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The man and the beard Billy Gibbons is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and even an actor. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy) Let's read some interesting facts about him: 1. He was born William Frederick Gibbons, in Houston Texas USA, on December 16, 1949. 2. His father was a pianist and orchestra conductor who worked at MGM Studios. 3. At the age of 5 his mother took him to an Elvis Presley show and already then he knew he wanted to be a musician. 4. At age 7 his father took advantage of his connections in the music business and took him to a recording studio here B.B. King was working on an album. 5. He got his first guitar when he was 13 years old. 6. As a teenager he was heavily influenced by the guitar playing Jimmy Reed. 7. During high school he was involved in a number of bands, including "The Saints", "Billy G & the Blueflames" and "The Coachmen". 8. At the age of 18 he formed his first serious band - "Moving Sidewalks", who played garage, psychedelic and blues rock. They released their debut album "Flash" in 1969. The band has also released a number of singles including "99th Floor". 9. One of the band's highlights was when it served as Jimi Hendrix 's warm-up band, during his first US tour. Since they did not have enough material to fill an entire show, they played the song "Foxy Lady" as part of the set. Jimi Hendrix liked their version and even taught him to play his songs. 10. In 1969 he formed "ZZ Top", together with bassist and keyboardist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard the band. 11. The band's first album was released in 1971 and since then the band has released 15 studio albums. 12. The trio of Gibbons, Beard and Hill of "ZZ Top", is the most stable trio in the history of music, when during its more than 50 years of existence it has never changed its lineup. 13. The image of the band includes Gibbons and Hill with long beards when the drummer Beard appears shaved. Band members usually show up with cowboy hats and sunglasses and play a Gibson "Flying V" guitars. 14. The band's albums "Tres Hombres" from 1973 and "Eliminator" from 1983 are included in the list of the 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. 15. What's more, the album "Eliminator" was ranked 39th on Rolling Stone Magazine's 100 Best Albums of the 80s, with sales earning it "Diamond" status, that is, over 10 million copies. 16. In 2005, Gibbons was featured on on the song "Willin 'For Satisfaction" of guitarist Vivian Campbell 's solo album "Two Sides Of If". He also participated in the writing and taught the musicians how to play as Campbell recounts here: 17. In 2003 Gibbons was a guest on the song "Hillbilly Stomp" by "Kid Rock". 18. That same year he was also featured in singing and background vocals on the song "Burn the Witch" from the album "Lullabies to Paralyze" by "Queens of the Stone Age". Gibbons also recorded a cover version of the song "Precious and Grace" by "ZZ Top" with the band, which was included as a bonus track on the album. He also plays guitar on another bonus track called "Like a Drug". 19. Gibbons was also invited to participate in the band's next album "Era Vulgaris" from 2007, but was unavailable due to previous commitments. 20. 2005 was a year full of activity for Gibbons, he was also featured on three songs from Nickelback's "All the Right Reasons" album released that year. 21. In 2008 he sang background vocals on the song "Switch on the Light" from Sammy Hagar 's "Cosmic Universal Fashion" album. 22. In 2015 he released his first solo album "Perfectamundo" and three years later the album "The Big Bad Blues". In 2021 Gibbons released his third solo album "Hardware". 23. In 2018 he started collaborating with John Fogerty , they recorded the song "Holy Grail" and went on a joint tour. 24. Gibbons has played and dubbed several TV series including "Bones", where he plays the father of the imaginary character Angela Pearly Gates Montenegro, named after his famous 1959 Gibson "Les Paul" guitar "Pearly Gates", which he purchased from the sale of his pickup truck In the same name. 25. Gibbons is ranked 32nd on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Here are some interesting facts about Cliff Williams, best known as the bassist of "AC/DC": (Photo: Gary Miller) = He was born on December 14, 1949, in Romford, Essex, England, and raised in Liverpool. = He moved with his family to Hoylake, Merseyside, in 1961, where he was influenced by the local Merseybeat scene. = He started playing bass as a teenager, by listening to records and picking out notes. = At a young age he was influenced by bands like "The Shadows" and "The Beatles", "The Rolling Stones", "The Who", "The Kinks", and Bo Diddley. = He formed a band at the age of 13 with friends. = In 1966, Williams moved to London where he worked at a demolition site and in supermarkets while playing in various short-lived bands. = He met guitarist Laurie Wisefield (later "Wishbone Ash") and the formed the short lived band "Sugar". = In 1970, Williams and Wisefield joined with singer Mick Stubbs, keyboardist Clive John, and drummer Mick Cook to form the progressive rock group "Home", which supported artists like Jeff Beck, "Mott the Hoople", "The Faces" and "Led Zeppelin". = "Home", issued their debut LP, "Pause for a Hoarse Horse", in 1971. = In 1972 "Home" released a self-titled album, featuring their only hit single, "Dreamer". = "Home" next album, "The Alchemist", followed in 1973. = In 1974 the band became the Al Stewart Band on his first American tour, but split up after the tour. = Williams briefly played with the American band "Stars" before forming "Bandit" in 1974. = The band recorded one self-titled album which was released in 1977. = "Bandit" also performed as Alexis Korner's backing band on 1977's The Lost Album before disbanding. = Williams auditioned for "AC/DC" in 1977, replacing bassist Mark Evans after the " Let There Be Rock " album. = His debut "AC/DC" album was " Powerage " released in 1978. = His first "AC/DC" tour was the 1978 "Powerage tour", establishing his role as a live performer. = Williams played on the iconic album " Highway To Hell " from 1979, which became a breakthrough for "AC/DC". = In 1980 he contributed to " Back In Black ", "AC/DC’s" best-selling album, following Bon Scott ’s death. = He became known for his tight, minimalist bass playing, perfectly complementing "AC/DC’s" sound. = In addition to his bass playing Williams sings backing vocals for the band. = In 1982, Williams was chosen as "Bassist of the Year" in a vote conducted by "Kerrang!" magazine. = Williams continued recording with "AC/DC" on albums like " For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) " from 1981 and " Flick Of The Switch " released 1983 " Fly On The Wall " from 1985, "Blow Up Your Video" from 1988, " The Razors Edge " from 1990, "Ballbreaker" released in 1995 and " Stiff Upper Lip " from 2000, maintaining the band’s signature sound. = He was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" with "AC/DC" in 2003. = Williams contributed to "AC/DC’s "album "Black Ice" released in 2008, but announced retirement after the completion of the "Rock or Bust" tour in 2016. = Williams returned to "AC/DC" in 2020 to record " Power Up ", marking a reunion of the classic lineup (minus Malcolm Young ) , rejoined the band for live performances following the release of the album. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 14.12.1979 As someone living in a country where the news moves at a frantic pace, from one negative report to the next, and then another, I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of thinking “this is the end of the world as we know it”. And yet the country keeps going, and at the end of the day each person has to decide what kind of content they choose to expose themselves to, and what they are better off keeping their distance from. A powerful embodiment of this mindset appears in Joe Strummer from "The Clash", whose third album "London Calling" was released on December 14, 1979. Strummer, born in August 1952 in Ankara, Turkey, under the name John Graham Mellor, came from a wealthy upper-class family. His father served as a secretary to the British Foreign Secretary. Despite this background, he despised the wealthy and openly challenged them. That same Joe Strummer was obsessively addicted to news consumption. The result was the album’s title track "London Calling" , an apocalyptic song that deals in various ways with the end of the world, hunger, war, and the protest of ordinary people against the British establishment. Strummer developed his love for rock music through records by Little Richard, "The Beach Boys", and Woody Guthrie, which he listened to obsessively. In his early days he played the ukulele, and at the age of twenty one he became the lead singer of "The 101ers". A year later the band broke up, and Strummer moved to London, where he formed "The 101ers" with his flatmates, playing covers of American rhythm and blues and blues songs. At the end of May 1976, shortly after a performance by "The 101ers", Strummer was approached by musician Mick Jones and manager Bernie Rhodes, who were searching for a new singer following the breakup of "London SS", Jones’s former band. A month earlier, bassist Paul Simonon had already joined the emerging group. Simonon grew up in Brixton, a deprived neighborhood shaped by waves of new immigrants. Rhodes gave Strummer 48 hours to decide whether he wanted to join a band intended to compete with "The Sex Pistols". That was all the time Strummer needed to say he was in. Drummer Terry Chimes became the band’s regular drummer, at least in the early stages. The name "The Clash" was suggested by Paul Simonon, inspired by newspaper headlines in which the word clash appeared again and again in connection with riots driven by economic hardship and unemployment in Britain at the time. Strummer and Jones shared the responsibilities of writing and composing most of the band’s songs. After their debut studio album, "The Clash" replaced drummer Terry Chimes with Nicholas "Topper" Headon, who remained part of the band until its eventual breakup. Following their second album "Give 'Em Enough Rope", released in 1978, the members realized they wanted to be more than just a punk band. During their United States tour in 1979, they chose opening acts from the rhythm and blues world, including Bo Diddley, Sam and Dave, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and the punk rockabilly band "The Cramps". This shift away from strict punk and toward broader musical directions led "The Clash" to split from their manager Bernard Rhodes, and forced them to leave their rehearsal space in Camden Town and relocate to a studio known as "Vanilla Studios". In May 1979, the members of "The Clash" arrived at "Vanilla Studios" with no new original material. Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, the band’s primary songwriters, were suffering from a severe creative block. For nearly a year they had been unable to write new songs. Out of this drought, the band imposed a strict routine on themselves. They gathered at the studio every afternoon for rehearsals, took breaks to play football in order to release tension, fueled themselves with a few pints of beer, and then returned to the studio to continue recording late into the night. This approach proved effective. The discipline and high-intensity playing helped the band solidify as a unit and regain the confidence they so desperately needed. From that point on, everything began to flow more easily. The recording sessions lasted only about six weeks, with most songs captured in one or two takes at most. The result was the first double post-punk album, a bold and diverse statement that blended punk, reggae, rockabilly, ska, New Orleans rhythm and blues, pop, lounge, jazz, and hard rock. “We were full of bullshit, and now we’re going back to the drawing board,” Joe Strummer told NME. “We were screwed, but not screwed enough to stop.” The album’s songs are largely rooted in London, built around narratives that combine fictional characters with real life inspiration. Figures such as the underground criminal "Jimmy Jazz" , and "The Guns of Brixton" , which captures the growing sense of frustration in the neighborhood over heavy police presence, economic recession, and social tension, reflect the atmosphere of the time. Across the album, these urban narratives explore themes of sex, depression, and identity crisis. Some tracks extend beyond the city itself, touching on broader political and historical contexts, including references to “evil presidents”, the lingering impact of the Spanish Civil War in "Spanish Bombs" , and the way constant consumerism led to political apathy in "Lost in the Supermarket" . The album cover captures bassist Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar on the stage of the Palladium in New York during a performance in September 1979. The pink and green lettering of the album title serves as a direct homage to the cover of Elvis Presley’s debut album. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 14, 1992, "Nirvana" released "Incesticide" - a collection album of rare pieces, consisting of B-sides, demos, unreleased tracks and cover versions that the band recorded in different periods from 1988 to 1991. In 1991 "Nirvana" was one of the biggest bands in the world of music. Their " Nevermind " album brought them worldwide fame and the fans is was thirsty for new material. The "DGC" record company with which the band was signed, realized that "Nirvana" would not be able to enter the studio in the near future, for the purpose of recording new material, since it was in the middle of an intensive concert tour. So, in order keep the band in the audience mind, they looked for another way to release a collection album. The opportunity came at the beginning of 1992, when "Sub Pop" label approached Nirvana's record company - "DGC Records" and informed them that they were in possession of a number of the band's recordings that had not yet been released yet. Originally, "Nirvana" intended to publish the songs through "Sub Pop" as a mini-album called "Cash Cow", however "Sub Pop" realized that if they sold the rights to "DGC" they would be able to make more money from it, also due to the distribution network industry and the economic back of the "Geffen" company. These recordings that "Sub Pop" sold to "DGC" led to the decision to release a compilation album that would give the fans a taste of "Nirvana's" roots. The band members "flowed" with the idea, especially Kurt Cobain whose record company agreed to his condition that he would design the album cover. The album also allowed them to fight all those "bootlegs" with low audio quality in which some of the album's songs were included, since now they were given the opportunity to release all those songs in reasonable audio quality. "Incesticide" includes 15 tracks recorded during 3 years, in which the band performed 7 different recording sessions, with five different producers. Not only that, but due to the fact that the "Nirvana's" line-up was not stable in its early years, the recordings of these 15 songs were performed by 4 different drummers: Dale Crover, Chad Channing, Dan Peters ("Mudhoney") and of course Dave Grohl l. In this compilation album you can find 3 songs that have never been released: " Hairspray Queen ", " Aero Zeppelin ", " Big Long ". Five other songs are alternative versions of familiar songs recorded for the BBC: " Been a Son ", " Turnaround " ("Devo"), " Molly's Lips ", " Son of a Gun " (both originally by "The Vaselines") and " (New Wave) Polly ". The rest of the songs came out on mini-albums, collections or as b-sides. "Incesticide" has, without a doubt, achieved the purpose for which it was born. It gave the band's fans an idea of the origins of one of the biggest bands in the world at the time and the musical roots that Krist Novoselic , Dave Grohl and Kurt Cobain grew up on. Starting with Sludge Metal, through Punk-Rock, Garage-rRock and Indie, this album gives the listener a snapshot tracing the band's musical development and especially its growing pains before becoming a Grunge monster. For listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Although he did not like the title, he is with no doubt "The Godfather of death metal"! here are some interesting facts about Chuck Schuldiner: (Photo: Catherine McGann) 1. Chuck Schuldiner was born Charles Schuldine on May 13, 1967, in Long Island, New York. 2. His father Mal Schuldiner was the son of Austrian Jewish immigrants. His mother Jane Schuldiner was from the American South and had converted to Judaism. 3. When he was 1 year old his family moved to Florida. 4. Schuldiner started playing guitar at the age of 9. 5. He was originally inspired by "Black Sabbath", "Judas Priest", "Iron Maiden", "Kiss" Billy Idol and classical jazz. 6. Later he was influenced by "Slayer", "Celtic Frost", "Possessed", "Mercyful Fate", King Diamond and "Metallica". 7. He also cited French band "Sortilège" and Prog-Metal bands such as "Watchtower", "Coroner" and "Queensrÿche" as an influence. 8. In the early 1980s, when he was just 16, Chuck formed his first band, called "Mantas", which later became "Death". 9. In January 1986, he moved to Toronto for a short time and joined "Slaughter". 10. Schuldiner soon came back to Florida and reformed "Death", which released it's debut album - "Scream Bloody Gore," in 1987. It is considered one of the first Death Metal albums. (Photo: Catherine McGann) 11. Chuck was known for his innovative guitar playing and songwriting, which blended technical and progressive elements with brutal death metal. He was also a skilled vocalist, often switching between growled and clean singing. 12. "Death" continued to release highly influential albums, such as "Leprosy" (1988) and "Spiritual Healing (1990), which was the first "Death's" album to show Schuldiner's lyrics moving away from the gore and horror themes to themes of society and real life horror, serial killers, drug addiction, genetic reconstruction and faith healers. 13. After "Spiritual Healing", Schuldiner stopped working with full-time band members, preferring to work with sessions musicians. This earned him the "perfectionist" reputation in the metal community. 14. in 1991 "Death" released its breakthrough album "Human" which saw Schuldiner evolving to a more technical and progressive style, displaying his guitar skills more than ever. 15. This progression continued in the next albums "Individual Thought Patterns" (1993) and "Symbolic" (1995) which was another breakthrough since Chuck managed to sign a record contract with "Roadrunner" releasing the latter album. 16. In 1993 Chuck formed "Voodoocult" - a Supergroup side project including Dave Lombardo of "Slayer" and Mille Petrozza of "Kreator". The band released one album, "Jesus Killing Machine," in 1994. 