Legendary bassist, singer, and songwriter Glenn Hughes is celebrating his birthday today, and judging by the tremendous voice he still has, his look, and his insane energy, we would not give him one day more than 30. (Photo: Stuart Westwood) This mighty singer who earned the obligatory nickname "The Voice of Rock" given to him by no other than Stevie Wonder, started his career back in the sixties as a bassist and singer in the pop rock band "Finders Keepers" and from there moved to the funk rock band "Trapeze", where he also played piano. He got his big fame when he replaced bassist Roger Glover with "Deep Purple's" MKIII lineup. Glenn Hughes was chosen for the role not only because of his high musical abilities but mainly because of his mighty voice designed to back the legendary singer David Coverdale in the high notes. After the departure of Ritchie Blackmore Hughes continued with "Deep Purple" in her MKIV lineup until its dissolution. Hughes co-wrote a significant portion of the songs in "Deep Purple"'s lineups and influenced the band's musical style during his time there. In the early 1980s Hughes was part of the band "Hughes and Thrall" and later took part in the band "Phenomena", which also included Mel Galley from the band "Whitesnake", John Wetton known among others from "King Crimson" and Brian May from "Queen". At the same time, Hughes also participated in the album "Run For Cover" by the legendary guitarist Gary Moore . In 1986, Hughes was a member of "Black Sabbath"'s " Seventh Star " album, originally intended to be Tony Iommi 's solo project, but later under pressure from the record label was renamed "Black Sabbath". Although the album did not receive rave reviews, it is an excellent album, thanks in no small part to Hughes' vocal performance. Glenn Hughes will also later collaborate with Tony Iommi on his solo albums, including " Iommi " from 2000 and " Fused " from 2005. At the same time, Hughes continued his extensive solo career, which includes no less than 14 studio albums. The scope of Hughes' projects and collaborations is inconceivable, he has played with "Night Ranger" John Normum from "Europe", Keith Emerson from ELP, Jeff Downs, Joe Satriani , Joe Lynn Turner , and even led the young band " California Breed ". Since 2019 Hughes is also a part of the supergroup "The Dead Daisies" alongside guitarist Doug Aldrich. In 2020 they released the album " Holy Ground " and on 2022 the album "Radiance". But the most notable project from recent years in our opinion, is the supergroup "Black Country Communion" along with legendary guitarist Joe Bonamassa , Jason Bonham , and Derek Sherinian from "Dream Theater". Hughes who is the oldest member of this band proves that he is still a huge singer who has not lost in any way his voice and charisma. The band's five albums present an excellent, lively, rhythmic, and kicking lineup with amazing music and a phenomenal level of playing. So let's wish Glenn Hughes many more good and fruitful years of music. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On August 12, 1983 "Queensrÿche" released "Queensrÿche EP". This release marks the official debut of one of progressive metal's most influential bands. Despite being only a four-track release (in its original release) and more heavy metal oriented, this EP showcases the band's early potential and offers a glimpse into the sound that would define their career. "Queensrÿche's" origins trace back to the late 1970s in Bellevue, Washington, when guitarist Michael Wilton formed the band "Joker", which later included guitarist Chris DeGarmo . In 1980, Wilton and drummer Scott Rockenfield started "Cross+Fire", covering songs by "Iron Maiden" and "Judas Priest" while practicing in Rockenfield's garage, known as "The Dungeon." DeGarmo and bassist Eddie Jackson joined, and the band was renamed "The Mob" after the "Black Sabbath" song " The Mob Rules ." They recruited Geoff Tate from "Babylon" to sing for a local rock festival. Although Tate left initially, he returned in 1981 to help record a demo with the band, which included four tracks That eventually will form this EP: " Queen of the Reich ," " Nightrider ," " Blinded ," and " The Lady Wore Black ." After a year of being rejected by record labels, the band, managed by Kim and Diana Harris of "Easy Street Records", decided to change their name to "Queensrÿche", inspired by the song " Queen of the Reich ," with the spelling modified to avoid Nazi associations. The band gained significant attention after their demo was reviewed by "Kerrang!" magazine, leading to the release of this historical EP. The EP opens up with "Queen of the Reich" a powerful anthem that immediately establishes "Queensrÿche's" identity. With Geoff Tate 's soaring vocals, driving riffs from Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, and Scott Rockenfield's intense drumming, the song is a high-energy introduction that has since become a fan favorite. The influence of bands like "Iron Maiden" is evident, yet "Queensrÿche" manages to bring their own unique style, blending heavy metal with a hint of the progressive elements they would later expand upon. The band issued a video clip for the song which was included in "Kerrang!" VHS video collection and drew much attention to this new emerging band. The second track " Nightrider " continues the EP's momentum with its galloping rhythm and dark lyrics. The dual guitar work is particularly strong here, creating a complex, layered sound that would become one of the band's trademarks. Starting with the Rob Halford -like scream at 0:28 Tate's vocal range is again on full display, reinforcing his reputation as one of the era's most dynamic frontmen. The follow-up track "Blinded" introduces more of the band's progressive tendencies, with time signature changes and intricate guitar solos, some of which reminded us of "Mercyful Fate's" style. "Blinded" is a standout for its ambitious structure, hinting at the more complex compositions that would characterize their later work. The lyrics delve into themes of perception and reality, a precursor to the conceptual storytelling that would define albums like " Operation : Mindcrime ". Closing out the EP is " The Lady Wore Black " a slower, more atmospheric track that showcases the band's versatility. The song's haunting melody and introspective lyrics contrast with the EP's more aggressive tracks, adding depth to the overall sound. It's a perfect example of "Queensrÿche's" ability to blend emotion with technical proficiency. This was the only track on the EP which Tate co-wrote with the band. He was asked to join the band for the recording sessions, and in the same week wrote the lyrics to one unfinished song, which became "The Lady Wore Black". Interestingly, A live (and much better in our opinion) version of the song could be found on the band's debut album "The Warning" 2003 reissue. This EP was initially self-released on "206 Records" but quickly gained traction, leading to a deal with EMI. It set the stage for "Queensrÿche's" future success, demonstrating their potential to