Search Results

The “Stained Class” suicide incident is one of the most painful and defining controversies in heavy metal history, a moment when personal tragedy collided with fear, grief, and a growing cultural backlash against the genre and the day the Heavy Metal genre went on trial. Released in 1978, “Stained Class”  by “Judas Priest” marked a decisive shift toward a colder, sharper, and more aggressive sound. The album explored themes of alienation, authority, and inner conflict, elements that years later would be misread and pulled into a narrative the band never intended. On December 23, 1985, two teenage fans from Nevada, Raymond Belknap and James Vance, spent the night drinking alcohol and repeatedly listening to “Stained Class”. In the early hours of the morning, Belknap died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, while Vance survived with severe injuries and later died in 1988 due to complications. The tragedy shocked the local community and left families searching for explanations and accountability. That search led to a lawsuit against “Judas Priest” and "CBS Records", claiming the album contained subliminal messages that encouraged suicide. The accusation focused on “Better By You, Better Than Me” , a cover originally written by “Spooky Tooth”, with claims that hidden commands such as “Do It” and “Let’s Be Dead” were embedded in the recording, allegedly audible when the songs were played backwards. In a broader context, this case did not occur in a vacuum. It followed a series of public confrontations surrounding heavy metal throughout the 1980s. On May 28, 1984, a civil lawsuit against Ozzy Osbourne over the song “Suicide Solution”  was dismissed, with the court ruling that the song constituted artistic expression rather than a call to action, and that there was no legal basis to hold an artist responsible for listeners’ interpretations of lyrics. About a year later, on September 19, 1985, vocalist Dee Snider of “Twisted Sister” appeared before the U.S. Senate during the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) hearings. Contrary to expectations, Snider delivered a clear, articulate, and persuasive argument, explaining that songs express emotions, metaphors, and personal experiences rather than instructions for behavior. The outcome of the hearings was not legislation or direct censorship, but the adoption of the “Parental Advisory” label as a warning system only. While “Twisted Sister” managed to halt the battle in the public and political arena, the trial against “Judas Priest” marked a more advanced and dangerous stage, and a clear escalation of the moral panic that surrounded heavy metal during the 1980s. It represented a shift from debating the open interpretation of lyrics to an attempt to prove hidden, subliminal influence. On July 16, 1990, the trial officially began at the Washoe County District Court in Reno, Nevada. The case quickly became an international media spectacle, as prosecutors attempted to prove that the band had deliberately placed subliminal messages within the album. Rob Halford  and Glenn Tipton testified, explaining recording techniques, vocal bleed, and how random sound artifacts can be perceived as words when listeners are primed to hear them. In his ruling, the judge acknowledged that certain sounds could be interpreted as subliminal phrases when isolated or reversed, but ultimately dismissed the case, stating that any such messages would not be discernible to listeners under normal listening conditions. There was no evidence of intent, and no legal basis to hold “Judas Priest” responsible for the tragedy. Although “Judas Priest” prevailed in court, the episode permanently attached itself to “Stained Class”. Over time, the trial became a landmark moment that helped define the legal limits of artistic responsibility. The album itself endured as one of the band’s most influential works, its music surviving long after the fear and misunderstanding that once surrounded it. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He's one of the great singers, he's one of the great songwriters, he's one of the great performers and in addition to all that he is a multi-instrumentalist, dear friends please welcome Eddie Vedder... (Photo: Danny Clinch) = He was born on December 23, 1964, in Evanston, Illinois. A year after he was born his parents divorced and his father left home. His mother married very quickly and introduced the new husband as Eddie's biological father. = His mother decided to adopt 7 more children and create a lifestyle of a shared home, but in the early 1970s, Eddie, his mother, and three other half-brothers left for San Diego. = When he was 12 his mother bought him a guitar and Eddie who found solace in music began to focus on it and on surfing. He said he felt alone all the time, except for the moments he was with the music. = His mother divorced for the second time and moved with the rest of his brothers back to Chicago, but Eddie decided to stay with his father to finish school. At that time he discovered that his current father was not his biological father but his stepfather, Eddie did not have a chance to meet his biological father who had passed away several years earlier. = Eddie tried to support himself and live alone, but was not really successful. He worked in a number of jobs such as gas stations, pharmacies, and even security. He eventually collapsed under the load, left school, and soon returned to his mother in Chicago. (Photo: Unknown) = In 1984 Eddie returned to San Diego and began to spend most of his time in music, he wrote, played, created, and recorded various demos. Five years later he joined a funk band called "Bad Radio" and began his musical career. = In the late 1990s, Eddie received from his friend Jack Irons (the drummer of the Chilies) with whom he played basketball a tape containing songs of a band in the making from Seattle. He listened to the tape and immediately (after a surfing session) wrote the lyrics and recorded vocals for each of the three songs In the tape. These songs will later become what we know today as "Footsteps", "Once" and "Alive". = The tape returned back to the hands of Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament (from the band in the making), who immediately invited the anonymous singer to Seattle to audition for their new band. = During the flight to Seattle, Eddie wrote one of the band's most moving, if not the most moving songs, the song "Black". = At the time, Ament and Gossard were working with Chris Cornell , guitarist Mike McCready and drummer Matt Cameron on a tribute album to the death of their friend Andrew Wood , which would later become the immortal album and ensemble "Temple Of The Dog" . Eddie walks into the studio in the middle of the recordings and right away he is "thrown into the water", Chris asked him to sing background vocals in the chorus to the song "Hunger Strike". Eddie who stunned everyone in the room including Chris himself finally performed a significant part of the song instead of just background vocals. Eddie stayed for the rest of the recordings and performed background vocals for more songs on the album. = In 1991 came out the only album of this band bearing the band name "Temple Of The Dog". This is Eddie's first recording album and it's also the first time he's heard himself sing on a record. Eddie said it was one of his favorite songs. = At that time Eddie lived in the basement of Kelly Curtis who would later become the band's first Manager, his partner in the basement was Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains). = Mike, Jeff, Stone, Eddie, and temporary drummer Dave Krusen went down into a small basement in Seattle, filled with heavy wooden tables and rusty tools, and within a week of rehearsals, they wrote 11 songs. The chemistry and dynamics between the guys