17. In 1996 Schuldiner signed a contract with "Nuclear Blast" to produce two albums as a side project, named "Control Denied". 18. "Control Denied" was based on the band members of "Death", but the band went more towards Progressive materials after Schulinder wanted to create more melodic music as well. To achieve this Schuldiner added Tim Aymar to sing more softly. 19. But then, Chuck decided to shift back to "Death" and worked on their seventh and last album "The Sound of Perseverance" (1998), where Some of the songs on the album where intended for "Control Denied". 20. "The Sound of Perseverance" becomes one of "Death's" greatest albums and one of the greatest Metal albums of all time. Schuldiner took all he did in the previous albums one step further, in a more melodic more progressive, but still very powerful direction. 21. After "The Sound of Perseverance" Chuck returned to "Control Denied" and released its only album "The Fragile Art of Existence" in 1999. (Photo: Spotify) 22. Schuldiner started working on a second "Control Denied" album, but then in 1999 a cancerous tumor was diagnosed in Shuldiner's brain. 23. Concerts and fundraising evenings were organized to help Shuldiner pay for medical treatment expenses, since he did not have medical insurance. He continued to work on music while undergoing treatment. 24. Schuldiner was even asked to be one of the guest vocalists on Dave Grohl 's 2001 "Probot" project. Grohl, "Napalm Death", Ozzy Osbourne , and "Anthrax" were making efforts to raise funds for Schuldiner's medical bills, while Grohl trying to involve Schuldiner on an album. 25. Kid Rock, "Korn", "Red Hot Chili Peppers" and more, got together during the summer of 2001 to auction off personal items with the funds assisting Schuldiner's medical expenses. 26. Matt Heafy of "Trivium" also stated that the band had played a benefit show for Schuldiner while he was in the hospital. 27. Chuck passed away on December 13, 2001, at the age of 34, due to complications from pneumonia, leaving behind a big void. 28. Chuck's dedication to his craft and his perseverance in the face of illness have also inspired many fans and fellow musicians. 29. In 2019, a Chuck Schuldiner documentary titled "Death by Metal" was released, which chronicles his life and career. 30. Chuck's influence on the metal genre is still felt today, and he has been cited as an inspiration by many bands and musicians. 31. Since then Schuldiner's mother has been involved in perpetuating his memory and legacy to the metal world. 32. After Schuldiner's death a legal battle began on the rights to the material completed for the second "Control Denied" album, "When Man and Machine Collide". Demos of these unreleased "Control Denied" songs, as well as early "Death" demos and live recordings, were released in the "Zero Tolerance" two-part compilation bootlegs. 33. In 2002 "Kerrang!" magazine stated that "Chuck Schuldiner was one of the most significant figures in the history of metal". 34. In 2004 Chuck was ranked No.20 in "Guitar World's" "Greatest Metal Guitarists" list. 35. In 2009 Schuldiner was ranked No. 10 in Joel Mclver's book "The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists". "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

She possesses an extraordinary vocal talent and established her musical group using her own efforts. There's an irresistible quality to the unique blend of her singing and musical compositions. Amy Lee came into the world on December 13, 1981. (Photo: Amy Lee) = California is her birthplace, and she presently has two sisters, Carrie and Lori. Tragically, she lost a younger sister to an unknown illness at the age of 3, and her brother Robby succumbed to severe epilepsy in 2018. = Her life journey took her to various locations across the United States. She completed her education at a private high school and initially pursued music studies at a university in Tennessee. However, she eventually stepped back from academics to concentrate on her emerging band. = In 1995, she co-founded the pivotal band of her career, "Evanescence," alongside guitarist and musician Ben Moody. Their paths crossed at a summer camp a year prior to the band's formation. (Photo: last.fm.com) = For those curious, the band's name, "Evanescence," holds the meaning of "disappearance" or "faded." = The duo embarked on their musical journey by performing and releasing three EPs: "Evanescence EP," "Sound Asleep EP," and "Mystery EP." Their initial complete demo album, "Origin," saw the light of day in 2000. = Following the attention drawn by their song "My Immortal," representatives from the record company "Wind Up" decided to sign the band. Amy and Ben secured an apartment in Los Angeles, equipped with a rehearsal space, a gym membership, acting lessons, and sound development facilities. = About two years into the process, the record company enlisted producer Dave Fortman for the debut album. However, prior to this, Amy was pressured to include a full-time "male" singer, a proposal she strongly opposed. Eventually, she reluctantly agreed to share vocals on the first single, "Bring Me to Life." = The band's inaugural album, "Fallen," made its debut in 2003. Alongside Amy and Ben were their longstanding musical companions from the outset: John LeCompt, Rocky Gray, and Will Boyd. This album marked a significant breakthrough for the band, achieving international acclaim by maintaining a presence on the Billboard charts for 48 weeks and earning them two Grammy Awards. = Following extensive touring to support the album, Ben opted to part ways with the band. The decision stemmed from a divergence in musical vision between him and Amy. While Amy leaned towards a more creative and experimental direction, Ben's inclination was more towards a poppy and commercial sound. = In 2004, Amy engaged in one of her initial notable collaborations with Shaun Morgan, the lead vocalist of "Seether," recording the song "Broken." = The composition of the song "Call Me When You're Sober" emerged from Amy's personal experience, reflecting on her breakup with Shaun due to his struggles with drug addiction. = Following various lineup changes, the band unveiled their second album, "The Open Door," in 2006. Notably, the album claimed