A Sneak Peek... On July 13, 2010 "Korn's" ninth album... or actually their III was released !! This is an album that if you asked Jonathan Davis he would have given it up, he even called it a "mistake", why? You're asking yourself, so we'll explain right away... But first let us share that the recordings for the album began by the four members of the band after a break of almost a year in which they did not touch anything related to Korn, but focused on other projects. Let us remind you that they stayed three members after "Head" left the band four years earlier, and drummer David Silveria left three years earlier. Davis, James Shaffer, and Reginald Arvizu decided to add drummer Ray Luzier as a permanent member (he was the drummer on tour), and even shared his work on the album. (Photo: houseofblues.com) The band members decided they wanted to go back to their roots and enlisted producer Ross Robinson. The three members besides Davis worked on materials separately and recorded several demos, with Davis himself coming to the recordings without anything ready and in the process of recording demos for 11 songs. He said it was the first time everyone had worked together on all the songs. Usually, the rest of the band would finish recording the songs, and only then would Davis go in to write lyrics. So you asked why this was a mistake... Let’s start with the fact that producer Ross has taken the issue of back to roots one step (or several) too far. While they wanted to go back to using only the base of rock, with drums guitars, and vocals, with no electronic elements or atmospheric sounds, Ross put them in a small studio, closed them every day for a few hours, and told them, to play! Davis said that Ross had a method of getting all the anger and aggression out of them, but it no longer suited where they were. They were already adults, experienced, and no longer children who do not know what they are doing. Davis came to the recordings of the album with the attitude that it was going to be a concept album and in terms of lyrics he wanted to base it on five recurring elements and tell a story. But because of the form of work in which all the band members worked together under Ross' pressure, he simply improvised the lyrics throughout all the recordings of the album. He felt this was the way it worked for him and he adopted it throughout all the songs, even though in retrospect he wanted to record a concept album, as mentioned. This is why the name of the album is "Korn III", only at a later stage, just before its end, the title Remember Who You Are was added. As for the band and also Ross himself, who produced the band's first two albums, this is a return to the period of the late nineties. Even the recordings were made by a 24-channel analog tape and not by the famous Pro Tools software. Although the previous album and the pre-album tour, the band financed itself without a record company, this time too they thought about it but finally decided to release the album through the record company Road Runner, they did not have the time or ability to deal with anything related to the business side, The logistics, and marketing of the album. The album received quite cool reactions from critics, but also from fans, and although it reached number one on the Billboard 200, it is not an album to be framed or hung with dignity, it may even be an album to be shelved... Why should we decide for you, listen by yourself on: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

A Sneak Peek... And this time, on one of the biggest events in the history of music -was the "Live Aid" that was held on July 13, 1985. (Center Photo: Dave Hogan) So today in 1985 the greatest artists in the world of music came up, one after another, for performances that took place simultaneously in several places in the world. The event was organized by Bob Geldof known among others for his membership in the band "Boomtown Rats" and his memorable performance in the role of "Pink" in the movie "The Wall", and by Midge Ure known among others for his membership in bands such as "Ultravox", "Visage" and "Thin Lizzy ", In order to raise funds for aid to the victims of hunger in Ethiopia. The idea for the show came to Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, in 1984, following the recording of the hit "Do They Know It's Christmas?", Which included a selection of British music artists. This is a song composed by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure with the aim of raising donations for the victims of the drought in Ethiopia. After the recording, Ure and Geldof thought they should do it big, with a huge donation show that would include the entire top of world music. The Live Aid included two major shows, the first held at Wembley Stadium in front of 72,000 spectators and the second at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia in front of 89,500 spectators. In addition, shows were also held in Moscow, Sydney. At the same time, the show was broadcast live to the countries of the world. It was the most ambitious satellite broadcast in existence to date and was watched by over 1.9 billion viewers in about 150 countries. All big acts of the music world in those days took part in the shows: "U2", "The Who", David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sting, "Dire Straits", Paul McCartney, "The Beach Boys", "Status Quo", "Simple Minds", "Ultravox", Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, "Duran Duran", "Crosby, Stills and Nash", Joan Baez, George Michael, Madonna and more and more... Some interesting data about the shows that happened on that historic day: 1. Elton John gave the longest show for that day, which lasted 32 minutes. 2. "Queen" gave one of the biggest shows of its career, and this show was later chosen as the best show of all time, so here it is in front of you, so that God forbid you won't miss a single note. 3. "Led Zeppelin's" reunited specifically for the show and it was their first time on stage since the death of drummer John Bonham. Phil Collins who played on Robert Plant's first two solo albums sat on drums alongside another drummer, Tony Thompson, but this reunion show will be remembered as one of the worst reunion shows, so much so that "Led Zeppelin" refused to have the show included on a DVD released later on. 4. "Santana" also asked that their show would not be included in the same DVD. 5. Another band that reunite especially in honor of the event was "Black Sabbath" which performed alongside Ozzy Osbourne who was fired from the band in the late 1970s. This show will also not be remembered as one of "Black Sabbath's" best performances. 6. This was not the only metal band on the show. "Judas Priest" also gave the Philadelphia audience a short set that included the songs "Living After Midnight," "The Green Manalishi" and "You've Got Another Thing Coming". 6. Phil Collins was the only one to appear on two different continents that day, both at Wembley and Philadelphia. Immediately after the show, he gave at Wembley (with Sting) he boarded a Concorde plane that took him to a show in Philadelphia. 7. Phil Collins was also the drummer on a set played by Eric Clapton in Philadelphia. 8. Billy Joel was scheduled to perform in Philadelphia but canceled at the last minute due to Geldof's insistence that he perform alone with the piano. 9. Another great artist who was absent from the Philadelphia show was Bruce Springsteen who did not want to cancel his band members' vacation. 10. "Tears For Fears" also had to cancel their appearance after two members of the band left. 11. The band "Thin Lizzy" was not invited to the show even though Phil Lynott was the one who helped both Midge Ure and Bob Geldof get recording contracts in their early careers. 12. The Philadelphia show hosted two couples who performed with two different bands. Jim Kerr appeared with "Simple Minds" and immediately after that Chrissie Hynde came up with "The Pretenders". 13. Japan also contributed its share of recorded performances that were broadcast between live shows, including a performance by the heavy metal band "Loudness". 14. Other countries that had parallel performances that were held for the same purpose were Austria, Russia, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, and Germany. