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On March 17, 1998, "Van Halen" released their eleventh studio album "Van Halen III". For more than two decades, "Van Halen" had been one of hard rock’s most influential and commercially successful bands. From the explosive debut in 1978 through the chart-topping Sammy Hagar era of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the group repeatedly reshaped its sound while keeping the revolutionary guitar work of Eddie Van Halen  at the center of the music. By the mid-1990s the band entered a turbulent period. Sammy Hagar left in 1996, a brief reunion with original singer David Lee Roth  quickly collapsed, and the group ultimately recruited Gary Cherone of "Extreme" as the new frontman. "Van Halen III" became the only album recorded with Cherone and represents one of the most unusual chapters in the band’s long history. The album was recorded during 1997 at Eddie Van Halen ’s 5150 Studios in Studio City, California. Produced by Eddie Van Halen together with television composer Mike Post, the project reflected Eddie’s increasingly experimental mindset. Unlike earlier records where the band functioned more as a tight collaborative unit, many of the arrangements and musical directions were driven primarily by Eddie himself. The sessions produced the longest album in the band’s catalog, and the expanded runtime allowed the group to explore textures and structures rarely heard on previous releases. The brief unusual acoustic instrumental introduction "Neworld"  opens the record and quickly leads into "Without You" . The song immediately presents a heavier and darker tone than much of the band’s earlier material. Gary Cherone delivers an intense vocal performance that differs from both Hagar’s melodic style and Roth’s swagger, while Eddie layers massive rhythm guitars with soaring leads that still showcase his unmistakable playing. It's interesting to note that the song is the first out of 3 only tracks Michael Anthony is playing bass on, while Eddie Van Halen is the one playng the bass guitar on the rest of them. Much of the album explores longer and more progressive song structures. "From Afar"  unfolds gradually with atmospheric guitar textures before building into a powerful chorus, while "Dirty Water Dog"  combines aggressive riffing with shifting rhythmic ideas that highlight Alex Van Halen ’s dynamic drumming. Eddie experiments with layered guitar harmonies and unusual arrangements, giving the songs a dense and sometimes unpredictable character. One of the most compelling tracks is "Year to the Day" , a brooding and emotional composition that slowly develops across its extended runtime. The track builds tension through dark guitar passages and introspective lyrics before erupting into one of Eddie Van Halen ’s most expressive solos of the era. In contrast, "Fire in the Hole"  brings a more straightforward burst of hard rock energy with a driving groove and sharp guitar hooks. The album closes with the unexpected "How Many Say I" , which features Eddie Van Halen singing lead vocals while accompanying himself on piano. The song is reflective and subdued, offering a dramatic shift from the guitar-driven identity the band had built over the years. Its introspective tone reinforces the sense that the album captures a band searching for a new direction. Upon release, "Van Halen III" debuted strongly on the charts but generated mixed reactions from critics and longtime fans. Some listeners admired Van Halen’s willingness to experiment and expand the band’s sound, while others missed the concise songwriting and immediate hooks that defined earlier records. Over time the album has remained one of the most debated entries in the band’s discography, yet it stands as an intriguing document of a legendary group pushing into unfamiliar territory. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is the son of... but he is also much in his own right. He's the youngest artist we've reviewed here, but he definitely deserves it. So here are some facts about Wolfgang Van Halen... (Photo: Michael Buckner) 1. He was born on March 16, 1991, in Santa Monica California, as Wolfgang William Van Halen. 2. He is the only son of guitarist Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertinelli. 3. His parents gave him his name after the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 4. From an early age, Wolfgang was educated on music, learning mainly from his father - Eddie Van Halen , to play a variety of musical instruments. (Photo: Instagram) 5. Eddie Van Halen used to perpetuate his relationship with Wolfgang, among other things, by names he gave to various songs and musical instruments during his career. For example, the title of the instrumental piece "316" from the album " For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge ", released in Wolfgang's year of birth, is his date of birth (March 16). 6. Eddie collaborated with "Peavey" to create a series of guitars called "Wolfgang series". 7. In 2008 Eddie gave his costume guitar the name "Fender EVH Wolfgang". 8. The first instrument Wolfgang played was drums, which he began playing at the age of 9. He received several lessons from his uncle Alex Van Halen , but for the most part, he taught himself to play. 9. At the age of 10 Eddie bought him his first drum set, after seeing that he was progressing nicely in playing. 10. Wolfgang later moved on to playing bass guitar, guitar and then learned to play keyboards as well. 11. When he was only 13 he had already taken the stage with "Van Halen" as a guest player. One of the pieces he came up to play alongside his father, was the instrumental track "316", named, as stated, on his date of birth. (Photo: Ethan Miler) 12. In 2006, when Wolfgang was only 15 years old, Eddie van Halen announced that he was joining the band as a full member, replacing bassist Michael Anthony. 13. Beyond performing with the band, Wolfgang recorded the album "A Different Kind of Truth", from 2012, the reunion album of "Van Halen" with David Lee Roth . Wolfgang also sang background vocals and co-wrote the songs. 14. His father used to call him a "rhythm bassist" as on "rhythm guitarist", given his unique playing style that combined rhythm and lead. 15. In September 2012, Wolfgang replaced bassist Brian Marshall in Mark Tremonti 's solo band "Tremonti". He later played on his two albums " Cauterize " from 2015 and " Dust " from 2016. (Photo: Ashley Maile) 16. In June 2021 Wolfgang released his debut album " Mammoth WVH " which is also the band's name. The name was based on one of the first names of "Van Halen", which in 1972 was called "Mammoth". He said he asked the permission of his father and uncle Alex to use the name, then he adds the letters WVH, which are the initials of his name. 17. Wolfgang wrote all the songs on the album and he sings and plays all the instruments on it. 18. The first single released from the album, "Distance", was dedicated to his father Eddie Van Halen , after his death. The video clip for the song includes footage of Wolfgang from Eddie Van Halen's home camera. 19. On June 2023 Wolfgang introduced his second album "Mammoth II". His talent is shining yet again as he is playing on all the instruments in the album with the production of Michael Baskette. 20. On October 20, 2025, Wolfgang released his third solo album, titled "The End," while changing the band's name to "Mammoth." This album continues Wolfgang’s musical style, blending modern rock with classical influences. Once again, the album features material written and recorded by Wolfgang himself, who continues to lead the project almost entirely on his own, just as he did with his previous albums. Listen to the album  "The End" on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

