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He is a sound engineer who worked on some of the greatest albums ever created such as "The Beatles" " Abbey Road " and "Pink Floyd's" " Atom Heart Mother " and "The Dark Side Of The Moon". He is also a great producer who has contributed greatly to the result of masterful albums like Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat". And if that's not enough, then he's also a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist singer, and leader of the British progressive rock band "The Alan Parsons Project". (Photo: Alan Parsons Project "I, Robot" 1977 US Arista Records) So here are some interesting facts about Alan Parsons: 1. He was born in London, England on December 20, 1948. 2. Parsons has been attracted to music from an early age and even as a child he took flute and piano lessons. 3. In his teens, Parsons switched to guitar and began playing several musical bands at school. 4. In October 1967, he was hired as a tape duplicator at the "EMI" record company. Already in his early days at "EMI", he got to duplicate the recording of the Beatles' " Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band " album, which led him to the conclusion that he wanted to be a recording technician. He said he had to find out what was the secret behind the amazing sounds of this album. 5. In 1969, Parsons served as an assistant voice technician at Abbey Road Studios and even got to work on one of Rock's greatest albums - " Abbey Road " by "The Beatles". Parsons was also involved as an assistant technician on the band's " Let it Be " album. 6. No doubt working with the Fab Four has pushed Parsons' career forward and he has also served as a recording technician on other major albums, such as "Wild Life" and "Red Rose Speedway" by Paul McCartney and "Wings" and of course masterpieces such as " Atom Heart Mother " and " The Dark Side Of The Moon " by "Pink Floyd", for which he won a Grammy nomination. 7. Parsons later moved into the producer's position and influenced the way Al Stewart's album "Year of the Cat" sounded, by adding jazzy motifs and instruments such as a saxophone. 8. In 1975, Parsons decided that he was also interested in creating music and formed "The Alan Parsons Project" with the Scottish musician Eric Woolfson. 9. In accordance with the band's name, Parsons and Woolfson's collaboration was run as a project and was based on the production and arrangement talents of the two, who over the years were assisted by other musicians. 10. The band's first album called "Tales of Mystery and Imagination", was released in 1976 and featured other musicians, such as Arthur Brown and John Miles. The album was a success and "Arista" record company signed the duo on a contract to release several more albums. 11. Up until 1987, the band released no less than ten albums, the most successful of which were "The Turn of a Friendly Card" from 1980 and "Eye in the Sky" from 1982. 12. After the release of "Gaudi" in 1987, Parsons and Woolfson began work on their next album "Freudiana". Disagreements arose between the two, mainly due to Woolfson's desire to change the album's direction into a musical. The album was eventually produced and recorded, but by the time it was released in 1990 the band had already disbanded and the album was finally released under Woolfson's name with Parsons appearing as the producer. 13. In 1993, Parsons released his first solo album "Try Anything Once". He later released five more solo albums, the most recent of which was "From the New World" from 2022. (Photo: Daniel Knighton) 14. In 2014, the "Alan Parsons Project" released "The Sicilian Defense" - an instrumental album that was recorded in 1979 but was not released. 15. Concurrent with his solo career, Parsons is leading his live band "Alan Parsons Live Project". 16. Along with this ensemble, Parsons performed in Israel in 2010 and 2015 in a show that featured Aviv Geffen , Avi Singolda, and Marina Maximilian. 17. Following this show the collaboration between Geffen and Parsons was intensified and thus Parsons produce the fifth album "Blackfield" - the band of Geffen and Steven Wilson. The album was released in 2017 and is called "Blackfield V". 18. By the way, Parsons also served as a sound engineer on Steven Wilson's excellent album "The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories"). 19. Parsons will return to Israel in 2017 for two performances and two years later in June 2019 for two more live shows, this time in collaboration with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. These shows produced a double live album named "One Note Symphony: Live In Tel Aviv", released in 2022. 20. Finally, we will mention another Israeli connection to Parsons - the musician, producer, and creator Guy Erez, who since 2010 has been part of Alan Parsons' ensemble, and serves as his bass player. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 20, 1969, "Deep Purple" released their fourth album, "Concerto for Group and Orchestra". This is a unique and groundbreaking album when it comes to combining Rock with Classical music and to the best of our knowledge it is the first album that documented a performance by an entire Philharmonic Orchestra with a Rock band, playing electric instruments. Although "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" was not the first case of a rock band that combined classical accompaniment, even "Deep Purple" themselves did it before, There is no doubt that this album took the idea much further than anyone who has done it before, paving the way for so many combinations of rock and orchestra, among the best known of which are " S&M " by "Metallica", "Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra "By Yngwie Malmsteen and more. For example, "The Moody Blues'" 1967 "Days of Future Passed" included classical compositions that usually began and ended most of the songs on it. But in the case of "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" it is one complete work, composed from beginning to end as one that combines all the instruments of a philharmonic orchestra, and the modern and electric instruments of a Rock band, as opposed to short melodies designed to accompany and decorate songs written by the band. More than that, while in the case of "The Moody Blues" the orchestral accompaniment was recorded in the studio and combined with the band's songs, in the case of "Deep Purple" the band and the symphony orchestra played together, live, on stage. Another significant difference is that in the case of "Deep Purple" the keyboardist Jon Lord wrote and composed the roles for the entire orchestra, while in the case of "The Moody Blues" the person who wrote the classical additions was the conductor of the orchestra that played the album - Peter Knight. The person who came up with the idea for the work was Jon Lord , who has already experienced it on the band's two previous albums, the work "Anthem" from the album "The Book of Taliesyn" and the work "April" from the album "Deep Purple". The work Lord wrote for this album is mostly instrumental, except for two excerpts that also included the band's lead singer Ian Gillan . The orchestra chosen to play the piece along with "Deep Purple", was the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of England, with the rock parts of "The Band" having a prominent dominance of Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord who are simply surpassing themselves. The piece was divided into three parts: the opening section "Allegro", the second section "Andante" which also included the singing parts by Ian Gillan , and the third section "Presto" which included a drum solo by Ian Paice . In 2002 a remastered version of the album was released, which beyond the main work that was composed by Jon Lord , included two excerpts from the band's repertoire: the instrumental track "Wring That Neck" from the album "The Book of Taliesyn" and an earlier version of the song "Child in Time" which will later be included as part of the " In Rock " album. In later releases, additional tracks were added to the album including the track "Hush" from the debut album " Shades Of Deep Purple ". The performance in which the piece was played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the tracks mentioned above, was held on September 24, 1969, at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The performance was also videotaped and aired on British television on April 4, 1970, with the concerto being portrayed by the announcer as "the best of both worlds". It is interesting to note that this is actually the first full album of the MKII lineup of "Deep Purple", featuring singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover . In honor of the album's 30 anniversary, "Deep Purple" asked to recreate the show, but then it was discovered that all the musical notes written by Jon Lord for all the orchestra players were lost. The notes were restored from the work by Lord, with the help of a fan musician and the result was the album and show "In Concert with The London Symphony Orchestra", which included the work in its entirety plus additional tracks, released in 2000. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 19.12.1989 He had piercing eyes and a gaze that could freeze you in place. If he wanted to hypnotize, he barely had to try. And when he began to sing in his booming, dark voice, you had no choice but to listen, because that is the very nature of strange love. “A strange kind of love, a strange kind of feeling,” sang the prince of dark rock, Peter Murphy, whose third album "Deep" was released on December 19, 1989. Peter John Murphy was born in July 1957 in Northampton to a large working class family. He was the seventh child, raised in a household that provided its children with a strict Catholic upbringing. Despite this, Murphy describes his childhood as a happy one. As an introverted child, he found his first connection to music through his mother, who would often hum songs around the house. This is something I deeply relate to, even as an adult it still happens from time to time. At school, he became close friends with Daniel Ash, with whom he would later form the gothic rock band "Bauhaus". Murphy described Ash as his other half, the person who understood him more than anyone else. Both were drawn to the glam rock movement and artists such as "T. Rex" and David Bowie . However, when Murphy was sixteen, their paths diverged. Ash went on to study art, while Murphy, due to the difficult financial situation in his parents’ home, took a job at a local printing factory to help support the family. Despite working at the print shop and initially refusing Daniel Ash’s proposal to start a band, Murphy held on to his love for music. He continued attending concerts by David Bowie , Marc Bolan , and Iggy Pop . Meanwhile, Ash’s previous band, "Jackplug and the Sockets", had broken up. Determined to form another group, Ash approached Peter Murphy once again, and this time Murphy agreed to give it a try. They entered a room at the Northampton teacher training college. Ash connected a microphone, added heavy echo, and asked Murphy to sing fragments from a newspaper he was holding. This moment marked the birth of "Bauhaus", and in effect, the beginning of Peter Murphy’s musical career. Through "Bauhaus", Murphy built the image of the prince of gothic rock, as the band released four albums over the course of five years before breaking up in 1983. Following the band’s breakup, Murphy formed a project called "Dali's Car" together with Mick Karn from the band "Japan". Together they released a single album titled "The Waking Hour" in 1984, but creative disagreements led to the project’s early end. Karn summed it up perfectly when he said, “Each of us had a different way of building music.” At this point, Murphy realized that he had his own ambitions and a clear sense of direction. He felt ready to embark on a solo career, yet still wanted a safety net, which he found in the form of musician Howard Hughes, formerly of the band "The Associates". Murphy released his first two solo albums in 1986 and 1988. On the second album, "Love Hysteria", Terl Bryant joined on drums, Paul Statham on keyboards, and Eddie Branch and Peter Bonas on guitars. This quartet would also accompany him on his next album, "Deep", this time as his official backing band under the name "The Hundred Men". On "Deep", Murphy dyed his hair platinum blonde and leaned toward an alternative rock sound, echoing the style he had previously explored with "Bauhaus" in the early eighties. Murphy’s lyrics on the album are often abstract, and it is not always clear what he is singing about. This ambiguity is part of the mystery he consistently builds around his persona. On one hand, the album blends somber ballads with a gothic touch, such as the chilling "A Strange Kind of Love" , released as the album’s third single, and "Cuts You Up" , which became a hit in 1990 and entered the Billboard Hot 100. On the other hand, the album also features pop oriented tracks that almost verge on dance rhythms, such as the second track "Shy" , and especially the album closer "Roll Call" , which opens with electronic drums in the style of "Technotronic" and "Black Box", acts that were firmly in the mainstream at the time. At the heart of the album lies the emotional ballad "Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem" , which portrays Marlene Dietrich in the twilight of her life, offering a moment of confession and a request for forgiveness. It is a beautiful song in which Murphy is accompanied by acoustic guitar, a delicate harp, and synthesizers that create a gentle shiver, very much like the atmosphere found in "A Strange Kind of Love" . For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Although he grew up on Jazz music and his roots are deeply rooted in Blues, he was certainly one of the influences on the "guitar shredding" of Metal. (Photo: Jim Summaria) Here are some interesting facts about Alvin Lee: 1. He was born in Nottingham, England on December 19, 1944, as Graham Anthony Barnes. 2. As a child he grew up on his parent's record collection from the blues and jazz genres, but it was the breakthrough of rock 'n' roll in the 1950s that influenced him the most. 3. The first instrument he played was the clarinet, it was at the age of 12. He only switched to the guitar at the age of 13. 4. In 1960 he formed the band "The Jaybirds" with bassist Leo Lyons. The band later changed its name to "Ivan Jay and the Jaycats". Alvin served as the lead singer and guitarist. 5. In 1965 they were joined by drummer Ric Lee and a year later by keyboardist Chick Churchill and thus the lineup was formed. 6. That same year the band changed its name to "Ten Years After", as a homage to Elvis Presley, one of Alvin Lee's idols, whose breakthrough year was 1956, exactly 10 years before the band got its name. 7. In 1967 the band released their debut album "Ten Years After", which is considered one of the first blues rock albums released in the UK. Alvin Lee co-wrote all the original material that appeared on the album. 8. In 1968 The band went on tour in the US for the first time. This was a love at first sight, the American audience was "electrified" by Alvin Lee's dominant and virtuoso melody, which would bring the band to perform no less than 28 tours over 7 years in the US, more than any other British band. 9. In July 1969, the band performed at the "Newport Jazz Festival" as well as the "Seattle Pop Festival". 10. The band's big break came about a month later, during the band's mythical performance at the legendary " Woodstock Festival" in August 1969, during which the band played the song "I'm Going Home" which showcased Alvin Lee's amazing abilities on guitar. 11. In June 1970 the band released their fourth single "Love Like a Man", which was written by Alvin Lee and immediately became a hit in England. It was the first single in the world to feature two different playing speeds. Side A included the hit played at 45 RPM, while the other side included a live version of the hit which due to its length played at 33 RPM. 12. That same year the band played at the famous "Isle of Wight" festival, thus completing performances in front of over a million people at four festivals in just about a year. 13. In 1971 the band released their sixth album "A Space in Time" which included their biggest hit "I'd Love to Change the World". 13. In 1973, Alvin Lee released his first solo project - "On the Road to Freedom", in which he collaborated with singer and guitarist Mylon LeFevre, as well as with other great artists such as: George Harrison , Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Ron Wood, Mick Fleetwood and more. 14. In 1974 "Ten Years After" released their last album "Positive Vibrations" and immediately afterwards disbanded. 15. After the band disbanded, Alvin Lee embarked on a solo career during which he released 12 studio albums. 16. In 1985, Alvin Lee performed in Israel as part of the " Stars Festival " held at the Ramat Gan Stadium. This was not his only time in Israel, he also performed on the stage of the mythological "Dan Cinema" in Tel Aviv, alongside a selection of Israeli artists, and parts of this performance was even immortalized on video. 17. In 1989 Alvin Lee reunited with "Ten Years After" and the band released their ninth studio album "About Time". 18. Alvin Lee was considered one of the fastest guitarists of the 1960s and 1970s. His fast and precise playing greatly influenced the "guitar shredding" technique of the 1980s. 19. In a 2001 Total Magazine poll, Alvin Lee was voted the best of 12 great British guitarists. 20. Alvin Lee passed away on March 6, 2013 as a result of complications caused following surgery. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