break into the mainstream metal scene. The EP's success eventually convinced Tate to leave his other band, "Myth", and join "Queensrÿche" as their permanent lead singer. The "Queensrÿche EP" is not just a collection of songs but a statement of intent, showing a young band ready to push the boundaries of heavy metal. In 2005, "Queensrÿche EP" was ranked number 336 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about Steve Hillage best known as the guitarist of "Khan", "Gong" and "System 7". = He was born in the name of Stephen Simpson Hillage on August 2, 1951, in Chingford, Essex London, England. = While attending the City of London School, formed his first band "Uriel" in 1967 with Dave Stewart, Mont Campbell, and Clive Brooks. They later reunited as "Arzachel" and recorded a self-titled psychedelic rock album in 1969. = In 1969, Hillage began studying philosophy and history at the University of Kent, where he mingled with "Caravan" and "Spirogyra", early members of the Canterbury scene. = He formed "Khan" in 1971 with Nick Greenwood (ex–Crazy World of Arthur Brown), releasing the album "Space Shanty" in 1972. Dave Stewart joined the band for recording and touring. = Hillage disbanded Khan in October 1972 after creative disagreements. = He played in Kevin Ayers’ live band Decadence in early 1973 and appeared on Ayers’ album "Bananamour". = Hillage joined "Gong" in January 1973, contributing to the "Radio Gnome Invisible" trilogy: "Flying Teapot" (1973), "Angel’s Egg" (1973), "You" (1974), featuring his future partner Miquette Giraudy. = He performed live with Mike Oldfield  and Pierre Moerlen on " Tubular Bells " at Queen Elizabeth Hall (1973) and in the BBC's Second House broadcast. = Hillage recorded his debut solo album "Fish Rising" (1975) at The Manor Studios with "Gong" members and Dave Stewart. = He departed "Gong" in December 1975 due to creative tensions and pressure to lead the band after Daevid Allen's exit. = He moved to the U.S. to record "L" (1976) with Todd Rundgren and "Utopia". The album included covers of "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and "It’s All Too Much". = Hillage toured with a new band featuring Clive Bunker ("Jethro Tull"), Colin Bass ("Camel"), Christian Boulé, and Giraudy. Debuted live supporting "Queen" in Hyde Park (1976) and later toured the U.S. supporting "Electric Light Orchestra". = On 20th March 1977, Hillage gave a concert as part of the “L” tour at the Otto Hahn School in Bensberg, Germany, which was recorded by WDR and broadcast on German television. = He performed again with Mike Oldfield and the Scottish National Orchestra on " Tubular Bells " in 1977. = He produced and performed on Nik Turner’s 1978 album "Xitintoday", also collaborated with "The Radio Actors", recording "Nuclear Waste" lead vocals by Sting. = Hillage embraced funk and fusion influences and recorded "Motivation Radio" (1977) in L.A. with Malcolm Cecil of "TONTO". = He released "Green" (1978), co-produced with Nick Mason  of "Pink Floyd", featuring ambient textures and live electronics. = Hillage performed at "Reading Festival" 1978 with "Sham 69", showing stylistic openness beyond prog. = In 1979 he issued the double LP "Live Herald", blending live performances and studio tracks. = The same year he created ambient milestone "Rainbow Dome Musick" with Giraudy, commissioned for the Festival for Mind, Body and Spirit. =More in the same year - he released "Open", featuring Jean-Philippe Rykiel, and toured across Europe. = Also in 1979, he performed at Glastonbury Festival, after which he reassessed the "guitar hero" persona and shifted focus to studio production. = Hillage released two studio albums with Giraudy in 1982: "For To Next" and "And Not Or" – both named after BASIC programming commands, featuring electronic textures. = He worked as a record producer during the 1980s for acts including "Simple Minds", "It Bites", Murray Head, Cock Robin, Tony Banks , and Robyn Hitchcock. = After hearing "The Orb" playing his 1979 ambient record "Rainbow Dome Musick", Hillage and Giraudy began performing in the early 1990s as ambient dance act, merging trance, techno, and ambient. = "System 7's" debut from 1991 featured collaborators such as Paul Oakenfold, Derrick May, and Alex Paterson of "The Orb". = Hillage helped establish the "Dance Tent" at Glastonbury Festival in the early '90s, bridging psychedelia and rave culture. = He released numerous albums under "System 7" across the '90s and 2000s, collaborating with Youth, Steve Broughton, and Mick MacNeil. = Hillage returned to "Gong" for the "Gong Family Unconvention" in Amsterdam (2006), performing "Radio Gnome Trilogy" material. = He participated in "Gong’s" 2008 and 2009 concerts and produced their 2009 album "2032". The same year he also came to Israel for live shows with "Gong". = After leaving "Gong" again post-2010, guested on "Rejoice! I'm Dead" (2016), the first "Gong" album after Daevid Allen’s death. = He collaborated live with "Ozric Tentacles" on the album "Spirals in Hyperspace" (2004). = In the years 2015-2018 He performed with "Hawkwind" at several events, including :" Hawkeaster festival"  (2018). = Hillage reunited with "Gong's" current lineup in 2019 for a Steve Hillage Band tour where "Gong" served as his backing band. = He was awarded the "Visionary" award at the 2013 Progressive Music Awards. = His song "Light in the Sky" from "Motivation Radio" was used as the theme for The Sunday Night Project   on Channel 4. = He contributed guitar to William Shatner’s 2011 cover of "Rocket Man". = Hillage is known for cosmic themes, soaring glissando guitar solos, ambient textures, and fusing psychedelia with electronic dance music. = He is a key figure linking Canterbury Scene, progressive rock, ambient, and trance. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Happy birthday to singer, guitarist, and producer Joe Lynn Turner. (Photo: Facebook: Joe Lynn Turner) He was born on August 2, 1951, as Joseph Arthur Mark Linquito. As a child, he grew up on artists like Jimi Hendrix , "Led Zeppelin" and "Free". The first instrument he played was an accordion and later he played the guitar. The first band he formed already in school was "Ezra". They played cover versions of rock bands, but also original material. In 1977 he joined the band "Fandango" where he played guitar and sang. Together with the band, Turner released 4 albums. After the breakup of "Fandango", he got a phone call from guitarist Ritchie Blackmore , who invited him to audition. He rose to fame as a singer on the band "Rainbow" in which he was a member for three consecutive studio albums " Difficult to Cure ", " Straight Between The Eyes " and " Bent Out Of Shape " - the same number as the albums in which Ronnie James Dio was a member of the band. With "Rainbow" he released quite a few hits that were quite successful on charts such as: "I Surrender", "Can't Happen Here", "Stone Cold", "Street of Dreams" and "Can't Let You Go". After the breakup of "Rainbow", Turner releases his first solo album "Rescue You", which was released in 