She is one of the godmothers of Grunge and she has a "Heart" of gold that together with her sister influenced the world of music !! (Photo: Nancy Wilson) 1. Her full name is Nancy Lamoureaux Wilson and she was born on March 16, 1954, in San Francisco, California. 2. She has two older sisters, Lynn and Ann Wilson . (Photo: George Rose) 3. Since her father served in the military, the family traveled extensively around the world and she grew up in Southern California and Taiwan until the age of six when her father retired from the military and they moved to Seattle. 4. She remembers the moment of enlightenment when she and her sister Ann knew they were going to be rock stars. It was when they watched together "The Ed Sullivan Show," which hosted The Beatles that evening, she was 8 at the time. 5. During high school her parents bought Ann an acoustic guitar and later they bought Nancy a smaller guitar (children's guitar). Nancy did not like her guitar and often "stole" her sister's guitar. 6. The two began performing together at community church events, amusement parks, and local festivals. They felt they were able to touch the audience, and even though in almost every show half of the people would leave it only strengthened them. 7. In 1973, Nancy joined her sister's band called "Heart". She said it was not that simple. The men in the band did not agree to have Nancy and decided that she must audition. They gave her a task, she had to learn to play the song "Clap" by the band "Yes" in one evening, she, of course, passed successfully! 8. That same year the whole band moved to Vancouver, Canada to record their debut album. (Photo: Michael Putland) 9. In 1975 they released their debut album "Dreamboat Annie". Producer Mike Flicker helped the band polish the sound and to sign a recording contract with Mushroom Records. They released 4 singles from the album that gained momentum one after the other, including the mighty "Crazy on You". From there, the band also broke into the United States, via Seattle, the birthplace of the Wilson sisters. 10. Following a "miss conduct" by the record company in the form of a full-page article in Rolling Stone magazine, which includes a picture of the Wilson sisters bare-shouldered side by side and the phrase: "It Was Only Our First Time," the band broke the contract with the record label. 11. In 1977 the band released their second album "Little Queen" recorded in Seattle. One of the band's most famous songs "Barracuda" conquered the charts and brought "Heart" back to dizzying success. This is a particularly angry song about the record company Mushroom Records, which released their picture in Rolling Stone and spread a rumor that the sisters are allegedly having an affair, all to arouse public opinion. Ann found out about the article by chance when a fan came to her after a show and asked her "how is the relationship"? She thought he was talking about her boyfriend, but when she realized what it was about her and her sister, she was shocked and went to write the song. 12. However, this was not the end of the story with the record company and as a result of a legal commitment the band had with the company, they were required to release another album under its name. They worked a marathon for 4 days to record another album called "Magazine" which was also released in 1977, only to end the contract with the same company. 13. As a result, the band reached an extraordinary achievement with three of their albums marching simultaneously in the charts. 14. If that's not enough, then a year later, in 1978, they released their fourth album "Dog & Butterfly". The album was split in two when the first part was the "Dog" and included more rockish and powerful songs, while the second part the "Butterfly" included ballads and softer songs. The album reached number 17 on Billboard. 15. During the band's tour, Nancy discovered that the band guitarist and producer Roger Fisher, who was also her spouse, was cheating on her. After the tour ended, the band members decided to oust Fischer and fired him. This allowed Nancy to take the lead and she took on the lead guitar role. (Photo: Norman Seeff) 16. In 1980 the band released their fifth album "Bébé le Strange". This is the first album without Fisher. The Wilson sisters have always led the band, but from then on they formed the hardcore of "Heart". The album was a resounding success and reached number 5 on the Billboard charts as it spent 22 weeks there. 17. Since the early 1980s, the band has undergone musical changes, mainly softening and squinting in the mainstream direction, with elements of pop, hard rock, and glam metal. The sisters testified that at that time the drugs were all around and the white cocaine powder was scattered everywhere. The climax of the musical revolution was on the album "Heart" which was released in 1985 and included many hits such as: "These Dreams" which was the band's first song to conquer the top of the charts, "What About Love", "Never", "Nothin 'at All" and more. The transition to glam was also reflected in the external appearance as reflected on the album cover. 18. In 1987 came the album "Bad Animals", from which came the single "Alone" which was the band's second single to reach number one. The success was dizzying and tremendous to the point that the tour to promote the album was sold out even before it started and it included 3 consecutive performances at Wembley Stadium. 19. During the tour Ann began to experience anxiety attacks and stage fright, to cover up for her sister, Nancy would perform improvised solos and guitar pieces to hold the audience. (Photo: Daniel Knighton) 20. The Wilson sisters released a total of 16 albums under the band "Heart" with the latest "Beautiful Broken" being released in 2016. They were a great success and appreciated by listeners and critics and many singles conquered the charts and radio stations. 21. In 1991 the sisters set up the recording studio "Bad Animals" named after Heart's ninth album. The famous studio known today as "Studio X" was a huge part of the development of the Grunge scene, where many bands recorded there: Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and many more ... 22. That same year they also formed a side band called "The Lovemongers" which recorded a cover version of Led Zeppelin's song "The Battle of Evermore", for the big soundtrack of the movie "Singles" . A few years later, in 1997, the band released the EP "Whirlygig". 23. Nancy married the film's director Cameron Crowe and later recorded guitar pieces for his films and even wrote soundtracks, including a soundtrack for the film "Almost Famous" . The two divorced in 2010. 24. In those years before and during the blossoming of Grunge, the stars of the scene like Chris Cornell Andrew Wood , Layne Staley , and more, were among the fans of the Wilson sisters. This fact earned them the nickname "Grunge Godmothers". They said that their house was open to all the guys from Nirvana, Alice, and Soundgarden, who would come to their house for parties and play together. 25. In 1995 they released an Unplugged album called "The Road Home" produced by John Paul Jones featuring Layne Staley and Chris Cornell. 26. In 2004, "Heart" released their 13th album called "Jupiters Darling". The album featured Jerry Cantrell and Mike Inez from Alice In Chains and Mike McCready from Pearl Jam, among others. 27. In 2012 the sisters received a star on Hollywood Boulevard. 28. In 2013, the band was inducted into the "Music Hall of Fame". The speaker for the band's induction was Chris Cornell. In his speech, he explained with great emotion how much the Wilson sisters influenced him and his friends from the Grunge scene. 29. In 2016 the album "Beautiful Broken" was released which is "Heart" sixth album, which combined new songs and old songs of the band in a renewed performance. The album features James Hetfield from the band Metallica. 30. That same year, Ann's husband was arrested on charges of assaulting one of Nancy's children. This allegedly happened during the band's performance at the White River Epithet in Washington. Rumor has it that following that incident, the sisters stopped talking and switched to communicating through texts. 31. In the same year, Nancy and Liv Warfield (who was in Prince's band) formed the band "Roadcase Royale". They released one album called "First Things First" in 2017. (Photo: Jeremy Danger) 32. In 2019 the sisters announced that the band "Heart" had returned from the "hiatus" they had taken and that they were performing again together. 