the top spot on the "Billboard 200" chart, sustaining the momentum of their debut success. = Accompanying the album's release was a global tour, featuring appearances at major festivals such as the renowned "Family Values Tour" alongside "Korn." The tour concluded on June 26, 2007, in Raanana, Israel. = Concurrently, in the same year, Amy assumed the role of American chairwoman for the international organization "Out of the Shadows," focusing on epilepsy education. = Amy delivered another remarkable performance in 2007, collaborating with the band "Korn" on "MTV Unplugged." During the show, they performed the song "Freak on a Leash" together. = After further changes within the band and numerous delays in recording and production, the third eponymous album was released in October 2011. This album achieved significant success, clinching the top spot on the "Billboard 200" chart and dominating charts in 20 additional countries. (Photo: Paul Brown) = In 2014, Amy filed a lawsuit against The Wind Up, alleging non-payment of $1.5 million in royalties. = 2016 saw Amy's release of a cover versions EP, featuring four songs spanning tracks by "U2," "Led Zeppelin," "Portishead," and Chris Isaac. = During the same year, Amy also ventured into children's music with the album "Dream Too Much." Comprising 12 songs, including three covers, the album initially intended to feature 4-3 songs inspired by Amy's experiences as a mother. However, "Amazon" embraced the concept and encouraged her to create a full album. = After a three-year hiatus in 2017, the band returned with their fourth album, "Synthesis." This unique release incorporated orchestral renditions of songs from previous albums, along with two new compositions. Amy aimed to strip down and reimagine her songs, adorning them with strings, piano, and various other instruments. = The band's fifth album, "The Bitter Truth," made its debut in March 2021. Three singles have been released to date: "Wasted on You," "The Game Is Over," and "Use My Voice." = Amy has contributed to the soundtracks of various films, crafting the album "Aftermath" specifically for the movie "War Story" in 2014. Additionally, she worked on the soundtrack for "Indigo Gray: The Passage" in 2015, "I Am Her" in 2016, and "Blind" in 2017. = In 2020, a notable collaboration emerged when Amy joined forces with Lzzy Hale for the "EP Reimagined" by the band "Halestorm." Their joint effort produced the song "Break In," adding another beautiful piece to their creative repertoire. = Another noteworthy collaboration that garnered acclaim this year was with BMTH on the song "One Day The Only Butterflies Left Will Be In Your Chest As You March Towards Your Death." = In December 2022, the debut album "Fallen" achieved the prestigious "diamond" title. Bestowed by the RIAA, this accolade is reserved for albums surpassing 10 million units in sales in the USA. Such recognition is a rare distinction, particularly in today's music landscape dominated by streaming platforms, underscoring the remarkable achievement in an era where physical album purchases are less prevalent. In September 2025, Amy teamed up with two remarkable vocalists and musicians, Poppy and Courtney LaPlante, the lead singer of the band "Spiritbox". The trio of talented women released the song “End Of You”, produced by Jordan Fish. Courtney's partner, the guitarist from "Spiritbox", also contributed to writing the track alongside the three. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 12, 1970, "The Doors" made its final show with Jim Morrison . (Photo: vueltaygiro.tumblr.com) The show took place at a time when the band was recording their latest studio album with Morrison - "L.A. Woman." In parallel with the recordings, the band held warm-up shows in which they introduced the audience to some of the new songs from the upcoming album. As is well known, the band largely lost its popularity following the infamous 1969 performance in Miami, where Morrison insulted the audience and undressed in public, until his arrest on stage. With the release of the critically acclaimed "Morrison Hotel" album in the early 1970's, the band's popularity seemed to be on the rise again. However, five days after Jim Morrison 's 27th birthday, the band shows up at "The Warehouse," the most important showroom in New Orleans and the entire southern United States, unaware that this is going to be their last show in the four-part classic lineup. (Photo: The Doors In Pictures on Facebook) At the end of that evening, Jim Morrison seemed completely off. Towards the end of the show, which featured several new songs including "Riders On The Storm", the legendary singer sat down on stage and slammed the microphone on the floor to the sound of huge feedback, until the wooden floor began to crackle. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek later said he could actually see Morrison's energy leaving his body. After that, the band returned to finish recording the album "L.A. Woman" and Morrison left the US to live in Paris where he also died at the age of 27. The setlist played in the last show : 1 – Roadhouse Blues 2 – Back Door Man 3 – Love Her Madly 4 – When the Music’s Over 5 – Riders on the Storm (Aborted) 6 – Ship of Fools 7 – Crawling King Snake 8 -L.A. Woman 9 – Hyacinth House 10 – Maggie M’Gill 11 – Been Down So Long / “Maggie M’Gill” continued 12 – I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man 13 – Who Do You Love? 14 – There’s a Palace in the Canyon 15 – Light My Fire 16 – Summertime / Instrumental/”Light My Fire” continued) 17 – Love Me Two Times 18 – Riders on the Storm 19 -Soul Kitchen 20 – The End Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