1985. Later, Turner will release 9 more studio albums, and 3 EPs. And two live albums, as part of his solo career. In 1987 Lynn Turner joined legendary guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen and released with him the album "Odyssey" in 1988, and the live album " Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad " in 1989. In 1989 Turner replaced Ian Gillan after he was fired from "Deep Purple" and released the studio album "Slaves and Masters" in 1990. As part of the tour to promote the album, Lynn Turner came to Israel with "Deep Purple" for two performances. The first took place on September 28, 1991, in Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv, and the second at Tzemach Beach. Although it was all members of the MKII band minus singer Ian Gillan and although expectations from the show were high, there was disappointment among the Israeli audience. Blackmore was not focused and on the performance of Tzemach Beach, he did not even go up to the stage during the Encore. Lynn Turner is a good singer, but it turns out that Gillan's songs can only be sung by Gillan. In 1990, Lynn Turner contributed his voice to the song "Killer", taken from the album "The Privilege of Power" by "Riot". He later moved to the "Mother's Army" supergroup with bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Carmine Appice. This is a progressive group with which Turner released three studio albums from 1993 to 1998. In 2001, together with bassist and singer Glenn Hughes , he formed the band "Hughes Turner Project". As part of this band, he released two studio albums. In 2008 he formed the tribute band for "Rainbow" - "Over the Rainbow", along with former band members Bobby Rondinelli, Greg Smith, Paul Morris, and with the son of Ritchie Blackmore Jürgen on guitar. In 2021, he was a guest on two songs from the album "Immortal" by "Michael Schenker Group". In 2022 he released his 11th studio album "Belly of the Beast". At the same time, he publicly revealed that already at the age of 3 he was diagnosed with a rare baldness disease and that he had to wear a wig from the age of 14. Lynn Turner has a lot of collaborations and was also a member of other interesting projects such as: the supergroup "RATED X" with bassist Tony Franklin and drummer Carmine Appice , singer Brazen Abbot from Finland, "Michael Men Project", Akira Kajiyama, "Sunstorm" and more. Turner is also known as a highly sought-after backing singer and he has contributed his voice to quite a few well-known artists such as Billy Joel , Michael Bolton, and even Bonnie Taylor and singer Cher. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On August 2, 1978 "Boston" released their second album "Don't Look Back". After the unprecedented success of the debut album " Boston ", the pressure on Tom Scholz and his friends to create a follow-up on the same level, was enormous. They turned overnight from an anonymous band playing in bars and small clubs to a band that fills stadiums. At that time, the album " Boston " was considered the best-selling debut album in the world, with sales of about 20 million copies, so it was clear that it would be very difficult to reproduce this success. Indeed, this album fell far short of the debut " Boston " album, both in terms of musical material and in terms of sales (about 8 million copies only). Still, there are some brilliant moments in this album, which are among the best produced by the perfectionist Tom Scholz, so you shouldn't even consider skipping it. Despite the tremendous success of the band, which opened up possibilities and doors of renowned and leading studios and producers, once again Tom Scholz decided to record, produce and master the album in the private studio he built in his home basement. As you may remember, after graduating with honors from MIT, Schultz began working in the development department of the "Polaroid Corporation" and in his free time, he built a recording studio in the basement of his house, full of equipment, electronic components, and effects, where the band's debut album - " Boston " was recorded. Scholz, who is a perfectionist and multi-instrumentalist, decided to recreate the recording process from the debut album, when he plays most of the instruments and is accompanied by Brad Delp on vocals and Sib Hashian on drums. The two remaining band members hardly contributed to the recording process. Guitarist Barry Goudreau played a few solos and bassist Fran Sheehan played only in one song. Even in this case, the greatness of the album rests on the fusion of Scholz's unique guitar sounds mixed with the amazing vocal abilities of vocalist Brad Delp . Scholz's genius is once again reflected in the tremendous production, the unique sound, and the never-ending layers of instruments, channels, and effects, which make this album, as well as its predecessor, sound fresh and innovative even after more than four decades, have passed since its recording. (Photo: Andrew Csillag) As for the musical material, some of the songs on the album were written by Scholtz back in the early seventies, at the same time he wrote the songs for the debut album " Boston ". The theme song " Don't Look Back ", which also opens the album is actually the last song written and recorded for it. Scholtz noted that everything happened so quickly that he didn't even have time to record a demo for the song. Well, "fast" for the perfectionist Scholtz is a relative matter, because he nevertheless testified that he made more than 60 edits on Sib Hashian's drum parts, until he was satisfied. It was the first single released from the album and it immediately became a hit led by Scholz's infectious guitar riff and the vocal harmonies of Brad Delp , who is also responsible for the background vocals. According to Scholtz, Fran Sheehan only played a few bass notes on the song, while guitarist Barry Goudreau only played the solo in the intro and outro which Scholtz praised. It is undoubtedly one of the greatest (and longest) songs on the album and it includes a relatively quiet transition section, from which everything is gradually rebuilt, until its peak intensity at the end. The second and third tracks on the album " The Journey/It's Easy " try to follow "Foreplay/Long Time" from the previous album. " The Journey " is a short atmospheric instrumental piece that connects the opening track to the following section. Just like in a "Journey", the section includes dramatic effects that get more and more intense until the sudden burst into the " It's Easy " track. In 1987, Scholtz stated that " The Journey " was his favorite of all the songs on the first three "Boston" albums and that he regretted that it was not longer. He described listening to it as follows: "I'm floating through space, cruising in an airplane over the clouds". " A Man I'll Never Be " that closes the first side is probably the best song on the album. It opens like a typical "power ballad", but is much more than that. What upgrades this song for us is the melodic guitar line that penetrates the soul and of course the layers of guitar