And today it's the turn of Steve Walsh, a singer, keyboardist, percussionist and songwriter, who, among other things, was a partner in designing the sound and the very special style of "Kansas". Here are some interesting facts about him: (Photo: Metallus.it) 1. Walsh was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 15, 1951. He was adopted as an infant. 2. In 1972 he joined the band "White Clover", which included among others the singer and violinist Robby Steinhardt. 3. In early 1973, they enlisted guitarist and keyboardist Kerry Livgren after his band "Kansas" disbanded. 4. That year they had already signed a recording contract and adopted the name "Kansas". 5. The band's debut album was released in 1974 and already then Walsh was revealed as one of the band's lead writers and lead singer, taking the lead in six of the eight album's songs. (Photo: Fanart.tv) 6. This was intensified on subsequent albums "Song for America" and "Masque" from 1975, in which Walsh served as the lead singer in all the songs on the album. 7. While working on the band's fourth album "Leftoverture" from 1976, Walsh began to experience a writiers block, which forced Kerry Livgren to put more effort into writing the material for the album. Indeed, the talented Kerry Livgren was almost exclusively responsible for the writing, with Walsh's assistance in three of the eight tracks on the album. 8. Needless to say, at this point Walsh has become the lead singer of the band as he takes the lead among other things in the band's breakthrough hit "Carry On Wayward Son". 9. The band continued to ride the wave of success on the album "Point of Know Return" from 1977, which included, among other things, their biggest "hit", "Dust in the Wind". 10. During this time, "Kansas" rose to prominence with sales of millions of copies, mostly of the last two mentioned albums, that sold more than four million copies in the US alone. 11. During this time, "Kansas", which at the beginning of its career distributed free beers to their audience to market themselves, became a honed and tight-knit band that filled the largest auditoriums in the United States, including the "Madison Square Garden" in New York. 12. The band documented this exemplary period in one of the best live albums of the 70's - "Two for the Show", which was released in 1978. A double live album of recordings from various performances from the band's tour in 1977 and 1978. (Photo: Mark Farina Twitter) 13. In 1978, Walsh participated in Steve Hackett's "Please Don't Touch" album. 14. In 1979 the band released their sixth album "Monolith", which included the song "People of the South Wind", which refers to the Native American tribe "Kaw", after which the state and band "Kansas" are named. 15. In 1980, Walsh released his first solo album, "Schemer-Dreamer". The album featured bandmates Kerry Livgren, Rich Williams and Phil Ehart, as well as guitarist Steve Morse who in 1985 joined the revamped "Kansas". 16. Walsh will release four more studio albums as part of his solo career, the latest being “Black Butterfly” from 2017. 17. In 1980, Walsh participated in the album "Seeds of Change", the solo album of his friend Kerry Livgren. 18. During the tour that supported the album "Monolith", Kerry Livgren became a reborn Christian, and this was reflected in his lyrics on the album "Audio-Visions", released in 1980 and included the hit "Hold On". 19. Following creative and other disagreements that also resulted from a change in Kerry Livgren beliefs, Walsh left the band in October 1981 and formed the band "Streets". (Photo: Steve Walsh Rocks Facebook Page) 20. The one who replaced Walsh in the band was singer John Elefante, who noted that Walsh was the reason why he wanted to be a singer. 21. "Streets" first album called "1st" was released in 1983. Walsh was involved in writing all the songs on the album. 22. In 1985 the band will release their second album "Crimes in Mind" and then disbanded by Walsh. 23. In 1986 Walsh returned to "Kansas" and has been an integral part of it until his retirement in 2014. 24. In 2015, Walsh contributed his voice as a singer on "Radioactive's" "F4UR" album. 25. Walsh has participated in 12 Kansas studio albums, out of the 16 released so far. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On June 14, 2005, "Foo Fighters" double album "In Your Honor" by was released. This album exemplifies the varying perspectives that can arise between the band and its listeners. Throughout music history, we've encountered albums that listeners perceive as either great or terrible, while the band members who created them hold a different opinion. We believe this album fits that scenario. Perhaps we're exaggerating a bit, but you get the idea. No standout singles or "timeless" songs emerged from this double album, aside from tracks like "Best Of You", "DOA", "Free Me", "Another Round", "Over and Out", and "Razor". Well, okay, maybe a few did, but don't hold it against us. Nonetheless, you have to admit it's not a monumental album, even though it contains 21 songs... We suspect there won't be a consensus here, so let's agree that this album is shouting - change -! And it's unlike anything the band had done before. This album is undoubtedly complex; the first part features strong, aggressive, and powerful rock tracks, while the second part is characterized by acoustic rock, soft, and touching songs. There's even a Bossa Nova-style track. It's truly complex, different, diverse, and unique. So the story goes like this... (Photo: Foo Fighters Official Twitter) After a decade and four albums, Dave Grohl decided he wanted to try something different and special. He considered creating a unique album for a film and even thought about recording a solo album, but quickly set that idea aside. Instead, he brought his collection of songs to the band, deciding that together they would determine how to make the most of this material and create something truly special. Initially, when the concept of an acoustic album was proposed, Dave was strongly against it, as he wanted to produce a more aggressive album than the band's previous works. He aimed to elevate the songs to a higher level of intensity and aggressiveness. However, after extensive discussions, the band members agreed to do both, embracing both sides of the creative spectrum. One album would be intense and hard-hitting, while the other would be gentle and soothing. Dave described them as one being the "bottle" and the other the "hangover". The album recordings also have a story... We've already seen Dave's fascination with studios and consoles (refer to the entries "Sound City" recorded on a historic console and "Wasting Light" recorded at Dave's home in a special studio he built himself). This time, they decided to relocate "Studio 606," Foo's base, from Dave's home in Virginia to California (incidentally, the pillows in Dave's studio were made by his mom from Dave's old T-shirts). Out of the nine months spent working on the album, three and a half months were dedicated to constructing the studio, with the band members moving in during the final month to help complete its construction. On this album, Dave was more deliberate compared to the previous one. He and the band put a lot of effort into each song, recording at least 3-4 demo versions for each track. They dedicated a significant amount of time to rehearsing every song, striving for perfection. Each