Today we will tell you about one of our favorite singers - Ronnie James Dio. (Photo: Richard E. Aaron) Ronnie is without a doubt one of the great singers in rock, and a unique voice in the metal world, a legendary singer, writer, and composer, who has released a tremendous amount of masterpieces. Dio was a member of so many great bands like: "Rainbow", "ELF", "Black Sabbath", "Dio", and "Heaven & Hell" and was part of dozens of other collaborations. The man who raised the popularity of the famous "Metal Horns" mark and made it a symbol of all metal and hard rock fans of all kinds. So in honor of this metal legend, here are 50 interesting facts about him, and also a playlist of his best moments during nearly 50 years of a glorious career, arranged in chronological order. 1. Dio was born on July 10, 1942, in the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the USA as Ronald James Padavona. 2. As the only son of parents of Italian descent he often listened to opera as a child and was greatly influenced by tenor opera singer Mario Lanza. 3. At the age of 5 he began to learn to play the trumpet, but later he also learned to play the French horn and the bass guitar. 4. He formed his first band in 1957, while in high school "The Vegas Kings", later the band changed its name to "Ronnie and the Rumblers" and "Ronnie and the Red Caps". Ronnie played the trumpet, and bass guitar and also sang. (Photo: Sleazeroxx.com) 5. In 1960 he graduated from high school and received a scholarship from the prestigious Juilliard School of Music. Ronnie preferred to focus on rock music and declined the scholarship. 6. Ronnie later began studying pharmacy at Buffalo University but retired after two years to focus on music and "the Ronnie and the Red Caps" band. 7. Ronnie never got voice classes, he just trained himself using breathing techniques that he acquired while playing the trumpet. 8. The name Dio was first adopted in 1960. It was during the recording of the band's second single. Later the band will change its name again to "Ronnie Dio and the Prophets". 9. Opinions are divided as to the reason why Ronnie added the nickname Dio to his name. Some argue that the name was borrowed from the author of the Italian Mafia in the US Johnny Dio, others argue that Ronnie's grandmother stated that he had a "gift of God" (Dio in Italian = God), so he should add the nickname. 10. The band continued to change minor lineups until it was renamed "The Electric Elves" in 1967 and later "The Elves". 11. The band's first album was released in 1972 under the name "ELF", Dio sang, played bass guitar, and participated in writing all the songs. (Photo: Pinterest.es) 12. Subsequently, the band released two more albums "Carolina County Ball" from 1974 and "Trying to Burn the Sun" from 1975. Dio already focused on singing on these albums as he abandoned the bass position. 13. Beginning in 1972, "ELF" became "Deep Purple's" almost regular opening show, creating the initial bond between Dio and the rest of "Deep Purple", Roger Glover and Ritchie Blackmore particularly. 14. This connection will produce Dio's first collaboration with fellow "Deep Purple", when in 1974 he was featured on Roger Glover's first solo album called: - "The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast". 15. In February 1975 Blackmore left "Deep Purple" and joins Ronnie James Dio, from whom he was very impressed while warming up "Deep Purple" with his band "ELF". The two begin to form the first lineup of "Rainbow", which was based entirely on members of "ELF" (minus the guitarist of course). 16. Along with this band, Dio and Blackmore are recording their amazing debut album "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow". Dio participated in writing all the songs on the album except for the two cover versions. 17. Dio later released with Blackmore and "Rainbow" two more excellent studio albums, "Rising" from 1976 and "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" from 1978, and one live album - "On Stage" released in 1977. 18. In 1978 Dio was featured on David Coverdale's second solo album called "Northwinds". 19. In 1979 and after 3 successful albums with "Rainbow" Ronnie James Dio leaves the band at its peak, due to artistic disagreements with Blackmore, who sought to take the band in a more commercial direction. 20. That same year, "Black Sabbath" fires Ozzy Osbourne, and the daughter of the band's manager, Sharon Arden (who will later become Sharon Osbourne), offers "Sabbath" members to collaborate with Dio. 21. Already in Dio's first encounter with Tony Iommi, the song "Children Of The Sea" was written, one of Sabbath's greatest of all time. 22. Tony described the writing process with Dio as different, innovative, and refreshing. While Ozzy used to sing along to the riff itself, Dio improvised melodies around the riff, and it made Tony open his eyes to new musical possibilities. 23. Dio's first album with "Black Sabbath" and "Heaven And Hell" was released in 1980 and received excellent reviews. Dio managed to breathe new life into the band and bring about its resurgence, but his big challenge was to get into Ozzy's big shoes and conquer the hearts of the band's devout fans as well. 24. As part of Dio’s “conquest” of the heart of the fans process, he needed his hallmark. Ozzy used the V-sign in his performances. Ronnie needed a mark of his own, but he could not look like his predecessor so he chose a mark that his Italian grandmother used to get rid of an "evil eye" - the horn mark known today as "metal horns". 25. In 1980 Dio featured on the first solo album by the well-known guitarist Kerry Livgren from the band Kansas. 26. In 1982 Dio released his second and final album with "Black Sabbath" - "Mob Rules", until the reunion a decade later, in 1992, with the album "Dehumanizer". Immediately after the release of the album, friction within the band aroused over the fact that Dio received an offer from "Warner" to release a solo album. 27. These frictions will intensify during the mixes for the live album "Live Evil" and at their peak, Dio and drummer Vinny Appice will leave the band and form the band "Dio", together with bassist Jimmy Bain (Dio's friend from Rainbow) and then young and unknown guitarist - Vivian Campbell. 28. The band's debut album was released in 1983. "Holy Diver" is a milestone in the metal world and it shows the amazing writing and performance skills of Ronnie Dio. 29. In the future, Dio will release another 9 studio albums with the band that bears his name, the latest from 2004. 30. In 1985 Dio was a part of the "Band-Aid" charity project, which was the World of Metal Answer to the "Live Aid" show from that year. Dio wrote the song "Stars" which was performed by the all-superstar band "Hear 'n Aid". 31. In 1997, Dio participates in Pat Boone's cover album called: "In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy". 32. In 1999 he participated in the "Deep Purple" performance - "In Concert with The London Symphony Orchestra". 33. In 2001, the band "Tenacious D" releases their debut album, which includes a tribute song to Dio called "Dio". 34. Dio also played the role himself in the band's film "Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny", which was released in 2006, and contributed his voice to the song "Kickapoo" from the soundtrack. 35. In 2005, Dio played the role of "Dr. X" on "Queensrÿche's" "Operation: Mindcrime II" concept album. Dio also appeared as a guest in the band's performance of this rock opera. 36. In the same year, Dio came to Israel for one performance held at the exhibition grounds. 37. In 2006 Dio participated in the album "Gillan's Inn" by singer Ian Gillan. 38. In the same year, Dio participated in the album "Welcome to the Nightmare - an All-Star Salute to Alice Cooper" - the tribute album to Alice Cooper, and performed the song "Welcome to My Nightmare" together with Steve Lokhater. 39. Back in 2006, Dio joined his friends from "Black Sabbath", Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice. Together they record three new songs in favor of a compilation album of the Dio era called: "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years". 40. This collaboration created an "appetite" for the band members who went on tour under the name - "Heaven & Hell" - Dio's first album with "Black Sabbath". 41. In 2008, Dio participated in the compilation album "We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year", and performed the song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" along with Tony Iommi, Rudy Serzo, and Simon Wright. 42. That same year, Dio was featured on "Girlschool's" "Legacy" album. (Photo: CBSnews.com) 43. At the same time, Dio continued his tour with "Heaven & Hell" while the band members worked on their first studio album under that name, which was released in 2009 and was called "The Devil You Know". 44. In the same year Dio was diagnosed with cancer and a year later the band announced the cancellation of the tour. Dio's last appearance with the band was held on August 29, 2009. 45. In April 2010, Dio received the Best Metal Singer Award from Revolver Magazine. This was Dio's last appearance in public. 46. ​​About a month later on May 16, 2010, Dio passed away at the age of 67. 47. Dio entered the Metal Hall of Fame in 2017. 48. In all 50 years of his career, Dio has never consumed drugs. 49. In 2010 "Jorn" released a tribute album in honor of Dio, which included the song "Song For Ronnie James". 50. In 2014, members of the metal community paid their last respects to Ronnie James Dio with the tribute album" Ronnie James Dio: This Is Your Life". And now for the playlist, we have prepared for you. The best of Dio's great moments during a glorious 50-year career, arranged chronologically: Here. