A Sneak Peek... Disturbed's fifth album "Asylum" was released on August 31, 2010. This is the fourth consecutive album that put the band straight at number one on the Billboard 200. On this album, David Draiman decided to go further and darker with the lyrics, but it also affected the music. In the songs, David shared experiences and especially messages on topics that are important to him and experiences he had in recent years. Dan tried to calm it down a bit and saying in interviews before the release of the album that they are not trying to lead a protest or revolution movement but are definitely trying to get people to think and try to look at things a little differently. In the period following the band's previous album, David went through a difficult period from which he drew inspiration for writing the lyrics. His wife left him, he was betrayed by his best friend, and in addition, he had to put his beloved dog for many years to sleep. The first single from the album "Another Way to Die" talks about global warming and the use of the earth's resources to the point of non-existence. The third song on the album "The Infection" refers to David's depression, like a creature that eats you from the inside out. One of the most famous and powerful songs for us as Jews is the song "Never Again" which refers to the Holocaust, especially to those who deny it and especially that it will never happen again. David is the grandson of a Holocaust survivor. You probably now remember the founding moments when the band performed in Israel and David gave an exciting and sweeping patriotic show, let's remember together !! The album was a bit of a musical change in the band's style but without a doubt retains its characteristics and presents the band on one of its talented, complex, and accurate albums !! Listen to the album on: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

He is one of the greatest musicians of the 90s and one of the greatest voices of all time. We do not really know how to open this review so let's just start... (Photo: Jeff Lipsky) 1. His full name is Christopher John Boyle and he was born on July 20th, 1964, and raised in Seattle, Washington 2. After his parents divorced, his two older brothers and three younger sisters adopted his mother's last name - Cornell. 3. Already at a young age Cornell had to deal with depression, he was lonely and avoided social relations. He had many fears and also suicidal tendencies that he had to deal with all his life. These were mainly the reasons why drugs and alcohol were an integral part of his life. 4. Growing up at home with alcoholic parents was the "best" refuge for a child suffering from depression and it contributed greatly to his exposure to alcohol and drugs. Already at the age of 12, he started consuming alcohol and various drugs that were available at home. He said that alcohol is what led to heavy drugs, he gives you the confidence that you can take any drug possible and nothing will happen to you. 5. His first exposure to music was around the age of 9 when he found a collection of "The Beatles" records in the basement of an abandoned house on the street where he lived. For several years he listened only to these albums. (Photo: Gie Knaeps) 6. Although he learned to play the piano and guitar, the first instrument that made him love rock music was a snare drum that his mother bought him. Aside from drugs and alcohol, the refuge that saved him was music, it was his means of channeling all his hard feelings and emotions out, living with himself peacefully and genuinely. 7. In 1982 Chris was a drummer in the band "Face to Face" which he formed together with bassist Duncan Elder and guitarist Bruce Sandelin (Photo: tumblr.com) 8. It appears that in the same year Chris formed another band called "The Shemps", a cover band that performed in small clubs in Seattle. The band also included bassist Hiro Yamamoto and guitarist Kim Thayil. (Photo: Wikimedia) 9. In 1984, Cornell's most famous band "Soundgarden" was formed. Hiro on bass, Kim on the guitar, and Cornell on the drums and vocals. A year later they enlisted drummer Scott Sundquist to allow Chris to concentrate on singing but he very quickly left and was replaced by Matt Cameron. (Photo: Jay Blakesburg) 10. In 1987 the band signed with the label "Sub Pop" which was the mainstay of the grunge scene and released their first EP "Screaming Life", a year later they released their second EP "Fopp". These two EPs created a very big buzz around the band and it became a popular band in Seattle. 11. In 1988 the band signed with the label "SST Records" and released their debut album "Ultramega OK", the album created huge exposure for the band and even a nomination for a Grammy Award. As a result, "Soundgarden" was signed with the big label "A&M Records" and became the first band from the grunge scene in Seattle to sign a record deal with a big label. 12. In 1989 the band released their second album "Louder Than Love". On this album, "Soundgarden" first introduced its special time signature (a rhythm that is not arranged in 4 regular bars) and took it one step further toward metal. This is their first album to enter the Billboard 200 and this is also Hiro's last album with the band replaced by bassist Ben Shepherd. 13. In March 1990 Chris lost his good friend Andrew Wood, the two had very close friends and Wood's death had a very severe impact on Chris. He thought going out with his band on a tour would help him overcome the loss but he realized he was wrong and as soon as he returned from the tour, along with drummer Cameron and friends from Wood's band "Mother Love Bone", Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, and "new" friends Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready they created the album and temporary band "Temple Of The Dog" which was all created in Wood's memory. They released their self-titled album in 1991. (Photo: tumblr.com) 14. In the same year when the grunge scene became big in the US and just before it broke into the rest of the world, the band released their third album "Badmotorfinger". With singles like "Jesus Christ Pose", "Outshined" and "Rusty Cage". With a Grammy nomination, the album became to be one of the most successful. They became the band that brought it to the mainstream and was the preparation for the success of the next album. 15. In 1992 Chris takes part in "Alice In Chains" EP called "SAP", together with Mark Arm from the band "Mudhoney", the two get credit in the album's liner notes as "Alice Mudgarden". 16. In 1994 the band released their fourth album "Superunknown". It's considered the band's most successful album, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and producing singles such as "Spoonman", "The Day I Tried to Live", "Black Hole Sun", and "My Wave" and "Fell on Black Days". The album was nominated for three Grammy Awards and won two. (Photo: soundgardenworld.com) 17 .In 1994, two songs Chris Cornell had originally written for Ozzy Osbourne ultimately found their way to Alice Cooper. "Stolen Prayer" and "Unholy War" were included on Cooper's album "The Last Temptation". Cooper made several lyrical and structural changes to fit the album's concept, while Cornell also contributed vocals to "Stolen Prayer". Cooper later said the song became one of his favorite tracks on the album. 18. In 1996 the band released their fifth album "Down On the Upside". On this album, the band moved away from their grunge roots and experimented with other musical genres, with less powerful riffs and the additions of instruments with acoustic sounds. The album did not succeed like its predecessor. It produced singles such as: "Pretty Noose", "Burden in My Hand", "Blow Up the Outside World" and "Ty Cobb/Rhinosaur". 19. After the tour to promote the album, disagreements began between the band members, especially between Cornell and Kim. Cornell wanted to keep moving from the heavy reefs and distortion to other directions and Kim opposed the idea. By 1997 it was no longer possible to bridge the gaps and one of the five big bands of the grunge disbanded. 20. That year Chris experienced a very difficult time, his big band broke up and his marriage fell apart as well. He felt he had nothing to hold on to and the accelerating depression took over completely. He isolated himself from everyone and deteriorated severely with drug use and starvation. 21. In 1999 Chris released his debut album "Euphoria Morning". From the album came the single "Can't Change Me" which was nominated for a Grammy and the single "Preaching the End of the World", but despite that, it was not a great success. However, the tour turned out to be a dizzying success, accompanied by huge demand throughout the United States. 