instrument was recorded multiple times until everyone, especially Dave, was satisfied. Due to the extensive time spent on recordings, they decided in the final weeks that no one would leave the studio. They recorded from noon until 8:00 the next morning, completing at least one song each day. The process was indeed tedious and exhausting, draining a lot of their energy. Interestingly, Dave mentioned in an interview that they found the acoustic part particularly challenging and stressful, reminiscent of their early days when they had to prove their authenticity as artists. Complicated, as we already mentioned... To enhance the acoustic album and avoid monotony, Dave decided to include artists from outside the band. A significant number of artists were added, most from different genres, which greatly enriched the songs and added diversity to the band's familiar sound. Notable contributors included Norah Jones, John Paul Jones, Josh Homme, and several other talented musicians. This resulted in a variety of genres on the album, especially in the acoustic section, leading the band into uncharted territory, which they navigated quite successfully. The album's narrative was also challenging for the record company (not that it's struggling), as it was difficult to handle Dave's decision to sell the double album for just one dollar more than a standard album. Dave argued that the albums complemented each other as a single entity and that he didn't require additional money. In conclusion, it's a complex album, not one of the band's most successful in our view, but still remarkable. It belongs to one of our rock legends, and we love it. Several of its songs are frequently repeated during our rehearsals and have even been featured on our podcasts. This is the band's first album that did not win a Grammy, preventing them from continuing a winning streak since the album "The Color and The Shape". However, it is worth listening to, especially for the acoustic section that reveals another facet of the band. Listen to the album on Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Remember how we've mentioned in several reviews that some albums make us hesitant to approach the keyboard? This is one of those cases... Why, you ask? Well, it's not about albums from "Led Zeppelin" or "Foo Fighters" or their peers. No, this is something local, something Israeli, at a level we haven't encountered until now. It's true, they're not the only ones. There have been and still are many Israeli bands worldwide that have made significant strides, but we haven't experienced such a strong connection or witnessed it in real-time before. Let's introduce for the first time the concept of the "sacred triangle" that every band should aim to conquer. This triangle comprises three essential elements needed for a band to achieve significant success. The first element is a high-quality musical production of an album, encompassing sound, dynamics, and melody—the complete package. The second element is the live show, which should electrify venues and offer the audience an extraordinary experience that surpasses the album. Simply performing the album flawlessly is not enough; the band must transcend the album and deliver something special during live performances. The third and final element is the Unplugged test, also known as the "naked king" test. The band must captivate, impress, and maintain their prowess even when all distortions, amps, and effects are stripped away. Why are we discussing this now? Because "Walkways" have mastered the "sacred triangle." They have successfully excelled in all three elements, setting a new standard and breaking boundaries with their outstanding success. When you hear what they have accomplished and how they achieved it, you will be as amazed as we were. (Photo: Aviv Shiloh) Following the release of their debut album "Safe In Sound" in 2013, "Walkways" dedicated themselves to extensive touring both domestically and internationally. They didn't just embark on a small tour but performed at major festivals like "Wacken Open Air" and "ARTmania," serving as the opening act for the renowned Swedish metal band "In Flames" (a significant achievement in itself!). Initially, their role as an opening act raised many eyebrows, but these quickly turned to expressions of amazement at their performance on stage. Besides their global tour, the band also opened for acts performing in Israel, such as "Avenged Sevenfold" and "Disturbed" (fortunately, we attended both events). A pivotal event and major milestone in the band's journey took place on April 12, 2019, when the band reportedly signed a contract with the renowned international record label "Nuclear Blast". This label is home to major bands like "Anthrax", "Biohazard", "Accept", "Behemoth", "Fear Factory", "Exodus", "Opeth", "Slayer", "In Flames", and many other notable names. We firmly believe that if it weren't for COVID, "Walkways" would have been on a world tour, electrifying clubs and theaters globally and leaving behind a legion of devoted fans. The band members, Ran Yerushalmi (vocals), Bar Caspi (guitars), Yoni Menar (guitars), Avihai Levy (bass), and Priel Horesh (drums), entered the studio to record their second album "Bleed Out, Heal Out". This album defies the traditional boundaries of metal, eschewing defined lines and external guidelines. It is crafted from the core of each band member, reflecting their personal realities and inner strength. While most of the lyrics were penned by Ran, all band members contributed to the writing process. Each member injects his own experiences and intense emotions into the lyrics, which explore the themes of grappling with natural human impulses while maintaining awareness and self-control. The album unfolds across six chapters. The opening chapter starts with heartbreak and profound disappointment, featuring Ran's soothing vocals as Bar and Yoni make a striking entrance with their intense riffs in the song "Till the End". In this track, the band's unique DNA is immediately evident, with heavy riffs perfectly aligned with Avihai and Priel's powerful rhythm section. The dynamics of rises, falls, breaks, and Ran's voice—soaring, descending, roaring, and growling—are all showcased. Next up is "Hell Born Shove - Impossible" featuring Priel's monstrous beat. It's an incredible variety, and we haven't even reached the third song yet. The chorus is so catchy that by the second listen, you'll want to shout the lyrics. You can't fully grasp it unless you were there, but you can imagine the impact during the song's quiet section where Ran gathers the rising fragments and explodes into the sky like an atomic bomb. Now onto the album's anthem, "Despair - For Heaven's Sake". Don't tell us it reminds you of "Bring Me The Horizon" because we know it does, and we don't mind. This song is typically part of the band's encore since it leaves nothing behind where the band performs. The production is stunning, with an amazing blend of guitars, drums, and vocals, and incredible dynamics. The band members mentioned that they filmed this music video (the only one we know of) in Kyiv, Ukraine, with the assistance of an external production company. The second chapter delves into the internal conflict with the desire for revenge and the temptation to let a darker side prevail. It begins with the album's second most powerful track, "Half the Man I Am". Ran passionately declares that he