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He comes from "Mars", he is the brother of... And he is a powerful drummer that lacks musical boundaries... (Photo: vater.com) 1. He is the older brother of Jared Leto and was born on March 9, 1970. 2. His parents divorced when he was a small child and his father committed suicide when he was only 10 years old. 3. His mother, who was a hippie, created a free atmosphere of creation and experience in the family environment and this of course greatly influenced the two brothers. 4. Of all the musical instruments that were scattered throughout the house, Shannon was particularly attached to the drums. At first, he played on pots and buckets and at the age of 10 he got his first drum set. Together with his brother, they started playing and creating music together. 5. As a teenager he experienced a very difficult life when he felt out of place and did not fit into any social framework. He left school, started using drugs, and became outraged in every way possible. 6. His brother is the one who helped him, supported him, and managed to get him out of the mental complexes and the drug cycle. 7. In 1998 the Leto brothers formed the band "Thirty Seconds To Mars". The two recruited more musicians and began performing in small clubs throughout Los Angeles while simultaneously recording demos. The demos reached a number of record companies and in 1999 the band signed with Virgin Records. (Photo: thirtysecondstomars.com) 8. In 1999 he formed the supergroup "The Wondergirls", the ensemble included a large number of artists such as: Scott Weiland , Mark McGrath, Ian Astbury, Doug Ardito, and a few others. They recorded only two songs "Let's Go All the Way" and "Drop That Baby". 9. In 2002 came out Mars' debut album bearing the band's name. The album, was recorded in a cabin far away and detached from civilization and was produced by two great producers Bob Ezrin and Brian Virtu. The album is a concept album that focuses on human struggle and self-definition. 10. In light of Jared's busy career as an actor, the band was forced to roam the recordings for the next album. In 2005 the band's second album "A Beautiful Lie" was released. An album that was different both musically and lyrically from the previous album. This is the album that brought the band the international breakthrough and sold over 4 million copies. In this album, Shannon uses a combined system of acoustic and electronic drums, a composition that has become very popular today. 11. In 2009 the band's third album "This Is War" was released. The album takes the brothers to new experiences like Prog, Metal, and New Wave. The lyrics on the album were mainly influenced by the band's 'war' against the record company EMI. The album was accompanied by a documentary called "Artifact" directed by Jared which documents the period of the struggle. This album was part of the Guinness World Record when the band conducted more than 300 shows, the highest number of shows per album tour. 13. In 2013, the band's fourth album, "Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams" was released. An album which is a kind of concept album that focuses on the four elements that appear in its name. Here the band already started to have greater use of electronic elements. The album continues the band's success and brings it to No. 6 on the Billboard 200. 14. Already in this album you can feel the change that the music goes through when Shannon stretches the electronic boundaries of the song and its drums. He is considered a very diverse drummer who loves to experiment and try new elements on the drums. 15. In March of that year a copy of the song "Up in the Air" was released into space with NASA's SpaceX CRS-2 spacecraft, it was the first single from the album. This is the world's first replica of commercial music sent into space. 16. In 2018 came out the band's fifth album "AMERICA" . This is a completely different album from the band's previous albums. The musical style changes dramatically as electronic sounds, effects, and soft melodies take the place of guitars and drums. Here too the album is a concept album that deals with social concepts like sex, fame, and individuality. Despite the mixed reviews and disappointment from the band's longtime fans, it reached second place on Billboard and was a huge success. 17. In 2023, the band releases its sixth album, "It's the End of the World but It's a Beautiful Day." The album continues the musical trajectory from the previous one, thus completing the band's musical transformation in a definitive manner. 18. On stage Shannon is an evil beast !! He is a charismatic drummer with a significant presence and plays an integral part in the show on stage. His energies on his integrated drum set are a mesmerizing sight, we experienced this in August 2010 when they performed at the Hanger 11 in Tel Aviv. (Photo: thirtysecondstomars.com) 19. Before every show, Shannon meditates, which is accompanied by at least 20 minutes of listening to metal music in order to get in the mood, and at the end of each show, he likes to be alone for half an hour in order to absorb the energies and experience that took place. 20. During the tour he usually eats neatly and sleeps at least 8 hours before the show. 21. He is not a professional actor like his brother but he has appeared in three films Prefontaine (1997), Sol Goode (2001), and Highway (2002). Listen to the band's latest album on: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 25, 2011, "Whitesnake" released their 11th studio album "Forevermore". More than three decades after David Coverdale  founded the band following his departure from "Deep Purple", "Whitesnake" proved once again that the fire still burned. "Forevermore" arrived after the successful comeback album "Good to Be Bad" in 2008 and showed that the revitalized version of the band was not just a nostalgic act revisiting the past, but a working, creative hard rock machine. By the late 2000s Coverdale had assembled one of the strongest modern lineups of "Whitesnake". Guitarists Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach had already established themselves as a powerful twin-guitar force, combining classic blues-based riffs with a sharper and more modern edge. Alongside them were bassist Uriah Duffy, drummer Brian Tichy, and keyboardist Timothy Drury. Together they created a tight and muscular sound that balanced the band’s blues roots with arena-rock power. The album was recorded primarily in Nevada with David Coverdale producing alongside Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach. The goal was clear: capture the classic DNA of "Whitesnake" while giving it a contemporary production that would sit comfortably beside modern hard rock releases. The album opens with "Steal Your Heart Away" , an explosive introduction driven by a classic Whitesnake-style riff and a big, confident chorus. It immediately establishes the tone of the album: bold guitars, melodic hooks, and Coverdale’s unmistakable vocal presence. "All Out of Luck"  follows with a heavier groove and aggressive guitar work, while "Love Will Set You Free" , the album’s lead single, leans toward the melodic side of the band. The track combines a soaring chorus with layered guitars and showcases Coverdale’s ability to balance raw power with emotional delivery. One of the most interesting moments on the album comes with "Tell Me How" , a blues-infused track that reconnects with the early DNA of "Whitesnake". Its groove and phrasing echo the band’s late-70s roots while still benefiting from the modern production style. Another standout track is "I Need You (Shine a Light)" , which presents one of the catchiest melodies on the album. Coverdale’s vocals sound slightly strained here, but they are reinforced by strong vocal harmonies and the twin-guitar work that over the years has become one of the defining trademarks of "Whitesnake". "Forevermore" , the song that closes the album, is probably also its best moment. The track, which stretches beyond seven minutes, unfolds gradually with atmospheric guitars and reflective lyrics. Coverdale is clearly operating in his comfort zone here and delivers one of the most impressive vocal performances on the album, while the guitars slowly