33. They went on a "Love Alive Tour" tour. The round was so successful that the sisters even extended it, but it was stopped due to the COVID-19 crisis. Maybe we'll see them in the Holy Land again !! 34. In 2021, Nancy released her first solo album "You and Me". She created the album without any prior planning and mostly because she was bored at home, so instead of putting together puzzles she created music, like a lot of artists we know. Listen to the album on Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 16, 2018, Stone Temple Pilots released their seventh studio album "Stone Temple Pilots". After decades of success, tragedy, and reinvention, "Stone Temple Pilots" returned in 2018 with one of the most pivotal records of their career. At the time, the band had already endured the loss of former frontman Scott Weiland  and the earlier departure of Chester Bennington , whose brief tenure with the group produced the " High Rise EP ". For guitarist Dean DeLeo , bassist Robert DeLeo , and drummer Eric Kretz, continuing the band meant proving that the musical identity of "Stone Temple Pilots" could survive even after losing two defining voices. The search for a new vocalist was extensive. After reviewing thousands of submissions, the band introduced Jeff Gutt as their new frontman in late 2017. Rather than attempting to recreate the past, the group approached the album as the start of a new era. The record became the first full-length studio release to feature Gutt and the band’s first studio album in eight years. Recording sessions placed the creative focus firmly on the DeLeo brothers, whose songwriting partnership has always been the musical backbone of "Stone Temple Pilots". Producing the album themselves allowed the band to concentrate on their natural chemistry. The result blends muscular guitar riffs, melodic bass lines, and layered arrangements that continue to reflect the distinctive sound the band established during the 1990s alternative rock explosion. The album opens with "Middle of Nowhere" , a confident reintroduction that wastes no time presenting the revitalized lineup. Driven by a sharp guitar riff and a tight rhythm section, the track showcases Jeff Gutt’s ability to carry the band’s melodic hard rock style without attempting to imitate the vocal personalities that came before him, Although the resemblance to Scott is really noticeable. Momentum continues with "Meadow" , the album’s first single and one of its most immediate highlights. The song rides a powerful groove built on Dean DeLeo ’s crunchy guitar work while Robert DeLeo ’s bass adds melodic depth beneath the soaring chorus. The track captures the swagger and hook-driven songwriting that helped define the band’s earlier successes. A more reflective mood emerges with "Thought She'd Be Mine" , where the band slows the tempo and explores atmospheric textures. Jeff Gutt delivers a restrained vocal performance supported by layered instrumentation that allows the song to unfold gradually and emotionally. The heavier "Roll Me Under"  pushes the record into grittier territory. Eric Kretz drives the song forward with pounding drums while thick guitar distortion gives the track a darker edge that recalls the band’s harder moments from earlier albums. Right after, "Never Enough"  combining power and tenderness, rock and blues. Heavy guitar layers and a sharp solo create one of the album's most beautiful moments, reminding listeners that "Stone Temple Pilots" know how to balance melody and roughness as they did in their early days. Another standout arrives with "The Art of Letting Go" , one of the moving and impressive pieces on the album. Caressing guitars and a melodious chorus create a sense of reflection that mirrors the band’s own journey through loss and renewal. The butterfly artwork featured on the album cover reinforces the themes of transformation and rebirth. For a band that has faced tragedy, lineup changes, and shifting eras in rock music, the imagery symbolizes a group evolving while remaining rooted in the musical chemistry that first defined them. "Stone Temple Pilots" ultimately stands as a testament to resilience. Jeff Gutt proves himself a strong addition to the lineup, while the songwriting partnership of Dean and Robert DeLeo continues to deliver the melodic depth and powerful arrangements that have long defined "Stone Temple Pilots". Rather than attempting to recreate their past, the band uses this album to demonstrate that their creative story is still unfolding. For Listening: Spotify  | Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 16, 1981, "Accept" released their third album "Breaker". This is the album where the sound of "Accept" began to crystallize. The album that defined their DNA. The first album in an incredible streak of five masterpieces to be released during the band's heyday, including " Restless and Wild ", " Balls to the Wall ", " Metal Heart " and "Russian Roulette". The band's roots go back to 1968 when "Band X" was formed in "Solingen", Germany. After many lineup changes, the band changed its name to "Accept" in 1976, then it already included Wolf Hoffmann on guitar, Udo Dirkschneider on vocals, Peter Baltes on bass, drummer Frank Friedrich and guitarist Gerhard Wahl, who was replaced before the release of their debut album by Jörg Fischer. The band played in clubs and small festivals and slowly began to build its fan base. The band's first opportunity came when they received an invitation to play at one of the first rock and roll festivals in Germany, "Pop am Rhein". This show would change the band's future, as they were soon offered a recording contract, and by January 1979 they had already released their debut album called "Accept". This album was not a successful one, but it opened the door to the big world for the band and allowed them to go on a tour outside Germany for the first time, performing in neighboring countries like France and Belgium. At the end of 1979, the band returned to the studio with the new drummer Stefan Kaufmann, to record their next album - "I'm A Rebel", which was released in June 1980. This album had a more commercial sound than the debut album. It introduces us to a band that did not yet have a specific identity and was influenced by external factors who saw before their eyes one thing - sales. As part of an attempt to succeed, the band chose to name the album "I'm A Rebel" - after a rare song from "AC/DC" that was not released on any of the band's albums, which "Accept" chose to make a cover version of. But even the attempt to break out with an album more commercialized than its predecessor, was unsuccessful and the band had to stop and "recalculate". In retrospect, the failure of "I'm A Rebel" was the best thing that could have happened to "Accept". It forced the band members to make a significant decision that drastically affected their careers. Following the failure, the band members decided that this time they would do it in their own way. Be free to make the music they like, with the sound and style that appeals to them, and not with what the record company or management dictates to them. They entered the Delta Studios in Wilste, Germany in December 1980, with original and new ideas. Over the course of two months, they concocted, wrote, and recorded the album that would redefine them. "Breaker" is without a doubt a classic album in the band's repertoire and was the first to pave the way for it toward great success and international recognition. It was "Accept"'s groundbreaking album both in terms of finding their sound and in terms of style, which would march them forward and buy them world fame in the Heavy Metal genre. This is the album that attracted enough attention to allow the band to serve as the opening act for "Judas Priest", as part of their world tour in 1981. This will be the first time for "Accept" to play outside of Europe. Starting with the opening riff of " Starlight ", it is clear that this album is fundamentally different and much more "metallic" than