riffs that are among Scholtz's best and the mighty voice of Brad Delp who is also responsible for all the background vocals that at times sound like a full choir. All the instruments in the song, except for the drums played by Sib Hashian, are played by Scholtz. In fact Scholz, Delp , and Hashian were the only ones present in the studio when the song was recorded. One of the most beautiful moments in the song is towards the end, when the layers of guitars give way to a Hammond organ played by Scholtz, before the short piano outro that closes the song and the first side of the vinyl. This piano was actually the only piece on the entire album that was recorded in an outside recording studio, simply because Scholtz couldn't fit a grand piano into his basement. The second side of the album is weaker than the previous one, and indeed Scholtz later admitted that only the first side of the album was recorded perfectly and to his complete satisfaction. It opened with " Feelin' Satisfied " which was the third single from the album. A bouncy rock 'n' roll piece with a sweeping riff and beat, which at times rests on the claps of the band members and other guests who came to the studio. It is followed by " Party " written by Scholtz in collaboration with Brad Delp . It is one of the least powerful songs on the album, but it actually proves its greatness, because it is still a good song. Its riff sounds like an imitation of "Smokin'" from the previous album, but that doesn't bother us at all. We are nearing the end with " Used to Bad News " which opens with a different and more airy sound of organ and arpeggio chords. A melodic track written by Brad Delp in which Scholtz puts the layers of guitars aside and focuses on playing the Hammond organ, which takes the lead in many sections. The album ends with " Don't Be Afraid " which despite the amazing vocal quality in it, the excellent control of the guitar, and the special dynamics of the drums, still does not deliver the goods compared to the debut album. After the release of the album, the band went on tour and at the beginning of 1980 already started working on their third album " Third Stage ", but a long legal battle delayed its release for more than eight years. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On July 30, 2021 Dee Snider released his fifth solo album "Leave a Scar". The album landed on us like an "Atomic Bomb", 3 years after the previous excellent album "For the Love of Metal", and left a huge scar... We mentioned an "atom bomb" and we definitely meant it. A combination of "Speed Metal" and cruel riffs from the "Painkiller" era of "Judas Priest", with aggressions and growling of "Metalcore" reserved for bands like "Bullet for My Valentine" and "Killswitch Engage". Snider continues to be accompanied by the same core that accompanied him on the previous excellent album: Charlie Bellmore on guitars and vocals, Nicky Bellmore on drums, and the new recruits: Russell Pzütto on bass and vocals and Nick Petrino on guitars and vocals. This crazy piece of music is conducted by producer Jamey Jasta, whose influence has undoubtedly contributed significantly to the sound and content. Jasta who is the singer of metal bands like "Hatebreed", "Icepick" and more also produced Snider's previous album, and his fingerprint is felt in every note on the current album as well. It is interesting to note that the singer George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, known among others from the band "Cannibal Corpse", is hosted in the amazing song "Time To Choose" and roars himself to insanity alongside Snider. Tracklist: 01. I Gotta Rock (Again) 02. All Or Nothing More 03. Down But Never Out 04. Before I Go 05. Open Season 06. Silent Battles 07. Crying For Your Life 08. In For The Kill 09. Time To Choose 10. S.H.E. 11. The Reckoning 12. Stand For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On July 28, 1979, Joe Perry , the iconic guitarist of "Aerosmith", abruptly left the band. (Photo: Richard Corkery) The tension within "Aerosmith" had been brewing for some time. The band's meteoric rise to fame in the early '70s had been accompanied by relentless touring, recording pressures, and a hedonistic lifestyle. Substance abuse and personal conflicts began to take their toll on the members, particularly on the relationship between Joe Perry and lead singer Steven Tyler . The recording of their sixth studio album, "Night in the Ruts", was plagued with delays and disagreements. The situation reached a boiling point during a concert in Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Ohio. Perry's wife Elyssa and Tom Hamilton's wife Terry got into a physical confrontation backstage. This fracas was just one in a series of arguments that had been unraveling during the tour. The escalating conflict culminated in an explosive backstage argument between Perry and Tyler, leading Perry to announce his departure from "Aerosmith". The news left fans in disbelief. Perry's exit was seen as a catastrophic blow to the band, as his while he is one of the band's main songwriters and his guitar work was integral to their signature sound. "Aerosmith", often referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston," had built their reputation on the electrifying chemistry between Tyler and Perry. With Perry gone, many wondered if the band could survive. Perry's departure had immediate and far-reaching consequences. "Aerosmith, struggled to complete "Night in the Ruts", ultimately hiring Jimmy Crespo to finish the album and fill the void left by Perry. The album lacked the cohesive energy that defined their earlier work. Commercially, it underperformed compared to their previous releases. Meanwhile, Perry wasted no time in forming "The Joe Perry Project", quickly releasing the album "Let the Music Do the Talking" in 1980. The new band's raw sound and Perry's distinctive guitar work garnered positive reviews, but it was clear that the magic of "Aerosmith" was difficult to replicate. But it did not end with that. Brad Whitford, "Aerosmith's" other guitarist, also left the band in 1981 to pursue a new project, "Whitford/St. Holmes", with Ted Nugent's vocalist Derek St. Holmes. This further compounded "Aerosmith's" challenges, as the band had now lost both of its primary guitarists. Whitford's departure underscored the deepening crisis within the band and contributed to their struggle to maintain their identity and sound. The years following Perry's departure were challenging for "Aerosmith". The band released albums that failed to capture their former glory. Substance abuse issues continued to plague the members, further hampering their efforts to reclaim their status. However, the story took a dramatic turn in 1984 when Perry and Tyler reconnected, leading to Perry's and Whiteford's return to the band. This reunion marked the beginning of a remarkable comeback for "Aerosmith", culminating in the release of the massively successful album "Permanent Vacation" in 1987 and later "Pump" in 1989 and of course their best-selling album "Get A Grip" in 1993. In retrospect, July 28, 1979, was not just the day Joe Perry quit "Aerosmith"; it was the beginning of a new chapter that would ultimately lead to one of the greatest comebacks in rock history. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Guitarist Jason Becker is celebrating his birthday today. Let's tell you a little bit about the guitarist who could have conquered the world if not for the ALS disease he was diagnosed with. (Photo: Fanart.tv) He was born in Richmond California on July 22, 1969, as Jason Eli Becker. He was exposed to guitar at a very young age because both his father and uncle were guitarists, and he immediately became a child prodigy with an amazing talent for playing guitar. Back in high school he performed with his band in a young talent contest and performed pieces by Yngwie Malmsteen . The following home video shows an example of the abilities of a 16-year-old prodigy. At that time he met another amazing guitarist named Marty Friedman . In 1986, when Jason was only 17, the two formed the band "Cacophony", with whom they released two studio albums "Speed ​​Metal Symphony" (1987) and "Go Off!" (1988), in which they presented their incredible playing abilities. In 1988, Jason and Marty released solo albums at the same time. Jason his first solo album "Perpetual Burn" and Marty Friedman with his "Dragon's Kiss". In 1989, Marty Friedman left the band and joined "Megadeth", while Jason followed in the footsteps of two other guitar giants, Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai , and began collaborating with David Lee Roth . He co-wrote and recorded with Roth his third solo album "A Little Ain't Enough" and was ready to conquer the world as an amazing guitar star, but just then, following a routine examination due to excruciating pain in his leg, he was diagnosed with ALS when doctors predicted his life expectancy of maximum five years. (Photo: Soundcloud.com) However, against all odds, Becker continues to create music until recently, despite the loss of his ability to play the guitar, walk, talk and breathe on his own. Jason may have lost the ability to play the guitar, but he did not lose his desire to live and create music. He continues to write and create as he communicates through a series of eye movements. With a system developed by his father, Jason spells words as well as notes and chords. The music he writes in this amazing process, is performed by top world guitarists, including Joe Satriani , Steve Vai , Neal Schon , Steve Morse , Paul Gilbert , Joe Bonamassa , and others. In 2012, a documentary about Becker's life called "Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet", was released. ( Photo: Ross Pelton) Jason's latest album is called "Triumphant Hearts" and it was released in 2018, but we definitely expect that with his amazing fighting spirit he will issue more amazing albums. Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

The album "Appetite for Destruction", is one of the biggest albums in the world of music, it broke records, shattered conventions, and mostly changed the face of music, the debut album of "Guns N 'Roses" was released on July 21, 1987. At a time when glam was the hottest thing in rock music, band members looked better than supermodels and the amount of hair spray could launch a rocket to space, this wild bunch came to turn it all around. Unequivocal! The album was a turning point in the rock world of the late 80s!! It was a different, dirty, dangerous, and extremely aggressive album compared to what was out at the time. It is very difficult to talk about an album with such an aura, especially when it is the best-selling debut album in the history of music with over 30 million copies! But we will try... The album did not really succeed in its first year of release, in 1987. It did not receive much airplay or exposure and even received harsh criticism from many critics. After a year of touring in bars and small clubs as band members scattered their "destruction" everywhere, it began to gain momentum, and apart from playing on various radio stations, MTV, which was popular at the time, gave it plenty of screen time. The singles: " Welcome to the Jungle ", " Sweet Child O 'Mine " and " Paradise City " were anthems and were played frequently over the airwaves. This supergroup (there is no other way to call them) is made up of exceptional and talented musicians who are from out of space. Undoubtedly the total parts here are greater than the whole. This is no one-man show here (Axl will realize it later on his own), and no artist is more prominent here than the others. True, Axl Rose and Slash were the dominant ones, but with their ears on the ground, without a doubt, all of this would not have happened without the other members in the lineup Duff McKagan , Izzy Stradlin , and Steven Adler . Slash said that at the beginning, on one of the tour rounds, they were traveling in a van from Los Angeles to Seattle, and the van with all the equipment got stuck on the road. To get to the show, they hitchhiked along the way and eventually came up to the stage with rented gear for the show. This experience brought them very close together and made them a cohesive and connected group. (Photo: Grunge.com) The hallmark of one of the greatest guitarists in the world is revealed on this album - Slash !!! And that sound did not come easily. Mike Clink, who produced this famous album, sat with Slash for many hours, with a variety of guitars and amps, to find the sound that Slash wanted so badly. In the end, as we all know, the combination of the Gibson Les Paul guitar with the Marshall amp is the one that was chosen and created the famous hallmark and sound that shakes the eardrum and soul of us all. An interesting story about that Les Paul guitar is - It is actually a replica of the original guitar. The replica was created by Kris Derrig, who worked at a musical instrument store in Los Angeles. Legend has it that Lenny Kravitz also held such a replica. What's more interesting is that the imitation was so good and included improvements that made the guitar sound amazing, which eventually led Gibson to create in 2010 a signature model based on the exact iconic replica called "Slash Appetite Les Paul model". "KISS" singer and guitarist Paul Stanley , who was one of the first producers "Geffen record" company offered to the band, really liked Guns materials and sound but insisted on changing Steven's drumming style. Thankfully, in the end, the band disagreed with Paul and we were privileged to have Steven's 'dragging' and bombastic sound. When everyone around presented an extravagant drum set with double bass drums, tom-toms in a variety of sizes and colors, and several cymbals that were enough for the Red Army choir, Steven Adler presented a set of drums that returned to basic, to the sources: bass drum, one tom-tom, one flour tom-tom (sometimes two) and a snare. Although a limited set, but as we witness today, it also provides great power and technicality. The man that completed him on bass is of course Duff McKagan , who gave