develop toward an almost epic finale that gives the album a powerful closing statement. Upon its release, "Forevermore" was warmly received by fans and critics. The album reached the Top 10 in several European countries and charted in both the United Kingdom and the United States. While it did not produce massive radio hits it strengthened the band’s reputation as one of the few classic hard rock acts still capable of delivering powerful new material. For Listening: Spotify "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 9, 2018, "Judas Priest" released their 18th studio album "Firepower". Not only is it the band's best album since " Painkiller ", but it's also the most successful "Judas Priest" album in the US and the band's first album to enter the UK's top ten since " British Steel ". The name of the album definitely indicates its content. The "firepower" of "Judas Priest" rains down "heavy metal" with high intensity on us, with sound and musical material that manage to recreate the "golden age" era of the band. Singer Rob Halford noted that the stated goal of "Judas Priest" on this album, was to reinvent some of Priest's classic moments and to that end they traced the band's roots. It can be said that this goal has been realized with a classic "Judas Priest" album, which sounds and looks (yes the cover also has a part) like the greatest albums in the band's repertoire. Indeed, this album combines the classic and rooted style of the band, with a modern and updated sound, courtesy of legendary producer Andy Sneap, known for his "magic" with veteran metal bands such as "Accept" and producer Tom Allom, who produced the band's albums in the 80's. "Judas Priest", who dominated the classical metal scene for three decades, began to lose its relevance in the 1990s with the departure of Rob Halford . The band, formed in 1969 (even before the year when Metal was born with the albums " Black Sabbath " and " In Rock "), but released their debut album only in 1974. Since then, especially during the 1970s, the band has been responsible for the design of the "Heavy Metal" genre, no less than the "Founders' Generation" bands, with masterful albums such as "Sin After Sin" and " Stained Class ". In the early '80s, with the rise of the "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal" bands, "Priest" managed to reinvent itself, with an accessible and catchy sound like on the " British Steel " album, but still not lose its identity and maintaining the DNA that defined it. Even as the wave of Thrash Metal swept the world of metal, "Judas Priest" managed to stay relevant and give the new (second) wave of metal bands a serious fight, with one of the greatest albums in metal " Painkiller ". But then, just at the height, Rob Halford decided to retire and cut short the success while at it's peak. Even after the return of the "Metal God" "Judas Priest" failed to replicate the success and failed to produce masterful albums, such as those that raised it to the top of the metal world. Therefore, "Firepower", in a sense, is a great celebration for metal lovers wherever they are. And as we mentioned, we think this is the best album by "Judas Priest" since " Painkiller ". All 14 songs were written by Rob Halford , Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, who not only stepped into K. K. Downing's big shoes with great success, but even manages to cover up for Glenn Tipton, whose playing abilities were impaired due to Parkinson's disease. The theme song " Firepower " opens the album "With a Scream", literally, and sets the tone for everything that comes after. The heavy riff and Scott Travis's brutal drumming are a purposeful display of powerful demonstration and "firepower". Richie Faulkner noted that a friend of his told him that the song sounded like "Painkiller", only faster so it's probably Priest's fastest song, especially in terms of the drum playing. Undoubtedly, this is a crazy energy bomb at a fast pace, but still sweeping and catchy, especially in the melodic solo, with the harmonic sound of the twin guitar. The album continues at a high rate of "fire" with " Lightning Strike " - the first and excellent single released from the album. Rob Halford noted that the general idea of ​​the song was to use the ​​"lightning strike" to pull away and tear apart at an individual, at a body of people, maybe an organization, maybe an administration, that is kind of leading you, or leading us, into potentially a destructive place. Similar to the opening song, this is a powerful and melodic piece that showcases everything that characterizes the classic "Priest"ת as well as the performance ability of all the band members. Then comes " Evil Never Dies ", which starts heavier and slower, with a dark riff during the verses, which sits on the "Black Sabbath" slot. It's a dynamic, surprising and complex piece that gets a first twist in the transition part to a chorus that sounds like a classic "Priest", it changes again with the guitar solo sitting on the c-part and continues to evolve with the quiet atmospheric section that takes us back to the "Black Sabbath" influences. This is without a doubt one of the most interesting excerpts from the album that demonstrates the incredible writing ability of the Halford-Tipton-Folkner triangle. By the way, this is not the only track on the album whose riffs and general vibe will remind you of "Black Sabbath". Take for example " Children of the Sun ", " Specter " or " Lone Wolf " and you will understand what we mean. The amazing sequence of songs continues with " Never the Heroes ", the third single released from the album. It opens with a synth effect that momentarily takes us back to the days of " Turbo ", but immediately after the heavy riff arrives and changes everything, with one of the album's more catchy anthems. "Priest" manage to maintain a high level of writing and performance throughout the album. The flamboyant metal of " Flame Thrower ", the dynamic complexity of " Traitors Gate " and the recorded metal of " No Surender " prove that there are no falls on this album. Even songs that initially sound a little less catchy like " Necromancer " or " Rising from Ruins " end up sticking and not letting go. It is interesting to note that the album includes a short and symphonic instrumental track called " Guardians ", which cuts the album in two as well as an epic metal ballad " Sea of ​​Red ", which ends the album with a loud bang. 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 - 09.03.1983 "I sing about love, about God, and about unity. I sing about life, and people prefer to focus on my clothes." Lenny Kravitz is a singer and living proof that different cultures and different people can live together. As an artist born to a Christian mother and a Jewish father, he was in many ways a cultural fusion, always searching for spirituality and for a message that could unite people. You can hear part of that spirit in his third album "Are You Gonna Go My Way", released on March 9, 1993. Lenny Kravitz himself has said that he loved music from a very young age: "Music was my passion from the moment I was born, and by the age of seven I already knew that music was what I wanted to do with my life." The defining moment that made him realize he would pursue music came after seeing the "Jackson 5" perform live. "One day my father surprised me with tickets to see the Jacksons at Madison Square Garden. When I saw the energy of the crowd around me, everything suddenly became very clear. I became obsessed with music." Leonard Albert Kravitz was born in May 1964 in Manhattan, New York. His father, Sy Kravitz, was a Jewish-Ukrainian television producer for NBC, while his mother, Roxie Roker, was an actress (best known for appearing in the groundbreaking series "The Jeffersons") who came from an African-American Christian family originally from the Bahamas. At a young age he moved with his parents from New York to California. There he taught himself to play guitar, bass, drums, and piano. He also studied vocal development and began performing under the name Romeo Blue, inspired by Prince, whom he admired deeply. Kravitz dyed his hair blue, wore blue makeup, and started playing funk-pop that strongly resembled Prince’s late-1970s sound. Other artists who