She is charismatic, she's impressive, her music is no less dramatic than her stage presence and she's one of the most prominent women in the metal world, Maria Brink is celebrating her birthday today !! (Photo: Jeremy Saffer) 1. She was born in New York State on December 17, 1977. When she was still a child her father left home and she had to take care of her mother who was addicted to drugs. 2. When she was only 14 she gave birth to her first son. Maria said it was the angel that saved her life. She was in a very difficult time with her mother and in general and her son gave her a reason to live and find the right path in life. 3. Ever since she was a girl, her dream was to form a band. At the age of 25, she moved to Los Angeles to try and form her own band. 4. Two years later she met guitarist Chris Howorth and in 2005 they formed "In This Moment" with other musicians joining them. (Photo: Jeremy Saffer) 5. The two began working together, creating and writing songs. They uploaded them to "MySpace" and began to gain exposure that grew over time. 6. Bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson, known from Ozzy Osbourne 's band recognized their potential and decided to take them under his wing. With the growing popularity on "MySpace", record companies began to pay attention to the band, which soon after was signed by the label "Century Media Records". 7. In 2007 the band's debut album called "Beautiful Tragedy", came out. The album had a heavy style, with the strong and rough voice of Maria's roars, alongside the heavy guitars. The album was particularly successful when a radio station called "Hard Attack" frequently played a large number of songs from it. 8. After the release of the album, the band won a number of major festivals and was an opening act for artists and bands such as "Megadeth", Rob Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne , and more. 9. The band's second album called "The Dream", was released in 2008. The album was more successful than the first one and even entered the Billboard 200. This time the album's sound was less heavy and Maria made less use of roars with more "clean" singing. 10. After the album's release, the band went on an independent tour for the first time, called "A Winter to Remember Tour". Their opening acts included the bands "In Fear and Faith", "Agraceful" and "Motionless in White". 11. The band's third album "A Star-Crossed Wasteland" came out In 2010. According to "AP" magazine, it was one of the most anticipated albums of the year. The album was a great success and received rave reviews from all critics, as well as winning the band the 40th spot on the Billboard 200. 12. Two years later the band's fourth album called "Blood" was released. The album as well as the band has undergone a significant change in their musical direction, replacing almost all of the band members and experiencing more powerful electronic elements than the traditional Metalcore. This album also continued their success and put it in 15th place on the Billboard 200. 13. But all this was just a warm-up to the band's fifth, greatest, strongest, and most successful album, released in 2014. The band that found its musical uniqueness in the previous album, stepped up and strengthened the unique sides of it in this album. Although Maria writes all the lyrics and Chris all the music, this time they did it also with the rest of the band. The album was a resounding success and peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200. 14. At this stage Maria decided to change the band's live performance style and turned it into a theatrical show, with scenery, props, dancers, and special effects. Its purpose was to breathe life into songs so that the audience gets a full experience with the lyrics and music. (Photo: Jeremy Saffer) 15. The band's sixth album "Ritual" came out In 2017. This was a concept album created around the events of the "Salem witch trials" from 1692, in which women and men who practiced magic or were declared as witches or sorcerers, were persecuted and executed. The album is much more dramatic than the band's previous albums and even feels like part of a movie soundtrack. By the way, it came in 23rd place in the Billboard 200. 16. In March 2020, the band's seventh album "Mother" was released. The album continues the dramatic and electronic style of the previous album, but this time received mixed reviews. 17. On October 2023, the band released their eighth album "GODMODE". Four singles promoted the album, one notebily outstand which is the cover of the song "Army of Me" by "Bjork". 18. Maria has collaborated with various and diverse artists such as "Halestorm", "Papa Roach", "Five Finger Death Punch", "POD" and more ... 19. Maria is also a painter, who besides designing the set for the band's live shows also creates exhibitions. 20. She is considered one of the most beautiful women in the metal scene and in light of this she has won several awards and various beauty titles in the world of music. Listen to the band's album "GODMODE" 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 guitarist Uli Jon Roth, best known for his membership in the classic lineup of the "Scorpions". (Photo: Bluguitar.com ) He was born in Dusseldorf, Germany as Ulrich Roth, on December 18, 1954. He is the brother of guitarist Zeno Roth. He noted that his father, Carl-Joseph Roth, is his role model. His father instilled in him a love and knowledge of art, including painting and photography, writing poems, stories and novels. He learned to play classical guitar and piano. His early musical influences were "The Beatles", "Cream" and Jimi Hendrix . From the moment Roth saw Jimi Hendrix perform live as a teenager, in January 1969, he connected with the music and identified with the style that shaped him later on. Roth considers Jimi Hendrix to be one of the greatest artists of all time and has always stated that he was greatly influenced by him. Later Roth was also influenced by guitarists David Gilmour , Ritchie Blackmore and Jeff Beck . Roth discovered his love for the electric guitar in 1968 and made his first gig later that year, aged just 13, as the lead guitarist for the band "Blue Infinity". While in high school, Roth played in several bands in Hanover, Germany, including "Dawn Road". His influences at the time were Andrés Segovia and Julian Bream, but also the flamenco guitarist Manitas de Plata and the great violinist Yehudi Menuhin. In 1973, after the release of the debut album " Lonesome Crow ", Michael Schenker , who was Roth's friend, left the "Scorpions" to join "UFO". Before leaving the "Scorpions", Michael Schenker asked Roth to take his place in the band. Later that year, in the summer of 1973, the two original "Scorpions" members - Rudolf Schenker and Klaus Meine - joined forces with the four members of "Dawn Road" - Uli Jon Roth's band. Shortly after, the revived "Scorpions" made its debut, on a channel of German television. The two songs they played there led them to sign a 5-year recording contract with one of the biggest international record companies at the time, RCA. During his five-year tenure as a member of the "Scorpions", Roth built his status as a guitar legend. He quickly established himself as one of the main songwriters in the band and gained an international reputation as one of the guitarists who revived the status of the electric guitar at the time. Among other things, Roth is one of