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 9, 2002, "Red Hot Chili Peppers" released their eighth album "By the Way". After the phenomenal success of their previous album, "Californication", it was hard to imagine how the "Red Hot Chili Peppers" were going to surpass it. Three years later, they are back again with a different, melodic, softer and more mature album. An album that almost completely lacks the hallmarks of the band and especially their bouncy funk-rock. The funk sound so identified with the band was replaced by softer, sounds and mature lyrics. This is Anthony Kiedis' first drug-free album and the first in which guitarist John Frusciante took over the writing process, almost completely, in a way that almost led to Flea leaving the band. And yet, it is one of the band's most beloved and successful albums, an album that sold 700,000 copies worldwide in the first week of its release and about 13 million copies in total, placing it as the band's third best-selling album, after "Californication" and "Blood Sex Sugar Magik". It can be said that "By the Way" is a kind of personal project of John Frusciante, who was greatly influenced by the music he was listening to at the time. The melodies of "The Beatles", the harmonies of "The Beach Boys", the singing and background vocals in the style of the doo-wop bands, are evident in most of the songs on the album, but not only. John Frusciante noted that he was also influenced by bands such as "Emerson, Lake & Palmer", which he listened to every day during the recordings as well as guitarists such as John McGeoch ("Siouxsie and the Banshees"), Johnny Marr, Keith Levene (Public Image Limited) and Martin Barr from "Jethro Tull" (in the song "Cabron"). Additional influences on Frusciante during the recordings came from the punk genre with bands like "The Damned" and "Discharge", but these did not find their place into the album, as producer Rick Rubin was less enthusiastic them by and thought the more melodic materials were better. John Frusciante's dominance was so great that he composed, arranged and wrote the roles for most of the instruments himself, including the bass and vocal roles. He played keyboards, mellotron, and even bass guitar in the song "Don't Forget Me". Frusciante's "takeover" of the writing and recording process did not go smoothly and almost led to Flea leaving the band, claiming that his voice was not heard. To this day Flea claims that he does not like to listen to this album, however Frusciante noted that the recording period of the album is one of the best and happiest he has had. Interestingly, drummer Chad Smith and singer Anthony Kiedis are closer in their feelings to those of John Frusciante, especially Smith that noted this is probably the best collection of "Chili Peppers" songs they have ever released. The album provided a number of hits including the theme song "By the Way" and "Can't Stop" which are the closest in style to the old and familiar "RHCP". These songs show the creative tension between Flea and Frusciante and it seems that these are the best moments in the entire album. While Frusciante wanted to present more subtle and melodic textures, Flea remained committed to the funk-punk sound that had dominated the band in the past. These two styles collided here with all their might, and the big bang they created led to the wild and cool result that we consider to be the two creative highs of the album. "By the Way" is the band's sixth song to reach number one on Billboard Magazine's Modern Rock Tracks' and is their third song to reach number one on the charts. It remained in first place for 14 weeks. Similar to the single "Dani California", this song is also in second place among the band's songs in terms of the longest stay time at the top of the chart. The lyrics of the song star Dani who is also in the song "Dani California" and the song "Californication". The lyrics of "Can't Stop", on the other hand, came from a random collection of thoughts by Anthony Kiedis, who tried to match them to the pre-written music. Other hits that this album has provided are "The Zephyr Song", which deals with the healing power of nature and interpersonal connection and "Universally Speaking" which probably refers to Kiddis' relationship with drugs, from which he became clean just before the album was recorded. Other songs in which Kidds tackles the drug problem on the album are "Don't Forget Me", which relates to his rehab process and how he was locked in a cell for two weeks to overcome his addictions, "This Is the Place" whose lyrics are reminiscent of the streets where he used to get drugs and the fact he did not attend the funeral of his bandmate Hillel Slovak due to his drug problems, the devastating "Dosed" also written as a tribute to Hillel Slovak and "Venice Queen" written in honor of caregiver Gloria Scott who helped Kidis get off drugs and died shortly after he bought her a house in Venice Beach, California . Two decades after its release, it can already be clearly said that "By the Way" is one of the "Red Hot Chili Peppers"'s best albums. With "By the Way" the band has proven that it is capable of producing a different, melodic, soft and mature album and still not lose even one drop of its groove or one of its fans, on the way. Precisely the least known excerpts from the 16 tracks on the album, prove the high level of writing and playing, which is maintained throughout. The string instruments of "Midnight", the punk bass of "Throw Away Your Television", the Latin-acoustic folk of "Cabron", the bouncy "Melodica" playing by Frusciante in "On Mercury", the vocal harmonies and trumpet of "Tear", are all conclusive proof that not only did the "RHCP" end the 20th century at its peak, but they also opened the 21st century by storm ... For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

He is known for his distinctive musical techniques and unique playing. He has won 12 Grammy Awards and he is one of the 250 greatest guitarist of all times according to the "Rolling Stone Magazine". Here are some interesting facts about Jack White. (Photo: Fanart.TV) = He was born on July 9, 1975 in Detroit, Michigan by the name John Anthony Gillis. He is the youngest of ten children. = He was raised a Catholic and became an altar boy, which gave him an uncredited role in the 1987 movie "The Rosary Murders". = Jack's passion for music was evident from a young age. He started playing drums in the first grade after finding a kit in the attic. = As a drummer, his heroes include Gene Krupa, Stewart Copeland, and Crow Smith. = Besides the drums he is known for his skills on the guitar, piano, and various other instruments, making him a versatile and dynamic musician. = As a child, he was a fan of classical music, but in elementary school, he began listening to "the Doors", "Pink Floyd", "Led Zeppelin", and later to the blues and 1960s rock that would influence him in "the White Stripes". = Jack's first real gig was when he was 19, playing drums for the alt-country band "Goober & the Peas", which laid the foundation for his versatile musical career. = As a senior in high school, he met Meg White. They married on September 21, 1996 and Jack legally took her last name. = Meg began to learn to play the drums in 1997 and the two formed "The White Stripes" duo the same year. Their raw, energetic style and unique visual aesthetics quickly gained them a following. = "The White Stripes" released their self-titled debut album in 1999, which received critical acclaim and helped establish their presence in the music scene. = The band's third album "White Blood Cells" from 2001 brought widespread recognition, thanks to singles like "Fell in Love with a Girl". = The White Stripes' album "Elephant" from 2003 featuring the hit single "Seven Nation Army", won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album and cemented their place in rock history. = He made his acting debut in 2003 in the movie "Cold Mountain" where he starred alongside Nicole Kidman and Jude Law. His interest was piqued more by the historical artifacts on set than the Hollywood stars. = That year he had a brief relationship with actress Renée Zellweger, whom he met during the filming of "Cold Mountain". That summer, the couple were in a car accident in which White broke his left index finger, resulting in canceling shows. = In 2005 he co-founded "The Raconteurs", releasing their debut album "Broken Boy Soldiers" in 2006, further showcasing his multi-instrumental talents. = In 2005 he wrote and performed an original track, "Love Is The Truth," for a "Coca Cola" commercial, aligning with his appreciation for the brand. = The same year he produced country legend Loretta Lynn's critically acclaimed comeback album "Van Lear Rose". = In 2008, he recorded "Another Way to Die", the title song for the 2008 James Bond film "Quantum of Solace", alongside Alicia Keys. = In 2009 he formed "The Dead Weather", releasing their debut album "Horehound." Initially intended as a one-off project, the band quickly evolved into a full-fledged group. = The same year he was featured in "It Might Get Loud", a film in which he, Jimmy Page, and The Edge come together to discuss the electric guitar and each artist's different playing methods. = In 2011 "The White Stripes" was Disbanded. = He released his first solo album "Blunderbuss," in 2012, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, marking a successful start to his solo career. = He released "Lazaretto," in 2014, further showcasing his innovative approach to music. It broke the record for most first-week vinyl sales since 1991. = In 2018 he released "Boarding House Reach," an album known for its experimental sound, illustrating his willingness to push musical boundaries. = White was added in 2019 to the composition credit for the Eurovision hit "TOY", by Netta Barzilai, alongside Doron Madaley and Stav Beger, following a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement, due to similarities between it and "Seven Nation Army". = in 2022 he released "Fear of the Dawn," and continuing his legacy of musical innovation. = in 2024 he decided to stop touring for the foreseeable future, focusing on other creative endeavors. = Jack White saved an "SNL" episode with a last-minute performance after the originally scheduled musical guest was unable to perform. His energetic performance revived the show and gained widespread acclaim. = He established "Third Man Records", a label known for promoting unique and innovative music, based in Nashville. = Jack worked with a wide range of artists, including Jay Z, Loretta Lynn, Alicia Keys, and many others, crossing genre boundaries. = He prefers using vintage guitars, amplifiers, and recording gear, achieving his distinctive sound through analog recording techniques. = Jack is an avid Vinyl Collector: Has a vast collection of vinyl records and is passionate about preserving the vinyl format. = He donated £130,000 to the National Recording Preservation Foundation, emphasizing the importance of preserving music history. = He is a huge fan of Bob Dylan, considering him one of his major influences, along with his biological father and God. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 9, 1971, the album "Fireball" by the band "Deep Purple" was released. This is the band's fifth album and its second in the MKII lineup that includes Ian Gillan as lead singer and Roger Glover as bassist. This album is located between the two masterpieces "In Rock" and "Machine Head" and that is probably why it was in the shadow of these two greats, just like a valley between two-mountain. In addition, the album does not include any "hit" and you probably do not even remember the names of more than half of the songs in it (if you take out of the equation "Strange Kind of Woman" which is not included in the European version of the album and came out only as a single). Now add the fact that even the band members themselves do not consider this album a classic (except for Ian Gillen), and you have almost a full consensus regarding its status in the magnificent repertoire of the great band. Indeed, this album is more experimental and lacks a uniform direction like its two big brothers. At the same time, this album has a very important part in the development of Deep Purple's sound on their way to the next masterpiece - "Machine Head". In our humble opinion, this is one of the band's four greatest albums of all time (along with "In Rock", "Machine Head" and "Burn"), and you simply must not underestimate it. The album includes only 7 tracks, with the third track in the British version ("Demon's Eye") replaced with the American version with the hit "Strange Kind of Woman". The album opens up with the theme song "Fireball" and the operating sound of the engine ventilation system of the studio where the album was recorded, which immediately puts us "in the mood". When the sound of the air conditioner fades, Ian Paice's fast and famous double bass drumming enters, leading us like in a relay race to the song's famous riff. It's the fastest song on the album which exceptionally does not include a guitar solo. The solo you hear in the 1:49 minute of the song is Roger Glover's bass solo. Not many know but the idea for this song was "borrowed" from the Canadian band "Warpig" which released the song "Rock Star" a year earlier. Do not believe? Listen to the song and judge for yourself: From there we move on to the second track - "No No No", a song with soul and blues influences in which Gillan proves his tremendous vocal abilities. The song features one major riff that repeats itself and a beautiful bluesy guitar solo by Ritchie Blackmore with an organ solo by Jon Lord towards the end of the song. The third song "Demon's Eye" is perhaps the most "catchy" song on the album and this is probably why it also shares the same slot with "Strange Kind of Woman" from the American release. The song opens with Lord's monotonous keyboard riff and moves to a cool bluesy riff that can not leave anyone sitting in their chairs. Here, too, there is the constant duality of Deep Purple with solos by Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore. The fourth track "Anyone's Daughter" is perhaps the band's most bizarre choice, which if it had been replaced with "Strange Kind of Woman" would surely have jumped this album to another level. An obscure country-folk-psychedelic section, which does not fully match the musical line of the album and the band, and which received negative reviews from all the critics and even from all the band members themselves. The other side of the vinyl opens with "The Mule" and the sound of Paice's cymbals and tambourine which is immediately followed by Ritchie Blackmore's alternating chords take us to the central oriental riff. Except for Gillan's short text at the opening of the song, it's actually an instrumental piece that allows all the band members to marvel at their virtuosity. Ian Paice's psychedelic drumming which is very reminiscent of the Beatles' drumming in "Tomorrow Never Knows" remains throughout the song as a solid ground that allows for the improvisation of the rest of his bandmates. This song won an extra-long version at the band's performances and included an amazing drum solo by Ian Paice that lasted over 6 minutes. The next song "Fools" is the longest on the album and it begins with a quiet and relaxed playing with Blackmore's guitar and Lord Hammond accompanying us to the "volcano" eruption at 1:39 of the song, in Gillan's powerful voice and wild guitar-bass-keyboards riff. There is no doubt that this is an epic piece that showcases the amazing abilities of this band. Excerpts from Blackmore's slide solo that begins around 4:15 of the song will be borrowed and later incorporated into solo excerpts from “The Black Man” in Deep Purple and Rainbow during their performances. The album closes with "No One Came" which opens with Roger Glover's monotonous bass cut with Lord Hammond's entry and Gillan's powerful voice. Here too, we get the usual duality of a long guitar solo from Blackmore followed by Lord's Organ Solo, played on top of the main guitar riff. "Strange Kind of Woman" was released only in the American edition of the album and as a separate single all over the world. The song talks about a complex relationship with a woman, probably a prostitute, and indeed its original name was supposed to be "Prostitute". This is the big "hit" from the time the album was released. The song won an amazing performance on the album "Made In Japan" with the famous dialogue between Blackmore's guitar and Ian Gillan's amazing voice imitating each other and the immortal scream at the end. The song is performed almost regularly in the band's performances and has become one of the songs most associated with it. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 8, 2014 " Judas Priest" released its 17th studio album "Redeemer of Souls". "Redeemer of Souls" marks an important chapter in Judas Priest's history. In 2011 "Judas Priest" founding guitarist K.K. Downing, departed the band. His departure was no small matter. Downing was one half of the twin guitar sound that defined "Judas Priest" sound and style, so it was not clear if the band would last and if they would find a guitarist who could step into his big shoes. Just as Judas Priest faced a significant setback after Rob Halford's departure following the "Painkiller" album in 1991, taking seven years to find a replacement and release "Jugulator," the band experienced a similar delay in recovering with the release of "Redeemer of Souls." This album arrived six years after their previous release, highlighting the band's extended period of transition and the challenges they faced in regaining their momentum. The anticipation surrounding this release was high, with fans wondering if it would live up to the band's past glories. Listening to the album will reveal that although it does not come close to the level of the band's masterpiece albums, it is still a kind of comeback album for the band, a return to roots album, especially after the change of style and concept of "Nostradamus". The addition of new guitarist Richie Faulkner brought fresh energy to the band. Faulkner's guitar work, helped restore some of "Judas Priest's" classic sound. Opening with the energetic and robust "Dragonaut", the album kicks off on a solid note, giving a glimpse of the classic "Judas Priest" 80's sound (even the "Turbo" guitar effect in the beginning). Rob Halford's vocals remain powerful, and the track exhibits the band's trademark riffing. As the guitar solo arrives, we breathe a sigh of relief... Richie Faulkner passed the dual guitar test and he manages to produce together with Glenn Tipton a great melodic and neo-classical solo like in the good old days The title track, "Redeemer of Souls" follows suit, offering a taste of the anthemic qualities that "Judas Priest" is known for. With its catchy chorus and memorable hooks, it captures the essence of the band's prowess. But something is very noticeable here. It is the first time we learn that the years has taken a toll on Halford's voice. it sounds like he is being careful keeping himself somewhere in the middle of his well-known endless vocal range. One standout moment arrives with "Halls of Valhalla" a potent and metal-driven track that showcases Halford's fiery vocals and a punchy chorus, his sonic scream on 4:30 min, a less predictable guitar line, heavy drumming and it seems we are back in the game. It successfully captures the spirit of the band's earlier work, with a touch of heaviness. "Sword of Damocles" maintains the brilliance that is synonymous with "Judas Priest", placing a strong emphasis on monumental guitar leads and melodic lines that at 0:20 min even reminded us of "Iron Maiden". Once again, Halford delivers exceptional vocals, seamlessly trading off with the heavy chugging of Tipton and Faulkner. The chorus is so addictive that you'll yearn for it to flow through your veins like an intravenous infusion, while the soft bridge at 2:50 comes with great surprise and add to the song dynamics. While the initial tracks impress, the album's consistency change as it progresses. although it's heavy riff "March of the Damned" feels somewhat radio-friendly and even poppy. No doubt that this is the album's hit. Catchy, well-written, simply a metal anthem. "Down In Flames" continues the radio-friendly formula with its catchy chorus, but falls short of its predecessor. “Hell & Back” and “Secrets of the Dead” are languid, lumbering quasi-ballads the former having a Geezer Butler-esque baseline and the latter having "touches" of "Touch Of Evil". While Rob Halford's vocals are emotionally driven and sincere, these tracks lack the dynamic energy expected from the band. "Cold Blooded" is kind of a classic epic piece of the band, it starts as a slow-paced song, but later picks up the tempo, and power level increases, until the fast interlude where the band finally presses the pedal a bit and beats heavily. In "Metalizer" the band lets loose and moves into some of their heaviest moments on the album, but suffers from a medium quality and fails to leave a lasting impression. "Crossfire" corresponds with the early days of the band, and experiments with a bluesy rock approach, but doesn't quite resonate as a quintessential "Judas Priest" track. We are nearing the end with "Battle Cry" - ש song that opens with a slow and heavy guitar line that gradually develops, until at minute 0:27 it suddenly reminded us of the opening line from "Hail To The King" by "Avenged Sevenfold", released a year earlier. Halford gives a most impressive performance here, as he travels through his infinite vocal range. The closing track, "Beginning of the End" brings a mellow and laid-back vibe, providing a somewhat underwhelming conclusion to the album. The Deluxe version of the album contains 5 bonus tracks that prove that the band had much more to give after 6 years of preparation. Clocking in at over an hour and with 13 tracks, "Redeemer of Souls" could have benefited from some trimming. The album's length detracts from the overall impact and could have been streamlined to focus on the strongest tracks. In conclusion, "Redeemer of Souls" is a mixed bag for "Judas Priest". While it starts with promise and delivers some standout moments, the album falls short of recapturing the magic of the band's earlier years. After "Nostradamus" it is a great "back to roots" album, but in comparison to the bands classic albums it suffers from inconsistent songwriting, veering into mediocrity at times. 