may be a monster, but "you" are only half the man he is. The riffs seem like they were crafted in outer space, processed by humans, and then found their way to the guitars of Bar and Yoni. Can you sense the DNA? Despite the songs' differences, the band's unique sound is unmistakable. We then proceed to "Trumpet Call", where the trumpets sound as revenge begins. The band describes this as their method of channeling aggression, a way to manage their emotions, since no one has a valid reason to let their ego run rampant. By the song's conclusion, the character chooses not to seek revenge but to survive and be reborn, joining Ran in the cry "Survive, Revive"!!! The song's ending seamlessly transitions us to the next chapter, which involves releasing and freeing oneself from the weight of trauma. The song "Levitate" resembles a movie scene that sends chills down your spine and allows you to empathize with the character. The album's title track, "Bleed Out, Heal Out", is another powerful, penetrating force. With its beautiful melody, you find yourself singing loudly with Ran to unleash everything, loudly together: "Throw away those broken past days, future worries Bleed out, heal out, and let go Yeah, let it all go!" It was a brief chapter, leading us to the next one where we welcome someone new into our lives, the chapter of loving once more. The song "You Found Me" stands apart from what we've heard so far. It's a soft metal ballad that reveals a different aspect of the band. This softer side is evident not only in Ran's vocals but also in the guitars, bass, and drums, which flow seamlessly like a river cleansing away the impurities accumulated from previous chapters. Such a beautiful love has discovered us! And if the poignant lyrics don't clarify who and what this song is about, just watch the video; the answer is there... Continuing in the same direction and shifting down another gear with "Unbearable Days", this song stands out as one of the most beautiful on the album, blending melancholy, tenderness, and a soothing quality. Pay attention to the sounds and production; it's a stark contrast to what we heard at the album's start. During live performances, Ran takes a seat on a bar stool, transforming from a wildly energetic presence to a sensitive and sentimental figure. In the 2019 live show, he dedicated the song to a close friend of the band who passed away from cancer, sending chills through the club. The transitional track "Enough" concludes the current chapter, featuring dark lyrics that delve into profound emotions and thoughts. The band uses this section to open their shows before taking the stage. The next chapter reflects on the external world, expressing horror at human actions (wars, environmental pollution, and animal abuse) and a strong desire for collective improvement and change. It begins with "Humane Beings", which urges us to alter our habits and become wiser, better stewards of Earth. The choir's inclusion adds a powerful, spiritual dimension, giving the song an additional layer. Once again, note the dynamics and appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship. Listen to Ran and join in: "Our tongues are sharper, sharper than knives Our guns are harmless compared to our lies The sounds of the earth got louder with signs Our hounds are puppies compared to our minds" The song "Care - In This Together" opens with the familiar sound of guitars, featuring twists, rises, falls, breaks, and re-entries. "We're in this thing together," Ran shouts. As the album concludes, we transition to a chapter of convergence due to the external world's shock, filled once more with great disappointment and a sense of despair about the current situation. Yet, the deep desire to resolve and rise above the internal and external chaos remains intact. The band delivers another powerful blow with the deceptively titled "Thank You", suggesting a calm ending. The album closes with the song "Bone Depp", which feels like a summary of the main character's journey, the experiences endured, and the scars left by the struggle. We undeniably relate to the character, but we are left with positive scars from this album; it invigorated us, touched our souls, challenged our minds, and filled us with immense energy. (Photo: Yodan Abadi) The band members mentioned that they strive to handle everything independently, which is understandable given the income levels for Israeli bands in rock music, especially metal, in the Holy Land. They take charge of designing their posters, shirts, and albums. Avihai handles photography, capturing the band's music videos and stills, and also serves as the tour manager. Bar is responsible for editing the music videos. Remarkably, the band self-produced the entire album. Yoni and Priel took care of sound production, with Priel also managing the mixing. Only the mastering was outsourced to a company called "Systematic Productions". The band members also shared that their ability to create varied sounds comes from each member being influenced by different bands. When collaborating, they each contribute their unique influences to the music. This approach makes the process more challenging and complex, but the synergy and dynamics among the members result in a sound that is both diverse and distinctive. They cited influences from bands like Korn, Slipknot, Opeth, Karnivool, Radiohead, and many others. In this album, they felt more self-assured, allowing this diversity to shine through compared to their previous album. Feel free to listen to the album and determine whether our previous statements are overly sentimental or accurate. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music. Oh, and we have a minor debt from the start of our review, just to demonstrate that "Walkways" successfully passed the "sacred triangle" test. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

He is considered one of the greatest "British Blues" guitarists of all time, alongside Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Peter Green. Here are some interesting facts about Rory Gallagher: (Photo: Image: Mark Sullivan / Contour / Getty Images) 1. He was born on March 2, 1948 in Ballyshannon, Ireland. His full name is William Rory Gallagher. 2. Rory grew up in a musical home. His father played the accordion in a local band and his mother was a singer and theater actress. 3. At the age of 9 his parents bought him his first acoustic guitar, on which he learned to play on his own. 4. At the age of 12 he had already won a young talent contest. He used the winnings money to buy his first electric guitar. 5. The guitar that is most identified with him is "Fender Stratocaster Sunburst 1961" (serial number 64351), which he purchased only 3 years later. 6. He formed his first band when he was only 13 years old. 7. Gallagher would stay up all night listening to music on the radio, when at first he was attracted to Skiffle music and then Folk and Blues. 8. His early musical influences included Muddy Waters, Woody Gutherie and Lead Belly. 9. In 1966, Gallagher formed the band "Taste", a power trio that played mostly blues-rock and rhythm and blues. 10. In the years 1969-1970 the band released two studio albums and two live albums, before it disbanded. 11. At its peak, the band performed at the Isle of Wight Festival from 1970 and also shared one stage with "Cream" in their farewell performance at the Royal Albert Hall. 12. Immediately after the Woodstock Festival in 1969, Jimi Hendrix was asked “How does it feel to be the greatest guitarist in the world?” Hendrix replied, “I don’t know, go ask Rory Gallagher.” 