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 13, 1973, the music world discovered the most glittering queen in rock history - "Queen", who released their debut eponymous album. We assume that most of you are already familiar with the story of the band's formation and the recording of their first album, especially following the release of the blockbuster movie "Bohemian Rhapsody", and yet we are here to try to renew something for you or at least put things in order. So the story of the album and the band begins somewhere in the late 60s with a meeting between two students, guitarist Brian May and bassist/singer Tim Staffell who formed the band "Smile". The two recruited another student, drummer Roger Meddows-Taylor and the three began performing at clubs in London. Singer Farrokh "Freddie" Bulsara, who studied art with Tim Staple, came to one of "Smile"'s shows at Staple's invitation and immediately became a fan. Freddie Mercury was at the time a singer of several bands, including "Wreckage", but he always aspired to join the ensemble of "Smile". In March 1970, Staple decided to leave "Smile" in favor of a band called "Humpy Bong" and Freddie immediately jumped at the chance, ending his relationship with "Wreckage" and joining May and Roger Taylor. On June 27, 1970, Freddie Mercury took the stage for the first time with the band but it was still called "Smile". While searching for a bassist for the band, Mercury persuaded the other two members to change the band's name to "Queen". Freddie Mercury was also the one who designed the band's logo. Finding a suitable bassist for the band was not easy. Over the course of a year, members of the band replaced bassists like socks, and were unable to find someone worthy to fit in. In early 1971 a friend of May and Taylor recommended John Richard Deacon to them. The band auditioned John Deacon in the auditorium at Imperial College London and was immediately impressed by his performance. Deacon was also an electronics student and the band members thought it was a great advantage, especially Brian May who later took used Deacon's skills, among other things, to build a special guitar amplifier for him. The band's debut in the final and classical lineup and under the name "Queen" was held on July 2, 1971, at "Surrey" College in England. The band continued to perform in clubs and colleges around London for about two years, with no ability to obtain a recording contract. The opportunity fell on the band when they received an offer to try out new equipment for free at the recording studio "De Lane Lea Studios". The band took the opportunity to record a demo that included five songs: "Keep Yourself Alive", "The Night Comes Down", Great King Rat", "Jesus", and "Liar". (Photo: Amazon.com.au) Despite the low quality of the demos, the band members managed to convince Barry and Norman Sheffield, owners of the famous "Tridant" studios, to give them the option to record an album for free. Tridentate Studios was a highly sought-after studio at the time, where albums such as Lou Reed's "Transformer" and David Bowie's Hunky ​​Dory and Ziggy Stardust were recorded. Under these circumstances, the summary was such that Queen would be given full and unrestricted access to all the innovative recording equipment that was in the studio, including technicians who would accompany them. At the same time, the band will only be able to record in the small hours of the night, when the studios are not occupied with paid recordings. The recordings took place in June-November 1972 using the innovative recording equipment of "Trident Studios", while the band used, among other things, a large number of recording channels, merging them (in layers) to produce different sounds. For this reason, Brian May insisted on including on the back cover of the album the caption that no synthesizers were used during the recordings, presumably for fear that listeners would think the special sound was achieved through the use of electronic equipment. During the recordings, the band was required, by producer Roy Thomas Baker, to re-record the five songs from the demo recorded at "De Lane Lea Studios". The band was very angry at the demand to record everything again. They really liked the result in the demos but Baker insisted that the songs be recorded again with the new recording equipment. So it turned out that certain songs were recorded seven or even eight times, and still the band did not like the result, until the technician Mike Stone came and helped them reach satisfactory results. It also bought him the right to produce the band's next five albums. The original demos of these five tracks, are in the bonus EP of the extended edition of the album from 2011. Anyone who listens to them will find that there is indeed a certain preference for the demo versions, especially when it comes to the drum sound. Although the recordings were completed as early as November 1972, the album was released only about eight months later, as Trident Studios had difficulty finding a record company that would agree to distribute the album. Eventually, Trident did it by themselves with the help of EMI. The album, which combines several styles, mainly metal and progressive, was released at a time when Glam Rock was at its peak and received good reviews. Five of the ten songs on the album were composed by Mercury, Brian May composed four more (one of them in collaboration with Staple) and Roger Taylor wrote and sang on one song. The album opened at a fast pace with "Keep Yourself Alive" which was also released as the band's first single. The song was written by Brian May even before John Deacon joined the band and already from the opening we can notice May's innovative guitar sound that includes the Phaser effect, and is a special stamp that can not be missed even 4 decades later. "Doing All Right" slows down the pace a bit with a section that opens quietly and calmly and was written by Brian May and Staple back in the "Smile" days. It is one of Queen's only songs in which May plays the piano and the first song in which Freddie Mercury will play the piano during the band's performances. The third track "Great King Rat" was written by Freddie Mercury and includes several progressive motifs such as rhythmic changes and solos, and even a short Roger Taylor drumming segment at the end. The first side of the vinyl is sealed with the song "My Fairy King", also written by Mercury, and is the first song in which he plays the piano. This is also the first time that you can clearly hear the amazing combination and vocal harmonies of the band members, which will be tightened, perfected, and will later form the band's all-too-familiar DNA. The vocal harmonies here have been achieved, among other things, through overdubbing (recording layer upon layer of voices), a technology that will also be used in the song "Bohemian Rhapsody". This song apparently influenced Freddie Mercury to change his family name to "Mercury" and includes the lyrics: "Mother Mercury, look what they've done to me". The other side of the album opens with "Liar" another song that Mercury wrote back in 1970, before John Deacon joined the band. One of the heaviest songs on the album and the only one where Freddie Mercury uses the Hammond organ, and probably also one of the band's favorite songs, as he was part of the band's setlist (in one form or another) many years after its release. "The Night Comes Down" is one of the first that Brian May wrote after "Queen's" foundation. The song is one of the five demo songs recorded at "De Lane Lea Studios". In 2011 the original demo version was released as a bonus and you can mostly hear the differences in the sound of the drums. It's a nostalgic May song that talks about the loss of childhood and mentions among other things the song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", by "the Beatles". "Modern Times Rock 'N' Roll" was written and sung by Roger Taylor. A quick song in which the guitar riff sounds at times like "Budgie" in the song "Breadfan", which was released about a month before the release of "Queen's" debut album. The track "Son and Daughter" is another one written by Brian May and appeared as a side cover of the single "Keep Yourself Alive". A heavy song led by the guitar-bass riff in which it is reminiscent of Black Sabbath and is undoubtedly influenced by the heavy metal of the early 70's. In the song "Jesus" Freddie Mercury tells of Jesus from Nazareth, even though he is not a Christian. The song features only two chords during the verses and a long instrumental section towards the end. Brian's guitar solo includes an effect that gives the song a somewhat psychedelic tone, which is heard in Queen's other songs. The album concludes with the short instrumental section "Seven Seas of Rhye" which was written by Mercury and will become a full song and the band's first hit, in "Queen II" the next album. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 13, 1973 "Jethro Tull" released its sixth studio album, "A Passion Play". This album stands as a testament to the band's ambition and willingness to push the boundaries of progressive rock. Building upon the success of their previous epic, "Thick as a Brick", Ian Anderson and his bandmates set out to create their second full-length concept album - a bombastic musical project that would leave a lasting impact. While the album achieved commercial success becoming "Jethro Tull's" second number-one album in the United States, it received mixed reviews from critics, leading to a divided reception among listeners. The genesis of "A Passion Play" was fraught with challenges and setbacks. Seeking to evade British Crown Income Tax investigators, the band initially relocated to Switzerland and later settled in France's Chateau d'Herouville, a famed recording venue frequented by renowned artists as "Pink Floyd", Elton John and "T. Rex". Amidst technical difficulties, illnesses, and general discontentment, the recordings made in Switzerland and France were ultimately discarded, and the band decided to return to England. This tumultuous journey set the stage for a rushed creative and production process as Ian Anderson, with just 17 days before a new American tour, had to create fresh material and record the entire concept. Conceptually, "A Passion Play" deviates from the traditional religious "Passion Play" dealing with the life and death of Jesus - a religious hero, by exploring the afterlife journey of a man named Ronnie Pilgrim. The album unfolds as a continuous piece of music, divided into two sides, chronicling Ronnie's funeral, his time caught between life and death, recognizing the old conflict between good and bad, God and the Devil, and finally the return to everyday life. While the album's lyrics are extremely complicated, the story is often unclear, and much is left to the individual's interpretation, the overarching narrative struggles to find cohesion, with Anderson's rushed writing process leading to disjointed sections and fragmented motifs. Musically, "A Passion Play" presents a fusion of old English folk, classical influences, and of course progressive rock elements. The band exhibits their instrumental prowess with soft acoustic guitars, playful pianos, expressive keyboards, and Anderson's signature vocal delivery. Notably, Anderson experimented with the saxophone, providing a different tonal texture to the music, albeit at the expense of his iconic flute playing. The album showcases "Jethro Tull's" virtuosity and features some memorable melodies, displaying the band's versatility and musicianship. One notable interruption in the album comes in the form of "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" closing the first side and opening the second side of the vinyl. This spoken-word interlude, musically related with Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, narrated with a humorous English accent by bassist Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, offers a brief respite from the overall narrative, injecting an element of whimsy into the otherwise weighty themes explored in the album. Upon its release, "A Passion Play" garnered fierce criticism from both critics and fans. The rushed production process is evident in the album's disjointed nature, lackluster transitions, and underdeveloped arrangements. Critics accused the album of being pretentious, difficult to follow, and musically unengaging. However, it's important to note that the album did achieve commercial success, reaching number one on the charts in the United States, suggesting a divided reception between critics and the general audience. In retrospect, "A Passion Play" remains a controversial entry in "Jethro Tull's" discography. Some view it as a flawed masterpiece, appreciating its ambitious scope and the band's musical prowess, while others see it as an incoherent and inaccessible work. Regardless of its flaws, the album holds a unique place in the progressive rock canon, representing a period of experimentation and artistic exploration for "Jethro Tull". For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

We vividly recall the first time we listened to this album. We bought it at the "Disc Club" store in Eilat and eagerly awaited the moment we could get in the car and play it. Those few seconds before it started felt like five years, five years of anticipating new music from the band we deeply admire. From the very first note, it sounded incredible! We even thought the car's sound system had been upgraded overnight because the audio quality was astonishing. We ended up listening to the album for four straight hours! Hayehudim's fourth studio album, "Forte," came out on July 13, 2007, during a period when CDs were the primary medium, before streaming became prevalent. Interestingly, that was also the year the first iPhone was introduced. As mentioned, the album was released 5 years after "Death Fear", which was an unconventional experience for the band, featuring a somewhat deficient sound. Following the album's release, the band experienced a major change. Yiftach Shahaf (unrelated to Orit), who had been the band's guitarist since the late 90s, right after their second album "HaYehudim" was released, and a close friend of Orit Shahaf and Tom Petrover, decided to leave to pursue his career in the US. He was replaced by two exceptional guitarists and talented musicians, Daniel Bercher and Guy Be'er. They debuted with the band in August 2003 at the Wahl Amphitheater in Tel Aviv and participated in the "Hayehudim BeYeshiva" tour, which continued for several years after the release of the Live album "Unplugged". For us, "Forte" was the band's best album until their latest release, "No More." As devoted fans, we might be biased, which is why everything new they produce seems like the best to us. And what about "Separate Reality," you ask? It's an album that deserves its own Hall of Fame, encased in a glass aquarium, due to its temporary super-uniqueness and because the leading radio stations in Israel only play its songs. Let's get back to the point... It was the best album in many ways; its sound is simply phenomenal. The guitars of Bracher and Beer (B&B) are outstanding, Yahav the drummer is stepping up, and Stroll, along with Orit and Tom, rounds it off perfectly like a quality "su-weed" cooking. We'll continue... The background to the recordings is depicted in the song "New York City". In April 2005, the band members took a collective break and traveled to the Big Apple to explore Manhattan, where they stayed for four months. Tom mentioned that they wandered around the city on foot to absorb the atmosphere, get acquainted, be inspired, and experience the surroundings. This gave them a feeling that anything is possible there, not in an economic sense but in terms of events and movement, allowing them to be themselves, which felt magical. In December 2006, they went to Sterling Sound Studios in New York for an intensive week of recording, working on their fourth album with Ted Jensen, a renowned figure who collaborated with bands like Green Day and the "Dave Matthews Band." Photo: Tal Shachar Certainly, New York had an undeniable influence on the first song that starts the album in English. This is the band's only album that begins with an English song. The track "Don’t Like" opens with a distinct, heavy, and dramatic vibe, hinting at what's to come. The song conveys the sense that Orit and Tom were eagerly waiting to erupt alongside you; those five years felt like an eternity for them as well. Power is the central theme of this album! The song features a stunning break, with the 16-bit sound accompanying Mittelman's keyboards, building with the guitars to a powerful and triumphant climax. The second song, "You Have No Place," was released as the first single from the album. Let's pause for a moment, as something exciting happened during that time. The network company "Cellcom" featured the song with Tom and Orit (if our memory serves correctly) in a TV commercial. The band has faced media neglect since their journey began, but we won't delve into that here. This marks the band's first high-budget music video since "Looking for Answer" from their debut album. The song possesses a captivatingly powerful rhythm that entrances you with Yahav's drumming, Mittelman's keyboard work reminiscent of a string ensemble, and Daniel's guitar arpeggios, which also take the solo. The chorus bursts forth with such intensity that it makes you want to scream your heart and lungs out uncontrollably—give it a try, it works! "That's how I am" unfolds playfully, creating an illusion of joy and lightness, yet Orit's lyrics are powerful and even somber. Her voice, alternating between shouting "Why me" and whispering, adds a dramatic touch to her captivating performance. Prepare for "Here It Comes", where Tom's lyrics reflect the era's atmosphere and surrounding events, accompanied by a strong rhythm and a beautiful break reminiscent of bluesy rock, highlighted by B&B's exceptional guitar work, especially Guy Beer, who shines with an incredible solo in these two tracks. Whatever comes next, we are prepared, and what arrives now, gently caresses and touches. The song "Until It Passes" was inspired by Dana Ben-Tzur, a 17-year-old fan of the band who tragically passed away. After she was injured in unfortunate circumstances, the band members stayed by her bedside, witnessing her fall into a coma. During their first visit, they even managed to get her to open her eyes and remained by her side ever since. After several months, just as it seemed positive neurological signs were emerging and she had recovered from a severe bacterial infection, Dana sadly passed away. The song was written, drawing inspiration from Tom and Orit's deep connection with Dana. The final part of the song is so moving that it's hard not to shed a tear. The initial segment of the song that comes after "Somebody Else" seems to offer hope in light of the tragedy that took place. "If you fall I will catch you I promise I will I will love you forever Help you cross all the