its predecessor. Wolf Hoffmann's complex solos, in which the buds of the neoclassical style are beginning to be heard, finally confirm to us that the band has completed the transformation that will make it one of the most influential Metal bands of the 1980s. The second track and the theme song " Breaker " is the shortest on the album, and it perfectly defines the flirtation of "Accept" with the genre of Speed ​​Metal, which will be more dominant already on the next album " Restless and Wild ". " Run If You Can " showcases the incredible ability of "Accept" to combine rough Heavy Metal throughout the verses, with a melodic and catchy chorus. This ability will only improve to perfection in the band's next albums. The song also features an impressive solo battle between Hoffman and Fisher. " Can't Stand the Night " is the longest on the album. A classic Metal ballad wrapped in Dirkschneider's rough and powerful voice. This track is a perfect contrast to the second ballad " Breaking Up Again ", located in exactly the same place on the other side of the vinyl, sung by bassist Peter Baltes endowed with a soft and gentle voice. The first side of the vinyl ends with the controversial title song " Son of a Bitch" . An angry, vulgar, and blatant protest song directed against the band's record company. This is the only song whose lyrics were not printed on the inside cover of the album, to avoid censorship. It is interesting to note that in honor of the UK release the band recorded an alternate version of the song called "Born to Be Whipped" and included more "refined" lyrics. The other side of the vinyl opens up with the audience roars that form an intro to the powerful and energetic rock and roll of " Burning ". The next track " Feelings " just sounds like an outtake from " Balls to the Wall " and is a further proof that the band has formed the DNA that will define it already from this album. " Midnight Highway " is one of the catchiest on the album. An impressive purposeful display of the band's incredible writing ability, which will become its hallmark in subsequent albums. The album ends up with a bang with " Down and Out ", which increases the energy after the quiet ballad " Breaking Up Again ". " Breaker " is not one of the band's perfect albums, but it has enormous historical significance in the band's development process. The conscious change that the band went through during the recording of this album and the choice to go with their hearts and update the sound and musical style, are what will march "Accept" to the masterpieces that will come along the way. For Listening: Spotify . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 16, 1984, "Dire Straits" released their double live album "Alchemy: Dire Straits Live". Ten months after the release of the excellent " Love Over Gold " album and just before becoming a stadium giant following the album " Brothers in Arms ", "Dire Straits" arrives at "Hammersmith Odeon" in London, reinforced by three guest musicians, to record their first live album. The recordings took place during the two last performances of the "Love Over Gold Tour" tour, which took place on July 22-23, 1983. The album includes songs from all four first albums of the band, from the EP released during the eight-month tour - "ExtendedancEPlay" and the soundtrack of the movie "Local Hero". It gives us "Dire Straits" as it was not heard on their studio albums. Live, energetic and electrifying! The line-up in this live album is the same as the one recorded " Love Over Gold ", except for drummer Terry Williams who replaced Pick Withers, who left the band in late 1982 to spend time with his family, having been a part of all four albums of the band. Despite Pick Withers' fantastic talents, Terry Williams' addition seems to have infused life and dynamism into songs such as: " Romeo and Juliet ", " Tunnel of Love " and " Telegraph Road ", which sound a little "thinner" in the studio versions. In addition to the five "Dire Straits" members, the band thickened its sound with the help of another keyboardist - Tommy Mandel, who played with Brian Adams and assists the talented Alan Clark, who joined the band in 1980. Other additions are percussionist Joop de Korte and saxophonist Mel Collins. Here is the place to note that, the sound of this live show is amazing. The sound quality on this album is almost as good as a studio recording, and this makes listening to it a real delight. Beyond the fact that the performance sounds much fuller and more energetic than that of the studio albums, the versions of most of the songs here are longer and include improvisational sections and additions, thus adding value to the album. For example, " Sultans of Swing " from the debut album stretches for almost 11 minutes with a huge and crazy guitar solo, one of the greatest ever, " Tunnel Of Love " from the album " Making Movies " is almost 15 minutes running, and still, the flow of the album is light, fluid and far from being Boring. Guitarist, singer, and the undisputed band "captain" Mark Knopfler simply surpasses himself here, not only in leading and sweeping all the musicians after him but in simply fantastic playing that proves what a gifted and talented guitarist he is and how much he deserves to be included among the greatest guitarists of all time. Mark Knopfler proves his rich versatility in playing, that combines amazing technique and tremendous emotion. It happens with the classical guitar in the song " Private Investigations ", it goes well with his blues playing in " Once Upon A Time In The West ", it penetrates the bones with the famous steel guitar "National Style O Weathered Steel Resonator" in the song " Romeo And Juliet " and it Electrifies our body as he flirts with the Fender Stratocaster in the song " Sultans of Swing ". The album ends with " Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero " from the soundtrack of the film for which Mark Knopfler wrote the music. Undoubtedly, the band's peak is still ahead of it, but it is precisely this strange choice to include an excerpt from Mark Knopfler 's solo project on the band's live album that probably hints at the beginning of the end of "Dire Straits", while Mark Knopfler declares that he is "Dire Straits" and "Dire Straits" is Mark Knopfler . For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Singer Dee Snider is celebrating his birthday today and this is a good opportunity to tell you some interesting facts about him: (Photo: Paul Natkin ) 1. He was born in Astoria, Queens, New York, on March 15, 1955 as Daniel "Dee" Snider. 2. His father was a Jew, a government official of the state of New York. His mother was an art teacher and a Catholic Christian. 3. As a child, he sang in a church choir, school choirs and high school concert choirs. Because he was so good, Snider was even on the All-State Choir. 4. In early 1976, Snyder joined "Twisted Sister" and became the band's primary songwriter. 5. To emphasize the "Twisted Sister" image, Snider adopted a drag persona with long curly blonde hair and an excessive amount of makeup. 5. In 1982 the band released their debut album "Under the Blade". 6. Less than a year later "Twisted Sister" released their second album "You Can't Stop Rock'n'Roll". 7. The big break came with their third album "Stay Hungry" from 1984. It became the band's most successful record with hits like: "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock". 8. In the early 1980s, the "Parents Music Resource Center" criticized Dee and "Twisted Sister" for alleging violence in their videos for the songs "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock". This led to the famous stickers affixed to albums, to warn parents and children of offensive content in music. 9. In order to try and convey the evil of the decree, Dee testified before the American Congress and gave an eloquent and instructive performance that completely contradicted his outward appearance. 10. In 1985, he hosted the first episode of the "Heavy Metal Mania" show, broadcast on the MTV channel. This is a program that included metal news, interviews with metal artists and more and preceded the legendary program " Headbangers Ball ". 