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 singer, songwriter, and record producer Beck. (Photo: Fanart.tv) = His full name is Beck David Hansen (born Beck David Campbell). He was born on July 8, 1970, in Los Angeles, California. = He is the son of Canadian composer David Campbell and American visual artist Bibbe Hansen. = His maternal grandmother was Jewish. he has said that he considers himself Jewish because he was raised celebrating Jewish holidays. = Beck's fond memories of Passover celebrations with his mother's friends, blending Jewish and party traditions. = His maternal grandfather was Al Hansen, a founder of the avant-garde Fluxus movement. = In his teens, Beck was influenced by LA's diverse musical styles from hip hop to Latin music. Then he discovered the music of "Sonic Youth", "Pussy Galore", and "X". = The first record he ever bought might have been the soundtrack to the movie "Xanadu". = Beck obtained his first guitar at 16 and became a street musician. = He began performing on city buses, playing Mississippi John Hurt covers with improvised lyrics, while some drunk guy would yell at him calling him Axl Rose. = He was a member of the band "Youthless", known for freeform performances in coffee houses. = In 1994 he released "Loser", which catapulted him to international fame. = It was followed by his first studio album "Mellow Gold" released in 1994. = His early musical style was lo-fi, experimental style, blending folk, blues, and country. later his music spanned more genres like alternative rock, hip-hop, electronica, and more. = Since his second album "Odelay" released in 1996, his father, David Campbell, has handled string arrangements on his albums. = "Odelay" earned beck two Grammy Awards in 1997. This album entered the "Rolling Stone's" list of the "500 greatest albums of all time". = He released "Sea Change" in 2002, inspired by his breakup with Leigh Limon, considered one of his most emotionally resonant albums. This will be the second Beck's album to enter the "Rolling Stone's" list of the "500 greatest albums of all time". = Beck suffered a serious spinal injury while filming the “E-Pro” music video in 2005, affecting his ability to perform. = He started the "Record Club" in 2009, a project whereby an entire classic album—by The Velvet Underground, Leonard Cohen, INXS, Yanni—would be covered by another singer in the span of a single day. = He released "Morning Phase" in 2014. The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2015. = Beck worked with many artists like "The Black Keys", "Gorillas", "Danger Mouse", Gnarls Barkley, Pharrell Williams, Jack White, "Bat For Lashes", "The Flaming Lips" and more. = He contributed music to films like "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World," "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," and "Baby Driver.", but he was turned down composing the score for "Mad Men" multiple times. One of his beautiful covers was "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" (By the Korgis) for the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". = Beck created album artwork and visual installations. = He is fluent in Spanish and showcased his linguistic skills in some of his songs. = Beck is a vegetarian and advocate for animal rights. = He is renowned for creatively incorporating sampled sounds into his tracks. = He explores themes like love, identity, and human experience in his music. = Beck is known for his energetic and captivating live performances. = He was one of the faces for "Yves Saint Laurent's" spring 2013 collection. = He produced albums for Stephen Malkmus, Thurston Moore, and Charlotte Gainsbourg. = In 2013 he recreated David Bowie's "Sound and Vision" with over 160 musicians. = Beck won seven Grammy Awards throughout his career. = He received the Brit Award for International Male Solo Artist. = He collaborated with Paul McCartney on "Find My Way" for the album "McCartney III Imagined" in 2021. = He appeared in movies and TV shows like "Population: 1," "Southlander," and "The Larry Sanders Show" and in the movie "Echo in the Canyon" about the popular music that came out of L.A.'s Laurel Canyon neighborhood in the mid-1960s. = He joined Billy Gibbons, Ben Harper, and Will Ferrell for a performance on the final episode of "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien." = As for 2019 he released 14 studio albums . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 7, 1992, "Dream Theater" released its second studio album, "Images and Words". This album created, in effect, a new genre in the world of music - "Progressive Metal". True, it's not that before "Images and Words" there were no albums that combined metal with progressive, such as Queensrÿche's "Operation: Mindcrime" album released 4 years earlier. Moreover, the roots of prog-metal were laid somewhere in the seventies, among others, by the band "Rush" and we even wrote that their album "Hemispheres" from 1978 is probably the first prog-metal album ever. So are we not really contradicting ourselves? Not really. Albums like "Hemispheres" and "Operation: Mindcrime" were crowned "prog metal albums" in retrospect, while in the case of "Images and Words" it seems to be the first prog metal album that not only created the concept behind the genre, but also transformed " Dream Theater "to the largest prog metal band in the world. This album proved that you can take all the classic prog elements of the seventies, renew them and update with a friendly production, add to them fine metal on the one hand and a sweet pop melody on the other, and market them to the masses. But the greatness of this album is revealed precisely about the period in which it was released. When grunge and alternative are at their peak, when traditional metal is in retreat, and when pure progressive has disappeared from the world over two decades earlier, this album simply had no chance of succeeding. But "Dream" is doing the unbelievable here and not only creating a new genre, but also managing to sell well and attract a whole wave of bands. So how did all this happen? For that one has to go back to the beginning. the year 1985 at Berkeley College of Music in Boston, where guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy met. The three form the band "Majesty" whose name was chosen by Portnoy under the influence of the song "Bastille Day" from the album "Caress Of Steel" by "Rush", whose ending sounds to Portnoy Majestic !! To complete the line-up, they turned to John Petrucci High School friend Kevin Moore to play the keyboards, while recruiting singer Chris Collins after hearing him perform the song "Queen of the Reich" by the band "Queensrÿche" with great precision. In 1985-1986 the quintet was recorded under the name "Majesty" a demo album that originally included six songs, however in November 1986 singer Chris Collins was fired from the band and replaced by Charlie Dominici. Before recording their debut album "When Day and Dream Unit" released in 1989, the band managed to change its name to "Dream Theater" following a threat from a band from Las Vegas that was also called "Majesty", not before they wrote the album "Ytse Jam" which is "Majesty" spelled backward. (Photo: Dream Theater on Twitter) The first album was not very successful and the band felt that Charlie Dominici just does not deliver the goods. They were looking for a singer whose voice resembled Bruce Dickinson or Geoff Tate, but those searches lasted almost two years in which about 200 candidates were considered, by then the band was already thinking of giving up and releasing an instrumental album. But then, in January 1991, the band received a demo tape of James LaBrie, who was immediately invited to audition and was accepted into the band. Without going into a discussion about James LaBrie's vocal abilities today, we have no shadow of a doubt that he was exactly the singer that the band needed to break through and succeed big time. An amazing vocal ranging from emotional opera to angry metal did it, complementing the virtuoso abilities and incredible precision of the rest of the band, to create an album that is considered one of the most important in the genre. This album still holds the title of the band's most commercially successful album and the album with the only big hit from "Dream Theater", and we are of course talking about the amazing opening song "Pull Me Under", which to this day is not clear to us how it became a hit during the nineties and reach the 10th place on the billboard, with a length of more than 8 minutes. The lyrics that refer to William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" were written by keyboardist Kevin Moore, and even include a sentence from the play itself. Interestingly, the band themselves did not believe this song would become a hit. They gambled on the second song - "Another Day" - a quiet metal ballad intended for the mainstream charts and radio stations and featuring a saxophone solo by Jay Beckenstein from the band "Spyro Gyra", which in his private studio the band recorded. John Petrucci wrote the song under the influence of his father's battle with cancer, the struggle to live "another day" and moreover, Petrucci's desire to stay with him another day before he leaves the world. The lyrics to the third track "Take the Time" were written by the four veteran members of the band (Minos James LaBrie), and they refer to what the band has been through in the three years since their debut album. The search for a new singer, a new record company, a new management, the frustrations, the good and difficult moments. It was important to the band members that the lyrics will come from the point of view of each of them individually. The album also includes the amazing "Metropolis — Part I: 'The Miracle and the Sleeper" which opens with an instrumental intro that develops into a terrifying song, with breaks, transitions, and rhythm changes that formed the basis for one of the great concept albums in Prog Metal - "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory". The song, was written by John Petrucci back in 1989 and was called "Crumbling Metropolis", when rumor has it that it refers to the founding of Rome by the brothers Remus and Romulus. Two more high moments of the album come further down the road with "Under a Glass Moon" which shows the band's incredible virtuosity, especially that of John Petrucci, and the epic ending that lasts over 11 minutes "Learning to Live" which is prog metal at its best, a very good piece, dynamic, with lots of changes in rhythms, breaks, and transitions, and references to other tracks on the album such as the quiet "Wait for Sleep" with the sweeping piano section, whose lyrics include the title of the album in the sentence: "Where Images and Words Are Running Deep" ... For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