Steven the blows on the rails he rode on and took him on a journey of a battering, cruel, and rough pace. Sometimes he led songs on the album and sometimes accompanied them, but no doubt he gave them the volume and power they convey. The collaboration of Slash and Izzy Stradlin is more than perfect. Izzy is an excellent guitarist, accompanying the leader that allows him the creativity and dynamics he reaches in songs. Admittedly a bit of an annoying but real statement: Izzy was the perfect backdrop for the real star. And the icing on the cake was the man whose voice was unique but also his character, which contributed greatly to the band's image: Axl Rose . Axl turned the lyrical topics that were quite familiar in the rock genre at the time - drugs, alcohol, relationships, into something much dirtier, rougher, and crueler. All these elements are reflected in the album where each song is amazing on its own... The album opens with an explosion with " Welcome to the Jungle ", which tells the story of Los Angeles's dark side, especially about young artists trying to find fame there, like the friends from Guns who learned it in the flesh. It is interesting to note that Axl wrote the lyrics to the song while visiting Seattle which gave him some perspective and a source for comparison. When the song was first released in 1987 it was unsuccessful in the US. The band released it again in October 1988, after the single " Sweet Child O 'Mine " became a hit and by then it was already a big hit. Eventually, he used a transcription of a Les Paul '59 guitar attached to a Marshall JCM amplifier and was able to achieve the desired result. Continuing with the craziness to the second track, " It's So Easy ": a song written by Duff along with West Arkeen who also helped write the songs "Patience", "The Garden" and "Yesterdays". This is the first single released from the album, a surprising choice given that the album is steeped in bigger hits. The song tells of the band's condition with a depleted bank account and difficulty making money, but what was very easy for them was "girls". From there we board a night train with " Nightrain ": a song that does not refer to transportation but is a kind of tribute to a type of cheap and infamous wine from California called "Night Train Express". The band members used to drink the wine in huge amounts because it was cheap and with a high percentage of alcohol. The first half of the guitar solo and the guitar at the beginning of the song were played by Izzy and the second half was played by Slash. In the fourth track, " Out to Get Me " , Axl drew inspiration from his youth, in which he was no small brat and the police were an integral part of his daily life, and not in a positive way. He was constantly told how he should behave, what he should do, and how he should dress so as not to be a brat and avoid trouble. But of course, that did not stop him and in one of the performances before the song started, he dedicated the song to all those who had the & @% $ broken and were constantly told what to do. The fifth song, " Mr. Brownstone " was written by Izzy and Slash in Izzy's apartment on a paper shopping bag in which they complain about their heroin addiction (Brown is a nickname for heroin). The song tells about how heroin affected the band and is the first song the band wrote after signing for Geffen. The song has become a regular part of their tour since 1986. The sixth song, " Paradise City ", is Slash's favorite song (according to several sources). A song was written by all the band members as they improvise while riding the bus back from a show in San Francisco. Imagine all five members of the band (as in the scene from The Patience) only they are sitting on the bus, playing acoustic guitars and everyone is throwing a line. This is exactly how the song was written. Unlike the rest of the songs on the album, in the song " My Michelle " Slash replaced his popular Gibson in the 1960s Gibson SG, because he was looking for a darker sound. The song is about a girl who was a member of the band and several times "hinted" to them that she always dreamed that someone would write a song about her. At first, Axl created a soft and sweet song but very quickly felt it was not real and turned it into a dark and a bit gloomy song. Although the band members were afraid of Michelle's reaction because the text talks about the difficulties in her life she loved the piece. The song " Think About You " was written by Izzy before he joined Guns and it talks about falling in love. Some say it was written about a girl named Monique Lewis, whom all the band members desired, and that Axel even has her tattoo on his arm. The part that is probably the most famous on the album and which brought the band success is " Sweet Child O 'Mine ". Slash invented the ingenious and immortal riff when he played with the guitar. He thought the riff was childish and never thought of doing anything with it, but Axl loved it very much and forced him to keep playing. Izzy added a few chords to the song and the rest is history. The song was written by Axl about his girlfriend Erin Everly, the daughter of Don Everly from the Everly Brothers band. After dating her for years they married in Las Vegas in 1990 but only 9 months later the marriage was canceled, when Everly claimed that Axl had abused her. By the way, Duff McKagan 's autobiography claims that Slash still thinks it's Guns' worst song. Slash noted in an interview with the Rolling Stones that he was influenced here by the bands "Cream", "Led Zeppelin", and Jeff Beck. As for Axe's voice, rumor has it he listened to "Lynyrd Skynyrd's" songs before the recording in a conscious attempt to mimic the sound of the southern band. The song that seals the album, " Rocket Queen " , tells the story of a woman named Barbie Von Greif, according to what is written on the inside cover of the album. Barbie used to hang out with the band members in her early days along with her friend Pamela Manning. Pamela and Barbie had a band as well. Barbie Sarah and Pamela played drums and the two thought of calling their band "Rocket Queen". Legend has it that the sounds of groaning and sex during the song are a recording of Axl having sex in the studio with drummer Steven Adler 's girlfriend, Adriana Smith. And now a little about the album cover... The original design of the cover included an illustration of a robot and a girl allegedly raped by him. The record stores did not like the cover and the pressure exerted on the band caused her to change it to the familiar cross cover with the illustrations of the band members when the original painting was inserted into the inner cover. In addition, the vinyl album did not include the traditional side A and side B, but side G and side R. Songs 6-1, which dealt with drugs and the hard life in the big city, were crowned as side G, i.e. Guns, while the rest of the songs were inserted side R, i.e. Roses, which deals with love, sex, and personal relationships. The album "Appetite for Destruction" is a powerful and mighty album that had a huge