22. In 2000, courtesy of producer Rick Rubin, Chris joined the "Rage Against the Machine" trio and co-founded with them one of the great supergroups in the rock world "Audioslave". A deadly and powerful combination of three musicians with a singer who can break down walls. Strong lyrics are combined with strong riffs, and dynamics combined with a melody that can shatter anything that stands in their way. In 2002, the band's debut album bearing the band's name was released and included the singles: "Cochise", "Like a Stone", "Show Me How to" "Live", "I Am the Highway" and "What You Are". The album was a great success and reached number 7 on the Billboard 200, to this day it is considered the band's most successful album. 23. After struggling with his fears, in 2002 Cornell put himself in a rehab facility and decided he needed to completely change his life. In an interview with Guitar.com magazine in 1999, Chris talked about dealing with depression: "Sometimes it's just a chemical reaction. It doesn't seem to come from nowhere or for any reason and whenever I was in a kind of depression, I tried over the years not only to imagine what it feels like not to be there, but to try to remind myself that I can just wake up the next day and it can disappear because that way It happens, not worrying about it. When I feel great, I remember the depression and think about the differences of how I feel and why I would feel that way and not create an emotional response one way or another. You just have to understand that these are life patterns and you just have to get through them." (Photo: Interscope) 24. In 2005 the lethal band released their second album "Out of Exile" which went straight to number one on the Billboard 200 and came out with the singles: "Be Yourself", "Your Time Has Come", "Doesn't Remind Me" and "Out of Exile". Cornell said that on this album he wrote the most personal songs he had ever written, especially in light of the period he went through 5 years before. 25. That same year Audioslave became the first American band to perform in front of a live audience in Cuba and it was also the band's longest show. 26. A year later the band's third album, "Revelations" was released. Tom Morello described the album As "Earth, Wind and Fire" meet "Led Zeppelin". Only two singles came out of the album: "Original Fire" and "Revelations". Morello said it was amazing to see Chris fight alcohol and drugs and stay clean in the recordings of the band's albums. 27. Cornell wrote all the lyrics on Audioslave's albums but the music was written by everyone together. Both Morello and Cornell said that the process of writing and creating together was significantly better, more mature, and more creative than with their previous bands. 28. In 2007 the supergroup came to an end, the rage trio reunited for a short time with Zack de la Rocha, and Cornell continued his solo career releasing his second solo album "Carry On", which reached number 17 on Billboard but was not a huge success, Chris said that many materials on the album are songs he could not have released with Audioslave. The singles from the album were: "You Know My Name", "No Such Thing", "Arms Around Your Love" and "She'll Never Be Your Man". 29. In 2008 Cornell wrote the song "Light On" for David Cook, one of the participants in the seventh season of "American Idol". Cornell was impressed by David Cook's performances in the show, especially the one of "Billie Jean," which was faithful to Chris' version from the album "Carry On" and decided to write the song for him. 30. In 2009 Cornell released his third solo album "Scream", the album was completely different from anything Chris had done up to that point. It is just like it sounds, Chris Cornell meets Timbaland, a poppy production of music with Chris' voice and lyrics. The two said that this is the best album they have created, which by the way, was Chris' most successful and reached number ten on the Billboard 200. 31. In the same year, Chris made his first appearance in Israel in front of 10,000 people at the exhibition center in Tel Aviv. 32. In 2010 after 12 years of hiatus "Soundgarden" returned and reunited. The first song to come out after the reunion was "Live to Rise" which was recorded in 2012 specifically for the movie "The Avengers". This is not the only song Cornell wrote for a movie/tv series. Listen to the playlist at the end of this review and you will find out more. 33. In 2011 Chris embarked on one of the most amazing tours of his career (in our opinion), one of the most exciting, honest, and sweeping shows called "Songbook". The shows that took place mostly in the US included songs from Chris' entire repertoire. In November of that year, the album of that tour came out which is a must-have album! 34. In 2012, Cornell came to Israel for the second time and held two performances, one at "Nokia Hall" in Tel Aviv and the other at the "Shoni Amphitheater". 35. At the end of 2012, Soundgarden's sixth and final album "King Animal" was released, 16 years after the release of the fifth album. Three singles came out of the album: "Been Away Too Long", "By Crooked Steps" and "Halfway There". All band members felt that this album was a direct sequel to "Down The Upside" as if only a year / two had passed since the album. 36. A seventh album was also due out, but after Cornell's death, the band decided to break up. There are still some details about the existence of a seventh album and the band members are trying to end the recordings with Cornell's voice but they are experiencing delays, it is currently unknown if this is true or when it is due out. 37. In 2014 Cornell gain arrived in Israel, this time with his band "Soundgarden" for a phenomenal show at Bloomfield Stadium, we have no way of describing what this show did to us and the imprint it left on us, let's say that Kim's guitar echo still resonates in our heads even today. (Photo: Valerie Kuypers) 38. In 2015 Chris released his latest solo album "Higher Truth". This is a calm and relaxed album that Chris recorded with producer Brendan O'Brien and it feels like Chris’ last breath. 39. In May 2016 we were privileged to see Cornell at the Tel Aviv Hall of Culture, in one of the most exciting performances of our lives, it was a "Songbook" style performance where Cornell performed alone on stage with an acoustic guitar, fully exposed giving out his soul. There was another performance in "Caesarea" as well. 40. On May 18, 2017, Cornell was found lifeless by his security guard in the shower in the MGM Grand Hotel room in Michigan after a "Soundgarden" show at the "Fox Theater". The cause of death was defined as suicide by hanging. 41. Throughout his career, Cornell has collaborated with artists such as "Slash", "Zac Brown Band" and "Santana". We have prepared a special playlist for you, for such a talented and special artist that for sure we have not been able to cover his entire career or even explain what impact he has had on the world of music. 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On August 31, 1999, Megadeth took "Uncalculated Risk" when she released the album "Risk". This is the band's eighth studio album and the first since 1990 that included a change in the band's lineup, with drummer Jimmy DeGrasso replacing Nick Menza. It is also the latest album featuring guitarist Marty Friedman who later left the band. The album's name came from a comment from Metallica's drummer Lars Ulrich, who told Dave Mustaine that he should take more risks when it comes to the band's musical line. The risk was indeed taken and the result was an unusual album that was radically different from the rest of the band's albums. "Megadeth" has completely abandoned the Thrash Metal style that characterized its classic albums, and created an album that included different and varied musical styles, from Industrial, through Alternative, Grunge, Glam Metal, and even Country Rock. The fundamental change in style can already be heard in the opening track "Insomnia" which takes us deep into the Industrial style and a combination of Electronic Metal a-la "Nine Inch Nails". Immediately after that comes "Prince of Darkness" which certainly does not sound like a tribute to the real Prince of Darkness. This is the album's darkest and heaviest song, and whoever listens to it will immediately understand how far the band has gone. If this song would have entered the "Rust In Peace" album, for example, it would have been considered a ballad. The song "Crush 'Em" and its opening track "Enter the Arena" were intended by Dave Mustaine to serve as an entry song for wrestling matches, but it's a song with a rather bland melody that is hard to see which WWE star decide to enter the arena with it. Even Mustaine was quoted saying that this is perhaps the most idiotic song he has ever written. Jean-Claude Van Damme probably thought otherwise, because this song was included in the soundtrack to the movie "Universal Soldier: The Return," which was released that year. "The Doctor Is Calling" features slight Doom touches and is Dave Mustaine's attempt to sound dark and mysterious. The really interesting opening riff reminds us of "Metallica's" "The Thing That Should Not Be", and the question is why an artist in Mustaine's class, who created so many classics with his own hands, was not more careful and invited himself to the obvious comparison. "I'll Be There" is a kind of rock ballad that would not embarrass any Glam Metal band and is one of the band's catchy songs. The second single "Breadline" is not far away and is definitely meant to flirt with commercial radio stations. "Wanderlust" features a "Wild West" vibe that for some reason reminds us of Bon Jovi's "Dead or Alive" minus the slide guitar. "Ecstasy" could easily have been a hit in early 90s alternative charts. It seems to us that you have already grasped the idea, as this album continues to be scattered among a variety of styles without one clear direction, and this is just a small problem. The bigger problem, is that Dave Mustaine decided to release this album under the name "Megadeth". Had this album come out for example under the name "MD.45", as a solo album or another side project, it might have been received more sympathetically, since by and large there are no bad songs here at all that we even like, only they are completely non-Megadeth ones. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about Van Morrison, a singer-songwriter and musician from Northern Ireland: (Photo: Last.fm) = He was born on August 31, 1945, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His full name is George Ivan Morrison. = Morrison's early exposure to music included his father's extensive record collection, which was at the time one of the largest record collections in Northern Ireland, featuring jazz and blues. = Morrison's father bought him his first acoustic guitar when he was 11. He learned to play rudimentary chords from a song book. = In 1957, at the age of twelve, Morrison formed his first band, a skiffle group called "The Sputniks", named after the satellite, "Sputnik 1". = At 14, he formed "Midnight Special", another modified skiffle band and played at a school concert. = Later he talked his father into buying him a tenor saxophone, and took saxophone and music reading lessons. = At age 17, Morrison toured Europe for the first time with a band called "the International Monarchs". The band disbanded in 1963 after returning to Belfast. = In 1964 Morrison formed the band "Them", which became known for the hit "Gloria". = Morrison's vocal style is known for its expressiveness, blending soul, jazz, and blues, with frequent improvisation. = His lyrics often explore themes of spirituality, love, and the mystical, reflecting his Irish heritage. = In 1967 Morrison released his debut solo album, "Blowin' Your Mind!", featuring the hit single "Brown Eyed Girl." = The song was listed at No. 21 on the "Rolling Stone/MTV" list of "100 Greatest Pop Songs" and as No. 49 on "VH1's" list of the "100 Greatest Rock Songs", No. 110 on the "Rolling Stone magazine" list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and in January 2007 it was inducted into the "Grammy Hall of Fame". = In 1968 Morrison released the album "Astral Weeks", now considered one of his masterpieces. The album has been placed on many lists of best albums including number two on the "Rolling Stone magazine's" "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". = In 1970 his album "Moondance" achieved commercial success, blending jazz, soul, and Irish folk. = He produced the album himself as he felt like nobody else knew what he wanted. = The album was listed at number sixty-five on the "Rolling Stone magazine's" "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". = In 1971 Morrison released "Tupelo Honey", known for its title track and the single "Wild Night." = In 1972 Morrison’s album "Saint Dominic's Preview" showcased his evolving musical style, with a mix of longer and more complex tracks. = Morrison's album "Hard Nose the Highway" from 1973 received mixed reviews, but featured the fan-favorite "Warm Love." = In 1974 he released "It's Too Late to Stop Now" with his eleven-piece band, The Caledonia Soul Orchestra. The album is often considered as one of the best live albums ever. = The same year he released "Veedon Fleece" reflecting his Irish roots with a more Celtic, acoustic approach. = In 1976 Morrison appeared in "The Band's" "The Last Waltz" concert. = In 1977 Morrison released "A Period of Transition" which marked a change in Morrison's musical style towards a more rhythm and blues sound. In this album he collaborated with Dr. John. = In 1978 Morrison released "Wavelength", which was more radio-friendly and garnered commercial success and was at that time the fastest-selling album of his career. = In 1979 he released "Into the Music" that was critically acclaimed for its spiritual and personal lyrics. = In 1980 Morrison released "Common One" and continued his exploration of spiritual themes, with long, meditative tracks. The album consisted of six songs; the longest, "Summertime in England", lasted fifteen and a half minutes. = In 1982 Morrison released "Beautiful Vision", which had him returning once again to the music of his Northern Irish roots. = In 1983 Morrison's "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart" was released. it was a move towards creating music for meditation with synthesizers, uilleann pipes and flute sounds. Four of the tracks were instrumentals. = His 1985 "A Sense of Wonder" original pressings had to be recalled when the W. B. Yeats estate refused to allow Morrison's musical version of the poem "Crazy Jane on God" to be included, as they believed his poems should only be set to classical music. He substituted it with "If You Only Knew". = In 1986 he released "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher", continuing his exploration of introspective and spiritual themes. = His 1987 album "Poetic Champions Compose", considered to be one of his recording highlights of the 1980s. It includes the romantic ballad, "Someone Like You", that has been featured in the soundtracks of several movies, including 1995's "French Kiss", and in 2001, both "Someone Like You" and "Bridget Jones's Diary". = The same year Morrison received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. = In 1989 Morrison released "Avalon Sunset" that included the hit "Have I Told You Lately," blending spirituality and romance. = In 1990 he participated in "The Wall - Live In Berlin" show. = In 1993 Morrison was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to music. = In 1995 "Days Like This" was released, featuring the song "No Religion," and a diverse group of songs offering a variety of moods and styles. = In 1996 Morrison was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", recognizing his significant impact on the music industry. = In 1997 he collaborated with Georgie Fame on the live jazz performances "How Long Has This Been Going On" and "Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison". = In 2002 he released "Down the Road" which showcased his continued exploration of blues and R&B influences. = In 2003 Morrison was inducted into the "Songwriters Hall of Fame", acknowledging his contributions as a lyricist and composer. = In 2004 "Magic Time" was released, receiving praise for its blend of jazz, blues, and Celtic influences. = In 2005 Morrison was awarded the "ASCAP" (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) Founders Award. = In 2008 Morrison performed "Astral Weeks" live for the first time in 40 years, leading to the release of "Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl". = In 2009 the "Rolling Stone Magazine" ranked Morrison 42nd on their list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time." = In 2012 he released "Born to Sing: No Plan B", returning to jazz and blues, with socially conscious lyrics. = In 2015 Morrison was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming Sir Van Morrison for his services to music and tourism in Northern Ireland. = The same year he released "Duets: Re-working the Catalogue" featured collaborations with artists like Bobby Womack and Mark Knopfler. = The album "Keep Me Singing" was released in 2016, featuring the hit "Too Late" and marking a return to original material. = In 2017 Morrison released "Roll with the Punches" exploring blues and jazz standards. The album featured Jeff Beck on guitar. The album consists of five original songs and ten covers like Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home to Me". = The same year Morrison received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting at the 2017 "Americana Music Honors & Awards" ceremony. = In 2018 he released "You're Driving Me Crazy", a collaboration with organist Joey DeFrancesco. = In 2019 he released "Three Chords & the Truth" featured original songs with a return to his classic sound. = In 2020 Morrison released three anti-lockdown songs that drew significant controversy. = In 2021 he released his 42nd studio album "Latest Record Project, Volume 1", featuring 28 tracks and exploring contemporary issues, including the song "They Own the Media" faced with antisemitism claims. = In 2022 Morrison received the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor from the "Songwriters Hall of Fame". = In 2023 Morrison returned to his roots with two albums: "Moving on Skiffle", paying homage to the skiffle genre that influenced his early musical development and "Accentuate the Positive" which is his 45th studio album. = Morrison has influenced artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bono, and Elvis Costello across various genres. = Morrison is often cited as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of his generation, with a significant influence on rock, folk, and soul music. 