11. In the same year, "Twisted Sister" released their fourth album " Come Out and Play ". 12. In 1987, the band released their fifth album "Love Is for Suckers". The record was originally planned to be a solo album by Snider, but the record company "Atlantic Records" convinced him to release it under the name "Twisted Sister". 13. In October 1987, Snider announced his departure from the band. During this time he formed "Desperado", a supergroup featuring ex-Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr , ex-Gillan guitarist Bernie Torme, and bassist Marc Russel. The band's only album "Ace" was recorded in 1988, but never officially released, later in 1996 it was released under the name "Bloodied But Unbowed", due to problems with the record company. 14. Snider later formed "Widowmaker" with guitarist Al Pitrelli, bassist Marc Russel and drummer Joey Franco - formerly of "Twisted Sister". The quartet recorded two albums called "Blood and Bullets" and Stand By "for Pain". 15. In the late 1990s, Snider toured with a self-tribute band called "Dee Snider's SMFs (Sick Mother Fuckers)". 16. In 1993, Snider composed the theme song for the "Fox Kids" show called "The Terrible Thunderlizards". 17. In 1997, Snider began hosting "The House of Hair", a hard rock/heavy metal radio show that aired on over 200 radio stations across North America. 18. In 1998 Snider wrote a song called "The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)", it was a song he wrote as a Christmas present to his wife. 19. When he learned that Celine Dion wanted to include it on her 1998 album "These Are Special Times", he asked that she not be told he wrote it. Only years later did she discover that Dee was the writer. 20. Later that year, he also wrote and starred in the horror film "Strangeland". Snider also wrote the screenplay for the sequel "Strangeland: Disciple". 21. From June 1999 to August 2003, Snider hosted a morning radio show on 104.1 FM WMRQ in Connecticut called "Dee Snider Radio". His show returned to the air in August 2004 on station 93.3 WMMR in Philadelphia until June 2005. 22. In 2001, Snider voiced Gol Acheron, the main villain of the PlayStation 2 video game "Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy". 23. Snider also starred in the 2002 TV movie "Warning: Parental Advisory". 24. Although only his father is Jewish and he grew up as a Catholic Christian, he sat down in 2005 at the Pesach Sedder table together with the Jews Scott Ian from "Anthrax", Leslie West guitarist from "Mountain", together with JJ French guitarist from "Twisted Sister". This "Sedder Night" was filmed for the "VH1 Classic" channel. 25. Snider also voiced Angry Jack in the episode "Shell Shocked" for the Nickelodeon cartoon "SpongeBob SquarePants". He admitted that he is a big fan of the show. 26. In 2003 he participated in the project "Van Helsing's Curse", which combined metal with orchestral elements in the style of the "Trans-Siberian Orchestra". The band's first album "Oculus Infernum" was released the same year. 27. Dee met his wife Suzette when she was 15 and he was 21 after she snuck into a Long Island nightclub. They married in 1981, have been together ever since and have four children. 28. In 2012, Dee was on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" but was fired in ninth place out of 18 people. The following year, he returned to the show but was fired in second place that season. 29. In 2012, Dee and his family appeared on "Celebrity Wife Swap." In the same episode, Snider swapped with the rapper Flavor Flav. 30. In 2010, Dee and his family appeared on the A&E reality series "Growing Up Twisted". 31. Snider guest starred in the video "Immaculate Misconception" by the metalcore band "Motionless in White". Snider's son, Cody Blue Snider, directed the video. 32. Dee released 5 studio albums in his solo career, the first "Never Let the Bastards Wear You Down" in 2000 and the fifth " Leave a Scar " in 2021. 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This is the man behind the "effects" table in "Linkin Park" but he has a lot more talent beyond that. So let's get to know a little better the guy who's not in front of the stage... (Photo: Amino) 1. His full name is Joseph Hahn and he is the son of Korean American parents. 2. He was born on March 15, 1977, in Texas, grew up in California, and has two older sisters. 3. He started recording when he was in high school and studied painting. 4. When he was in college he met Mike Shinoda and joined his band "Xero" which was later called "Hybrid Theory" and later became the "Linkin Park" we know today. (Photo: Mick Hutson) 5. The two were featured on the DJs' second album called "The X-Ecutioners" and were part of their big hit "It's Going Down". 6. The two also worked together on Mike's side project called "Fort Minor". 7. Joe, like the rest of the "Linkin Park" band (besides Chester Bennington ) was there from the first moment in 1996 and released with the band seven studio albums, three live albums, two compilation albums, two remix albums, three soundtracks and a number of EPs. (Photo: James Minchin) 8. He is responsible for remixes for various artists such as Lady Tigra, Good Charlotte, Uncle Kracker, and more... 9. Filmmaking is his biggest passion and music is only "on the go" for him, he directed almost all of the band's music videos (about 14 music videos). 10. In 2005 he directed a short film called "The Seed" which tells of an incident of robbery and harassment of a homeless character named Ken Mercado. 11. In 2014 he directed a full-length film called "Mall" , the film was produced by actor Vincent D'Onofrio and the lead actress was Gina Gershon. The film is based on the book by Eric Bogosian. 12. He has directed music videos for other artists such as Alkaline Trio, Static-X, Story of the Year, and Xzibit. 13. He was responsible for the special effects in the 2000 series "Dune" and the 1998 film "Sphere". 14. He directed the trailer for the famous " Medal Of Honor" game in which the band's song "The Catalyst" participated. 15. Following Linkin's Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2002, he became the first Korean-American to win a Grammy. 16. In 2011 he designed the helmet of Japanese Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi . 17. Joe participated as a judge in the Korean reality show "Superband" , a show for talented musicians in the famous K-Pop music. 18. In 2024 Linkin Park made the biggest comeback of the year (if not the century) when they came back to full action with a new members and a new albums. (Photo: James_Minchin) Listen to the soundtrack of the movie Mall , which Joe directed and in which almost all the members of Linkin Park participate. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 15, 1976, "Kiss" released their fourth studio album, "Destroyer". This is the band's breakthrough album, which is considered the best of the classic lineup, and its first to receive "Platinum" status. Before the release of the album, the band released three studio albums that were not successful in sales. This led the "Casablanca" record company to consider not renewing the band recording contract. But then, the band decides to make a move that will upgrade its musical career and make it one of the greatest bands in the world. "Kiss" knew very well that its big advantage lay in their live performances. They realized that they needed to find a way to convey the power, energy, and charisma they had on stage to the audience that was not present at the band performances. They decide to record and release the double live album "Alive!", Which will later turn out to be one of the greatest live albums ever released. "Alive!" was a great success and is the first of the band to win "gold" status, as it spends 110 weeks in the charts, which led the record company "Casablanca" to renew the band's contract. (Photo: Kiss Twitter) With a new recording contract under its belt and bolstered by the huge success of the album "Alive!", "Kiss" decided it was time to change its style and