in the years 1983-1993: (Photo: MusicBox359.com) = He was born on July 21 in Hayward, California as James Blanco Martin. = Martin sited Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and David Gilmour as his major influences. = In 1979 he played in the punk band "Agents of Misfortune" with bassist Cliff Burton. = In 1981 he played guitar in the thrash metal band "Vicious Hatred". = He joined "Faith No More" in 1983, four years after the group's formation. = In 1985 he released his first album with "Faith No More" - "We Care A Lot". = In 1987 the band released its second album "Introduce Yourself". = In 1988 Mike Patton was recruited to the band at Martin's suggestion, after he heard "Mr. Bungle's" first demo tape. = In 1989 the band achieved major success with their third album - "The Real Thing". = In 1991 he appeared in the movie "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" as "Sir James Martin". He also produced and recorded material for the movie. = In 1992 Martin and "Faith No More" released their masterpiece album "Angel Dust", but Martin faced creative differences during production. = On November 30, 1993 Martin was fired from "Faith No More". = In 1995 Martin played on "Voodoocult's" album "Voodoocult". = In 1996 Martin released an album with "The Behemoth", called "The Behemoth". = In 1997 He released a solo album called "Milk and Blood". = At the same year he was featured on "Metallica's" "Reload" album. He saved the song "Low Man’s Lyric" which started as a metal ballad with his hurdy-gurdy, that James Hetfield found in his house. = In the years 1998-2000 Martin toured as lead guitarist with punk band "Fang", also playing in their album "Fish and Vegetables" from 2000. = In 1998 Martin has featured on "Metallica's" "Garage Inc." album with "Tuesday's Gone". = In 1999 he collaborated on multiple projects, including with "Primus" on "Antipop" (In the song "Eclectic Electric"). = The same year he released the album "Conflict" with Anand Bhatt. he continued to collaborate with Bhatt in 2001 in the album "Fire Woman: A Tribute to The Cult". = In 2002 he contributed to "Echobrain's" self-titled album "Echobrain" (the song "Spoonfed"). = In 2009 he announced he would not participate in "Faith No More's" reunion tour. = In 2011 he joined "Metallica" on stage for their 30th anniversary shows. = In 2013 he played guitar for "Infectious Grooves'" reunion. = When Martin was asked what he considers as the highlight of his career, he answered: Performing with Bo Diddly, Klaus Meine, "Metallica", Gary Rossington, Pepper Keenan, Sean Kinney, Jerry Cantrell, John Popper, Jason Newsted, singing "Misfits" songs with "Metallica" live during our tour with them and "Guns N' Roses". Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

The album "Dream Evil", the fourth by "Dio" was released on July 21, 1987. This is probably Dio's latest "classic" album, as those who came after it has no longer been able to recreate the highlights of the first four albums. To be sure, this is Dio's most underrated album at the time of its release, which was appreciated only later. The core that accompanied Ronnie James Dio on the first three albums is also preserved on this album, with the exception of guitarist Vivian Campbell, who parted ways with the band already during the tour of the "Sacred Heart" album. Campbell's influence on the band's sound was so substantial that there was a grave concern that he could not be replaced by someone of his magnitude. In the end, the guitarist who was chosen to replace him was Craig Goldy of "Rough Cutt", a heavy metal band from Los Angeles led by Dio's wife - Wendy Dio. Craig Goldie proved to be a great choice to replace Campbell, and his playing on the album clings brilliantly to the formula of his predecessor, to the point that the average listener would not notice Vivian Campbell has been replaced. Before leaving the band, Campbell co-starred in the 1986 album "Intermission", which included recordings made during the tour that accompanied the album "Sacred Heart". The album also included a new song "Time to Burn" recorded in the studio in collaboration with new guitarist Craig Goldy, who replaced Campbell in the middle of a tour. The band wanted a song that would introduce the new band so the song was recorded and put on the live album. In March 1987, at the end of the tour, the band went on to record the album "Dream Evil". What made this probably Dio's last classic album, is the fact that it's the last album featuring all 3 members of the "Founders' Generation" (Dio, Appice, Bain), as on the album that followed Ronnie James Dio replaced all band musicians without exception, from drummer Vinny Appice, through bassist Jimmy Bain who accompanied the band from its foundation, to keyboardist Claude Schnell and