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Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 31.08.1987 "There are a few things on this album that could do well on Top Forty radio, but then again I can't imagine it happening." The speaker was Peter Buck, guitarist for "R.E.M.", sounding pessimistic, almost indifferent, when discussing the band's commercial prospects with "Rolling Stone" shortly before the release of their fifth studio album, "Document", on August 31, 1987. Buck went on to explain that he had virtually no commercial expectations for the record and certainly did not see it as the album that would suddenly tear up the charts. Buck and his bandmates had recorded no fewer than five studio albums in five years, all for I.R.S. Records. It was certainly an impressive output, but their reputation as a college rock band had prevented them from making the next major step. They felt that what they really needed was a breakthrough hit that would push them into mainstream consciousness across the United States, and perhaps internationally as well. That hit, however, had yet to arrive. Meanwhile, the musical landscape was dominated by Hair Metal bands such as "Mötley Crüe", alongside stadium rock giants like "Dire Straits", "U2" and "INXS". After their previous album, "Lifes Rich Pageant", had presented a richer and more direct sound, partly thanks to producer Don Gehman, the quartet of Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry wanted to do something slightly different this time. Their intention was to create a looser, almost semi-live album, with a somewhat tougher edge than its predecessor. For that purpose, they turned to producer Scott Litt, whose résumé was rather diverse. On one hand, he had worked with pop band "Katrina and the Waves", best known for "Walking on Sunshine", while on the other he had produced New York power-pop band "The dB's". Litt first worked with "R.E.M." on "Romance", recorded for the soundtrack of the fantasy comedy film "Made in Heaven". The band members were pleased with the result and chose him to produce their next album. It may sound like a match made in heaven, but Litt was not actually an "R.E.M." fan at the time. He felt that their sound was too dark and murky, and believed that if the band wanted to reach a wider audience, they needed a broader sonic range. One of his main areas of focus was bringing the vocal harmonies of Mike Mills, Bill Berry and Michael Stipe further forward in the mix. The recording sessions also introduced instruments that had rarely, if ever, appeared on previous "R.E.M." albums, including saxophone, mandolin and dulcimer, a traditional instrument strongly associated with folk music and famously used by artists such as Joni Mitchell. The album's first single, "The One I Love", became "R.E.M."'s first genuine mainstream hit, reaching No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In the UK it initially peaked at No. 51, before climbing to No. 16 when it was reissued in 1991. Despite its seemingly romantic title, the song is anything but a conventional love song. Its lyrics describe a cold and destructive relationship in which one person treats the other as something disposable, pushing the idea of love into the territory of emotional exploitation. The next single achieved only modest chart success at first, reaching No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100, but over the years it became one of the band's defining cult classics, "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)". Throughout "Document", the lyrics once again move between politics, relationships and the anxieties and fears of songwriter Michael Stipe. The album ultimately became the major turning point in "R.E.M."'s career, marking their transition from college-rock heroes into a band capable of filling arenas and stadiums. It also paved the way for their departure from the independent-minded I.R.S. Records and their move to major label Warner Bros. Records. It was the first album by the quartet from Athens, Georgia, to be certified platinum in the United States, representing sales of more than one million copies. It also marked the beginning of a remarkably fruitful partnership between "R.E.M." and Scott Litt, who would work together on six consecutive albums, from "Document" through "New Adventures in Hi-Fi", a period that transformed the band into one of the biggest alternative rock acts in the world and, in many ways, positioned them as natural successors to "U2". The album cover itself is something of a document of ideas. It features the band's name alongside the number 5, referring both to its place as "R.E.M."'s fifth studio album and to "R.E.M. No. 5", one of the working titles considered before "Document" was chosen. The fragmented artwork resembles a collection of images and objects pulled from a surveillance file, with several photographs layered over one another. Among them is Michael Stipe, hiding behind a camera and photographing the photographer at the very moment the photographer is taking his picture. 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Guitarist Rudolf Schenker celebrates his birthday today !! (Photo: Timetorock.ru) He was born on August 31, 1948, in Hildesheim, Germany. Rudolf is the older brother of virtuoso guitarist Michael Schenker, who is seven years younger than him. Rudolf and Michael grew up listening to bands such as "Deep Purple", "Led Zeppelin", "Wishbone Ash" and others. At the age of 16, Rudolf originally asked his father for a small motorcycle. His father refused because he was worried Rudolf might get hurt, so Rudolf asked for a guitar instead. His father bought him a Framus guitar, and Rudolf learned his first chords from an instructional book he ordered from the Netherlands. He quickly decided that he did not want to be a solo guitarist, but wanted to form a band. Rudolf Schenker founded "Scorpions" in 1965 and remains the only continuous member of the band from its formation to the present day. Before making a living from music, Rudolf trained and worked as an electrician, and at one point also worked as a photographer. The official "Scorpions" website lists both professions among his previous occupations. During the band's early years, and until Klaus Meine joined in 1969, Rudolf also served as the band's vocalist. Rudolf is the driving force and principal songwriter of "Scorpions", having been involved in writing many of the band's songs throughout more than 50 years of activity, from their 1972 debut album "Lonesome Crow" to the present day. Over the years, the Gibson Flying V became Rudolf's unmistakable trademark. In fact, his brother Michael Schenker also began his long association with the model thanks to Rudolf. At one show, Michael needed a guitar, so Rudolf handed him his Flying V. After the performance, Michael told him that he simply could not give it back because he had fallen in love with the instrument. Rudolf bought himself another Flying V, and over the years the two brothers became two of the guitarists most closely associated with the model. The guitar became so strongly identified with Rudolf that for "Scorpions"' acoustic project "Acoustica", Boris Dommenget built him a custom acoustic guitar in the shape of a Flying V. Years later, Gibson also created its own acoustic Flying V for him. On "Rock You Like a Hurricane", Rudolf used an original 1958 Gibson Flying V that he had purchased from German guitarist Alex Conti. According to Rudolf, Eric Clapton had also tried to buy the same guitar, but Conti refused to sell it to him. Rudolf recorded the song with the guitar through a Marshall amplifier, and he considers it the finest Flying V in his collection. Although Rudolf primarily serves as the band's rhythm guitarist, he also plays lead guitar and solos on a number of iconic "Scorpions" songs, including "China White", "Always Somewhere", "Still Loving You", "Send Me an Angel", "Lady Starlight", "Dynamite", "Big City Nights", "Wind of Change", "When the Smoke Is Going Down", "Animal Magnetism" and others. He recorded two different versions of the guitar solo for "China White" and could not decide which one he preferred. As a result, the American and European editions of the album were released with different guitar solos. Rudolf also provides backing vocals for the band, but on several "Scorpions" songs he has taken