sound and open up to a new audience. Unbelievably the opportunity to make a big change in sound will roll to the band's doorstep in the most casual way. One afternoon in 1975, producer Bob Ezrin, who worked with Alice Cooper and Lou Reed , among others, walked up the stairs at the "Toronto City TV Studios" building, on his way to conduct an interview. At that time the members of "Kiss" finished recording a show and went down the stairs and passed Ezrin, who introduced himself to the musicians and noted something like: "If you ever need any help, do not hesitate to call me." Less than three months later, Bill Aucoin, "Kiss" manager, invited Ezrin to work with the band. It was a move that would change the face of the band forever. The collaboration with Bob Ezrin will upgrade the writing quality of the band members and improve their playing ability. Ezrin will not only serve as a producer. He will also play keyboards, piano and conduct a string orchestra. He will introduce the band to new effects and innovative recording techniques. He will co-write with the band 8 of the ten songs on the album, provide the band members with lessons in music theory and serve as their music teacher. He walked around the studio with a whistle to instill discipline in the band members, scolding them and calling them to order when needed. Paul Stanley referred to working with Ezrin on the album as a "musical training camp". Gene Simmons will later admit that this was exactly what the band needed. Ezrin watched the band perform and noticed that the audience, for the most part, was made up of men. He wanted to slightly refine the band's rough sound to attract women. He told the band that they should be the kind of bad kids the girls could love when the whole idea of ​​the album was to show a certain sensitivity of "Kiss". Although the band came to the recordings with 15 songs ready to carry, Bob Ezrin rejected most of them, investing his time in writing new songs as part of a joint creative process with the band members, in the studio. He caused the band to expand its horizons using effects (" Detroit Rock City "), strings (" Beth "), and even a children's choir (" Great Expectations "). This album will provide the band with stadium anthems that will accompany its setlists for over 4 decades. The opening song " Detroit Rock City " was written and sung by Paul Stanley as a tribute to the music scene in Detroit, and Ezrin helped him adapt to something much more complex. The song was released as the fourth single from the album, with the song " Beth " appearing as its b-sides. Surprisingly, radio broadcasters preferred to play " Beth " over " Detroit Rock City ". In response, the band released " Beth " as the next single, the fifth from the album, which reached number seven on the chart, the highest-charting "Kiss" song ever. It is interesting to note, that the one who sang the ballad " Beth " is drummer Peter Criss. The song was written in the days of Criss in the band "Chelsea", in which he was a member together with the guitarist Stan Penridge, between the years 1970-1972. Criss and Penridge wrote a song called "Beck" written about the wife of their guitarist Mike Brand, whose name was Becky. She kept interrupting the band's rehearsals and kept asking when Mike was coming home, so the song was written as a joke about him and her. The song was a last-minute addition to the album "Destroyer". According to Bill Aucoin, the band manager at the time, Simmons and Stanley did not want the song on the album, as it was not a typical "Kiss" song with a dramatic deviation from the band's rock sound. Aucoin insisted and turned out to be right after the song became the band's biggest hit. Peter Criss was the only band member in the studio at the time of the song's recording, making it the band's only song that none of the band members played in. Peter Criss was backed down with a piano recording played by Bob Ezrin, with a harp, and with Ezrin's strings arrangement. Sadly though, perhaps because of the song's great success, it will be the trigger for the controversy between Criss and Paul Stanley and will eventually cause Criss to leave the band. Stanley was interviewed years later, noting that Criss did not write the song, because he does not play on any instrument that can be used to write songs with. Criss for his part reacted to the lack of support and noted that Stanley and Simmons always insulted him. Another single released from the album and turned into the band's greatest is " Shout It Out Loud ". The song originated in Stanley and Simmons' first band - "Wicked Lester". They were influenced by the song "We Want to Shout It Out Loud" by "The Hollies" and recorded their own demo of the same name. During the recording of the album, Simmons brought the song and he and Stanley along with Bob Ezrin rewrote it. Another iconic song from the album is " God of Thunder ", written by Paul Stanley and sung by Gene Simmons . The song became a crowd favorite at shows, that Simmons usually performs after the "blood trick." The solo in the song is one of Ace Frehley 's favorites and the children's voices heard in the background are Bob Ezrin's children. " Flaming Youth " was released as the third single from the album. The song was written by Ace Frehley , Paul Stanley , Gene Simmons , and Bob Ezrin, who took different pieces of music written by the other three, grouped and organized them into one song. For example, one of the main riffs in the song is taken from a song written by Simmons called "Mad Dog" and appears in the box "The Box Set", from 2001. Other great songs on the album are " Do You Love Me " which Stanley remembers how Bob Ezrin challenged him to improve during the recordings, " Great Expectations " with the orchestra and children's choir, which features Alice Cooper and Lou Reed guitarist Dick Wagner and more. On Bob Ezrin's recommendation, the song " Great Expectations " drew from Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 of Beethoven. Dick Wagner also plays guitar on other songs on the album: " Sweet Pain ", " Flaming Youth " and " Beth ". This was in accordance with the instruction of Bob Ezrin and the displeasure of Ace Frehley . "Destroyer" was a huge success in sales and helped "Kiss" become one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. The album is also on "Rolling Stone" Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. It's also on 1001 albums you need to listen to before you die, and also on Kerrang! Magazine's 100 Greatest Ever Metal Albums List, on 100 guitar song list of "Guitar World" magazine, and more. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

So what does Jimmy Page do when Robert Plant does not respond to his "courtship" and does not agree to reunite? He teams up with Planet's biggest foe - David Coverdale , and releases an album that ignites all the fuses of Robert Plant . This album annoyed Robert Plant so much, that he eventually reunite with Jimmy Page , not before "stinging" David Coverdale and calling him in the media the "David Cover-Version." So this telenovela between the three ego-inflated musicians is related to the album released on March 15, 1993 - the only studio album by the "Coverdale/Page" duo. It can be said that the story of the album began in 1987 when "Whitesnake" released the album that bears its name known as "1987". On this album, the band led by David Coverdale makes a fundamental and radical change in both lineup and sound. Coverdale replaces all the musicians who have accompanied him on previous albums and simply forms a new band. At the same time, the musical style undergoes a metamorphosis and from Hard Rock/Blues Rock to Heavy Metal/Glam Metal. This fundamental change in the band's sound is also reflected in the singing style of Coverdale, which sometimes sounds like an imitation of Robert Plant , as can be heard in the opening song of the album in his European release "Still Of The Night". The fact that David Coverdale , suddenly began to sound like an innovative version of Robert Plant, was enough for Jimmy Page . The two met during the winter of 1991-1992 in several