the first guitarists in the neo-classical metal genre who influenced generations of guitarists. Not for nothing he was nicknamed "father of neo-classical". He recorded five albums with "Scorpions" - one in each year he was a member of the band. The first was "Fly To The Rainbow" from (1974), followed by " In Trance " (1975), " Virgin Killer " (1976) and " Taken by Force " (1977). Roth's farewell album from "Scorpions", was a live album recorded in Japan in 1978 called " Tokyo Tapes ". It is known as one of the greatest live albums in rock history and has influenced dozens of musicians. In the spring of 1976, Roth met the German artist Monika Dannemann (who was with Jimi Hendrix in his last hours) in London. Soon the two began to develop an affair as Monica helps Roth and becomes his muse and the inspiration for his future works. Despite his friendship with the other members of the "Scorpions", in the last year of his membership in the band Roth felt that he was very limited within the musical boundaries of the "Scorpions". His main ambition was to explore new areas of music and it was clear to him that the songs he wrote at that time would not fit the musical framework of the band. Therefore, in the spring of 1977, Roth felt he had to leave the band to move forward on his own. After completing the recordings for " Taken By Force ", Roth tendered his resignation to the band, but still remained with the band for another year due to the sense of loyalty he felt towards his bandmates. Before their first tour of Japan - in April, 1978, Roth made it clear to the band that this would be his last tour as their lead guitarist. Roth's solo in the song "Sails of Charon" from the album " Taken By Force ", stands out with impressive speed and precision. The solo featured several classic techniques. Kirk Hammett "quoted" part of this insane solo in the song "Battery", the opening track of the masterpiece album " Master Of Puppets ". After leaving the "Scorpions" Roth founded "Electric Sun" - which was initially planned as a power trio in the tradition of "Cream" and "Jimi Hendrix Experience". The band's first album "Earthquake" - was released in 1979. Already in this album, Roth created a unique style that was unlike anything else. A combination of Hendrix with distinct classical leanings, especially in the theme track "Earthquake" - a ten-minute instrumental epic that introduced a completely new approach to guitar playing. The second "Electric Sun" album called "Fire Wind", was released in 1981 and was easier for the hard-rock-oriented listeners to digest. The standout track from it was a 4-part epic called "Enola Gay – Hiroshima Today?". In 1985 the band released their third album "Beyond The Astral Skies", an album Roth considers as his best album, which includes the single "The Night The Master Comes". At that time Roth started using the "Sky guitar" as his main guitar. This is a Roth designed guitar with a significantly longer fingerboard. The guitar created a buzz in the guitar industry because of its unique shape and ability to play much higher notes. Roth continued to develop musically and in the second half of 1987 he began to write complex compositions with the intention of merging the classical and symphonic world with the sound and style he produced from his "Sky" guitar. Unfortunately, the piece called "Sky Concerto" was never completed due to technical challenges related to the guitar, but these limitations gave Roth the idea to build the first seven-string "Sky" guitar - the Mighty "Wing". In 1991, Roth published the musical piece "Aquila Suite – 12 Arpeggio Concert Etudes for Solo Piano". In 1992, Roth wrote his first symphony, "Europa Ex Favilla", a work commissioned by a classical guitar festival in Belgium. In 1996, Roth released "Sky of Avalon – Prologue to the Symphonic Legends (with Sky Orchestra)" - a highly melodic symphonic rock album, containing several outstanding tracks, including "Starlight", "Winds of War" and " Bridge to Heaven". In April 1996, his old friend - Monica Denman passed away surprisingly. Roth immediately abandoned work on the album he was working on at the time "Soldiers of Grace" and began writing a requiem in memory of Monica. This double album is still unfinished although Roth considers the music he wrote to be some of his best and has stated that he intends to finish it at a later stage. In 1998, Roth accepted Joe Satriani 's invitation to join G3 on a European tour with Michael Schenker . The tour included a jam session with Brian May at London's Wembley Arena. In 2000, the double album "Transcendental Sky Guitar" was released, partially recorded live in Vienna. The album included many classical pieces, including Mussorgsky's "BABA YAGA" from 1874. In 2003, Roth recorded "Metamorphosis of the Seasons" containing a genius version of the work "The Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi. Roth wrote a "Fifth Season" based on themes from Vivaldi's masterpiece, the piece is called "Metamorphosis Concerto" and it ends the album. In 2005, Roth reunited with his old band "Scorpions". They have not appeared together on stage since the days of " Tokyo Tapes ", from 1978. In 2006 the "Scorpions" performed a reunion show at the world's largest heavy metal festival, "Wacken Open Air" in Germany, in front of more than 80,000 people with the participation of Roth, Michael Schenker and Herrman Rarebell. The concert led to a DVD release under the title "A Night to Remember". During that year, Roth founded a music school in Los Angeles and called it "Sky Academy", intended to share his musical philosophy. Over the years, Roth has gained a reputation as a gifted guitar player who can play almost anything without prior preparation. Because of this rare ability, Roth was often invited for spontaneous guest appearances with other artists, such as: "Deep Purple", "The Smashing Pumpkins", Slash , Jack Bruce, Rick Wakeman, Michael Schenker , Paul Gilbert, Doro , "Avantasia", Rachel Barton -Pine, Robbie Krieger, Leslie West, "Gamma-Ray", Richie Kotzen, "Angra", Gus G, "UFO and more. One of the examples of Roth's tremendous improvisational ability occurred at the "Rock Em Ring" festival in Germany in 2007 in front of an audience of about 90,000. Roth appeared as a guest of "The Smashing Pumpkins" on a televised show. Roth played some memorable, completely improvised solos there with Billy Corgan , including a 20-minute improvisation during the song "Gossamer," which proved to be the musical highlight of the evening. In the fall of 2008, Roth released the album "Under A Dark Sky" with "Sky Orchestra". A concept album that includes the monumental 18-minute epic "Tanz in die Dämmerung", the idea of ​​which was based on a novel of the same name written by Roth's father. In 2015, Roth released "Scorpions Revisited", a double album consisting entirely of early "Scorpions" songs given new life and exciting new performances. In the same year, Roth decided to establish his own "Sky Guitars" company called UJR-SKY-GUITARS - dedicated to the production of a new series and models of "Sky Guitars". One of the models featured an 8-string acoustic guitar with nylon strings, called the "Flamenco Sky Guitar". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He was in bands like "Rainbow", "Thin Lizzy", "Dio", he played with Gary Moore, Phil Lynott and recorded the bass roles for the album "Love at First Sting" with "Scorpions". He's a bassist who was part of great masterpieces in hard rock and metal, but not many know that he's also a singer and keyboardist. (Photo: Fin Costello) Here are some facts about Jimmy Bain: 1. He was born in Scotland on December 19, 1947. His full name is James Stewart Bain. 2. Already at a young age he started playing in local bands, but his first serious band was "Street Noise". 3. In 1974 he joined the music scene in London and joined the band "Harlot". 4. His big opportunity came in 1975 after guitarist Ritchie Blackmore watched him perform at "The Marquee" in London and invited him to join "Rainbow". 5. Bain recorded the album " Rising " with the band in 1976 and went on tour to promote it. 6. Bain later also appeared on the band's first live album - " On Stage " from 1977. 7. In January 1977 Ritchie Blackmore fired him from the band and Bain joined John Cale from the band "The Velvet Underground", accompanying him on a European tour. 8. In 1978 he formed the band "Wild Horses" which also included guitarist Brian Robertson from the band "Thin Lizzy". In addition to playing the bass, Bain also served as the lead singer and songwriter. 