guitarist Craig Goldy, who managed to get into Vivian Campbell's shoes so beautifully, but only survived one album. (Photo: Hardrock80fr.wordpress.com) In terms of musical style, the album marks a rapprochement with the style that characterized the band's first two albums. In light of the harsh criticism following the musical direction in which the previous album "Sacred Heart" went, Dio decided to take two steps back and try to return to the roots. Anyone who has read the review we wrote on the album "The Last In Line", certainly did not miss the term "pop-metal" that we coined specifically to explain the musical softening of Dio and his move towards the mainstream, which became more sophisticated on the album "Sacred Heart". So true, "pop metal' still exists in "Dream Evil" and the commercial buds of "Sacred Heart" are still in it. Evidence of this can be found in the increased use of keyboards in several tracks, such as "All The Fools Sailed Away" and the catchy melodies such as "I Could Have Been a Dreamer", but despite this, it is still a darker and heavier album than its predecessor. Another significant change in this album from previous albums is the increased involvement of keyboardist Claude Schnell in the writing process as well as its impact on the sound of the album. Remember, Chanel also came from the band "Rough Cutt" from which Goldie came. He accompanied the band as a paid musician during the tour of the album "Holy Diver", and became a full member of the band during the recording of the album "The Last In Line". Going back to the review we wrote on the album "The Last In Line", we mentioned there that although Claude Schnell was not a co-writer of any of the songs on that album, his influence still hovered over many of the songs there. So this influence has been greatly intensified on this album, when not only is Schnell participating, for the first time, in writing four of the nine songs on the album, but the presence of the keyboards on the album is much more noticeable. Although "Dream Evil" does not reach the level of the first two classics that this band released in the beginning, there are still quite a few unforgettable moments here, such as "Dream Evil" - the theme song, "Night People", "Naked in the Rain", "Sunset Superman" and the Power-Ballad "All the Fools Sailed Away". And before finishing a little word on the cover. This is the latest album to feature Murray's character on the cover. Some of you may raise an eyebrow at the sound of the name Murray. So similar to Iron Maiden's Eddie, Murray appeared on all four of Dio's first album covers. It is a beast with horns and bright, slanted eyes with fingers and claw-like hands that mark the famous horn symbol of Dio. By the way, for those of you who are really interested, you can find Murray's full story on Dio's website here: 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 - 20.07.1974 (Billboard chart entry date) From hell and back. That was probably the feeling Eric "Slowhand" Clapton experienced as he slowly rebuilt both his life and career, thanks in no small part to the friends who refused to give up on him. By the mid-1960s, Clapton had already established himself as one of the era's most celebrated guitarists through his work with "The Yardbirds", "John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers", "Cream", "Blind Faith", and "Derek and the Dominos". Yet despite his remarkable success, the early 1970s brought him to one of the darkest periods of his life. Having collaborated with "The Beatles", Clapton fell hopelessly in love with Pattie Boyd, the wife of George Harrison. Harrison, it should be said, was hardly known for remaining faithful during their marriage, yet Boyd stayed loyal to him and repeatedly rejected the advances of "Slowhand." Clapton earned the nickname "Slowhand" after snapping yet another guitar string during a concert. As he calmly replaced the broken string, the audience applauded patiently. In Britain, that type of applause was sometimes referred to as "a slow hand," and because Clapton had a habit of breaking strings on stage, the expression eventually became his lifelong nickname. At the very beginning of the 1970s, Clapton released his self-titled debut solo album, "Eric Clapton". Just three months later, he reunited with "Derek and the Dominos" to record "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs", an album that served as a heartfelt declaration of his love and longing for Pattie Boyd, propelled by the monumental success of "Layla." But as his feelings for Boyd intensified, so did his dependence on heroin and alcohol. Before long, Clapton found himself sinking deeper and deeper into addiction and hallucinations. For more than two years, Clapton and his guitar became distant companions. He rarely performed, appearing