the lead vocal role as well, including "Hey You", "They Need a Million", "Drifting Sun" and others. One of the images most closely associated with "Scorpions" is the cover of their 1982 album "Blackout". However, contrary to a common misconception, the figure with bandages and forks over his eyes is not Rudolf. It is a self-portrait by Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein. Rudolf later adopted the look and portrayed the character in the music video for "No One Like You". See it here: In 1995, Rudolf made a guest appearance on "Big Love", the album by Ali Campbell of "UB40", where he was credited as both a guitarist and recording engineer. In 2008, he appeared on "The Scarecrow" by "Avantasia", playing the guitar solo on "I Don't Believe in Your Love" alongside Oliver Hartmann. The album also featured Alice Cooper, Michael Kiske, Jorn Lande, Kai Hansen, Eric Singer and others. In 2011, Rudolf reunited musically with his brother Michael on the album "Temple of Rock", appearing as a guest guitarist on two tracks. He has also performed alongside Michael on various occasions over the years. In 2009, Rudolf published the book "Rock Your Life" together with Lars Amend, combining stories from his career with "Scorpions" with his personal philosophy on life. In 2022, an expanded and updated edition was released, featuring a foreword by author Paulo Coelho. Yoga and meditation have been part of Rudolf's life since he was around 16 to 18 years old. According to him, his father introduced him to yoga, and he went on to spend decades exploring Indian philosophy, meditation and physical practice. Rudolf has said that these disciplines contributed both to his creativity and to his ability to cope with success and pressure. In 2009, "Scorpions" received the German ECHO Award for Lifetime Achievement. A year later, Rudolf and the other members of the band left their handprints at Hollywood's RockWalk in Los Angeles. In July 2023, Rudolf Schenker, Klaus Meine and Matthias Jabs were awarded the "Großes Verdienstkreuz", the Grand Cross of Merit of the state of Lower Saxony, one of the state's highest honors, in recognition of their contribution to music and their public and social engagement. To date, Schenker has released 19 studio albums with "Scorpions". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about Micky Moody, best known as the guitarist and a former member of the rock bands "Juicy Lucy" "Whitesnake" and "Snafu": (Photo: Ken Ansted) = He was born Michael Joseph Moody on August 30, 1950 in Middlesbrough, England. = While attending school in Middlesbrough, Moody formed "The Roadrunners" with local musicians, including Paul Rodgers, later of "Free" and "Bad Company". The band evolved into "The Wildflowers" and moved to London but eventually disbanded. = In the Late 1960s Moody returned to Middlesbrough, took classical guitar lessons, and became interested in slide guitar techniques. = In 1967 he joined "Tramline", a band formed by local singer John McCo. They signed a deal with "Island Records" and released two albums: "Somewhere Down The Line" in 1968, and "Moves of Vegetable Centuries" in 1969. = In 1970 he joined "Juicy Lucy" as a guitarist, replacing Neil Hubbard, and recorded three albums with them, starting with "Lie Back and Enjoy It" from 1970. = In 1973 he co-founded "Snafu", a band that blended funk-rock with U.S. down-home grooves. "Snafu" released three albums: "Snafu" (1973), "Situation Normal" (1974), and "All Funked Up" (1975). = In 1975 Moody played slide guitar on Roger Chapman's debut solo album "Chappo". = In 1977 he contributed to Graham Bonnet's album "Graham Bonnet" and Gerry Rafferty's "City to City". (Photo: Fin Costello) = The same year he collaborated with David Coverdale on the album "White Snake", co-writing four songs, including the title track. = In 1978 he joined "Whitesnake", founded by David Coverdale, contributing to their debut EP "Snakebite" and the album "Trouble". = He continued to be part of "Whitesnake" on the albums "Trouble" (1978) and "Lovehunter" (1979) where he co-wrote songs, including the title track and "Rock 'n' Roll Women", mastering his slide guitar playing technique. = In 1980 he contributed to "Whitesnake's" "Ready An' Willing" album, co-writing the hit single "Fool for Your Loving", the title track, "Ain't Gonna Cry No More" where his slide guitar playing shines, and more. = The same year Moody was part of the excellent "Whitesnake's" live album "Live... in the Heart of the City". = Also in 1980 Moody played slide guitar on Ray Jackson's "In the Night". = In 1981 he played on "Whitesnake's" "Come an' Get It" album. = The same year he played guitar on Graham Bonnet's "Line-Up" album and co-wrote three songs. = In 1982, after recording "Saints & Sinners", "Whitesnake" was reformed with Mel Galley replacing Bernie Marsden. = In 1983 Coverdale replaced Ian Paice and Neil Murray with Cozy Powell and Colin Hodgkinson. Moody was unhappy with the direction the new band was taking but recorded "Slide It In", before departing the band. = In the years 1983-1984 Moody returned to session work, recording with Mike Oldfield, Gary Glitter, and others. = In the late 1980s he formed the "Moody Marsden Band" with Bernie Marsden, releasing the album "Never Turn Our Back on the Blues". = During the 1990s Moody toured with Roger Chapman and reunited with Bernie Marsden in the "Moody Marsden Band". = In 1997 he formed "The Snakes" with Jørn Lande and Neil Murray, releasing "Once Bitten" in 1998. = In 2000 Moody released his first solo album "I Eat Them For Breakfast". = The same year he released "The Night the Guitars Came to Play" with "The Moody Marsden Band". = In 2002 he released "Burst the Bubble" with "The Company of Snakes". = In 2006 he released his autobiography "Playing with Trumpets – A Rock 'n' Roll Apprenticeship" and the solo album "Don't Blame Me". = In the years 2007-2009 he released two instrumental albums, "Acoustic Journeyman" (2007) and "Electric Journeyman" (2009). = In 2011 he co-founded "Snakecharmer", a band featuring former "Whitesnake" colleagues. they released the album "Snakecharmer" in 2013. = In 2016 Moody released the album "Black & Chrome" with Ali Maas as the duo "Maas & Moody" and published his memoir "Snakes and Ladders". = In 2017 he Released "Second Skin" with "Snakecharmer". = In 2020 he released a second album with Ali Maas - "Who’s Directing Your Movie?". = Moody has performed live with so many artist like: Eric Clapton, Alvin Lee, Mick Taylor, Bruce Dickinson, Sam Brown, Gary Brooker, Rick Wakeman, Jon Lord, "Uriah Heep", Alice Cooper, Brian Auger, Paul Weller, Meat Loaf and more. = Moody has been an active session musician and his website lists over 100 albums to which he has contributed. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Thirty Seconds To Mars' second album "A Beautiful Lie" was released on August 30, 2005. This is the breakthrough album of this special band that was a musical leap forward and brought the band international exposure. In contrast to the previous album which was written and recorded mostly by the brothers, Jared Leto and Shannon Leto, on this album joins and co-write guitarist Tomo Miličević who will become a permanent member of the band and be part of its next albums and bassist Matt Wachter who participates exclusively on this album. Photo: wired.com You will not find here masterpieces, complex songs, and honed techniques. On the contrary, it is a basic rock, energetic, exciting, and powerful album that aims to bring you joy and come to the band's performances so that you can sing out loud. The band is undoubtedly undergoing a welcome change here with a leap forward in terms of the production and melody of the songs. Leto decides to give the lyrics on this album a more personal and inner meaning unlike the previous album, he shares his feelings, experiences, and point of view on himself and the world. Four singles were released from the album that starred at the top of the charts and brought this album to international exposure. The first single "Attack" is a tactical bomb, an anthem that is made and produced well and honestly magnetizes you to the album. In the second single "The Kill" Leto takes his soul out and uses all his vocal abilities, a song built on silence/noise, low and high, take you like a swing to Leto's whispers and screams. The third single "From Yesterday" which generated a well-produced music video that came straight from Leto's second career, is an epic and dramatic song that unquestionably sweeps you away and yet feels very honest and genuine. The fourth and final single bearing the name of the album is also accompanied by drama but is much more aggressive and powerful, Shannon's rhythm keeps you tight close to the speakers and allows Leto to penetrate with his views on life and its definition. The album gained high spots in the charts around the world and with the help of the music videos that were broadcast non-stop, it gained enormous exposure