influenced him, and whom he was exposed to when they visited his parents’ home, included Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis. After undergoing a spiritual experience as a teenager, the young Lenny began praying regularly and became a devoted believer, though not tied to any specific religious stream. Additional musical influences included "The Beatles", "The Rolling Stones", Fela Kuti, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Jimi Hendrix, and others. In 1985, under the name Romeo Blue, Lenny Kravitz recorded a demo at the studio of keyboardist and bassist Henry Hirsch. Shortly afterward he returned to using his birth name, Lenny Kravitz . Hirsch would continue to accompany Kravitz for many years. Together they began working on a debut album, with saxophonist Karl Denson receiving a prominent role on Kravitz’s debut album "Let Love Rule". In January 1989 Kravitz signed a recording contract with "Virgin", largely thanks to his friend Steve "Stevo" Elvis Smith, who supervised the music for the "Cosby Show" spin-off "A Different World", starring the American Jewish actress Lisa Bonet, who later became Kravitz’s wife. The marriage lasted several years, and Kravitz arrived at his second album " Mama Said " heartbroken. That pain was clearly felt in several of the songs, many of which became reflections of longing for Lisa. In 1990 Kravitz wrote and produced one of Madonna’s most controversial hits, "Justify My Love", largely remembered for its provocative music video. Toward the end of 1992 Kravitz entered the studio to record his third album "Are You Gonna Go My Way", while at the same time producing and writing the English-language debut album of French model and singer Vanessa Paradis. The album showcases the wide range of styles and influences that Kravitz absorbed over the years. It blends R&B, classic rock, pop, reggae, and funk. The title track "Are You Gonna Go My Way"  carries a strong Jimi Hendrix-style vibe and became one of Kravitz’s most recognizable songs. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song and also earned the award for Best Male Video at the MTV Video Music Awards. The second single "Believe"  is perhaps the most memorable song on the album, largely because of its unforgettable guitar solo by Craig Ross in the final minute. It is a powerful ballad about faith and self-belief, both in oneself and in God. Next comes "Come On and Love Me" , driven by drumming in the style of John Bonham , a track that brings the listener back to the raw energy of classic rock and roll blended with plenty of soul. Like many moments on the album, Kravitz manages to make the music sound both retro and modern at the same time. Further along, Kravitz continues to give the listener everything they could want: thick, powerful drums, a dominant bass line, and his voice climbing close to the heights once reached by Prince, as he whispers to his listener that he is ready for love in the third single "Heaven Help" . Next comes "Just Be a Woman" , which for some reason recalls "Led Zeppelin" in its chord transitions. The resemblance to Zeppelin continues in the following track "Is There Any Love in Your Heart" , which was released as the final single from the album. Later arrives "Black Girl" , one of the groovier tracks on the album, once again highlighting how deeply Kravitz is influenced by the funk and soul music of the 1970s. The prominent bass and bouncy rhythm create an almost James Brown-like feel, as Kravitz blends rock and funk in a completely natural way. "My Love"  reveals a very different side of Kravitz. It is a gentler ballad with psychedelic touches that emphasizes his romantic and melodic side. Here you can clearly hear the influence of "The Beatles", and especially John Lennon during his solo years. On "Sugar" , Kravitz brings the energy back, combining it with the warm sound of late-1960s rock. It is one of those moments where the album feels like a modern tribute to classic rock. "Sister"  continues the funky direction with a deep and particularly sensual groove, while "Eleutheria"  (the name of an island in the Bahamas, where his mother’s family originates) is a reggae-styled and more intimate moment on the album, with an almost spiritual atmosphere. The song deals with freedom, roots, and identity, connecting Kravitz’s personal world with the universal message he tries to convey through his music. The album "Are You Gonna Go My Way" became Lenny Kravitz’s major breakthrough. It reached platinum status in several countries and turned Kravitz into one of the biggest rock stars of the 1990s. The album managed to bridge past and present, blending soul, rock, and funk while proving that it is possible to draw deep inspiration from the music of the 1960s and 1970s and still create something that sounds fresh and original. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

What in your opinion is the album with the best opening in the history of music? Well, it's really hard to pick one, but what's certain is that "The Joshua Tree" - "U2's" fifth album released on March 9, 1987, is at the top of the list, along with " The Dark Side Of The Moon " and others. Yes, Brian Eno's mesmerizing keyboard carpets, which opens " Where the Streets Have No Name ", starts out soft and caressing and slowly gets louder. The Edge 's guitar emerges from behind in a like-circular-walk on the strings, back and forth, as if in an intensifying stimulus that leads you to the inevitable climax that arrives somewhere at 1:06, when the guitar simply breaks through the keyboards wall just like a Roman ram and gives the rhythm section's the command to charge as if they where the royal cavalry. First, the striker power with Adam Clayton's beating bass in the 1:09 minute "Tin, ba, ba, ba, ba ...." and immediately after that Larry Mullen Jr.'s elephant corps gallops forward and when Bono sings "I want to tear down the walls .. "It is already clear to everyone what he is singing about. That's how a masterpiece album should open up. An album that raised "U2" to the Premier League of the greatest rock bands of all time, an album that turned it from a band of "medium-sized" arenas "into a huge stadium giant. If " War " influenced the alternative sound of the 1980s, then this album just redefined it. There was initially no consensus among the band members as to the album's musical direction, but what was clear to everyone was that they wanted to stay away from the "synthpop" and "new wave" that ruled the music market during the 1980s. Eventually they all managed to find a common ground, an album that would focus around what they defined as the "primary colors of rock". Guitar, bass, drums. It all happened after Bono spent time with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger of "the Rolling Stones" in 1985 and the two played him Blues and Country records. Also The Edge discovered the Blues and Country artists like Howlin' Wolf, Robert Johnson and Hank Williams. The musical background of the two was based on Punk Rock and they were simply embarrassed by the fact that they did not know these genres well, so they made a decision to explore them more in depth. The decision regarding the album's musical line, the blues and country influences the band consciously chose to follow and the incredible production work of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois with the help of Flood, who decided to hold the recordings in an old Irish house converted into a recording studio, created a winning combination that led to this masterpiece. This album fulfilled the band's ongoing affair with America. The band's tour of the United States in the early 1980s, led the band to choose "America" as the general theme that will accompany the album and it does exist there and in a big way. Starting with the gospel of " I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For ", through the slide guitar and acoustic blues of " Running to Stand Still " and the "Bob Dylanish" harmonica of " Trip Through Your Wires ", to the album cover that the band first shot in the US. As with previous albums, this time too the Irish-Catholic influences of the band members and their religious beliefs, are evident, as a source of inspiration for some of the album's lyrics. The