happened quickly and brought out the best of the group in that basement. = Immediately afterward they sign a contract with the record company "Epic" and enter the "London Bridge Studios" in Seattle with producer Rick Parashar, to record their debut album. The recording of the album lasted only one month and was done on a minor budget of about $ 70,000. = The band's first name was "Mookie Blaylock", named after a famous basketball player who carried the number ten on his shirt. Since this had legal implications, the label forced the band to change the name and it was changed to "Pearl Jam". = One of the defining moments in Eddie's life was the moment Chris loaded him on his shoulders and took him on stage to start the "Mookie Blaylock's" show. Eddie said he had a very hard time getting on stage, he felt like a foreigner coming from another city straight into Seattle’s music culture, a place where everyone knew everyone and everyone played with everyone. When in addition Andrew's death is still hovering in the air. Chris brought him on stage, introduced him to the audience, and gave him his blessing in front of the audience in Seattle. (Photo: YouTube) = This event was the beginning of a wonderful and long-standing friendship between two huge singers and composers, but also between two fragile and wounded souls. Eddie said Chris was more than a best friend, he was a role model, the friend you look up to, admire, and love. = In August 1991, the band releases their debut album "Ten" . Although initially, the album was not very successful, towards the end of 1992 it got a significant breakthrough. It comes in second place on the Billboard 200, receives two Grammy nominations, and sweeps a bunch of awards on MTV. The album soon became one of the greatest albums to come out of the grunge scene and one of the greatest of the 1990s, and in general. (Photo: PR) = The album brought to the young group a huge success at a lightning speed, straight into the lives of the young and innocent bunch. Everyone had a hard time dealing with it but Eddie was extremely difficult. The issue of success, commercialism, and admiration will accompany him throughout his life and will cause quite a bit of frustration, anger, and a great deal of criticism towards the industry. The hardest thing for him to carry is the dependence or expectations of the fans. Eddie said he felt that many people began to believe that he could change their lives or even save their lives, and they created such big and heavy expectations that just tore him apart. = Already on this album Eddie turns out to be a songwriter in every sense of the word, his ability to write songs and the way he presents them is phenomenal. He is ranked at No.7 in Rolling Stone's best vocals of all time whereas Chris is ranked at No.9 (Just saying). = In 1993 the band's second album "Vs" was released. The album soared on the waves of success straight to number one on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for 5 weeks breaking weekly sales records. = Did we mention Eddie's aversion to success and fame? So in October 1993, a picture of Eddie appeared on the cover of the famous "Time" magazine. His photo was published as part of the article on the rise of the Grunge scene from Seattle. Eddie was very upset about the magazine and claimed he had nothing to do with the publication. = The band releases 9 more albums: "Vitalogy" (1994), "No Code" (1996), "Yield" (1998), "Binaural" (2000), "Riot Act" (2002), "Pearl Jam" (2006), "Backspacer" (2009), "Lightning Bolt" (2013) and the last album released in 2020 "Gigaton" that really got us back to the beginning, we fell in love with the band again following the album! = Eddie has also written materials for the soundtracks of many films including "Dead Man Walking" (1995), "I Am Sam" (2001), "A Brokedown Melody" (2004), "Body of War" (2007), and more ... = In 2007 Eddie released his first solo album "Into The Wild" which is the soundtrack to a Sean Penn movie of the same name. The album consists of 11 songs, two of which are "Hard Sun" and "Society" covers. Sean gave Eddie the freedom to create but asked him to accompany the script and Eddie for his part liked the idea that someone was outlining for him the storyline according to which he should write. = In 2011 Eddie released his second solo album "Ukulele Songs". An album consisting of 16 songs, five of them covers, all performed on a Ukulele. The album was accompanied by a short and intimate tour that Eddie performed in small clubs across the United States. = Eddie is a huge singer and performer and has a very, very, very long list of collaborations with artists of all shapes and genders, including: Ramones, Neil Young , REM, Neil Finn, Bad Religion, Mark Seymour, Cat Power, Mike Watt, Fastbacks, Wellwater Conspiracy and more ... and more ... and more ... = We said, performer... He has two regular customs during the band's performances where he interacts with the audience. The first (which is good that no longer exists) is to perform spiraling exercises on anything that allows it on stage, pillars, cranes, lighting, cameras/photographers, and anything that can be climbed on and then jump from headfirst into the audience. The second is communication, everywhere in the world where the band performed, Eddie would write a letter in the local language, study it, and read it to the audience during the show. = Eddie is very active socially and politically. He espouses the notion that music is a way of conveying a message and he uses the stage in order to influence and express his opinions. A very famous event took place during a band performance on MTV Unplugged. During the show, Eddie took a black marker and wrote on his hand "Pro-Choice" which is the name of an organization that supports women's right to have an abortion. (Photo: SAMIR HUSSEIN) = In 2010, the Vedder's founded an "EB Research Partnership", a worldwide organization dedicated to funding research aimed at treating epidermolysis bolus (EB), a destructive group of life-threatening skin diseases that affect children from birth. = This time we will also send you to see three important films. The first is "Hype!", A film that tells the true story of the '90s in Seattle and how the Grunge scene rose. The other is "Singles" , a Hollywood film made during the time of the Grunge scene in Seattle that features many of the band's members including Eddie. The third is "Pearl Jam 20", a documentary about the band's 20 years of existence = In February 2022 Eddie releases his third solo album "Earthing", a very diverse album in which many famous guests participate such as: Elton John , Ringo Starr , Stevie Wonder, and many others. Listen to Eddie's third and latest solo album on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Today we will tell you about the singer Joe Cocker known for his gritty, bluesy, and powerful voice. (Photo: John Macpherson) 1. He was born on 20 May 1944 in Sheffield England. His name at birth was John Robert "Joe" Cocker. 2. He formed his first band in 1959 when he was only 14. They were called "The Cavaliers" and he played drums and harmonica. 3. His first live show, this time already as a singer, was at the age of 15, with a local band called "The Avengers", then he already took on the stage name Vance Arnold. 4. In 1963 "Vance Arnold and the Avengers" were already the opening act for none other than "The Rolling Stones". 5. That same year he joined a local blues band called "The Big Blues". Three years later he retired from the band in favor of "The Grease Band". 6. His first commercially successful hit was the cover version of The Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends", which was released in 1969 as part of his debut album of the same name. 7. The one who played the guitar in the song was none other than Jimmy Page . 