locations, on both sides of the ocean, and worked on the materials for the album. The album cover accurately shows what's going on inside - two roads that blend into one road. Indeed, the musical style of the album is a combination of the strong riffs of "Led Zeppelin" and the slow and heavy Blues-Rock of "Whitesnake". (Photo: William Hames/Zuma) This combination can already be heard in the opening song " Shake My Tree " which blends the so-identified rhythms of "Led Zeppelin" with the electrifying blues-rock of "Whitesnake". The song begins quiet and acoustic as the tension builds over the first two verses, until the inevitable explosion in the third verse. The incredible riff of this song was developed by Jimmy Page more than a decade earlier, back in the days of the sessions for Zeppelin's latest album - " In Through The Out Door ".This amazing riff proves how accurate the definition of the "Rolling Stone" magazine, which portrayed him as the "pontiff of power riffing". The album continues with " Waiting On You " another song with a "Led Zeppelin" riff, only unlike the previous song, the style is more appealing towards "Whitesnake", as the rhythm section immediately reveals. The chorus and David Coverdale vocals also correspond more with "1987's" "Whitesnake" than with Plant and "Zeppelin". And if we are already talking about "Whitesnake", then the blues-rock ballad " Take Me For A Little While " that emerges softly in the third track, could certainly have suited the "Whitesnake" albums of the early 1980s. This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and powerful songs on the album, which manages to bring out the best of the duo. It is interesting to note, that the album features two more powerful blues-rock ballads, " Don't Leave Me This Way " whose guitar solo corresponds with that from the song "Since I've Been Lovin' You", starting at 4:45 and " Whisper a Prayer for the Dying ", whose rhythm section, at times, reminds us of another Jimmy Page 's lineup from the early 1980s - "The Firm". The three ballads are scattered throughout the album and form its stable anchors. Coverdale sounds amazing in those songs. He is in the comfort zone of his vocal range and he just surpasses himself vocally. Similarly, these songs bring Page back to his blues roots and highlight his incredible ability to take a simple blues riff and improvise on it with short, melodic guitar sentences alongside overwhelming "melting" solos. (Photo: Heartofmarkness.com) The fourth track " Pride and Joy ", was chosen to be the first single from the album. This is a distinctly "Led Zeppelin" song. From the opening that combines Jimmy Page's all-too-familiar acoustics with the dulcimer - the strings instrument that Page did not use since " Led Zeppelin III ", through the electric riffs that correspond with the original, and to the singing at the end meant to sound exactly Like Plant with the attraction of syllables. Interestingly, the song started from a bluish sketch of a David Coverdale that Page simply broke down and rebuilt as a rocking hard rock song. Jimmy Page is also responsible for the harmonica playing that accompanies the song throughout, including the amazing solo. We continue with "Over Now " and his "Kashmiri" drumming, combined with the guitar sound that, again, reminds us of Page's previous lineup - "The Firm". This track along with " Easy Does It " are the two weakest songs of the album. They both have quite a bit in common, as they also include a kind of combination of the acoustics from " Led Zeppelin III " with the electric guitar and bass sound of "The Firm", especially from the bass guitar entry at the minute 2:46. " Feeling Hot " is the fastest on the album and is led by the powerful drumming of Denny Carmassi from "Montrose". " Take a Look at Yourself " is a distinct eighties Hard Rock ballad. A love song with the obvious influences of David Coverdale and a melodic chorus compatible with "Whitesnake" of the late 1980s. This song proves that Page has not really changed since the days of his "musical loans" from the "Led Zeppelin" days, as the melody of the song and even some of the lyrics are reminiscent of the "Tracks of my Tears" from the "Temptations". " Absolution Blues " is the closest that Coverdale sounds like Plant on this album. The song's riff is no doubt copied from Led Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker". However, Coverdale nevertheless left his mark on the song with the sequence of lyrics: "Falling down to wash my tears away" that correspond with the lyrics of the song "Ain't Gonna Cry No More" by "Whitesnake". Although the album did not leave a significant mark, it is without a doubt a good album with strong compositions and equally good performance. At the same time, the album created a small earthquake whose waves resonated almost until the end of the decade. The antagonism it provoked for Plant along with the relatively poor sales of his "Fate of Nations" album, was the catalyst that would lead to his reunion with Page, initially in a show recorded especially in honor of MTV's unplugged program and released on audio and DVD - " Jimmy Page and Robert Plant - No Quarter ", and later also in an entire studio album with original materials. For Listening: Youtube . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Noam Asulin On March 15, 2005 "Kamelot" released their seventh album "The Black Halo". I heard "Kamelot" for the first time somewhere during my military service in 2005. It was a time when I formed my taste in music and metal in particular. It was a time when I would still hear relatively soft things like "Evanescence", "Nightwish" and "Edguy" but I was curious to know what else is there in the never-ending album collection. With this album, I came across it while wandering on Amazon looking for new music and this album appeared there as one of the recommendations. I examined it and a new world of musical richness was revealed to my ears. "Kamelot" is an American-Swedish power metal band formed in Tampa Florida in 1991, by guitarist Thomas Youngblood and drummer Richard Warner. The album "The Black Halo" is a concept album that is a direct continuation of the first part of the story told on the band's previous album - "Epica" from 2003. The album is based on a play called "Faust" from the 19th century. The protagonists of the story are Ariel , whose singing roles are performed by lead singer Roy Khan and whose character is based on Heinrich Faust from the original play, Helena performed by Mari Youngblood - the partner of guitarist Thomas Youngblood and whose character is based on Gretchen from the original play, Mephisto played by Shagrath - lead singer of "Dimmu Borgir", which is the only character left as-is from the original play and Marguerite played by Simone Simons - lead singer of the band "Epica", whose character was inspired by "Helen of Troy" from the original play. The story of the act begins where the story of the previous album "Epica" ended. Ariel is still mourning Helena 's death. He is in complete control of Mephisto , but decides to confront him. During the confrontation, he realizes that love is the ultimate answer to life, and that true love between him and Helena is part of it. This revelation brings him to a moment of utter satisfaction which puts into effect the contract he made with Mephisto , and thus his soul now belongs to the fallen angel and begins to leave his body. But then his beloved Helena prays to God for his soul and God allows him to enter heaven with Helena, while Mephisto is thrown into hell forever (see below the song " Memento Mori "). The first song " March of Mephisto " already starts with high power and includes a collaboration of "Shagrath", with powerful growls. The album as a whole is very theatrical and rich in instruments and drama, which in my opinion conveys the message of a tragic play. The ballad " Abandoned " is chilling and very moving and includes a guest appearance by Mari Youngblood, and the song " The Haunting (Somewhere in Time) " features a collaboration with Simone Simons and is just one of the beautiful duets in