9. The band will release two studio albums. "Wild Horses" from 1980 and "Stand Your Ground" from 1981. 10. His friendship with Brian Robertson and Phil Lynott will lead him to play bass in the song "With Love" from Thin Lizzy's 1979 album " Black Rose: A Rock Legend ". 11. In 1980 Bain was featured on the album "Solo in Soho" - Phil Lynott 's first solo album. He played keyboards. Later he will also join the live line-up of Lynott 's as a keyboardist. 12. In 1982 he was featured on two songs from "The Philip Lynott Album", Phil Lynott 's second solo album, this time playing bass and singing background vocals. 13. In 1983 Bain played bass on the album "Dirty Fingers", Gary Moore's third solo album. 14. That same year he was asked by Ronnie James Dio to join his new solo lineup. Bain was part of a series of masterpiece albums released by the band in 1983-1987, namely: " Holy Diver ", " The Last In Line ", " Sacred Heart ", "Intermission", " Dream Evil ". In addition to playing bass, Bain will also play keyboards and will be a full partner in writing the materials for the albums. 15. Believe it or not, Bain also plays in three songs from singer Kate Bush's 1982 album "The Dreaming". 16. In 1984 he was commissioned by Rudolf Schenker to record the album "Love At First Sting". Although Bain recorded the bass roles for the album, following the band's management's opposition to adding a non-German member, his roles were re-recorded by bassist Francis Buchholz. 17. Bain was also part of a charity project by metal artists to raise donations for the victims of hunger in Africa - " Hear ' n Aid " from 1986. 18. In 1989 Bain formed the band "World War III" together with guitarist Tracy G who's also known for his work with "Dio". The band released its eponymous album in 1991. 19. In 2000 Bain will return to "Dio" for the band's excellent concept album " Magica ". He will later stay for the album " Killing the Dragon ", from 2002. 20. In 2005 he formed another band called "3 Legged Dogg", together with drummer Vinny Appice and guitarist Carlos Cavazo. The band will release an album called "Frozen Summer" in 2006. 21. In 2012 he formed together with the veterans of "Dio" a new band named "Last in Line", called after the second album of "Dio". The band consisted of guitarist Vivian Campbell , drummer Vinny Appice , keyboardist Claude Schnell and singer (guitarist) Andrew Freeman. 22. The band released their excellent debut album "Heavy Crown" in 2016. 23. That same year during the "Def Leppard" "Hysteria on the High Seas" cruise, the "Last in Line" was scheduled to perform as part of the set. 24. Unfortunately, on January 23, 2016, Jimmy Bain passed away in his cell, before performing with the band. To listen to the latest album he released with "The Last In Line" Click Here . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 17, 1976 "Genesis" released their eighth album "Wind & Wuthering". This is the second "Genesis" album released in 1976, after " A Trick of the Tail " and it's last with Steve Hackett , who felt that he was not getting enough expression in the band. Hackett said that after releasing his excellent solo album "Voyage of the Acolyte" in 1975, he felt like a faucet had turned on and he immediately realized that he just couldn't turn it off. He wrote a lot of material at that time, some of which he kept for his next solo album, thinking that they would not suit the band's musical direction, the others he offered to his friends in "Genesis". One of these pieces was " Please Don't Touch! ", which the band started working on. But then he saw how this excellent piece was tossed aside in favor of the improvisational, instrumental " Wot Gorilla? ", Just because Phil Collins felt he couldn't connect to the song. Other songs he wrote were also rejected in favor of songs written by others, especially Tony Banks . He thought that some of the songs the band chose for the album were not as good as the material he had written and that the band was leaning in a musical direction that he was not interested in continuing with. He felt that as he wrote more and more the band wanted less of him and therefore made the painful decision to leave "Genesis" after the tour supporting the album. Under these circumstances, it is no wonder that this is the favorite Tony Banks album, as he was involved in writing 6 of the 9 drum tracks on the album. In this context, it should be noted that during the album sessions, the band recorded three additional tracks that were not included in it, but were released about a year later as part of the band's first EP "Spot the Pigeon". This album sits exactly on the "Genesis" timeline, on which the band moved starting the second half of the seventies, which includes the gradual transition from the complex Progressive of the Peter Gabriel era to the "Poppy" Phil Collins hits. This timeline of "Genesis" parallels the changes in the world music market, the rise of Disco and Punk in the second half of the seventies, and the electronic revolution of the eighties. It's still a complex album that includes some great compositions, but on the other hand, it includes songs like " Your Own Special Way ", which became the band's first single in the US and opened the band to a new audience. Compared to " A Trick of the Tail " this is a less consistent and perfect album. Don't get us wrong, there are no weak parts here, this is still "Genesis" at its best and even if there are mediocre parts compared to what the band has released in the past, they are definitely worth listening to and should not be missed. The album opens with the mini-epic " Eleventh Earl of Mar " to Steve Hackett 's guitar sounds accompanied by Tony Banks ' ARP 2600 synthesizer, which later also plays the Hammond organ for the first time in "Genesis". The dynamic and complex composition was written by Banks, Rutherford, and Hackett who wrote the music and lyrics for the song's bridge, which was originally a section from another song. The rest of the lyrics were written by Mike Rutherford , who was inspired by the character of the Scottish John Erskine - the 11th Earl of Mar. Mike Rutherford got the idea after reading a history book about a failed Scottish rebellion in 1715 and it's about medieval knights, fathers and sons, and their bravery in battle. It is followed by the magnificent " One for the Vine " written in its entirety by Phil Collins . This is one of the best tracks on the album. It is dynamic, challenging, and exciting at the same time. Undoubtedly one of the most complex tracks that Banks wrote. It stretches over 10 minutes and is composed of less than 10 different pieces of music - different musical variations, some of which repeat themselves during the song. The lyrics tell the story of a man who leaves his community because he does not believe in its spiritual leader. From here we move into the folk-pop ballad "Your Own Special Way" written by Mike Rutherford . This is the band's second "hit", after " I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) " from the album " Selling England By The Pound " from the Peter Gabriel era, released in 1973. For its release as a single, the instrumental bridge in the middle was omitted (starting at minute 3:44 ), to turn it into a pure pop song. Even the devout progressives among us must admit that thanks to such songs "Genesis" managed to survive the "progressive winter" and remain relevant throughout the years. The track that closes the first side of the album " Wot Gorilla? " is an improvisational instrumental piece written by Phil Collins and Phil Collins . It is basically a variation on the melody of the song " One for the Vine ". Banks took the first five notes of the song's melody and developed it in a completely different direction. The name of the song refers to the band's hired drummer Chester Thompson, whose nickname during his time with Frank Zappa in 1973-1974 was "Gorilla". This segment, as mentioned above, made Steve Hackett to recalculate and eventually leave the band. Just imagine "Please Don't Touch!" replacing this track on the album and you will understand the frustration of Hackett , which at the end of the day included it as the album title and opening track of his second solo album from 1978. Copyright: Lee & Leeeser photographics 