spiritual search for " I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For ", the "heaven" hinted as a place where the streets have no names in " Where the Streets Have No Name ", the mention of Jacob's struggle with the angel in the song " Bullet the Blue Sky " and the reference to the sons of Cain in the song " In God's Country ". This album has a simply inconceivable hit sequence: " Where the Streets Have No Name ", whose work consumed about 40% of the studio time allocated to the recording of the entire album and whose lyrics were influenced by a story Bono heard about Belfast being able to learn about a person's income and religion only from the street where he lives, " I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For ", which began with a jam session that included a very special Larry Mulan drumming pattern, " With or Without You ", which was the band's first hit to reach the top of the US charts, " Bullet the Blue Sky ", influenced by the civil war in El Salvador that Bono visited and includes the lyrics "Rattle and Hum" that will serve as the title for the next album, " Running to Stand Still " - the quiet and chilling ballad about a pair of heroin addicts from Dublin, " Red Hill Mining Town ", about the British miners' strike in 1984 and more and more... This album is dedicated to one of the band's crew members, Greg Carroll, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in Dublin. The band members traveled to New Zealand, Carol's birthplace, to attend his funeral. The tragedy and experience of the band members from the unfortunate accident, inspiration the song " One Tree Hill ", which as mentioned was entirely dedicated to Greg Carroll. Upon its release, the album received rave reviews from various critics. "The Joshua Tree" is on almost every possible ranking list of the greatest albums of all time. It broke a record as the fastest-selling album in the UK, having received platinum status within 48 hours of its release. This is the band's best-selling album, which has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, while conquering the top of the album sales charts, in over 20 countries. It is interesting to note, that despite his great success, despite the rave reviews and despite it's tremendous influence, years later the band members did their best to move far from it. Bono noted in one of his interviews that " Achtung Baby " is "the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree"... For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Today we will tell you about Brad Delp who is known, among other things, as the lead singer and guitarist of "Boston". (Photo: Chris Walter) Brad Delp was a lead singer, guitarist, and one of the founders of "Boston" who participated in all of the band's albums. The band's latest album, released after his death, also included recordings of his voice. Brad together with Tom Schultz, formed the very unique sound on which "Boston" was based on. he participated in the band's hits such as: " More Than a Feeling ", " Foreplay / Long Time ", " Peace of Mind ", " Amanda " and more. Delp was born on June 12, 1951, in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA as Bradley Edward Delp. His parents were immigrants from Canada. In 1969 guitarist Barry Goudreau arranged for Delp to meet Tom Scholz who was just looking for a singer for an emerging band. The three formed the band "Mother's Milk" which operated from 1973 to 1974 and later changed its name to "Boston", with the three serving as the core of the band. Schultz was a multi-instrumentalist who was considered a musical and technical genius. He was a student at MIT, worked for an electronics company, and built a studio for himself in the basement of his home, where the three recorded the demos that would become Boston's debut album. Read more about the excellent album here . (Photo: Ron Pownall) This album was released in 1976 and became one of the most successful debut albums of all time with sales of over 20 million copies. Delp was responsible for the album's all-unique vocals and the incredible vocal harmonies that became the band's hallmark. Not only that, but Delp helped Schultz write the song " Smokin' ", and wrote the song that sealed the album " Let Me Take You Home Tonight " on his own and even played it on acoustic guitar. It's inconceivable but Delp is responsible for all the singing roles in the band, including the background vocals and all the vocal harmonies. He has a voice that touches the sky and penetrates the bones. A very distinctive voice that sometimes overshadows even the rest of the instruments in the band. But Delp is definitely not just a singer. He also plays guitar, keyboards, and harmonica and has written songs not only for "Boston" but also for artists like Orion the Hunter, Lisa Guyer, and others. Also on the band's second excellent album " Don't Look Back " from 1978, Delp contributed to writing one song in collaboration with Schultz (" Party ") and wrote one song himself - " Used to Bad News ". After these two albums, Delp participated in the first solo album of band member Barry Goudreau which was released in 1980. For "Boston's" third album " Third Stage " from 1986, Delp brought two songs " Cool the Engines " and " Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)/Still in Love ", both of which were played quite a bit on radio stations. In 1991, Delp and Goudreau formed the band "RTZ". From that moment on Delp was no longer a permanent member of "Boston" and his successor was singer Fran Cosmo. At the same time, Delp continued to be a guest on the band's albums, "Corporate America" from 2002 and "Life, Love & Hope" from 2013, which were released after his death. In parallel with his work with "RTZ", Delp participated in a side band that played cover songs for the Beatles and was called "Beatlejuice". In 2003, Delp and his former Boston friend Goudreau released the album "Delp and Goudreau". On March 9, 2007, Delph was found dead in his home shower in Atkinson, New Hampshire. He committed suicide by inhaling smoke. A hose from his car was connected through the vent of the tumble dryer, and two grills with smoky coals were placed in the bathroom. Brad left a farewell letter for his children and associates, with the suicide note attached to the lapel of his shirt that read "I am a lonely soul," or originally: "Mr. Brad Delp. 'I am a solitaire.' I am a lonely soul." Opinions are divided as to the reasons for Delp's suicide, some attributing them to his murky relationship with the band's leader Tom Schultz, who even sued the "Boston Herald" for the publicity that allegedly attributed to Delp's suicide. Schultz lost the lawsuit and on June 1, 2013, was required to pay the newspaper $ 132,000 in expenses after the court dismissed the lawsuit and ruled that there was no libel here since it is not possible to determine what led Delp to commit suicide. Whatever the reason, this is a sad reminder of the heavy price that the music industry sometimes charges such talented artists, who sometimes cannot cope with its success and consequences. Take a few moments and listen a little to the beautiful music created by Delp and his friends in Boston. Here . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 8, 1974, "Queen" released their second album, "Queen II". This is probably the least "glamorous" album of the band's golden era. it does not contain "hits" nor catchy songs, but despite this, it has become a cult album, especially among the devout fans of the band. "Queen" came to the recordings of this album after learning the lessons from their first album , released in July 1973. The band was not happy with the end result of that album and felt they could have done better if they had been given more studio time to produce the album optimally. For more on the band's first album, click here . After the band finished recording their first album in March 1973, they took a short break and returned to the studio in August 1973, to record their second album. Unlike the debut album, this time the band was allowed to use the studio at reasonable and convenient hours, and they certainly took advantage of this in order to differentiate themselves from the rest of the Glam Rock scene of the time. In order to realize their vision to stand out around bands like "Roxy Music", "Slade" and "Sweet", "Queen" worked on a grandiose production that included layer upon layer of sound, re-recording of instruments on many channels, and duplication of vocal harmonies. But that was not all, the band members brought unusual ideas, varied materials, and complex compositions. As part of their attempts to stand out, they even tried to bring David Bowie to the role of the producer, but he was busy recording the album "Pin Ups" and writing the material for the album "Diamond Dogs". Although this album is not defined as a concept album, it has a main idea that links some of the songs in it. The album is divided into two parts. The first side of the vinyl, is called the "White Side" and is based on the " White Queen " mentioned in the song " White Queen (As It Began) ", while the other side of the vinyl is called the "Black Side" and dominated by the "Black Queen" from the song " The March of the Black Queen ". The clear separation between black and white borrowed from the game of chess, was not the only difference between the two sides. "The White Side" features songs with relatively simple musical complexity that were all written by guitarist Brian May , except for " The Loser in the End ", which was written by drummer Roger Taylor . In contrast, "The Black Side" includes songs with more musical complexity and deeper lyrics that deal with, among other things, fairy tales and fantasy. All of this side songs were written by Freddie Mercury . The album opens up with the intro " Procession " - a short instrumental piece a little over a minute long, by Brian May , in which the guitar sounds recorded in a variety of layers and colors herald the arrival of the "Parade Orchestra" as the name of the piece reveals. This progressive intro connects to " Father to Son " - a classic Hard Rock track that features clear influences from "The Who" and "Led Zeppelin", combined with Freddie Mercury 's pastoral piano. The third track " White Queen (As It Began) " is the highlight of "The White Side". This is one of May's most beautiful and moving songs, which he wrote back in 1968. This song is a great example of the vocal harmonies of the band members. layers of vocals that blend into an operatic choir. It is interesting to note that the Indian sitar sound of Brian May is actually produced by a guitar. The medieval vibe of the song tells the adventure in search of the "White Queen", when the journey ends as it began as the subtitle of the song - "As It Began" implies. " Some Day One Day " is sung by Brian May , which is his first time taking the lead on a "Queen" album. May turn out to be a good singer with a caressing voice that blends well with the aforementioned ballad. The levitation effect, the guitar effect, and especially the rolling drumming, remind us a bit of the psychedelia of "Tomorrow Never Knows" by "The Beatles". The piece that seals the "white side" " The Loser in the End ", is as mentioned a track written by Roger Taylor , who also sings it. The vibe of this song reminds us of "T-Rex" another Glam band from that decade. The song talks about the wayward son who got everything from his mother but in adulthood leaves her without any hesitation. The black side of the album is, as mentioned, the more complex and Progressive side. It opens up with " Ogre Battle " one of the heaviest songs on the album, whose intro demonstrates the band's production genius. The beginning of the song is the end of the song in reverse, including the final gong. It is played backward at the intro of the song. Later, the track connects with the regular recording of the song. It's one of the few songs Mercury wrote and plays on guitar. It begins and ends with a huge gong sound brought into the studio. It features thunderous drums and Heavy Metal guitars that amazingly depict the battle taking place in the song, including the screams of the trolls. It is interesting to note that singer Paul Di'Anno who was a member of "Iron Maiden" defined this song as "the first thrash metal song I have ever heard in my life". The second track on the black side - " The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke " was influenced by a painting of the same name by the crazy painter Richard Dadd. The painting was on display at the Tate Gallery in London and it fascinated Mercury who decided to take all the characters the painter mentioned in his various writings and make a song out of them. Mercury plays the harpsichord and this is without a doubt one of the most complex pieces he has written in his entire repertoire. " Nevermore " is a short song intended to link the two epic musical pieces before and after it. It connects with the piano that ends the previous track and creates a sort of three-piece medley. Freddie Mercury wrote about the feelings after a heartbreak. All the instruments and vocals in the song are performed by Mercury. The next track is without a doubt the highlight of the album and also one of the band's creative highlights - " The March of The Black Queen ". A complex and progressive song that combines Rock and Opera in an amazing and perfect way. This is a work that is probably the introduction to what will come later with " Bohemian Rhapsody ". In this track, too, the genius of the band is shown, during which they play in two different time signatures simultaneously. One of 8/8 and the other of 12/8. Also, the range of vocals of the band members covers two and a half octaves. " Funny How Love Is " was written in the studio and includes the production technique of Phil Spector , which is steeped in layers and layers of instruments and vocals - "Wall of Sound". This song has never been played in Queen's performances, in part due to the difficulty of recreating the full sound live. The track that seals the album - " Seven Seas of Rhye " is also the band's first hit. This is the full version of the instrumental track that seals the band's debut album , which was pre-planned to become the lead single of the album. Recordings of the album ended in August 1973, but it was only released in March 1974, due to an error in the printing of the album cover. Upon its release, the album received mixed reviews and it also did not have much commercial success at the time of its release. At the same time, over the years the album has become an esteemed cult work that has garnered much sympathy from the audience and critics. And a few words about the iconic album cover. Mercury was influenced by a famous photograph of actress Marilyn Dietrich, both in the position of the hands and in the look and the white spotlight coming from below. The album cover has become one of the most recognizable images of the band, and it will appear later in the clip for the song " Bohemian Rhapsody ". For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Soundgarden's fourth album is "Superunknown" What has not been said yet on this album? How do we even begin to describe this perfect piece of music? Each of the 15 tracks on this album is perfect, every minute of the album's 70 minutes is sheer pleasure! This is an album that combines it all... Experimental pieces in new districts, unconventional guitar tunings, complex melodies, hallucinatory rhythms, incomprehensible song dynamics, and a variety of amusement facilities. Just a pleasure to buy an all-inclusive ticket, enter the amusement park, and have a great time with the amazing facility operators: Chris Cornell , Kim Thayil , Ben Shepherd, and Matt Cameron So let's start with the songs themselves because everything that happened around them is minor compared to what happens inside... Start listening on: Spotify , Apple Music , and keep reading... The album opens with "Let Me Drown" featuring the band's all-too-familiar Riff offbeat. The chorus is just addictive and even before the second chorus you already recite "drown me in you" , but then comes the charming break. As if someone is throwing you off a cliff and you are hovering in the air as Chris whispers in your ear and Matt's 16-bit like hot air vortices lift you up until the solo arrives that smashes you to the ground. What a beautiful thing... Chris said that the theme of the song is to go back into the womb and die, he even made a song comparison to Nirvana's "In Utero". And heyyyyyy here comes "My Wave" !!! We feel like jumping into the water along with this bouncing riff, how happy, what a smile we have on our faces now. It does not matter what music you like, where you came from, and where you are going, it will penetrate you directly into the nerves, merge with the muscles and your body will be filled with energy!! "Break, If you like the sound !!" What a shaky bass... how crazy the drumming here is... how the guitars break down... and what penetrating vocals !! (Photo: Kevin Westenberg) Now let's get a little gloomy, we'll be sure to repeat ourselves here in almost every song but there's nothing to do, that's how we feel on this album and it will never help or leave us. "Fell On Black Days" simply takes you on a journey into the depths of your soul, searching for your gloomy places, the dark parts of you, and creating a kind of completion, acceptance, and inclusion. You manage to connect to these places and accept them in reconciliation, a kind of psychological process in four minutes and forty-four seconds. We'll move on to "Mailman" which feels even gloomier, with Kim's heavy and haughty riff when at first it makes you feel exhausted and desperate. This time you are looking for your dark places outside, in your surroundings, looking for your bad and toxic places to eliminate them or control them and only they will not control you. So enough... let's move on to something happier... and "Superunknown"! A song bearing the name of the album "Superunknown" and the gorgeous opening of the guitar is already bouncing you off the spot as if you jumped off the floor straight onto a trampoline that is on a hot air balloon and you really do not know what is going to happen. Chris tries to convince you throughout the song that if it's something you do not know, it does not mean you have to stick to a familiar pattern, deal with the unknown, deal with the superunknown. A 5-minute song that even though it sounds a bit monotonous you can keep rehearsing and not get tired. The sixth song "Head Down" feels like a track that "Soundgarden" tried to do something different with, the basis sounds similar but the drums, guitar fingering, and Chris' voice sound different and intriguing. These unique sounds are a bit reminiscent of the Indian experience of "The Beatles" and in hindsight, these were buds of things that were heard later in "Down on the Upside" and it's a pleasure... And then it comes... Say what you want !! "Black Hole Sun" was the most played song from the album, playing non-stop all over the world, but every time Kim's unintentionally not tuned guitar makes the opening sound of the song, it's impossible not to go back and even for one second to that moment of astonishment, to the first moment you heard the song. And what happiness floods you now, like a marshmallow foam bath and cream. Yes, sometimes we are delusional but it seems to us that here you also feel that way. Even Chris himself was surprised, he said that in this song he just gave the words freedom to come out without any order or logic and tried to assemble from them some form without any structure or story, something imaginary and hallucinatory. Songs that become hits are usually songs with lyrics that the audience manages to connect with and identify with it significantly, so he was surprised at how people managed to connect to: "Hides the face, lies the snake..." We have not yet calmed down from the Sun and then the spoons arrive, with a phenomenal drumming of Matt, what a magnetizing, mesmerizing, and insane rhythm !!! "Spoonman" is another piece that throws you up and you really feel the rhythm in your hands. The song was inspired by a tablespoon artist who used to play on a street in Seattle. While writing the song Chris did not even meet the man !! The story of the song started in general from the movie "Singles" , when names were thrown to the fictional band of the movie, one of the names was this. Chris toyed with the idea and the band even played an acoustic segment of the song in the film, only after the film was out, was the song composed for what we know today. Where are we?? Ahhh yeah, song number nine, "Limo Wreck" , is a classic from "Soundgarden's" creativity, all the necessary elements of rock, grunge, and soul... Crisco got the idea to sing while sitting in a traffic jam in Los Angeles looking at the luxury cars of the rich, vs the beat-up cars of the working class. He called the song "shame-on-decadence song" which is a contempt song for the decline of the generation. He intended to remind the rich people that they are not above morality. He saw an accident in which a limousine was involved with the pompous rich man sitting in the back who was sure the "sun was shining out of his ass" and he immediately remembered Axl Rose and a specific scene from the "Estranged" music video where Axl is photographed coming out of a white mansion, all dressed in white and all his escorts and bodyguards in white. Cops dressed in white accompany him on white motorcycles. Cornell thought to himself that the rich man from the limousine was exactly the kind of person he watches in the music video and how he dares to spit in the face of the fans who put him in the good class he was in. (Photo: Kevin Westenberg) Now they decide to throw us back into something a little different and unfamiliar and we smile and have fun. "The Day I Tried to Live" is another song with something a little different in it; the rolling of the drums with the fret emanating from a transistor puts you in a kind of incessant consistent movement and you shout "One more time around" . Chris said it was not a suicide song as many thought but a song that talks about his desire to live up to expectations or adapt himself to what society expects of him. He always felt that society constantly expected him to be normal and it did not always suit him. The song "Kickstand" is a short refresher designed to shake the sheets out of bed... "Kickstand, you got loose and I threw up" The song that follows, "Fresh Tendrils" also feels like something a little different but its chorus takes you straight back into "Soundgarden's" DNA. Then comes another gloomy moment... another heavy, heavy, heavy riff and everyone follows it... "4th of July" is a song that makes you invent the moment yourself, you are the one who writes the script. Chris said he wrote this song about experimenting with the acid drug, he had a case where he was driving a car and behind him were two imaginary people who talked and laughed all the way, and instead of feeling weird and persecuted he felt good, he felt he had a girlfriend and he was not alone. He explained that anyone else reading the words would not really understand it but maybe in the chorus, you will get a hint of it. (Photo: Michael Tighe) Another track that is an introduction to the album "Down on the Upside" is the song "Half" , a track with Indian elements that throw you somewhere else and gives you a brief moment to freshen up before the last track. Sounds weird to say this about a song called "Like Suicide", but what a perfect ending to a perfect album, and it would be even weirder if you understand what the song is about. Let's just say that the song is split in two, with the first part being relatively quiet with fret and light drumming as Chris tells the story. The other, noisy part, throws you somewhere else and as "Soundgarden" knows how to do it, you're just flirting. Chris wrote the song about... a bird, yes a bird !! As he was writing the music to the song in his basement he suddenly heard a loud bang, he went up to see what had happened and found that a bird hit the window of his house, broken its neck and lay dying in front of it. Chris who did not know what to do decided to redeem her misery and crushed her head with a stone. How she'd fly so sweetly" She lived like a martyr But she died Just like suicide" "Soundgarden's" fourth album, gave them the biggest commercial success and is the only album to reach number one on the Billboard charts while music from Seattle was in its heyday. The album was nominated for a Grammy and two songs from it "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun" won awards. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