Metal. The band's amazing vocalist Roy Khan adds a lot to the drama and atmosphere, not to mention the spectacular vocal qualities that levitate the album on several levels. The highlight of the album comes in the song " Memento Mori " which is one of the best power songs I know, if not the best of them all. Sheer pleasure approaching nine minutes. The song begins quietly and slowly, accompanied by keyboards, and slowly amplifies. Even the C-Parts on the album are fun and meaningful, which is something that cannot be said about every album. The production of the album was done, among other things, by Sascha Paeth, a very well-known Swedish producer who worked with bands like "Edguy" and "Avantasia". Each instrument on this album gets its place and the keyboards give a dramatic vibe and inflate the sound to something grandiose. In conclusion, this is an amazingly beautiful album performed by talented musicians. In my opinion, this is the ultimate power album and one of the best metal albums ever. Listen to the album on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 14.03.1983 “I haven't met anyone who thinks a major rock group should be managed by the 23-year-old guitarist.” In May 1987, after the recording sessions for “Strangeways, Here We Come”, the fourth studio album by “The Smiths”, had concluded, the band’s guitarist and main songwriter Johnny Marr announced that he wanted to take a break from the band. Marr felt suffocated, partly because the other members expected him to take the reins and shape the band’s direction not only musically but also from a managerial standpoint. Marr indeed took that break, and from there events unfolded in a way no one expected. Two months after the hiatus began, the headlines of NME  magazine screamed: “Smiths To Split..” Marr could not believe the headline he was seeing. He felt betrayed and suspected Morrissey as the person responsible for it. Toward the end of the recording sessions their relationship had already become strained. “Morrissey and I were very different characters,” Johnny Marr once said in an interview. “We didn’t really talk about it at the time. We just went our separate ways.” Still, there was someone who hoped that “The Smiths”  might collaborate again. That person was Stephen Street, the producer of their final album, who would later produce albums for “The Cranberries”  and “Blur.”  Believing that “The Smiths”  had not yet said their last word, Street sent Morrissey several demos featuring his own playing, hoping to inspire him to write new songs that could eventually become the band’s glorious comeback. “Johnny used to send Morrissey a tape with the music on it and Morrissey would write the lyrics over the top. I tried to do something similar,” Stephen Street later recalled. “I sent Morrissey a cassette with a few musical ideas on it.”. Morrissey liked what he heard and told Street that “The Smiths are finished.”, suggesting they make a solo record together. And so Morrissey’s debut solo album “Viva Hate” was born, released on March 14, 1988. Just how hungry Morrissey was for recognition and success as an artist, and not merely for artistic appreciation, could already be seen in his enthusiastic response to Street. Steven Patrick Morrissey was born in May 1959 in Davyhulme, Lancashire. His parents were Irish Catholics who had emigrated from Dublin to Manchester. During his childhood he was deeply affected by the murders of several children in the area where he grew up, carried out by a pair later known as the "Moors Murderers". The young Morrissey also became aware of the anti-Irish sentiment that existed in British society toward Irish immigrants. Morrissey had strong criticism of the British education system, which he claimed gave him nothing except a lack of self-esteem. After losing interest in school, Morrissey focused his energy on reading. He admired the writings of Oscar Wilde and was also drawn to feminist literature. Musically he was fascinated by artists such as Marianne Faithfull, “T. Rex”, David Bowie, and “Roxy Music”, and later also by bands like “Sparks” and “New York Dolls.” His first steps in music came in November 1977 when he met guitarist Billy Duffy and agreed to become the singer of his band “The Nosebleeds.” There he also wrote his first songs. At the same time Morrissey began writing short books for the publishing company Babylon Books. Later he wrote additional booklets about “New York Dolls” and James Dean. He first met Johnny Marr by chance in 1978 during a Patti Smith concert. Four years later Marr contacted him after being impressed by Morrissey’s booklet about “New York Dolls.” That connection led to the birth of “The Smiths”, a band whose entire existence lasted only five years and produced four albums, yet remains one of the most influential bands in Britain during the 1980s. Their impact stemmed from the unique fusion between rock music and sharp lyrical writing, in other words the combination of Johnny Marr’s guitars and Morrissey’s written ideas. In October 1987, Morrissey entered the studio to record “ Viva Hate”, his first solo album, only a few days after the final album by “The Smiths” had reached record stores. While Morrissey was working on the new material in the studio together with Stephen Street, new singles by “The Smiths” continued to be released until the end of 1987. The irony was hard to ignore. Beyond Street, who produced the album and also played guitar, Morrissey received impressive additional support in the form of Vini Reilly, the founder of the post-punk band “The Durutti Column”, who played guitar and keyboards, and Andrew Paresi, who handled the drums. If on the albums of “The Smiths” Morrissey was somewhat less focused on writing directly about his own life, then “Viva Hate” became the moment where he filled that space with the issues and thoughts that occupied him personally. Morrissey, after all, has an opinion about almost everything, and his views have not always been well received by the establishment. That was the case with “Bengali in Platforms” , in which Morrissey tells the story of a Bangladeshi immigrant and seemingly warns him that “you will never have a future in Britain.” Years later Morrissey was accused of racism toward immigrants, an accusation that carries a certain irony when one remembers that his own parents had immigrated to England. In the album’s closing track “Margaret on the Guillotine” , Morrissey directs his anger at Thatcherite policies and even appears to wish for Margaret Thatcher’s death. Conservative Member of Parliament Geoffrey Dickens accused Morrissey of being connected to a terrorist network, prompting the police to investigate him and even search his home. The opening single “Suedehead” , released about a month before the album itself, took its inspiration from the “Suedehead” subculture. Morrissey recalled a man he had met as a teenager who belonged to that movement. The song reached the Top 5 in the UK and became Morrissey’s biggest hit, charting higher than any single released by “The Smiths.” The second single “Everyday Is Like Sunday”  was written jointly by Morrissey and Stephen Street. The lyrics capture the gloomy atmosphere of the Welsh seaside town of Borth outside the summer tourist season. Other notable songs on the album include the brief “Little Man, What Now?” , which confronts the listener with the fleeting and painful reality of fifteen minutes of fame. In “Break Up the Family” , Morrissey seems to reveal a sense of longing for his former bandmates from “ The Smiths.” Another interpretation suggests that he is actually referring to his childhood friends from the early seventies. “Late Night, Maudlin Street”  is also filled with memories from Morrissey’s teenage years during that decade. The album’s title “Viva Hate” feels almost inevitable, as if Morrissey is openly embracing the feelings of resentment that accompanied the crisis and the breakup of the band. Perhaps the album’s strong commercial success, which sent it to the top of the UK Albums Chart, helped soften some of that hatred. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website