and put "Mars" on the world rock map. This is an album of pure pleasure that is fun to listen to and also roars in the band's live shows. Listen to the album on: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On August 29, 1977, in Canada and the US, and on September 1, 1977, internationally, "Rush" released their fifth studio album, "A Farewell to Kings". This album plays a crucial role in the band's musical evolution and in broadening the variety of instruments the members use. However, this progression wouldn't have been possible without the success of their prior album, "2112". For those who haven't read our review of the album "2112", it's worth noting that after the release of their third album "Caress Of Steel", the future of "Rush" was uncertain. The record company considered ending their contract due to poor sales, and only after extensive persuasion did they agree to give "Rush" one more chance, with the condition that the band adopt a more commercial approach. The three band members disregarded the record company's demand. They believed they were about to record their final album and chose to stay true to their musical vision, starting the album with a 20-minute sci-fi epic, which ultimately became a massive success, not only in Canada and the US but also across Europe and worldwide. After the success of "2112", Rush was finally granted creative freedom by the record company to write as they wished. This creative freedom enabled the band to continue experimenting and evolving musically. In 1977, the band relocated to Rockfield Studios in Wales, UK, to record "A Farewell to Kings". The band members describe the creative process as highly significant, marking a milestone in their musical evolution. In an interview conducted by Geddy Lee coinciding with the release of the album's expanded edition for its 40th anniversary, he mentioned that this album was crucial for him and that he gained a lot of knowledge during its creation. Indeed, "Rush" learned, experimented, and pushed their boundaries with this album. They stepped out of their comfort zone and strengthened their hold on the progressive-rock genre, incorporating more advanced elements into their work than in previous albums. To highlight the album's progressive themes, the band introduces the Minimoog Synthesizer, significantly broadening their sound and exploring new musical dimensions. While the band had previously used a mellotron in the song "Tears" and a synthesizer for the effects at the beginning of "2112", both instruments were played by the band's cover designer, Hugh Syme. This time, Geddy Lee takes on the challenge of learning and playing this remarkable instrument himself. Additionally, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson played 12-string guitars, while Neil Peart expanded his drum set with various percussion instruments such as wind chimes, a gong, and tubular bells. The band devised a solution to perform the new material live without relying on guest musicians. A key tool in achieving this was the Bass-Pedal Synthesizer used by Alex and Geddy, a keyboard operated with the legs that enabled the band to broaden the range of sounds in their performances. The album begins with the title track "A Farewell to Kings," featuring Alex Lifeson's gentle (yet sofisticated) classical guitar accompanied by birds chirping in the background. Geddy Lee soon joins with the Minimoog, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the Middle Ages. This opening track was recorded outside the studio as the band members observed the Welsh countryside. Producer Terry Brown positioned microphones outside to capture the ambiance, and the birds heard at the start of the song (and in "Xanadu") are real birds present during recording. Over a minute into the song, the first section reminds us of the band's strong Hard Rock roots. At 1:32, there's a break, a shift in tempo, and Alex Lifeson introduces the main riff. Just as we're adjusting to the previous rhythm change, at 3:10, another shift occurs with Geddy Lee's bass solo, seamlessly transitioning to Alex Lifeson's solo. The band members admit this song is challenging to play due to its unconventional time signatures and frequent rhythm changes (another occurs at 4:02, among others). This might explain why they rarely performed it live over the years, which makes it all the more wonderful to see the song return to the setlist as part of thier 2026 reunion. It's no surprise that Neil Peart, a literary enthusiast, drew the song's title from Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms." The song concludes with the words "Closer To The Heart," which is also the title of the album's third track. From there, we transition to one of the highlights of this album and one of the band's finest compositions - the mini-epic "Xanadu". This track extends over 11 minutes and begins with an instrumental section lasting nearly 5 minutes, making it one of the longest instrumental intros for a song. This opening sets the mood, inviting the listener to imagine the story's introduction. Alex Lifeson's pedal-guided guitar, Peart's remarkable percussion, and the recorded bird chirping outside the studio guide us into the narrative. The lyrics draw inspiration from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Unfinished Kubla Khan," where Neil Peart explores the quest for the mystical "Xanadu," believed to grant eternal life to its discoverer. This marks Rush's first song where the Minimoog synthesizer plays a crucial role. Performing it live demands significant virtuosity from the band. Alex Lifeson handles a 6-string double-necked guitar and a pedal synthesizer. Geddy Lee sings and plays double-neck guitar, bass, 6-string guitar, synthesizer, and bass pedals, while Neil delivers on drums and an extensive array of percussion, showcasing his skill and enhancing the song's mystical and mysterious aura. Notably, the album's extended version for its 40th anniversary includes an accurate and insightful rendition by "Dream Theater" of this masterful piece. Additionally, in 1980, a film titled "Xanadu" featuring Olivia Newton-John was released, with "ELO" co-writing the soundtrack, which included a hit of the same name. While there is no musical connection between the songs, one might wonder if the film and album were inspired by "Rush's" interpretation of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem. The other side of the vinyl begins with the semi-ballad "Closer To the Heart", which became the band's first hit during the Christmas season of 1977. This marks the band's first song where credit is given to an outside writer, Peter Talbot, a friend of Neil Peart. It is one of "Rush's" most popular tracks, performed in nearly all their shows. Although the band stopped playing it during the Vapor Trails tour in 2002, due to audience demand and its popularity in South America, it was included in the setlists for their shows in Rio, which were recorded and released in both audio and video formats. Unlike Rush's typically complex material, this song appears musically straightforward, especially when compared to the previous track "Xanadu". However, the bridge after the second verse reminds us that this is still "Rush", as what initially seems simple reveals deeper complexity. The second track on the second side of the vinyl "Cinderella Man" is one of the band's rare songs where the lyrics were not penned by drummer Neil Peart, but by Geddy Lee. Geddy also composed the music, which was inspired by the 1936 movie "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town" starring Gary Cooper. The film narrates the tale of a small-town man who receives a large inheritance and is deemed crazy when he spends his wealth on aiding the poor. Musically, the track features an intriguing melody with a beautiful blend of Alex Lifeson's acoustic and electric guitars and Geddy Lee's distinct and bold bass playing, particularly in the slightly funky transition section. The third track on the second side of the album "Madrigal", is perhaps the album's weakest and strangest piece. It is led by Geddy Lee's Minimoog synthesizer, which sounds much like a whistle, accompanied by soft guitar, a touch of jazzy bass playing, and a bit more percussion. While it seems to be a song about dragons and knights, a deeper look into the lyrics reveals it to be a kind of love song. The album concludes with "Cygnus X-1 Book 1: The Voyage", the first of two parts, with the sequel appearing on the band's subsequent album "Hemispheres", released in 1978, titled "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres". "Cygnus X-1 Book 1" is segmented into three parts, narrating the tale of an explorer aboard a spaceship named "Rocinante" as he ventures toward the black hole "Cygnus X-1", hoping to traverse it and reveal what lies beyond. The epic track's opening features "space" sounds and effects, accompanied by a spoken word segment by producer Terry Brown. This "spacy" section is disrupted by Geddy