Let's tell you some facts about who was part of "Alice in Chains'" first two albums and also related to Layne Staley 's death. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz) 1. He was born on April 4, 1966, as Michael Christopher Starr. 2. His first band was "Sato", a heavy metal band he formed in 1983. (Photo: metal-archives.com) 3. A year later he joined for a very short time the band "Gypsy Rose" which included members Tim Branom (who would later be the producer of Alice In Chains) and also Jerry Cantrell . (Photo: timbranom.com) 4. We have already mentioned in other posts that when Jerry Cantrell decided to form a band with drummer Sean Kinney , he thought of Mike as a bassist. Mike also happened to be the brother of Sean's girlfriend whom Jerry met in "Gypsy Rose". (Photo: Marty Temme) 5. In 1989 after a number of demos and local gigs, the band "Alice In Chains" signed a record deal with the big label Columbia Records. 6. A year later they released their first EP "We Die Young" and in August 1990 they released their debut album "Facelift" . 7. In February 1992 they released their second but first of two acoustic EPs called "SAP" . 8. In September 1992 they released the album "Dirt" , the band's last album with Mike and the album which was the peak of the band's flourishing and success. 9. Immediately after the release of the album "Dirt", the band went on an intensive tour to promote the album. There is a version that claims that Mike left the band immediately after the start of the tour since he was not interested in continuing to perform so intensely and life on the road did not suit him. The second version claims that because he was so deeply into drugs, the band fired him because he could not perform well. 10. Mike said that during this tour Layne Staley saved his life. At one of the shows in Brazil with "Nirvana", Layne, Mike, and Kurt Cobain injected heroin into each other. Layne injected Mike but injected him too many times and Mike collapsed, losing consciousness and pulse. Layne immediately tried to save Mike and gave him CPR, Mike awoke at the sight of Layne crying hysterically. 11. In 1993 after leaving Alice, Mike joined the "Sun Red Sun" band with Ray Gillen who was a singer and writer from the "Badlands" band and also as part of "Black Sabbath" and drummer Bobby Rondinelli from the "Rainbow" band, "Blue Oyster Cult" and more... the band survived less than a year due to Ray death and released a single album bearing the band's name. 12. Mike had a not-so-short history with law enforcement and was arrested several times for the offense: of drunk driving, violence, drug possession, disorderly conduct, and other offenses. He was even arrested once at the airport for stealing someone else's suitcase after seeing his own damage. 13. In 2010 Mike participated in the VH1 TV series called Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew who documents celebrities during the rehab process. He participated in a spinoff series called Sober House documenting the same celebrities after rehab. 14. In one of the series' interviews with Layne's mother, Mike revealed for the first time his connection to Layne's death. He said that the day before Layne's death the two met and spent time together to celebrate Mike's birthday but Layne was very ill and refused to call the emergency center. The two confronted because Layne was unwilling to get help and Mike stormed Layne's house. After Mike left, Layne called Mike and asked him to come back and not leave that way. Mike did not return nor did he call the emergency center. 15. In the interview he expressed regret and pain that he did not call the emergency center to save his friend and this is mainly because he too was high on drugs that evening and afraid to hurt friends and he will never forgive himself for not saving his good friend Layne. Turns out Mike was the last person to see Layne. 16. On March 8, 2011, Mike was found lifeless in his home in Salt Lake City, the cause of death determined was an overdose. 17. In 2013 Sean added the caption LSMS to his drum set, these are the acronyms for Layne and Mike's names. Listen to the latest and most successful album Mike has created with Alice Sp otify , Apple Music . "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 8, 2024, "Judas Priest" returned with "Invincible Shield", their nineteenth studio album and one of the strongest statements of late-career power the band has delivered in decades. More than fifty years after forming in Birmingham, the band continues to demonstrate why they remain one of the defining architects of heavy metal. "Invincible Shield" arrives six years after "Firepower" , an album that proved the band still had the fire and precision that shaped generations of metal musicians. Instead of slowing down, "Judas Priest" chose to build on that momentum, delivering an album that feels both classic and renewed. At this stage in their career the lineup is stable and focused. Rob Halford still commands the microphone with astonishing range and authority, Glenn Tipton remains involved in the songwriting despite his battle with Parkinson’s disease, and guitarist Richie Faulkner continues to prove himself as one of the best modern additions the band has ever made. Together with Ian Hill on bass and Scott Travis on drums, the band entered the studio again with producer Andy Sneap and longtime collaborator Tom Allom, creating a production that balances modern clarity with the unmistakable weight of classic Priest. The album opens with "Panic Attack" , a thunderous introduction that immediately reassures fans that the band’s energy remains intact. The galloping rhythm, soaring guitar harmonies, and Halford’s commanding vocals evoke the spirit of classic Priest while sounding sharper than ever. The song feels like a declaration: this band is far from finished. One of the album’s most energetic highlights arrives right after with "The Serpent and the King" , a fast, aggressive track driven by Travis’s relentless drumming and razor-sharp guitar work. It recalls the speed and intensity that once defined albums like " Painkiller " while still fitting comfortably within the band’s modern sound. The title track "Invincible Shield"  follows with a more epic atmosphere. The song builds slowly before exploding into a classic metal anthem, driven by layered guitars and one of Halford’s most dramatic vocal performances on the album. The lyrics reflect resilience and survival, themes that resonate deeply with a band that has endured lineup changes, health struggles, and shifting musical landscapes. "Devil in Disguise"  delivers a darker groove. The riff is thick and ominous, while Halford leans into a theatrical delivery that recalls the band’s heavier late-70s and early-80s material. It is a reminder that Priest still excels at blending melody with menace. With "Gates of Hell" , the band embraces their epic side. The track moves between towering riffs and melodic passages, showcasing the dynamic interplay between Faulkner and Tipton’s songwriting influence. The dramatic structure feels almost cinematic, proving the band still enjoys pushing beyond straightforward metal formulas. "Crown of Horns"  offers one of the album’s most melodic moments. Built around a powerful chorus, it balances heavy riffs with emotional depth. Halford’s performance here is particularly striking, demonstrating that even after decades of recording he can still deliver vocal lines with both power and vulnerability. Later in the album, "Trial by Fire"  slows the pace slightly but adds dramatic weight. The song blends classic heavy metal riffing with a strong melodic hook, creating a track that feels equally suited for arenas and headphones. Toward the end of the album appear "Escape from Reality" , which brings heavy energy and sharp riffs, "Sons of Thunder" , a short and fast track that feels like a concentrated metal assault, and "Giants in the Sky" , which closes the album with an epic and impressive atmosphere. The deluxe edition also adds "Fight of Your Life" , "Vicious Circle" , and "The Lodger" , excellent bonus tracks that expand the experience for fans. Upon release, "Invincible Shield" was widely praised by fans and critics alike. The album charted strongly around the world and reaffirmed that "Judas Priest" remain one of the most consistent and influential bands in heavy metal history. Rather than sounding like a nostalgic exercise, the album feels like a band still pushing forward with purpose. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 8, 1977, "Foreigner" released their debut album "Foreigner". The album exploded onto the rock scene and instantly announced the arrival of a band that would dominate arena rock for years to come. Packed with massive riffs, soaring vocals, and razor-sharp songwriting, "Foreigner" sounded like a band that already knew exactly how to conquer rock radio and the world’s biggest stages. The project was led by guitarist and songwriter Mick Jones , a British musician who had previously worked with artists like George Harrison and "Spooky Tooth". Determined to build a new band that could merge British rock sensibility with American energy, Jones assembled an international lineup that included American vocalist Lou Gramm , whose powerful and expressive voice would become one of the defining elements of the band’s sound. Alongside them were multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald , keyboardist Al Greenwood, bassist Ed Gagliardi, and drummer Dennis Elliott. The name "Foreigner" itself reflected the mix of British and American musicians within the band. From the very first moments, the album delivers a confident and radio-ready rock sound. "Feels Like the First Time"  opens the record with a driving guitar riff and a soaring chorus that perfectly captures the band’s blend of arena-sized energy and melodic accessibility. Lou Gramm ’s vocal performance immediately stands out, powerful yet controlled, giving the song an emotional lift that helped it become one of the band’s early signature tracks. One of the album’s most recognizable moments arrives with "Cold as Ice" , built around a memorable piano figure and a dramatic chorus. The song showcases the band’s ability to combine hard rock guitars with strong pop structure, a formula that would become their trademark. Gramm’s performance adds tension and attitude, while the layered arrangement highlights the group’s musical precision. Right after comes while "Starrider"  with Mick Jones  on lead vocals and reveals a more atmospheric side of the band, incorporating synthesizers, flutes and progressive elements that reflect McDonald’s background in "King Crimson". "Long, Long Way from Home"  continues the momentum with a slightly darker tone and a strong melodic hook, featuring Ian McDonald ’s saxophone adding texture to the band’s sound. The track demonstrates how "Foreigner" could seamlessly move between hard-edged rock and melodic storytelling without losing its identity. Beyond the well-known hits, the album features a strong sequence of songs that highlights the band’s musical diversity and the melting pot from which its members emerged. "Headknocker"  leans more toward blues rock with gritty guitar work and raw energy. In contrast, "At War with the World"  presents a tighter and more aggressive side of the band with direct rock energy, a style that Ritchie Blackmore and "Rainbow" would later explore as well. "Woman Oh Woman"  delivers melodic pop-rock, while "Fool for You Anyway"  is a blues-tinged ballad that allows Lou Gramm to showcase emotional depth and emphasize the melodic side of "Foreigner". Upon release, "Foreigner" became an immediate commercial success. The album climbed to number 4 on the Billboard 200 and eventually sold more than five million copies in the United States alone. Its success established the band almost overnight and laid the foundation for a string of hit albums that would follow in the years ahead. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website

On March 7, 1975, David Bowie released his ninth studio album "Young Americans". It is one of the most radical reinventions of   David Bowie 's career. After conquering the glam rock world with theatrical albums and characters, Bowie turned his attention toward American soul and R&B, delivering a record that sounded completely different from anything he had done before. Bowie himself famously described the style as “plastic soul.” By the mid-1970s Bowie had already proven that reinvention was central to his artistic identity. Albums like " The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars " and "Diamond Dogs" had cemented his reputation as a visionary figure in rock music. But while touring the United States in 1974 during the "Diamond Dogs" tour, Bowie became fascinated by the sound of Philadelphia soul. The energy, rhythm, and emotional depth of American R&B inspired him to completely reshape his musical direction. Determined to capture that sound authentically, Bowie relocated to "Sigma Sound Studios" in Philadelphia, a legendary studio closely associated with the Philly soul movement. There he assembled an outstanding group of musicians. Guitarist Carlos Alomar would become one of Bowie’s most important long-term collaborators, while bassist Willie Weeks and drummer Andy Newmark formed a tight and deeply grooving rhythm section. The vocal arrangements were handled by a trio that included Ava Cherry, Robin Clark, and a young Luther Vandross, whose powerful voice and arranging skills helped give the album its distinctive gospel atmosphere. Producer Tony Visconti initially worked on the sessions, but Bowie eventually completed much of the production with engineer Harry Maslin. The result was an album built around grooves, horns, layered backing vocals, and soulful melodies, a far cry from the dystopian rock theatrics of "Diamond Dogs". The album opens with " Young Americans ", one of Bowie’s most iconic songs. Driven by sharp horn arrangements and a tight rhythm section, the track paints a vivid portrait of mid-1970s American life. Bowie sings like a fascinated outsider observing the contradictions of the American dream, blending political references with personal storytelling. The track’s sweeping arrangement and energetic performance immediately signal the dramatic stylistic shift. A softer and more reflective moment arrives with "Win" , where Bowie leans into a smooth soul groove and showcases a delicate falsetto performance. The song is carried by rich harmonies and lush instrumentation, emphasizing the emotional warmth that defines much of the album. "Fascination"  introduces a funk-driven groove that emerged from jam sessions with Luther Vandross. The track’s rhythmic pulse and layered vocals create a hypnotic atmosphere that perfectly reflects the collaborative nature of the recording sessions. Another standout is "Right" , which pushes the gospel influence even further. With its call-and-response vocals and vibrant choir-like backing harmonies, the song demonstrates just how deeply Bowie embraced the spirit of soul music during this period. The album also includes Bowie’s dreamy reinterpretation of "Across the Universe" , originally by "The Beatles". The track features John Lennon , who joined Bowie in the studio after the two met in New York. Their collaboration extended beyond the cover and resulted in one of Bowie’s biggest commercial successes. That collaboration produced "Fame" , the closing track of the album and Bowie’s first number-one hit in the United States. Built around Carlos Alomar’s instantly recognizable guitar riff and featuring John Lennon on backing vocals, the song delivers a sharp critique of celebrity culture and the darker side of fame. Ironically, the track’s cynical message became Bowie’s gateway to mainstream American success. Upon its release, "Young Americans"  surprised many listeners who expected Bowie to continue exploring the glam rock territory that had defined his previous albums. While some fans initially struggled with the stylistic shift, critics increasingly recognized the album as a bold and successful experiment. Over time, "Young Americans" has come to be viewed as a crucial transitional record in Bowie’s career. It marked the beginning of a new creative phase that would soon lead to the darker, more experimental sound of "Station to Station" and eventually the groundbreaking Berlin Trilogy. For Listening: Spotify , Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook  / Instagram  or Subscribe to our website