impact at the time and even today when you hear every single one of the songs in it feel the same power soaring again. Axl takes out his anger and aggression and at the same time his fears and weaknesses. When you take such a powerful sound with such powerful lyrics and combine them with a bunch of musicians from another galaxy, that's what makes this album the best album of the late 80s! So stop for a moment, open the lyrics, click on the link, and start singing: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Guitarist Daron Malakian is celebrating his birthday today, and we wanted to tell you 36 facts about him: (Photo: Francesco Castaldo) = He was born in Hollywood California on July 18, 1975, as Daron Vartan Malakian. = He was the only son of his parents - Armenian immigrants who originally came from Iraq. = He got into hard rock and metal music through his distant cousin who first introduce him the band "Kiss". = Further down the line he listened to bands like "Van Halen", "Def Leppard", "Black Sabbath", "Iron Maiden", "Judas Priest", "Motörhead" and Ozzy Osbourne. = As a child he wanted to learn to play the drums, but his parents bought him a guitar because they thought a guitar would be more "silent". = He started playing guitar at the age of 11. In the first year and a half he learned to play by ear. = When he was a teenager he started listening to thrash metal and was influenced by bands like "Pantera", "Metallica", "Venom" and "Slayer". = Later he was also influenced by bands like the Who, the Kinks and the Beatles, citing John Lennon as a significant influence on him during songwriting. = He attended an Armenian school in Los Angeles called "Rose and Alex Pilibos" where his future friends from "System Of A Down" also studied, bassist Shavo Odadjian and drummer Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian. = Singer Serj Tankian also attended the same school but he was a few years older than Malkian and due to age differences they did not meet. = Darron met Serj Tankian only in 1993, they were in the same rehearsal room, each with his own band. Daron played guitar and sang in his band and Serge played keyboards for his. = The two formed a band called "Soil" together with bassist Dave Hakopyan and drummer Domingo Laraino. Whoever became their manager and later guitarist was Shavo Odadjian. = After the dissolution of "Soil" Malakian, Tankian and Odadjian who moved to playing bass formed "System of a Down". (Photo: Courtesy) = The name "System of a Down" was given to the band based on a song by Daron called "Victims of a Down". = The three recruited drummer Andy Khachaturian but after injuring his hand he was replaced by John Dolmayan and the first "Armenian" metal band was ready to record it's first album. = The band's first professionally recorded song, was called "Hye Enk" which means "We are Armenian", and it called for recognition of the Armenian Genocide. = The band performed in the clubs of Los Angeles and managed to attract the attention of the Jewish producer Rick Rubin who signed them to his record company - American Records. = In June 1998, the band released their first studio album, bearing it's name. The person who produced the album together with Rubin was Malakian who will continue to produce the rest of the band's albums with him. = Malakian also composed all the songs on the album, most of them alone, some in collaboration with the band members. = In addition to playing the guitar, Malakian provided vocals and background vocals. = Malakian will use his production skills to produce other bands such as "The Ambulance", "Amen" and "Bad Acid Trip". = The band's big break came with the release of their second album "Toxicity" that became the first album to be released in America after the events of September 11. = The album included the song "Chop Suey!" Whose original name was supposed to be "Self Righteous Suicide", but the record company objected and the band members changed it. = In this album Malakian will expand the range of instruments on which he will play. Keyboards, sitar, banjo. He noted that it was under the influence of the Beatles. = Also in this case Malakian was a partner in composing all the songs on the album. = In 2002, the band released their third album, "Steal This Album!" The name was influenced by an incident in which a file from the recordings of the previous album "Toxicity" leaked to the net. = In 2003 Malakian set up his own label called "EatUrMusic". = In 2005 SOAD released the album "Mezmerize". On this album Malakian began to share the singing roles with Serj Tankian and his share in the writing (also of the lyrics) grew at the expense of Serge. = The album cover was designed by Malkian's father - Vartan Malakian. = This album was originally intended to be a double album, but eventually the band released it in two parts as two separate albums. Malkian's father also designed the cover of "Hypnotize" which came out half a year after "Mezmerize". = In 2006 "SOAD" announced that it was going on an indefinite break. = This year Malakian formed the band "Scars on Broadway", together with "System of a Down" drummer John Dolmayan. This band will release two albums, "Scars on Broadway" in 2008 and "Dictator" from 2018. = In 2010 he was a guest on "Cypress Hill's" "Rise Up" album. = In 2014, Malakian was a guest on "Linkin Park's" "The Hunting Party" album. He played guitar in the song "Rebellion". = In November 2016 John Dolmayan revealed that the band is working on a new album, we are still waiting... = In November 2020, 15 years after the release of their latest album “Hypnotize”, Malakian and "System Of A Down" released two powerful protest songs about the war raging on their homeland. = In July 2025, he released the third album "Addicted To The Violence"with his band "Daron Malakian and Scars On Broadway". 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Drummer Jason Bonham is celebrating his birthday today. the son of legendary drummer John Bonham may have inducted his father to the "Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame", but he himself did not have a significant career with one big band, but rather mostly served as a very respected session drummer. (Photo: Brandon Nagy) He started drumming already at the age of 5, not surprisingly, and already at the age of 15 he started playing with different bands and even performing. Bonham set up two bands himself. The first was "Airrace", which he formed in the early '80s, but did not release any official album. The other, was called "Bonham" which he formed in the late 80's and with which he released two albums, "The Disregard of Timekeeping" in 1989 and "Mad Hatter" in 1991. For most of Bonham's career, he was a session drummer, he recorded no less than 25 studio albums with bands and artists such as: Virginia Wolf, Jimmy Page , Paul Rodgers , "UFO", "Foreigner", Joe Bonamassa ", and more... One of the main projects Bonham has partnered with is the supergroup " Black Country Communion ", in which he collaborates with singer and bassist Glenn Hughes , guitarist Joe