On December 12, 1976, "Kiss" guitarist Ace Frehley nearly died during a performance at the "Civic Center" in Lakeland, Florida, USA, following an unexpected technical malfunction that caused him to get electrocuted, on stage. (Photo: ultimate-guitar.com) Immediately after performing the song "Detroit Rock City", the band stepped off the stage. When Ace Frehley got off, he grabbed a metal railing to stabilize himself, thus closing an electric circuit with the guitar he was holding in his other hand. He was electrocuted, his hand continued to grip the railing and he was unable to move. He finally let go and fell a few feet to the level below the stairs. Frehley , who was shocked by the incident, said he saw his life pass before his eyes and if he had not fallen to the lower level and continued to grip the railing he would surely have died. He took a 10-minute break in the locker room, when he was sure he could not finish the show, but the fans called his name and he decided to return to the stage to end the show. He lost the feeling in his hands but apparently, the adrenaline still allowed him to keep playing. The case inspired Frehley to write and sing "Shock Me", the first song he ever sang, which was included on the band's next album "Love Gun". which was released in 1977. Frehley noted that the band members told him why he did not write a song about the electric shock, and then he decided to write the song and also sing it. Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

On December 11, 1968 The album "The Book of Taliesyn", the second album of "Deep Purple", was released in the USA (and in June 1969 also in the UK). The second studio album of "Deep Purple", "The Book of Taliesyn", is a true testimony to the artistic evolution and musical ability of "Deep Purple", here still in the first line-up known as MKI, with singer Rod Evans , bassist Nick Simper, and of course the wonderful trio, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice . In this album, the band went a few steps forward in terms of writing and performance, compared to the debut album " Shades  Of Deep Purple " released a year before. Although the band continued the musical line of the debut album, combining original material with cover versions, this time the creative process was influenced by classical music, psychedelic rock and progressive rock. Starting with the opening segment " Listen, Learn, Read On " the band embarks on an immersive and diverse musical journey of sounds and emotions. This is the most rockiest, rhythmic and fast song on the album, which somewhat indicates the transformation that the band will go through in less than two years, with the album " In Rock ". The song is full of effects, and includes aggressive drumming by Ian Paice , a particularly distorted guitar solo by Ritchie Blackmore and amazing bass work by Nick Simper. With half recitation half singing singer Rod Evans asks us to listen, learn, read and turn pages in "The Book of Taliesyn". Taliesyn was a British poet (of Welsh origin) from the sixth century, who served as a bard in the court of three kings, among them the famous King Arthur. After that comes the instrumental section " Wring That Neck " which for some reason got the name " Hard Road " in the American release. The name of the piece came from an expression that was common among the band members and indicates the "squeezing" of the neck of the guitar/bass guitar by Blackmore and Simper, who also collaborated in the writing of the piece. The third track " Kentucky Woman " is also the first single released from the album. Inspired by the success of their cover version of " Hush " from their debut album " Shades Of Deep Purple " written by Joe South, the band hoped to continue the success with a cover version of this Neil Diamond's song from 1967. Diamond's song, originally written as a country song, was here interpreted by The band adding a darker and heavier tone with the virtuosity of Blackmore. The song was relatively successful (although not like the single from the previous album), reaching the 38th place on the US Billboard 100 chart. The first side of the vinyl ends up with the medley " Exposition/We Can Work It Out ". This ambitious medley demonstrates the band's willingness to push boundaries and experiment, moving between different musical sections and genres. It begins with the instrumental section " Exposition " which opens with the second movement of Beethoven's seventh symphony led with a high hand by keyboardist Jon Lord . Then it continues with a cover version of " We Can Work It Out " by "The Beatles". The classical and progressive influences are clearly visible in this section, which also manages to show signs of psychedelia. (Photo: A Dandy In Aspic) The second side of the vinyl opens up with " Shield ", perhaps the most psychedelic song on the album, with relatively sleepy drumming by Ian Paice which is not typical of him and also includes the use of percussion instruments and a very emphasized bass line in the final mix. It is followed by the highlight of the album, the masterpiece " Anthem " which is in our opinion is one of the band's creative peaks. The melody was written by Jon Lord , who also leads the song with his mesmerizing keyboard playing that includes a rare use of the mellotron (this is the first of only two times that Lord uses it - the second was in the song " Soldier Of Fortune " from the album "Stormbringer". The piece also includes an arrangement written by Lord for a string quartet that blends beautifully with his organ playing and with Ritchie Blackmore 's amazing guitar solo. The album ends with another cover version of " River Deep, Mountain High " co-written with producer Phil Spector and originally performed two years earlier by Ike & Tina Turner. The band turned the song into a progressive rock piece that spans over ten minutes and includes quotes from the piece "Also sprach Zarathustra" by the German composer Richard Georg Strauss. It was also the second single released from the album that received a short radio version that was successful on the charts in Canada and the US. Although "The Book of Taliesyn" did not achieve the commercial success of the "Deep Purple" 70's albums that came after it, it serves as an essential and important milestone in the band's musical journey. It showcases the band's evolution and innovation, thier fearlessness to experiment and it hints at the groundbreaking sound they would develop soon after. 