only once before Pete Townshend organized the famous comeback concert that helped pull him away from drug addiction. That lone appearance was at George Harrison's "Concert for Bangladesh", where "Slowhand" ultimately collapsed on stage. As mentioned, it was Pete Townshend of "The Who" who stepped in and helped save both Clapton's career and, quite possibly, his life. A year later, Clapton was gradually recovering, with Pattie Boyd now by his side. Working closely with his manager Robert Stigwood, Clapton assembled a group of seasoned musicians who left their superstar egos at the door. Among them were Carl Radle, his former bandmate from "Derek and the Dominos", Al Jackson Jr. of "Booker T. & the M.G.'s", and backing vocalist Yvonne Elliman, all under the experienced guidance of legendary producer Tom Dowd. For "461 Ocean Boulevard", Clapton recorded ten songs, seven of them cover versions, including "I Shot the Sheriff," originally written by Bob Marley. Clapton first heard the song when one of his bandmates played him one of Marley's albums and encouraged him to record it. Initially, Clapton was reluctant to include the cover because he feared it might be disrespectful to Marley. His bandmates and management convinced him not only to keep it on the album, but also to release it as a single. The rest, as they say, is history. With a collection of songs that flow effortlessly from one to another, blending blues, acoustic grooves, reggae influences, and rock, Clapton found his footing again and firmly placed his career back on an upward trajectory. Highlights include his interpretation of Blind Willie Johnson's "Motherless Children," inspired by Johnson's tragic childhood after losing his mother and enduring a difficult relationship with his stepmother. Throughout the album, Clapton openly shares the emotional vulnerability that surrounded his recovery from addiction. On "Give Me Strength," he sounds painfully fragile, as though the smallest setback could send him spiraling once more. He almost pleads with the listener, singing, "Give me strength to carry on." On "Get Ready," Clapton appears to sing about Pattie Boyd from the perspective of a heartbroken man contemplating revenge. The song also features prominent backing vocals from Yvonne Elliman, who appears on roughly half of the album. The same Yvonne Elliman would later score the massive disco hit "If I Can't Have You" toward the end of the decade. Here, however, her harmonies enrich "Let It Grow," perhaps the album's most beautiful and emotionally stirring composition. The song feels like a spiritual successor to "Keep On Growing" by "Derek and the Dominos" from 1970. This time, the song reflects Clapton's relationship with Pattie Boyd from a far more optimistic perspective, celebrating a love that was finally beginning to blossom. Its uplifting mood is perfectly mirrored by the blooming tones of the dobro guitar that emerge during the closing section, creating a finale capable of melting the heart of virtually any music lover. The album's title, "461 Ocean Boulevard," comes from the address of the house where Clapton lived while recording the album. It would later become the residence of "The Bee Gees." For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

While he is quiet and does not tend to be exposed to the spotlight, he is one of the significant guitarists who started the development of the grunge scene in Seattle. (Photo: Henry Ruggeri) We want to share some interesting facts about the guy: = He was born in Seattle on July 20, 1966, as Stone Carpenter Gossard. = The first band Gossard joined was "March of Crimes", which also included Ben Shepherd who would later join "Soundgarden". = He later joined the band "Ducky Boys" in which he met Steve Turner, who would later be a member of the band "Mudhoney". Turner was the one who introduced Gossard to punk rock music, which inspired Gossard later on. = In 1984, the two formed the band "Green River", where Gossard first met bassist Jeff Ament. = Gossard, Ament, Steve, and Mark Arm as "Green River" released their first EP "Come on Down" in 1985, already then the collaboration between Ament and Gossard began to shine, with the duo composing most of the mini-album songs. = In 1987, the band released a second mini-album called "Dry as a Bone", which was the first release of the mythical "Sub-Pop" label, so identified with grunge. = As part of the publications and promotion of the mini-album, the label first mentioned the concept of grunge in the following words: "Ultra-loose grunge that destroyed the morals of a generation". = In 1988, "Green River" released their only full-length album - "Rehab Doll". During this time the relationship within the band was intense, with Ament and Gossard on one side and Mark and Steve on the other. = These