1977, Dallas, Texas… 1975 to 1981 The second side of the vinyl opens up with " All In A Mouse's Night " - another piece written by keyboardist Tony Banks which, believe it or not, was influenced by the cartoon characters of "Tom and Jerry". A humorous and witty text about a mouse trying to escape from a cat, just like in the mythological cartoon series. On the other hand, the composition is excellent, very dynamic, and includes frequent rhythm changes that alternate to illustrate the storyline, with an excellent guitar solo by Steve Hackett . Make sure not to miss Phil C ollins's vocals here, who follows in the footsteps of his mentor Peter Gabriel and changes his voice according to the characters in the song. Just priceless... It is followed by " Blood on the Rooftops ", one of the most moving songs on the album, written by Steve Hackett and Phil Collins . It starts quiet and instrumental, with Steve Hackett 's classic "Baroqueish" guitar playing, and builds dynamically with a simply "melting" chorus. The words refer to the average Englishman who sits at home in front of the television and tries to ignore the harsh reality and the news. The text refers to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the words "The Arabs and Jews boy (too much for me)". This is one of "Genesis" songs that Steve Hackett tends to perform quite a bit in his shows like here. From here we move to two consecutive instrumental sections, connected with each other, complementing each other, that includes a mention of the motif that opens the album. The quieter first of the two, " Unquiet Slumbers For The Sleepers... " was written by Mike Rutherford and Steve Hackett , while the second, more up-tempo, with the crazy Phil Collins drumming, " ...In That Quiet Earth " was written by all four members of the band. The names of the two instrumental pieces are taken from the last sentence in Emily Brontë's" novel, "Wuthering Heights". The two connected instrumental pieces connect to the album's closing song " Afterglow ". This is the third piece on the album written solely by Tony Banks . Mike Rutherford 's bass is reinforced here with a bass pedal, the guitar work here is monotonous and hypnotic and the melody is very catchy. Although this is another ballad that was apparently meant to "flirt" with mainstream, it is one of the biggest and best-known songs on the album, which was included in a large part of the band's performances. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On September 20, 1976, “AC/DC” released their third studio album “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, an album that sharpened the band’s identity and locked in the outlaw swagger that would soon make them unstoppable. If “ High Voltage ” was the spark and “ T.N.T. ” the ignition, then “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” is where the engine finally roared at full force. This is the album where “AC/DC” stopped sounding like a promising hard rock band from Australia and started sounding like a dangerous, fully formed entity. Everything here feels tighter, nastier, and more confident. The riffs hit harder, the humor is darker, and the attitude is no longer playful rebellion but something far more deliberate and confrontational. By the time the band entered Albert Studios in Sydney, the chemistry between Angus Young , Malcolm Young , Bon Scott , Phil Rudd, and Mark Evans was undeniable. Malcolm Young ’s rhythm guitar dominates the record, setting up that relentless, piston-like groove that would become the backbone of the “AC/DC” sound. Angus Young ’s leads are sharp and economical, never flashy for the sake of it, always serving the song with precision and bite. Producer Harry Vanda, alongside George Young, captured the band raw and immediate, resisting polish in favor of power. Bon Scott is the true star of the album. His voice drips with menace, humor, and charisma, turning every lyric into a character sketch. Whether he’s playing the role of a hired gun, a street-level criminal, or a leering troublemaker, Scott sounds completely believable. His lyrics on this album are witty, provocative, and unapologetically dirty, but always delivered with a grin that makes it impossible not to go along for the ride. The album opens with “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” , one of the most iconic mission statements in rock history. Built on a swaggering riff and a call-and-response chorus, the song feels like a late-night classified ad for chaos. Scott’s delivery turns criminal mischief into a business proposition, and the band backs him with a groove that is impossible to shake. “Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire)”  slows things down into a blues-soaked strut, giving Scott room to vent frustration and cynicism. The song stretches out, letting the band breathe, and shows that “AC/DC” could build atmosphere just as effectively as they could deliver blunt-force riffs. “Problem Child”  brings the pace back up with pure attitude. Short, sharp, and aggressive, it sounds like a declaration of identity. There is no attempt to soften the edges or justify the behavior. This is defiance as a lifestyle, delivered with a grin and clenched teeth. Squealer” , open the second side of the vinyl with a darker and heavier vibe that leaves the listener with a raw, unsettling edge. One of the album’s most underrated moments is “Big Balls” , a song that perfectly captures Bon Scott ’s genius for double entendre. On the surface it’s a tongue-in-cheek tale of high-society gatherings. Underneath, it’s pure filth, delivered with theatrical flair and impeccable timing. It is humorous, ridiculous, and somehow still menacing. The Australian version of the album closes with “Jailbreak” , one of the most dramatic and cinematic songs of the Bon Scott era. Its prison-break narrative, rising tension, and explosive payoff make it a natural finale, ending the album with urgency, attitude, and a sense of outlaw freedom that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”. Original Australian cover It is important to note that international versions of the album differ significantly from the original Australian release. The international edition shortened several tracks and altered the running order, removing “R.I.P. (Rock in Peace)”  and “Jailbreak” , and adding “Love at First Feel”  and the punk-like “Rocker”  instead. Despite being released in 1976, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” did not appear in the United States until 1981, after “AC/DC” had already become global superstars. By then, the album felt like a missing chapter in the band’s story, revealing the roots of their attitude and the raw hunger that fueled their rise. Over time, it has become one of the band’s most beloved records, frequently cited as a definitive Bon Scott era release. Today, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”  stands as a crucial turning point in the “AC/DC” catalog. It is the sound of a band shedding uncertainty, embracing their identity, and committing fully to a philosophy of loud guitars, hard grooves, and zero compromise. It may not have the stadium polish of later albums, but its grit, humor, and danger remain timeless. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