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 - 11.12.1970 "I don't believe in Elvis. I don't believe in Zimmerman. I don't believe in Beatles…The dream is over…you just have to carry on." In 1970 John Lennon went through a process of emotional purification, a process he described in a direct, honest, and at times brutally raw way on his first solo album “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band”, released on December 11, 1970. By mid 1969 it had already become clear to John Lennon that he and "The Beatles" belonged to the past. In September 1969 he shared his intentions with the rest of the band, agreeing not to announce it to the press yet, due to various contractual obligations. A few more months would pass before curious journalists, who had heard a rumor claiming that Paul McCartney was dead, arrived at his farm to verify the story, only to walk away with a completely different scoop: "The Beatles no longer exist." At the same time, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were fighting for survival. Survival in life, and survival as a couple. Yoko, after two miscarriages, was struggling for custody of her daughter Kyoko, while Lennon was coping with the dissolution of "The Beatles", and with the ghosts from his past, that refused to release him: the abandonment by his father, the loss of his mother, all of it intensified by heavy drug use (heroin, methadone). Yoko understood that if she would not do something drastic, not only that their relationship will be doomed, but John’s life itself might soon become a memory. In March 1970 she called (from Tittenhurst Park, where they lived),the American psychologist Arthur Janov, in Los Angeles. Janov, author of the book "The Primal Scream", believed that in order to heal psychological and physical trauma, a patient must release the earliest experiences stamped into them since birth. Yoko Ono realized that Janov was likely the only solution capable of rescuing her partner from the deep psychological crisis he had fallen into, and decided to approach him. At first Janov, who did not know Lennon or "The Beatles", refused the request, but eventually his children convinced him to treat Lennon and enjoy, along the way, his fifteen minutes of fame. No one imagined that Janov’s method, considered unconventional at the time, would later become widely popular. Janov recalls that when he arrived at the estate where the couple lived, Lennon was sunk in despair, addicted to heroin, unable to leave his room. He began treating him, encouraging Lennon to release his emotions through screaming and crying. Much of the therapy took place in the recording studio inside the estate, which quickly translated into the songs in which Lennon cries out to the father and mother, who were not there for him when he needed them so desperately, most powerfully in "Mother" . Almost all the songs Lennon wrote for the album are influenced by the treatment: free of wordplay, direct and honest, touching, dealing themes of love ( "Love" ), faith and doubt in God ( "God" ), loneliness ( "Isolation" ), and the end of the dream of the Fab Four from Liverpool ( "God"  again). There is also the moment when Lennon tries to construct his new self as a working class hero who does not owe anyone anything, even if it means cursing the whole world and his wife, in "Working Class Hero" . Lennon recorded the album together with bassist Klaus Voormann, his old friend from the early Hamburg days of "The Beatles", as well as Ringo Starr , Billy Preston who was the unofficial fifth "Beatle" for a brief moment of glory, Phil Spector , and of course Yoko Ono. Years later two young musicians, inspired by the story of Lennon and by Janov’s book itself, founded the band "Tears for Fears", whose concept was based on "The Primal Scream". About two more years would pass before a rock band in Glasgow adopted a name drawn from the same source, the alternative dance and rock group "Primal Scream". For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On December 11, 2020, about three years after Chris Cornell's death, the album "No One Sings Like You Anymore" was released. This was his fifth solo album, featuring 10 cover versions of songs and artists who influenced him. The album's name is taken from a line in the song "Black Hole Sun" from Cornell's mother band's "Superunknown" album, an immortal line that has best represented Chris Cornell. It all started with what was supposed to be Chris '56th birthday, so we got the first hint for a new album, in the form of the single "Patience", Cornell's excellent cover version of the song "Guns N' Roses". A few months later the entire album featuring songs by John Lennon , Harry Nilsson, Carl Hall, Prince, "Electric Light Orchestra", Terry Reid, and more, was released. The album opens with an electronic rendition of the song "Get It While You Can" by Janis Joplin , continues with a jungle rendition of the song "Jump Into The Fire" by Harry Nilsson, followed by the song "Sad Sad City" by the electro duo Dancing "Ghostland Observatory" as he puts in some acoustic instruments, he infuses a lot of emotion on John Lennon's "Watching The Wheels", gives an interesting interpretation to Carl Hall's "You Don't Know Nothing About Love" and turns the bowels of "Showdown" from "ELO", with a cover version that sits on the beat of a drum machine. The song that seals the album "Stay With Me Baby" by Lorraine Ellison, was released in 2016 as part of the soundtrack of the excellent series "Vinyl" and in the same year, the song "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Prince was re-recorded by Cornell, especially for the album. The album was recorded in 2016 by Cornell, who plays all the instruments, along with Brendan O’Brien who also produced and mixed it. Cornell's children were in the studio during the recordings and described a happy and fun atmosphere, they were given piano lessons and told that Chris and Brendan played computer games. By the way, anyone who looks at the bottom of the album cover or searches for the album on Apple Music's streaming services will find that it's titled "No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1", which implies that there is another cover album based on more songs recorded in the same sessions. Song list: 1. “Get It While You Can” 2. “Jump Into The Fire” 3. “Sad Sad City” 4. “Patience” 5. “Nothing Compares 2 U” 6. “Watching The Wheels” 7. “You Don’t Know Nothing About Love” 8. “Showdown” 9. “To Be Treated Rite” 10. “Stay With Me Baby” 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's a bassist, he's a songwriter, he's a producer, he's a radio broadcaster and he's one of the most colorful and scandalous bands of the 1980s - "Mötley Crüe". Come read some interesting and crazy facts about Nikki Sixx who's celebrating his birthday today: (Photo: planetradio.co.uk) 1. He was born on December 11, 1958, in San Jose, California, as Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr. 2. Already at a very young age Feranna's parents were separated and it was his mother who raised him. At a later stage, she also abandoned him and he grew up with his grandparents. 