Lee's dynamic bass riff, featuring syncopations and frequent rhythm changes between 3/4, 7/8, 3/4, and 4/4, continuing until the guitar and drums join. As the musical section concludes, Geddy Lee begins singing, depicting the black hole and the fate of those who fall into it. The second part of the piece describes the explorer's journey toward the black hole, featuring a wild "Wah, wah" solo by Alex Lifeson. The third part narrates how the explorer nears the black hole, his ship spiraling out of control and being powerfully drawn into it. This segment of the song showcases Geddy Lee's highest recorded vocal range (9:30 min into the song). This concludes the album and the first book of the story. The second book, found on the album "Hemispheres", details how the explorer survives and emerges on the other side of the black hole in Olympus. In summary, this is a crucial album in the "Rush" catalog, significantly contributing to the band's musical evolution and the expansion of their instrumental and sound range. The album's importance extends beyond the band's development, marking a milestone in the evolution of the Prog-Metal genre, which began on the band's previous album and would continue to grow on the next album. For listening to the album in the original version: Spotify, Apple Music For listening to the extended 40th ann. version: 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 - 30.08.1993 "Envy, lust and [the desire for] honor put a man out of the world." - Pirkei Avot 4:21. Elsewhere in Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Yehoshua says: "An evil eye, the evil inclination, and hatred of others remove a person from the world." Almost from the moment "Pixies" were formed in 1986, disagreements and tensions began to surface between the band's principal songwriter, Black Francis, also known as Frank Black, and the band's secondary songwriter and bassist, Kim Deal, who increasingly had creative ambitions of her own. By 1989, tensions between Francis and Deal had reached breaking point. During the "Doolittle" tour, Francis reportedly threw a guitar toward Deal during a show in Stuttgart, while Deal later retaliated by nearly refusing to perform at a show in Frankfurt. Eventually, the two stopped speaking to each other altogether, and "Pixies" went on hiatus. Kim Deal used the break from "Pixies" to establish "The Breeders". With her new band, she could finally set the tone and take creative control. Songs and ideas that had been pushed aside during her years with "Pixies" suddenly had somewhere to go. "The Breeders" was actually a name Kim and her twin sister Kelley Deal had already used for a band they played in during the early 1980s. The name came from gay slang for heterosexuals, something Kim found amusing. As she later explained, she had heard the expression used in the gay community to describe straight couples and was fascinated by the slightly repulsed way in which the word could be used. The original incarnation of "The Breeders" featured Kim Deal, former "Throwing Muses" guitarist Tanya Donelly, Josephine Wiggs on bass, Carrie Bradley on violin and Britt Walford on drums. Their debut album, "Pod", generated plenty of critical attention despite modest sales. It also found one particularly important admirer in Kurt Cobain, who repeatedly cited it among his favorite albums and praised "The Breeders" as a major influence. By the time the band began moving toward its second album, the lineup had changed. Tanya Donelly left to form "Belly", while Kim's twin sister Kelley Deal joined on guitar, alongside drummer Jim Macpherson. This lineup of Kim Deal, Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs and Macpherson played its first show together in June 1992 before supporting "Nirvana" and appearing at Glastonbury. Meanwhile, "Pixies", who had returned from their hiatus to tour and record, were approaching the end. In early 1993, Black Francis announced that the band was finished. Joey Santiago received a phone call, while the other members reportedly learned of the breakup afterward, with Deal famously receiving the news by fax. Kim Deal was now free to concentrate completely on "The Breeders", a band that had effectively existed as her side project while "Pixies" were still active. And the timing could hardly have been more dramatic. Only months after "Pixies" fell apart, Kim Deal had her answer exploding across MTV. "Cannonball", the first single from "The Breeders"' second album, "Last Splash", was released in August 1993, shortly before the album arrived on August 30, 1993. Its strange, playful and instantly recognizable video was co-directed by "Sonic Youth"'s Kim Gordon and a young Spike Jonze, still near the beginning of his career as a music-video director. Jonze would go on to direct some of the defining videos of the decade, including "Beastie Boys"' "Sabotage" the following year. With "Cannonball", what had once been Deal's escape from "Pixies" suddenly became something much bigger. "The Breeders" were no longer merely a side project, and Kim Deal was no longer standing in somebody else's creative shadow. Lyrically, "Cannonball" portrays someone behaving recklessly under the influence of love and desire, but the song's real added value lies in the brilliantly sharp dynamics between loud and quiet, slow and fast, as the instruments constantly pull the listener from one extreme to another. There is little doubt that these sudden shifts in tempo and dynamics, combined with Kim Deal's heavily distorted vocals, created in part by singing through a harmonica microphone, helped give "The Breeders" their first major international breakthrough. British music magazine "Melody Maker" named "Cannonball" its Single of the Year for 1993. The second single, "Divine Hammer", did not make quite the same impact, but its infectious guitar riff and Kim Deal's distinctive voice still made it one of the album's standout moments. Lyrically, "Divine Hammer" explores the complexities of love and desire, using the image of the "divine hammer" as a metaphor for the overwhelming, almost transformative force of longing. The third single, "Saints", moves through similar emotional territory, reflecting on desire, attraction and the complexities of human connection, all wrapped in the loose, slightly ragged energy that gives "The Breeders" so much of their character. "Last Splash" became the commercial breakthrough that "Pod" had never been. The album eventually sold more than one million copies in the United States and was certified Platinum by the RIAA, transforming "The Breeders" from Kim Deal's side project into one of the defining alternative-rock bands of the early 1990s. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

We do not write much about albums that invented and created a new musical genre, the debut album of "Santana", released on August 30, 1969, is one of them. We're talking about the "Latin Rock" genre that was born today in 1969, when Santana released their debut album. It is a subgenre of Rock that consists of a great mix of styles, mainly Rock, Blues, Cuban music, African rhythms as well as touches of Folk, Jazz, and Psychedelia. So to understand what led to the creation of the new music genre, we need to go back to the Latin Quarter in San Francisco in 1966. Guitarist Carlos Santana, a native-born of Mexico, accepted the invitation of guitarist Tom Fraser who wanted to form a new rock band. They were joined by Marcus Malone on percussion, Rod Harper on drums, Sergio "Gus" Rodriguez on bass, and keyboardist and singer Gregg Rolie, thus creating the band's first lineup. In the beginning, the band was called "Santana Blues Band" but later its name was shortened to "Santana". Beginning in 1967 the band performed at local clubs, but had difficulty obtaining a recording contract. At the time Carlos Santana was working as a dishwasher in restaurants and tour organizer Chet Helms even advised him to keep his job as he did not see a future for the band. (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives) The struggle for success was showing its signs, and until the band manages to secure a recording contract with Columbia in 1969, only Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, and Marcus Malone remain members of the original line-up. Later they were joined by David Brown on bass, Michael Shrieve on drums, and Michael Carabello and José "Chepito" Areas both on percussion. The band members entered the recording studio in May 1969. Most of the original material on the album was born from jam sessions and improvisations, which is probably why four of the nine tracks included in the album are instrumental tracks. Members of "Santana" were unaware that the magic they created during those jam sessions, would actually give birth to a new musical style. Lucky for the band their manager Bill Graham was asked to help organize the iconic Woodstock Festival. Graham agreed to help, but on one condition, that "Santana" will be added to the list of artists