8. Not many know, but this was not the first "Beatles" song that Cocker covered. The first song of "The Fab Four" he covered was "I'll Cry Instead", which Cocker released in 1964. Jimmy Page played on this song too. He was then nicknamed "Little Jim". 9. Later, Cocker will release additional cover versions of "The Beatles" songs, including "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window," which he released even before "The Beatles". 10. Already in the same year his first solo album was released, Cocker participated in the " Woodstock " festival. 11. Cocker also opened the Saturday show of the 1994 Woodstock Festival and was among the only artists to perform both there and at the original festival. 12. At the end of 1969, Cocker went on a tour in the United States, accompanied by a large band that included about 30 musicians, among them: Leon Russell and Rita Coolidge. This tour will produce the excellent live album "Mad Dogs & Englishmen". 13. Cocker's live performances were extroverted and full of spasms all over his body. He's probably one of the first in music to use "Air Guitar" as part of the show. He noted that it helped him feel the music. (Photo: Carl Lender) 14. His addiction to drugs and alcohol began already at the end of the 1960s. The combination of these two with massive cigarette smoking affected his already rough voice, but also his musical career, which suffered cancellations. 15. Joe Cocker struggled with addictions with the help of his second wife. He managed to make a big comeback to the stages and the global music market in the early 80s. 16. One of his big hits after his return was "Up Where We Belong", which he performed together with the American singer Jennifer Warnes for the soundtrack of the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman". 17. This is the best-selling song that even won him an Oscar under the category of "Best Theme Song of a Movie". 18. This was not the only soundtrack to which Cocker contributed songs. One of the other famous movies was "9½ Weeks" for which Cocker contributed the hit "You Can Leave Your Hat On." 19. Most of Cocker's big hits are actually cover versions of other artists. Among them: "Unchain My Heart" by Ray Charles, "You Can Leave Your Hat On" by Randy Newman, "You Are So Beautiful" by Billy Preston, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by "The Beasts", "The Letter" by "Box Tops"," Feelin' Alright" by "Traffic" and of course "With A Little Help From My Friends" by "The Beatles". 20. In 2007 he was awarded the title of Officer of the British Order for his contribution to music. 21. He is one of the artists who appeared before both the Queen of England and the President of the United States. In 1989 he appeared before President George H. W. Bush at the coronation of his second term, and in 2002 at Buckingham Palace on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee, with Phil Collins on drums and Brian May on guitar. 22. He is on the list of the 100 greatest singers of all time by "Rolling Stone" magazine. 23. Joe Cocker has performed several times in Israel, most recently at the "Gilboa Festival" in August 2008. 24. During his musical career, Cocker has released over 40 albums, including 22 studio albums. 25. Cocker passed away on December 22, 2014, after a long battle with lung cancer. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about Joe Strummer - co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist, and lead vocalist of punk rock band "The Clash": (Photo: europavox.com ) = He was born John Graham Mellor on August 21, 1952, in Ankara, Turkey, to a British diplomat father and a Scottish mother. = Strummer had an Armenian great-grandfather and a German-Jewish great-grandmother. = He lived in Cairo, Mexico City, and Bonn during his early childhood, before moving to England at age nine. = His older brother David committed suicide in 1970, which deeply affected him. = He developed an early love for rock music influenced by "The Beach Boys", Little Richard, and Woody Guthrie. = He formed his first band, "The Vultures", in 1973, playing covers of rock and R&B songs. = He joined the pub rock band "The 101ers" named after their squat at 101 Walterton Road in 1974, performing in clubs around London. = Around this time he adopted the name "Joe Strummer" while busking on the streets of London in the early 1970s due to his energetic guitar strumming. = On April 3, 1976, "The 101ers" opened for "The Sex Pistols" at The Nashville Room, which convinced Strummer that punk was the future of music. = He left "The 101ers" before their debut single, “Keys to Your Heart,” was released in 1976. = He ,met Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Keith Levene in 1976, forming "The Clash". = "The Clash" played their first show on July 4, 1976, supporting "The Sex Pistols" at the Black Swan in Sheffield. = "The Clash" recorded their debut album "The Clash" over three weekends for £4,000, released on April 8, 1977, which featured iconic tracks like “White Riot” and “London’s Burning” and becoming became a landmark in punk rock. = The Clash took the White Riot Tour across England in May 1977, featuring bands like "Buzzcocks", "The Jam", and "The Slits". = Strummer’s politically charged lyrics became a hallmark of "The Clash", addressing issues like racism, unemployment, and social injustice. = Their third album, "London Calling" (1979) received critical acclaim and featured a mix of punk, reggae, and rockabilly, breaking them into the American market, with the iconic title song and the hit “Train in Vain”. = The album "London Calling" was was ranked number 8 in the 2003 and 2012 editions, and number 16 in the 2020 edition on "Rolling Stone's" list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". = "The Clash" released "Sandinista!" in 1980, a triple album that sold for the price of a single record, which further explored diverse musical styles. = "Combat Rock" (1982) became their biggest commercial success, featuring the hits “Rock the Casbah” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go.” = Strummer co-wrote “Rock the Casbah,” inspired by a comment from their manager, Bernie Rhodes. = "The Clash" co-headlined the famous 1983 "U.S. Festival". = Internal tensions led Strummer and Simonon to fire Mick Jones in 1983. = The band released "Cut the Crap" in 1985 without Jones. The album was poorly received. = "The Clash" officially disbanded in 1986. = After "The Clash" was disbanded Joe worked on the soundtrack for "Sid and Nancy" (1986) and other film projects. = In 1989 Strummer produced a solo record with the band "the Latino Rockabilly War". The album "Earthquake Weather" was a critical and commercial fail. = The same year he did the soundtrack to the movie "Permanent Record" with "the Latino Rockabilly War". = Strummer briefly fronted "The Pogues" in 1991. He pursued acting, appearing in films like "Straight to Hell", "Mystery Train", and "Doctor Chance". = In 1999, he formed "Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros", blending punk, world music, and rock. = He released three albums with "the Mescaleros": Rock "Art and the X-Ray Style" (1999), "Global A Go-Go" (2001), and "Streetcore" (2003). = His final live performance with "the Mescaleros" was in November 22, 2002, at Liverpool Academy. = Strummer and Mick Jones reconciled in the late 1990s and collaborated on new music before Strummer’s death. = He passed away on December 22, 2002, from an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. = He was posthumously inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" in 2003 as a member of "The Clash". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