controversies led to the dissolution of "Green River", but its place in the history of music remains as one of the first and most influential bands in the grunge genre. (Photo: Pearl Jam On Twitter) = In 1988, Ament and his friend from "Green River", Gossard, formed the band "Mother Love Bone". They will add a talented and charismatic character named Andrew Wood who came from the band "Malfunkshun". = On March 23, 1989, Ament, Gossard and the band released an EP with six songs called "Shine", making "Mother Love Bone" as the first band in Seattle to release an album with a major record label. = At the end of 1989, Gossard, Ament, and the band members returned to the studio in California to record their debut album "Apple". The album included 13 songs and was scheduled to be released in March 1990, but just days before the planned release date, Wood died of an overdose. (Photo: James Bland) = Wood's death of course dismantled the band but also threatened to affect the friendships between Ament and Gossard, with Ament even playing briefly with the band "War Babies", before returning with Gossard. = The two added Gossard's childhood friend Mike McCready and the three tried to form a band. = While searching for members for the new band, the three received an invitation to join a project in memory of Andrew Wood led by "Soundgarden" leader Chris Cornell - called "Temple of the Dog". = In 1990, Ament, Gossard, and McCready, along with singer Eddie Vedder, formed "Pearl Jam". (Photo: Wallpapercrafter.com) = In August 1991, the band releases their debut album "Ten". Although initially, the album was not very successful, towards the end of 1992 it got a significant breakthrough. It comes in second place on the Billboard 200, receives two Grammy nominations, and sweeps a bunch of awards on MTV. The album soon became one of the greatest albums to come out of the grunge scene and one of the greatest of the 1990s, and in general. = Gossard becomes an essential and important part of the band as already on the first album he contributes to writing 8 of the album's 11 songs including: "Alive", "Even Flow", "Black" and "Once". = In 1993 the band's second album "Vs" is released. The album soared on the waves of success straight to number one on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for 5 weeks breaking weekly sales records. = The band released 10 more albums: "Vitalogy" (1994), "No Code" (1996), "Yield" (1998), "Binaural" (2000), "Riot Act" (2002), "Pearl Jam" (2006), "Backspacer" (2009), "Lightning Bolt" (2013), "Gigaton" (2020) and "Dark Matter" on 2024, which really got us back to the beginning, when we fell in love with the band all over again! = Gossard will continue to co-write the band's masterful songs such as "Animal", "Daughter", "Spin the Black Circle", "Of The Girl", "Life Wasted", "Of The Girl", "Bushleaguer" and more. = Although Gossard is generally considered the band's rhythm guitarist, the dynamics between him and McCreedy began to change with Eddie becoming a third guitarist, with Gossard occasionally taking more on the lead. = Gossard also occasionally plays bass, piano, mellotron, and sings background vocals. = Most of Gossard's writing for the band is in compositions, but he also wrote lyrics for some of the songs such as: "All Those Yesterdays", "Thin Air", "Of the Girl and more. = Gossard also serves as lead singer in two of the band's songs - "Mankind" and "Don't Gimme No Lip". = In addition to his work with "Pearl Jam", Gossard is a member of the band "Brad" which was formed in 1992 and has released five albums to date. (Photo: Billboard) = That same year Gossard appeared in the mythical movie "Singles" about the grunge scene in Seattle. = In 1994, he co-founded the label "Loosegroove Records" with Regan Hagar, a member of the band "Brad". This label signed "Queens of the Stone Age" through which the band released their debut album. = Gossard is also a producer and owner of the recording studio "Studio Litho" in Seattle. In this studio many bands have recorded, such as: "Soundgarden", "Screaming Trees", "Deftones", "Dave Matthews Band" and of course also "Pearl Jam" and "Brad". = In 2001, Gossard became the first member of "Pearl Jam" to release a solo album, with "Bayleaf" where he played most instruments and even drums. = In 2013, Gossard released his second solo album "Moonlander". = He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with his friends at "Pearl Jam" in 2017. = During the Covid-19 crisis he continued to work with musician Mason Jennings on a project called "Painted Shield" which they started together in 2014. The first album bearing the band's name was released in 2020 and the second album called "Painted Shield 2" was released in 2022. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website