that perform at the festival. This condition turned out to be one of Graham's ingenious moves, which brought the band a lot of international publicity and launched the sales figures of their debut album, which was released exactly two weeks after that historic festival. "Santana" performed on the afternoon of the second day of the Woodstock Festival, August 16, 1969. It was one of the best performances at the festival, thanks in part to the impressive, improvised, and exciting performance of the instrumental track "Soul Sacrifice". Following their successful performance at the Woodstock Festival, "Santana" became the talk of the day, and their debut album, released two weeks later, reached number four on the Billboard 200. The hit "Evil Ways" originally recorded by Willie Bobo in 1965 was ranked among the top ten most played songs in 1969 in the United States. The first single released from the album was "Jingo", an adaptation of the 1960 "Jin-Go-Lo-Ba", by Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji, who also received credit for writing. This piece well illustrates the band's unique style. The African rhythms produced by drummer Mike Shrieve, accompanied by the two percussionists Carabello and Areas, are combined with the Latin touches from Santana's guitar. The reviews praised, and the headlines heralded the arrival of a new musical style. Rolling Stone magazine called the album "Masterpiece of Technique." This album has rightly won the 150th place on the Rolling Stone list of 500 greatest albums of all time. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about guitar virtuoso Tony MacAlpine: (Photo: Masquerade Atlanta) = Tony MacAlpine was born on August 29, 1960, in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. = He began playing piano at age 5 and guitar at 12. He studied classical piano and violin at the Springfield Conservatory of Music in Massachusetts. = During the early 1980s MacAlpine attended the University of Hartford in Connecticut, where he focused on classical piano. His influences included Frédéric Chopin, whose études he frequently interpreted on his albums. = In 1986 MacAlpine released his debut album, "Edge of Insanity", which showcased his virtuoso guitar skills, but also his keyboards and bass skills. Bassist Billy Sheehan played on all tracks of the album except three. = In 1986, MacAlpine joined forces with drummer Tommy Aldridge, vocalist Rob Rock and bassist Rudy Sarzo in the project "M.A.R.S.", whose name was formed from the initials of MacAlpine, Aldridge, Rock and Sarzo. The supergroup released its only album, "Project: Driver", that same year, with MacAlpine handling both guitar and keyboard duties. = Also in 1986, MacAlpine played keyboards on Vinnie Moore's debut album, "Mind's Eye". = In 1987, MacAlpine released his second solo album, "Maximum Security". The album reached No. 146 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 11 weeks, making it his only solo album to enter the chart. It also featured guest appearances by George Lynch, who played guitar solos on "Tears of Sahara" and "The Vision", and "Night Ranger" guitarist Jeff Watson, who appeared on "The King's Cup". = In 1987 he contributed keyboards to Joey Tafolla's debut album, "Out of the Sun". = In 1990 he released "Eyes of the World" under the band name "MacAlpine," aiming for a more commercial hard rock sound. = In 1992 MacAlpine returned to instrumental work with the album "Freedom to Fly". = In the years 1993-1996 MacAlpine released a series of instrumental albums on Shrapnel Records: "Madness" (1993), "Premonition" (1994), "Evolution" (1995), and "Violent Machine" (1996). = In 1997 he released "Live Insanity", his first solo live album. = In 1999 MacAlpine experimented with vocals on "Master of Paradise", where he took on singing duties. = The same year he played guitar on Vinnie Moore’s album "The Maze". = In the years 2000-2006 MacAlpine was part of the progressive metal supergroup "Planet X" including keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Virgil Donati, contributing to their albums "Universe" (2000), "Live from Oz" (2002), and "MoonBabies" (2002). = In 2000, MacAlpine became a member of the jazz fusion supergroup "CAB", alongside bassist Bunny Brunel and drummer Dennis Chambers. He played guitar and keyboards on "CAB" (2000), "CAB 2" (2001), "CAB 4" (2003), "Theatre de Marionnettes" (2009) and "CAB Live at the Baked Potato" (2011). "CAB 2" earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2002, giving MacAlpine the first and only Grammy nomination of his career. = In 2000 he was featured in Mark Boals' album "Ring of Fire". MacAlpine will continue to collaborate with Boals on his next solo album "Edge of the World". = In 2001 MacAlpine released "Chromaticity", a blend of metal, classical, and jazz elements. = In the early 2000s, MacAlpine joined Steve Vai's touring band, "The Breed", playing both guitar and keyboards alongside musicians including Billy Sheehan and Dave Weiner. During this period, he appeared on Vai's "Live at the Astoria London" DVD, as well as "G3: Live in Denver" and "G3: Live in Tokyo", demonstrating his remarkable ability to handle demanding guitar and keyboard parts within the same performance. = In 2002 he joined the neoclassical/progressive/power metal supergroup "Ring of Fire" with Mark Boals, Virgil Donati and Philip Bynoe. He released two albums with them - "Dreamtower" from 2002 and Lapse of Reality from 2004 as well as a live album, "Burning Live In Tokyo" in 2002. = After disbanding "Ring of Fire", Boals, MacAlpine, and Donati later formed The Progressive Metal act "Seven the Hardway". They released their self-titled album in 2010. = And that's where the Israeli side comes in. In 2011, guitarist Nili Brosh (sister of guitarist Eitan Brosh) joined the band "Seven the Hardway" along with guitarist Tony MacAlpine. Nili then went on to join McAlpine on tour with his band in Europe and the United States, and again in 2014 for the "Maximum Security tour". = In 2007 he Contributed to the album "Clinophobia" by "Devil's Slingshot", with Virgil Donati and Billy Sheehan. = In 2009 MacAlpine rejoined "Planet X" for live performances. = In 2010 MacAlpine contributed to Dave Weiner's album "On Revolute". = In 2011 he released his self-titled eleventh studio album "Tony MacAlpine" through Steve Vai’s Favored Nations label. It was his first solo release in ten years, and the first to feature his extensive use of seven- and eight-string guitars, which began in the days he spent with "Planet X". = The same year he guest appeared on Derek Sherinian's album "Oceana". = In 2012 Tony MacAlpine Toured Europe and Asia with the instrumental supergroup "PSMS"(Portnoy/Sheehan/MacAlpine/Sherinian). Their live material was released as the DVD "Instrumental Inspirations". = In 2013, MacAlpine joined Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Derek Sherinian for a tour by the instrumental supergroup commonly known as "PSMS". Their performance at Zepp Tokyo was recorded and released later that year as "Live in Tokyo", featuring material from the individual careers of all four musicians, including songs by "Dream Theater", "Mr. Big", "Planet X" and MacAlpine's solo catalog. = In 2014 MacAlpine played on "Ring of Fire's" album "Battle of Leningrad". = In 2015 he released his twelfth studio album, "Concrete Gardens", featuring guest appearances from guitarists like Jeff Loomis. = In 2015, MacAlpine was diagnosed with colon cancer and was forced to cancel his scheduled tour dates while undergoing treatment. In December, a benefit concert was held for him at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, bringing together an extraordinary group of friends and fellow musicians including Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, John 5, Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan and Derek Sherinian. = In August 2016, MacAlpine announced that he was feeling back to normal and that his medical tests showed that everything was clear following his battle with colon cancer. He subsequently returned to touring and performing, including reuniting onstage with his longtime friend and former bandleader Steve Vai. = In 2017 he Released "Death of Roses", the first part of a planned two-part album series. = In 2018 he released "Twelve Twelve", the second part of the "Death of Roses" series. = MacAlpine also developed a long-running collaboration with French music icon Michel Polnareff. He joined Polnareff's major comeback tour in 2007, returned to perform with him again in 2016, and later played guitar on Polnareff's 2018 studio album "Enfin!". = In 2021, MacAlpine released "Equilibrium", his fifteenth solo studio album. The instrumental album once again showcased his combination of technically demanding guitar work, progressive rock and metal influences, and the keyboard skills that have remained an integral part of his musical identity throughout his career. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website