This time we built our coverage a little differently, this couple just does not allow us to do it differently. They are both together and separately, they are inseparable but individual! And how so cosmically they were born on the same day three years apart. (Photo: Micha Kirshner) It's a little weird to celebrate this couple's birthday since it feels like they are just not getting old !! True, externally you may see their age but they seem to never stop creating and performing. This is probably how it is when you have decades of creativity, cross-generational music, and a dramatic influence on Israeli music !! So let's start with the eldest... Rami Fortis Photo: Asaf Antman (Wikimedia) 1. He was born on July 7, 1954, in Tel Aviv. 2. He served in the Air Force during the Yom Kippur War and was greatly influenced by the inferno at the front. 3. He began his musical career in 1975 as a stage worker in performances of the immortal band Tammuz. Occasionally the band allowed Fortis to take the stage, sing or just do nonsense like he usually likes. 4. In one case, Ariel Zilber invited him to sing his song "Incubator" accompanied by members of Tammuz (the specific performance is included in the "Osefortis" box and the reissue of "Plonter" from a series of landmarks). 5. In the same year he formed the band "Fly" which in 1978 was renamed "Hot Water". They performed in clubs such as the "Upper Basement" of the Beit Lessin Theater and created for themselves a small but loyal audience. 6. In 1978, Fortis' first album, "Tangle", was released, produced by the legendary guitarist Haim Romano, who also played the album, bass guitar, and drums. It was a groundbreaking album in the local musical landscape that brought punk from Europe to Israel. It was one of the loudest and wildest albums made in the State of Israel until then. "Use pursuant to Section 27A of the Copyright Law" 7. Only one song has over the years become a well-known hit from the album "Get Off My TV Screen", but it still had quite a few gems like "Honey", "This Generation", "Incubator", "Death is not without work", "Sun you Expect "and more. 8. The person who collaborated with Fortis in writing some of the songs on the album is none other than Messi Birnbach, who will later be a member with him in the band "Minimal Compact". 9. Fortis began to create for himself a fan base and an image of an anarchist, boundless and crazy in light of his wild musical style. He is actually the one who brought to Israel the punk that was then in its infancy compared to the development that began in Europe and the US with bands like Television, Ramones, Iggy Pop, and more. 10. In 1981, Fortis together with Doron Eyal (the terrible Schultz) formed the band "Chromosome" together with Yaki Avimor, Ronen Ben Tal, and Rona Vered. They started performing in the Tel Aviv club scene and released one self-released album. Later, after Fortis fired Schultz, the band was renamed "Will Chromosome". 11. In 1983, Fortis formed the band "Jean Conflict" together with Jean-Jacques Goldberg, Ronen Ben Tal, Gil Smetana, and Vicky Avimor. The band did not receive much attention in Israel in those days, but its reunion performances in the late 1980s were very successful, especially in the penguin scene. The band has released two albums, one of which was a 1988 recording of Penguin. 12. In 1988, Fortis' second solo album "Stories Out of the Box" was released. It includes ten songs that have all become classics of Israeli rock. The standout hits from it is "Sunset of the Sunrise," "Monster Cat," "No Contact" and "Star of the Apes." This is the first album released by "Nana Disk" and it is the first collaboration of the Fortiskharof duo in Hebrew, some say that this is their debut album even though Sakharof did not receive credit for the album. 13. In 1992 Fortis released his third album "Goodbye in My Dreams". As in his previous two albums, all the songs were co-composed by Fortis and Berry Sakharof, and co-produced by the four members of the band. All the words were written by Fortis. The songs "I Can't", "Here Comes the Silence", "Changing Situations", "London Tel Aviv Berlin or Brussels" and "What Kind of Sex?" Were some success but did not become big hits on the scale of "Stories from the Box" hits. 14. In 1994, after a break of almost a year in which he concentrated on raising his son, Fortis formed his new backing band "The Fortis Brothers", which included Amir "Django" Rossiano (bass, vocals, keyboards), Oren Kaplan (guitars, vocals) And Yuval Shafrir (drums, keyboards, and vocals). "Use pursuant to Section 27A of the Copyright law" 15. They released their first album that year "Criminal Cop and the Whispering Giant" which is considered Fortis' most commercially successful album and one of the most prominent Israeli rock albums of the 1990s. All the songs were composed by the band and the lyrics were written by Fortis. 16. Two years later, the Fortis Brothers released the album Where Are the Horses. The album, which included the only successful song from it "The Marble Man" (with Eli Luzon), received good reviews but was not a great commercial success. 17. In 1998, Fortis joined Shlomi Bracha (Mashina) to create the album "Runner on the Edge", which combines the familiar styles of the two musicians. The album featured, for the most part, a cleaner and lighter sound than Fortis' previous albums and it yielded several hits, including "Sand", "Sometimes", "Little Bossa Nova" and "Financial Truck". 18. In 1999 came out a special package called "Osefortis" which includes 3 CDs under the names "singles" (collection of singles), "ours" (a collection of prominent songs with two new songs) and "also a collection of stamps" (rare songs from different periods). "Singles" was also released separately as a single album. In honor of the collection, Fortis returned to collaborate with Berry Sakharof and they recorded three new songs together and also held a reunion performance in honor of the collection's release. 19. In the same year, Fortis participated as an actor in the first season of the drama series "Saturdays and Holidays". 20. In 2001, the film "1999? Fortis and Israel - A True Love Story" directed by Israel Yerushalmi, which documents Fortis in the shadow of the 1999 election, was screened at festivals and cinematheques. 21. In 2001, Fortis released the album "Semi-Automatic" on which he worked with Eyal Even-Tzur, lead singer of the band "Shoes" (whose name is a tribute to a song from the album 1900?). The album is quieter and more melancholy than before but has deep lyrics that touch on the truths of existence. Berry Sakharof returned to co-produce and also accompanied Fortis on some of the songs on guitar and vocals, with the duet "The Door" becoming a hit from the album. Another song that was successful from the album was "Playing the Cube". 22. In 2002, a DVD was released called "Piano Case" documenting the joint performance of Fortis and Shlomi Shaban, which includes piano arrangements of Fortis' hits. 23. In 2008 Fortis worked on a piece called "The Frequency" which is the soundtrack to a performance by an alternative German dance troupe. 24. In the same year, Fortis was awarded an honorary fellowship by the Sam Spiegel School of Film and Television, for "powerful, musical and stage energy that changed the face of Israeli rock; for his daring and stubbornness to turn the fringes into a beacon; Compromising and in his revolutionary work, from the 1970s to the present day. " 25. In 2009, Fortis, with his band that includes Gil Smetana, Ido Agmon, and Yuval Shafrir, released a triangular album called "Triangle Fortis" which includes 18 songs, including the hits "Blondes on Autobianchi" and "Israeli Forest". 26. In 2010, Fortis produced most of the songs from Kwame's and 21st Century Strangers in the 21st Century. Among them is the song "Squeeze Me," which Fortis co-wrote with Kwame and participated in singing. The song was one of the singles that preceded the album and one of the most successful of it all. 27. In 2011 Fortis' 9th studio album was released, called "Friend I Am". The album is inspired by Serbian inventor Nicola Tesla. Fortis is once again accompanied by his band, which includes Gil Smetana, Ido Agmon, Yuval Shafrir, and Eyal Yonati. The first single from the album, the theme song "Friend I Am", was a success. Another single released from the album is "Place in the Head" which was also a success. In 2013, Fortis participated as a judge in the first season of the "X-Factor Israel" program that was broadcast on Channel 2, as well as in the second season (2015). 29. In 2014, Fortis performed as the warm-up show for the Rolling Stones in Israel, in a show held at Hayarkon Park. 30. In 2015, his album "History of the Title" was released, which was distributed in digital format and as a vinyl record only. The pre-album "Single from the Disappearing City" was released, followed by the theme song "History of the Title", and finally the single "Fidgeting the Tail" was released. 31. Two years later he released a video on Facebook of his first song “The Flashing Oyster” ahead of his album “Fairy Section” which was released that year. 32. In 2018, Fortis won the Landau Lottery Award for the Arts. Do not worry we have not forgotten, there is more, but before that, we will move on to the second half of this cosmic pairing ... Berry Sakharof Photo: Naama Av (Wikimedia) 1. Of course he was born on the same day but in 1957 in Izmir, Turkey, he immigrated to Israel when he was three years old. 2. Sakharof began his musical career at an early age, when at the age of 16 he was already a member of a band called "Cosmic Dream". Immediately after the end of his military service, Sakharof traveled to Belgium, where he formed the alternative rock band "Minimal Compact" which we will talk about later. In 1985, Sakharof was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport with a small amount of cocaine in his possession. Sakharof was tried and sentenced to one year in prison, of which he ran 8 months. 5. In 1991 Sakharof released his debut album, "All or Nothing". The lyrics on this album were written by various artists, including Rami Fortis, Dan Toren, Yona Wallach, Eran Tzur, and Shaul Tchernichovsky. The album included many hits, including "Blind Faith," "Stress," "Spaceships," "I Don't Love It," "The Guardian of the Garden" and Sakharof's version of the song "The Man in the Wall," which was originally sung by Samson Bar-Noy. Most of the songs on the album were composed by Sakharof, and Sakharof, Uri Barak, and Danny Makov were responsible for the arrangements. In 1993, Sakharof released a second solo album, "Signs of Weakness", in which he performed for the first time songs that most of the lyrics were written by him (some in collaboration with Dan Toren), without the help of his longtime partner Rami Fortis. Musically, the album is a joint work of Sakharof and Bad Mochich, who introduced many elements of electronic music and symbols that preceded their time in Israeli music. Sales of the album were weak in the first years of its release, although it yielded several hits, such as "Kama Yossi", "HaZiot", "Too bad you did not" and "White Noise". Over the years, he began to be considered by many to be Sakharof's best album, and one of the best Israeli rock albums of all time, thanks to his originality, innovation, and exceptional production quality. 7. In 1995 Sakharof released his third album "Hot on the Moon". The album differs from "Signs of Weakness" in a more rockish and lively sound. His successful songs included "Hot on the Moon", "77", "Come Home", "Turns Out" and "Birthday". After the release of the album, Sakharof, together with the band with which he recorded the album, embarked on a long and successful tour, which attracted more and more audiences and made Sakharof one of the most well-known rock stars in Israel. 8. In 1996 he produced singer Dan Toren's third album "Descending Low". 