rivers And the deserts, I swear" Unlike anything we've heard before, Orit incorporates effects that merge her voice with the guitar distortion. It's a refreshing and delightful transformation. Have we mentioned that everything the band touches turns to gold? Who mentioned grunge? This sound suits the band perfectly; what a beautiful song. In our view, this track is the standout on the album, with each of the band's albums featuring a song that captivates you from start to finish, like "Ella," "Stealing," "Falling," and others. "New York City", as we mentioned earlier, was inspired by the band's experiences in New York, where they attempted to take a break but still performed at some festivals to give their overseas audience a taste. What a cool and catchy riff, and what a gritty sound from B&B, featuring two impressive solos by Daniel on guitar. We're right in the middle; this might be the band's longest album, if not one of the longest. A gentle and tender rock ballad, "Be," guides you through the character's introspection and existential musings, enhanced by a duet that sends continuous shivers. The transition is remarkable, with a stunning keyboard section preceding the guitar's entrance, showcasing the true art of music. The piece is intense and dynamic, building into a thrilling, captivating solo. Daniel and Guy deliver extraordinary guitar work, especially at 3:40, where the solo shatters us completely. We’ve enjoyed some grunge and a rock ballad, so let's dive back into metal. Ensure your speakers, especially the subwoofer, can handle the power of the song "Even When You Don't Cry"; it's risky for systems that aren't prepared. The intense and relentless sound of this exceptional band is lethal. Take note of Yahav's wide open hi-hat, which resembles a powerful waterfall carrying the deadly guitar riffs. Beyond the robust and heavy sound, pay attention to the talk box. Keep this in mind when we move on to "What About You". Pour yourself a glass of whiskey or red wine, settle onto the couch with the speakers perfectly positioned, and listen to Tom as he declares he "Cannot do it Otherwise." There's something incredibly captivating and genuine about Tom's singing (and Orit's too, don't be mistaken). From the very first album, we've embraced his rolling R's, his roars, and even his whispers. Whatever he conveys, it reaches straight to the heart. Tom's poignant and tragic love story on the piano, the challenges, the struggles, and the hardships seep into your very being, and you find yourself empathizing with your suffering hero, even if you haven't experienced the same path. The third song in English, "Learning", is an incredible showcase that highlights the band's power and strength. It features dynamic elements, a well-crafted structure, impressive sound, captivating vocals, and Daniel's solo, all of which provide pure enjoyment. Just step up! The song "Free" narrates a beautiful story about a man who discovered a freedom he selected for himself. Regardless of how others perceive it or how it might appear distorted, to him, it represents true freedom. Now, let's move on to one of the album's masterpieces, "What About You", which we mentioned earlier. This epic track lasts 6:02 minutes and gradually builds up, step by step. Each band member delivers a performance worthy of the Pantheon—let's emphasize it again, powerful!!! It's only at 3:31 that it begins to descend, like massive, powerful rocks plummeting like meteors from the sky, crashing to the ground as their fragments scatter and Orit sings "What about you." Suddenly, a terrifying explosion occurs, akin to an atomic bomb mushroom cloud, lifting the entire ground into uncontrollable levitation!!! This is the album's second single, accompanied by a high-budget and impressive music video. We'll pause here just to breath for a minute and then proceed to the final two songs that conclude the album. "Forever by me" is Tom's vow of eternal love, signifying that he will always cherish, remember, and stand by your side. He seeks life's meaning, which he believes he may only discover with her. This remarkable ballad, true to the band's signature style, builds in intensity as it unfolds, culminating in Tom's powerful roars harmonized with Daniel's solo. Whether these emotions arise from desperation or jealousy is for you to interpret. The album concludes with the song "Dreaming", featuring Orit solo with the piano. "Queen of the Amazons" captivates us every time, regardless of what she performs. It's a beautiful ending to a remarkable album. We won't debate whether this is the band's best album, but it is undoubtedly one of their greatest. It marks a significant milestone and, in our opinion, has consistently upheld the Israeli rock legacy that the band proudly carries through the years. Alongside the band's first two albums, this is their third best-selling album. It received the "Album of the Year" award at the Channel 24 Awards on Channel 4, and in March 2008, it achieved gold status by selling over 20,000 copies. Listen to the album on: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Super virtuoso guitarist John Petrucci is celebrating his birthday today, and we want to tell you 52 interesting facts about him: (Photo: Dreamtheater.net) 1. He was born on July 12, 1967, in Long Island New York, named John Peter Petrucci. 2. At the age of 8 he started playing the guitar after seeing that his parents allowed his sister to stay up late to practice organ. 3. He stopped playing when he saw that he could not stay late, but returned to the guitar when he was 12, by that time it already looked different. He realized how much passion he has for the instrument and started practicing for at least 6 hours every day. 4. The first musical influences on him were a combination of hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Rush, Yes, Iron Maiden, Metallica, and more. 5. One of the first bands he played was a cover band of his good friend, keyboardist Kevin Moore. Moore will later establish "Dream Theater" with him. 6. Joining the band spurred him to increase the pace of learning the guitar as he took advantage of every spare moment to self-learn the instrument in an attempt to resemble his protagonists: Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Randy Rhodes, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Al Di Meola, Yngwie Malmsteen, Alex Lifeson, Steve Howe, David Gilmour, Eddie Van Halen and more. 7. After high school, Petrucci attended Berkeley College of Music in Boston with his childhood friend bassist John Myung, where he also met drummer Mike Portnoy. 8. Shortly afterward, the three formed the band "Majesty" and left college to pursue a musical career. They used to play covers of bands like "Rush" and "Iron Maiden". 9. To complete the band lineup, they turned to Kevin Moore to play keyboards and recruited singer Chris Collins to the band after hearing him perform the song "Queen of the Reich" by "Queensrÿche". 10. The name "Majesty" was chosen by Portnoy under the influence of "Bastille Day" from the album "Caress Of Steel" by "Rush", whose ending sounded to Portnoy Majestic !! 11. Under the name "Majesty" they recorded in the years 1986-1985 a demo album on a 4-channel tape, that originally included six songs. The album was called "The Majesty Demos". 12. These demos were later released as a bootleg with bonus clips from other recordings called "The Berkeley Demos" and included, among other things, a cover version of "Rush" instrumental "YYZ". Those who are interested in listening to demos, can do so here: 13. On November 13, 1986 Singer Chris Collins was fired from the band. After a long search, singer Charlie Dominici was selected and joined the band. 14. Following a threat from a band from Las Vegas also called "Majestic", Petrucci and his friends changed the band's name to "Dream Theater". 15. On June 23, 1988, the band signed a recording contract with an RCA subsidiary. 16. The band released their first album "When Dream and Day Unite" in March 1989 when Petrucci co-wrote the music as well as the lyrics to four of the eight tracks on the album. 17. Following the release of the album the band went for a limited number of performances during which they warmed up "Zebra". After only 4 performances, the band decided to release singer Charlie Dominici from the band. They felt he was not delivering the goods and were looking for a singer who looked and sounds more like Bruce Dickinson from "Iron Maiden" or Geoff Tate from "Queensrÿche". 18. The search for a singer took a long time and came to an end in January 1991, after the band received a demo of James LaBrie who was immediately invited to audition and was accepted into the band. 19. The band's big break came with the second album "Images and Words" released in July 1992. Also on this album Petrucci will write the lyrics for half of the songs and will co-write the music. Petrucci also began to serve as a background vocalist on this album. 