3. These events greatly affected him. Feranna was a disturbed child, broke into neighbors' houses, stole from stores, and was expelled from school for selling drugs. 4. Eventually his grandparents who could not control him, sent him back to his mother, who was living at the time in Seattle, There he learned to play the bass guitar. 5. Feranna bought his first bass guitar with the money he got from a stolen guitar. 6. The musical influences on Feranna were of the rock genre. He was influenced by artists such as "Deep Purple", Harry Nilsson, "The Beatles", "The Rolling Stones", Elton John , "Queen", "Black Sabbath", "T-Rex", David Bowie , and "Slade". 7. At the age of 17, he moved to Los Angeles and worked casual jobs such as selling in a liquor store, selling vacuum cleaners over the phone, and more, while at the same time auditioning for different bands. Feranna eventually joined the band "Sister" led by Blackie Lawless . However, shortly after the first demo was recorded, Feranna was fired from the band. (Photo: IMDB) 8. In 1978 Feranna founded "London". During this time, Feranna legally changed his name to Nikki Sixx. 9. After several band changes, "London" added former "Mott the Hoople" singer, Nigel Benjamin, to its ranks, recording a 16 tracks demo. 10. It is interesting to note that after Sixx's departure from "London" it was joined by Blackie Lawless (later from "W.A.S.P."), Izzy Stradlin (then from "Hollywood Rose", later from "Guns N 'Roses") and drummer Fred Coury (later "Cinderella"). 11. In 1981, Sixx formed " Mötley Crüe " with drummer Tommy Lee . They were later joined by guitarist Mick Mars who responded to an ad in the local newspaper, and singer Vince Neil, with whom Lee attended high school. 12. The band recorded their self-funded debut album "Too Fast for Love". Already at this point, Sixx had established himself as the band's leader and lead writer. The album was released in November 1981 on the band's private label "Leathür Records". 13. The band began to gain momentum and build a fan base, when immediately after the release of the album they were signed by "Elektra Records" and released their second and excellent album " Shout at the Devil ". 14. By 2008, Sixx had released nine albums with the band. All of them reached the top ten on the Billboard 200, with the 1989 album "Dr. Feelgood" being the only one to win first place. 15. "Mötley Crüe" has established itself as one of the most prominent bands in the glam metal genre, with insane performances that included the use of every possible pyrotechnic and special effects on and off stage. 16. During his membership in the band Sixx became addicted to heroin. He noted that alcohol, acid, and cocaine were just "affairs" and when he met "heroin" it was "true love". He estimates he took an overdose "about half a dozen times". 17. On December 23, 1987, Sixx took a heroin overdose and Was Declared Dead For 2 Minutes , before a paramedic revived him with two adrenaline-filled shots to the heart. The song "Kickstart My Heart" was written about this event. (Photo: metalcastle.net) 18. In 1989, Sixx was a guest on Steve Jones', former "Sex Pistols" member, "Fire and Gasoline" album. Sixx co-wrote and performed the song "We're No Saints." 19. In 1990, Bruce Dickinson released his first solo album. He chose to call it " Tattooed Millionaire " when Sixx tells in his book "The Heroin Diaries" that the theme song was written about him after sleeping with Bruce Dickinson 's wife. 20. In 1991, Sixx played bass in the song "Feed My Frankenstein", taken from Alice Cooper 's "Hey Stoopid" album. Sixx co-wrote the song "Die For You," along with fellow "Mötley Crüe" guitarist Mick Mars. 21. On October 30, 1997, Sixx was the center of a controversial incident, during the performance of "Mötley Crüe" at the Colosseum in Gresboro. He used racial nicknames while encouraging the crowd to physically attack a dark-skinned security guard, who repeatedly pushed a fan. In May 2001, Sixx addressed the issue, claiming he apologized to the victim of the incident. 22. In 2000, Sixx formed a side project called "58" with guitarist Steve Gibb (formerly "Black Label Society" and "Crowbar") and drummer Bucket Baker. They released one single called "Piece of Candy" and their debut album, "Diet for a New America", ​​in 2000. 23. In 2002, Sixx played in Butch Walkers' first solo album called "Left of Self-Centered". 24. In the same year, Sixx formed "Brides of Destruction", together with Tracii Guns, known among others from the band "L.A. Guns". They released their debut album "Here Come the Brides" in 2004. 25. After the release of the album, Sixx returned and reunited with "Mötley Crüe" but before that he co-wrote some of the songs for "Brides of Destruction" next album - "Runaway Brides", which was released in 2005. 26. In 2005 he collaborated with Norwegian singer Marion Raven on two songs, "Heads Will Roll" and "Surfing the Sun", from her debut album "Here I Am". (Photo: rockcelebrities.net) 27. In 2006, he was one of the songwriters for the long-awaited Meat Loaf album called "Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose". 28. In 2006, Sixx formed the band "Sixx: A.M" to record an audio accompaniment to his autobiography "The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star". They recorded and released the soundtrack "The Heroin Diaries" in August 2007, including the successful single "Life Is Beautiful". Sixx will release four more albums with this band, the most recent of which, "Prayers for the Blessed, Vol. 2", was released in 2016. In addition, the band will release 2 more EPs. 29. In 2021, Sixx formed the supergroup "L.A. Rats" together with Rob Zombie, Tommy Clufetos, and John 5. They released the song "I've Been Everywhere" to the movie "The Ice Road" soundtrack, starring Liam Nissan. 30. As of 2010 he has a radio show called "Sixx Sense" that airs Fridays through Mondays. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website