9. In the same year, Sakharof wrote soundtracks for the Israeli films "St. Clara" and "Against Western Eyes", and even won the Ophir Award for best soundtrack for his work in the film "St. Clara". 10. In 1997 Sakharof produced the only album of the post-punk band "Lawnmowers" called "Rotten". 11. In 1998, Sakharof co-produced with Yizhar Ashdot Micha Sheetrit's debut album, "Nails and Feathers". Sakharof co-wrote the melody of four of the album's songs, including the theme song. 12. In the same year, Sakharof's album "Touches" was released, which soon reached the status of a gold album and brought with it a successful tour. The album yielded hits such as "That's How It Is (To Love You)" (which became the theme song of the series "Saturdays and Holidays"), "A Whole Heart", "Summer City" and "Slaves", and also included his version of "Another Repeat". 13. In 2001 came out Sakharof's fifth album "The Other" On this album, Sakharof returned to collaborate with drummer and bad producer Mochich and Dan Toren. In the same year, Sakharof wrote soundtracks for the films "Tomer and the Scratches" and "Immediately in Israel." In 2002, Sakharof composed the soundtrack for the film "The Wisdom of the Pretzel", and recorded the song "The End of Summer" with Micha Sheetrit. In the same year, Sakharof wrote and composed several songs for Sharon Rotter's album, including the biggest hit on the album, "I will run to you", which he co-wrote and composed with Rotter. 17. And in the same year, Sakharof was hosted on several albums by other artists. In the album of the fish band Snake "Move", in the album of the "Blains" duo "Songs of Wars" and in the album of Hava Alberstein's "Holiday Evening". Sakharof also recorded that year in a duet with Muki, a remake of Shalom Hanoch's song "Waiting for the Messiah". 18. In 2005 the album "11A" was released. The album is the result of about two years of joint work by Bad Proves and Sakharof. The album contains 11 excerpts that combined the electronics of Proof and the rock of Sakharof, the familiar recipe. 19. In 2009 Sakharof released another album in collaboration with Ra'a Mochich, "Ibn Gvirol, Red Lips", which included melodies to the songs of the poet Shlomo Ibn Gvirol. The song "What do you have a unit for" was especially successful on the album. Photo: Wikimedia 20. In 2011, Sakharof released his eighth album, "You Are Here". The album often deals with Israeli identity, with the factors that make it up and that are in its environment. The album was dedicated to the memory of drummer Jean-Jacques Goldberg. 21. Five years later Sakharof has released his ninth and final solo album to date. The album contains 8 tracks: 5 songs and 3 instrumental tracks. In addition to the songs of Sheetrit and Halafi, the album includes the song "Moon" written by Natan Alterman, the piyyut "Eli Lema Izvatni" composed by R. David Bouzaglo, and "Purple Streets" written by Udi Sharbani. The album is opened by the instrumental section "Nashkini", a new arrangement for the section that appeared on the album of the band Foreign Foreign, which is shared by Sakharof and Rami Fortis. 22. In 2017, Sakharof released an album of Ladino songs translated together with Ehud Banai, entitled: "She Performed Like the Wind". 23. 23. In 2020, he released the album "Badel Shel Or" With Dudu Tassa. This is not Berry's first collaboration with Tassa, Berry has already been featured on Tassa's song "Trib ani utruch" from the album "Dudu Tassa and the Kuwaitis", released in 2011. So after we have learned about the two parts of a relationship, we will move on to the relationship itself ... Fortisakharof Photo: CURVOS (Wikimedia) 1. In 1980, "Minimal Compact" was formed by Sami Birnbach and Rami Fortis, as a sequel to a band called "S.O.B" which they formed in Amsterdam together with Fortis' then partner singer Malka Spiegel, Berry Sakharof, and Neti Weissman. The band's activities in Amsterdam were unsuccessful, and Fortis returned to Israel, but the other members of the group continued to work together in Belgium and their joint activities gave birth to "Minimal Compact". (Photo: Roy Tee) 2. In 1981 the band was signed by the independent record company "Kramed" and produced an EP that included the song "Static Dancing". 3. In 1982 came out their first full-length album "One by One" which was recorded in London and included the songs "Babylonian Tower", "Disguise" and "It Takes a Lifetime". The inside cover of the album stated that Rami Fortis is a member of the band "In Exile". 4. In 1984, Fortis returned to "Minimal Compact" and took part in the recording of their album "Deadly Weapons", but his contribution to this album was relatively small. 5. In 1985 the band released its fourth album, "Raging Souls" which is considered the band's most successful. Fortis' role in the band grew, both in terms of writing and in terms of playing and singing roles. 6. In 1987, "Minimal Compact" released their fifth studio album "The Figure One Cuts". The album continued the line of the previous album with the growing dominance of Fortis and Sakharof. 7. In addition to the studio albums, "Minimal Compact" was involved in several soundtracks, including the film "Wings of Desire", "Fuck Your Dreams This Is Heaven", "Made to Measure Vol. 1", "Lowlands Flight (Made to Measure Vol. 10)" As well as the live album "Minimal Compact Live". 8. "Minimal Compact" was a great commercial success and recognized in Europe, but because it failed to obtain work visas to the United States, and due to disputes between the band members, the band members decided in 1988 to disband. 9. In 2003, director Natan Mandelbaum produced a documentary about the band called "Raging Souls", and following the success of the film, the band reunited for tours in Israel and Europe, while releasing a triple collection of songs "Returning Wheel" which included rare excerpts and new remixes of the band songs. 10. After the breakup, Fortis and Sakharof tried their luck in Israel and released the successful album "Stories from the Box", the album was released under the name of Rami Fortis alone, although Sakharof participated in the writing. 11. In 1989 Fortis and Sakharof tried to repeat their international success, and recorded another album in English, under the name Foreign Affair. The album is called "East On Fire". 12. In 1990 the album "1900?" Was released, this time under the common name "Fortisharoff". Rami Fortis wrote the lyrics and Berry Sakharof composed (together with Fortis), produced and sang solo "Sparks" and "Upside Down" and participated in singing additional songs. This record had many hits, including "America," "No End to Childhood," "Sparks" and a silent version of "Blue Dream." "1900?" Sounds like the creation of a more cohesive band than its predecessor and established Fortis and Sakharof's status as reputed musical artists and no longer marginal artists. 13. The tour that accompanied Sakharof's "Goodbye in My Dreams" was the last of the duo together. It ended in December 1992 with the release of the live album "When the Guitar Saws the Night". 14. In 1999, Fortisharof reunited for a one-time appearance and also re-collaborated on 3 new songs for Fortis' compilation album "Oseforts". 15. In 2006, Fortishsharof's successful comeback album, "On the Watch", was released, accompanied by an extensive and popular tour. The album contains a combination of rock, electronic music, hip hop, and oriental music, played by members of the original ensemble that accompanied the duo in the early 90s. 16. Fortis and Sakharof continued to participate in "Minimal Compact" reunions every few years, the last being in 2019, and in their honor, the band released a compilation album "Creation Is Perfect" which includes remakes of the band's songs as well as a new song. 17. After the recovery from the covid-19 virus and Israel, led by the nations of the world, Fortisharoff went on a series of shows at the Raanana Amphitheater to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the album "1900?", As we mentioned in the opening, the shows were a huge success. There is no way to describe the influence of this cosmic couple together and individually on Israeli music and there is also no way to describe the amounts of talent and music they have given us as listeners. Hope we have done them a favor and given them the respect they deserve. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Another album released on the magical date 7/7/77, is Rainbow's double "On Stage". The story of this album begins with recordings of the band's third album "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll". As you may recall, the recording of the album was accompanied by many difficulties. The album was recorded at a castle in the Paris area, the band members did not have finished materials and the writing process for most of the album's songs was performed at the castle itself, the recordings did not progress satisfactorily, among other things due to the band members not concentrating on writing and enjoying the beautiful place and weather. In addition, the recordings were surrounded by strange faults in the recording equipment and unexplained phenomena until the band members and the recording team decided to perform a séance to find out the reason for it. And if that's not enough, because of Ritchie Blackmore's caprices, the band members were replaced several times during the recordings. All of the above problems and significant delays in the recordings caused the record company to put pressure on the band. and that brought this great gift called "On Stage". This live album has a lot in common with the mother band ("Deep Purple") "Made In Japan" album. This is also a double album that was not recorded on one complete show, but rather songs recorded over several performances. In addition, here too, most of the songs were recorded in Japan and like its older brother here too the show includes a lot of improvisations. And if you still do not understand how much the similarities between the two albums exist, then also in this album songs with "thin" versions in the studio albums have won bombastic versions that are substantially different from the original. But so far the similarities. This album does not really reflect what happened in the band's performances. It included massive editing and studio intervention that undermined the authenticity of the live performances. What's more, the songs were shortened, solo pieces were compressed and improvisations were cut, all to allow for the release of this album as a double vinyl. But this is not enough, masterpiece songs that were part of the setlist on those shows, were not included in the album at all and the order of the songs was changed to adapt the album to the logistical and technical requirements. For example, works such as "Do You Close Your Eyes" and "Stargazer", which were played in performances at the time, did not find their way to the final edit. Luckily, years later several performances from the same time were released, both on video and audio, so this magic can be recreated in a way closer to the original. An excellent example is the