20. Petrucci's dominance in background vocals will intensify after Mike Portnoy left the band. 21. Starting with the band's third album "Awake" Petrucci also started using a 7-string guitar. The addition of the low string gave Petrucci the heavy and massive sound associated with it. 22. He wrote the song "Take Away My Pain" from the band's fourth album - "Falling into Infinity" from 1997, in memory of his father. 23. The song "Another Day" from the album "Images and Words" was also written under the influence of his father's fight against cancer, the fight to live "another day" and moreover, Petrucci's desire to stay with him for another day before he leaves the world. 24. Petrucci writes lyrics for at least three of the songs from each album the band has released to date, among these songs are: "Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper", "The Great Debate", "In the Presence of Enemies" and more. 25. To date, Petrucci has released 16 studio albums and 9 live albums with "Dream Theater". 26. Since 1999 he has also served as the producer of all the band's albums. 27. In 1996, Petrucci was part of "Rush's" tribute album "Warking Man". He performed the song "Jacob's Ladder" with Billy Sheehan on bass, Mike Portnoy on drums, Matt Guillory on keyboards, and Sebastian Bach on vocals. 28. In 1997 he co-founded with his bandmate Mike Portnoy, an instrumental ensemble called "Liquid Tension Experiment". Together with this band, Petrucci released three albums, the last, named "LT3" in 2021. 29. In 1998, Petrucci was featured on the Explorers Club's Age of Impact album alongside James LaBrie and Steve Howe. 30. In 2000 he released the live album "An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess" in which he collaborated with "Dream Theater" keyboardist Jordan Rhodes. 31. In 2005 Petrucci released his first solo album "Suspended Animation". 32. Petrucci has quite a few collaborations with various artists and he has been featured on the albums of Derek Sherinian, Marty Friedman, Jordan Rhodes, and more. 33. Petrucci is associated with fast and precise playing and is considered one of the most talented guitarists in the world today. 34. He is one of the most decorated guitarists in terms of competitions, polls, and titles. The following is a small sample and does not represent them: 35. In 2007 he was chosen by the readers of "Total Guitar" magazine as the guitarist of the year. 36. In 2008 he was selected as one of the ten greatest guitarists of all time by "GuitarOne" magazine. 37. In 2009 he reached number two on Joel McIver's list of the 100 greatest guitarists in metal. (Photo: Larry DiMarzio) 38. In the years 2010-2011 he was chosen as the best metal guitarist in the survey of readers and musicians of "Guitar Player" magazine. 39. In 2011 he was also voted one of the 20 best metal musicians of all time, in "Total Guitar" magazine. 40. In 2012 it was ranked 17th on "Guitar World" magazine in the list of greatest guitarists. 41. The same magazine also put him in 2015 on the list of the 50 fastest guitarists. 42. He was also voted the best guitarist in the readership survey of the progressive section of "Classic Rock" magazine. 43. In 2019 he was voted the Virtuoso Guitarist of the Year by "Prog Magazine" readers. 44. In 1995 he released an instructional video called "Rock Discipline", which is a comprehensive guide to the modern guitar playing technique. The video was appreciated by musicians around the world. 45. He writes regular columns for "Guitar World" magazine and even released a book called "Guitar World Presents John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom," which is a collection of those columns he wrote. 46. He took part in guitarist Joe Satriani's G3 tour seven times, the most of all the other guitarists who were part of this prestigious and amazing project. 47. Ibanez was the first to release Petrucci's Signature Guitar. They did so from 1995-1999. 48. ​​Since 2001, Ernie Ball Music Man has created several signature guitar models bearing the name of Petrucci. In fact, the signature guitar of John - "Majesty by Ernie Ball Music Man", is the best-selling signature guitar of all time, according to Forbes. 49. Petrucci wrote and composed two soundtracks for "Sega Saturn" games. 50. He uses the pseudonym Johnny James from the imaginary ensemble "Nightmare Cinema" in which members of the "Dream Theater" used to change musical instruments during the encores. 51. Jordan Rhodes stated in 2008 that Petrucci is a devout Catholic. 52. Petrucci spends a significant portion of his time alone building and lifting weights. 53. Petrucci's wife was the guitarist of the female metal band "Meanstreak" which also starred the wives of Mike Portnoy and John Myung. 54. In 2020 Petrucci released his second solo album "Terminal Velocity" featuring Mike Portnoy and bassist Dave LaRue. And now we invite you to listen to a playlist we prepared for the band's last appearance in Israel: Click Here. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website Picture: Ultimate Guitar

On July 12, 1994, "Aerosmith" gave its first performance on the "Park Yarkon" stage in Israel. If you ask the handful of fans who were there, it was one of the 90s' biggest shows in Israel. If you ask the critics, it was probably one of the worst shows. why do you ask? So let's start with the fact that "Aerosmith" arrived in Israel at the peak of their success, as part of the tour designed to promote the masterpiece album "Get A Grip". It was supposed to be an amazing show, the band was in amazing shape and even if we refer only to the new fans who knew the band from the "Get A Grip" album, the setlist was supposed to contain an endless chain of hits. However, an unfortunate combination of bad public relations, unsuccessful production and an audience that did not know how to appreciate the treasure that fell into their hands, meant that less than 10,000 people came to this performance (and there were those in the audience who were willing to swear that it was barely 1,000 people). Just imagine the embarrassment of the band members who at that time were at the height of their success going on stage in front of a large park with a handful of people in the audience. Indeed, there were those in the audience who after the show said that they saw singer Steven Tyler muttering to guitarist Joe Perry something like "what a lousy crowd". But it didn't end there, those who came to the show when the gates opened had to wait in heavy heat for about three hours until the show started, why? Because the opening act that was planned to warm up the band just didn't show. And despite everything, those who were in the audience got to see the band at its peak with an amazing set that included 21 songs, in an intimate show that no one dreamed of receiving. The show opened with the sounds of "Eat the Rich" - the second single released from the masterpiece album "Get a Grip", when the band is behind a black and white striped curtain, the curtain falls and the band explodes on stage. The setlist continues with one of the surprises of the evening "Mama Kin" from the band's debut album released in 1973. Next came all the hits you could imagine: "Amazing", "Cryin", "Janie's Got a Gun", "Love in an Elevator", " Sweet Emotion", "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", and as an encore, we got "Crazy", "Livin' on the Edge" and of course "Walk This Way". In addition, the band performed covers for "Led Zeppelin", "Fleetwood Mac" and James Brown, while in between we got a drum solo by Joey Kramer. There is no doubt, despite the bad tone and the small audience, the band professionally gave their all and we can say that the only song that was missing from the setlist was the legendary "Dream On". The complete setlist: Eat the Rich Mama Kin Fever Draw the Line Amazing Rag Doll Cryin' Shut Up and Dance Drum Solo Stop Messin' Around (Fleetwood Mac cover) Walk On Down Janie's Got a Gun Love in an Elevator Sweet Emotion Dazed and Confused (Led Zeppelin cover) The Peter Gunn Theme (Henry Mancini cover) Dude (Looks Like a Lady) Encore: Crazy Livin' on the Edge Mother Popcorn (James Brown cover) Walk This Way "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Here are some facts about Eric Adams known as the lead singer for "Manowar". (Photo Manowar's Instagram) = He was born Louis Marullo on July 12, 1952, in Auburn, New York. = Eric showed interest in music at age nine, starting with the guitar. = He Formed a garage band, "The Kids", with classmates in 1965. = The same year he released the song "Lovin' Everyday". = In 1966 "The Kids'" album, "Class of '66". = He Sang for the group "Looks", which included childhood friend Joey DeMaio. = In 1980, he joined the newly founded band "Manowar" as lead vocalist with Joey DeMaio on bass Ross "the Boss" Friedman on guitar and Carl Canedy on drums. (Photo: Fanart.TV) = Eric Adams's stage name is a combination of the names of his sons, Eric and Adam = He was influenced by Ian Gillan of "Deep Purple". = Eric developed a personal vocal style, holding high-note screams for 30 seconds at shows. = In his prime, his voice covered more than four octaves, from bass G1 to soprano C6. = He took only one voice lesson to learn proper breathing techniques. = In 1982 he released with "Manowar" their debut album "Battle Hymns". = This album was followed by 10 great albums of the band: "Into Glory Ride" (1983), "Hail to England" (1984), "Sign Of The Hammer" (1984), "Fighting the World (1987), "Kings of Metal" (1988), "The Triumph of Steel" (1992), "Louder Than Hell" (1996), "Warriors of the World" (2002), "Gods of War" (2007), "The Lord of Steel" (2012). = The song "Nessun Dorma" from the album "Warriors of the World" (2002) was dedicated to Adams's mother who had died earlier that year. = Amongst its varied tracks "Warriors of the World" contains tributes to Wagner, Pavarotti, and Elvis Presley. = In 2007 Eric sang a duet from "The Phantom of the Opera" with Maria Breon. The song was included in "HolyHell's" "Apocalypse" EP. = The same year he sang the Bulgarian National Anthem during "Manowar's" show in Kavarna, Bulgaria. = He performed in Broadway musicals including "The Phantom of the Opera", "Les Misérables", "Miss Saigon", and "A Tale of Two Cities". = Eric is a passionate bow hunter and New York State instructor for bow hunting. = He produced and featured in the outdoor DVD "Wild Life and Wild Times "(2006) with hunting guide Chester Moore, composing the soundtrack and playing guitar and keyboard. = He was also featured in hunting radio shows and magazines. =As Adams has aged, his vocal high end has decreased, leading to lower tuning in recent "Manowar" albums. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

It's not every day that we get to see two great artists perform on one stage, especially such influential musicians as Jerry Cantrell and the "Pixies". Those who were present yesterday at Pavilion 1, Expo Tel-Aviv, had the privilege of witnessing one of the finest "alternative rock" derbys that Israel has known in recent years. Not that we think they should be introduced, but on the right part of the field, we got the veterans and more experienced of the two rivals - the "Pixies". One of the most influential indie-alternative bands of the eighties and nineties of the last century. A groundbreaking band that changed the face of alternative rock and influenced artists and bands like Billy Corgan, PJ Harvey, "Blur", "Bush", "Radiohead", "Dinosaur Jr.", "Nirvana" and even our own "Mashina". The left half of the field included Jerry Cantrell, one of the prominent figures in the grunge scene, who continues to provide quality material, either through his band "Alice In Chains" or in his solo career. Jerry took the stage reinforced by his excellent backing band which included, singer Greg Puciato, known among others as the frontman of "Killer Be Killed", "The Dillinger Escape Plan" and "The Black Queen", guitarist Tyler Bates, known from Marilyn Manson's backing band, drummer Gil Sharone, who previously played with "The Dillinger Escape Plan" and Marilyn Manson and bassist George Adrian who collaborated with guitarist Tyler Bates in writing material for the soundtrack of the cult film "Psycho Cop 2". Let's start by saying that although both bands gave exciting and immersive performances, if we are to compare the two, the "Pixies" won this alternative "derby", despite the sound problems they encountered. It's not that Jerry Cantrell didn't deliver the goods, quite the opposite! He gave an excellent performance and contrary to the claims regarding the performance he gave last night at the "Barby" club, the sound was good. The crazy energies could be felt in the audience and on the stage already from the opening song "Atone" - undoubtedly one of the greatest from his last solo album "Brighten". The sensations and pleasure grew stronger as we delved into the setlist, which gave us a balanced dose of "Alice In Chains" classics, Cantrell's solo career and his latest album. The first surprise came already in the second song with "Check My Brain" from the album "Black Gives Way to Blue" - Alice's comeback album and their first with William DuVall. The song wasn't played in the band's performance at the "Barby" club last night, which was a pleasant surprise since no song from the Duval period was played. Immediately following "Cut You In" and "My Song", two songs from his first solo album "Boggy Depot", the excitement in the crowd was immediately heightened, as the first sounds of "No Excuses" from "Jar OF Flies" were played. The next high point came with "Man in the Box" which managed to throw the audience in the air. Here is the place to mention the wonderful vocals of Greg Puciato which sounded simply excellent and in our humble opinion surpassed even William DuVall, especially in the songs "Down in a Hole" and "Rooster" where for some moments we were able to see the spirit of the legendary Layne Staley floating above the stage. This tremendous show ended to the sounds of "Would?" Who may have started everything for Jerry and "Alice" somewhere 30 years ago, with the release of the movie and soundtrack "Singles". The performance of this song perfectly summed up the overall feel of the entire show. Jerry and his backing band simply came to enjoy their last show, which closed the European tour, and along the way managed to give the enthusiastic fans one of the most beautiful gifts for the summer of 2022 - feeling 30 years younger for 75 minutes of magic. The only downside that can be mentioned in relation to this excellent performance, is related to the early announcement of the production, according to which we are going to witness a full performance by Jerry. Contrary to this announcement, we got an hour and a quarter of a performance that included only 13 songs, without an encore, compared to a set of 21 songs that was played the night before at the "Barby" club. The songs "Bleed the Freak", "We Die Young" and "Them Bones" which was regularly part of the setlists in the current tour, were missing from the show. After about 20 minutes of preparations, the "Pixies" came on stage and the victory in the alternative "Derby" could be felt already in the first seconds of their performance. The crowd flocked in and quickly ran towards the stage and the density was well felt in contrast to Jerry's performance. Already at this moment, there was no room for doubt. Pavilion 1 is the "home court" of the "Pixies". Their crowd dominated the venue and after the opening instrumental "Cecilia Ann" you could hear it too. It started with "St. Nazaire" from the album "Beneath The Eyrie" released in 2019. The audience simply roared the lyrics of the song which is not one of the band's "classics" in a way that left no room for doubt. The hall is full of a warm crowd of devout "Pixies" fans who came to sing, shout and rave The band played a perfect setlist of 33 songs that included the classics from all eras. Starting with the masterpiece albums "Surfer Rosa", "Doolittle", "Bossanova", "Trompe le Monde" from the time of their classic lineup that also included Kim Deal, to the latest excellent single "Human Crime" released about four months ago and even the interesting cover of "Winterlong" originally by Neil Young, and taken from the band's b-sides album. Almost two hours of a show where the band didn't stop for a moment, not even to say "hello" or "thank you". All the great songs were there. A huge celebration of all that is good about this influential band: "Wave of Mutilation", "Monkey Gone to Heaven", " Here Comes Your Man", "Where Is My Mind?", "Bone Machine" and more kept the audience warm and fired up throughout the entire show as he recited all the lyrics along with Black Francis and his greased gang. It was amazing to see the drummer David Lovering and the guitarist Joey Santiago who are in their 60s (well Santiago a little less) sharing the stage with the young bassist in the band Paz Lenchantin and maintaining crazy energy throughout the performance, until the tremendous "candy" that ended it - "Debaser". All this, despite the band's "posture" and insistence on not uttering a single word during the entire performance. In conclusion, nothing to add, it was simply "Gigantic". Looking forward to more of these... "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