13. Rory Gallagher is a multi-instrumentalist in the full sense of the word. In addition to singing and guitar playing, he also plays bass, mandolin, saxophone, sitar, harmonica, banjo, dulcimer, dobro and more. 14. In 1971 Gallagher released his first solo album named "Rory Gallagher". 15. That same year he was chosen Singer of the Year by Melody Maker magazine, even surpassing Eric Clapton. 16. In 1974, Mick Taylor left the "Rolling Stones" and Rory Gallagher spent a few days with them in Rotterdam as a potential replacement. 17. During his solo career, Rory has released 11 studio albums. 18. These albums have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. 19. Off-stage, Gallagher was described as shy. On stage, he was one of the most “electrifying” artists to ever play a Fender Stratocaster, with more than three hours of each performances, night after night. 20. Rory Gallagher never married and had no children. 21. Gallagher underwent a liver transplant in 1995, but died of its complications on June 14, 1995 in London, England and is only 47 years old. 22. Rory Gallagher was ranked 42nd on Gibson's all-time top 50 guitarists list. 23. He was ranked 57th on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists. 24. In 2015, Fender produced the "Rory Gallagher Signature Stratocaster" modelת in his memory. 25. The list of musicians influenced by him is long and varied, and includes, among others: The Edge, Slash, Johnny Marr, Janick Gers, James Dean Bradfield, Glenn Tipton, Vivian Campbell, Gary Moore, Joe Bonamassa and more. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

The man and the falsetto - King Diamond is celebrating a birthday today and we have some interesting facts to tell you about one of the influential musicians in the Black Metal and Gothic Metal genres. (Photo: Eddietrunk.com) 1. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on June 14, 1956, as Kim Bendix Petersen. 2. Diamond was influenced by artists Arthur Brown, David Byron, Alice Cooper, Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, Ozzy Osbourne, and Robert Plant. 3. He noted that the first two albums he purchased were "Fireball" by "Deep Purple" and "Master Of Reality" by "Black Sabbath". 4. In 1974 he formed his first band "Brainstorm" which played music in the style of hard rock and metal. 5. Diamond later became a member of the band "Black Rose" where he began to develop the quasi-satanic character and the dark theatrical persona. 6. From there Diamond moved to the punk-metal band "Brats" where he met guitarist Hank Shermann. The band has released two albums. 7. The two later met the guitarist Michael Denner who invited them to his band - "Danger Zone", which also included bassist Timi Hansen. This quartet was the roots of the band "Mercyful Fate" which was formed in 1981. (Photo: Wallpaper.mob.org) 8. Although Diamond is known for his tremendous vocal range, he also plays keyboards and guitar during recordings, when on stage he prefers to concentrate solely on singing. 9. "Merciful Faith" belonged to the first wave of bands that defined the Black Metal style as "Venom" and "Bathory". 10. From its earliest days, the band influenced bands like "Metallica" and "Slayer". The members of the band "Metallica" were fans of the band and spent quite a bit of time with them during the recording of the album "Ride The Lightning". 11. In 1982 the band released an EP called "Mercyful Fate". Diamond co-wrote the four songs on the EP. 12. In 1983 the band released their debut album "Melissa". Already on this album, the idea of ​​concept albums that would include horror stories began to form in Diamond's feverish mind, when Melissa's character was a witch who was burned alive, as it appears on the band's first EP cover. 13. In 2017, "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked the album 17th on the list of the 100 greatest metal albums of all time. 14. In 1984 the band released their excellent album "Don't Break the Oath". It is one of the most influential and well-known albums in the black metal scene, combining heavy metal roots with progressive motifs and dark writing themes. 15. This album gave the band great success and in fact, was a breakthrough album in the US where the band performed for two months. 16. During the US tour, the band members began to discuss the band's future. Guitarist Hank Shermann wanted to pull the band in a more commercial direction, while King Diamond wanted to continue on the same line and even push it towards more complex music. 17. The result was that in April 1985 the band disbanded at the height of its success and left the metal world in awe. 18. After the breakup, King Diamond takes guitarist Michael Denner and bassist Timi Hansen with him. He adds two new musicians to the lineup, drummer Mikkey Dee (who will later join "Motörhead") and guitarist Andy LaRocque. 19. He forms the band named after his stage name - "King Diamond" and immediately starts working on materials for the new album, while in the meantime the band releases on Christmas 1985 the single "No Presents for Christmas". 20. In 1986 the band releases their first album - "Fatal Portrait". Diamond wrote all the songs on the album exclusively, except for three tracks written in collaboration with guitarist Michael Denner. It was a "creepy" concept story, which dominates more than half of the album's tracks. 21. "Fatal Portrait" was a great opening shot for a glorious solo career of "King Diamond". The album's dark and creepy style will evolve into full concept albums that have all the elements that will be upgraded and perfected in future albums like "Abigail" and "Them". (Photo: Fanart.tv) 22. As part of the "King Diamond" band, Diamond released 12 studio albums, 2 mini-albums, and three live albums, with the album "The Institute" expected to be released in 2021. 23. In 1993 Diamond reunited with his friends Hank Shermann, Michael Denner, and Timi Hansen, and the band "Mercyful Fate" released the album "In The Shadows" which included a guest appearance by Lars Ulrich. 24. Later, the band will release 4 more studio albums, the last "9" from 1999. 25. In 2019 it was announced that the band is reuniting for a tour and guitarist Hank Shermann even noted that the band has recorded 7 new songs. On June 2, 2022, "Mercyful Fate" performed their first live show since 1999. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Yesterday we attended Ninet Tayeb live show at the Barbie Club in Tel Aviv and we are still mesmerized !!! If you thought you knew Ninet because you listened to her albums or followed her on the news and social media, then let us disagree with you, you do not !!! If you did not attend Ninet's live show and experienced it on stage, then you probably do not really know her, period !!! Photo: FaceOff Ninet we witnessed yesterday at the Barbie is in our humble opinion (hold on tight !!) a combination of Bob Dylan, Lzzy Hale, Joan Jett and Arctic Monkeys, but she's mostly Ninet !!! She brings the folk the punk, and the hard rock with the loud riffs, tremendous screams and insane rhythms and she takes herself and her listeners for a trip along a changing landscape, between the sounds of music in each new song !!! And why do we say that, because we experienced exactly the same thing !! After a quick scan of the digital ticket we entered the lobby of the Barbie (redesigned) which gives a feeling of a prestigious club, well maybe prestigious it is a bit excessive but now it gives a more modern feel than a dim club in south Tel Aviv. But then, very quickly something else caught our attention, something that felt different to us compared to our recent visits to the place. The audience !! The audience was so diverse that at one point after repeated glances and rubbing eyes we felt that someone here did not quite understand what he was going to see and that included us too !! Photo: FaceOff We went inside and as soon as the sound of the tuning guitar (of Goetz, as Ninet calls him) was heard, the place filled to the brim. The stage looked like it was designed to the show (relative to Barbie) and included various and varied means of lighting and the Ninet logo that appears on squares in the center of the stage. The lights went out and only the classic chandelier in the center of the Barbie ceiling remained lit. The entire lower level picked up the cell phones and got the rock star in a live video to the stage. The band members, settle on their instruments, Ninet took the stage, pressesd her lips to the golden microphone and begins to recite a verse from the "Beastie Boys" song "Sabotage". Immediately, a nuclear sensation begins to rumble in our brains and it turns out that the whole audience felt the same, roaring their souls together to the sounds of the recitation and the sharp transition to the opening riff of the song "Superstar". A song from her latest album "Paper Parachute" released in 2017. The crowd in a frenzy state sings all the lyrics, the excitement and joy flooding everyone. She continues to the second song "ICU", a song from her third album "Sympathetic Nervous System" which came out in 2012 and we start to feel how the electricity starts to flow to us all over our body as we try with all our strength to get our dropped jaw back in place. At the end of the song she takes a break to stop for a moment and soak up everything that is happening around her. It's evident that she's excited from atmosphere and the audience and to think that only a few weeks earlier she performed at the legendary "Troubadour" club in California. A club that was a milestone for huge artists like Elton John, John Lennon, Melvins, Guns N 'Roses, Mudhoney and many others. So Ninet gets excited from the loving audience and thanks him for coming to her show and moving on to the song "Highway", a song that first came out in 2020, but will probably only appear on the next album which is on its way. Then, the show takes a turn, Ninet performs the song "Hero", a song she wrote and Dudu Tassa composed. Suddenly the sound changes from a nervous riffs and roars of vocals to a Mediterranean vibe with local curls and guitar frets. Photo: FaceOff With each song performed on stage we feel that Ninet takes us on a journey to a different place and a different time, a journey in her life that moves between Los Angeles and Tel Aviv. At times we feel like we attend an international show the Yarkon Park (not exaggerating) and at other moments we feel like at a local show. Her ability, her talent, her musicality is just phenomenal and mesmerizing. Ninet came to take the Barbie in the air and she does it with mesmerizing talent, we will repeat the word mesmerizing a lot !!! After the songs "Talk" and "Child" Ninet takes us with an electrifying version of the song "Feel The Buzz", the audience screams again and the "buzz" is undoubtedly felt in our bones and the electrifying atmosphere in the club. It continues on to another electrifying version and this time to the song "I got up to dance" and again we move from abroad to Israel and back. At the end of the song Ninet replaces her shiny blue guitar with an acoustic guitar and stands on stage in front of the microphone with her gorgeous smile, graceful dimples and plays her amazing new and awesome song "Who Is Us", just like in an audition for one of the reality shows (we did not say "Star Born"). She calms the volume down a bit and immediately afterwards she switches to singing "Just so the wind doesn't fall", this time she is completely alone on stage, with the spotlight and the audience. In an intimate atmosphere, Ninet seems to caress and soothe each of us as if she were here for us. Ninet said that on the last Memorial Day she got up in the morning (US time) and found out that a lot of teachers in Israel tagged her on Instagram with this song. She said excitedly that for her it was a circle cluser, because she herself started singing at school ceremonies, everyone knew her as "the one" who sang at ceremonies and now seeing kids around the country perform her song at the school ceremony very touched and moved her. Photo: FaceOff She continues to switch between songs in Hebrew and English, between inconceivable intensities and melancholy caresses and we... are mesmerized !!! After "Self Destructive Mind" and "Something To Say" Ninet ends the show with "She Knows". Here we have something to say, since Ninet's first appearance in "A Star Is Born" reality show, Ninet has become the "national sweetheart", the cute and sweet singer who sang cute, sweet and moving songs (see entry "Sea of ​​Tears"). Ninet's first album "Barefoot" which was produced Aviv Geffen, is the result of a singer at the beginning of her career who was thrown into the studio and required to release an album in order to materialise the expectations and potential. In our humble opinion Ninet does not hate this album but she definitely wants to put this image behind her (or rather, delete it altogether) and to bring out the all-too-talented musician she is !! And this is exactly what she does for "She Knows", she performs it in a "Led Zepplin" version taken from the song "Kashmir", a 180 degree reversal from the original performance, an amazing and powerful performance to end the show before the encore. By the way, the show was produced by Yossi Mizrahi, Ninet's husband. After a brief break from the stage she returns again alone with her acoustic guitar and shares a new song "Reborn", we have no way of describing what happened on stage. Ninet's fingers moved lightly on the guitar and her amazing voice filled the place with moving energies. Alone, exposed with body and soul, with no effects and no distortions or drums. She continues from there to "Not be afraid at all" and this time the audience takes the lead and sings the song loudly as she nibbles on the verge of tears from excitement and fails to utter a word. She recovers from the exciting experience and moves on to the poignant song "What Happened" which is followed by the all-too-perfect ending with the song "Elinor". Ninet flies through the air with the crowd roaring her soul as the distortions and drums shake the club and she is like a hybrid of Robert Plant and Mick Jagger raging on stage !! Photo: FaceOff Yes, we are still hypnotized !! Hypnotized by the diverse and different crowd that showered boundless love on his powerful rock star, who sang all the songs in Hebrew and English aloud, as if it were a cohesive group of groupies that goes with her everywhere. Hypnotized by the changing style of English songs to the transition of Hebrew songs, as if we were at Barbie and Yarkon Park at the same time. Hypnotized by the amazing musical abilities of this all-too-talented creator, musician, singer and guitarist who at one moment roars, raves and shaters her guitar and at another moment caresses, excites and melts. A complex, sophisticated and fascinating musician who not only gives in a head banging music but does so wisely, creatively and powerfully. Since the performance of the songs on the albums does not really reflect the performance on stage, it is difficult for us to send you now to listen to them, but we will do it all just to have a chance that it will make you go to her show, because you must go to a Ninet Tayeb show, otherwise you do not really know her!!! Listen to the playlist we prepared based on the show's setlist. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about Chris DeGarmo, best known as as lead guitarist and primary songwriter of the band "Queensrÿche". He was born with the name Christopher Lee DeGarmo on June 14, 1963, in Wenatchee, Washington. Chris grew up in a struggling household after his father abandoned the family; later reflected on this in the song "Bridge" from "Promised Land". DeGarmo was raised in the Seattle area, and attended Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington. He became close friends with future "Queensrÿche" drummer Scott Rockenfield in sixth grade. DeGarmo began playing guitar in his teens and joined local bands including "Joker" (with Michael Wilton) in the late 1970s. After being kicked out of "Joker", formed "Tempest", which later became "D-H-W" (DeGarmo-Hovland-Welling). In 1980, he joined Rockenfield and Wilton in a new band called "Cross+Fire", which played covers of bands such as "Iron Maiden" and "Judas Priest". "Cross+Fire" later renamed "The Mob" transitioned from playing covers to original material, recruiting Geoff Tate as vocalist in 1982. "The Mob" renamed it's name to "Queensrÿche", based on DeGarmo’s song "Queen of the Reich". They released their debut EP "Queensrÿche" in 1983, with DeGarmo as co-guitarist, backing vocalist, and lead songwriter writing all lyrics and most of the music. "Queensrÿche" released their debut full-length album "The Warning" (1984), DeGarmo co-wrote the 5 of the 9 songs from the album. The band released their second album "Rage for Order" in 1986 , with DeGarmo helping shape the band's progressive direction. DeGarmo was the primary musical force behind the landmark concept album "Operation: Mindcrime" released in 1988. He co-wrote the Grammy-nominated "I Don’t Believe in Love" taken from the album. DeGarmo was the sole composer of the band’s breakthrough hit "Silent Lucidity", from the album "Empire" (1990), which reached the Billboard Top 10 and earned Grammy and MTV nominations for "Best Rock Song" and "Best Rock Vocal Performance". He co-wrote almost of the album "Promised Land" (1994), a darker and more introspective release, including the personal acoustic ballad "Bridge". He was a part of the album "Hear in the Now Frontier" (1997), signaling a stylistic shift toward alternative rock. The song "All I Want" features Chris DeGarmo on lead vocals, the only time that any band member besides the lead vocalist had done so on a studio track. After the album's release, DeGarmo left "Queensrÿche" in late 1997, with the departure publicly announced in January 1998. He cited burnout, internal dysfunction, and a desire to focus on family as reasons for his departure. DeGarmo transitioned into aviation, becoming a certified Airline Transport Pilot. He later flew business jets such as the Learjet and Challenger 300. He toured with Jerry Cantrell in 1998 as a guitarist during the "Boggy Depot" tour. DeGarmo co-founded the short-lived supergroup "Spys4Darwin" in 1999 with Sean Kinney, Mike Inez, and Vinnie Dombroski. "Spys4Darwin" released the EP "Microfish" in 2001 and debuted live at Endfest in Seattle. DeGarmo returned to "Queensrÿche" in 2003 to contribute to the "Tribe" album; co-wrote and played on several tracks including "Falling Behind", "Doin' Fine", and "Art of Life". He wrote "Justified" for "Tribe", later released in 2007 on the compilation "Sign of the Times". DeGarmo collaborated again with Jerry Cantrell on "Degradation Trip" (2002), playing slide guitar on "Anger Rising". He assisted alternative band "Dredg" in 2005 with arrangements and production for their album "Catch Without Arms". In 2005 he performed at the Seattle Tsunami Continued Care Relief Concert, alongside members of "Alice in Chains" and other Seattle musicians. Since 2009, has made music under the project name "The Rue" with his daughter Rylie DeGarmo. "The Rue’s" released their self-titled six-song debut EP in 2015. DeGarmo played acoustic guitar on "Drone" from "Alice in Chains"’ 2018 album "Rainier Fog". He performed with Lily Cornell Silver in 2020 on a tribute to "Alice in Chains", accompanying her on "Black Gives Way to Blue". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek... And this time, on the cover of Pink Floyd's album "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" which was filmed on June 14, 1987. On June 14, 1987, the famed photographer and cover designer Storm Thorgerson hired 30 workers to move 700 beds rented ahead of time to Saunton Sands Beach in North Devon (where some of the scenes of "The Wall" were shot), tomuseum film what would become one of the most impressive and amazing covers in the rock world - the album cover for "A Momentary Lapse of Reason". The idea for the picture came to Storm from the sentence: "A vision of an empty bed" taken from the song "Yet Another Movie" that appears on the album. Thorgerson who read the sentence immediately saw before his eyes a river of hospital beds dragging along a beach, he thought such a picture was so insane that it would also fit the title of the album (A Momentary Lapse of Reason), hence the idea for the iconic picture. Once the idea was formulated, the fundamental problem of execution remained. We are talking about another era, before the computer effects and before the age of Photoshop. The first task was to locate hundreds of beds and make sure someone would even agree to rent them out. Thorgerson remembers asking for 1,000 but he got less. The second task was to find a way to transport them to shore and arrange them exactly the way Storm had planned the image in his ingenious mind, a move that Storm notes lasted about two weeks. The cost of this crazy project was over $500,000. So all these crazy logistics drained into one moment that happened exactly on June 14, 1987. Everything was ready, the beds were placed exactly as Storm predicted, the extras, the dogs, and made were in exactly the right places and even a glider was raised to the sky to be captured in the picture. But then the unbelievable thing happened, rain fell to the ground and forced all those involved in the craft to repeat everything all over again, until the amazing museumresult. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On June 13, 2000, "Bon Jovi's" seventh studio album "Crush" was released. So let us tell you some facts about "Crash": 1. This is the band's seventh album and first after a 5-year hiatus. 2. During the hiatus, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora released solo albums. Jon Bon Jovi planned's plan was to release a third solo album, but eventually, the two decided to work on an album as a band. 3. The name chosen for the album during the work was "Sex Sells". Posters bearing the name of the album appear in the video clip for the song "Real Life" - a song written by the band for the soundtrack of the film EDtv from 1999 and which appeared in a remix version later in the box "100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong" from 2004. 