His roots are not in the "Rock", but he influenced artists from this genre. Today we'll share with you some interesting facts about an undoubtedly talented guitarist called Eddie Hazel: (Photo: "Games Dames And Guitar Thangs" Rhino 2004 CD release) 1. He was born on April 10, 1950, as Edward Earl Hazel in Brooklyn New York. He grew up in New Jersey because his mother wanted him to grow up in an environment free of crime and drugs. 2. From a very young age he began to sing in church and also play the guitar given to him as a Christmas present by his older brother. 3. At the age of 12 he met Billy "Bass" Nelson who would later collaborate with him for most of his career, including in the bands "Parliament" and "Funkadelic". 4. On the recommendation of Billy Nelson, Hazel joined George Clinton's touring band - "The Parliaments", in 1967. 5. During a performance by "The Parliaments" in Philadelphia, Hazel met Tiki Fulwood who will replace the drummer bands' drummer. 6. Eddie Hazel and Fulwood will form the basis of "Funkadelic", which served as the accompaniment band of "the Parliaments". 7. The move from "The Parliaments" to "Funkadelic" has been completed with the addition of rhythm guitarist Tawl Ross and keyboardist Bernie Worrell. 8. This was also accompanied by a music style change from Soul and Doo Wop towards a more Psychedelic direction combined with Funk, with influences from Jimi Hendrix on the one hand and "Sly Stone" on the other. 9. Eddie played both bands at the same time, "The Parliaments" had a lighter music approach, and "Funkadelic" had more complex and heavy music. 10. "Funkadelic" released their first album in 1970. 11. Eddie Hazel will be an integral part of "Funkadelic" also on the next two albums "Free Your Mind ... And Your Ass Will Follow" (1970) and "Maggot Brain" (1971). 12. "Maggot Brain" was a masterpiece that won rave reviews and also entered the list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, by "Rolling Stone" magazine and the list of " 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die ". 13. Amazingly the opening song of the album and the theme song "Maggot Brain", has an amazing solo piece by Eddie Hazel, who came up with this chilling solo with the help of his bandmate George Clinton. George asked him to close his eyes and play the solo as if he was just been notified of his mother's death. Clinton later asked Hazel to play the latter part of the solo as if he had just been informed that his mother was alive, and thus this amazing masterpiece was created. (Photo: Bruce W. Talamon) 14. This solo reached number 60 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's 100 greatest guitar solos of all time. 15. In 1971 Eddie and Nelson left the band following financial disagreements they had with Clinton. 16. Although he officially left the band, Eddie continued to contribute to "Funkadelic" on the next albums "Eats Its Young" (1972) and "Cosmic Slop" (1973). 17. In 1973, Nelson and Hazel began working with "The Temptations", appearing on the band's 1973 and 1975 albums. 18. In 1974, "Funkadelic" released "Standing on the Verge of Getting It On". Eddie Hazel will co-write all of the album's songs, with 6 of them receiving credit for Grace Cook - his mother's name. 19. In the same year, Hazel will participate in "The Parliaments" "Up For The Down Stroke" album. 20. That same year Hazel was convicted of assaulting a flight attendant and was sent to jail. During this time another guitarist was recruited to replace him in "Funkadelic" and "Parliament". (Photo: IMDB) 21. After his release from prison, Hazel returned to work with the band but his contribution was minor, except for the song "Comin' Round the Mountain" from the 1976 album "Hardcore Jollies". 22. In 1977, Hazel released his first and only solo album "Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs", which featured his bandmates from "Funkadelic" and "Parliament". 23. Hazel passed away on December 23, 1992, due to liver failure and internal bleeding caused as a result. 24. At his funeral his masterful guitar piece "Maggot Brain" was played. 25. After his death the album "Rest in P" was released and included unreleased material by Hazel. 26. Following his death, Hazel was highly recognized and appreciated by several artists, including "Primal Scream" who included a picture of him on the cover of the album "Give Out But Don't Give Up" and John Frusciante who recorded the track "Before the Beginning" from his album "The Empyrean" as a tribute to Hazel's "Maggot Brain". 27. Hazel appears on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitar players of all time. 28. He influenced quite a few guitarists such as J. Mascis from "Dinosaur Jr.", Mike McCready from "Pearl Jam", and Lenny Kravitz . And now you can enjoy a special playlist we made for you of Eddie Hazel's best moment: Click HERE . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 21, 1980, this mythical "Iron Maiden" performance was held. A year later it was released as a videotape known as "Iron Maiden - Live At The Rainbow". This is Maiden's first videotape featuring one of Adrian Smith 's first appearances with the band. This is actually one of the first footage of this heavy metal band. This performance was recorded before the release of the album " Killers ", and includes a slightly different version of the song "Killers", with lyrics different from those in the album's final version. In the early 80s, this tape that became a rare collector's item found its way into Israel. Years later excerpts from the recordings appeared on DVD. "The History of Iron Maiden - Part 1: The Early Days". We got lucky to put our hands on a pirated copy of a maiden'sVHS tape of that show that became the focus of a pilgrimage of organized screenings held for our friends, fans of "Heavy metal". For hours we sat in the small living room and watched the tape to the displeasure of our parents and the neighbors. This tape was for us the entrance ticket to the wonderful world of "Iron Maiden" and since then, for more than forty years, these images will be engraved in our memory as the founding moment in which we knew the face behind the sounds. This historic show opens with " Ides Of March " featuring Paul Di'Anno in the final moments before the show. Paul straps on his thick belt and walks with his friends behind the scenes of the iconic hall towards the stage, with the instrumental section playing in the background until its end and the "explosion" that followed, with the beating bass of Steve Harris leading one of the band's greatest songs from the Di'Anno era - " Wrathchild " . Unfortunately, the video version available on YouTube does not include this very special intro, so here it is, just not in full sync: Song List: "The Ides of March" (intro) "Wrathchild" "Killers" (Harris, Paul Di'Anno) "Remember Tomorrow" (Harris, Di'Anno) "Transylvania" (instrumental) "Phantom of the Opera" "Iron Maiden" "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