This is perhaps the greatest "remake" in the history of music. A band that managed to reinvent itself. A band that changed the lineup and style in such a fundamental way, and not only remained relevant, but surpassed its old version in terms of success. So if you still do not understand what we're talking about, on July 11, 1975, "Fleetwood Mac" released the album "Fleetwood Mac", leaving the music world in utter shock. This is the band's tenth album, but it could actually be considered its debut album as well. How can this be you ask? Because in fact, it is a completely different band than the one that existed on the previous nine albums, both in terms of band members and in terms of musical style. It's probably not for nothing that the band chose to name the band's tenth album - "Fleetwood Mac", as it did 7 years earlier with its debut album from 1968. As we will see immediately, not only did "Fleetwood Mac" stand the test, but it also became one of the most famous and successful bands in the world with sales of tens of millions of albums. If you think about it, the story of this album begins and ends with the name of the band and the album. The pair of friends who formed the band in 1967 and have been its hardcore ever since. A duo that has not changed over the years, was part of all the albums, and stood as a solid rock in the face of all the band changes during its more than 50 years of activity. We're talking about drummer Mick "Fleetwood" and bassist John "McVie" whose last names created the band name "Fleetwood Mac." It can be said that these two friends are "survivors". They survived the dominance of two genius guitarists. The drug problems of Peter Green and the devotion to the religion of Jeremy Spencer, who sent them out of the band. They clung to a third guitarist Danny Kirwan who served as a "glue" that kept the band from breaking up, until the arrival of Bob Welch, but even then everything threatened to crumble with the departure of Kirwan, who sent the band into a period of uncertainty with frequent lineup changes. Then, in 1974, during a studio tour of Mick Fleetwood in California at the legendary "Sound City" studio, he met producer Keith Olsen who played demos of the duo Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks who were working on a sequel to their 1973 debut album "Buckingham Nicks", Which was produced by Olsen. Fleetwood was enthusiastic about Buckingham's guitar playing and Nicks' vocals and invited them to join the band. Bassist John McVie was not enthusiastic about this move which was most puzzling to him, because the style they brought was in the folk-rock direction, even pop, which did not correspond with the band's blues-rock style, seemingly, two different unrelated styles. However, producer Olsen convinced McVie that the change in style would lead the band to greater success that would also be reflected in his bank account, McVie was convinced and the rest is history. One of the factors that helped the band connect the two worlds of pop and blues, was Fleetwood Mac's secret weapon in the form of Christine McVie. Christine served as the band's singer, keyboardist, and writer, and in our humble opinion, she contributed greatly in her writing, singing, and playing style to mediate between the various styles. She joined the band in the early 1970s from the band "Chicken Shack" and was the wife of bassist John McVie, when on the current album she simply broke forward and turned out to be a very important factor that contributed much to the connection between the musical ends from which the band members came from. The album, which was eventually recorded in the same mythical "Sound City" studio where Mick Fleetwood discovered the Buckingham Nicks duo, introduced the music world to a completely different band from the one they had known about a decade earlier. A band with a more melodic and commercial sound, on the verge of pop, which was closer to American AOR and classical rock, than to the blues-rock roots from which the band came from. It was a huge success in the United States and the United Kingdom, with 4 successful singles released, three of which became hits. The album opens with "Monday Morning", a song Buckingham wrote about a guy who is in love with a girl but is unable to get her to commit. This song is the first of several songs originally intended for the second Buckingham-Nicks album, but eventually found their way to Fleetwood Mac's album. Already here we hear a significant change in the sound and style of the band, which stems in part from Buckingham's influence on the band. The second song "Warm Ways" was written and sung by Christine McVie. This is the first single released from the UK album. A magical, melodic, and beautiful piece that reminds us at times of Paul McCartney in his solo career. The third track "Blue Letter" is the only one on the album that was not written by any of the band members. A song written by brothers Richard and Michael Curtis who were friends of Buckingham and Nicks and offered them the song for their second album. Nicks and Buckingham brought the song with them and gave it their interpretation that corresponds very nicely with the rest of the material on the album. It is interesting to note that the Curtis brothers brought the Buckingham Nicks duo another song called "Seven League Boots" which the duo rejected. This song eventually rolled into the trio "Crosby, Stills & Nash" which made it the 1982 hit "Southern Cross". From here we come to one of the most beautiful songs on the album, maybe one of the best from "Fleetwood Mac" - "Rhiannon", which rightly entered the list of the 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. A song written and sung by Stevie Nicks and was meant for the second "Buckingham-Nicks" album. The original title was "Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)" and it was inspired by the novel" Triad" by Mary Bartlet Leader, one of the protagonists of which is "Rhiannon", which is also a type of a Goddess in the medieval Welsh fairy tales). The fifth track "Over My Head" is another song written by Christine McVie and released as the first single from the album in the US. The song was written by Christine in an apartment in Malibu, California where she lived with her husband John, at the end of a tour designed to promote the band's previous album "Heroes Are Hard to Find". The song that seals the first side of the vinyl "Crystal", was written by Nicks and sang by Buckingham. A melancholy, quiet and minimalist piece that pushes the boundaries of pop towards folk and country, with the vocal harmonies of Stevie Nicks. The other side of the album opened with another single - "Say You Love Me", another song by Christine McVie who became one of the band's bestsellers and one of the reasons for the album's success. It's a light and catchy song in which Buckingham also plays the banjo and 12-string guitar. The second track from the second side of the album "Landslide" was not released as a single, but it did march in the charts in light of its popularity. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and magical songs of Fleetwood Mac. Also in this case the song was written by Stevie Nicks to be included on the second album with Lindsey Buckingham. The song was written in a friend's living room overlooking the Rocky Mountains in Aspen Colorado. Nicks said her life felt like an avalanche at the time and when she watched the mountains reflected in front of her, she decided to write a song about it. The song features Nicks and Buckingham alone and it won a beautiful and interesting cover version from "The Smashing Pumpkins". The origin of the song "World Turning" was found somewhere in 1968 on the band's first album. The song evolved from the track "The World Keeps on Turning" written by Peter Green and was included on the band's first album, and now the new band has been working on it again in honor of the current album. Those who got the credit for writing the new variation to the song are Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie and it's the only song on the album that includes a collaboration between them. "Sugar Daddy" was also written by Christine McVie. A bouncy pop-rock piece, combined with soul music, that tells about the gap between the desire for emotional satisfaction and material needs. From here we come to another amazing song that seals the album - "I'm So Afraid". A song written by Lindsey Buckingham, but it corresponds more with the old "Fleetwood Mac" era with Peter Green. An immortal piece whose live version surpasses the original, with Lindsey's devastating solo only intensifying towards the climax that awaits at the end. The album "Fleetwood Mac" was a huge success with its release, it enjoys both, positive reviews from the majority of critics and huge sales of over 8 million copies. The album entered "Rolling Stone" magazine's 500 greatest albums of all time and became one of the band's milestones, whose popularity only intensified. The band later embarked on an intense and demanding tour that would shatter McVie's marriage and break up the relationship between Buckingham and the Nicks. But out of the great darkness and despite the great sadness, the band managed to channel the pain into another formidable album, even bigger than its predecessor, and for that read our coverage of the album "Rumors". Listen to the album: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On July 11, 2005 Tony Iommi released his second solo album "Fused". This special project, crafted in collaboration with vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (who also received credit on the album cover) and drummer Kenny Aronoff, Marking Iommi & Hughes third partnership and exemplifies their combined musical prowess. So how it all started? Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes first collaboration was on the 1986 "Black Sabbath" album "Seventh Star". In 1996, they recorded new material, which was shelved when Iommi reunited with "Black Sabbath". This material was officially released in 2004 as "The 1996 DEP Sessions". Following this resurgence, Iommi and Hughes decided to create a new, riff-oriented album, resulting in "Fused" a year later. Joined by session drummer Kenny Aronoff, they aimed for a heavier sound compared to the more melody-based "DEP Sessions". Co-producer Bob Marlette, who co-wrote all the songs with Iommi and Hughes, also contributed by playing keyboards and bass. From the opening track "Dopamine" "Fused" immediately draws listeners into a heavy, dense, although atmospheric soundscape. Tony Iommi's unmistakable heavy riffing style is front and center, with thick, sludgy guitar tones driving the music. The production, modern and crisp, maintains the raw energy that defines Iommi's work, creating a perfect blend of old-school heaviness and contemporary polish. The trio achieved their goal of creating a heavier, more riff-driven album, evident in tracks like "Face Your Fear", "The Spell", "What You're Living For" with its driving rhythm and infectious hooks, showcasing the trio's tight chemistry. Interestingly, the best tracks are those where melody shines through, such as "Grace" a standout, featuring a haunting melody that transitions into a powerful, heavy chorus and "Deep Inside His Shell" - Another track where melody slips in, providing a contrast to the heavier riffs. The song explores themes of isolation and vulnerability. The album concludes on an epic note with the near-ten-minute blues "I Go Insane", featuring soulful vocals, heavy riffs, and powerful drumming. This track encapsulates the essence of "Fused", ending the album on a high note. Glenn Hughes, renowned for his work with "Deep Purple" and "Trapeze", brings dynamic vocal performance to the album. His voice, a mix of soulful melodies and gritty power, complements Iommi's dark, brooding guitar work. His wide range vocals are evident already in the second track of the album "Wasted Again". The lyrics throughout "Fused" delve into themes of personal struggle, introspection, and resilience, adding emotional depth to the heavy riffs and thunderous rhythms. "Fused" also includes several bonus tracks that offer additional depth to the album. "Let It Down Easy" is available as a Japan bonus track, "The Innocence" as an "iTunes" bonus track, and "Slip Away" as a "Real.com" bonus track. These tracks provide further insight into the trio's creative process and add extra layers to the album's already rich soundscape. In conclusion, Just like its name "Fused" blend the powerful riffs, with the melodic emotive vocals, and that makes it an essential listening for fans of Tony Iommi's heavy riffs and Glenn Hughes powerful vocals. For Listening: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

He was a member of "Bon Jovi" for 30 years, during which time he co-wrote most of its songs, he can make his guitar speak and he sings not bad at all, his name is Richie Sambora and he is celebrating a birthday today, so let's tell you some 40 interesting facts about him: (Photo: amazon.com) 1. He was born on July 11, 1959, in New Jersey as Richard Stephen Sambora. 2. His parents of Polish descent gave him a Catholic education as a child. 3. Sambora is blind to the colors red green and brown. 4. The first instrument which he began to play at the age of 6 was the accordion. 5. At the age of 12 following the death of Jimi Hendrix, Sambora began playing the guitar. 6. Sambora plays additional instruments. Bass, piano, saxophone, drums, and more. 7. Sambora was influenced in his youth by blues and rock and roll. The artists who most influenced him at the time included: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Johnny Winter, and Jimmy Page. 8. Later he was also influenced by Janis Joplin and Stevie Ray Vaughan and became interested in Spanish and classical music. 9. The first band with which he released an album in 1982 called "Lessons," was "Message". (Photo: discogs.com) 10. Later he was part of the bands "Mercy", "Duke Williams & the Extremes" and "Richie Sambora & Friends", when in the early eighties they even warmed up Joe Cocker. 11. Already at the age of 19 his good business sense was discovered when he became the owner of a club in New Jersey and the owner of a small record company. 12. In 1983 Sambora failed the audition for "Kiss" as Ace Frehley's replacement. 13. That same year he replaced guitarist Dave Sabo in "Bon Jovi". Sabo will later form the band "Skid Row". 14. On January 14, 1984, Bon Jovi released their first album - "Bon Jovi". Already on this album, Sambora was revealed as the lead writer along with singer Jon Bon Jovi, with whom he wrote about half of the album's songs. 15. The collaboration with Jon Bon Jovi in ​​writing will become more sophisticated, reaching a first high point already on the band's third album "Slippery When Wet" released in 1986. 16. The album would soon become the best-selling album of 1987, pushing Guns's "Appetite For Destruction", U2's "Joshua Tree" and Michael Jackson's "Bad" from the top. 17. It is also the band's best-selling album to date, among others, thanks to Richie Sambora who persuaded Jon Bon Jovi to include the song "Livin 'on a Prayer" on the album. Jon Bon Jovi felt it was not good enough but Richie Sambora believed it would be a huge hit and he was right. 18. Just 4 weeks after the end of the tour of the album "Slippery When Wet", the band went on to record their fourth album "New Jersey", which was released in 1988. Richie and John could not wait, they were determined to record a new album that would prove they can produce another uncompromising hit. 19. They experienced an incredible burst of creativity when they wrote no less than 34 songs for the album. The two eventually created 17 demos out of them, with 12 selected for the album. 20. This album has already turned Bon Jovi into a stadium-size band with an inconceivable hits sequence. It's the only hard rock album in the world to put 5 singles in the top ten on the Billboard 100 chart. 21. It is also the first album of an American band released in the USSR, by a local record company called Melodiya. 22. The third single "I'll Be There For You" and the fifth "Livin In Sin" are two ballads in which Richie instilled his early love for blues music. 23. In 1991 Richie was able to develop this love for blues with his first solo album "Stranger In This Town". The album will feature Eric Clapton, among others. 24. In 1992, Sambora and Bon Jovi released their fifth successful album "Keep the Faith". The album included a change in the look and style of the band, which was expressed among other things in piano ballads with epic and long Sambora solos. 25. In 1995, the band released the excellent album "These Days". Sambora and John wrote a huge number of 40 songs for the album, of which only 12 were selected. 26. The album's opening song - "Hey God" was influenced by a case where Sambora watched from his limo window a homeless man living inside a cardboard box. He felt guilty and told Jon Bon Jovi about the case and the two wrote the song about it. 27. In 1998 Sambora released his second solo album "Undiscovered Soul". 28. In 2000 he released together with "Bon Jovi" their seventh successful album "Crush". 29. 3 singles were released from the album, the most successful of them, how not? Is "It's My Life". This corresponds with the band's hit from 1986 - "Livin 'On A Prayer", which also features Tommy and Gina. In both songs, Richie Sambora uses the guitar talkbox effect that produces the sound of a "talking guitar". 30. The following years were not good for Richie. Although he continued to create and release good albums with Bon "Jovi", he personally deteriorated. 31. In June 2007 he announced that he was entering a well-known rehab facility in Los Angeles to treat alcoholism. 32. In March 2008 he was arrested for drunk driving in California. 33. In April 2011 he decided to re-enter a rehab facility, and as a result, was forced to miss "Bon Jovi's" thirteen shows. 34. In 2009 Sambora entered together with Jon Bon Jovi into the Writer's Hall of Fame. 35. In September 2012, almost 14 years after his previous solo album, Richie Sambora announced the release of his third album "Aftermath of The Lowdown". The album was produced by Bon Jovi's album producer of "Crush" and "Bounce". (Photo: Joseph Llanes) 36. In April 2013, Sambora announced that he was leaving "Bon Jovi" due to unspecified personal circumstances. Rumor has it that Sambora was fired from the band but Richie and Jon denied it. 37. Immediately after his departure, in 2013, Sambora released the single "Come Back As Me". 38. In 2015 he began a musical collaboration with whoever was his girlfriend - the guitarist Orianthi. The two called the project RSO and in 2017, after going on a joint tour, they released an EP called "Rise". Later that year they released another EP called "Making History". 39. Richie Sambora's list of ex-partners is long, among them you can find Claudia Schiffer, Lita Ford, Cher, Heather Locklear, Denise Richards, and more and more ... 40. In 2018 Sambora entered together with “Bon Jovi” into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sambora performed during the ceremony along with members of his former band. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website