performance "Live In Koln 1976" in which you can also find the songs that were cut as part of the final editing of this album. The choice of songs for the album was also strange. Four of the six songs on the show are from the band's first album, with the excellent album "Rising", being represented by only one song, "Starstruck", also not one of the greats of that album, which is part of a medley along with the blues section and the song "Man on the Silver Mountain". Among the six songs is also the song "Mistreated" from the MKIII of "Deep Purple", and another new song that will only be included on the band's next album, so what we have left to do is just wonder what went through Blackmore's mind when compiling the song list for this album. Despite all that said and perhaps against all odds, this is still an excellent album by a band that is at its peak with its classic lineup that includes Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Cozy Powell, Tony Carey, and Jimmy Bain. The album opens with the famous segment from the film "The Wizard of Oz", which has also become the regular opening intro of the band's performances, for generations. Dorothy talks to her dog, Toto, and says: "Toto, I'm a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore, We Must Be Over the RAINBOW…" And then ... the legendary Cozy Powell lands a powerful blow on the snare drum, and we all embark on an adventure that not even the writer L. Frank Baum dreamed of when he first wrote his book on the controversial magician. "Kill The King" which is to be included on the band's next album is coming in full force, and we are getting a bombastic opening for this live album. Although the version of the show sounds a little less tight than the studio version, it is still a strong opening that requires a lot of courage of opening a live album with a new and unfamiliar song. From there we move on to the string of the "Man On The Silver Mountain" which includes a bluesy improvisation with a keyboard guitar duet in the best tradition of "Deep Purple", as well as "Starstruck" from the album "Rising" which is shortened here. The other side of the first album includes the song "Catch the Rainbow" which received an upgrade here and became an epic work. This is without a doubt the album's powerful performance, which although stretched over more than 15 minutes is not boring even for a moment. The improvisations of the band members are reinforced with vocal improvisations from Ronnie James Dio mostly in the last part of the piece that becomes a fifth instrument of the band. The second album features the song "Mistreated" by "Deep Purple" which is spread out on the entire first side of the album. Dio manages to take a song that is so identified with David Coverdale's voice and perform it amazingly. Here, too, the improvisations stretch over a large part of the song (mostly by Blackmore) only this time it's a little less flowing than the previous song. The fourth and final side of this double album concludes with two songs: "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" featuring a long improvised overture, and the cover version "Still I'm Sad" which became a song with the original lyrics from "the Yardbirds" as appose to the instrumental album version. In conclusion, despite the rather puzzling selection of songs, despite the over-intervention during the mixes and production, this is still an excellent album that perpetuates the band's highlights in the classic lineup. The long improvisations and "facelift" of the songs do not detract in any way from the pleasure of listening to the album. On the contrary, all we have left is to miss those days, when bands were improvising, jamming, and giving the songs a different interpretation as part of their performances. There are no artists today who appear like this anymore, no one is as spontaneous, innovative, and brave as they were in those days, and all that is left is to just cut and save this wonder so that future generations will understand how they used to make music, with a big heart and soul. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... And this time "The Grand Illusion" by "Styx", which was released on July 7, 1977. On 7/7/77 Styx released their 7th album - "The Grand Illusion". This is the band's breakthrough album, which brought them the success they had longed for, for years (note that the hit "Boat On The River" will only come two years later). Number 7 seems to have been "Styx's" lucky number, as the seventh album, released on the 7th day of the 7th month of 77, became the first of four consecutive albums by the band to receive multi-platinum status in sales (platinum equals one million copies in the US), making Styx to one of the biggest rock bands in America. The story of this album begins in 1975 when the band manages to do the unbelievable and have a minor hit - a ballad called "Lady", which is a song from the second album released two years earlier. A&M record company recognizes the potential and signs the band on a recording contract. The same year, Styx releases their fifth album, "Equinox". But just when the band gets a chance to breakthrough with the help of a big record company, their original guitarist John Curulewski decides to leave right after the album's release and the band finds itself in search of a new guitarist to replace him, so they can go on a tour to promote the album. The band manages to locate Tommy Shaw, a charismatic guitarist who will immediately join the band's triple writing team and will also become one of its top three lead singers. With this fresh change, Styx is recording their sixth album, "Crystal Ball", which was released in 1976. But even this album does not bring the band the success they looked for. The band fails to put a significant hit at the top of the charts and the album didn't do well in sales. In 1977, "Styx" finds themselves at a crossroads, although they were signed by a large record company, but after two albums they do not deliver the goods, which puts them in danger of renewing their contract. The band enters the studio during the short break they had on the North American tour, with a general idea conceived by keyboardist and singer Dennis DeYoung - all songs on the album will revolve around existential issues - success, failure, fame, money, and more. Shaw and guitarist and singer James "JY" Young lined up with DeYoung and went on to work on songs that address the central theme of the album. (Photo: Richard E. Aaron) Musically the band has pulled in a more accessible and mainstream direction this time around, but it has not yet completely abandoned the progressive genre that still exists on this album. The main idea of ​​the album was given a neat frame that gives the feeling that this is a concept album, with the opening song called "The Grand Illusion", while the last song was titled "The Grand Finale", which corresponds with the opening song and album title. Even though the band's new formula that combined the prog with the mainstream resulted in a not-quite-uniform and less cohesive album, it still turned out to be a winning formula. The first side of the album is simply fantastic, it opens with the march drumming of the excellent theme song "The Grand Illusion", a track that is a statement of intent that presents the band's vision for the album's overall style - a precise combination of complex progressive rock and more accessible AOR. Immediately after that comes the single "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" which Shaw wrote about the keyboardist DeYoung - "The Angry Man" who hated the band's tours. The idea of ​​combining progressive with AOR continues here as well as the song opens with Da Young's keyboard solo accompanied by Shaw's acoustic guitar in a progressive style which then develops into a classic AOR song, and the effects of "Kansas" on the band are well felt here. Later on the first side we meet "Come Sail Away" a track that is simply a masterpiece and one of the band's greatest songs. This is a true masterpiece. A beautiful song with a refreshing and simple piano arrangement by DeYoung, sharply cut by Shaw and JY's powerful guitars, with a synthesized passage section on the verge of psychedelic. The song uses the idea of ​​“sailing” on a ship that later becomes a spaceship as a metaphor for the pursuit of our dreams, and specifically expresses DeYoung’s aspirations to break out and succeed as a band. The words touch on the nostalgia of true friendships, the encounter with beings from other worlds which are described as angels, and even some quotes from the book of Ezekiel. Although the other side of the album does not include "hits" like its first, it still includes inspiring tracks like JY's rhythmic and rock song "Miss America", Shaw's ballad "Man in the Wilderness" and of course the song that seals the album "The Work", which is a kind of reprise of the most prominent excerpts from the album. This album presented the tremendous potential of Styx that developed over the next few albums. A style of "Prog Lite" that will also serve as a successful model for bands like Yes and Genesis that will do the same later during the eighties. This album is without a doubt one of the band's great albums and a good place to get to know it. And now let's listen to the album: 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 - 07.07.1970 By the end of the 1960s, Iggy Pop and the rest of "The Stooges" were deeply addicted to heroin. In the middle of a disastrous LSD trip, they had recorded a ferocious debut album that was largely ignored upon its release. After all, they had little in common with the era's flower children. Only a year later, the band's relentless creative pace seemed to match the rate at which they were filling their bodies with chemicals. On July 7, 1970, they returned with their second album, "Fun House". Released in 1970, "Fun House" became one of the clearest signs that the idealistic psychedelic era was beginning to collapse. In its place came something primitive, raw, filthy, and utterly overwhelming. Despite its playful title, "Fun House" offers anything but comfort. It delivers Iggy Pop's groans and bloodcurdling screams, Ron Asheton's savage, attacking guitar work, Dave Alexander's relentless bass lines, Steve Mackay's twisting, virtuosic saxophone, and Scott Asheton's possessed drumming. "The Stooges" entered Elektra Studios in California for two weeks during May 1970. Producing the sessions was Don Gallucci, former keyboardist of garage rock pioneers "The Kingsmen". Recognizing that the band's raw live sound was its greatest strength, Gallucci organized the studio to capture the chaos of their concerts as faithfully as possible. The resulting album featured seven songs that marked a clear evolution in "The Stooges'" sound. Initially, Gallucci doubted it would be possible to recreate the band's explosive live performances in a studio environment. Once everyone arrived in Los Angeles, however, they collectively abandoned traditional recording techniques. Instead of isolating the