He is a singer with supreme grace whose voice led not one, but two great classic rock bands - "Free" and "Bad Company". Members of "The Doors" wanted him as a Frontman after Jim Morrison 's died, he was a candidate to replace Ian Gillan after leaving "Deep Purple", he worked with Jimmy Page and even collaborated with members of "Queen". (Photo: Celebrity Net Worth) So here are 20 interesting facts about Paul Rodgers, and there's also a playlist ... 1. He was born in the North Yorkshire area of ​​England on December 17, 1949, as Paul Bernard Rodgers. 2. He began his musical career as a bass player in the band "The Roadrunners", which also included guitarist Micky Moody, who would later become a member of "Whitesnake". 3. The band changed its name to "The Wildflowers" and Rodgers was asked by singer Colin Bradley to take on the singing role as well, as he was interested in moving on and playing rhythm guitar, thus revealing his incredible singing ability. 4. In 1968, when he was only 18, he formed the band "Free" together with guitarist Paul Kossoff, bassist, Andy Fraser, and drummer Simon Kirke. 5. The band released in 1969 their debut album "Tons of Sobs" and later that year their second album which was simply called "Free". 6. The band's big break came with the third album " Fire and Water " which included the iconic hit "All Right Now", whose performance at the 1970 "Isle of Wight" festival gave the band world fame. 7. But the great success also brought with it problems and after the release of the fourth album "Highway" in 1970, friction began between Fraser and Rodgers, and the band temporarily disbanded in 1971. Even after the band was able to settle down and return to activity, it did not last long And it finally disbanded in 1973 after releasing two more albums "Free at Last" from 1972 and "Heartbreaker" from 1973. 8. As early as 1973, Rodgers formed the supergroup "Bad Company" together with drummer Simon Kirke his bandmate from "Free", guitarist Mick Ralphs who came from "Mott the Hoople" and bassist Boz Burrell who came from "King Crimson". The quartet was led by Peter Grant, manager of "Led Zeppelin". 9. The band's debut album - "Bad Company", was released in 1974 and became "Swan Song Records" first album. As well known this label was formed by members of "Led Zeppelin". The album received rave reviews and jumped straight to number one on the US Billboard 200. 10. Although the style of the album was a combination of hard rock and blues rock, this album is ranked 40th on the list of the 100 greatest metal albums of all time, by the esteemed Kerrang magazine! And of course in the list of "1001 albums, you need to hear before you die". 11. Just three months after the release of their debut album, "Bad Company" went on to record the album "Straight Shooter" which includes songs like "Good Lovin 'Gone Bad" and the immortal "Feel Like Makin' Love", a song that Paul Rodgers wrote back in 68 during his tour with "Free". 12. Rodgers released with the band four more successful albums before leaving it, the last being "Rough Diamonds" from 1982. 13. In 1983 Rodgers released his first solo album "Cut Loose". He wrote all the songs on the album and played all the instruments in it. 14. In 1985 he joined Jimmy Page and they formed the band "The Firm" which includes bassist Tony Franklin and drummer Chris Slade. The band released their debut album named "The Firm" that year, and later the album " Mean Business " in 1986. 15. In 1990 he formed the band "The Law" together with the drummer Kenney Jones who is known, among other things, for his work with "the Faces". The band's debut album from 1991 featured Chris Rea, Bryan Adams, and David Gilmour , among others. (Photo: https://kenneyjones.com) 16. In 1993, Rodgers released a tribute album to Muddy Waters, called "Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters". The album featured many good artists such as Brian May , Buddy Guy , David Gilmour , Jeff Beck , Neal Schon , Gary Moore , Richie Sambora , Slash , Steve Miller, Jason Bonham , and more. 17. Rodgers later focused on his solo career and released his third studio album "Now" in 1997 and his fourth album "Electric" in 2000. 18. In 2006, Rogers began collaborating with Brian May and Roger Taylor , members of the band "Queen". They went on tour together under the name Queen + Paul Rodgers, releasing two live albums and one studio album called The Cosmos "Rocks" in 2008. (Photo: Junko Kimura) 19. In 2014, Rodgers released an album of blues cover versions called "The Royal Sessions". 20. In 2023, Rodgers stated that during the last 7 years he suffered no less than 13 strokes, two of them substantial (one in 2016 and another in 2019) and the rest minor. The events caused his speech to be impaired. Rodgers underwent a long recovery procedure which allowed him to return to singing. 21. That same year Rodgers released his first solo album of new material in almost 25 years called "Midnight Rose". 22. Except hid mighty voice and him being a bass player, Rodgers also plays guitar, keyboards, accordion, and drums. 23. He appears in the 55th place in "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 100 greatest singers of all time. And now for the playlist, we have prepared especially for you: C lick Here "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 17, 1971, David Bowie released his fourth studio album "Hunky Dory". Similar to the name of the opening track " Changes ", this album reflected the "changes" that David Bowie went through at the time. It began with the death of his father in August 1969, continued with a deterioration in the mental state of his half-brother, who exposed him to music and was diagnosed as a schizophrenic, the marriage to his wife Angie and her pregnancy with their eldest son Duncan. Beyond the changes in his personal life, Bowie replaced his manager, his record company, and bassist Tony Visconti with Trevor Bolder. These changes were also reflected in the themes the album deals with, in the musical style and the form of Bowie's writing. If the previous album "The Man Who Sold the World" was dark and gloomy and dealt with heavy issues like schizophrenia and paranoia, influenced by his brother's mental state, then this album is much lighter. It is a kind of tribute to the sixties and artists who inspired Bowie, like Bob Dylan , Andy Warhol, Lou Reed and is full of artistic, social, and cultural references, with words reminiscent of Friedrich Nietzsche, John Lennon , Aleister Crowley, Winston Churchill and more. If the previous album marked Bowie's transition from the acoustic sound of the previous two albums to a heavier and more electric sound, then in this album Bowie abandons folk origins and solid rock and concentrates on writing lighter and more accessible songs, even a little "popish". He also leaves the guitar and starts writing the songs on piano and this opens up new possibilities for him. The real magic of this album lies in the music and the melodies. On the one hand, they are surprising, and dynamic and include quite a few changes, and on the other hand, they are incredibly receptive and accessible. There is no doubt that one of the highlights of the album is Rick Wakeman's wonderful piano playing, which reaches the forefront of the arrangement of most of the songs on the album. This is the album where everything started to connect for Bowie, the album where his unique sound was formed, and the wonderful band that will accompany him in the years to come, especially during the "Ziggy Stardust" era. The album opens up with " Changes ", the song that summarizes the changes that took place in Bowie's life at the time, but in a sense also predicts the future of "The Man with a Thousand Faces", who over the following decades knew how to reinvent himself. The song is a clear antithesis to the previous album and the choice to place it at the beginning of the album is not coincidental. An entertaining mix of jazz, blues, pure pop, melodic, commercial, cheerful, and yet incredibly soft. Right after that comes " Oh! You Pretty Things " the first song Bowie wrote for the album. Also based on Wakeman's piano, it's much softer, but power up during the chorus. The words speak of dissatisfaction with humanity and technology in the Cold War environment. They refer to Aleister Crowley and Friedrich Nietzsche. The " Eight Line Poem " track was intended to sound like a sequel to the previous one. This is a short track of "Eight Lines" which this time too is led by Wakeman's surrealistic piano and Mick Ronson's blues guitar playin On this pastoral poem, Bowie almost recites the story about the room, the cat and the cactus ... From here we move on to the true masterpiece of the album " Life on Mars? " Bowie's moving vocals, recorded in one take, lead Wakeman's delicate piano to a sweeping chorus accompanied by strings, which add so much to the song's charm. They blend wonderfully with Ronson's guitar line which connects us to the next verse, where the sounds of the flute await us and undoubtedly adds depth to the song. The track addresses the media frenzy coverage of the Russian-American race to reach Mars. The melody of the song is a kind of parody of Frank Sinatra's "My Way". It includes the same sequence of chords in its opening part, when even the back cover of the album reads: "Inspired by Frankie". " Kooks " showcases the amazing abilities of bassist Trevor Bolder who also plays the trumpet. It also illustrates the band's versatility, combining melodic and groovy pop with a scent of "ballroom dance music". The song was written several days after