If there is one sentence that best describes Frank Zappa, it will probably be his own sentence: " To me, absurdity is the only reality ". Frank Zappa is a unique and groundbreaking musician, the only rule he lives by (at least in the musical context), is that in music "there are no rules". He combined styles, shattered musical boundaries, and broke conventions, as no one else has done in the modern age of music. (Photo: Wallpaperflare.com) So let's tell you some interesting facts about this musical genius: 1. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, on December 21, 1940, as Frank Vincent Zappa. 2. The first instrument he ever played starting at the age of 12, was the drums, which he learned to play by himself, only from hearing. He joined his first band as a drummer when he was in high school. 3. While playing drums, Zappa listened to jazz, blues, Doo-wop, and modern classical music. 4. His favorite artist in his youth was composer Edgard Varese, who greatly influenced Zappa's musical perception. 5. He attended the same high school of Don Glen Vliet who would later adopt the stage name Captain Beefheart. They became interested in the same kind of music and became close friends. 6. He only acquired his first guitar when he was 18. He did not know how to play chords, but began exploring the instrument's melodic side. This fact will have a great effect on Zappa's playing. (Photo: JazzLife On Twitter) 7. At 19 he left home and started studying in college, but dropped out after one semester and started working casual jobs. 8. His first professional recordings were of two soundtracks for the low-budget films "The World's Greatest Sinner", from 1962 and "Run Home Slow", from 1965. 9. In 1963 he appeared on Steve Elm's talk show playing on bicycles from which he made sounds using a wheel as a percussion and string and a handlebar as a brass instrument. 10. In 1964, Zappa began working in a recording studio in the town of "Cucamonga" in California, where he learned various recording techniques that would be used by him later in his musical career. He later bought the studio and changed its name to "Studio Z". 11. Following a local newspaper article about Zappa and the studio, describing him as the king of "Cucamonga" films, a police detective approached him with an offer to record a pornographic audio tape for a bachelor party. Zappa forged an erotic tape, and when he intended to hand it over to the police officer he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to carry out a pornography crime and was even sentenced to six months probation, of which 10 days he was actually imprisoned. 12. In 1965, singer Ray Collins asked him to replace his guitarist in the band "the Soul Giants". This band would later change its name to "The Mothers" and later to "The Mothers of Invention". 13. The band's first album "Freak Out" was released in 1966 and became the second double rock album in music history. The first was Bob Dylan 's "Blonde on Blonde", which was released a few weeks earlier. The album is also considered by many to be the first concept album in the history of music. 14. In 1967 Zappa released two albums - "Absolutely Free" along with "The Mothers of Invention" and "Lumpy Gravy" which was his first solo album. 15. His 1968 album "We're Only in It for the Money" included an alternative cover to the album cover of " Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ", while the album title was a kind of "sting" on "the Beatles". The album's release was delayed by 5 months due to copyright issues related to the Beatles' album cover. 16. That same year a fan named Raven came to his house with a gun. Zappa was unmoved and took him for a walk on a nearby lake as he persuaded him to throw the gun into the lake as part of a cleansing process. The fan threw the gun into the water and Zappa refused to report it to the police. 17. In the same year Zappa set up two record labels for signing young artists. The first band he signed through Straight Records was Alice Cooper , who signed a three-album recording contract. 18. In 1969, after two more studio albums with "The Mothers of Invention", Zappa decided to disband it since it was not financially viable. Zappa went on to assist nine players from the band from album sales royalties. = That same year, he held a psychedelic jam session with "Pink Floyd" at the "Mont de l'Inclus, Amougies" festival, held in Belgium on October 25, 1969. 19. More on that same year, Zappa released one of his most acclaimed solo albums, "Hot Rats" in which most of the tracks are instrumental. The album includes one of his well-known works - "Peaches en Regalia" and features Captain Beefheart singing in the only vocal track of the album- "Willie the Pimp". 20. During a performance by Zappa at a casino in Monterey, Switzerland, held on December 4, 1971, one of the fans fired a flare gun that hit the ceiling of the concert hall and caused a fire. The crowd managed to evacuate unscathed but all of Zappa's equipment was destroyed in the fire. 21. Members of the band "Deep Purple" were present and were supposed to record the album " Machine Head " there the next day. Bassist Roger Glover , who saw the fire and the smoke billowing over Lake Geneva, conceived the sentence that would also become Deep Purple's immortal song "Smoke On the Water". (Photo: Deep-purple.am) 22. 6 days later, on December 10, 1971, another disaster befell Zappa. He was seriously injured after being pushed furiously during a performance at the Rainbow Club in London, by a fan. Zappa fell a few feet into the orchestra shaft and suffered head injuries, fractures all over his body, including his back and neck, and a groin drop that caused a change in his voice. 23. After a very long recovery period, Zappa put together a new version of the band "the Mothers" and in 1973 recorded two of his most successful albums, "Over-Nite Sensation" and "Apostrophe (')", which is still considered his best-selling album. 24. In 1979 he released the triangular album " Joe's Garage " - a concept album which is a kind of rock opera, that tells a crazy and imaginative story that includes harsh criticism against American culture. 25. In 1984 he released an album called Francesco Zappa in which all the pieces are performed in an instrument called Synclavier and all the melodies in it are by the 18th-century Italian composer Francesco Zappa. 26. His album "Jazz from Hell" won the Parental Advisory sticker, even though it was an instrumental album. 27. In 1986 he played a criminal named Mr. Frankie in an episode of the "Miami Vice" series. 28. Throughout his career Zappa has not used drugs. 29. His son Dweezil got his name from the nickname given by Zappa to his wife's oddly shaped toe. 30. In April 1991, Zappa announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States. 31. Unfortunately that year he found out he had prostate cancer and had to leave the race. 32. He passed away on December 4, 1993, at his home with his wife and four children around him. 33. Zappa was a particularly prolific artist and during his lifetime released about 60 albums which he produced almost all by himself. After his death, his heirs released another 50 albums. 34. He has also produced many artists including: Alice Cooper , Captain Beefheart, and Grand Funk. 35. Believe it or not, Zappa ranks 36th on VH1's list of VH1's 100 Greatest Artists. 36. In 2011 he was ranked 22nd on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. 37. In 1995 he was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". 38. In 1997 he received a Lifetime Grammy Award. 39. Despite this, Zappa has never had commercial success. In fact, his only "hit" to make the list of the 40 greatest in the United States, was "Valley Girl" from 1982, which featured his daughter Moon Unit who was then 13 years old. 40. The "Zappa" clubs chain in Israel, which includes 11 sites where live performances take place, is named after him. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 21.12.1973 “We were kids—20 going on 15. We had a record deal, and we were goo-goo eyed,” recalled guitarist Gary Richrath. “In combination with that, we were romantics from Illinois where there are no hills-we hadn’t been far enough west to see mountains. And we freaked. We were driving across the plains saying, ‘Shit, look at that stuff!’ We were dying when we got to Boulder.” Richrath was the lead guitarist and principal songwriter of the American rock band "REO Speedwagon", whose third studio album "Ridin' the Storm Out"  was released on December 21, 1973. Richrath was born in October 1949 in Peoria, Illinois. He originally played saxophone in a school band, but as a teenager he decided to switch to guitar. As a self-taught musician, he taught himself how to play the instrument entirely on his own. The band was formed in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois. While most of their major success outside the United States would later come through rock ballads in the early eighties such as "Can't Fight This Feeling"  and "Keep on Loving You" , their beginnings were rooted in relentless touring and a raw Midwestern rock sound. In the fall of 1966, Neal Doughty, the future pianist and guitarist of "REO Speedwagon", began studying electrical engineering at the University of Illinois in Champaign. On his very first night as a freshman, he met fellow student and drummer Alan Gratzer. Doughty had learned several "Beatles" songs on his parents’ piano, while Gratzer had been playing drums in local bands since high school. The two held an impromptu jam session in the basement of their dormitory. Gratzer continued performing with his band until the final day of the spring semester, when guitarist and singer Joe Matt called the band’s leader and announced that he and the other members - drummer Alan Gratzer and bassist Mike Blair - had decided to form a new band together with keyboardist Neal Doughty, in which everyone except Doughty would sing. The new band compiled a list of songs they needed to learn over the summer break. Doughty took a summer job and bought his first organ. The members returned to school in the fall of 1967 and held their first rehearsal before classes began. They named the band "REO Speedwagon", inspired by a 1915 truck designed by Ransom Eli Olds (spelled R.E.O.). Doughty saw the name written on a classroom board when he walked into a transportation history lecture, on the very day they decided to start searching for a band name. Instead of pronouncing “REO” as a single word, as the engine company had done (“REE-oh”), they chose to spell it out, pronouncing each letter individually (“R-E-O”). A newspaper ad at the university landed them their first job - a fraternity party that turned into a food fight. They continued playing cover songs in campus bars, fraternity parties, and university events. Toward the end of 1970, Gary Richrath traveled 160 kilometers to see the band perform, determined to become part of "REO Speedwagon". “I'm going to be in that band whether they like it or not,” said Richrath, who was not only a guitarist but also a highly productive songwriter, arriving with original material of his own. In early 1971, the band’s regional popularity grew rapidly. The radio station "KSHE" from St. Louis, one of the most influential rock stations in America, began supporting them and significantly raised the band’s profile beyond the Midwest. Word of the promising band spread quickly, and "Epic Records" signed them to a recording contract after Paul Leka, an East Coast record producer, saw them perform in front of an enthusiastic audience in Peoria during a rainstorm. Leka brought the band to his recording studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where they recorded original material for their debut album. Although the rest of the band’s lineup remained relatively stable, "REO Speedwagon" changed lead singers three times across their first three albums. Terry Luttrell left the band in early 1972 and was replaced by Kevin Cronin, who recorded one album with the band - "R.E.O./T.W.O" from 1972. Cronin then departed during the recording sessions for the third album "Ridin' the Storm Out" due to internal conflicts, not before contributing two songs to the record. The album was ultimately completed with Mike Murphy stepping in as the band’s lead vocalist. The album’s title track "Ridin' the Storm Out"  would later become one of the band’s signature live songs on their concert album, after Cronin eventually returned to the band. The song refers to the band being stranded during a severe winter snowstorm following a show in Boulder, Colorado, at a club called "Tulagi". “We were pushed out of the music circles in New York and Los Angeles, and we went through many lineup changes,” recalled guitarist and singer Kevin Cronin. “‘Ridin' the Storm Out' was the one thing that held the band together for all those years. It closed our shows for over a decade.” Many of "REO Speedwagon"’s songs were inspired by the emotional ups and downs of the band members’ personal relationships, including "Whiskey Night" , which tells the story of a character consumed by pain and regret after a turbulent relationship filled with whiskey driven nights and emotional turmoil. The album includes a song written by Stephen Stills  titled "Open Up" , a track that Stills himself never officially recorded, nor did any of his bands. In fact, the song "Know You Got to Run"  from his album "Stephen Stills 2" can be seen as an early version of the same composition, but it consists only of verses without a chorus and features a dark, acoustic folk arrangement. By contrast, "Open Up"  includes a full chorus and a faster, more driving rock arrangement. The album also features guest appearances by guitarist Joe Walsh , who plays slide guitar on "Whiskey Night" , "Open Up" , and "Start a New Life" . As mentioned earlier, Cronin, who left the band during the album’s recording sessions, still managed to contribute two songs, "Movin'"  and "It's Everywhere" . The latter was influenced by Cronin’s own turbulent experiences and pulls the listener into a world of heightened emotional intensity, where every passing moment is accompanied by a swirling rush of feelings. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

December 21st is the first official day of winter, but this day is also a very special day for the fans of "Rush". The number " 2112 " is synonymous with the band "Rush" and serves as an iconic symbol that represents an entire career - almost like "Jeep" or "Refrigerator". So for those unfamiliar with the number, " 2112 " is the name of the album released by the band in 1976 and includes the masterpiece of the same name - a seven-part epic piece unfolds ש science-fiction story that takes place in 2112 and is based on the book "Anthem" by Ayn Rand. Over the years, December 12 (21-12) became an international "Rush" day for the band's fans. A special day where they celebrate the existence of this great band, listen to their albums, watch their performances, and more. The band itself also recognized the importance of this number and among other things chose to pay tribute to it on the cover of their latest album " Clockwork Angels " which includes a clock that shows the time 9:12, i.e. 21:12. So in honor of this International "Rush" Day, we prepared for you a playlist that will accompany you throughout this special day. It consists of songs selected by us from all of the band's albums. 90 songs, 8 hours and 34 minutes, which will fill a full working day !!! Link to the playlist : Spotify Happy "Rush" day to everyone. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