Bonamassa , and keyboardist Derek Sherinian. With this band, he has released four excellent studio albums and a live album. Bonham is also part of the band " California Breed " which includes bassist Glenn Hughes and guitarist producer Andrew Watt. A mesmerizing combination of hard rock with blues, post-grunge, and punk who released a single album on May 20, 2014. Bonham was also a part of "Led Zeppelin's" reunions, and is clearly a worthy replacement for his father. He was interested in continuing to work on a new album with "Led Zeppelin" members, following the last reunion in 2007, but Robert Plant was not interested. In this situation, Bonham recommended none other than Myles Kennedy to replace Plant. Myles even came to a successful audition where the members worked on new material. Eventually, however, the project did not materialize, and the world lost one of the most interesting lineups in rock history. One of Bonham's most recent projects is the "Sammy Hagar & The Circle" supergroup formed in 2004 and featuring "Red Rocker" Sammy Hagar, bassist (ex-"Van Helen") Michael Anthony , and guitarist Vic Johnson. The supergroup released in 2015 the live album "At Your Service" which includes cover versions for bands that involved members of the supergroup, "Led Zeppelin", "Van Helen", "Montrose" and "The Waboritas". In 2019 the band released the studio album "Space Between", in 2021 the album "Lockdown 2020" which includes recordings made by the members during the closures and isolations of Covid-19, and in 2022 the excellent album "Crazy Times". Now let's listen to Bonham with Sammy Hagar & The Circle : Spotify , Apple Music . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Incubus' seventh album was released on July 12, 2011 !! Let us open with a quote from the band's singer Brandon Boyd ... “By about three songs into the writing process, I think we began to understand that we were unearthing something new. If Not Now, When? is our unabashed, romantic, lush, sonic love letter to the world. It’s darker, slower, richer, more refined, and more involved than anything Incubus has birthed to date.” As with almost every band, there comes a moment when they are looking for something different, they experience new things and strive to produce an album different from the ones they have produced up to that moment. Incubus experienced this moment and it came to it very ready! In April 2008, after a long tour, the band took a break. Do not get us wrong, the break was not due to fatigue, friction, musical disagreement, or lack of motivation, but out of full awareness that it was time to stop... it was time to connect to your roots, the environment, the family, and especially yourself. Brandon Boyd , singer, writer, and lead singer of the band, released his first solo album. Mike Einziger , the lead guitarist and writer, studied composition, music theory as well as biological evolution at Harvard University. Ben Kenney, the band's bassist, released his second solo album. Chris Kilmore, the band's DJ, and keyboardist, learned to play the piano, and drummer Jose Pasillas had a child. In addition to all this, the band released a compilation album in 2009 called "Monuments and Melodies", so it was not really a break. In August 2010 the members of the band decided that they had had enough of the break and were interested in starting work on the new album. They came to this reunion ready, mature, and with great passion and desire to produce something different. Unlike the band's previous albums, the songs were written this time in the recording studio and not during the tour or in rehearsal rooms. They started the whole process together from scratch. The combination of the members was very much in line with the change that took place in the process of creating the album and the end result. Sounds a bit vague but we'll explain. (Photo: Brantley Gutierrez) Each of the members testified that the experiences he went through during those two years influenced and blended in perfectly with the other members. Mike who studied composition and led the writing of the album, wanted to take the songs to a simpler, more pleasant, and less aggressive place. Chris who learned to play the piano, integrated amazingly with the new line created, Jose invested a lot in adapting the drums to the songs and not forcing on them the strong and aggressive sound as before. It turned out that the final product is much more complete, harmonious, and melodic, with Brandon's words simply moving and flouting through the sound. Don’t get us wrong, this album is not as psychedelic, instrumental, or experimental as people like to call “different” albums of bands. Is an album where the band's amazing fingerprint is still felt, its core is there and it's still very clear, but the style is different. Fundamentally different from the aggressive guitars, fast tempo, effects, and dynamics of previous albums. In order for you to get some more lines for the character of the album, we will talk a little about the name and the cover. The name of the album - "If not now, when?" Is based on the name of a novel of the same name written by the Jewish Italian writer Primo Levi in ​​1982. The name of that novel is taken from the patriarchs, verse thirteen - "he would say, if I do not have me, who do I have; If not now, when? a statement attributed to "Hillel the Elder". The name of the album matched exactly what the band felt, that they were taking a risk, that they were trying something that until now they had not dared to try. The album cover features the French famous rope-walking artist Philippe Petit, who became famous mainly for walking on a rope between the two towers of Notre Dame, and following the famous event, he walked on a rope stretched between the Twin Towers in New York in 1974. This is exactly what the band members Wanted to pass through the album cover. An image that entails a lot of daring, talent, and extraordinary ability. This album is a musical delight that takes you on a wonderful journey between amazing sounds and lyrics. He slowly sweeps you away at a slow pace, stroking you but occasionally moving you a little here and a little there. You feel as if your brain is going through an out-of-body experience as it hovers from above and floats among the clouds. The only two singles that came out of the album and gave a little taste of what's going on inside our "Adolescents" and "Promises, Promises" . But there are many more wonderful... "Thieves" gives you the feeling that Brandon may have lived in the country for a while... " Isadore" is a kind of charming love song... "In The Company Of Wolves" gives a few moments for self-observation... "Switchblade” which is the most rhythmic song on the album that shakes you a bit and of course the song that bears the name of the album and also opens it. We highly recommend that you find some free time, put on headphones, and click play on one of the links below. We believe that this album will become an integral part of your weekly rest time. 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