4. The album was produced by Sambora, Bon Jovi, and Luke Ebbin, but he was not the first producer selected. Bob Rock and Bruce Fairbairn were elected before him. With the first, it did not work out and the second passed away in 1999, so Luke Ebbin was the third choice. 5. Three singles were released from the album: "Say It Isn't So", "Thank You for Loving M e" and the most successful of the three "It's My Life". 6. There was a fourth single which was released only in Japan - "Save the World". 7. Bon Jovi and Sambora were assisted in writing the song by creator and singer Max Martin, who wrote hits for many artists including Britney Spears, "Backstreet Boys" and "N'sync". 8. This is not the only song on the album written in collaboration with an outsider. In fact, most of the songs on the album are like that. 7 out of the 12 songs on the album are like this, and in the expanded versions 8 of 13 songs. 9. For example, the song "Thank You for Loving Me" was co-written with Wayne Hector who wrote much Pop like, Nicki Minaj, "One Direction" and more. 10. The song "It's My Life" corresponds with Bon Jovi's 1986 hit - "Livin' On A Prayer" which also features Tommy and Gina. In both songs, Richie Sambora uses the guitar effect of the talkbox that produces the sound of the talking guitar. 11. The song has a reference to singer Frank Sinatra and the song "My Way", in the sentence "Like Frankie Said, I did it my way". 12. It was the band's sixth consecutive album to reach number one in Australia and fifth in a row in the UK. 13. Believe it or not but this is Bon Jovi's first Grammy Award-winning album. 14. The song "One Wild Night" was later released in a different version from the album version. The alternative version of the song will appear in 2001 as a single from the live album "One Wild Night Live 1985-2001" and will also be part of the collection "Tokyo Road: Best of Bon Jovi". 15. Some of the album's version releases include a bonus song - "I Could Make a Living Out of Lovin' You". 16. In the Japanese and Australian versions of the album there is another song called "Neurotica". 17. This is the band's first album that is not a compilation album, which does not include the lyrics in the attached booklet. 18. During the recordings of the album, some songs did not make it to the album, but were released as sidelines or collections such as: "Hush", "You can not lose at love", "Temptation", "I do not wanna live forever", and more. 19. The hit single "Say It Is Not So" does not include a Richie Sambora solo, but a David Bryan solo. 20. On the other hand, Sambora gives his all in the amazing solo in the song "Next 100 Years" which includes a string accompaniment arranged by the Canadian David Campbell, who has worked with Dream Theater, "Evanescence", "Muse", "Metallica", "Green Day" and more and more. Listen to the album on Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek... Linkin Park's sixth album was released on June 13, 2014. The name of the album "The Hunting Party" was chosen in the sense that Linkin is the party that conducts a hunt on returning the energy and soul to rock music. We have a bit of a hard time with this statement and this style especially, in light of the album that came out after it. This is the first album since "Meteora" that is not produced by super producer Rick Rubin but by guitarist Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson. On this album the band decides to abandon (for a moment) the sounds and electronic production that characterized their previous two albums and go back to their rock roots, creating a “rock album” as Mike described it. The album served as a sort of statement against all the critics and commentators who claimed that Linkin is trying to be a different band, more digestible and mainstream not like it was in the beginning. This album, written in less than a year, was created entirely on local improvisation by the band members. None of them came with ready-made material or demos and even when they created something together it was recorded and worked on in the process, without a lot of rehearsals or preliminary preparations. One of the salient elements of the album that serves the statement we mentioned above is the collaboration with other artists, something that has never happened on the band's previous albums. There are a number of very leading and dominant artists in the rock world who have come to give the "rock" stamp to the album, including Page Hamilton (Helmet), Daron Malakian (System Of A Down), Rakim (rapper and producer) and last but not least Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine). This is without a doubt a statement of intent !! But considering the album that came out three years later "One More Light" which is the exact opposite of the above album we can't stop wondering what went through the heads of the band members after the release of the album, and how the work affected them and how they felt. Those who are unfamiliar with the band and who will play both albums will be shocked to learn that they belong to the same band and that they were released three years apart. That's why music is such an amazing thing !! Listen to the album on Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... And this time, on "Pink Floyd's" first album without Syd Barrett - the soundtrack of the movie "More", released June 13, 1969. It's an album by a great band that the fans sometimes has a tendency to skip. Maybe because it's not really an official album, but a soundtrack, may be because of the lack of a solid musical direction, the dominance of instrumental tracks or the excess of psychedelia. But whoever enters the gates of this rare magic, will just want only "More" - as the album's title. The invitation to record a soundtrack to the movie "More" ,was received by the film's director Barbet Schroeder. This was his first film and he contacted "Pink Floyd" members, who also happened to be his friends, to record a soundtrack for the movie. This was not the band's first soundtrack. In 1967 they recorded music for the BBC's "Tomorrow's World" TV series and a year later contributed several songs to the soundtrack of the movie "The Committee". "Pink Floyd" loved the connection between the world of cinema and the world of music and thought it would be right to go "all in" this time too, especially when it involved helping a friend and a small income. The film tells the story of a hippie hitchhiker, a German student named Stefan who arrives in Ibiza with his heroin-addict girlfriend. There in Ibiza, he made a connection with a community of local addicted hippies and slowly becomes addicted to the drug himself, until his tragic death from an overdose. "Pink Floyd" members were given some scenes from the film to watch and were asked to compose the soundtrack based on the atmosphere. It was the personal interpretation of "Pink Floyd" members to the scenes they watched, that gave birth to all the magic on this album. A beautiful album with a mesmerizing and unique atmosphere, melodic folk, avant-garde, combined with psychedelia and even a taste of hard rock (yes, you read that right), a variety of effects and acoustic sections. As we mentioned