the birth of Bowie's eldest son and is dedicated to him, with the "Kooks" being Bowie and his wife Angie. " Quicksand " sums up the fantastic first side with steady, dark folk, featuring acoustic guitars and Ronson string arrangements. A melancholy and sad melodic song that enjoys the power of strings. The lyrics were influenced by Bowie's first visit to the US and include references to Alistair Crowley, Winston Churchill, Heinrich Himmler, Friedrich Nietzsche and more. The only cover version of the album is the track " Fill Your Heart " which was written by Biff Rose and Paul Williams. A jazz-based bouncy piece, featuring a saxophone solo played by Bowie. The piece connects through a psychedelic bridge (a kind of tribute to the subject of the next song) to “Andy Warhol”. Contrary to the psychedelic introduction the song itself is based on a Spanish rhythm guitar playing, with Spanish percussion. This is a tribute song to American artist, producer and director Andy Warhol, who has been an inspiration to bowie since the mid-1960s. When Bowie met Warhol in September 1971 and played him the song, Warhol hated it and left the room. We continue with another tribute to another admired character of Bowie. " A Song for Bob Dylan " refers to Dylan as a separate mythological character from Robert Zimmerman, as if his legend grew beyond his name and eventually led to his famous fall at the Newport Folk Festival. There is no doubt that the song is a kind of mirror Bowie puts in front of him and reflects on everything that has changed, starting his name from David Jones to David Bowie , as well as the musical style. We're nearing the end with another tribute called " Queen Bitch " which is heavily influenced by The "Velvet Underground" and especially Lou Reed , when on the back cover of the album it even reads: "some V.U. White Light returned with thanks". Unlike the other songs on the album, this song is led by a rough guitar and it gives us a glimpse into the sound that will characterize Bowie on the next album " The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars ", even the way "Rebel Rebel" from "Diamond Dogs" will sound, Since both songs are the anthems for strong women. The closing track " The Bewlay Brothers " begins as an acoustic, quiet section, but later intensifies and takes on a psychedelic tone with strange singing voices. "Hunky Dory" was not an instant "hit" with its release, but it was boosted in sales about a year later, following the major breakthrough and the commercial success of " The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars ". Today it is already clear to everyone that this is a true "classic" in which Bowie's unique sound began to take shape. In 1988, readers of British music Q magazine ranked the album 43rd among the greatest albums of all time. In 2000 another magazine ranking was held and the album reached number 16 on the list of the 100 greatest British albums of all time. VH1 TV channel ranked the album that year at number 47, on the list of all-time great albums, and even "Time Magazine" included it on the 100 greatest albums of all time list. And if that's not enough, the album is on the "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die," list, and in 2020 Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album 88th on the renewed list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In case you did not understand, the album "Hunky Dory" is a must-have album for music lovers of all kinds. For Listening: 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 a drummer that some of you may not know, that had a huge impact on the world of drumming. We are talking about Carmine Appice. (Photo: Mark Horton) 1. He was born on December 15, 1946 in New York, USA. 2. He is the older brother of Vinny Appice who is known among others as the drummer of "Black Sabbath" and "Dio". 3. As a drummer Appice received training in classical music, and was greatly influenced by the playing of legendary jazz drummers Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa. 4. Already at the beginning of his career, he rose to fame as the drummer of "Vanilla Fudge" which he founded together with bassist Tim Bogert . 5. Why did he rise to prominence you wonder? Because his drumming in "Vanilla Fudge" had a great influence on great drummers such as John Bonham who noted that he was inspired by Carmine in playing his "Triplet Bass-Drum". Other great drummers like Ian Paice , Roger Taylor and even Neil Peart mentioned him as a source of inspiration. 6. "Vanilla Fudge" was the connecting factor between psychedelia and metal and it greatly influenced bands such as "The Nice", "Deep Purple", "Yes", "Styx", "Led Zeppelin", and "Uriah Heep". 7. After 5 albums with "Vanilla Fudge" in a two-year period between 1967 and 1969, Carmine left the band along with bassist Tim Bogert and the two formed the band "Cactus" in 1970. 8. Together with "Cactus" Carmine released four albums in two years, among them the excellent debut album and the album "'Ot 'n' Sweaty" from 1972. 9. In 1972 he teamed up with the legendary guitarist Jeff Beck to form the power trio "Beck, Bogert & Appice", where he also played a role as a singer. 10. That same year he published an instructional book for drummers called "The Realistic Rock Drum Method". 11. In 1974 he played on the album "Tabernakel" - the solo album of guitarist Jan Akkerman , known from the band "Focus". 12. In 1976, Appice joined Rod Stewart 's band with whom he released 4 albums and co-wrote songs such as "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". 13. At the same time he was a member of the band "KGB", which released two albums in the same year. 14. In 1978 he participated in the recording of Paul Stanley 's solo album, which was released at the same time as the solo albums of his three friends of "Kiss". 15. On May 23, 1981, Tom Bradley, then mayor of Los Angeles, declared that day Carmine Appice Day in the city, in recognition of the drummer's charitable and educational work. 16. In 1982 he played on Ted Nugent's album called "Nugent". 17. At the end of 1983 Carmine Appice went on tour with Ozzy Osbourne in support of the album " Bark At The Moon ". 18. In 1985 he founded the American heavy metal band "King Kobra" and was a part of five albums that the band recorded. 19. In 1986 he was part of the " Hear 'n Aid " tribute project which included a collaboration of 40 hard rock and metal artists. 20. In 1987 he played drums on the song "Dogs of War" by "Pink Floyd", taken from the album " A Momentary Lapse of Reason ". 21. In 1989 he joined the supergroup "Blue Murder" together with guitarist John Sykes . He released two albums with the band (the second as a session musician). 22. In 1993 he was part of the supergroup "Mother's Army" and released two studio albums. 23. In 1995 he recorded the album "Caso Cerrado" together with the Argentinian guitarist Pappo, who was also joined by his bassist friend Tim Bogert on four songs. 24. In 1996 he played on two song on guitarist Marty Friedman 's "True Obsessions" album. 25. In 2005, he became an official supporter of "Little Kids Rock", a non-profit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in public schools. 26. In 2006, founded the drum ensemble "SLAMM" in which Appice participated alongside four young drummers. "SLAMM" was chosen as the runner-up in the "Drum" magazine survey for the percussion ensemble for the year 2008. The ensemble also appeared on the DVD of the "Modern Drummer" festival for the same year. 27. In 2011 he played on Michael Schenker 's "Temple of Rock" album. 28. In 2011-2012 Carmine came up with a series of shows called "Drum Wars", together with his brother Vinny Appice. 29. In 2016 Appice published his book "Stick It!: My Life of Sex, Drums & Rock'n' Roll". 30. In 2017 he released the album "Sinister" together with his brother Vinny Appice. 31. He has quite a few solo albums, some of them in the "Guitar Zeus" series. 32. In 2021 he released "Energy Overload" under the name "Appice Perdomo Project". In the album he collaborates with the multi-instrumentalist Fernando Perdomo. Give him a lot of respect!!! Carmine Appice influenced generations of drummers including: Nicko McBrain , Joey Kramer , Roger Taylor , Phil Collins , Neil Peart , Tommy Lee , Dave Lombardo , John Bonham , Ian Paice , Robb Reiner, Eric Singer and more. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website