What's the connection between UNICEF, the IRS, Madison Square Garden and the Iconic Live Aid ? Concert for Bangladesh🕊️, 1/08/1971 "Trailer" of the concert: On August 1, 1971, George Harrison 🐞 and Ravi Shankar, finally got together for a special long-awaited day at Madison Square Garden in order to realize their plan. It was the first time musicians tried to spread awareness and raise money 💸 for international humanitarian purpose. For two performances that took place On August 1, 1971 alongside Harrison and Shankar, you'd see on stage (together and separately): Ringo Starr , Leon Russell, Eric Clapton , Billy Preston and many others. One of the lineup's highlights, was Bob Dylan returning after a two year absence from the stage, to support the cause and collaborate with the other all-stars. An 8-minute video about the legendary concert: The idea of the concert started due to a severe situation of war refugees and natural disasters in the country's region. Shankar, who has family roots in the area, was greatly affected by it all. He made a phone call 📞 to his good friend (and Sitar student) George Harrison ("The Silent Beetle"), who immediately replied that he'd see what he can do. After many phone calls and planning, a few months later, on the only day Madison Square Garden wasn't booked, almost instantly... the whole world knew where Bangladesh was and what's the purpose the awesome musicians was coming together for! The show was also recorded for a music album released on December 20, 1971 and videotape released as a film in 23 March 1972 (US) and 27 July 1972 (UK), both of them included a wide spread international distribution. Years after, many remastered, digital and anniversary versions came out. That way, beyond revenue from both concerts, it still produce revenues to the George Harrison UNICEF Foundation, the sole rights holder for the recordings. Not everything went so smoothly money wise. No one ever done such a non-profit event at an international level🌎 and the fact that the event wasn't registered in the first place as an UNICEF charity event, didn't help. It caused the American Tax Authority (IRS) to delay large sums of the concert revenues for about 10 years (!). Initially, over 13 million $ was transferred in the 1970s, a nice sum in terms of those days, especially in times when the world wasn't that well connected (communication/media speaking). Harrison said in an interview during the 1990s that the revenues already summed up to about 45 million $ (which has grown since then and is probably expected to grow some more due to the 50th anniversary). His experience in "producing a global musical charity event (and the arrival of revenues safely on time🙃)" was passed on by Harrison, as advices, to another young British man... So without the Bangladeshi show, Bob Geldof probably wouldn't decide to collect a group of 80s All-stars and broadcast live to the whole world (a large part already with TV sets) the iconic Live Aid in 1985, for the benefit of famine victims in Ethiopia. Apparently, following the appearance of the late Freddie Mercury that Live Aid , a similar concert was held about a decade later in Wembley... in the memory of Mercury, along with arousing tremendous awareness for AIDS (which he suffered from)... I clearly remember myself as a 12-year-old boy, watching my first musical heroes live📺 on TV with about half of a billion (!!!) spectators around the globe. Apparently each generation has its own "concert for Bangladesh" that emphasize the cosmic and wonderful "glue" of music, which connects people around good causes! The sound waves of an innocent phone call about 50 years ago between 2 good friends... produced legendary sounds, for a noble cause, proving you can use the musical, cultural and media power to do some good in the world! Each one of us can still create sound waves of their own to spread some positive vibes to others 🙏 ... in form of kind words or especially with good music! The concert on vimeo : Enjoy! O.Miz 🎧 The Wiz Facebook Page "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is without a doubt one of the most fascinating figures in the history of modern music. He has been leading the biggest and oldest band in the rock history for over 60 years. Although for years he has been at the top of the list of the next artist likely to pass away (yes, he himself was joking about it), he does not intend to stop even for a moment and he is still performing on stage. Ladies and gentlemen Keith Richards is celebrating his birthday today, so let's honor him with some interesting facts. (Photo: Andrew Benge) 1. He was born on December 18, 1943, in Kent, England, right in the midst of World War II. He is the only child of Doris Maud Lydia (née Dupree) and Herbert William Richards. 2. His mother exposed him to jazz music and also encouraged him to perform in the church choir, but it was his grandfather - Augustus Theodore "Gus" Dupree, who was a Big Band player, who was the source of his musical inspiration. 3. Keith said his grandfather was the one who pushed him to play the guitar. He would create stimulations to make Keith want to play the instrument. 4. Richards said his grandfather was the one who bought him his first guitar. He placed it on a high shelf and told him that if he could reach it he could play it. Keith of course succeeded and he noted that it was the "award of the century" for him. 5. The first song his grandfather taught him to play on the guitar was the Spanish song "Malagueña". This was because he thought Spanish playing would be good for Keith's finger practice. 6. One of Richards' first guitar heroes was Elvis' guitarist Scotty Moore. 7. As a child he listened to artists like Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and more. 8. However, the biggest influence on him was that of Chuck Berry. He learned to play all of his songs by heart. 9. If we've already mentioned Chuck Berry, then Richards took a punch from him when on one of Chuck's shows he touched his guitar. Keith mentioned the "Black Eye" he got from Chuck in his induction speech to the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. See here: 10. Richards attended Wentworth Elementary School with Mick Jagger . They were also neighbors until 1954 when the two families moved out of the neighborhood. 11. In 1959 Richards was expelled from high school for behavioral problems. The school principal thought he would be suitable to be an artist, so he was sent to the "Sidcup" art school. 12. Keith and Jagger would meet again years later, on the train when Mick Jagger took on his way to an economics class. Keith immediately noticed that Jagger was carrying records by Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters and that was enough to connect the two. 13. In 1962, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger , and Brian Jones formed "The Rolling Stones". 14. The "Rolling Stones" made their debut on 12 July 1962 at the Marquee Club in London. The lineup was of Mick Jagger , Brian Jones , Keith Richards, Dick Taylor, and Tony Chapman on drums. 15.In January 15, 1963, The classic "Rolling Stones" lineup was completed with Bill Wyman on bass and Charlie Watts on drums. (Photo: Terry O'Neill) 16. The band started out playing in blues and jazz clubs around London, slowly building a devoted fan base. At first, they played cover versions of old Rhythm & Blues hits, but slowly they added original material written mostly by Jagger and Richards. 17. Until September 1963, Jones, Jagger, and Richards shared an apartment in Chelsea. They listened to a lot of music, especially the blues of Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, and Howling Wolf. 18. In 1963 they were signed by "DECCA" on the recommendation of George Harrison . As you may recall, "DECCA" was the one that a year earlier had rejected "The Beatles" because they thought they would not succeed. 19. The band's first album was released in 1964. Since then Richards was a part of 24 studio albums the band has released so far, as well as 14 live albums, 3 mini albums, 28 compilation albums, and more and more ... 20. Keith prefers not to use effects in his guitar playing. He likes to hear exactly what his amplifier is putting out. At the same time, in 1965 he first used Gibson's "fuzzbox" effect to write one of the greatest riffs of all time, for the song "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction". Of course, the success of the single led to the popularity of the effect. 21. On December 3, 1965, while playing "The Last Time" during a performance in Sacramento, California, his guitar touched his microphone stand and he was electrocuted. He was rushed to the hospital and the doctors noted that what saved him was the thick soles of his shoes. The next day he had already returned to perform. 21. Keith sings backing vocals on every band album, starting with the album "Let It Bleed" released in 1969, he is also usually the lead singer on one song from the album. 