musicians with sound booths, they played together in the same room, recreating the intensity of their concerts as closely as possible. The result was an exceptionally raw recording, especially when compared to the polished productions of 1970. Without the usual isolation barriers, vibrations from the bass amplifier even caused the snare drum to rattle, an effect that can be heard throughout several tracks. The album also absorbed strong influences from Black American music. Iggy Pop's vocal delivery drew heavily from blues legend Howlin' Wolf, while the instrumental approach embraced the fearless spirit of free jazz pioneers John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Sun Ra, musicians whose uncompromising improvisation and disregard for musical boundaries perfectly matched "The Stooges'" rebellious philosophy. "The Stooges" originally intended "Loose" to open the album, but Elektra believed "Down on the Street" made for a more powerful introduction, launching the record with stories of corruption, riots, oppression, and drug use. From the filthy swagger of "Down on the Street", "Loose", and "T.V. Eye", through the sinister crawl of "Dirt", the manic energy of "1970", the hypnotic minimalism of the title track, and finally the complete free-noise collapse of "L.A. Blues", the album would leave a profound mark on generations of musicians and listeners alike. Among those who became obsessed with "Fun House" was former "Black Flag" vocalist Henry Rollins, who later recalled his first encounter with the album: "When I heard Fun House, it was like discovering carbon. Like the first time you encounter something you didn't know existed, and realize its power. It was like somebody hit me with a van." At first glance, one might assume that an album built around free-form playing would have been easy to record. In reality, "The Stooges" worked tirelessly to refine and distill their feral live energy. Songs were rehearsed repeatedly on stage before entering the studio, often requiring countless takes. "Loose" alone was recorded 28 times before the band was satisfied. Charles Burton captured the album's overwhelming impact in his review for Rolling Stone, asking: "Do you crave to have your mind blown so wide open that it takes weeks to gather up the little pieces?" The album cover features a live photograph taken by American photographer Ed Caraeff during "The Stooges'" performances at the legendary Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles while the band was preparing to record the album. Caraeff was also responsible for the iconic photograph of Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar on fire. On the cover of "Fun House", "The Stooges" appear consumed by flames themselves, their faces glowing beneath waves of red, orange, and yellow, creating an image that radiates the same dangerous heat as the music inside. 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 artists in psychedelic rock, he was the living spirit behind "Pink Floyd" in its early days and wrote most of their songs. He even gave the band its name. Here are some interesting facts about Syd Barrett: (Photo: Aubrey Powell) 1. He was born Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett in Cambridge, England, on January 6, 1946. 2. From an early age he began to take an interest in music. His father who was a pathologist and his mother who was a housewife, supported him in this matter. 3. When he was 11 he began attending a boys' school in Cambridge, where he first met David Gilmour and Roger Waters, who attended another school in the same compound. 4. About a month before he turned 16, his father died of cancer. It was an event that greatly influenced him and connected him to Roger Waters, also an orphan from a father. 5. By the way, they were both called Roger but Barrett adopted the name of a local drummer he admired, in the name of Syd. 6. In 1962 he began studying at the College of Arts and Technology at Cambridge, where he deepened his friendship with David Gilmour. They used to play together during breaks. 7. Barrett did a lot of painting at the time. His paintings were strange and unusual and showed his colorful and unconventional personality, which would later be expressed in psychedelic music as well. 8. In August 1965 Barrett and Gilmour spent their time as street performers in Spain and France. They used to play "The Beatles" songs. (Photo: Gems) 9. Luck did not play for them. They did not even have enough money to buy food. In one case they were even arrested and in another case, Gilmour was hospitalized due to malnutrition. 10. Later Gilmour and Barrett traveled to France and lived in tents outside Paris. 11. Towards the end of 1965 Barrett came to London and joined his friend Waters, who two years earlier had formed a band called "Sigma 6", along with his friends from the College of Architecture, Nick Mason (drummer), Rick Wright (keyboardist), Clive Metcalfe (bass guitar) and - Juliette Gale (singer). 12. Right after Barrett joined the band he created a "revolution", that caused a change in the band lineup and a change in the musical style, which was then a combination of black music and rhythm and blues. 13. Barrett was the one who suggested that the band will change its name to "Pink Floyd", naming it after the blues players Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. 14. In 1967, "Pink Floyd" signed a recording contract with EMI. They released 2 singles, "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play", which Barrett wrote by himself. 15. In March and June 1967, the band entered the studio to record their debut album - "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", which was released in August 1967. 16. Barrett wrote eight of the 11 songs on this great album on his own and co-wrote two more. 17. Beyond the musical control, Barrett also led the visual side of the band. He was charismatic, colorful, and used black nail polish and heavy makeup. 18. He was the one responsible for the psychedelic and experimental sound of "Pink Floyd", which was even accompanied by spectacular psychedelic visual effects, in the band's performances. 19. As a guitarist he produced strange and unique sounds from the guitar, using a cigarette lighter with which he played his instrument. 20. Barrett's drug use and especially LSD increased towards the end of 1967. The combination of his unsettled mental state and drugs further disrupted his condition. His behavior became strange and unexpected. He would suddenly leave the stage in the middle of a show, sometimes playing only one chord for the entire performance and one time disappearing for several days. 21. One of the stories that show his difficult situation at the time, was the one where he asked the band members not to "peel him". Barrett was just sure he was a banana. 22. On the band's recent rehearsal Barrett played a song called "Have You Got It Yet?" The band members said they could not play it due to its strange and crazy structure. 23. Barrett's situation forced Nick Mason to contact David Gilmour and offer him to join "Pink Floyd". 24. Another guitarist who was considered as Barrett's replacement was Jeff Beck, but Nick Mason noted years later that none of the band members dared to approach him and ask him to join. 25. Gilmour joined the band initially as an additional guitar player and later as a temporary replacement for Syd Barrett. Gilmour's first appearance with "Pink Floyd," along with Syd Barrett, was on January 12, 1968. You can read more about it here. 26. The band continued to perform in the aforementioned lineup with Syd Barrett and David Gilmour for an additional number of performances. However, following the worsening of Barrett's mental state, Gilmour became a permanent member of the band in his place and the band returned to four members lineup. (Photo: (Instagram / @ pinkfloyd) 27. The band's last appearance with Barrett as a quintet was held on "Hastings" on January 20, 1968. 28. On January 26, 1968, on the band's way to a performance at "Southampton University", the four members simply decided not to pick up Barrett on their way. This was the band's first appearance as a quartet without Syd Barrett. 29. The band's original intention was that Barrett would continue in the band as a songwriter but not appear on stage, just like Brian Wilson from the "Beach Boys", but even this idea was soon abandoned due to Syd's dysfunction. 30. An official announcement of Syd's departure from the band would be issued only on April 6, 1968. 31. Gilmour and Barrett will continue to collaborate as part of Barrett's solo career. Gilmour has produced and participated in two of his 1970 solo albums: "The Madcap Laughs" and "Barrett". 32. Barrett always wanted to go back to "Pink Floyd". He would wait outside the recording studios, hoping he would be invited inside, but his friends had already moved on and evolved musically, while Barrett faded and became the shadow of himself. 33. One of the famous cases in which Barrett surprised his friends in the studioת was during the recordings of the album "Wish You Were Here". On June 9, 1975, Barrett entered Abbey Road Studios in London. He was fat, with shaved head and eyebrows and the band members did not even recognize him. (Photo: Nick Mason's autobiography, "Inside Out" 2005) 34. As you know, the whole album is a kind of tribute to Barrett. The track "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" is a kind of lament for Syd Barrett, and its initials spell the name "Syd" as follows: Shine On You Crazy Diamond. 35. The song "Wish You Were Here" was also written about Syd Barrett and its lyrics speak for themselves. Similarly, the song "Welcome to the Machine" is a protest against the "money machine" of the record companies that put pressure on the band and on which Waters hung the blame for deteriorating Barrett's condition. 36. These were not the only poems written about Barrett. For example, the song "Brain Damage" from the album "The Dark Side Of The Moon" as well as the main character of the drugged rock star "Pink" from "The Wall", especially the line" Wild, Staring Eyes" line from the song "Nobody Home". 37. All of Barrett's attempts to return to music failed. He became eccentric and lonely. The recordings he made did not mature into the albums and the band he formed ("Stars") in 1972 was so bad it did not survive. 38. His attempt to record a third album in 1974 was unsuccessful and he decided to retire from music. He sold his rights to his solo albums and moved to an apartment hotel in London. 39. In 1978 Barrett moved to his mother's house and since then he has hardly been seen in public, for almost 30 years. 40. He was diagnosed as schizophrenic, with bipolar disorder and his medical condition was deteriorating. His spirit was broken, he suffered from an ulcer, diabetes, and also pancreatic cancer. 41. Barrett died on July 7, 2006, and is only 60 years old. His funeral was small and none of the "Pink Floyd" members were present. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website