in the introduction, it is the band's first album in the classical lineup of Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright and Nick Mason, but what's more amazing, it's the band's only album where David Gilmour is the only vocalist. Waters was not yet confident enough and Wright had not yet discovered his abilities in singing. And if you're looking for more rare facts, then this album features the band's only song by "Pink Floyd" written by Nick Mason and Richard Wright ("Up The Khyber"). Most of the album was written and recorded by the band within eight days, an amazing fact in itself. Most of the lyrics were written by Waters during the sessions themselves and some of the melodies started with improvisations. The album features some of "Pink Floyd's" beautiful pieces, before their huge breakthrough. The opening track "Cirrus Minor" which begins with the birds chirping, an effect the band has reused in the song "Grantchester Meadows" from the album "Ummagumma", released later that year. The song is played only by Richard Wright with the ecclesiastical organ and David Gilmour on the acoustic. A stoned track just like the person on which it was written. The second track "The Nile Song" features distortion-filled guitars, David Gilmour's screaming and rough vocals and howling solos. A real combination of hard rock, heavy metal and acid rock. This is a rare piece by Gilmour and the band, in a style that has hardly been repeated. This song is very similar in melody and atmosphere to the song "Ibiza Bar" that comes later in the album. Immediately after comes "Crying Song" and flip the atmosphere, just like the Low that comes after the High of the heroin addict. A quiet and magical song with the caressing voice of Gilmour, which is really hard to believe sounded like a crazy "Growler" from the metal scene in the previous song. And there's also "Green Is the Color", one of "Pink Floyd's" beautiful songs before the big breakthrough, that includes playing by Lindy Mason - wife of .. on flute, and there's "Cymbaline" which tells of "Nightmare" with a reference to "Doctor Strange" with Gilmour's all so beautiful singing and Nick Mason's bongos, and more and more ... Now listen to this one-time magic: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On June 13, 1995, singer and musician Alanis Morissette's breakthrough album "Jagged Little Pill" was released. This is a classic "Cinderella" story in American or Canadian terms, depending on which side you look at it. At just 17 years old, Alanis released her first album “Alanis”. A polished pop/dance album that was a huge success in Canada. It was compared to the American Debbie Gibson and she even was an opening act for Vanilla Ace, yes ... yes ... Vanilla Ace, not Ice-T. She won many awards in the dance scene in Canada and was considered a very promising star, but her second album “Now is the Time” was a resounding failure. Barely managed to sell half the amount of the first album, and the record company that ended Alanis' contract was not interested in renewing it. The star lost all the stardust she had. Just imagine what happens to an 18-year-old girl who has had such great success and suddenly she crashes like fragile glass. Alanis collected the fragments, graduated, completed her matriculation, and decided to look for her fortune elsewhere, in the US, matched by a major music distribution company. Alanis arrived in Los Angeles and already in the first meeting with Glenn Bollard, there was electricity in the air and interesting musical pieces began to be woven for them. Alanis and Glenn did not exactly know where this whole story was going to and how things would work out, but they were confident in themselves. Rather, Glenn was very confident in Alanis, in her character, in her lyrics, and in her desire to create authentic music. She did not know exactly what she wanted to do, but she knew exactly what she did not want to do! The two entered the studio as Alanis writes the lyrics and melody and Glenn completes it with an arrangement playing all the instruments, to create a skeleton for each song. They decided that every day they would record one song... and so it was. Alanis and Glenn worked 12-16 hour shifts and all the singing was recorded in one or two takes per song. (Then in the more professional studio they used those demos of the singing with the recording of the instruments). During the demo recordings, Glenn realized that this thing did not sound like pop or classic rock, in short, it did not sound like something he had encountered in the past. Alanis wrote all the songs for the album and even learned to play the guitar during the recordings. (Photo: John Salisbury) After the end of the demo recordings, Alanis looked for a record company to release the album, but was refused by everyone. We said Cinderella ... No one wanted to mess with the failed pop star who lost her way. Only one record company was willing to believe in Alanis, Maverick Records (which Madonna is one of its founders). They realized they had something good in hand (only good) and were willing to invest in this girl. After signing a contract, the two (Alanis and Glenn) took the demo material and came in with an entire cast of musicians to record the album. Quite a few stars were involved in the recordings of this album: Dave Navarro and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Michael Landau (Michael Jackson, Johnny Mitchell), Benjamin Tank (Tom Petty), Matt Luag (Alice Cooper, Slash) and many more good ones. The album as we already know, is years away from Alanis' previous albums in terms of musical style and lyrics. The record company expected to sell enough albums to cover the production costs and save money for the production of Alanis' next album which was supposed to be the most important. The reality and the true story most of us already know, the American radio station KROQ played the first single from the album "You Oughta Know" nonstop, and the rest, how to say... is history. Crazy singles, one after the other ... "Ironic", "Hand In My Pocket", "Head Over Feet" and more and more created a rock album that was perfect to the demand of the audience that year. The album became a milestone in the development of rock in the 90s and especially in female rock. There is no doubt that a large part of the success of the album is related to the special personality of this amazing musician. Alanis managed to put into the songs her whole soul and essence and her revealing sensitive words that came out of the heart managed to penetrate deep into the hearts of the listeners. Its success was meteoric and made it one of the most successful albums of the 90s, winning 6 Grammy Awards (96-98). It is one of the best-selling "female" albums in the US, and sales of 30 million copies have also made it the tenth best-selling album ever. It is worth noting that this album also enters the list of the 500 best albums of all time, when in Israel the album also reached the 26th place in the all-time album chart of Ynet, the highest place for a female singer on the list. The album's success led to Alanis' breakthrough into the global music market and grant her incredible success. By the way, beyond the acoustic version released in 2015, there is also a musical on the album which called by that name, go check it out... You can listen to the album on: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website