22. In addition to playing the guitar (lead and rhythm), Keith also occasionally contributed bass and keyboards. 23. The studio recordings of the songs "Street Fighting Man" and "Jumpin 'Jack Flash" do not include electric guitar playing. Richards achieved the sound by layers of acoustic guitar recorded on top of each other. 24. Keith claimed that he slept only two nights a week on average, during the glorious days of "the Stones". He referred to this and said: "This means that I have been conscious for at least three lifetimes". 25. He is known for the image of the drugged and stoned rocker. He was arrested several times for possession and use of drugs, two of the most famous of which, were in 1967 when Jagger and Richards were arrested after a well-publicized police search of Richards' country house, and the one from 1977, where he was arrested at a hotel in Toronto, Canada, with two ounces of heroin and cocaine. 26. During his lifetime Keith nearly died in a fire three times. The first time, he and the famous session musician Bobby Keys accidentally set fire to a bathroom in the Playboy Mansion in 1972. The second time happened during the recording of the album "Exile on Main Street", when he and his girlfriend, Anita Felenberg, fell asleep while Richards was holding a lit cigarette that set the bed on fire. The third time, mice chewed on the power lines of Keith's Redlands estate and set the house on fire. 27. Keith is literally a "cat with 9 souls". There are quite a few cases where he was close to death, beyond the guitar electric shock and the fires described above. It all started when he was a year old then the neighborhood where he grew up was bombed by the Nazis during World War II. He also fell from a tree while on holiday on Fiji Island and suffered a head injury, a pile of books fell on him in his home library and he was even poisoned when someone put strychnine into his heroin. 28. Perhaps this is why since the 1970s he has been wearing a ring with a skull on his finger. He noted that it was set to remind him that we all have one thing in common. This may also be why he expressed his disappointment that he is no longer at the top of the list of the next artist likely to pass away, addressing the issue this way: “And it’s quite a comforting feeling, actually, thinking, ‘Jesus Christ I’m getting out of it now.’ I’ve no pretensions about immortality – I’m the same as everyone else – same as you, same as everybody, I’m the same old bugger, just kind of lucky. I tens Number one on the Who’s Likely To Die list for 10 years, I mean, I was really disappointed when I fell off the list.” 29. Keith failed his driver's license test three times. Eventually, he asked his bodyguard to do it for him and passed. 30. Five years after his father's death, he claimed to have mixed the ashes of his father's body with cocaine and sniffed them. 31. Keith also appears in films including the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, where he appeared in three movies as the pirate Edward Teague - the father of Captain Jack Sparrow. Photo: (Disney) 32. He is ranked fourth on Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists" list. 33. He co-wrote with Mick Jagger no less than 14 songs that are included in Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time." 34. In 1989, Richards was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with "The Stones". 35. In 2004 he was inducted into the British Music Hall of Fame with "the Rolling Stones". 36. In 1993 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of songwriters. (Photo: The Guardian) 37. He was nominated along with "the Stones" for 11 Grammy Awards. They won two of them. 38. Keith has more than 3,000 guitars in his private collection, but he does not play most of them. 39. Richards is an avid reader. He has a very large collection of books. 40. Keith has pursued a solo career, during which he has released three albums. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 20, 1975, Joe Walsh officially joined “The Eagles”. (Photo: Ebet Roberts) By the mid-1970s, “The Eagles” were already one of the most successful rock bands on the planet, but success had come with a price. Founding guitarist Bernie Leadon no longer recognized the band he helped create. Rooted in country, bluegrass, and traditional American music, Leadon watched as the group steadily shifted toward a harder, more electric sound. After the massive success of “One of These Nights” in 1975, the divide became impossible to ignore, and Leadon chose to leave. The transformation was already underway. Don Felder had joined the band in 1974, first appearing on “On the Border”, and his sharp, powerful guitar work pushed “The Eagles” further into rock territory. That direction was no accident. Don Henley and Glenn Frey were intensely focused, competitive, and determined to keep the band at the very top of the rock world. In theory, they didn’t need to replace Leadon. As a foursome, they could have continued. But if they truly wanted to expand their sound and bring real muscle to their music, another elite guitarist would be essential. The call went out to a musician who shared the same management, and many times even the stage with them. By the end of 1975, Joe Walsh . was anything but a gamble musically. He was wild and had already fronted “James Gang” to major success and built a strong solo career, including the hit “Rocky Mountain Way” . He didn’t need saving, and he wasn’t desperate for a new chapter. In fact, he would normally have been preparing to release another solo album in 1976. But he was a bit short on material, and suddenly, one of the biggest bands in the world was asking for his services. The timing was ideal. Still, Henley and Frey hesitated. Walsh’s reputation preceded him. He was known as a wild character, unpredictable and unfiltered, while Henley and Frey ran their band with near-military discipline. They worried about anything that could disrupt their momentum. In the end, talent won out. Any lingering doubts disappeared quickly. While still serving as the opening act for “The Eagles” on 1975 tour, Walsh was warming up backstage before a show. As he ran through a rapid, aggressive riff he often used as a technical exercise, Glenn Frey immediately stopped and asked him to play it again. Frey later described it as sounding like a “police siren”, fast, tense, and dangerous. That spontaneous warm-up riff became the foundation for “ Life in the Fast Lane ”, perfectly capturing the speed, pressure, and excess that would come to define the band’s new identity and sound. The first album recorded after Walsh’s arrival was “Hotel California” in 1976, and it marked the band’s creative peak. As a songwriter and lead vocalist, Walsh contributed “Pretty Maids in a Row” , a somber, reflective ballad that revealed his melodic and emotional range. But his greatest impact came through his guitar. With twin lead guitarists in Walsh and Felder, “The Eagles” suddenly possessed a level of rock power they had never had before. The chemistry between the two was immediate and electric, nowhere more evident than the legendary harmony duel at the close of the title track “ Hotel California ”. Together, they reshaped songs like “Life in the Fast Lane”  and “Victim of Love” , injecting grit, urgency, and danger into the band’s sound. Before long, Walsh felt inseparable from the band. His tone, his phrasing, and his gregarious on-stage presence became central to the "Eagles’" identity. It was hard to imagine the band without him. Joe Walsh ’s arrival wasn’t just a lineup change. It was one of the greatest mid-career additions in rock history, the final piece that helped turn “The Eagles” into rock dynamos and cemented their most iconic and enduring era. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website